Bab 14: Chapter 14
Twyla walked to the table and sat down. Her head was swirling with all this information. She needed someone to talk to. But more importantly, she needed to make up with Iynx. Especially if it was Twyla's fault. She buried her head in her hands and tried to sift through all the thoughts fighting for attention. Talking to anyone in this state wouldn't lead anywhere good. She took a few deep breaths and rang the tea bell. A calming chamomile tea would help. Then she could figure out what she needed to do. There was always the journal option. It was supposed to be therapeutic. And seeing all her thoughts and all the information written down, could help her understand what the hell was going on. Asking for a book and a pen shouldn't be too much.
A few seconds later, a knock sounded at the door and Twyla rushed over to get the tea.
"Thank y -" The words stopped short. Instead of an elemental from the kitchen, usually a fire elemental, Iynx stood at the threshold, holding the tray of tea. "Iynx. It's you." Twyla's voice broke and her eyes welled with tears. She hadn't realised how much she had missed the little nymph.
"Yes. I am sorry I've been away," Iynx's voice sounded so sad. Her eyes went to the necklace. "You're wearing it." Iynx didn't sound that happy.
"Yea. You made it and Hunter gave it to me. The two most important people in my life," Twyla gushed.
Iynx seemed a little distressed at those words but a smile made its way onto her face.
"Tea?" Iynx asked instead.
Twyla realised that she was still blocking the doorway and moved aside, letting her friend pass.
They sat at the table and were soon drinking warm, chocolate tea. Iynx had put good amounts of sugar and cream into Twyla's.
"You brought chocolate tea! Thank you," Twyla praised.
"I thought you'd need some comfort," Iynx smiled. "I sensed the bell and thought I'd come over."
"I- Thank you, Iynx. I missed you."
"I missed you too, Twyla. I haven't had someone who likes sweets and crafts as much as I do in a long time," Iynx said and she stuck out her tongue.
Soon, their rift was forgotten and they were back to doing random crafts on the plush carpet of her bedroom floor.
"Soo… Would it really be so bad if I were to leave this room?" Twyla tested the water. She didn't look up from the leaf she was tracing.
"What?" Iynx asked. "Oh, because of the fu- I mean. Yes. It would be."
"Why? Is it because Hunter and I are uh… Whatever we're doing?"
"What? No. That's fine. No. No. It's Hunter. But he doesn't want to tell you."
"A classic 'it's not you, it's me' situation," Twyla sighed, dramatically and flopped onto the carpet..
Iynx laughed, like bells in the wind. She looked up from her leaf. "Kinda yea. For what it's worth, I want him to tell you. But it isn't my business to pry and he is the leader here. He knows what is best for the cause."
"That is true. He is trying to make the world, worlds, a better place."
"Exactly," Iynx agreed and wiped a glittery palm across her forehead.
Twyla was still not satisfied when Iynx left for the night. She paced around her room. She trusted Hunter but she had to know what he was hiding. He didn't have to go through it alone, firstly. But also she had to do something. Was this how it was always going to be? Hunter going out to save the day while she sat inside and worried? It was sweet of him but it wasn't how she wanted to live. She rummaged through her cupboard and found dark shorts and a shirt. She tried her best to be quiet as she slipped into the clothes and then realised that there was no one near to hear her. No one seemed to occupy the rooms around her. A moment later, she realised that short sleeves might not be the best option in the cold of the night and found a velvet cloak to throw over her shoulders. Once again, she thanked Iynx for summoning clothes for her. Her sneakers were back on as well as her bag. As she stepped towards the door her sneakers sparkled brightly and she realised that they would be a dead giveaway. Twyla sighed. They were so comfortable. She kicked them off angrily and put on the impractical satin slippers she'd been wearing.
She rumpled her bed and stuck some pillows under the duvet to make it look like she was still there. Just in case…
The heavy door opened without a creak and she let go of the breath she was holding. None of the torches on the walls were lit tonight and all the heavy curtains were closed tightly. The darkness felt tangible. Her torchlight shone just enough for her to see her own feet. The darkness ate the light as she went. The silence was heavy. No one moved. She didn't hear the whisper of wind elements or the steps of nocturnal creatures. Her sense of direction was imperfect in the light and in the dark it was hopeless. She strayed from the middle of the corridors to look at paintings in the hope that one of them would help her remember the way. They did not. She was normally too busy appreciating the art to notice where it was hanging. The only reason she found the main staircase, in the end, was because she tripped over the corner of a carpet and tumbled down the first few steps. She stood still and held her breath. Had anyone heard the fall?
When nothing happened, Twyla carried on down the stairs. The main door was closed, with the same thick curtain drawn across. Twyla jiggled the handle but it was locked tight. Lock picking was not a skill she was particularly apt at.
Perhaps, the smaller door that led to the garden would give her better luck. Thankfully, that one was easier to find. This door didn't have a lock and Twyla did a quick, happy dance. She eased the handle down, pleading with it not to squeak.
The fresh night air breezed in and Twyla shivered. She inhaled deeply. The scent of earth and mint lingered on the breeze. She hadn't realised how stuffy it had gotten in the castle with all the windows and doors so tightly closed. Even if she didn't want to know what Hunter was up to, she craved the fresh air now. Stepping out the threshold, Twyla thought she'd feel something. She was, after all, doing something she really, really, was not supposed to. But she felt nothing. She closed the door behind her and looked out across the lawns.
"Now what?" Twyla considered.
The lawns were open and anyone in the castle would see her. Except. All the curtains were closed… And if she was quick she could get to the trees and blend in. There was no time like right now.
Twyla took a quick breath and sprinted to the trees. Leaning against one of the large oaks she peeked across to the castle. Nothing. No alarms. No curtains moving. No signs of any kind that someone had heard her leave or seen her running across the lawns. Good.
Twyla felt alive.
Hadiah
-- Hadiah diterima Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone