Cora was completely frozen in place. She tried to scream but for some reason she couldn't.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zR6MH2qhf
The dark figure stood facing the back wall muttering something she couldn't make out. He slowly turned to face her.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SRCChQiji
Blood was pouring out from a cut on his face. When he saw her his eyes lit up for a brief moment.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2Ts7300va
He slowly walked towards her his metal leg clanking with every step. He was a considerable amount taller than her which made him that much more intimidating.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4d556A6Le
He squeezed her hands and pulled her closer.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHy384N8UU6
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6kmkfuDou
Cora had no idea how to respond. "Tell you what?"
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiW1GJuMgS8
"I would have listened!" he yelled.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡni3MJkRbRA
Cora started to wonder if this was all a strange dream and when she woke up everything would be back to normal.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQ56dDP0xz
"I've always treated you well, Lily," he said refusing to make eye contact. Cora had no idea who Lily was. This guy was clearly delusional. He could hardly keep his eyes open there were several times he nearly fainted. He was delirious, a side effect of being trapped in the crystal for so long.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wRMo7a0Ax
Cora had no idea what to do with him. Most places would be closed at this hour. She was going to play along until morning then she'd figure something out.
She tried to sneak him up to her room quietly, but his metal leg clanked loudly with with every step.
Luckily they didn't wake anyone.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuk4UflZIvm
Once they reached the room the boy collapsed on her bed.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUctmxX7tq
"Good night Lily," he whispered.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPjKQ5cx9B
"Good night," Cora responded sitting down on the edge of her bed. Today had officially become the weirdest day of her life.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8T7b1NlZK
Where was she going to sleep? Cora's mother would kill her if she found out she brought a strange boy in her room. Not even Dimitri was allowed in her room.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HrgHYh6hy
Tomorrow was her first day of warrior training and she hadn't slept at all the night before. She laid down on the opposite side of the bed. The bed was barley big enough to fit both of them.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEatx4chWq
She woke up the next morning the sun was shining so bright it lit up her entire room.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tUarT8X9t
"It was all a bad dream," she told herself. She rolled over on to her back to see a sword pointed directly at her face.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTyOaMz3uB
"You think you can fool me!" he yelled. "Where's Lily?"
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCJadkPaaj
"I don't know," Cora replied.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxflppzvEB
"You're with Rivero just like everyone else aren't you!"
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLCiDulUmk
"I don't know who that is," Cora said. "I don't know anything about Lily or Rivero or anything you've said."
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13iDKOwy9y
He scoffed. "Where are you from Rome, Greece?"
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuY0xVzPXU
"I'm from Thessonia," she said quietly.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lBdXq0I6K
He placed his sword at his side and began to pace across the room.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHEJock953
"Where are we now?" he asked, still pacing.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIw2qHSDG1p
"Silvershore, it's a small coastal town in northern Thessonia. You've probably never heard of it." Cora had a tendency to ramble when she was uncomfortable.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09EG01tV6G
He stared out the window for a few moments then he spoke. "That's impossible I grew up in Silvershore and it looks nothing like this."
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIytMkCdBpq
Cora had in lived Silvershore her entire life and it always looked like this.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtMYiysBNn
"You must be a witch," he said with complete sincerity.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtpjcGbt94
"What?"
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ61Tv2RVGU
"Rivero must have hired you cast some sort of spell on me so he could overthrow me!"
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8X4CGYr4TM
"Listen, two days ago I was wandering around my house and I happened to find a secret passage in my grandmother's study, that's when I saw you trapped in crystals like the ones at the resting grounds and I assumed that you were dead. So I kinda borrowed your sword but, when I went to return it, you were free."
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qlz6Wm24i
He laughed at the absurdity of her statements. Then, he leaned in so they were eye to eye. It felt like his dark red eyes were staring straight into her soul.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7rY0OqAr6
"You mean to tell me you've never heard of Galen Rivero?"
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9lcDsicPo
"No!" she said, slightly frustrated this time.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiu1PM1wYD
He turned towards the door. "You may keep the sword, it is merely a backup, it's nothing on my real sword." He said dropping it on the floor.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8af8I2E91O
He began to walk down the hallway.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJsSTAR4wn
"Where are you going?" she asked.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOqp53kDrk
He gave no response.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxmOmtcau7
"Hey!"
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TW0wellyP
He walked down the stairs through the kitchen and out the back door.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYnK17eukO
"It was a pleasure meeting you," he said.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvuXvpiDN5
"I don't even know you're name!" Cora exclaimed.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsF6jeyryC9
He gave her a confused look and laughed. "I have important business to attend to and I ask that you don't follow me."
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgHGwY0Iqs
That sounded like a threat. He began to walk away.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTid9OmU3J
"Wait," she called out to him.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppVgxfmQ8x
"Cora it's time to go!" her mother called out to her.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquoGDqEUSN
"One second, Mom there's something I really need to take care of."
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nKm01yROG
Cora glanced at the clock. She was late. She looked at the boy and then looked at the clock. She really had to go. She grabbed her sword and met her mom in the car. They two drove in silence for a few minutes then her mother spoke.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbXadRzgV0
"You know I don't approve of your career choice but I hope you know that I just want to keep you safe. I don't know what I would do if something happened to you."
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0XViwzpen
"It's okay, Mom I'll be extra careful."
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0LJjvVQSE
The Prestige Program held their career training in an old castle that the royal family donated. Cora navigated her way though the halls. There were bright red tapestries with pictures of lions on them, hanging from the ceiling that perfectly complemented the ivory walls. There were also several statues of lions scattered throughout the halls. Whoever decorated this place had good taste. Cora thought to herself.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgHy84NlIi
She followed her map to the back courtyard where the warrior training was to take place. The courtyard had a large fountain in the center and there were several bushes with white lilies lining the walls.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37zTpoAJ83
The teacher made all the students stand in a single file line, but out of the corner of her eye Cora could see Dimitri. Cora was so glad he made it. It wouldn't have been the same without him.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ378cqe24NT
Every single muscle in her body ached, she had no idea the training would be this brutal. Mr. Tréville didn't hold back at all, but there was no way she was going to give up now.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTAi1JEgEU
Cora walked towards the break room dragging her feet behind every step of the way. She nearly tripped over her own feet on her way to the snack counter.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzk9lisnVp
"Are you alright?" A somewhat familiar voice asked from behind her. It was Prince Lyon.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuIhyedrkE
"I'm alright," she said as she placed a hand on her aching back.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLpF2NuI7m
"Here, take a seat," he said pulling out a chair.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CupigjMFA
Cora sat down. "What are you doing here?"
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZEexul9du
"I'm here to study the same as you."
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9ETivfqeL
"I mean what what are you doing in the break room don't you have a private room or something?"
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeZiIAsopi
"I do but, I haven't been to this castle in so long I thought I'd take a look around."
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMCnvgG9HB
Prince Lyon took a few steps towards the counter.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61GExvkRWP
"Where are my manners? May I get you a some tea?" he asked.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdtuqi4E9b
"I couldn't possibly ask you to do that for me," Cora started to ramble.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EkiGOb657
"Don't be ridiculous," he said with a wink. "You're wish is my command."
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8BeoztOau
"I would like some tea," Cora said nervously.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIpHTrSXPr
A few moments later, Lyon returned with the tea.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw592Jp8fYe
Cora took a sip. It tasted like fresh herbs with a hint of cherry. It was so delicious Cora chugged the entire cup as fast as she could.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHaYUeo852
Prince Lyon let out a laugh. You're so funny, Cora," he said with huge smile.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbRsLB0q1H
For some reason her heart started pounding. Something about his laugh made her feel safe.
Cora felt a hand on her shoulder which snapped her back to reality.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98yTEFCq03
"Hey Cora," Dimitri said.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCa9A5yzkO
"Hey!" Cora replied. "I've missed you."
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFODPG9hBVa
"We saw each other yesterday," he said sitting down next to her.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs502NJGGXX
"I know but a lot of stuff has been happening to me lately."
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJccSc0ld8B
"What kind of stuff?"
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYZKaeD7Cf
"Weird stuff."
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6YtpFdkEB
Scarlet just stood there with her arms crossed. Cora couldn't remember a time when Scarlet wasn't by her brother's side. Cora wondered if Scarlet ever did anything without her brother.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3gHmEi1Ns
"You're in my diplomacy class right?" Prince Lyon asked Scarlet.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2ujiA49zl
"Yes, my sorting results said I'll work in foreign negotiations," she said. Cora thought that was strange considering that she'd never seen Scarlet talk to anyone never mind negotiate.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueiuEipm7R
Lyon checked his watch, which appeared to be made of solid gold. He let out an exasperated sigh. "I have to go I'll talk to you later, Cora, and if you ever need anything your wish is my command."
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCToDY1tzv
Prince Lyon gathered his things and walked out the door. Cora couldn't help but stare until he was out of sight.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJQy4F6iTw
"Where were we?" Cora asked Dimitri.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eqqh59nTV
"Weird stuff."
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TuATIlESY
"Right."
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9Cr3siXCh
"Hey speaking of weird stuff did you see the news?" He questioned.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8P7P7b0Pai
"No."
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzsCd0hbpQ
Dimitri pulled up a news article on his phone. The headline read:
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigO9JScUDs
MADMAN STEALS PRICELESS ARTIFACTS FROM ROYAL FAMILY.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0XgsHejoV
The photo was blurry. It would be impossible for anyone else to make out but, to Cora it was clear as day. It was undoubtedly the boy she found trapped crystal.
505Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXj4FwH93C
Cora couldn't shake the feeling that this was all her fault. She had to find him and make things right. Nothing was going to stand in her way.
ns216.73.216.238da2
