Cora was completely frozen in place. She tried to scream but for some reason she couldn't.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAv8SXUNKap8
The dark figure stood facing the back wall muttering something she couldn't make out. He slowly turned to face her.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAc0j6AsYDDr
Blood was pouring out from a cut on his face. When he saw her his eyes lit up for a brief moment.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAyarl6W9UFX
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.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAfGQiIQzCFl
He squeezed her hands and pulled her closer.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAbbo7kXNduZ
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAi8ZS7sSFi3
Cora had no idea how to respond. "Tell you what?"
187Please respect copyright.PENANAXIABHH2zDh
"I would have listened!" he yelled.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAuQYpCejVAg
Cora started to wonder if this was all a strange dream and when she woke up everything would be back to normal.
187Please respect copyright.PENANACoI3ypg8ZY
"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.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAEWHpKf5Arn
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.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAcIeWCVGg1b
Once they reached the room the boy collapsed on her bed.
187Please respect copyright.PENANA0mbsbKv2DR
"Good night Lily," he whispered.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAlQh5DEsgNa
"Good night," Cora responded sitting down on the edge of her bed. Today had officially become the weirdest day of her life.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAtijgoMtwqF
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.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAGB4puACcCS
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.
187Please respect copyright.PENANABZYU3eIhCC
She woke up the next morning the sun was shining so bright it lit up her entire room.
187Please respect copyright.PENANA1rKHxS2i8H
"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.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAqaXHepJ4RX
"You think you can fool me!" he yelled. "Where's Lily?"
187Please respect copyright.PENANAYliQbWIly0
"I don't know," Cora replied.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAmyHg2aQ1tw
"You're with Rivero just like everyone else aren't you!"
187Please respect copyright.PENANAGe2dKWDERQ
"I don't know who that is," Cora said. "I don't know anything about Lily or Rivero or anything you've said."
187Please respect copyright.PENANAUGABYlvwSz
He scoffed. "Where are you from Rome, Greece?"
187Please respect copyright.PENANAWb893JVlly
"I'm from Thessonia," she said quietly.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAn3zbBfQpcG
He placed his sword at his side and began to pace across the room.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAjdLVzzgpH4
"Where are we now?" he asked, still pacing.
187Please respect copyright.PENANADp6pJtl0fv
"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.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAoJm6XrH1ED
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."
187Please respect copyright.PENANASBATVQ2D2N
Cora had in lived Silvershore her entire life and it always looked like this.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAYRm1i5fHqh
"You must be a witch," he said with complete sincerity.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAHIAjxhYqiC
"What?"
187Please respect copyright.PENANAVD82TqgVB7
"Rivero must have hired you cast some sort of spell on me so he could overthrow me!"
187Please respect copyright.PENANAh6rE8X3Fzi
"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."
187Please respect copyright.PENANA9hglgvHatQ
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.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAhaHRrmSY6r
"You mean to tell me you've never heard of Galen Rivero?"
187Please respect copyright.PENANAiiLjD54cck
"No!" she said, slightly frustrated this time.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAFvrXBYx0e4
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.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAnfzQ9kEGW7
He began to walk down the hallway.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAxcppj57914
"Where are you going?" she asked.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAJr8qpB8yEI
He gave no response.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAr3AnPFx2gV
"Hey!"
187Please respect copyright.PENANAAJCuuEhA9z
He walked down the stairs through the kitchen and out the back door.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAOZJYjFZhdM
"It was a pleasure meeting you," he said.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAg3gpC8jk4F
"I don't even know you're name!" Cora exclaimed.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAj4gsV9Aqn3
He gave her a confused look and laughed. "I have important business to attend to and I ask that you don't follow me."
187Please respect copyright.PENANAsCkLNU4LHu
That sounded like a threat. He began to walk away.
187Please respect copyright.PENANA70jAPPnpwP
"Wait," she called out to him.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAGK7wTc3Wnx
"Cora it's time to go!" her mother called out to her.
187Please respect copyright.PENANA8dMI9vDCkT
"One second, Mom there's something I really need to take care of."
187Please respect copyright.PENANANvecz2X57u
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.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAiDgDVKB2OH
"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."
187Please respect copyright.PENANAUeoQMVGxAz
"It's okay, Mom I'll be extra careful."
187Please respect copyright.PENANAvWoP30LTdw
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.
187Please respect copyright.PENANA29aMiioMaH
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.
187Please respect copyright.PENANACm9QedMxyg
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.
187Please respect copyright.PENANASX72RK84oA
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.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAm87sejZFQp
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.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAqc3mS0SDd1
"Are you alright?" A somewhat familiar voice asked from behind her. It was Prince Lyon.
187Please respect copyright.PENANA9kueggGdpi
"I'm alright," she said as she placed a hand on her aching back.
187Please respect copyright.PENANApHYe3uh7KY
"Here, take a seat," he said pulling out a chair.
187Please respect copyright.PENANASh1s4OxVyN
Cora sat down. "What are you doing here?"
187Please respect copyright.PENANAwLVfpMGDFl
"I'm here to study the same as you."
187Please respect copyright.PENANAI3FzT6WX1n
"I mean what what are you doing in the break room don't you have a private room or something?"
187Please respect copyright.PENANAFFYTq3teOy
"I do but, I haven't been to this castle in so long I thought I'd take a look around."
187Please respect copyright.PENANAMkNMYQqtih
Prince Lyon took a few steps towards the counter.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAdAAKbdtufd
"Where are my manners? May I get you a some tea?" he asked.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAWtkhwGX2DD
"I couldn't possibly ask you to do that for me," Cora started to ramble.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAcfJN0VBEN8
"Don't be ridiculous," he said with a wink. "You're wish is my command."
187Please respect copyright.PENANAGgpG0oQodC
"I would like some tea," Cora said nervously.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAP1eEAxTVwP
A few moments later, Lyon returned with the tea.
187Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZAoOr6yfi
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.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAA5ddyWiHXO
Prince Lyon let out a laugh. You're so funny, Cora," he said with huge smile.
187Please respect copyright.PENANA6iD2w1TZPD
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.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAMhJcB9utZt
"Hey Cora," Dimitri said.
187Please respect copyright.PENANA2Zd2Jvi4XX
"Hey!" Cora replied. "I've missed you."
187Please respect copyright.PENANAzr6CIVcEQm
"We saw each other yesterday," he said sitting down next to her.
187Please respect copyright.PENANA6pIkXcz7v3
"I know but a lot of stuff has been happening to me lately."
187Please respect copyright.PENANACP1hzApWn9
"What kind of stuff?"
187Please respect copyright.PENANAMFb1cRWxUr
"Weird stuff."
187Please respect copyright.PENANAdoxhnoGAs0
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.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAxANaIdQtgY
"You're in my diplomacy class right?" Prince Lyon asked Scarlet.
187Please respect copyright.PENANASGUdWJP4xo
"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.
187Please respect copyright.PENANA4eeyMFqJhZ
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."
187Please respect copyright.PENANA7iHokMUZmN
Prince Lyon gathered his things and walked out the door. Cora couldn't help but stare until he was out of sight.
187Please respect copyright.PENANA3sbTuiwx7E
"Where were we?" Cora asked Dimitri.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAXZa27BVNgG
"Weird stuff."
187Please respect copyright.PENANA3yntGW6svE
"Right."
187Please respect copyright.PENANA06N132LIUu
"Hey speaking of weird stuff did you see the news?" He questioned.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAk7ATtZqLRn
"No."
187Please respect copyright.PENANAEope4LkB8r
Dimitri pulled up a news article on his phone. The headline read:
187Please respect copyright.PENANA8yxDceCY8p
MADMAN STEALS PRICELESS ARTIFACTS FROM ROYAL FAMILY.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAPzbbwrA4nY
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.
187Please respect copyright.PENANAnVxGljRuaM
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.
ns 172.70.100.181da2