Obsidian Monarchy

Tea Time

Now that they were able to lay down and rest, she felt the exhaustion of the past few days hit her. However, she knew that she needed to try and discover how to conjure Jordan. She was effectively defenseless right now, learning how to control her gifts was essential.

Seraphina laid on her thin mat, fully clothed, and tried to relax her body. She would meditate frequently while in captivity, it was something that Jordan valued because the peace that accompanied it. Seraphina was now wondering if it was a clue.

The world was melting away, the sound of the forest lessened, the cold in the air gone. Right when she was on the verge of sleep, she felt a pull at her consciousness. It felt like there was a rope tied around her waist as her mind was ripped away from her body. Her whole being shook violently for what felt like days while knowing it was only moments. She shuttered to a stop next to a barn on some high mountain top. There was a garden down the hill and a small log cabin on the hill next to a barn.

Seraphina had never been to this place; the familiarity almost convinced her that she had been there before. Before walking around, she let her feelings settle. Now that she could see this place clearly, she knew that she was astral traveling. She had done it before; the most recent adventure was the night that Jordan died. It was Jordan’s memory she saw, but she also saw it from an angle that would have been impossible for it to be from Jordan’s point of view.

While they spent all day running, she had time to think about the memory and realized that Jordan had summoned her mind in the last moments of her life to pass on her last message directly.

The young woman was ready, she walked over to the edge of the garden, looking over the hillside. “Jordan!” After a pause, there was no answer. She continued this for an unknown amount of time. Eventually she gave up and began wandering the farm, soon she was in the barn that was almost empty. In the very center of the barn was a wooden table with two simple chairs. On the table there was a tea kettle and two overturned cups.

Curious, the woman walked over to the table and touched the kettle. It was warm to the touch, hoping this was a clue to summon the woman’s soul, she sat down and turned over the cups. They were a simple dish, no handles and a red-orange tint. When the cups were ready, she picked up the kettle and poured water into the empty cups. Then she waited, though not for long.

“Hello.” A voice rang out behind her; however, it was not the person she was hoping to see. Seraphina didn’t have to turn around to know that Adrain stood in the doorway of the barn. “I am surprised you came here so soon.”

She sighed in irritation, then looked back at him. The mark on her arm began to glow as he walked toward her. “Adrian.”

As he sat across from her, he smiled gently. “I am not the person you were hoping to see.” He stated.

She shook her head before picking up her cup of tea. Though she could feel the warm of the tea and the sense of taste, she knew she was not actually drinking the tea. “No, you’re not.”

Picking up the cup next to him, he took a drink before answering. “This is my dream space, no one is allowed in unless I let them. Now that you can travel on your own, I suggest you construct your own space.” He spoke nonchalantly, like this was a normal conversation to have.”

“If you suggest.” She looked around then, it crossed her mind that it was entirely too simple for a member of a ruling family.

Almost reading her mind, he answered. “Your mind space reflects your most comfortable place; it is in the center of your mind. From here you have access to everything. Which is why only those welcome can come.” He caught her looking around, confusion lightly in her eyes. “I prefer a simpler life and this reflects that.”

She laughed slightly at that. “A simpler life? Last time I spoke to you, power was what you were wanting.”

Putting the cup to his lips before answering, he watched her. “That is one way to define that.” He leaned back in the chair, his loose tunic shifting against his chest. He rested his foot on his knee, his dark leather pants clashed with the white of his tunic. He hardly looked like he had been traveling.

Setting down her now empty glass, she c****d her head to the side. “Telling me that we could rule the world together left little room for imagination.” She stood; walking by him only for him to grab her by her wrist. “I won’t tell you where I am Adrian.”

He shook his head and rotated her arm so the glowing mark on both their arms became visible. “I am not asking, mother made sure that we could always find each other. Before you go, please consider coming back tomorrow. Until you have a safe mind space, traveling like this is dangerous. I will help you create one.”

Looking at him suspiciously, she asked. “So, you can have access to my mind voluntarily?”

Again, disagreeing he spoke. “No. If I am not welcome there, your mind with subconsciously attack me. Even if I would do that without your consent, there are roads that I won’t cross. I do not need help finding you, however you are my fiancé and I want you to be safe.”

She was able to see that he spoke the truth by the glint in his eye. Signing she softened, smiling down at him. “You make it really hard to be mad at you.” Reaching down, she put her hand on his. “Why aren’t you taking advantage of this, why aren’t you mad that I ran?”

He shifted on the chair, rotating so they were now facing each other. “You never believed that I wanted what was best for you. Yes, my mother is overbearing, but I don’t agree with her. I am your friend first, her son second. It doesn’t look like it now, but you will eventually agree with me.” He reached up, touched her chin briefly before pushing her away. With a jerk she was flying back to her body, pulled by the invisible cord around her middle.

She was slammed back into her body with enough force that her flinch woke up Aster. He looked over his fury shoulder with sleepy eyes, behind him was the first signs of dawn. She had traveled all night, not sleeping a wink yet feeling totally rested. Reaching out, she patted the wolf on his shoulder. “I am ok, I’ll explain over breakfast.”