The Lord and his Queen

Chapter 4: Unanswered Questions

I was lost. As he spoke I began to realize that through everything that had happened I was willing to believe just about anything. He could have told me I was in a coma and dreaming it off or the tower had fallen on me and I was dead. He could have said ghosts, goblins and vampires were real and the thing that attacked me was some demon parasite and I would have believed him. But in that moment “I love you sarafynah” were the most unrealistic, and unbelievable words I had ever heard. And I had heard them a thousand times in my life. I could only stare at him. 

“you’re-I mean thats-theres...HUH?!” I stammered. He pressed his lips together and narrowed his eyes as if to say well I warned you. Not that that wasn't true he did warn me. 

“You don't even know me Ronan.” I said, trying to calm my reaction. I folded my hands in my lap feeling bad for upsetting him. “What makes you feel like you might-I mean how do you know?”

“I told you it would be the hardest thing to grasp. If you are so intent on answers then once you are released from here and your wound is healed I will show you. Again I warn you may not like everything I have to say and I dare say it will scare you. But I suppose you will find out eventually.” He ran his finger tips down my cheek and traced my chin before standing and leaving. It didn't take long for the nurse to come see I was awake and checked my bandage. I was surprised to see only a small puncture wound as though a fairly large needle had pierced me. She gave me my clothes and let me go. I left realizing I had been in the school infirmary. It made sense to me they had a much nicer infirmary than most schools given their funding and location. A large boy was waiting for me outside and escorted me back to my dorm. I also saw a group of students escorting Amber off campus. 

Once inside the dorm building I had to go on my own to my dorm where Lucinda was waiting. 

“Oh Sarafynah there you are!” She hugged me and I groaned. The puncture was mostly healed but still sore.

“OH! Sorry” She squeaked “tell me everything! You weren't in class and the next thing I knew I saw you being carried to the infirmary by that super pretty guy that started this morning, and Amber is apparently in like a lot of trouble. Like so much so that she is being forced to leave the school. What is going on?!” I laughed. He was indeed very pretty.

“Well for starters his name is Ronan Thorne apparently, and he's THE guy Lucinda.” I said looking out the window. She followed my gaze, puzzled for a moment, and suddenly her eyes went wide. She looked back to me, then back out the window, then back to me. I nodded knowing her silent questions. “He's the man I saw that night in front of the tower. And probably the figure from the window two days ago. Oh this is all so messed up Lucinda” i went and sat on the bed and took off my shirt revealing my bandage. “Amber attacked me. At least I think it was amber. I could have been hallucinating but she seemed to turn into some scary monster. I would almost go off of a mythological stand point and say she was acting like a succubus but that's not what I imagined a succubus to look like. But after what happened I wouldn't hesitate to say they are real. That's how bizarre things are right now.” I grabbed my sketchbook and jotted down what I remember seeing. I sketched amber's face but with the black hair and the pointed fingers and barbed tongue. I told Lucinda of the barb going in my chest. “Mythologically speaking Succubi don't drink blood, they drink desire, lust, and passion. In my thesis I relate those to certain hormones produced in that area of the body. Ronan said that when I was feeling better he would tell me everything but I have one other fear.” she looked at me incredulously as if to say ‘as if this wasn't enough’ and I just kept going with my fear.

“I think I will have to enter the tower…” her eyes seemed to bug out of their sockets.

“Sarafynah...there's no way I mean literally everyone who goes in there NEVER comes out. At least not on record.” she said going through her notes. 

“What is said to be inside the tower anyway?” I asked her. At this she looked up at me and bit her lip.

“You know. Of all the questions asked about the mysterious tower of Darken university...that one isn't one of them. I guess there's no talking you out of it so there's only one thing left. If you are entering Darken tower I am going with you.” I looked at her and admire her bravery.

“Even if it means no return?” she nodded. “Well then I guess I’m just happy I’m not going alone but something tells me it will be safe.” We spent the next few hours going over notes, sketches and homework.

“You know sarahfynah. I understand why you said you couldn't sketch him, he's far too beautiful for words.” I smiled as she spoke.

“Yeah he's pretty attractive. And mysterious and has literally no bubble for personal boundaries. Not to mention the way he acts is like he's not even from this time. It could just be a European thing but he has 0 boundaries.”

“Is he at least a good kisser?” she asked, winking at me. I felt heat rising to my cheeks as I remembered that evening. I had kissed him back so forcefully that he had pulled me over the fence and held me up. Now I understood why he had done that. All I could do was nod. Looking out the window I realized it was quite dark. If I was going to confront him for answers now would be the time.

Lucinda and I snuck out of the halls careful to avoid the hall monitors at all costs and sprinted across the courtyard. I quickly hopped the iron fence and offered my hand to Lucinda who froze. 

“My grandfather died on the other side of that fence...My family has spent generations wondering and studying what could have happened.” I understood her hesitation and reached over taking her hand gently.

“I know this is a HUGE deal to you so I won't blame you if you don't follow me but if you do we gotta go now or we will get caught and neither of us will get answers.” she snapped out of it and clambered over the fence. I knew she couldn't see the tower so I led her to the door and Knocked. Her eyes bugged as she heard the knocking sound.  I could almost hear her heart pounding in her chest. The door swung open and we were suddenly bathed in the same yellow light I knew from the previous time I was here. There he was. He leaned on the door frame looking like a god in a picture frame. His hair was let down and he wore black pants draped in chains with a black shirt undone on the front revealing his bare chest. The rest of his body seemed as perfectly chiseled as his face. 

“Ladies. I wasn't expecting company.” I smiled and Lucinda blushed so red I thought she would faint.

“I-we...are ready for answers”  he raised an eyebrow and gestured us in. I hesitated.

“Ronan...everyone in recorded history who enters this tower never leaves…” I stated.

“On my Love for you I promise you and your friend will leave this tower tonight unharmed.” I nodded and Lucinda and I stepped in and Ronan closed the doors behind us.