Between the Shadows

Entering Central

7

Damae

“You are not in control here, Danger.” Thorsen says into our kiss, his hands still roaming up my waist.

“I am the one with a dagger to your throat.” I sit up on his lap, keeping the dagger tight on his neck. “You let your guard down too easily,” I smirk. Thorsen smirks back at me, then I feel a cold sensation on my ankles. I look down, and his shadows are creeping up my legs. My eyes go wide, and I try to stand up, but he is keeping me in place.

Thorsen sits up, his and my chest touch, his hand goes to the back of my neck. He places his cheek on mine, “I am always in control. I will always have you wrapped around my finger, stuck in my shadows, and that is why you will be easy to kill during the trials.” He laughs deeply, and his shadows retract.

I shove him in the shoulders and get off his lap.

“Screw you, Thorsen.” I walk over to my stuff, swipe it off the sand, and put it into my saddlebag. I mount Luck and start him on a walk. I hear him messing with the saddle on his horse, and I can sense his eyes on the back of my head.

“Don’t be so sensitive. You already knew I was going to kill you. I have to win the trials, and the only way to achieve that is to kill everyone attending.” His voice seems soft, like he actually cares. I am not getting wrapped up in him anymore. I just met the man, and I am the one who is letting my guard down. I have to get my head in the game.

“We are never happening again, Thorsen. I will not let you get to me anymore. So you can quit talking and just leave me alone.” My grip on the reins is so tight my knuckles are turning white. Thorsen rides up next to me, his black horse taller than Luck.

“Never say never.” Then they take off into a run. I roll my eyes and keep Luck at a lower pace, fast enough to keep up, but slow enough that I don’t have to be in Thorsen’s vicinity.

……………………………………..

The rest of the ride through the desert was quiet, uneventful and hot. As we come to the end of the desert, a cobblestone path becomes uncovered from the sand. The walls surrounding Central Gallie are pristine, unbroken grey stone. They are tall, the city is a fortress in its own right. I can feel the magic emitting from the city, I haven’t felt anything quiet like this. The magic feels warm, soothing, unlike Thorsen’s magic. His is cold, uninviting, his magic is something else entirely.

Our horse's steps are loud against the cobblestone path. The shadow of the wall covering us from the sun. I watch Thorsen’s muscles in his back get tense as we get closer to Central.

“Scared you’re not going to get through? Heart too impure?” I chuckle.

“I’m in the Trials, I can get through no matter what my intentions are, Danger.” He glances over his shoulder. His grey eye catches mine, and a shiver runs down my spine and heat warms my stomach. Why does my body react like this to him? I want nothing to do with him, but yet, I want his body all over mine. I decide not to answer him, and go back to silence.

Thorsen halts his horse before we cross the threshold of the city. There are no guards, the magic guards this city all on its own. I stop next to Thorsen. I look over at him, he is already looking in my direction. We share a moment, both knowing what it means. This is it, he won’t save me anymore, what happened between us stays between us. As soon as we cross the gate. I am totally on my own.

I nod, and Luck and I cross the threshold of Central. I feel the magic in my bones. I close my eyes, my breath hitches and I roll my shoulders as the magic leaves my body. Luck shakes his body, forcing my eyes open to catch myself from falling off the saddle. I can’t believe what I am seeing. From the outside, there was nothing, no life, no sound coming from the city. Now there are people, bright roofed buildings, laughter, children running and playing through the streets. It is nothing like I have ever seen before. I continue in the city, unsure of where I have to go. I watch as people buy items from carts, people smiling and waving at each other. Everyone is kind. Everyone is happy.

I look back, and Thorsen is nowhere to be seen. I guess I really am alone here. I dismount Luck and grab his reins and I walk through the city. I come up to a large brown stone building. The door is wooden with delicate steel shaped into a horse rearing up on it’s hind legs on it. There are horses tied to a post that has a water trough under it. I tie up Luck on it and he gladly takes his fill of water. I pat his neck and grab my bag of personal items from his saddle. I swing it over my shoulder and I read the sign swinging above the door.

“The Wild Pub.” I say to myself and laugh a little. I pull open the door, and the smell of beer and alcohol floods my nose. There are subtle scents of food, which makes my stomach growl. After eating bread with water for almost three days, I am starving for a good meal. I sit down at the high top bar and place my bag by my feet.

“What can I get ya, darlin’?” A older man, maybe in his fifties, asks. His hair is dark, with grey showing through. His eyes are brown and kind, he smiles at me like he knows me.

“Yeah, what kind of food do you have here?” I smile back at him.

“We have a simple menu here. We have a soup and brisket meal that comes with fries and a drink.” He says tapping the counter.

“That sounds perfect, thank you.”

“What can I get you to drink?”

“Water will be just fine. Thank you.” I smile at him again, then he walks away to a door behind the bar. The chatter in the room is loud, but welcomed. The desert was quiet, not lonely, thanks to the large presence of Thorsen.

Just as I was getting comfortable in the noise of this place, the door swings open loudly, and the place goes quiet. Thorsen Drake stands in the doorway, looking directly at me.