The Moon's Choice

Kilian 2.0

I wake up in an unfamiliar place. It smells different, and the sounds are different from the camp. I c***k an eye open and I realize I'm in a dark room. Not so dark that I can't make out the furniture and the dimensions. It's a very spacious room, so immediately I know I'm not in a cabin. I'm far from the encampment and in unfamiliar territory, that much I'm aware of.

I'm lying on a bed and I can't believe how comfortable it is, but this isn't the time to get cozy. This is unfamiliar territory and I could be in danger. I don't know who my captors are. Rogues, more likely, but where am I? I woke up once during the trip, but as soon as I started screaming they hit me over the head again and I passed out. I remember the attack and Justin and Daniel, running wildly with broken ribs and a bleeding head. I touch my head and I feel a thin line. It scarred already. How long was I out? A long time, it seems. I feel a few prickles of pain on my scalp, but otherwise, I feel physically fine. Emotionally, I'm in turmoil. I can't stop thinking about what happened. Xathan ordering to kill me. Having to run for my life. It was all just too much and I can't believe I survived it, but for how long? Who knows what they want to do with me? Who are 'they' even?

I need to find out where I am and I need to get out of here and back to the camp as quickly as possible. I need to find a way out of here. I need to find Kilian and tell him what happened. I think of him and it's like my heart is being squeezed. The thought of him being in danger could kill me. I have to make my way back to him, but I've been out for so long. Maybe it isn't that simple, but I have to find away. Where did those wolves take me? What is this place? It smells fine. Food maybe. Flowers. The bedsheets are fragrant. Not like a dungeon or a prison, but I could be wrong. Wrong.

I sit up and my head spins. Being hit over the head twice has its disadvantages. I feel my torso and there's no pain, so that's a relief. I feel other parts of my body for urgent injuries. I think I healed fine. There's no blood on my face though, so they cleaned me up. The thought of strangers touching me while I was unconscious makes me shudder.

I look around and I realize someone is sitting next to me. I scream an ear-piercing scream. I realize it's a male. He puts his hands up. My back hits the headboard. I'm about to attack him when I realize it's Kilian, and I'm filled to the brim with relief. "Kilian? How'd you find me?" I crawl to him. I feel his hand on my face. He's caressing me in that reassuring way of his.

"Ryn." It's so good to hear the sound of his voice. I grab his face between my hands and I kiss him. Tears are running down my face, I'm so relieved to have him here with me. He kisses me back hesitantly at first, and then he kisses me with the same ferocity as always. I hold him close to me and I feel his heartbeat against mine. He smells clean and washed. What's happening here?

I pull away. "What are you doing here? What is this place? What's going on?" Then it occurs to me. "Ty told you, didn't he? Xathan told Justin to kill me. I came across these rogues. But...how did you get here? Were you following us the entire time?" That would be the only viable explanation. It wouldn't, however, explain how he got inside this place.

He doesn't say anything, he just looks at me in the dark. It makes my skin crawl, how silent and unresponsive he is. I prod again. "Kilian."

He stands. "I'll explain everything to you. Just wait here. Don't walk around, just stay here." He leaves without another word.

What's happening here? Why is he acting this way? Where are we? I want to follow him, but he's gone and closes the door behind him. Even the corridor outside

I look around the room and I realize that wherever this is, it's a luxurious place. The bed is large and draped with soft bedsheets, and the pillows are fluffy. Everything smells clean and there's a carpet lining the floor. What is this place? It isn't a prison or a dungeon, to my relief. So maybe he knew the wolves who took me. But how? It's all so confusing. It just isn't making sense. He needs to explain all this to me in detail.

I stand from the bed and I look around. There's a door leading to a beautiful bathroom. I run my hands over the taps and I feel the towels. Everything clean and soft, so soft. Even the air smells clean.

I return to the bedroom and he still hasn't returned. I pace a little bit, then I return to the bed. I have nothing to do but wait for Kilian to return and explain the meaning of all this. Ty must have delivered my message. Most likely. I wonder where he is now. Everything is so perplexing, but I'm glad he's here—wherever here is—with me and not with Xathan. He needs to be away from him. He's cruel and vile.

Some hours pass and he doesn't return. He's always disappearing on me without any further explanation. I'm so anxious I'm biting my nails. It feels like I've been waiting for an eternity. My thoughts are all over the place. At least I don't have to think about running. He's here and that's all that matters.

When the door opens again, I jump to my feet.

"Come with me."

"Where are we going?"

He doesn't answer me and I follow him through a long corridor. I look around with my mouth hanging open. "Kilian, what is this place?"

He still doesn't answer me. I watch him walk ahead of me. He's dressed in new, clean, expensive clothes. I don't think I've ever seen him wear anything like this at all. Why's he being so secretive? I just don't understand.

We descend a staircase and the light in the room below stings my eyes. I've been in the dark for too long. I call his name again, but he keeps ignoring me. It makes me uneasy. Kilian never ignored me before. He would always give me answers, no matter how pushy I'm being. He always made me feel safe and reassured. Now he's so cold all of a sudden. It's like he doesn't even know me. This is all so strange. It's like I woke up in another dimension.

I hear chatter and we stop in front of a dining room. Everyone quiets down at the sight of us. Who are these people? There are males, females and some children. About thirty of them, all seated around a long wooden dining table. They're staring at me like I'm some kind of statue and it bothers me. My feet are bare, but not unclean, and my clothes have holes in them. They're all dressed well. I don't know what state my hair is in, but it can't look better than a bird's nest.

Kilian moves to sit at the head of the table. I look at all the food on the table and my mouth waters. I haven't eaten in so long and my stomach grumbles. I look at him and he's already staring at me with an expression I don't recognize.

"Kilian," I whisper so they don't hear me. "What is all this? Where are we?"

"Sit down." His voice is loud.

"No. Tell me where we are first. Don't you think I have the right to know? How'd you get here in the first place? Where's Ty? Did he give you my message?" I've lost my patience with him. He needs to start explaining right now.

He looks calm as ever. "I don't know who Ty is."

His statement chills my blood. He says it with so much sincerity that I think he's gone made for a second. No, he must be joking. Sure he knows. I scoff. "Are you serious? You don't know who Ty is? What's the meaning of all this, Kilian? What's going on?" I'm hysterical now and the people gathered around the table look shocked at my reaction. He turns to them and tells them to leave in a commanding tone.

They sit in place. After a beat, he says: "I won't say it a second time." Only then do they rise. They shuffle slowly towards the exit. I don't know where that leads to. Some look back at me, especially the women. I glare back. What's their problem? I don't like these people. There's an aura to them that doesn't sit right with me. Even the children look snotty.

Who are all these people? How does he have so much power over them? He watches them file away silently. There's a rigidity in his posture and a dark look in his eyes that I've never seen before. I'm almost afraid of what he has to say to me. If he had to send these people out, it can't be good. I brace myself for his words by holding on tighter to the chair in front of me.

He turns to me after they're all gone, and in a calm voice, says: "I'm not Kilian."