Blood of the Skies and Shadows - Chapter Eighteen

Hello everyone, yes, yes, yes I know I'm extremely late and that's inexcusable but things have been hell the past few weeks! Tests assignments and interviews I might actually be going insane grrr. Anyway this chapter is pretty boring if I may say so myself but the chapters after this one aren't so just poor through it for me okay? I'm really sorry for my lateness, I do have a tendency to be late if you haven't noticed he..he. Anyway enjoy and look forward to the chapters after this one!

Love lots, Caelia.
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Lexi.
I tossed restlessly in the bed of silver silk covers and pillows. I was roiled by the idea of taking such a long time to save Demetri and everyone else I cared about. I couldn't believe Ian and a group of others were taken right from under our noses, we were rendered completely helpless. I frowned deeply and sighed. I shoved the covers away, grabbed the silky black cloak Lucian had given to me and leaped out of bed. I had been somewhat pampered, much to my discomfort. The queen had been very kind, telling servants to pour warm water into a large creamy marble bath thing and gave me spare but absolutely too beautiful-for-sleeping clothes. I wasn't pleased at the selection since they wouldn't offer much protection like a pair of flexible jeans and a thick leather jacket, but I was still grateful. I was also allowed my weapons back after we left the throne room, surprisingly there was no argument over them.

I clipped my belt with knife sheaths on it around my waist and peeked out into the hallway. It was empty with the exception for a few warriors who seemed to be patrolling. Once they turned the corner I waited a few moments before stepping out. The halls were merely columns with charming wrought rails, so the nights sky of the eternal lands were visible. In the shadow world, the moon hung by itself in the pitch black sky but I never thought it seemed lonely, whereas here it did. My chest heaved in sync with my exasperation as I turned my eyes to the cold polished floor instead. Honestly I felt lonely and helpless. Everything seemed to move too slowly and here I was resting, at least I was trying to. I was a vessel and that would save both worlds etc, etc, etc. But I only felt the need to take back the ones I loved and cared for right now.

"Pardon, Lady Alexia, is the bedding not to your satisfaction?" A hesitant young girl's voice asked, her quiet voice encroaching my thoughts out of nowhere. I almost jumped at the sound of her voice. I didn't even notice I was that unguarded, I scolded myself mentally. This disconcerting vexation was wearing me down and fast. I brought my eyes up to the girl. It was a chambermaid Lady Rhyannon had assigned to care for me. I didn't understand the necessity since I was only staying for the night but again I appreciated her kindness and didn't refuse. How could a person refuse a fairy queen if she wanted to be generous in the first place? I shrugged the thought off and turned my attention back to the fairy girl. She couldn't have been more than fourteen years old. Faeries only stopped aging when they reached adulthood, so she must've truly been a teenager. She looked like most faeries, less beautiful than Lady Rhyannon, but she was only just growing into her looks. Her cheekbones were high but her face was still a little round and bouncy, her strawberry blonde hair, unlike the faery adult women reached only slightly past her shoulder blades. She still bordered in between child and young woman. I felt a lot older than her, with all that figurative weight on my shoulders, though in reality I was barely out of young adulthood myself. When I didn't reply she spoke, her voice a little shaky and nervous.

"I apologize deeply if I startled you. 'Twas truly not my intention." She bowed her head and did a shaky curtsy. Her ice blue eyes were suddenly fixated on her feet as if I would beat her or something. I shook my head and smiled.

"No, I'm sorry. I just wasn't expecting anyone to come by so late at night. And no, the room and bed are fine. I'm just restless tonight err...I apologize but I don't remember your name." I said quickly. She looked back up, her eyes still anxiously focusing on every place but my eyes.

"'Tis Lilliana, m'lady." She answered politely, her head still subtly bowed. I smiled, Lilliana sounded so close to Lily but the two, though both fair-haired and blue-eyed were polar opposites. This girl seemed shy and polite whereas Lily was blunt and rude. I almost laughed at the image. But when I remembered she was probably taken by those demons I felt like a hole had been punched in my chest.

"Okay, I'll call you Lilliana and you should call me Alexia or Lexi. Whichever is more comfortable to you. Deal?" I told her, I may have sounded a little fierce but there was a small smile on my face. Truthfully I was used to being called 'Miss.Lexi' by Annelise but that was because the name I was called by everyone was used as well. I wasn't used to strangers speaking as though I was royalty. She looked at me directly then. Her blue eyes twinkled with curiosity and mortification.

"I could ne'er m'lady! It would be simply rude and insolent of a servant to improperly address Queen Rhyannon's guest. Queen Rhyannon would ne'er allow it." She uttered, her eyes wide with astonishment and worry. I rolled my eyes.

"It'd be rude not to address me the way I want to be called, don't you think? Besides I'm sure Lady Rhyannon wouldn't mind a little less informality because I don't believe she's petty at all." I told her. Her nervousness eased a little when she realized the smile on my face was sincere. She nodded, she still seemed a bit anxious but there was a small odd smile on her face.

"'Tis Alexia then." She mumbled quietly. I grinned and nodded.

"Great. Now Lilliana, would you mind showing me to a quiet place with a view? I can't sleep for some reason." Although I knew the reason. I mentally sighed, feeling weary and annoyed but not tired or sleepy.

"I know just the place m'la.. I mean Alexia." Her pale cheeks flushed with pale red, making her lean more towards childish than young woman. She would take a while to get used to a first name basis, I guessed but it was a good start. I grinned as she led me away.