The Scarlet Scepter

Chapter Twenty-two (Revised)

I slapped myself a few times while Cyrus stared at me.

"What are you doing here?"

He stood up. "I take it we're not in Megara anymore," he said quietly as his eyes roamed around.

"Yes, Cyrus. We're in my room."

"Your room? You mean this is your world?"

"Yes! What are you doing here? How did you get here? How did we get here?"

He frowned. "All I remember is running towards you as you fell. There was a bright light, and your body was slowly disappearing."

He was running and then I fell and . . . "I remember now. You held on to me."

He cleared his throat and looked away.

"This can't be happening." I'm fine with Cyrus and Cepheus being here with me, but Celia, the crazy witch? "How did they get here?"

Another knock at the door. "Annaliese! Are you really all right? I'm hearing another voice in there!"

If I don't say anything, Carole will open the door. She began pounding at the door. I rushed to the door and opened it slightly just enough for her to see my face.

Her hair was in curlers and her face was covered in cream. "What's going on in there? You're going to wake everyone!"

You're going to wake everyone, I thought. "I'm so sorry, Carole. I fell out of bed."

"I thought I heard another voice in there."

"How come? I'm the only one here."

She sighed in annoyance. "All right. Go back to sleep then."

"Yeah, yeah. I will." She trudged back to her room, and I softly closed the door. I am in so much trouble.

Cyrus was looking at me blankly. "Who was that?"

"It's my stepmother. She's going to kill me," I whispered. "What do I do?"

"Why are you whispering?"

"Because there are servants sleeping all over the house and I don't want to wake them." I sat down on the floor. Cepheus and Celia were still unconscious.

"What about the war?" he asked.

"I don't know. I was gone for almost two weeks but—"

Celia's eyes fluttered open, and she quickly stood up. "Where am I?" She pointed her sword at my face.

"You're in my room, Celia."

"Seriah?"

"No."

She looked around her. "What is this?"

"We're not in Megara anymore, Celia."

Cepheus woke up next, and he had the same reaction.

"You're in my world," I said simply.

"What?"

Celia blanched, but Cepheus's eyes filled with amazement.

"You're not surprised, Cepheus?"

"I have heard stories of another world, Annaliese, but I never believed it." He suddenly stopped. "Where is the Scepter?"

I started looking around the room while they watched me. I couldn't find it. I looked under the bed and in my closet. Then I looked at the spot where I was lying on the floor a while ago, but there was no Scepter. The pen my father gave me was. I picked it up gently. It can't be. . .