There All Along

Chapter 12: Crystal Clear Waters

Walking down the crystal floor of the Palace, my body shivered and jerked with my arms wrapped tightly around me, trying to gather as much warmth as possible. I was soaked, slightly mad because I was, and freezing cold. The clothes I wore clung to my skin heavily and weighted me down while I walked with a trail of water following behind me. I turned another sharp corner and emerged into the larger hallway that held my room at the end.

Just a few feet away, I thought.

The sweet water dripped down from my nose and made its way to my lips where I licked it, I puckered them at the unfamiliar candied taste.

Finally, I came to the door before taking one of my shaking hands from my grip and laying it on the keypad. Faintly, I could hear many people talking, rambling in both languages of English and Gathednian, on the inside. I swallowed deeply, I wanted nothing more than to take a shower and sleep from my long day...

But you must get the message across, a voice, barely audible, whispered to me.

Hearing a soft click, I entered the room. It was slightly crowded but no one noticed my entrance. Near the door stood a group of three guards that Harris spoke to while Kaden and Aron stood near the bathroom door along with Abia and Farrah. My face tilted, I hadn't seen Abia in awhile, she looked partly the same. Standing with her legs apart she wore all black; black unknown leather pants with a tee and small jacket, the look was complete with the same ponytail she always wore.

Abia saw me first. "Kaden." Her tongue rolled the word out with a heavy Gathednain accent.

"Taspo?!"

Kaden turned and snapped but Abia didn't say anything back to his frustrated response, she only dropped her arms and pointed to me. "... Courtney."

Kaden whipped around so quickly his ankles could've broke. Immediately, his intense emerald gaze flickered over every inch of my body making warm chills descended through me. My shivering stopped for only a second.

Kade didn't waste time, he made his way over to me and pulled me to him roughly despite me being soaked. Not that I cared much either, his hot body warmed me up and stopped my chattering teeth. I laid my head to his chest making his tee grow darker with many water droplets while Kade's arms wrapped around me tightly.

I wanted to pull back and ask him what he said but as I lay on his chest my eyes kept fluttering close. Kaden was unbelievably warm and I wanted nothing more than to be wrapped in his arms, safe and secure, in bed as I slept.

"Elop susupusca? Elop e tâ?"

Pulling back just a bit, I looked up at him and he down at me. Did he forget that I didn't understand Gathednain? "W-what are you s-saying?" Taking the warmness from my cheek that was laid against him made my teeth chatter again.

He sighed deeply, gently pushing my wet hair behind my ear. "Where have you been? Where were you?" Kade translated, stressing his words slightly. "When we came back from dinner no one knew where you were."

I laid my head against his chest again, squeezing my eyelids shut as I tried desperately to warm myself in his grip. "I-I'm fine... Just cold and... Wet, very wet." My body jerked uncontrollably, Gathednam really did get cold at night. "But," I sighed. "I was with the bald man."