Arcadia : The Hidden Child

Chapter 11

My stomach did a flip.
Tristan.
He grabbed my hand and placed it around his arm, I could feel his bulging bicep through his shirt.  "You look beautiful," he whispered softly.
I felt my cheeks flush and my stomach tighten, thankfully it was dark so he couldn't see my reaction.   The reflective lights on the castle illuminated the area surrounding it and I could see Tristan was dressed in all white with a golden belt and matching headpiece.
He turned and saw me staring at him. 
"Like what you see?"  He smiled.
This was a completely different side to him, almost charming.
"I am just not used-"
He interrupted.  "I know."  He quickly glanced behind him. 
Right, Damian was following closely.
I turned toward the castle and didn't say anything else.  As we approached the door he gave my hand a soft rub and light squeeze before removing it from his arm and continuing to hold my hand up, he moved to the front so he was facing me.  We locked eyes briefly before Damian walked up.  Tristan placed my hand on top of Damian's arm so my hand rested on his wrist. 
"You will find your dinner spots just ahead, please enjoy yourself tonight."  He bowed to Damian and then took my free hand and gently brushed his lips across my knuckles.
My heartbeat quickened.
Who was this person with Tristan's face?  He was polite, charming, and-
Damian interrupted my reverie.  "Are you ok?"
I cleared my throat.  "Yes, sorry this is all so..." I paused to find the right word.
"Overwhelming?" He offered.
I jumped on it.  "Yes. Overwhelming." I saw Tristan out of the corner of my eye walking back out to the main drive up, I assume to retrieve another guest and I couldn't help but think he was smiling.
Damian led me into the main doors and when we walked in the grandeur took me by surprise, it was beautiful in here.  There were large vines with even larger flowers, some bigger than my head, hanging and strewn across the ceiling.  The walls had bright lights, orange, purple, green and blue shown on them, changing every so often.  There was a small child who walked up to the wall and held his hand up and the lights rippled away from his hand like he had touched water.  He must have gotten a lot of enjoyment out of this because he continued tapping the wall and watched the ripples stretch across the wall and up onto the ceiling.  I looked around to take it all in and noticed, there were numerous groups of people talking amongst themselves.  I couldn't help but notice some of the people looked like they weren't from Arcadia.  They were taller, thinner, their facial bone structure more defined, their eyes larger and more angled, nose smaller and lips thinner.  The woman who appeared to be the leader wore a tight golden metallic one piece with a long flowing skirt behind her.  She looked beautiful, almost what I would imagine an anthropomorphic Sphinx would look like.
"That is Yerdona, Queen of the Hepkanots."  Damian whispered into my ear.  "She has an alliance to any family who can serve her and her race."
"She is beautiful."
"It is all part of the allure.  You need to stay away from all Hepkanots."
I couldn't tell if he was speaking from experience, it made me wonder if he had once been burned by a Hepkanot or by Yerdona herself?
I watched her walk over to a man and woman dressed similar to Tristan in all white with a gold belt and head piece on.  The woman's headpiece seemed to be a little larger and more feminine, while the belt was less bulky and angular, more like a rope that draped around her body.  They turned around simultaneously to greet Yerdona with a small curtesy and I about lost it. 
Cash.
He was here, it was true.  He is the queen's son...my brother.  Cash's perplexed gaze shifted from me to the Queen and then back to me, clearly picking up on something.  He didn't know?  The fact he didn't know I was his sister made be feel a little better since he hadn't told me he was Arcadian royalty.
"That is my mother isn't it?"  I said through clenched teeth.
"Yes." Damian said matter-of-factly.
"Did you not think it important to tell me where we were going?" I snapped.
"Be mindful to watch your tongue.  If I thought it would have made a difference I would have told you."  He placed his hand on top of mine and tapped gently, a simple warning not to remove my hand from his arm.
"It's only customary we greet the family prior to entering the dining hall."
"I understand."  I said trying to curb my irritation and anger.
"Perfect," he smirked.
I could tell he was going to enjoy this too much.
"Queen Arista." Damian said bowing.  "I believe you already know Araleigh."
I looked her in the eye and then curtseyed.  She didn't remove her eyes from mine and she imitated my curtsey. 
"Cassius."  The queen motioned.
Cash, or Cassius, picked up my hand and gently put his forehead against my knuckles.  "Araleigh."
"Cassius."  The name sounded funny coming out of my mouth.  "Queen." I nodded my head in her direction.
"Araleigh.  Damian."  The queen said, hesitantly.  She wasn't showing any sign but I could tell she was extremely upset, almost like I could feel it.
"Let's go find our spot at the dinner table, shall we?" Damian deliberately grabbed my hand in front of the queen to lead me into the dining hall as I fought the urge to turn around and get one more glance at my mother.
I waited until we were in the dining hall and then pulled Damian into a corner.  "What the hell was that?"  I did not try to hide my anger.  "Am I suppose to be your little puppet you prance around in front of her?"
"Watch-"
I interrupted.  "No, I want to know what I am doing here." I knew I was going to regret what I had just done.
Damian looked at me for a long moment before he answered, probably weighing out whether to kill me here or wait.  He slowly grabbed my hand, "No, I have bigger plans for you."  He smiled.  "I can see the stunt I just pulled has upset you and I apologize for that." This was not the reaction I expected but his words meant nothing, there was no sound of remorse in his voice, maybe a hint of excitement and joy, but definitely not remorse. He waved us towards the dinner table because people were starting to look at us.
He leaned in closer and hissed just above a whisper, "But please keep in mind that if you ever speak to me like that again, you will see how ruthless I can really be."  His brows raised and his lips tightened, "Would it be dear Mr. Thomas, or perhaps your brother Cassius?"
Without turning to look at him I mumbled softly, "I apologize.  I've been told my emotions get the better of me sometimes." 
He didn't say anything, but guided me to our dinner seats.
The dining hall was very large and ornate looking and hosted a long table in the center of the room made of a wood that almost glowed.  It was set formally with enough plates, glasses and silverware to feed a small country and there were beautiful flowers in large bouquets spread along the table, each unique to its setting, but working cohesively with the other arrangements.
As if hearing my thoughts Damian answered, "They are flowers that represent each of the five families."
"Is that one moving?"  I asked about the one bouquet near the end of the table.
"Yes, it represents Yerdona's planet.  It is a bouquet of local flowers found on Hepkanot and the flower in the middle is called the Belahum.  It dances and moves with its surrounding environment, but they can be nasty little creatures.  If the environment is tense and violent, it also turns the same, however, right now, it is happy and jovial, which is why it is dancing."
"Interesting."
"Indeed.  It is a sort of measure at these meetings to keep things pleasant."  He looked down the long table.  "Do you see the golden flowers with the glowing green and purple dots?"
I recognized them immediately and couldn't help but shudder at the memory from earlier today.
"Pretty to look at, but don't touch."
I nodded.
"Is that where we'll be sitting?"
He nodded.  "Each bouquet acts as a general assignment of each of the five families."
"Where are each of the five families from?"
"You have the Hepkanots, Arcadian royalty, the Bolax, the Quafers and us, the Nevi."
Us, not hardly.  "You can have two families from the same planet?"
"Not usually, but when the Nevi's took control of Earth, we argued we could use that as our country of origin.  It went to voting and passed, three to one.  I will let you guess who voted it down."
"The Queen?"
"Yes."
"So how awkward is it we are sitting in the same area as them?"
"Not too bad.  She has come to understand there's nothing she can do about it because  she needs us to help protect the five families."
"How?"
There was a light melodic tinkling noise. 
He looked around, "It is time for us to take our seats and do not talk during dinner." He shot a nasty glance at me.
We walked toward the Arcadian bouquet and found our seats which mine was labelled as Damian's guest.  I guess he didn't want to give my name and spoil the shock and surprise for the Queen.  Damian's guard, Maxwell, pulled out my chair and pushed me in and then took the seat to the right of me, with Damian sitting to my left.
I watched as others slowly filtered into the hall, taking their seats.  Damian leaned over and pointed out the Bolax and the Quafers.  The Bolax were a group five male looking figures and one female and they were very large and bulky, something I would equate to a troll.  Their skin was gray and covered in a light amount of hair and they had large bulges on their backs and arms with slightly elongated faces. 
The Quafers were sitting opposite of them and had only four people and I would assume two guards.  They were small and slender looking creatures, almost fairy-like, with bright vibrant hair colors, who were quite the contrast to the Bolax.  There were two female creatures whose hair was pink and purple slicked up into a fancy hairdo, while the two male creatures had green and blue hair, much shorter and slicked back away from the face.  The two guards behind them had black hair although it held a bit of a sparkle.
When the Quafers took their seat, they gave a small nod to the Bolax , who returned with a solemn gesture.  Something seemed very tense between the two, but what did I know?  While I had the last ten years to come to terms with another life force outside of Earth, I had no idea it was so much larger than I thought. 
At the end of the table I saw the large group of Hepkanots take their seats.  There were eight of them all dressed in similar colors, I had to assume family colors?
The Arcadian royal family walked in once everyone was seated.  The Queen took her seat directly in front of Damian, with Cash sitting across from me and Tristan sitting to his right, both looking very handsome in their outfits.  As Cash was taking a seat he stared at me, like he was trying to tell me something telepathically, and Tristan quickly glanced from me to Damian and then looked away.  It appeared the old Tristan was back, the charming, charismatic person who had walked me in was completely gone and was replaced by the stoic, always planning, always on edge Tristan.  Maybe he had a twin, I chuckled and caught both Tristan and Cash looking at me quizzically.  I quickly regained control and noticed Damian was looking up, so fortunately, he did not seem to notice.
I followed his gaze and realized there was a second level separated by a balustrade, that encircled the entire dining hall.  I followed it around to right above me and saw two of Damian's guards walk out on the terrace and look down at us.  I noticed at almost the exact same time, all of the other families had guards who also stepped out above them.  The heavy presence of guards was beginning to make me nervous, as I had assumed the meeting of the five families was going to be a peaceful event.  I looked to Tristan as a gauge on whether everything was normal and he appeared to be calm, so I tried to relax.
Once the balcony guards were in place the Queen of Arcadia stood up.  "Greetings to all." She smiled and waved her arms out making sure to look at each person briefly.  "My family and I have called this meeting of the five families to celebrate another year of our alliance.  Not too long ago, our planets were not allies but living in discord and it wasn't until the Arbotoo threatened us, acting as a catalyst, to bring us all together. The things we have been able to accomplish since then have been tremendous and I look forward to what the future holds for us." She grabbed the crystal and gold etched glass in front of her and raised it for a toast.  All of the families said something, I assume imitating the sentiment, and held their glasses up.  I followed Damian's lead, but did not say anything.
The Queen took her seat and a moment later, doors at both ends of the hall opened at the same time and Flaxen began to flood the room with serving trays.  They walked to the center of the room stopping beside one another, each holding two trays.  They all waited in line until a Flaxen stood behind each person and in unison they all stepped forward, placed the trays on the table, one in front of each person and then pulled the lids off, in amazing synchronization. They all stepped back into line and turned and walked out of the room. 
Once the doors closed, Tristan stood up.  "Friends, family, please enjoy your meal."  He gave a slight bow and sat down.
Everyone began to eat and talk amongst themselves and I couldn't help but watch, as it was all so intriguing to me.  Who I assumed was the King of the Bolax looked in my direction and stared at me.  I quickly smiled and looked back at my food, grabbed my fork and took a hesitant bite and then noticed Tristan was staring at me... studying me?  He looked away when I didn't.
Damian put his hand on mine and I could feel Tristan, Cash, and maybe even the Queen get tense.  I ignored it and looked at Damian, who, judging by the smirk on his face, could tell he had struck a nerve.  "Yes?"  I asked softly.
"How is your meal?" 
I slid my hand from under his, grabbed my napkin to gently dab my mouth.  Anything to get away from his touch, without being too obvious.
"It's good, yours?"
"Good."  He hesitated a second, "I saw you looking at Tristan."
"I have been looking at everyone, this is all so interesting to me, as I have never been part of anything like this before."  Deflect, deflect, deflect.  "I noticed one of the Bolax staring at me, I turned away but then realized that may be rude... I am unfamiliar with other planets customs."
"You didn't smile, did you?"
"Oh no!" I panicked.
He laughed.  "I am only kidding with you, they are typically a gentle giant."
I smiled and realized with minor disgust that it was genuine.  I had never known Damian to be funny or light hearted.
I looked back and saw Tristan staring at me disapprovingly.
"So how is your food Araleigh?" Cash asked, probably testing the waters between us since he realized I caught him in yet another secret.  I wasn't mad at him, I don't know what I was but it wasn't mad.
"Good and yours?"
"Good."
The conversation was very awkward.
"So do you live here?" I asked, taking another bite of food.
"I have a room here but I don't stay all of the time."
"Though he is always welcome to." The Queen said smiling at him, gently placing a hand on his.
I felt a pang of jealously shoot through me.  He was welcome, but I was sent away? 
She must have sensed my discontent because she stopped smiling and continued eating.    Damian and the Queen made some small talk with Cash jumping in a few times and Tristan just watched the room, not saying a word.
After dinner and dessert the Queen stood up and announced, "I hope you all enjoyed that fantastic meal, but now it's time for the fun part!" She exclaimed.  "If you would all follow the Flaxen through the doors," she pointed to the ones behind me, "they will lead you to the next part of the evening."
We all stood to leave the dining hall with the Quafers and the Bolax being the first out of the room, followed by the Hepkanots and then us.  As Yerdona passed in front of Damian she playfully rubbed her long slender finger across his arm and mumbled something indecipherable.
We made our way down the hall to a large open room that had a few select high top tables and chairs spread across the floor.  I could barely choke the words out, "Dancing?"
"Looks like it." Damian said.  "When the Bolax last hosted, they had a boulder rolling event where you had to roll these large boulders and knock over large pieces of lumber." He looked around, "Very difficult."
I smiled.
"Listen, if any of the families ask you to dance, you must immediately accept because hesitation is seen as disrespectful."
"Are you serious?"
"Very.  We are all on a tenuous ground here."
"It seems like you all get along so well."
He sighed.  "Some better than others," he said looking at Yerdona.   "This could go one of two ways for you, either they will ignore you because you are a new and unknown-"
I interrupted, "Or they will all want to dance with me because I am new and unknown."
"Precisely.
"Can you tell me why I am here now?"
"I needed a date."
"That's it?"
"Well I am not going to lie, seeing the Queen's jaw drop was also another reason." He looked at me sincerely, "I have never lied to you Araleigh."
I wanted to change the topic, "What if someone wants to dance with me and starts asking me questions... what should I say?"
"Say whatever you want to, you didn't really seem to listen at dinner, so why start now?"
I furrowed my brow.
He was looking around the room, I assume trying to find where Yerdona had gone.
The first song began to play and a small group of Quafers were the first onto the dance floor moving light and gracefully.  I found the group of Bolax in the corner and the female was trying to get someone from her group to dance with her but they all shook their head.  She saw me watching her and before I could turn away she started making her way across the dance floor.   I couldn't tell if she was going to invite me to dance or punch me, her face was so hard to read.  "Care to dance?" Her voice was not at all what I would have expected.  It was light and innocent sounding like a child. 
I remembered the warning Damian gave.  "I would love to."  I reached out to grab her extended hand and we made our way to the dance floor, stopping just short of the middle we began dancing.  She moved rather graceful for being so large and made out of stone, swaying to the beat of the song.  I started to move like her, let the music flow through you, Cash had once said.  I didn't know what to do with my hands so I glanced around the room and saw that most had them casually by their side, while others were holding on to the their partner.
"Your first time at one of these things?" She asked.
"Is it that obvious?"
She chuckled.  "A little, your eyes are twinkling with wonderment, it's interesting to watch you take it all in."  She continued to sway back and forth like she was off in her old world,   "Oh, I am Rosy, by the way."
"I'm Araleigh."  I smiled.
"I know, everyone knows who you are."
"Oh."  I looked around, trying to find something, anything to talk about.  I saw Tristan walk into the room and over to a Hepkanot female and ask her to dance.  She was very beautiful, maybe Yerdona's daughter?
"Oh, Tristan and Cleo."
I turned to look at Rosy and she nodded her head in the direction I was just looking. 
"They used to be a thing some time ago.  It didn't last very long though."
"Oh really?"  I tried to sound disinterested.
"Yea, some think it was just a political move set forward by the Queen to gain the alliance of the Hepkanots."
"Oh?"
"Yea, it didn't work though."
"Does that happen a lot?"
"More than you would think, there is always some agenda for these things."
"What is this one?"
"I don't know yet...I am still trying to figure it out."
"You think since I am a new here I may know something?"
"Do you?"
"I wish...I don't even know what I am doing here."
"Damian is trying to use you against the royal family somehow," she spoke the words matter-of-factly.  "Why would he want to do that?" She cocked her head to the left.
Because I am the Queen's half Earthling daughter.  "I don't know, I've been asking him all night why I am here and his response was he needed a date."
"Perhaps he was wanting to make Yerdona jealous."
"Why would he want to do that?"
"They, too, were a thing.  I believe she broke it off with him."
"How do you know so much?"
"Looking like this, people tend to ignore you."
"That's a shame."
She shrugged.  "It works."  She smiled and then nodded her head.  "It looks like your Damian would like a dance.  Thank you, Araleigh." She smiled and then turned to leave.  I couldn't help but think her words of thanks went deeper than just a polite gesture.  I turned around in time to see Damian reach out for my hand and spin me around without warning.
"Oh my."  He pulled me in close and started swaying to the music.  "What's going on?"
"Just dance with me."  The music changed to a much feistier up tempo beat.
"Why?"
"Because." His tone was more serious than his demeanor let on.
He spun me out and then around in another circle.
"You dance well."  He said.
"Thank you."  I looked around and most everyone was looking at us.  "Whose attention are you trying to get?  Yerdona's or the Queen's?"
He looked at me and then dipped me down towards the floor and smiled.
"Both?"  He pulled me back up and I couldn't help but notice that Tristan and Cleo, as well as, Cash and the Queen, were looking at us.  Cash's gaze shifted across the room to Tristan and worry crossed his face, causing him to move slowly in his direction.  What did he think Tristan was going to do?  What did he know?
"Why is everyone looking at us?"
"Because we are dancing fantastically."
The only one's not looking at us were the Quafers, who were still having a grand time in their little bubble.
"Do you mind?" A woman's voice said to my left.  It was Yerdona standing there with a smirk on her face.
"Of course not."  I was thankful to be out of whatever this was so I could go take a seat.
I felt a hand on my shoulder stopping me and a voice said, "Dance with me."
I turned and saw Tristan, his eyes wild.  "Say please." I joked.
He glared at me.  I turned and without hesitation, he grabbed my one hand and placed his other on my hip.  The music had just changed to a much more serious and bold tune which seemed to match Tristan's mood.
"What was that?"  He snapped.
"What was what?"
"What I just saw."
"I believe most people call it dancing." I couldn't help but press his buttons.
"No, that was more."
"More?"  I pushed away.  "Are you jealous?"
He pulled me in so close our bodies were less than an inch apart.  "No." He said simply.
"Did you want to try to convince yourself of that?"
He didn't say anything for a minute.
"Why were you laughing at the start of dinner?"
"What are you talking about?" 
We continued to dance in our little space, fortunately most people were watching Damian and Yerdona and their very seductive dancing.
"I caught you smiling at dinner."
"Heaven forbid I smile, we don't all have the fortune of being as apathetic as you."
He pulled me closer, so now our bodies were touching and whispered in my ear, "I care."  He pushed me away and spun me around and then pulled me back in.  Even though there was distance between us there was still the feeling of being on fire.
"Are you going to answer me?" His eyebrows raised.
"How about this, an answer for an answer."
"No." He said quickly.
"Fine, then I'm not going to answer any of your questions."
I adjusted my hand on his shoulder.
"Fine."  He said quietly, repositioning his hand on my lower back where part of my back was exposed.  "Why were you smiling at dinner?"
"I was thinking about you."
He looked at me.  "What were you thinking about?"
"My turn to ask a question."
"But you didn't answer mine."
"I did.  My turn."
"Why did you ask me to dance?"
He looked at me. 
"A deal is a deal."
"Because I needed to dance with you."
"Needed?"
"My turn." He said smirking.
"What was it that made you smile when you were thinking about me?"
"That you may have a twin."
"A twin?"
"You give me whiplash.  One minute you are fighting to keep me safe, the next you are mad at me, the next you are training me to fight, then you avoid me, then you come after me, then you push me away, then you kiss my hand, then you glare at me, and then you need to dance  with me.  You are all over the board."
"It's complicated."
"I don't see why."
He didn't say anything, but just looked around the room.  "You don't belong here.  Why don't you just leave?"  His tone was softer now.
"There it is again.  You want me to leave?"  I pulled away from him to walk away, I couldn't take this anymore.
He grabbed me and pulled me in so we were chest to chest and looked me square in the eyes.  "Yes, I want you to go back to Earth and pretend like none of this ever happened." His eyes were intense and electric.
"I can't do that." I barely choked out.
"Why not?"  He started to dance slowly, I had just noticed the music had changed again.  I could feel his hand on my lower back, holding me to him, his thumb moving up and down slowing rubbing my back.
"It's complicated."
"Then you are making it complicated.  You aren't safe here."
"Am I making it complicated for you?  Why is that?  Should we talk about that?" I snapped.
He looked at me in frustration but didn't say anything.
"And I can protect myself, I don't know why you think I am your responsibility."
"You don't even know what you're up against."
"Then enlighten me, because I am not going anywhere."
He looked around.  "Fine, meet me by the door, when the heads of the five families go into their meeting."
"Their meeting?
He spun me around and then let me go, giving a slight bow and walked away.
I found a seat against the wall and sat down and with relief saw Damian and Yerdona were still dancing.
"Drink?"
I looked up and saw Cash holding a cup of some sort of liquid.  I grabbed it, "Thanks Cassius."  I smiled.
"Well that was pretty intense."
"What are you talking about?"
"The sparks flying between you and Tristan was..." He couldn't find a word to say so he just flicked his fingers towards the sky.
"I don't get it."
"Don't worry.  I have known him all my life and I don't get him either but I do know he cares for you." He added, "A lot," he nodded reassuring himself.
"Why?"
"Why wouldn't he?  You're a great girl." He said shifting his weight into me.
I changed the topic.  "So, I was a little shocked to see you here."
"Yea, ditto."
"Why were you not out looking for me?"  I said jokingly.
"I was, but then Tristan said he had spoken with you and that he was working on something.  I learned long ago to just listen to him because his plans always work out."
I took a few more swallows.  "What is this?"
"It is a special drink made from some flowers in mom's garden."
I didn't really say anything.
"Speaking of which," He leaned over and whispered. "Sis."
"Yea, so how long have you known?" I said shifting my weight back into him.
"Just found out after dinner, that's why Tristan and I were a little late getting in.  After the super awkward exchange when you arrived and then again at dinner, I started asking questions, so she told us."
"So, Tristan knows too?"
"Yea, though he didn't seem as shocked as me, so my guess is he already knew or had some suspicion."
"Right."
"Well I just wanted to check on you and welcome you to the family and tell you that you need to trust and listen to Tristan."
"Why do you trust him so much?"
"That is a story for another day," he stood up, "when I have more time... a lot more time," he added.
I sat in the chair, enjoying my drink, watching everyone.  My eyes for some reason continued to be drawn to Damian and I tried not to stare for too long, but I just felt like he was  up to something with Yerdona.  They looked happy dancing but there was something else going on, something I couldn't quite put my finger on.  Who would have thought I would be here?  Was Tristan right? Should I leave?  Was I in over my head?  But Damian threatened people I cared about so I couldn't leave or they would be hurt.  I felt like the center of this puzzle and everyone knew my position and reason for being here except me. 
I gently banged the back of my head against the wall in frustration.
"Everything ok?"
I opened my eyes and saw Damian standing in front of me.
I jumped.
"I didn't mean to scare you."  He said almost genuinely.
"It's fine, I just didn't hear you walk up."
"Probably because you were banging your head against the wall."
"Right."  I shrugged my shoulders.
"Do you want to tell me what that was all about?"
"No, not really."
He looked down at me.
I needed to think of something quick.  "Look, this is just a lot for me to process, I've literally been thrown into another world and have just found out that I have a mother and a brother...  I've just been on my own most of my life and..." I couldn't think of anything else to say, but I saw my chance.  "Do you mind if I go take a walk to clear my head?"
He scowled at me.
"I am not going anywhere, I just need to get out of here for a little while and don't worry,  I know what you'll do if I don't come back."
"You make me sound like such a monster."
A soft chime floated through the air.
"Saved by the bell I suppose?" He said, smiling, a vicious smile.
"What is that?"
"We have a meeting."
"A meeting?" I feigned.
"Yes, to discuss business."
I nodded.  "Ok."
He started walking away and said over his shoulder.  "I will have a pod here for you if you aren't back by the time I leave.  I expect you at my breakfast table tomorrow morning." He stopped and looked at me.  "This will all be over soon."
His threat sent another shiver down my spine.  This will all be over soon?  What did that mean? I slammed my head against the wall in frustration a little harder than I had intended because there was a slight throb that was pulsing across the back of my head now.  I leaned forward and rubbed it as I watched in disgust as Damian walked over to Yerdona and grabbed her by the arm and led her into the room.  There was a smugness in his gait that made me want to punch something.  Is that what he meant? What were him and Yerdona up to?
I stood up and walked out of the dance hall into the main lobby.  I didn't see Tristan anywhere so I walked outside and felt the cool breeze blow across my body.  It didn't matter though, I was still so irritated I barely noticed it.  The temperatures were comfortable during the day but got a little chilly at night.
"You're going to freeze." 
Tristan.  I didn't need to turn around to know he was right behind me.
He threw his jacket around my arms.
"Thank you, but won't you get cold now."
"I'll be ok, I'm used to the weather here, you aren't."  He grabbed my hand and started pulling me.  "Come on over here."
I don't know if it was his jacket or the warmth of his hand on mine, but I wasn't cold anymore.  "Where are we going?"
"For a ride." He looked back at me and smiled.
Who was this guy?