Week 15 - The Trip 3

Alexi veered for the top of the nearest of the tall stone towers. As they neared the top Ro could see a stone railing around an extra wide, encircling balcony. Alexi brought them to this and slowly lowered them onto the balcony. He reluctantly released her, and she took a few steps forward. Ro could now see that the walls of the tower were all glass French doors. Through the doors she recognized the king sized, black and red draped bed and tall engraved dresser. She couldn't see the desk, but she was sure it was there. The room she was looking at was the same as the one she had seen in Alexi's mind when they had partnered up for the meditation practice. She turned to look at him startled. He rolled his eyes and grabbed her hand.

"It's just my room. Come on." With his other hand he opened the nearest door. Then he dragged her through. He towed her over to a rack that stood across the room with what looked like dresses on it. He started going through them one at a time as Ro looked around her. To her right was the mirror and behind the rack was the desk. She felt instant relief as her eyes caught sight of a staircase leading down. She wouldn't be trapped here after all.

"Here." Alexi said abruptly, shoving a black dress into her chest. "Put this on. Now." Ro stared at him until he sighed and turned around. She then walked to the other side of the dresser, obscuring his view of her if he did turn back around. She changed rapidly. When she was done, she crossed to the mirror and looked at herself.

The dress was a simple one. It was a black cotton blend with off the shoulder cap sleeves and an empire waist line. The rest of the dress hung down and clung to her curves as it went. Ro's eyes were caught by the black feather necklace lying between her breasts rather than Ky's pendant. She felt resigned as she looked at it. She could yell at Alexi for making her wear it but doing that wouldn't return Ky's necklace and Alexi had said she wouldn't like the results if she didn't wear it. She sighed audibly, and Alexi turned back around to look at her. His eyes feasted on her body as he took in her appearance.

"Passable but you need to do something about your hair." Ro looked at him in confusion. "Make it look nice." He ordered. Sighing again, Ro put it into a bun. "That's better." Alexi said. He grabbed her hand again and towed her back out onto the balcony. He gathered her in his arms again and leaped from the ledge. Ro felt her heart race as they plummeted towards the ground. Suddenly, Alexi spread his wings and they abruptly stopped. He began flying towards the central building.

"Roselyn, there are a few things that you need to make sure you don't do. Don't make direct eye contact. It is a sign of aggression. When you bow, don't stand up immediately. Remain bent until you are addressed. Always call them Leader and Lady. And on no account are you to mention any other male but me." Ro swallowed hard.

"O-okay." She said nervously. He squeezed her about her middle.

"It'll be fine." He murmured in her ear.

"Sure." Ro didn't believe him at all.

They flew into a second story balcony in the central building. Alexi dropped them to the marble floor before two heavy wooden doors engraved with the images of crows and stepped away. Grabbing Ro's hand, he nodded to one of the two servants waiting on either side of the ornate wooden doors. The servant pulled his leaf of the door open. Alexi drew a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and walked through pulling Ro with him.

The room they entered was large and empty. The marble tiled floor continued throughout the room and there was a massive fire pit in its center. Along the walls were antique paintings of crow demons and demonesses. The room was lit with natural light that filtered down from huge skylights in the ceiling. Along the far side of the room sat two regal looking crow demons in high backed chairs. These looked eerily similar to thrones. Ro glimpsed dark wavy hair and broad shoulders on the imposing looking male and golden waist length ringlets on the beautiful female before she turned her attention to the floor in front of her. Alexi kept drawing her inexorably closer to these two. He stopped when they were about five feet from the raised platform on which the chairs sat. Pulling Ro down with him, he dropped to one knee and bowed his head. Ro hastily did the same.

"Alexi, welcome back home." The male said in deep, powerful tones. Having been addressed, Alexi rose while Ro remained kneeling.

"Alexi," the female's voice rang out clear and melodic, echoing around the great room. "It has been too long. I have missed you." There was the sound of rustling as the female left her seat and went to Alexi. She threw her arms around his neck. "How are you my baby?" Alexi turned slightly red as he allowed her to hug him.

"Mother, I have missed you too." Alexi said.

"Honey, he hasn't been gone that long." The male told her, also rising. The female released Alexi and stepped back. The male stepped up beside her and fixed Alexi with a hard look. "How is school going?"

"Fine, father. I am number one in my class as expected." Alexi sounded a little smug to Ro's ears. She really wished the male and female would tell her to rise soon. Ro's knee was beginning to hurt.

"Number one in the lowest class is nothing to brag about." The male said matter-of-factly. "How many points do you have?"

"Over three hundred. I can already progress to the next year."

"Well that's something at least." The male's face said it wasn't much. The female looked at him admonishingly.

"That is excellent, Alexi! Now all that's left is for you to come in first at the tournament." Her tone was bright and cheery. "And this must be Roselyn." Ro blushed that this important female would know her name and finally rose.

"I am Lady." Ro replied politely as she purposefully looked at the beautiful female's mouth. It cracked into a dazzling smile. "But I prefer Ro."