56: You

Cyr regarded me with an intensity that could've burned away my skin. His eyes seemed to undo and unfold me till he found an answer. But if he had found an answer it didnt satisfy him.

"We were to bury you today," Cyr said. "Just before we were to depart."

I squeezed the handle of my bag, keeping my eyes on Cyr and Cyr alone. Dozens of eyes watched us, watched me. Had this many people been aware of my death?

"I don't understand this either."

"I suppose," Cyr said, seeming to accept the impossibility that I was, "there are some secrets only death reveals." He mounted his black stead and looked down at me. "Will you still accompany me, Miss December?"

I glanced about at the other four horses and their riders. Nareem and Dolce were mounted on their own horses beside Cyr. Two horses were without riders. It was safe to say that I was at a great enough distance that I couldn't cause a stampede.

"Cyr," I said tentatively, "I, horses, it's complicated, not really—"

"You can ride with me."

My insides churned at the sound of his voice. There was Philip, clad in leather, sword hanging at his hip, a lopsided grin on his face. Just like the night I'd met him. But now he wasn't just Philip, the man who saved me, who was helping me, he was my protector, though he may have took on that role long before I knew it.

"You never learned how to ride?" Cyr asked, stealing my attention away from Philip.

"Horses find me threatening," I replied.

Cyr nodded. "Very well, Marigold will assist Miss December."

"December?"

I swiveled to the sound of her voice, only for her to catch me in an embrace. I returned the embrace as gently as I could with her protruding belly between us. Tears streamed down her face when she broke away to take me in.

"I sat over your lifeless body, and took your cold hand in mine," Uta murmured, tucking a curl behind my ear as her eyes roved over my face, searching for the lie, waiting for the moment she would wake. She never did.

I began to explain but she silenced me. "You realize how special you are, don't you? You have a long life ahead. So much more to do." Her gaze was unflinching as she told me this, I almost believed it.

A hand wrapped around her hip and tugged her back. Hoku nodded at me, in greeting. Uta looked up at him, something very familiar to guilt crossing her face.

"You shouldn't be down here," Hoku scolded softly.

She pouted. "I only wanted to see December off. And being cooped up in bed isn't good for the baby."

"Reema!" A young girl called, as she exited the elevator and ran up to Nareem. She looked about 12 or 13, with curly leaves for hair and bark brown skin, just like Nareem.

Nareem dismounted his horse and met the young girl. She handed him a sack, hugged him then sped back into the elevator.

A throat cleared and directed my attention to Philip, who climbed his horse with a showy ease. He brushed the steeds mane and seemed to whisper into its ear. Once he was finished with whatever he was doing, he turned to me grinning. "Come on now, he's agreed to have you."

I took tentative steps toward them. But the horse didn't flinch, didn't run, he was calm. Philip gave me his hand and helped me up and onto the saddle behind him.

"How did you that?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"I am a nature mage Miss December, we have a way with animals just as much as we have on plants."

Cyr's horse moved forward and turned to face us. All eyes fell on them.

"Stationed across Kreatier are mages who will assist in our speedy and safe travel," Cyr explained, "they will open portals long enough for us to be transported to the next till we reach the borders, where we will meet once again." His gaze fell on Dolce who held in his hand what looked like a watch.

"Five," Dolce said, "four"—Cyr turned his horse round again to face forward— "three, two, one."

Four large orbs of light rippled into reality before us. They looked almost like standing pools of water with a constant ripple of its reflection. They emitted warmth almost like lightning, that made your hair stand on end—magic.

My arms tightened around Philip unconsciously. Laughter rippled through him and because I was pressed up against him, through me as well. "It's only teleportation magic, nothing to fear." He turned till his lips were mere inches from my forehead. "You're still gonna want to hold on tight though. Don't ever let go."

"Now!" Cyr roared and our horses charged forward, almost at once, and then the world bent one direction and another, twisting and turning only for a second before it was over and then I was staring down at a vast rushing river that separated two towns. Ahead was what looked like a clock tower constructed mostly of metal. We seemed to be on the sturdy metal bridge that connected the two towns, or perhaps it was just one town, divided by the river. One section of the town was built against a cliff that overlooked the river and held the other end of the bridge. The other section was flat land, carefully organized buildings, farms, and a large building to mark the center. It was a sight, especially from above.

"Woah," I whispered, "pretty."

"Not as pretty as you."

I blushed and eased away from Philip. "Don't flatter me."

"I mean it. You're beautiful and sexy."

"Philip!"

He laughed. "I tell no lie."

The next portal came and just the same the world warped and we were now thundering through a narrow valley road, pattered with a light rain from a cloud-shrouded sky.

"Is that the only reason you like me, because I'm—" The word caught in my throat. "Because I'm sexy."

Stone structures, almost like fences lined up against the road. But they were crumbly and covered in algae, as though they had long been abandoned and forgotten.

"Because you're sweet and selfless," he murmured, "you're the kind of woman who sees past people's flaws. You're a great listener. You've got the biggest heart out of anyone I've ever met." He paused and I thought he was done. "You're the firelight in my dark world. I didn't realize it was so dark till I found you."

Up ahead a circle of stones stood ominously, enclosed by a foggy forest. The next portal was just before the stones.

This time we were speeding down a dirt road flanked by the open sea. Salt laced the air and we ran opposite the crashing waves out to sea where the road would abruptly end. Something ginormous and orbicular jutted from the horizon ahead, white with identical gaping holes that stared back at us. The longer I stared the clearer it became. A skull. A giant skull.

"What about me?" Philip said. "What do you like about me?"

I considered his question as I found a shimmering length of metal laying on the floor of the crystal clear water. A sword fit for a giant.

"You're," I drawled. "You're," I faltered.

"Awww, come on!"

I chuckled. "You're you. You're loyal and kind. Trustworthy—not always but I trust you anyway. You never give up, at least not easily. You're strong and brave, you're a fighter."

"Is that all?" I could practically hear his pout.

A large sheet of metal laid at an angle, glinting in the sunlight, shaped like a spade. A shield.

"You're pretty cute," I muttered, my cheeks burning, "handsome, I suppose."

"Tell me something I don't know," Philip groaned.

"Well, if I'm being honest. Your grin was the first thing that caught my eye. Your smile. I thought it was a bit menacing at first. But when I think of you now, I think of your smile and it gives me...hope, strength. Because it's your smile."

Just as the road ended the portal came and we moved through space and magic and found ourselves on a meadow road. Flowers of every kind and form, of every colour and shade laid out at our feet like a sea of blossom that stretched as far as the horizon.

"Tell me about your dreams," Philip said.

I didn't respond for a moment. "People like me don't dream."

"Dreams aren't limited to a kind of people."

"But the chances of achieving your dreams vary according to the kind you belong to."

"Tell me anyway," he said gently. "I want to know everything about you."

"A farm," I began and I almost begin to regret it. "Out in the outskirts. I figured my parents would eventually pass away and as the oldest I'd inherit the farm. And I'd take care of it the best I can, till I die as well."

"That isn't a dream," Philip grunted. "That was bound to happen."

"Well it's my dream," I huffed and folded my arms over my chest.

He jerked his head my way, aghast. "I'm sorry I'm sorry don't let go."

The urgency in his voice made me latch onto him tighter than I intended. We went through the next portal. This time we were in a town. A town of ashes and scorch marks, of rubble and wreckage, of war and death.

Wherever our conversation halted it didn't continue. We rode mostly in silence save for Philip speaking what was on both our minds, "we're getting closer."

A/n: hiiiiii, long time no...see?? Ehehe. OK, let me just blame my late update on my eyes cause they were messing me up in more ways than one. So I suspected I was short sighted, went to the eye doctor. He put some eye medicine in my eye, made me longsighted for a day (misery I tell you, not being able to see what you're putting in your mouth) then the next day I turned out to be short sighted. Got glasses. A whole week of exams. And then finally a school break. Also YouTube destroying my brain cells.