Chapter 73

chapter Sixty-seven

Walking into the swirling silver vortex felt like trying to wade through thick mud. Afraid to breathe, Damion held his breath. There was a light before him, shining through what looked like an open door. Likely the mirror he was supposed to walk toward. Other doorways lined up on each side. No matter if he looked left or right, the doorways seemed to go on for an eternity, just waiting for someone to step through. Though the current seemed to want to pull him to his left. He wondered if it was the entry way to Lalolia that beconed him even now.

You've finally come. The words sent a shiver down his spine. It was as if his own voice rang in his head, they were not his own thoughts though. Find me in the void. Before you look for him. They will never tell you the truth.

Forgetting his fear of swallowing the dense, churning liquid, Damion opened his mouth, "Who are you?"

Find me. I am you.

Before he could say another word, he felt someone run into him, and hands pushed at his back. Next he knew, he was stepping through the other side of the mirror. They were in a tower that was nearly identical to the one they'd left. However, they were on the second landing this time. Damion took in a deep breath, his hands shaking. The first two mirrors churning wildly as he stepped through the dense liquid. He could feel Gregron pushing him through as the churning mirrored liquid held him back. Like the mirror didn't want him to leave.

"What the hell was that?" He heard Gregron say in exacerbation when they finally broke through. "Normally we step in one side and out the other. It was like we were standing in a fog." Gregron leaned against the wall, pushing a hand nervously through his hair, "Then it was like it wanted to keep you there. I've used the mirrors a hundred times, and never experienced anything like that."

Damion dropped to the stairs, sitting hard. His knees felt week. The voice resounding in his head. I am you. Like hell! He didn't belong to them. But who would never tell him the truth? Gregron was now kneeling in front of him, but his mind wouldn't focus. He just kept hearing the voice in his head over and over. His magic felt like it was out of control, and his emotions were overwhelming. Gregron wrapped his arms around Damion, pulling him to his feet. "Come on, let's get you out of here."

Unlike Thambair, the tower had no need to be locked, since it wasn't even inside the city. He inhailed deeply, coughing. The air here was warm and dry, much different than Thambair. Belodia was surrounded by sand and towering red pillar rocks all around them. Grateful there was no one here to watch him struggling, Damion slid down the stone wall of the tower, and put his head between his legs. He needed to get control of himself. It took Damion a few minutes to calm himself but being outside was making it better.

"I've never seen anything like that." Gregron paced before where Damion sat. "The whole mirror just opened up, is that what it's like when you use the void too?"

"I've only ever entered the void once, and that was by accident. It was similar from what I remember, but not necessarily the same. The void is nothingness, this was something. The smell, the feel, it was like being in a pool full of mud and blood. Could you hear the voice?"

"No, I didn't. I did hear you ask, 'who are you'. But that was it. What did they say?" Gregron said, worrying.

Damion sighed, getting to his feet. Telling Gregron what he heard as they started toward the city. Surprised that the tower was so far off from the hub of Belodia, it was quite a hike to get there. Unlike Thambair with the main city contained within it's large walls, here, everything was open. At first there was just a splattering of tents and small ramshackle homes set up over the rolling dunes. The closer they got to the city the closer the tents and small buildings got. Everyone here on the outskirts of the city lived in squalor. The few folk they saw wore rags and looked to be starving. Their heads turning to watch Damion and Gregron walked through the throng.

Of course, Thambair had folk who were poor too, but it was nothing like this. At least not that Damion knew of.

A carriage came tumbling through the tents. The folk in the streets ran out of the way, and Damion had to guess that if they hadn't been fast enough, they likely would have been trampled. The carriage slowed the closer it got to the travelers. The footman at the back jumped down, opening the doors and the folk around them all fell to their knees.

Claven smiled from within, half raised off his seat. The carriage was ornately detailed, the wood was a rich black color with golden details. "Well, I have to admit, I wasn't actually expecting you to show up today. A pleasant surprise if I do say so. I would have had a carriage ready to pick you up at the towers had I known for sure."

"Your kindness is appreciated." Damion bowed, Gregon following suite.

"Well, get in here and let's go. Food's already served." Claven waived at them. The elves climbed in, sitting across from the prince. Gregron sat ramrod straight, looking as uncomfortable as ever, while Damion lazed back. His arm drapped the seat partitially behind Gregron, letting his long legs stretch out before him as much as he could. There was no hiding the long appreciative glance as Claven's eyes raked him from head to toe. "You really are a magnificent specimen."

Damion nodded slowly. It hadn't occurred to him until that moment, that Claven's interest could possibly be nothing more than a scare tactic. He couldn't imagine anyone being this openly interested all the time.

Throwing his hand to the side, Claven smiled warmly. "I admit, I'm surprised you decided to come. I honestly thought that you wouldn't. You should've let me know."

"My apologies. A lot has come up recently, and I wasn't sure if I would be able to. I didn't want to show up after telling you I wouldn't be here, and I didn't want to tell you I would come if I couldn't. So, I thought that leaving the invitation open was the best bet. I didn't want you to think I was standing you up. I'm not completely up and up on how you royals prefer we do things, and lets be honest, the Princess wasn't exactly being the most helpful. If she had her way, I never would have made it." Damion tucked a finger between his neck and collar, pulling at it uncomfortably. "Though, now that you have us here, what do you plan on doing with us?" Damion wanted to undo the top button. He hated button shirts to begin with, and why elves felt the need to be so formal and where collars halfway up their neck was ludicrous to him. Especially when they knew they were coming someplace as hot as this. He was glad however, that he hadn't let Gregron convince him to wear his uniform. Gregron looked uncomfortable in it, and it would have been much worse for Damion. He'd already realized that he would prefer to be shirtless any day, like he usually was back in Samanthia.

Claven sat forward, wearing a smirk. "Before we get into what my goals are, you don't like formal wear, do you?"

"It's stuffy, tight, and overbearing. I hate it." His eyes flashed at Gregron. "Everyone insisted that I had to look presentable."

With a chuckle, Claven dropped to his knees on the floor of the carriage and crawled over to Damion's legs, pulled them apart and eased himself between his knees. "Well, there's no need to stand on cerimonies here." Damion watched Claven with curriousity as his hands reached up. Slowly, his fingers undid the top button, then the next. Working his way down to the middle of Damion's chest, smoothing the fabric open with his hands. "Your comfort and enjoyment are my ultimate goals. For today at least." He sat back on his haunches, licking his lips as he took in Damion's bared chest.

Gregron cleared his throat uncomfortably, breaking whatever spell Claven had been under as he moved back to his own seat across from them. "So, enlighten me then, what are your goals for me beyong today?" Damion pressed a hand through his hair, forgetting he'd already pulled it back and hidden the amulet there. He was suddenly aware, it was likely not a great hiding place.