Immortals

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑻𝒘𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒚-𝒔𝒊𝒙

As they walked Aurora back to her rooms, Killyan told her about the different parts of the castle and what they were used for.
Sometimes they could see the city and he pointed out different streets and restaurants.
Everytime they stopped, Adryan sighed and looked around, bored.
As Killyan stopped to show Aurora a tavern he liked to visit, Adryan interrupted them.
"Can we hurry this along because I would like to have dinner today, and I'm sure Aurora would too, so if we could skip the lessons and have lunch, it would be greatly appreciated," Adryan said, irritated.
Killyan rolled his eyes.
"I didn't know you needed someone to spoon-feed you. But then again, you need someone to–".
"I'd be careful on what you say to me, Killyan. I'm in no mood for games," Adryan growled and Killyan grinned manically.
Aurora rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips.
"If you don't mind, some food and sleep sound really good right now.".
Killyan nodded.
Adryan had smug look on his face and when Killyan noticed he clenched his jaw but said nothing.

The rest of the walk back to her rooms was awkward.
Aurora expected them to drop her to her room and then leave her, so when they followed her in, Aurora was pleasantly surprised.
Food was already on the table, set for three.
"Huh. Was this planned or are the servants just really good spies?", Aurora asked as she sat down.
"I'm guessing the latter.", Killyan said, seating himself beside her.
He spooned some vegetables onto his plate as Aurora cut the roast duck.
"They're very good at spying then," Aurora said around the food she had stuffed in her mouth. 
"It's part of their job," Adryan said, absently twirling his fork in his hand.

"Stay out of sight, gather information, use the information. Most of them are trained since birth to do that." He leaned his chair back onto two legs, staring at the ceiling.
"Really?"
Adryan nodded, finally looking at Aurora.
A shadow passed over his face, quickly hidden. Aurora cocked her head.
"Did you know that?" She asked Killyan, brows scrunched together.
Killyan snorted.
"Obviously not, otherwise I would have ended this terrible conversation ages ago.".
"True," Aurora agreed, eyes still on Adryan.
Half a smile tugged on Aurora's lips.
Adryan's eyes dipped to her lips.
Aurora cleared her throat, which startled Adryan enough for him to met her eye.
His eyes revealed nothing but his cheeks did.   Adryan was blushing.

𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠!
Aurora repressed a smile.
Adryan asked Killyan in a slightly hoarse voice.
"Why don't you tell Aurora what's going to happen with training?", in a mocking tone.
Killyan gritted his teeth but before he could start arguing with Adryan, Aurora interrupted him.
"Actually, what is the deal with that? Why do I have to train?", she looked between Killyan and Adryan.
Adryan looked annoyed and massaged his temple with two fingers.
Killyan answered, "The Council wants you to be able to defend yourself. They want you to be able to use the gifts immortality gave you to your advantage, incase you're ever attacked and alone. But you won't be alone in this city for a long time."

Aurora listened to this while she finished eating. "But, when will I ever get attacked?"
"When you're out alone in Celdara, drunk, lost, confused– anytime, really. But mostly during the night. But the people in Celdara aren't the only threat to you. If any mortal ever finds out about you– about 𝐮𝐬, they'll hunt us down, or even try to become immortal. That's why you need to train, to be able to fight or run."
Aurora propped her head on her hand.
"So, if the King found out about you–us, he'd hunt us down? Why?"
Adryan answered her this time,
"Because we're a threat. We're strange, alien even, to them. They don't understand how we are 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 we are, so they'll kill us. It's what they do.".
Adryan stood up and walked to the window.
"If they don't understand something, no-one ever will because they destroyed it. It's what mortals do." he spat bitterly.

"Anyways, that has nothing to do with your training. You're merely being trained for insurance. That's all."
He stared out the window.
"Okay. . . When do I start?" Aurora said slowly.
"Tomorrow." She whipped her head towards Killyan. "What?"
A smile bloomed on Killyan's face. "At dawn."
"𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭?!?" Aurora didn't like the sound of that.
"Welcome to the soldiers life Aurora, better get used to it."
Aurora huffed out a breath. "You two do this every day?" Adryan and Killyan nodded.
"Just a forewarning, I'll probably forget that I'm supposed to get up and sleep through the morning."
"Don't worry, I'll be banging at your door if you aren't awake by dawn," Killyan said as he drank the wine in his cup.
"If I were you, I wouldn't wake me before I'm ready," Aurora told them.
Killyan grunted while Adryan rolled his eyes, "Sure." Killyan said, stretching. "I think I'm gonna call it a day."

Aurora nodded, and stifled a yawn. "Same."
Before Killyan left, he looked back at her, "Remember, Dawn, no later."
Aurora waved her hand and Killyan left.
Aurora had completely forgotten that Adryan was still there and was about to retire to her room when Adryan spoke, "Are you going to be fine if I leave you alone?"
Aurora jumped. She put a hand on her chest and gave a half hearted laugh, "Yeah I should be fine. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I just don't want to chase after you if you decide to run away again," He shrugged and ran a hand through his velvety night-dark hair.
"I think I'm going to call it a day as well. See you in the morning Aurora," Adryan headed for the door. He was angling his face away from her so she couldn't see his face.

"Adryan, is something wrong?" She asked, concerned. He laughed bitterly, "No, nothing is 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 Aurora, because we live in a fairy tale where unicorns exist and everything is fine and there's no such thing as problems." He said sarcastically.
"Even in fairy tales, there are problems–"
"That's not my point!" He threw up his hands.
"Then 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭, Adryan, is your point?" Aurora said tightly, trying to control her irritation.
"My 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 Aurora," Adryan stalked towards her and she had to stifle the urge to steep back. "Is that there is always something wrong, whether it's wondering when your next meal will be or trying to complete an impossible task for your leash-holder for fear that there wont 𝐛𝐞 a next meal. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 is my point Aurora." He said breathing heavily.
He stopped a few feet from her, but close enough that she could feel his breath on her face.
She tilted her head back to look at him.
His eyes searched her eyes for something he couldn't find, and he turned away but Aurora grabbed his arm.

"Wait, what do you mean leash-holder?"
Adryan sighed and faced her.
"Everyone is being controlled by someone, whether they know it or not, I just happen to know who is holding mine.
"And if I were you, I'd want to know who's holding my leash." Adryan lifted his hand as if to tuck her hair behind her ear but thought better of it. He turned away and Aurora let go of his arm slowly. Her hand trailed down his arm as he walked away.
She watched him leave and stayed staring at the door, convinced he would come back to explain.
What did he mean someone was holding his leash? And what was the impossible task he was given?
He gave her too many questions with too little answers.
She rubbed her eyes.
A nice long bath and some sleep seemed really good right now. But maybe she'd skip the bath and go straight to sleep.
She changed into a ridiculously short night-dress and staggered into bed. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she passed out.

That night she dreamed of The Cave, of her screaming and dying.
She dreamed of rivers of blood and fish of bone.
She dreamed of velvet night hair and three thrones on fire.
And the engravings on the Cave wall.