Rona
Charon grimaced, his face contorting into a canvas of disgust and reluctance, "Firstly, we're not friends, we're barely acquaintances. Secondly, absolutely not."
I pat his chest, the grin on my face widening, "Say that all you want but you and I both know I'm your favourite runaway soul."
The grim reaper slapped my hand away, an ugly scowl formed on his face, "My only runaway soul." He enunciated each word clearly.
I shrugged, there's a first time for everything.
"Still doesn't change the fact that I'm your favourite."
I turned to the alien looking females on his side, one of them stared at me owlishly, observing my every move.
"And who might they be?" I asked, smiling politely as I offered a handshake.
They recoiled, visible appalled as little fleshy frills rose up from behind their ears down to their neck, glaring a deep, unsettling red.
Shit! What did I just do?
Charon slapped my hands away, muttering curses under his breath as he turned to the girls speaking in an unknown language.
"Off all the things to fucking do human, you decided to threaten them!" He snapped.
"How am I supposed to know that a handshake was considered a threat? Where I'm from, it's a sign of basic human decency."
He sighed, dragging his palm across his face.
"Let's get this over with-"
"Human, Madelaine and Madeira are the maids he assigned to look after you." He stared at me pointedly,
"They are a different species so there are things you should never do to them. Do not hug them. Do not offer to shake them. Do not touch their hair or ears, and absolutely do not touch their frills-"
I pointed at their frills that remained erect, despite its reddish hue fading. "Does it change colours often?"
Charon nodded briskly, "Only when they feel extremely strong emotions, disgust, anger, love, sadness, fear. It's called a neuro node. It's connected to their main nervous system. Do not touch it." He warned, his voice carried a dangerous certainty to it.
I definitely won't be anywhere near it.
A shrill sound left their lips almost simultaneously, I blocked my ears, barely adjusting to the high frequency beats.
My old friend on the other hand was completely unaffected.
For crying out loud, a pale skinned alien with frills running down her spine and ears was screaming at the top of her lungs.
I reached out to her, but Charon grabbed my hand, shooting a stern glare my way.
"It's the way of the Almyrs. They learn fast."
They both stopped, lowering their head with a curled fist placed over their chest.
"I am Madelaine Almyr, daughter of the eastern count. I've been assigned by the Lord to serve the lady."
"I'm Madeira Almyr, daughter of the eastern count, here to serve the lady."
Did they just learn a whole new language ?!
"It's a pleasure to meet you both," I whispered, my voice still shaky from the shock.
I grabbed the fabric of Charon's tunic just as he was about to walk away, "Where do you think you're going?"
"To get my actual job done," He responded sarcastically with a click of his tongue.
"Do you know where he is?"
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
I made my way through the labyrinth of doors, tracing my fingers along the faint engravings on the walls.
They pulsed with light, illuminating the dark hallway.
It felt surreal, everything here was magical with a history of their own, from the sentinels that stood by the doors watching my every move to the little hushed whispers from people across the halls whose faces I could never truly see.
The front door was inches away from me, imposing and golden.
"The Lord spends his evenings in the garden, tending to flowers."
I placed my palm on its surface and it whirred open.
From a distance, I saw him.
His dark robes fluttered against the wind and his long, luscious hair was tied in a knot atop his head, a few naughty strands escaped, gently framing his face.
"You've met the Almyrs." He called out from a distance.
If I wasn't sure before, now I definitely know that he had eyes in the back of his head.
As I approached his side the pressure of the wind increased, whipping against my skin with a new found intensity.
I yelped, taking a step back. He turned towards me and I noticed his eyes.
They glowed a fierce, relentless red with a golden annulus on the rim of his pupils.
I took another step back, lowering my head. What was up with this place and colours? From the doors, to the maids, to the god of the realm himself.
The pressure dropped and by the time I met his gaze, his eyes were back to normal.
I steadied my racing pulse, releasing the breath I never knew I held.
"The reports have been finalised-"
He raised a finger, cutting me off halfway, "Drop everything, something more important came up," He deliberately strolled towards me, towering over my frame, "And you little human…"
"Will be attending the Convergence with me."
Wait! What now? With who?
"What's the Convergence?" I asked, a sudden sinking feeling in my stomach.
I had an inkling that I wouldn't like this.
"You'll find out soon enough." He replied, making his way past me, "Get Madelaine and Madeira to dress you in more…fitting clothes."
I trailed behind him, "What's wrong with my clothes!"
He stared at the brown leather pants and halter top I picked out, he wrinkled his nose in disgust.
"It's unbecoming of a lady."
Ever heard of my body, my choice.
He turned around abruptly and I crashed nose first into his rock hard chest.
Fuck!!!
I covered my reddened nose with my hands as the Progenitor stared down at me, he lowered himself to my eye level and his fingers caught a strand of my hair.
"While you're under my jurisdiction, it's your body, my choice." His breath fanned my cheeks and a steady warmth crept up my face.
Did I say that outloud?!
"Yes you did, darling."
Our eyes met, Amber hues clashed with his fiery reds.
"Is it possible for me to say no?" I asked, "I really don't want to attend whatever that Is-"
"No."
I tried pleading, in the heat of the moment I blinked.
When I opened my eyes…