Chapter Two

I awoke as the sun came in across my face, I must have fallen asleep. I stood up and my back ached. What I get for sleeping on the floor. The fire had burnt out but the warmth still lingered throughout the house. I wandered around the house, I took my morning shower and gathered my things into my pack for the day. As I opened the front door to grab my boots the chill of the wind knocked the air from my lungs. I gasped and grabbed my boots before slamming the door again. I dropped my boots and walked down to my room. I took out a coat, blouse and a pair of trousers. Pulling my dress off and dropping it on the ground I picked up the blouse and trousers and pulled them on. I wrapped the coat around me as I walked back to the door. After putting my boots on I braced myself again as I opened the door. The breeze didn’t seem to penetrate as deeply this time and I swung the pack over my shoulder and closed the door behind me.

 The walk up to the tower wasn’t too bad. The wind was dying down as I walked down the streets lined by houses and shops. I was surprised that hardly anyone was around but didn’t take too much notice of it. As I got nearer to the Tower I realized why. It was seven am in the morning, I way was too early. I didn’t want to walk back home so I sat myself down on one of the benches not far from the draw bridge and waited. I didn’t really want to keep much of an eye on the time, it only seemed to make it go slower so I watched the small amount of people who were out and about walk past. It was always interesting to watch people in their own lives, made me think less about the mess mine was slowly beginning to become.

More and more people began to start leaving their homes and start their days. Shouldn’t be much longer until some of the Masters or Mistress’s arrive. I was relatively sure they said I had to meet them this morning. Sure enough as I looked up Davina arrived.

“Your nice and early Amelia, something you need to get off your chest?”

I shook my head as I picked myself up from the bench and curtsied, “No mistress, just ensuring I didn’t keep you or any of the circle waiting this morning”

She smirked as she signalled for me to follow. I nodded my head and step into line behind her. The draw bridge dropped down before us and she walked across it without a flinch. I always got nervous. A wooden draw bridge over a river of Lava that flows down from one of the three Volcanoes surrounding us. Something about that just didn’t seem to make sense to me.

“Come along Amelia, the bridge will hold you. Has for the last hundred years”

I heard her laugh disappear as she entered the tower, I realized how stupid I looked standing at the edge of the bridge and decided just to run across it so that if it did give way I’d have momentum to jump. I rolled my eyes at myself and took off across the bridge. Unfortunately running across a bridge into a black room doesn’t allow for you to one, see anything in front of you or two, stop quickly. I collided into the closed door to the stairwell at top speed and bounced back along the ground.

“Ouch, that’s gonna hurt in the morning” Dimetrius leant down to help me up

“What are you talking about, it hurts now!”

He laughed, “Ah Amelia, such a light in our dark little city”

“It aint that little you know?”

He nodded his head, “That is true, come along. Dust yourself off. Let’s not keep Master Carlow waiting”

I took his hand and pulled myself up before releasing it to dust my trousers and coat off. Dimetrius opened the door to the stairwell and walked through it. I followed after him. The sooner I master this seeing in the dark that the Forsakens are good at, getting around here will be so much easier. I reached a hand out to grab a hold of Dimetrius’s belt.

“Still working on adjusting your sight I take it?”

“Mmm, it’s getting better but it still takes me a long time to adjust”

“Its alright, once we get upstairs there will be light. Commander Cuyle isn’t a forsaken so he can’t do it either but let’s not tell Davina you still aren’t mastered in it. No more need for her to be mad at you. Not like you did anything wrong in the first place from what I heard.”

Dimetrius was always on my side, he was one of my good friends even when I lived in Oenardil. Some would see him how they see me. In the wrong city but we both feel at home here, which is all that matters.

As we walked through the door to the Circles office the dim red glow allowed me to see more clearly, I let go of Dimetrius’s belt and curtsied.

“Still haven’t mastered your sight Amelia?” Davina eyed me from head to toe

Dimetrius shook his head, “Found her in a pile on the floor of the stairwell. Seems she has adapted a new entrance technique. Run until you knock yourself out. Gathered it would be safer if she held on, that way I would know if she came up with the idea to roll down the stairs rather then walk”

I heard the group laugh and sighed with relief, once again saved by Dimetrius’s quick thinking. Our secret past has created a strong bond between us, one that no matter what I have done or what he has would ever come between us. Something that was particularly important when you don’t have a lot of friends.

“Take a seat Amelia, let’s get going with this. Everyone has things they need to do, as I am sure you do as well”

I nodded my head at Carlow and took a seat where he had pointed. Dimetrius sat down beside me and Davina, Carlow and Cuyle took their seats accordingly.

“Where is Duane?” Dimetrius asked

“Running late again, as always” Davina responded

Dimetrius nodded, “Typical, starting without him then?”

“What for? I’m here”

We all turned towards the door and Duane stood in the entrance, he walked over towards the table.

“Sorry about that, ran into Cecila outside. As usual wanted to know everything. You really should teach her some manners Cuyle”

Cuyle rolled his eyes, “Just like you have with Amelia here, if she knew the laws we wouldn’t be spending a Sunday morning in a meeting”

Duane ruffled my hair as I frowned, “You're just annoyed that Amelia choose Dimetrius and myself as her mentors. It’s ok, your ego is big enough to take a few blows. You’ll recover”

“Enough! I’m sure none of us here want to listen to the both of you boast who is better. Both of your followers are in trouble so neither is better than the other in my eyes”

They both nodded their heads at Carlow and Duane took his seat beside me. Duane reached his hand under the table and took hold of mine, I looked over at him with an annoyed face and pulled my hand out of his then placed them on the table. He chuckled and copied me.

“We all know why we are here, but Dimetrius pushed that we should get to hear Amelia’s side of view rather than just run with Cuyles. Apparently Cuyle has it in for Amelia and would go to all lengths to have her banished or punished severely”

Cuyle scoffed arrogantly and Dimetrius rolled his eyes, this triangle of aggression was really starting to get old.

“So, Cuyle. Tell everyone what it is that you saw. Duane hasn’t heard your side of the story yet and neither has Amelia”

Cuyle nodded his head, “Pretty simple, I walked into see Abran and Amelia in the same room. Amelia was smiling, Abran was quite close to her. Probably just kissed or who knows what. Not like she is the most respectable female within our walls or the lands either”

“Oh come off it! This is what I mean! He can’t even say a factual recount of events without putting his personal prejudice upon it. How can you trust any of it? He probably wasn’t even there!”

“Calm down Dimetrius, you yelling about it won’t help your cause either”

“He isn’t lying completely Dimetrius”

Everyone turned towards me, that was probably a really bad choice of words.

“We didn’t kiss, or anything else. Majority of the conversation involved the two of us fighting. He wanted a reason for why I left Oenardil then didn’t like my response and I explained that he wasn’t in a place to complain about it. Then Cuyle came in and he left. I haven’t seen him since. I am well aware that I shouldn’t have even spoken to him, but now that I have. I won’t be again”

The room sat silent, I couldn’t figure out if they were silent because of what I had said or because I spoke before I was asked to. I looked down at the table and didn’t make eye contact with anyone, I didn’t want to start another argument.

“Well, that’s rather straight forward. Are you happy with that Cuyle?”

Everyone looked up at Carlow then across to Cuyle.

“You’re just going to believe her? Just like that?”

“Do you have any proof of her story being anything beyond what she has said?”

He shook his head, “Not at this point in time no”

“Then yes Cuyle, I am going to believe her just like that”

I smiled, Carlow and I used to get along quite well but for some reason a few months back everything went a little crazy. He and Davina became engaged and everyone rarely sees them nowadays. It has the whole city talking. Carlow and Davina dictate who in the city marries who. No one marries who they want or for whatever reasons they want and a Master and Mistress have never married in history. People are complaining that they can marry whoever and still dictate who others can. How does a Master and a Mistress being married better the city? It will just create a team in the circle. Not that anyone can really say anything, but it appears Carlow is starting to see things our way and is avoiding everyone as much as possible.

“Your all dismissed, go enjoy your Sunday”

Everyone stood up from the table and curtsied before Carlow and walked towards the door.

“Except you Davina, please stay behind”

A few of us looked back towards her, but Duane and Cuyle where already fighting in the hallway and Dimetrius pulled me along with him to see what was going on.

“What is your problem Cuyle? What do you have against her?”

“She is a problem for this city, has been since the start”

“How have you come to that conclusion? Would of taken a lot of thinking and problem solving, not your strong suit”

“Very funny, it doesn’t take much thinking Duane. Everyone knows she was a tramp”

“That’s right, she was, not she is”

I had enough of listening to him bad mouth me and I snapped, “Your only annoyed because I refused to sleep with you, or did you forget to tell the story where you locked me in your storeroom thinking it would make me change my mind”

Everyone froze, Cuyle glared at me and Carlow and Davina walked out of the office to where we were standing.

“Masters and Mistress’s still have laws to abide by Cuyle, you seem to think your above them all. Just because I am the lowest member of the city it doesn’t give you a right to kidnap me, then try and force yourself on me. You’re a pathetic excuse for a Master, and an even more pathetic excuse of a man”

“Amelia enough, Cuyle is that true?”

“Like it is, she wishes it was”

“Oh of course I do Cuyle, every woman wishes to be locked up and assaulted. We get a kick out of it. Maybe that’s why Cecila barely speaks to me anymore. To afraid to let slip what you do to her, we all see the bruises”

“Amelia, I said that was enough. Cuyle, in my office now. Davina, you too”

The three of them walked off and I didn’t let my eyes leave Cuyles face, I watched him walk into the office and the door shut behind him. I wasn’t afraid, but I was still shaking. I didn’t know what had come over me, I never spoke out of line. I always followed the rules, well I used to. I couldn’t understand. By the look of Duane and Demetrius’s faces they were both as shocked with my outburst as I was.

“Come on Amelia, I think we should get you out of here. They’ll call for you if they need you”

I took a deep breath and nodded my head, I took hold of Dimetrius’s belt again as we walked down the stairwell. The sun was high up in the sky now and I let go of Dimetrius’s belt as we walked up to the bridge. I walked beside them as they crossed it, I was still too in shock to notice where we were.

“I think you should go home Amelia, cool down a little. We will come to check on you around dinner time”

I nodded my head, “I'll cook something to apologise for my public outburst”

They both nodded their heads. I curtsied then began walking back to my house. I still couldn’t believe half of what happened in there, it was like something came over me. I had, had enough of sitting by and listening to the lies Cuyle would say about me but it didn’t give me a place to say anything. I shook my head. I need to get a hold of myself, before I get into a lot of trouble. I saw Cecila a few blocks down, I waved at her but she just turned away and walked off. We used to be such good friends when we lived in Oenardil, but when she came here to Rircaex from Palarayden she was a different person. That first day, it could have been anyone inside that head of hers. Anyone but Cecila.

As I turned the corner towards my house I let out a sigh of relief, for once I had managed to make it home without fully running into someone. Hopefully I can make it to dinner without getting into trouble too.

I started cleaning up the house slowly once I was inside. There was mud all up the hallway from my boots, I had forgotten to take them off and my clothes where all over the floor from my rushed outfit change this morning. I checked around in the kitchen if I had enough food to cook, which I did thankfully. I really didn’t want to risk a walk out to the store. I began slicing the potatoes and pumpkin and put a large piece of venison into the oven. Years of being a cook back in Oenardil had its benefits. After putting the potatoes and pumpkin in with the venison I walked back out to the lounge room. I cleared off the dining room table and set it for three.

Not many young members of Rircaex got two mentors to show them the ropes, especially not mentors that had been a part of the circle majority of their lives. People speculated it was because they had plans for me and wanted to fast track my learning process, others said it was because I used to be such a high member of my previous city and some thought I was sleeping with them. That last rumour was expected. No matter how different you become, your past will never lose you even when you lose the person you used to be in the past.

Back into the lounge room I lit the fire, getting low on kindling, should restock it soon. I slowly continued plotting around. Checking the roast in the kitchen every so often. The fire was warming the house up now so I went into my room to change back into the dress I put on this morning. I ran my fingers through my hair loosely to get rid of majority of the knots, then walked back to the kitchen.

The roast was almost finished and the veggies had blackened nicely. I pulled out a bottle of wine and three glasses then placed them on the table as I heard a knock on the door.

“Coming”

I opened the door to see Dimetrius, “Hello, hello”

“Come on in, where is Duane?”

“Late as usual” We said in unison before laughing.

He walked in and shut the door behind him then followed me into the lounge room.

“Look, Dimetrius I am really sorry about earlier. I don’t know what came over me. I should have had more --”

“Its ok Amelia, Cuyle is a rude bastard. They are still in the office as we speak. Haven’t left all day, all you can hear is a lot of yelling. Mostly Carlow”

We both smirked, there was nothing more we would enjoy then to be a fly on the wall in that room.

“Do you want a glass of wine while we wait?”

He nodded his head as I stood up, “Would love one”

I walked up to the dining table and grabbed two of the glasses and the bottle then walked back into the lounge room again. He had sat down on the floor in front of the fire so I joined him. I gently poured us two glasses and handed him one before taking a sip myself

“Just like old times isn’t it? But a little less complicated”

I chuckled and nodded my head

“I still have that ring I gave you, you know. It's on my necklace”

“Since when do you wear a necklace?”

“Since I gave a girl a ring and she gave it back” he laughed as he reached his hand down the front of his shirt and pulled out a long silver chain with a delicate diamond ring attached to the end of it.

I looked at him and frowned, “You know it never would have worked Dimetrius, even if we wanted it to. You’re not allowed to marry who you want, and I was still in Oenardil”

“I know, still would have been nice though you know. Marrying your best friend”

“I think it would have been nice to marry someone you love personally”

“Who said I didn’t love you Amelia?”

“You didn’t love me that way Dimetrius”

“How’d you know?”

“You think you loved me because I was the only one who would take you as you are and not demand you change or tone down”

“That was one of the reasons I love you yes, but there are many more”

I rolled my eyes, “Not like it makes a difference now, the way Davina and Carlow are pairing people. I’ll be marrying a cow”

He laughed, “Highly doubt that, but you’ll be getting married sooner than you think”

I spat the wine I had in my mouth all over the floor, “What?!?”

He smirked, “I don’t know who to, but they were talking about it last night. Duane and I overheard them”

I sighed

“Don’t worry, bestiality isn’t legal. So I doubt you’ll be married to a cow”

I was about to slap him when there was a knock on my door again.

“That’ll be Duane” I picked myself up off the ground and walked up to the door. Sure enough it was Duane.

“Sorry I’m late, got stuck doing some stuff but I’m here now”

“No worries, we are just having a drink in front of the fire anyways. Come on in”

He slipped through the gap and I closed the door behind him. I walked into the lounge room and he had my glass of wine in his hand sipping it with a smirk.

“Your gonna need another one” I shook my head and laughed as I turned around back into the dining room picking up the third glass from the table. I stepped into the kitchen and grabbed another bottle as well.

“We will probably need this too” They both nodded their head as I walked back into the lounge room

I sat back down on the floor and poured another glass.

“I was just telling Amelia about the fact they are organizing her wedding sooner rather than later before you came”

“Oh, you were?”

Dimetrius nodded his head

“I have a little more news on it, they are coming over for lunch in a few days to talk about who they are going to pair her with” Duane seemed impressed that he had the most information

“Are you kidding?”

He shook his head at me, “Serious”

“Why are they conversing so much about it?”

Duane shrugged his shoulders, “No idea, but you better be there”

Dimetrius nodded his head then turned towards me, “I'll let you know what happens”

“Well, on that note. Dinner?”

I stood up and they followed sitting down at the table, I served up the plates of veggies and cut the venison. We sat down and ate in silence. I think we were all brainstorming on who they were thinking of pairing me with. The night went downhill after that. They ended up leaving straight after dinner. I cleaned up the scraps and then climbed into bed.