"C-cease to exist??" Maya blinked, tilting her head as her eyes narrowed. "Prince Alric, is this a scheme to kill me? Use me for some sort of ancient-days ritual?"
"You will be fine," was all Alric could manage to say. Especially the way he said it so casually…that was annoying to Maya.
"I don't wanna…cease to exist?"
"She has to leave right this moment!" The matter of urgency in Naja's voice made things even more terrifying.
Alric ordered the silent knight at once, "She will be escorted back to the iron gates. I'll try to see how to distract the guards."
Maya nodded. "Good plan, good plan."
Just as they were outside, Alric stopped her, holding her hands. She turned to face him, piercing gray eyes loudly observing her. Maya felt something in her chest stirring. Her lips parted open to speak, but the words would not form.
"I will miss you, friend," Alric said coolly. "I'd hoped you would stay, but Naja is always right. Goodbye, gate witch."
"You don't even know me, you'd miss me…?" It hurt like a dagger had just been pierced into her sides, and a loud yelp forced Alric closer.
"Are you alright? What is it?"
Maya winced in pain. "Um, it's Maya. Not gate witch." The pain came again, agonizing and deeper this time. "Arrrrgh!" It was a loud cry.
"She has no time left to waste!" Naja's voice was heard.
Alric did not know how to be calm. He needed to hurry out, create a distraction so the gate wi…Maya, could leave safely. But now, she couldn't walk by herself.
"I'll carry you. Silent knight, you provide a distraction!" he ordered.
The lady gave a low bow and headed out. It hurt to stand, but she kept a strong face on. "I'm fine, I can fly if I wanted to!"
Alric did not argue. In one moment, he swooped her in, carrying her into his arms like she was a big baby. With muscles like that, he didn't even wince. Heck, she could have been lighter than a feather for all he cared. Maya smiled like a fool. "Look at me, I'm a princess…" She hoped he did not hear because his attention fell briefly on her before he ignored her again.
"You have to come back," he muttered.
There was a loud ringing in her head now. It caused a terrible headache. But she could have sworn he was talking to her. She flashed a big smile.
Nothing seemed to be happening again in that moment. She could just rest in his arms like that. She hummed softly a song her father used to sing to her. The throbbing pain did not reduce though. But Maya was tough. She was strong…!
No noise whatsoever meant the silent knight was doing a good job causing that distraction. He placed her down carefully. "Here, take this."
He leaned closer so she could rest on him. They were standing face to face with her body resting against his chest. She frowned. "This is your signet ring, I can't take it." It had gotten to her left side now, and was working its way up to her chest…that stabbing pain.
"You'll come back. I will see you again." He took her hand in his and buried the ring in her palm. There seemed to be a loud noise from the distance. "Try to manage on your own…let me help with the door." Slowly, he stepped away from her. The door was an ordinary, rusting door.
Where had she…how…what was on the other end of the door? He was almost tempted to go with her. What would happen to him if he did?
He reached for the handle and tried to work the locks. Then, pushed with his strength and…
Maya blinked, instantly disappointed. "Huh? Why isn't it…" She coughed, groaning from the pounding in her chest.
"It won't open," Alric found himself saying. He turned back to see Naja jumping up and down, signaling trouble. He turned back to see Maya in such a damaged state. What could he do?
Inside her head, Maya was screaming out at the top of her lungs. She needed to leave, this pain had to stop!
Alric froze. "Touch it. You are the gate witch, perhaps…"
Her face was a big scary mask of a frown. "Don't call me that," but she knew he was right. The useless door was magical in a way…
He rushed to support her, leading her to the door. Naja was terrible at trying to throw in a signal, but Alric knew they didn't have much time again. "Just…rest your hand on it," he said, hoping he was right.
Slowly, she stretched her hand forward and…it came as a gush of wind, then it became a smoky air and…
One little footstep at a time, Maya managed to move forward. She turned to look at Alric, but with the strong wind and smoky thick air, she saw nothing. "Alric? Your Majesty?" Nothing.
Then a soft warm sensation from his hand tightening around hers became an instant relief. "I'll find you. I'll come back!" she found herself saying. What even was that? But she liked him, liked the idea of how kind he'd been towards her.
Maybe she couldn't find that kindness again here on Earth. Maybe this magical kingdom was not so bad after all. She swallowed hard. "I will," then stepped inside.
The entire stage setting vanished into the dark and quiet basement room where it had all started. Loneliness crept inside her lungs instantly. A bitter tear rolled down her eyes. She remembered the flicker of imagination about her dad in that place…"I have to go back."
Her insides weren't burning again. The pain had disappeared like magic. "I have to," it came as a soft whisper. She didn't know why the tears became heavy. Her chest ached, she crumbled to her knees, sobbing.
"Some doors are closed for a reason," a tiny voice said in a chilling manner, startling Maya. "And the deeper we go, the stranger things might become." She quickly turned back and found the old woman who'd saved her, but with a surprising twist that made her insides start to knot.
Why was this woman standing in front of her with that distant look in her eyes…and a dagger pointed straight at her?