10. The Ruby Tower

His embrace was everything I needed at the moment.

His strong arms held onto me like he never wanted to let go.

My body had no strength left in it and it was just this that it had ached for...

But I kept crying uncontrollably as the thought of losing the warmth of his body...going back in there traumatized me.

He gently stroked my back as I continued to whimper weakly in his arms.

With him my fallen pieces seemed to get back together...

Perhaps slowly but correctly.

He just comforted me with his warmth and held on to me like i was a fragile being...

My sobs were the only thing that was audible

And Caleb whispering

"It's gonna be okay, Sugar " ,

sounded faint yet convincing to me as I hoped he was right.

****

I woke up dazed and not so peppy.

And realized my body wrapped gently in between strong and protective arms and my left cheek getting a warm sensation as they were pressed against a firm yet soft torso .

I looked up to see Caleb's face closely watching me .

He occasionally ran his fingers through my brunet hair...lightly massaging it.

Beyond his face...

I could see the dawn sky with tiny stars gleaming at us.

But my eyes had a default focus on him.

"Caleb..",

I took his name in an inaudible voice not knowing what else to speak.

He slowly flashed a sunny smile to me.

I looked around as he loosened his grip on me and we timidly pulled away...

We were nomore in the same hollow place...no where near kyrings.

Caleb must have glit with me when i fell asleep ,crying the whole time into his arms.

We were now under the open sky that was not completely dark but was strangely a dark shade pinkish purple.

And the place looked like a location from a fairytail because we were lying on the bank of a lake that looked like a clear pale blue crystal...

It looked breathtaking as each creatures that swam undeneath the clear waters left a magical trail behind it that lasted for a while like shimmering sequins of different colours just thrown in there.

I could see fishes of the tiniest sizes swimming like angels in the water.

This place feels so soothing...

"Where are we, Caleb?"

I asked as I was focusing on the tiny school of white fishes leaving a sparkly silver trail behind each one of them.

"It's one of the bank of the lake you saw at the feast...noone knows this part much.

It's just ....my place."

"I like it."

I said as my lips curled into a soft smile.

"I know we had to go home..

But I didn't take you there because I don't think you could ...you know...

Tell everyone what happened in there..

You need time to...to just calm down."

"You already know what happened ..don't you?

I mean you must have read everything in my mind."

"Umm...no

No i actually don't know Aura.

I can't read your mind about that place.

And that's no surprise right!

That place was so powerful...so magical."

"Was??"

" Yeah...It's nomore...I mean...

I mean the legends always said that it would vanish the day it served it's purpose or maybe any other reason.

No body really knows why that place ever existed so we can't be sure why it just vanished like that. "

"I saw it turn into a red lava pearl Caleb"

"And what happened to it?"

"I don't know it was coming towards me but vanished!"

"Umm..Aura...?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you feel okay now?

I mean does it feel better?

Are you alr..alright...?"

"Me...me...I am..I am not sure about that..."

"You take your time...you need that."

"No Cal...Caleb..I know we don't have time and I feel i can ...i can try and tell you what happened. "

"You can call me Cal..that sounds better.

And...are you sure Aura?"

"Yeah ..you are the only person ..I feel i am okay with."

"Aura I know this is gonna be hard...

But I am right here...

You ..you can..."

"Cal..

I want to ..I want to tell you about it."

"Okay then..."

****

I dont know when but I was again in Caleb's masculine arms insanely crying my eyes out after I had finished telling him everything that had happened.

He kept patting and stroking my back as he hugged me tightly yet gently.

His chin lay on my head and

I could smell his minty cologne hit my nostrils and it's funny i felt it wasn't refreshing but was warm and comforting.

He didnt hush me ...he didnt talk but his presence was the most prominent.

He did feel like home to me.

I was not crying anymore i fell silent as i rested on his chest and could hear his heartbeat....

It wasn't rhythmic anymore..his heart seemed like it wasn't beating but was pounding against his chest..

The sudden silence had apparently made him cautious.

I looked up at him..

And..He...

He just had his poker face on.

*Oh god!!

This boy is ...just strange!!

His face ...his actions...

Everything about him just tells a whole different story.*

"Is something wrong Aura?"

He asked as if he didn't know what I was thinking about.

And its a smart way to douge the topic and even I feel its better not discussed.

So let's play along

"Oh nothing Caleb."

I shifted as we pulled away and I gave him a small smile.

"Well...just for your assurance your family is safe and all of that was..just an illusion...

Just a trap...I know it was worst than a nightmare..

That's why I didnt agree with neither you nor Chief kent on the idea of sending you in there."

"I don't know whether i will ever forget all that...but what did you say?

I mean about my family being safe...how do you know??"

"We have to provide your family with security Aura ...they are your family and if your not safe how can they be!?

But don't worry they are under our guard...

We won't let anything happen to them."

"But .."

"Aura ..

I know..you are worried and its natural to be...

But they are fine..I can show you if you want."

"Reallyyyyy!!!??

But where??...is it the viscon chief?..can he show me Dad ,Luke and Mom!!??"

"Aura

First just breathe...."

He inhaled deeply with his eyes closed showing me how it's done.

I giggled softly as my insides felt a new joy.

"Lets go then!!"

I jumped to my feet like an excited kid ready to steal the entire toy store.

*Do I always have to think of stuff like robbery and all even to describe my joy.

Oh screw it !! I just wanna go!!*

Caleb laughed as he saw me go all crazy.

"Umm.."

"Now what!!!

Let's go!!"

"Yeah but ...

Aura I wanted you to say just a hello to my friend..is that okay?"

"Oh sure it's fine.

But where is your friend?

We have to go to him first?"

"No..no actually he is right here."

"Oh!

Where?"

Caleb gave a strange musical whistle that caused soft but giant ripples in the lake that until now was looking like a painting.

Caleb's next whistle was a short one but was deeper than the earlier.

The ripples became more intense and they gave a magical emerald glow .

A huge narrow jet black figure swam closer to the lake surface and I could see a pair of white glistening eyes becoming more clearer.

Alas!

It rose from the mirror like lake high up in the air and twisted its body with grace...its body had amazing outline of turquoise

It's long silver whiskers splashed teeny-tiny water on our faces

*Deja vu*

"Hey!

That's Maj!!

The creature which looks like a dragon..has a lion's body and behaves like a dolhpin."

I giggled softly and then smiled awkwardly for having said all that .

I mean that wasn't necessary .

The Maj went back into the water splashing..

Scartch that

Drenching us top to toe.

Caleb roared with laughter as he saw the look on my face.

I was speechless and shocked.

And ofcourse drenched!

He finally spoke,

"That was very specific!

But you got one thing wrong.

It shows stunts like a dolphin but it's nature is the exact opposite.

Maj's are creatures that can't be ruled nor can be kept as a pet.

Instead they rule the waters.

This is 'Kuro'.."

"Kuroooo...you chose that name?"

"Yes and that means 'black'.."

"So...that's your friend?"

"Yes . You like him?"

"Yeah.....irr..No offence..but...i mean it's kinda intimidating.

And I ...no we are all wet!"

Caleb chuckled on my words

"I agree.. but you will know."

Caleb gave another short whistle.

"Move a little back."

I did as asked to.

But i moved

Only a littleeee back.

And the Maj surfaced to the water and placed its glistening black paws with authority on the bank.

*Wow*

And yet again i was soaked in ice cold lake water all over again.

But I admit this creature had a stunning elegance the way it moved.

"So what now...should I just wave a Hello!?..?"

"No you have to just follow and repeat what i do."

"Urgh..is there anything new in this.

I have to always follow what you say."

Because you are a bossy jerk!!

Caleb smirked at me

Ohhh how could he leave that smirk behind

It's all he got!!

"You would regret saying that."

"Oh you wish!!"

Caleb didnt argue furthur he bent towards the creature and slowly stroked Kuro's back....

He very gently tingled or maybe scratched its forehead and slowly moved his hand underneath its head and gave its neck an upward stroke.

It gave out sound like a neigh but not literalllyyy.

He then moved his fingers to its long silver whiskers and held it carefully between them.

The huge Maj just shifted its position slightly more towards the bank and

Caleb climbed onto its back!!!

Stunning.!!

"Now your turn."

Oh! Not-so-stunning.

I stared into its white eyes...i mean how does it even see things??

"Aura ...comeon!"

Auraa comeeeonnn ,

I mimiced Caleb in my head.

Seriously is he okay?

He behaves like i have been here whole of my life and this is just a puppy i have to pet.

Caleb was again flashing his dimples as he broke into laughters.

"Whattt!!!

You said i have to just say a hello!!

What the hell are you doing on it now!!?"

"Aura just listen to me and do it!!"

That bossy jerk of a person is...

Forget it Aura

You are anyway gonna do it!!

I decided to not look into its eyes.

Its simple Aura

Stroke its back.

Tingle its forhead.

Touch its neck and just hold onto its whiskers and your done!!!

Easy-peasy!!

Wow i am so bad at even convincing myself!!

"Aura...just trust me."

Oh that's what was missing.

Caleb freakin' Henderson's signature line!!

I slowly move towards Kuro and my fingers can't feel my palm and my entire hand felt no connection with my body as i gently stroked its back that was wet.

But this thing ...it was made of.. i dont know what but its body was shiny to the core!

It gave timid neighs as i continued to tingle its forhead and moved my fingers to its neck.

Its whisker looked extremely delicate and something that was meant to trigger this creature to go mad.

But i managed to touch the silver long whiskers which felt like smooth silk inbetween my fingers...its looked delicate but was firm and strong.

I was confident by now and very noiselessly sat on Kuro's lion back in front of Caleb.

Caleb kneeled forward and interwined our fingers so that he could hold the whiskers too.

His body warmth was back.

Oh boy.

Then Caleb gave a whistle as his lips were close to my ears and that whistle

Good lord.. made my entire system to just go nutters and i won't be shocked if i had fainted on the spot.

But i didnt get a chance to faint as Kuro lifted his body and just jumped up in air and dived into the lake.

What the helllllll!!!!!!

I immediately screamed and shut my eyes in reflex...

I felt the water go into my ears and my open mouth...how could i even choke because i was inside the lake and nothing came out of mouth.

I opened my eyes to realize i could breathe...and we were inside the turquiose border that was earlier lining Kuro's body.

But the beauty of insides of the lake was so beautiful that i still had my mouth open but in awe.

Dozens of fish schools and many different magical creatures swam around us and its looked like a whole new world of colours and magic.

* Mesmerizing *

Kuro was zooming through the waters effortlessly in speed.

I was desperately looking around taking in the underwater esthetics.

After a few moments Kuro was resurfaced with joyful neigh.

He was floating in front of a long red tower made of rubies!!!??????

My eyes couldn't take the sparking rubies used to make a whole freaking tower!!!

"What is thiss!!!! A ruby tower!!!??"

"Something like that!

This is where the leva chief lives...

It's your home"

"What the hell!! "

I gasped and looked up the tower with squinted eyes.

"But this tower is highhhhh up into those rosy pink clouds !!!

I can't see a thing!!"

"Yeah...the entrance is up there in the clouds we have to go there you see."

"No i don't see!!...how are we supposed to go up there!???"

Caleb searched his pockets and slowly produced a single pink shinny bead or crystal or whatever it was in front of me.

It was a tiny but cute..

"What is this...we just eat it or we..."

Caleb threw the shinny pink bead into the lake and it floated for a second and suddenly blew up into a huge jelly ball with and an opening to get inside

"That looks like those jelly balls i used to play with when i was in school

Listen Caleb even before i go mad ...please do the honours of explaining this thing."

"This is zetora

It takes us up there."

"Oh"

"

Come on just step into it.."

I glared at Caleb and then slowly managed to step into the lifesize jelly ball ..

As i entered in it

It didnt feel gooey but had an amazing aroma of i dont know what.

I looked at Caleb stroking Kuro and entering the Zetora.

He gently whistled again and Kuro vanished into the water.

The opening of the Zetora sealed and it felt stagnant for a second as it let us settle in and then it started floating into the air and than quickly picked pace as it lifted us high up into the lovely clouds.

I could see the ruby tower more closely now.

It stopped in front of the the tower's opening in seconds .

T

he opening was made up of a rich mahogany wood engraved with carvings and pink pearls embellished in them.

As we got down the Zetora.

My eyes saw the most spectacular view in front of me...

"That's your home for you."

Caleb whispered into my ears.

_________________________________________