Chapter 2: The Manor

MIRASOL MCCAIN

I am tired seeing greens. Orion told me that, this labyrinth is different from what he has seen before. Labyrinth must only have one pathway in, and one pathway out. Thus, he thinks that the authorities running this Kingdom are fan of tricking people, so they made it as a labyrinth maze.

I sensed that he knew where exactly the way out now, we were just walking to get away here. "Orion," I called him. He just answered by humming. He's still gripping my hand as if I am going to lose track again.

"You can let go of my hand now," I said.

I can't deny how good-looking he is. From his face down to his able-bodied, perhaps I don't have to say anything to describe it. Typical good-looking guy wearing an old clothes.

We stopped walking for a while to talk. I caught him smiled; and his face suddenly flushed. "I was just protecting you," he sheepishly said.

I beamed at him, too, it causes him to blush more. But the moment after, he finally let go of my hand, which I missed seeing free. "Thank you,"

He was about to say something as his lips parted a little. I thought it was important, but he just said… "Nice hand," he complemented.

He made me smile again, but he didn't see how I smiled with that complement. Yes, I felt that his hand is quite rough. Maybe it was caused by work because based on his smell, he was like a typical villager guy that always runs some errands.

The maze seemed endless. As we passed by, we were hearing some giggles and scratches sound from the surrounding, but we still couldn't figure it out.

We didn't mind the noises until Orion announced to me that we are near at the exit. "We'll finally be free,"

I sighed in relief as he points the part where shone with light. Orion looks happy as I am. But what is waiting us outside this maze? The thought scares me… what if there is danger? What if someone is waiting to harm us?

For the second time around, I closed my eyes, calming myself.

Before I could even open them, I felt the same rough hand on my trembling hand. "Let's go," he whispered. "We're safe here," and he added.

Several yards away, we both finally embraced by the light that came from the posts of the exit. No one is there waiting, aside of the huge castle standing right in front of us. I walked at awe. The top of the castle was blanketed by fog so I can barely see the details of the structure.

"Tell me, where are we?" I asked while I was gasping.

"I can't blame you if you were surprised because even me…" he started. I had a time to see his face, he has the same amusement—he was totally surprised by what we have seeing. "I-I just have seen this castle in the books provided to us in our small village."

"The place is so beautiful, Orion."

Eventually, one great smile curved on his face. "Indeed,"

He gone talkative while we're just waiting for something to happen. I am now fond of seeing him happy with the real images surrounds us. He is like a kid, but a keen kid, doing some observation about something he sees and touch.

"I think we're at the east wing," he earnestly said. "Look! Have you seen that trace of diagonal lights?" he pointed his finger. And I see what he was talking about. There are lights that ended up to the castle.

"Yes, I can see it."

"Good," he nodded. "I am certain that there is where the hundred steps stairs located."

"And what's with that stairs?"

"It will bring us up unto the main entrance of the castle," he spread his hand to me again—offering the hand that helped me to follow his own path. "Come on, you will be more surprise, I promise." Then smiled.

"You are a big reader of the history of this Kingdom, aren't you?"

"Yeah, exactly."

I accept him once again, maybe I won't be tired to hold his hand at this time. By holding it, I have felt security. If he belongs to someone else, I hope she can forgive me by doing this.

Once we get in the staircase, a total of four people were standing and sitting there like they were all been exhausted.

They all noticed our existence in the place when Orion speaks, "We're not the only people here," he said, walking towards the other people.

There were 2 ladies and gentlemen. "Oh, another two showed up!" the guy with slightly messy hair exclaimed.

My eyes stuck on the lady with sharp glare. Since I stared at her, she didn't mind changing her way of looking.

"Hi!" I waved my available hand to them, especially to the other lady that has a beautiful smile for me. She immediately went to our direction with her hands placed at her back.

She wiggled her brows once she closed the gap between us, "Hi! I am Amanda,"

She offered her hand for a formal shake hands, "Mirasol," I replied. Then accepts her hand.

The smile on her face remains, "And you?" Amanda to the guy beside me.

Orion looked at me first before releasing my hand, I just nod. "I am Orion Morozov."

"Such a nice name!" she exclaimed. "Anyways, it's my pleasure to know you two. Since you were here now, I think you have to know their names, too." She giggles.

She is trying to cheer up the mood of these people, because they seemed not fine at all. Well, just the same. I am also tired and faint.

We all gathered at the last step of the stair while Amanda's preparing what she would say. "Mirasol and Orion, this is Jacques…" the guy that speaks earlier is name Jacques. He has a curly hair and has an identity below his left eye, a mole, that really suites his look.

This guy named Jacques smiles and says a simple, "Hi!"

I heard Orion replied.

"… Georgia, the lady right there." Amanda continued, pointing the lady known with her uncomfortable stares. "Just approach her later because she's not in a good mood today, but I know she also wants to be friend with us." She added.

Orion and I didn't bother ourselves to speak or greet Georgia because she's really that scary. By just looking at her, you would just want to keep your mouth shut.

"And this is Amadeus," the last guy standing beside Amanda had been introduced. This guy has a different built of body, he's taller and broader than Jacques and Orion. Also, he has the sharper jaw among us.

"Amadeus," he formally said, shaking our hands in consecutive time.

All of a sudden, he became serious as he asks… "Do you know why you are here?"

I shake my head, but Orion speaks, "No, and I don't have an idea."

"In that case, I think, we were summoned." Amadeus.

"By who?" asked Jacques.

All the guys do talking while us ladies remains silent and just listening, except Georgia that interfered in on-going conversation. "Haven't you seen? We were all abducted by whoever living in that castle."

We all listen to her words. "This is absurd! Ridiculous to be think of, because we suddenly went here without any saying, note or warning…"

No one speaks for a little moment, but Orion breaks the silent by saying... "That is your presumption," Orion smirked. "The Lord lives in the Northern Kingdom cannot do what you presumed." He added. By the way he speaks he seemed a firm believer of whatever good he reads in the book about this Kingdom.

I can't blame him.

But Georgia's aura gets heavy as she stood up to face Orion, "I talk one of the possibilities, idiot. And I am not asking your opinion about Northern Kingdom. If I were you, I will leave it somewhere because it will not save your life."

"Easy, Georgia!" I said, pulling Orion away from her. Nothing is wrong of what Orion stated, it's just Georgia that has a short temper and who do not want to be overtaken by someone.

Meanwhile, Amadeus used his body to get in between the two to stop the growing commotion, "Stop it. The only thing we can do is to get up there to know the truth."

"Whoever did this shall owe us an explanation," Jacques said.

At the end, we all agreed at one thing and that is what Amadeus said. I hope we could learn the reason why we're here, why I am here in this place.