The Castle

"You're a sin, right?

She spoke in a stale voice. Dorian was caught up in her eyes, and he got choked up on the words, so he just nodded.

Then she put out her hand. He knew he had to take it but he felt a bit shy. He looked in her eyes again and they insisted he did. He put his hand out and they touched. Her hand felt softer and warmer than he had expected.

"I haven't done much fighting in years," she said as she pulled him out of the boat and onto the port. He looked at her dumbfounded and did not understand what she meant.

"You were wondering why my hands were so soft," she said.

He blushed and looked away, she smiled and took off her cloak. She walked closer to him and he wanted to back away, but realized he was standing on the edge of the port, any further back he'd fall into the river Styx

How could she know that I was thinking that, he wondered.

She put her cloak around him, wrapping it well. It felt oddly warm and he sensed a softer nature behind her cold, emotionless eye.

Then she took his hand again and he almost gasped. She examined his fingers, looking over them one after the other like a doctor would.

"You shouldn't leave your mind so unguarded, " she said.

What!

"You wounds, they heal very well." She looked at his face and said, "Are you alright? you seem a little red." Dorian realized he was blushing but this only made him blush even more.

"See there it Is again," she said. You're getting even redder"

"Oh, it's nothing,"

"If you say so, let's go, there'll be people after you all around, so it's best we go under the cover of night."

As soon as she finished her words, the burning ball of fire died out, and in its place was darkness barely lit by the blue flaming touches of the styx.

Dorian could still see her faintly; she turned around, still holding his hand, and pulled him along with her into the darkness.

Watch your step, she said in a much gentler tone than before, as they walked up a small flight of stairs.

It was pitch dark so he did his best to be careful. So, he could see faint blue light; it was the exit of the tunnel they were in, and it seemed the light was from the moon.

Dorian felt a bit relieved leaving the Styx. It's been nothing but pain and terror since he got on that boat, and he soon found himself missing Helena.

I don't miss her, do I? I barely know her, but she saved my life; she saved me from it. The memories of Estiah came back to him, they hunted him and he felt like sharp claws grip his heart.

Why? Why do that to us? The words rang out in his mind with a raging hate, he didn't know if it came from him or from the monster gluttony.

"She's still alive," the lady said. "Helena I mean, she still alive"

Dorian's face lit up a bit and he felt that claw ease away.

"You're in Doom City now; try to guard your mind more; people here will exploit it."

They arrived at the exit, but she told him to wait in the shadows, away from view, while she went on ahead. She walked out into the light, and from the shadow, Dorian could see her backside.

She looked back at him and the word echoed in his head "Guard your mind"

Then he realized she could read my dirty thoughts, he covered his face with the cloak, and he shrank in shame and embarrassment.

She smiled like she knew what went in behind her. She looked around, watching the people pass by and when she found the place was alright, she stuck two of her fingers between her lips and whistled loudly; it echoed through the empty streets.

After a short while, the beats of a horse hooves rid the streets of its silence, a carriage was arriving.

The carriage stopped by her, and she gave a compliment to the driver, who appeared to have no face or body, just a floating hat, a dark coat, and a scarf wrapped around where his fade should be.

She turned to Dorain and looked at him with those eyes that were like deep black pools. Dorian could hear her whispers in his mind, "Come on, you have to go now, keep your head down."

Dorian did as he said, keeping his head down all the way as he walked into the evening light. A heavy wind blew past them and he clenched his hood tight, trying to keep his face a secret.

She opened the door for him to enter, whilst keeping a vigilant eye for anything out of place. She took a last look around and got into the carriage.

The carriage took off. They sat quietly for a while. She had a book in hand and was reading It,, but Dorian was only left to his thoughts, but he didn't feel at home there either. Not anymore.

He wondered how he'd guard his thoughts, but his thoughts kept diverging towards Hellena and Estiah, Mr Dunn,, and the farm. He wanted to keep those parts of himself secret from her but he felt she already knew.

He heard her shut the book, he looked up at her.

"This is boring," she said.

She threw the book out the window without a care in the world. Dorian was surprised then She got off her seat and took a seat right beside Dorian. Dorian could feel her heat on his skin, he tried to move away but she put her arm around him

He panicked, feeling an electricity run through his whole body the moment her supple skin touched his, then she said.

"Tell me your name."

What!? I thought she already knew, she had been in my mind, how doesn't she know

Of course I know she said, the words echoed in his mind. But we can't be friends unless you say it with words.

"Well, I'm Dorian."

*You have a love name, Dorian, it's nice to meet you "

She had a smile on her face, and her eyes didn't change, they still remained cold and distant, but the smile made her look cunny and intimidating to him; he turned away, looking for anything to distract him from those black eyes.

Then her voice echoed in his mind again, saying, "Won't you ask me mine?"

Dorian felt a tension rise in his heart; he slowly turned his head back to her and met her cold gaze. They seemed even sharper through her round gold-rimmed glasses.

Dorian spoke in a shaky voice, saying, "So what about you? What's your name?"

"It's so nice of you to ask Dorian, I'm Victoria or Vicky but that's if we really get to know each other."

Dorian gulped at her last few words, he tried to pull away from her but her arm kept him there.

"I have a feeling you'll like it here, Dorian, don't you think?" He nodded.

"And don't worry about Hellena; many have tried and failed, but none have come close. We'll be getting her back soon. For now, we'll have to train your mind and your body," she poked his abs with her finger, and Dorian felt shivers run through him.

"My, you're so soft," she laughed and said, "I wonder how you're about to withstand the immortal eyes and gluttony all at once. You must have something within you," she looked deep into his eyes. "I wonder what that is."

The carriage stops and they jerk a little forward, she took her arm off Dorian in that instance and said

"We're here."

Dorian looked out through the the window and saw what looked like a castle, It's so big, he thought

"thank you, though they were getting smaller."

Huh? What's she talking about? Dorian wondered.

She looked him in the eyes and looked down at her bosom, then she looked in the eye again, then looked down, but Dorian didn't understand. She gestured with her eyes for him to look down but he didn't understand.

She gets frustrated and puts her hand on her breast, Dorian panics

Then she said, shaking them a bit, "They're big, Dorian." He looked blushed and confused.

"It's big, just like the castle, damn it, my sisters say I don't get jokes, but I do, and I know that was funny."

What? Dorian couldn't quite process it all yet.

Come on let's go, she said, seeming a little frustrated. She opens the door by her side and exits, and Dorian does the same.

Victoria scans the whole place around the castle, watching for anything out of place, or any person out of line. Dorian was at the other side waiting for her, the carriage rode off and it was just the two of them left.

She finished her scanning and turned to him. "Let's go."

There was a bridge that led to the castle as it was built on a small rocky island just by the rest of the city.

It was a short walk, and they were at the door in no time. Dorian looked on at the building in awe, he hadn't seen anything like it, he saw sculptures of different animals, beautifully placed around the castle and nicely trimmed hedges that led to the main door.

As they got there the door sprang wide open like it had a life of its own. In front of them was a strange looking man, he was tall, lean and hunched over, he greeted them and Victoria introduced Dorian.

"This Dorian is our butler, Oscar; he'll show you to your quarters; would you like some food before you sleep?"

"No," Dorian said, not feeling comfortable yet and not willing to cause any inconvenience.

"He means yes," Victoria says. He had forgotten Victoria could read his thoughts

"Yes, it is," said Oscar.

She walked into the hall, leaving Dorian to the strange-looking butler.

As she walked away she said

"Good night Oscar

Good night Dorian"