“I need to get away from here,” I say as I remove myself from his embrace.
“Of course,” he responds with a soft smile like he understands. “I havejust the thing to cheer you up.”
“Oh, yeah? What is it?” I ask, still trying to collect myself.
“You’ll just have to wait and see,” he replies with a cheeky grin that makes me feel slightly better.
Artemus takes us to the entryway that leads back underground. He shows me how to open the ground up and explains that there are many different hidden entryways throughout the Shadow Lands, but this one is the most used as its closest to the castle they call Grimstone.
He leads me back through the living quarters, taking me to the fourth floor. Though he gave me a tour of them earlier, it’s nice to actually get my bearings this time. I’m not the best when it comes to directions, but the living quarters seem to be fairly easy to navigate. It helps having the cluster of massive crystals as a center point.
“Here we are,” Artemus says, turning towards a door. “Care to do the honors?” He holds up a thin leather string with a key dangling from it.
When I turn the key and push the door open, the room is pitch black. It’s not until we step inside that dim lights outlining the ceiling begin to illuminate the space.
“It’s all yours,” Artemus says from behind me.
I spin around to look at him. “Wait. This is my room?”
“Sure is! Ryder made sure to keep your friends close. Amaya is just next door and Emeric is four doors down across the hall next to Akari.”
I look around the room, taking it all in. Two black nightstands center the queen-sized bed along the back wall, each with a candelabra sitting atop it. A dresser with a giant mirror stands against the left wall and opposite the dresser is my own private bathroom, containing a decent sized sink and stone shower. Midnight blue towels that feel as soft as what I imagine clouds to feel like, hang along the wall next to the shower.
Everything about the room is warm and homey. It’s nothing I would expect an underground bedroom to feel like. Unlike the Sector, the walls here are covered in a coating that hides the cave-like interior. They’re also decorated with sconces and gold-plated images. There’s even a small bookshelf in the corner already filled with different stories waiting to be read.
I pull one from the top row and turn to Artemus. “Let me guess… Ryder?”
He simply shrugs as if to say “of course.” I slip the book back into its spot and sit down on the edge of the bed, running my hands over the buttery, gold, satin sheets.
Artemus takes a seat next to me. “Is it to your liking?”
“I hardly remember what it feels like to have my own room. Before the Sector, Amaya and I shared a small room in The House of Waif, and it was nothing like this. The only time in my life I had my own room was in my childhood home back in Avelion, but even that was a third the size of this one. Probably not even big enough to actually be considered a room.” He turns to me, searching my face. “I love it,” I add with a smile.
“Well, now that’s all settled,” he starts, standing back up. “The other two are waiting for you next door. I told them I’d bring you to them so they can take you to the city. Akari and I have some business to attend to, but she’ll meet you guys later.”
“Thank you. For everything.”
“Oh, I didn’t have anything to do with all this,” he admits, motioning to the bedroom.
“I wasn’t talking about the room,” I clarify, and his posture softens.
“Anytime, sweetheart.” He nods before opening the door to lead us to Amaya’s.
Emeric answers the door and pulls me inside. “Thanks for getting her here, Boss. We’ll take it from here.”
Artemus huffs out a laugh. “She’s had quite the day, so make sure you guys stop by Hollows Tavern when you’re out there.”
“Don’t gotta tell me twice,” Em replies, waving goodbye to Artemus who flashes me one last look that tells me I should buckle up for the night ahead.
“Finally, we’re all back together!” Amaya scoops me into a tight hug.
“Since Zane isn’t here, I’ll have to drink enough for the both of us.”
“Drink?” I turn to both of them, registering their devilish grins. “What exactly do you two have planned for tonight?”
“Reign,” Amaya says, grabbing both of my hands. “You literally came back from the dead. I can’t think of a better reason to celebrate than that!”
“You sound like Meeka.” It comes out before I even think about what I’m saying. It’s been months since we lost her, but it still hurts all the same.
