Page 1065 of One More Kiss

Chapter15

Fin bowed low. “Sire.”

He backed away from the Prince, the look on his face telling me to follow. When I didn’t respond he came back and took my arm in his, drawing us both out of the room.

Once we got outside of the room he turned back the way we’d come. He strode down the corridor and I hurried to keep up. I wasn’t sure where he was taking me next but I sure as anything didn’t want to stay where I was.

We arrived back at the official looking corridor and Fin turned right, the opposite direction than the cathedral room and back hallways we’d entered through.

“Where are we going?” I hurried to keep up with him. When he didn’t reply I grabbed his arm, stopping him and turning him to face me. “I want to see my sister.”

Fin’s eyes flicked behind me to something I couldn’t see. “Soon.”

He looped his arm through mine and hustled us forward. I twisted my head around trying to see whatever it was that he’d seen. It felt like we were running away, but I didn’t see anything behind us.

“You’ve got some explaining to do, mister.” I concentrated on keeping up with the fast pace he’d set.

“We can’t talk here. Come.”

We moved along the corridor for what felt like forever until eventually it opened up into a wide open space. It was high roofed with a gigantic candelabra hanging from the center. The floor was exquisite marble and the walls were decorated with tapestries and paintings. Benches, although that word didn’t do justice to the gorgeous pieces of furniture, lined the walls between the openings to other corridors that led from the space. One side was completely taken up by a staircase. It was something you’d see in a mansion and I could almost see the royals descending the stairs majestically.

We climbed. The stairs were wider than the corridor we’d just exited from, perfect for a grand entrance.

We stopped on a balcony about halfway between the floor and the roof. I leaned against the railing, looking down. From here spectators would have a perfect view of the floor. Which was when I realized that this was a ballroom. Yes. I could almost hear music, a breath of sound weaving through the stillness. Dancing couples floated gracefully around the marble floor, dressed in colorful ball gowns and flowing suits.

They hadn’t been there a moment ago. What was happening?

I blinked and they disappeared.

“What was that?” My voice was a whisper.

“A reflection of the past. Or the future.” Fin shrugged. “There are many balls. The Midnight Palace has favored you, allowing you this glimpse of what was or will be.”

I swallowed hard, a shiver running through me.

It was downright creepy. I didn’t want to be favored by the Midnight Palace.

Fin nudged my shoulder with his. “Come.”

The staircase continued upward, eventually opening onto a smaller chamber on the next floor. Along both walls were a series of pillars with circular markings on the floor beside them, like the ones we’d seen before.

“This is a transit chamber,” said Fin. It was almost like the lobby of a hotel with circles on the floor instead of lifts. I stifled a giggle.

We walked to the nearest one and I inspected it closely, looking for the slot to put the gem. There wasn’t one.

Fin took my arm and walked me into the circle, standing close beside me. Not letting go of my arm, he reached out to touch the pillar on an indentation at the top.

There was a flicker and he withdrew his hand. We were no longer in the transit chamber. We stood in an alcove just big enough for the circle and it’s pillar. In front of us was a hallway with a matching alcove on the opposite wall.

“What was that? How come there wasn’t a gem?” I studied the pillar. There wasn’t even a slot to put a gem.

For a moment I thought Fin wasn’t going to answer me. Then he explained.

“The pillars are a focus for our magic. It’s our magic that lets us travel this way. In truth, most of us don’t need the pillars at all.” He moved to the left where there was a window and pointed out at the view. “We use the gems as a boost when traveling longer distances.”

I walked over and looked out. I was looking back the way we’d travelled, over the plains and farmland to the forest and then to the huge cliff face. The cliff looked small from this distance and I couldn’t make out the giant stair case. But I knew it deep down; that way was home.

“That makes sense. But it doesn’t explain the room full of circles.”

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