The Quest of Dai:The Eroe

Vivian Marie Aubin du Paris

Outskirts Press, Inc.

Denver, Colorado

This is a work of fiction. The events and characters described here are imaginary and are not intended to

refer to specific places or living persons. The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the

opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher.

The Quest of Dai

The Eroe

All Rights Reserved

Copyright © 2007 Vivian Marie Aubin du Paris

 

 

Chapter 1: Perfect Night

 

Dai studied her appearance in the mirror with a critical eye. She

didn’t like the way that the liner on her lips made them look so large,

or the way that her eye shadow didn’t seem dramatic enough for such

a special night. Her light brown hair was swept up in a twist, and the

ends were curled and saturated with enough hairspray to fill a water

bottle. She frowned at one curl that seemed thicker than the others

and pulled it apart, into two pieces. She settled them among the rest,

and then straightened her earrings in her ears. She fixed the gold

bracelet her grandmother had given her so that it fit around her wrist

again, and sighed.

 

“Oh Dai!” Adele, Dai’s best friend since childbirth, groaned,

coming into the room. “Stop your primping. You look beautiful.”

 

Dai sighed wistfully as she turned away from her vanity table

mirror and gazed at Adele. “Easy for you to say,” she shot back.

“You couldn’t be ugly if you were covered in mud from head to toe.”

 

Adele Olivie couldn’t, either. Her hair was long, blond, shiny,

and straight. Her skin was a flawless milky color, currently

shimmering with the light dusting of glitter that settled on her

shoulders and arms. Adele’s dress was white and sleeveless, and

spotted with rhinestones, so that every time she moved, the light

would catch on one and sparkle like a diamond. On her tall, slender

frame, anything looked perfect—especially the three hundred-dollar

dress it donned.

 

“You’re kind,” Adele replied, dismissing the backward

compliment with a wave of her hand. “Now, the guys are downstairs

being grilled to death by my father. Can we please go rescue them?

I’m afraid of what will be left if we don’t hurry. You may have to be

my date. Let’s not forget Paul.”

 

“Yeah,” Dai giggled. “Harrison would look awful with a buzz

cut.” Adele snickered as they hurried down the stairs. It was no

secret that Adele’s father took the word “overprotective” to all new

levels. Paul had been one of the star football players at their school,

until he came to pick Adele up for a date. Adele’s dad had frightened

him so badly that he had signed up for the army the next day, saying

that he needed direction in his life.

 

“Yes sir!” Dai and Adele heard the two boys in the living room

chorus. Dai cringed, and rushed in, a little relieved to see Harrison

still there and not shaking in his black patent-leather shoes. He

looked incredibly handsome in a traditional black tuxedo, with his

short dark hair gelled, and a corsage box in his hand. He was the

poster boy for the football team, and it still made Dai’s mind spin

thinking about the fact that the quarterback of Jefferson High, the

most popular guy in school, had asked her to prom.

 

“Dai,” Harrison greeted, his smooth voice sending chills down

her spine. Her heart leapt up into her throat as he continued, in front

of everyone. “You look… Beautiful.”

 

Dai blushed crimson. She could feel her face radiating heat,

which made her even more embarrassed and shy. “Thanks,” she

barely whispered, trying to pretend that three other people weren’t

watching her. “You look amazing.”

 

He grinned, his chiseled cheekbones and jaw forming a perfect

smile with his straight, brilliantly white teeth. “Here,” he told her,

stepping close and opening the box. He pulled out the most beautiful

white rose that Dai had ever seen, surrounded by two smaller blue

roses, baby’s breath, and greenery. “This is for you,” he told her,

reaching out his hand. She was so enthralled by how good he smelled

up close that she barely noticed him slipping the corsage around her

wrist.

 

“Dai,” Dai heard Adele whisper, and then a sharp nudge to her

side brought Dai back to the real world. She blushed furiously,

totally embarrassed. Harrison probably thought that she was a

complete idiot, now. She was just staring at him, like some lovesick

puppy! How pathetic. “Don’t forget this,” Adele reminded, and

suddenly the boutonniere box was being thrust into Dai’s hands.

Wonderful, sweet, brilliant Adele. Dai reminded herself to thank

Adele later for once again saving her from herself. She smiled

weakly up at Harrison, but the twinkle in his baby blue’s made her

swoon and she forgot about everything. He was so cute… So

charming… So sweet… How had she gotten so lucky? It should have

been perfect Adele there with perfect Harrison, not Dai. And yet,

somehow, she was the one there, holding his hand. She had never felt

so special before.

 

“Well, we’re ready to go!” Adele announced briskly, and for the

second time, Dai was pulled from her dream world. Her boutonniere

box was empty, and to her astonishment, the white-rose boutonniere

was pinned perfectly to Harrison’s lapel. When had that happened?

 

Apparently everyone else knew, because Harrison took Dai’s

hand, and she zoned out again as he led her out. She honestly felt like

she was walking on air. She was a princess in a fairy tale, a real-life

fairy tale, and Harrison was her prince charming come to whisk her

away to a brand new world.

 

And then Harrison released her hand as she sat down into the

passenger seat he had helped her into of his almost brand-new, waytoo-

expensive sports car, and again reality returned.

 

“The other couples are meeting us at the restaurant,” Adele

reminded them from the backseat as Harrison climbed into the car

and started it. “We requested a table with an ocean view, so let’s

cross our fingers.”

 

“It’ll be fine,” Glen’s quiet, calm voice assured Adele. Dai

smiled to herself, because Glen Marsh wasn’t the usual conceited

jock who went after Adele. Rather, he was a quiet, more reserved

guy, a conservative cute, and a perfect match for Adele. She had

actually pursued him, a first for her, but well worth the effort, as

they’d been dating—seriously—for almost six months.

 

“I know,” Adele sighed. “I waste entirely too much of my life

away worrying about absolutely nothing. Dai!”

 

Dai peeked through the space between her seat and the headrest,

to the back seat, where in the passing headlights, she could see her

best friend. “Yes, ma’am?”

 

“Don’t let me worry anymore. If you see or hear me starting to

panic, force me to stop. I have a life to live.”

 

Dai smirked at her, because she knew perfectly well that nothing

would ever stop Adele from worrying. Adele loved to worry. She did

it better than anyone Dai had ever met. And she worried about the

dumbest things, like her number 2 pencil breaking in the middle of

an exam, or her favorite perfume being discontinued. Of course, it

was all just part of Adele’s charm, too. It made her endearing.

 

“Sure, ‘Dele,” Dai agreed. “Whatever you say.”

 

“Hey!” Adele protested. “Do you doubt that I can do it? I can do

anything I put my mind to!”

 

“You took that from a poster in English class,” Dai accused

playfully.

 

“Not!” Adele corrected in a sing-song tone. “From Trig class.”

 

“How ironic,” Dai teased. They all knew that math was not

Adele’s strong subject, by far.

 

“I still think our prom theme should have been ‘Medieval

Times,’” Adele announced, a slight pout to her voice as she changed

the subject. She had obviously been thinking about this for a while.

“Midnight Paradise is so overdone.”

 

“I could have carried a sword,” Harrison agreed wistfully. Dai

could picture Harrison with a sword through his belt, wearing a

swordsman shirt and tan pants, carrying himself like a warrior. He

would be perfect in that role.

 

“And probably would have stabbed yourself with it,” Glen

muttered quietly. Dai frowned, but before she could say anything,

Adele smacked him. Dai smirked at Glen’s sharp intake of breath

before he turned on Adele and made a face of protest. Served him

right, the jerk. It was no secret that Glen disliked Harrison. Adele

had spent an entire month convincing him to go with Dai and

Harrison. Glen thought Harrison was an idiot—Harrison thought

Glen must be an okay guy if Adele was dating him.

 

“We could have worn those cool dresses, Dai,” Adele went on

dreamily, forgetting about her boyfriend.

 

“You mean the ones that broke ribs and gave you a twelve inch

waist, even if you passed out?” Dai asked. The dresses were

beautiful and all, but she wasn’t willing to sacrifice her bones for

beauty. She would leave that to models or someone that wasn’t her.

 

“Yes. Damn that prom committee!”

 

“‘Dele,” Dai began slowly, eyeing her best friend in amused

patience. “You’re the leader of the prom committee.”

 

“Oh yeah,” Adele mused, making a face. “Well then damn me for

letting them get away with it!”

 

Dai just giggled and faced forward in her seat. Prom night was

Magic night. Everyone knew it. Everyone went to prom, even if they

hadn’t had a date all four years of high school. Prom was a

mandatory event, preluded with months of anticipation. Dai knew,

because that was how long she and Adele had spent squealing over

it. Nothing was gong to ruin her perfect night—nothing.

 

***

 

Dinner had been fabulous, with their table right on the water and

the food so delicious that it seemed to melt in her mouth. And before

Dai knew it, they were at the dance. It was magical and exciting and

wonderful because it was prom—but other than that, it was the same

cheap stars and moons and lights that had been used at their last

dance. The students were all dressed up in lovely, elegant, beautiful,

and sometimes exotic dresses, but the only difference between this

and any other formal, like Homecoming, was that these were only

junior and senior students.

 

But it was prom, so Dai promised herself that she wouldn’t think

about the bad things. She was only focusing on the good, like how

wonderful it felt to be hanging on Harrison Ellisman’s arm. She felt

as though everyone was noticing her. For once, girls wished that they

were her—not Adele. And it felt incredible to have her day, her

night, her moment.

 

“Dance?” Harrison crooned in her ear. Dai just about melted, her

knees trembling at the soft breath touching her ear. She must have

managed a nod, because Harrison led her out to the dance floor. She

would have followed him anywhere that he led her: to the dance

floor, to the mouth of a volcano, to hell...

 

Hey! Where were those thoughts coming from? Dai scowled over

Harrison’s shoulder. Just more things trying to ruin her perfect night.

Well, it wasn’t going to happen. She was on the dance floor, in

Harrison Ellisman’s arms, and life was complete. This was what she

had dreamed of for years, since she had first laid eyes on the popular

jock. It was what she had always wanted—and now she had it. Now

she had achieved her dream.

 

When it came time to announce royalty, Dai found Adele, with

Glen, suddenly by her side. Adele clutched Dai’s arm, and Dai had to

laugh.

 

“‘Dele,” she chided gently. “You know you’re prom queen. Why

are you worried?” Adele had, in fact, been royalty every year since

junior high.

 

Adele sighed, and Dai met her blue eyes curiously. “I don’t want

to be Queen,” she told Dai honestly. Dai gaped in surprise at her best

friend, too stunned to reply. What was she talking about? Adele loved

being crowned. She had a whole shelf of tiaras in her room. “I wish

they would crown you. I wouldn’t be anywhere without you,

anyway.”

 

Dai could only stare in disbelief and confusion. “But, Adele—”

 

“…Adele Olivie!”

 

The student body burst into loud catcalls and applause. No one

deserved to be prom queen more than Adele—no one. And no one

could be better at it. Adele smiled, laughed, waved, hugged Glen,

then Dai, and went up to the stage to be crowned. Dai pushed the

conversation out of her head as she smiled at her best friend up on the

stage, bending slightly so that the sparkling tiara could be placed on

her head. As soon as the tiara was set, Adele just looked complete.

She was born to be crowned. She deserved it.

 

“And your prom king… Harrison Ellisman!”

 

Dai squealed excitedly, hugging him, and then watched as he

went up to the stage, and kissed Adele on the cheek. Dai reached out

automatically and grabbed Glen, stopping him from taking a second

step forward. Glen grumbled, but Dai could only watch as her prom

date was crowned, the crown fitting him as if it were meant to be

there. The King and Queen hugged, and the slow song they were

supposed to dance to began.

 

“Well, Dai,” Glen began, grinning at her and turning away from

the spectacle that the court was. “Can I be your replacement dance

partner until yours comes back?”

 

“I would be honored,” Dai assured him, giggling. She turned to

face him and wrapped her arms around his neck, trying to forget

about the slight tug of longing in her heart. She couldn’t be too

jealous about Adele being crowned, because it was only natural, but

Harrison was out there, and not with her.

 

Perfect night, she reminded herself sharply. No negative thoughts.

It seemed like an eternity later before Harrison and Adele

returned. There were hugs all around that ended up with Dai in

Harrison’s arms. Her slight unhappiness dissolved completely as he

hugged her close and twirled her around the dance floor.

 

Perfect night.

 

Prom ended, but the night did not. They went back out to

Harrison’s car, the four of them. Dai felt dizzy and giddy, like there

was nothing that could contain her happiness. Harrison helped her

into the car, and once in, she turned around and grinned at Adele

and Glen, who were leaning on each other. Adele still had the tiara

on, which sparkled with every move she made, and Dai knew that

no one would ever wear a tiara as well as Adele.

 

“I can’t wait for you and Harrison to see this cabin,” Dai gushed

to Glen. “It’s so beautiful, and right on the water.”

 

“I can’t believe your parents got it for us,” Adele returned,

giggling. “Now that’s love. And trust.”

 

Dai grinned. “Actually, it’s, ‘Measure how much you love me by

how much you spend on me,’” she corrected. “Works every time.”

 

“I’ll remember that,” Adele assured her dryly, then laughed.

Dai gave Harrison directions, and soon—or maybe not as soon

as it seemed, since the cabin was an hour away—they arrived. It was

everything Dai remembered it to be, and maybe more, because this

was her perfect night, and everything was wonderful.

 

The log cabin was secluded, surrounded by trees to the right and

left, a gravel driveway in front, and the beach and lake in the back.

The crescent moon above their heads shone brightly, reflecting into

the still, almost black sea. The stars seemed more brilliant than Dai

had ever seen before. They twinkled and shone as though no barrier

separated them from her. Everything was vivid here. Vivid and

magical.

 

“Let’s go inside,” Adele suggested, drawing Dai’s attention

away from the landscape and to her companions. Adele was

shivering and holding Glen’s tuxedo jacket around her. Glen’s arms

were around her as well, and in the blue-white of the moonlight,

they looked like the perfect couple. Harrison was beside Dai, but she

stepped away from him as she reached inside her purse. She pulled

out the key, which she had received on a vivid-red satin ribbon, and

stuck it into the lock. She slipped the ribbon around her neck, and

pushed the door open.

 

Inside was a large living room with a fireplace, fully furnished

with couches, tables, chairs, and a stereo unit. To the right were

doors leading to the upstairs and bathroom, and to the left, the

kitchen and upstairs. Upstairs was where all the bedrooms were

located, but she didn’t think that they’d be going up there.

 

They piled inside, Adele and Glen going to the stereo while Dai

followed Harrison to the fireplace. She handed him the book of

matches that they had put there earlier, and watched as he struck one

and lit a piece of newspaper that they had stowed under the mantle.

He carefully lit the logs in the fireplace, then tossed the burning

paper inside just as a light, classy melody came drifting out of the

speakers. Dai’s breath caught in her throat as she watched Harrison

turn to her and give her that charming grin. He helped her to her feet

and together they sank down on the couch, Dai wrapped up in his

arms.

 

The end of her perfect night.

 

 

Chapter 2: A New Day

 

“Well, well,” a low, husky, growling voice began, cutting into

Dai’s dreams. The voice sounded a little amused, and more than a

little menacing. “What a pretty girl we have here.”

 

Dai gasped and sat up quickly as a rank, warm breath grazed her

cheek. The ground was cold and hard beneath her hands as she

reached out to steady herself and put distance between herself and

this man… Men. There were two of them, and both were large,

burly, dirty, and in desperate need of a shower. Their clothes were

drab and ripped, and… Dai gulped as her eyes fell to a spot on the

closer man’s leg. Bloody. They each had swords by their sides, and

thick boots on their feet. In the first few hours of morning light, the

sun had yet to break over the hills behind them, so the air was still

cold and brisk, leaving her shivering and trembling.

 

Wait a second… Swords?

 

The ground?

 

Hills?

 

Where the hell was she?!

 

“She looks like a member of the emperor’s harem,” the second

one said, sounding a little afraid at his own words.

 

The big man in front of Dai breathed in roughly as he loomed

over her. “The emperor’s harem?” he growled in his scratchy voice.

“That would explain her dress.”

 

Dai trembled so hard that her thoughts seemed to be shaken from

her mind. She was in danger. And something was very, very not

right. Where was Adele? Where were Harrison and Glen? Where

was she? How had she gotten there, on the ground? What was she

doing there? Where exactly was ‘there’?

 

“Maybe we should leave her alone,” the guy in back suggested

warily, eyeing her. “We don’t need the emperor’s guards after us.”

 

“Maybe we should kidnap her,” the guy in front of Dai growled

in return. He stepped forward and Dai reflexively scrambled back on

the rough stone and dirt, her feet getting caught in the long folds of

her dress and tearing through it. Her heart, already lodged in her

throat, dropped into her stomach when her back smacked into a

hard, cold stone wall. She was trapped. There was no where else to

go. Dear god, where was she? How had she gotten there? Who were

these men? Where were her friends? She shivered and broke out in a

cold sweat when the man laughed huskily, filling her vision as he

stepped forward again, covering her in his shadow. Her stomach

heaved in disgust at his putrid stench, wafting over her and invading

her senses.

 

“Where you tryin’ to go, little girl?” he taunted viciously.

 

“You’re outside of the main city by a few miles. No one is going to

help you, and you can’t outrun us.” He lightly tapped his temple

with a beefy, tanned, callused finger. “You should have considered

that before you ran away.”

 

“I didn’t run away,” Dai told him, her voice shaking so hard that

she almost couldn’t tell what she was saying. “I don’t even—”

 

“Lasso, you hear that?” the man in front of Dai asked in a dark

delight that made Dai freeze and her heart skip into her throat

fearfully. What had she said wrong to make his eyes light up like

that? Her body filled with a cold dread at the malicious gleam in his

dark eyes. “She didn’t run away. That means that she was kicked

out.” He stuck his face even closer to hers, and despite the danger,

she turned away instinctively. Her stomach heaved at the incredibly

vile smell. It was like a mixture of dirt and crudeness, like he hadn’t

bathed in a year, or seen a toothbrush in longer than that. “Which

means that no one is going to come for the little tart.”

 

Dai panicked when he came closer. He just realized that no one

would save her. But… But someone would, wouldn’t they?

Harrison? Adele? Glen? Somebody? She uttered a sound of disgust

as she tried to get back, to push the damn stone wall down, but it

was no use. He had her trapped against the wall, and there was no

way that she could get away. But no matter what, she was

determined not to scream. She would never give a man like him the

satisfaction of seeing her beg.

 

“Hey, Hamish,” the man in back started, sounding scared. “I

think you should let her go.”

 

“But look how pretty she looks when she’s scared,” the man

objected, his eyes locked onto Dai’s. A large, beefy hand cupped her

cheek. Tears of panic, fear, and shame formed in her eyes, but she

fiercely bit her tongue until she tasted blood. She would sooner die

than cry, or plead with him to let her go. If she was going to go

down, she would go down with her pride.

 

Because in a moment, it was going to be all she had left.

 

Dai couldn’t resist a gasp when the hand slid to her throat—and

squeezed. Tears filled her eyes, and the cry that unconsciously rose

to her lips was cut off before it began.

 

“Hamish,” the guy in back said again, sounding more anxious.

 

“Man, you should really let her go.”

 

“Why?” he retorted, sneering at Dai. She struggled for air,

despite her oath to be proud, and desperately tried to claw at the hand

holding her throat and cutting off her air supply. Her vision was

going black and she couldn’t breathe… She was going to be raped,

robbed, and murdered… She was going to die…

 

“‘Cause if you don’t, I’ll cut you a new windpipe like your friend

back there,” a new, low, quiet voice promised darkly.

 

Dai gasped as the hand fell limply away from her throat and air

came flooding back. She held her throat herself, watching as

Hamish’s face contorted in panic. Dai looked down, through her

fuzzy, watery vision, and saw why.

 

There was a silver knife to his throat.

 

Dai blacked out.

 

***

 

She sat up quickly.

 

In terror, she looked around at her surroundings. It was dark out,

with moonlight filtering in through the bedroom window. She was in

a large bed, far too large for just her, with silky cold sheets and a

large thick canopy above her head. The room was almost as big as

her living room back home. She could make out a desk, a round table

with chairs by the window across the room, a dresser, and another

small table in the middle of the room, only high enough to use if they

were kneeling. Someone had changed her into a long white

nightgown, with long sleeves and a clasp in the back to give it shape.

 

Oddly, it was fancier than her prom dress had been. From her

surroundings, she didn’t appear to be in any immediate danger, but

she still didn’t know how she had gotten there, or where she was.

 

More importantly, where her two attackers were.

 

Dai stood, her knees a little shaky, but on her feet nonetheless.

The floor was stone and cold, and on Dai’s bare feet it was torture.

The entire room, in fact, was freezing compared to the warm bed she

had just vacated. Hanging from a round hook in the wall beside the

bed was a dark blue robe. She quickly snatched it and slipped the

warm robe on, relieved. She turned to the doorway, but before she

could step, her feet collided with two soft items that tumbled into the

sliver of light in the room. She focused on the items in disbelief and

relief. They were slippers. Someone had left slippers out for her.

They were soft and cushion-y, and while very different from hers at

home, at least her feet weren’t cold anymore.

 

Dai wondered about her hosts and their astonishing

thoughtfulness and hospitality as she crept out of her room, and into

the darkness of the hallway. She had no idea where she was going,

but it didn’t matter. She needed to find out where she was and how

she got there… And how she was going to get back home, because

her family and Adele were probably worried sick about her.

The hallways were made out of stone and drafty as hell. Dai

grimaced as she drew her robe tighter around her. There were small

windows near the ceiling, high enough to let in light but too high to

see out of. Dai frowned in surprise, because she had never seen any

place like this before. If she hadn’t known better, she would think

that it was a… a castle. But that, of course, was ridiculous, because

all of today’s castles had been torn down or were so old that they

were hazardous to be in. And the ones still in decent shape were

protected from being touched as historical landmarks. And even

more than that, they were in different countries.

 

Dai paused at a stairwell, tightly wound going both up and down.

Nervously she looked back over her shoulder, at the hallway with its

alternating darkness and beams of light on stone, and took a deep

breath before going down the stairs. It was narrow, and surrounded

by stone walls on either side. She began to grow dizzy on the

staircase that never seemed to end as she turned herself around and

around, never seeming to complete a full circle. Just as she thought

she had made a mistake, it opened out and didn’t go down any

further. She stepped out timidly, but paused when she realized that

this hallway was identical to the one that she had just come from.

Was it possible that she had somehow gone down, then back up? She

decided on no, so ventured out.

 

Luckily, this hallway led some place. It opened up to a small

room with a wooden door at the end. Dai frowned at it, not sure what

to do. She had no idea what was on the other side—or who, for that

matter. She should just go back upstairs and return to bed. Someone

would come for her eventually, she was sure of it. Of course, the

problem was that she didn’t know who would be coming for her.

She turned the handle and pushed the door open. It was heavy

and creaked with a high pitched whine. Dai paused, terrified that

someone would come out with a gun and shoot her as a trespasser

before they looked at who she was. She waited, but no one appeared,

so she finished pushing the door open. What appeared was a large

stone courtyard, with a fountain in the center. It was a simple,

elegant stone fountain. The top of the basin was wide enough to sit

on. Water spilled out off of the top, where it flowed over the surface

and splashed into the water below, casting out a light spray that

glistened in the moonlight. Four stone benches surrounded it in an

open box, each only wide enough to hold about three people. The

courtyard was surrounded by bushes at least seven feet high—maybe

more. It appeared completely secluded and cut off from the rest of

the world. Dai studied her surroundings, and then hesitantly stepped

outside. Nothing happened, not that she thought it would, so she took

a few more steps out. She looked around, taking in the clear night

sky and its vivid stars—so vivid that they made Dai’s heart ache at

the sight of their beauty. It reminded Dai of the night before, a night

that seemed so long ago, when she was at the cabin in the woods

with her friends.

 

Dai fell to a bench, curling her forehead to her knees as a wave of

nausea hit her. How had she gotten there? Where was she? How was

she going to get home? Who had been the mysterious stranger that

had saved her? Had it been that morning, or many mornings ago?

Who had brought her here, dressed her, and gave her shelter? Her—a

stranger. Where was Adele? Where was anybody?

 

A hand fell solidly on her shoulder.

 

Dai gasped and jumped to her feet, whirling around at the same

time. She frowned at the man standing on the other side of the bench.

His eyes were wide and surprised, and he held up his hands for her to

see. They were empty.

 

“There is no need to be afraid. We were told of the terrible ordeal

you suffered. Can you tell me who you are; where you have come

from?”

 

Dai’s heart slowly stopped its furious drumming against her

ribcage as she studied him. For the moment, she was out of any

imminent danger—at least as far as she could tell.

 

The stranger had long black hair, so long that it fell like waves

around his waist. His eyes were dark, and yet gentle, and his skin

was so pale that it was almost as though he had never seen the sun.

He wore a long robe, a dark blue color, not unlike Dai’s own, only

his seemed to be more for public wear, unlike hers, which was a silk

wrap to lounge in. There was something old, wise, and scholarly

about him, and even though he couldn’t be a day over twenty-five, he

had the air of an enlightened monk or something. For some reason,

Dai felt like she could trust him.

 

She wanted her own questions answered first, but she fought her

burning impatience and answered him. “I am Dai Gold, from

Indiana.” That was all he had asked, so now it was her turn. “Who

are you? Where am I? How long have I been here? Where’s my

friend Adele? How did I get here? How do I get home?” He couldn’t

possibly remember all of her questions, but she didn’t care. She was

just relieved to finally have someone to talk to—someone that didn’t

want to rape or rob her. As soon as she found out where she was, she

would be able to figure out how to get home. “Is there an airport near

by? I’m sure my parents are worried sick about me. I’ve been gone a

full day.”

 

He regarded her with curiosity. “This is the palace of Emperor

Odo Orland, in the country of Godall. I am Galen Sumantra, Healer

of this land. You were brought here this morning by one of the

emperor’s guards.” He frowned and studied her. “What is an

‘airport’?” He pronounced the word strangely, as though he had

never heard or said it before. “And I am afraid that I am unfamiliar

with the country ‘Indiana.’ Where is it? How did you get to Godall?”

 

Dai gaped at him in disbelief. Was this guy for real? She was in a

foreign country?! And one with an emperor? Why oh why hadn’t she

paid attention in history class? More importantly, geography? How

on earth had she gotten there, especially without ever once waking

up? And why didn’t he know what an airport was? Even third-world

countries in the worst states of poverty had airports—didn’t they?

“Indiana isn’t a country,” she told him slowly, her heart starting

to speed up nervously. “It’s a state. Part of the USA?” When he

blinked and frowned in confusion, Dai gaped at him, breaking out in

a cold sweat. “You know… The United States of America?” He still

appeared lost. “You’ve never heard of the United States of

America?”

 

He shook his head, frowning slowly. “I fear no, Lady Dai. I have

neither read about nor met anyone from such a country.”

 

Dai sank down onto the cold stone bench again, her legs refusing

to support her any longer. Something was very, very wrong. She’d

never left the USA before, but she was sure that everyone had at least

heard of the states before. It was almost inconceivable that this man

hadn’t. Something had happened—something bad. She wasn’t sure

where she belonged anymore. Or maybe… Maybe she was crazy.

Maybe she had lost her mind.

 

“Lady Dai?” Galen asked, sounding alarmed. His hands came

toward her, but Dai waved them away, flinching. No touching. The

memories from that morning still hung with her, making her slightly

ill.

 

“I went to sleep in the cabin,” Dai mumbled to herself, trying to

piece together what had happened. “I fell asleep in Harrison’s arms.

When I woke up, that man was standing over me.” She squeezed her

eyes shut, trying to picture the events as they took place. “But how

could I have gotten from there to here without even noticing?” Could

she have been drugged? It was certainly possible. She had consumed

some of the punch at the prom last night. But it had been early

morning when she woke up, because the sun had just barely risen.

And they had only gone to bed around three. The amount of time that

it would have taken to get her to another country where the United

States wasn’t even recognized would have to be at least more than a

few hours. She couldn’t have slept for over a day, because she had

still been in her prom dress. It hadn’t been taken off of her or

anything.

 

So the only logical explanation was that this seemingly trustworthy

man was lying.

 

Dai sprang to her feet and glared at the man. “How do I know

that you’re not lying?” she demanded, hysteria growing inside of

her. “How can I believe that you’re telling me the truth? None of

this is possible!” She covered her ears with the palms of her hands,

as though she could stop the noise filling her mind; the rush of

confusion, disbelief, and fear. “It isn’t possible!” she shrieked, not

caring who heard her or who woke up in the looming stone castle.

Let them all wake up and see her! She just wanted to go

home. Was that too much to ask? “You’re lying,” she spat, dropping

her hands away from her ears as she glared at the man, who looked

at her in concern. “You’re lying!”

 

Dai took off running, not sure where she was going. Her heart

beat furiously in her chest as she dashed back inside, her slippers

tapping against the stone floor as she ran. There was no where to go,

she reminded herself as she passed through a beam of moonlight.

Back up the stairs would just return her to her room. She was a

prisoner—trapped, once again. Just like that morning.

 

A hand grabbed her arm.

 

Hamish! Dai’s mind screamed. His face flashed before her eyes,

blinding her, and she screamed as she struck back blindly. “No!”

 

“Hey!” a male voice exclaimed. “Watch it! You almost hit me!”

 

“Let me go!” Dai shrieked, tugging her body backward as she

clawed at the hands holding her wrists. She had made the mistake of

not fighting back before and almost paid dearly. She would not

make the mistake again.

 

“Ow! Hey! That hurts!” the voice exclaimed. Dai barely heard

him through her haze as she sank her nails deeper into his not quite

large, but not small, arms. He was strong, though, too strong. Her

wrists felt like they were going to splinter. She twisted and tugged

and tried to wrench free, but it was useless. She was too weak and

he was too strong.

 

 “Not again,” she whispered pleadingly, closing her eyes against

the tears starting to form.

 

“Spencer!” a newly familiar voice cried out. “Release her!”

 

The hands holding Dai captive fell away. Dai opened her eyes

quickly in disbelief, not sure that she could believe that another

miracle had come true for her. She fell back against the cold stone

wall in shock and fear, but to her surprise, a boy a few years younger

than her stood before her, eyeing her in confusion. He had short

blond hair and light blue eyes, and wore a light blue-colored robe

made out of a heavier material and worn over a pair of dark blue

pants. He had on shoes, dark blue slip-ons, but not slippers like

Dai’s. He appeared friendly and not at all dangerous. Actually, he

looked completely lost and bewildered.

 

Galen appeared beside Spencer. “Are you alright?’ he asked her

in concern.

 

Dai panted for air, but before she could answer, her not-at-allwinded

and less-than-scary “attacker” looked at her with a flash of

recognition in his eyes. “Hey!” he exclaimed eagerly. He tugged on

Galen’s sleeve. “Is she the girl that got brought in this morning?” He

turned to Dai without waiting for an answer. “Wow, you’re really

pretty without all that dirt all over you! Are you part of a lord’s

harem? Or are you one of his wives?”

 

The boy had way too much energy for the early hour. She

couldn’t blame him for brimming with curiosity, but she was too

exhausted to play games now. She just wanted to sleep and wake

back up in her cabin.

 

“Spencer, not now,” Galen sighed, sounding vaguely impatient.

 

“You always tell me ‘not now’,” Spencer grumbled, kicking his

shoe against the floor. “How come I can’t talk to her, too?”

 

“Spencer!” Galen exclaimed, turning on him. “Go to bed, will

you?”

 

“Jeez,” Spencer muttered, turning away. “Fine. I’ll go.” As he

walked away, up the stairs, Dai could hear him. “Old fogey couldn’t

have even caught her without my help, and the only thanks I get is

being sent to bed.”

 

It would have been comical, if it were any other situation. But

Dai couldn’t find it in herself to laugh. She was too confused, too

scared, and too lost. She felt like she was five years old again, lost in

the mall, and thinking that the mall was so much bigger than her tiny

self, and that she would never find her mom again. The mall had

seemed so massive and scary, then. And now that was how Dai felt

about the world, and her home. She was just one person in a planet

full of people. How was she going to get home? Even if there was an

airport here, these people wouldn’t tell her where it was.

 

“Are you alright?” Galen asked worriedly. “Spencer did not

mean any harm. He is still only a boy. He does not yet understand—”

 

“How can I be sure that you’re not lying?” Dai demanded

abruptly, ignoring him. Because she had a bad feeling in her stomach

that he wasn’t lying—and then what would she do? How would she

get home?

 

He regarded her solemnly, without blinking. “You cannot,” he

admitted seriously. The way he said it, his voice and expression,

made her break down into tears. He was being honest, and that

scared her more than anything else, because that convinced her that

he was telling the truth. Galen was telling the truth. About

everything.

 

She covered her face with her hands as she cried, sliding down

against the wall and not caring that her nightgown rode up, exposing

most of her legs. The stone floor was cold as she sat on it and cried

helplessly. She was in a strange land where they had never heard of

the United States, she didn’t know how she had gotten there or how

she was going to get back home, and she’d been attacked that

morning.

 

Dai was exhausted.