Chapter Three, Continued.

..she finally felt safe. It'd been years since she felt safe, as he ushered her upstairs into his parlour for tea she deliberated telling him the truth.

I breathed as he ushered me up the obsidian stairs into a wide parlour, where I was sitting for less than three minutes before I broke into sobs of relief that shook my entire frame.

"Mik, it's been so hard, I can't believe it's really you.. That I really found you." I gasped between my tears as Mik pulled me into a hug and patted my hair.

"Well I'm really here, and you're here and I promise nothing will happen to you. We're family, aren't we?" He murmured against my hair soothingly. He was as kind as I remembered, being patient with me despite the hysterics.

"You're okay Sal, everything is going to be okay now, I promise." Mik continued.

Eventually the sobs stopped and I pushed herself away from his arms murmuring a thank you as I brushed the tears from my cheeks. I should tell him I'm not Salvaya. Michael stood up and brushed off his pants, "Sal why don't we get you situated in a guest room near mine and let you rest for a bit, you look tired." He offered kindly.

All I could do is nod and get up to follow him, only to stop in my tracks when a girl around my age with beautiful blonde curls and striking green eyes barred the path.

"Who is she?" She murmured in Mik's direction, completely ignoring me. Her eyes mark her as a member of the Asthene Royal House.

"This is my cousin, Salvaya, but you can call her Sal," Mik answered, motioning for me to come forward with a nod.

Motioning towards the girl he continued, "and Sal, this is Princess Selece, I'm to escort her back to the capital to her father in a few months."

Selece extended a hand towards me in a gesture I didn't recognize, I just stared before finding my voice and smiling at her, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance princess Selece."

Selece looked down at her hand and withdrew it before responding, "The pleasure is all mine Salvaya, such a unique name.. Were you named after the late princess from Takor by chance?"

Mik cleared his throat and smiled, "How about we let her rest Cee, Sal's had a long journey and she's exhausted. I'm going to see that she finds an appropriate room and then why don't we meet you for dinner in the terrace in a few hours?"

Selece nodded, and turned on her heel quickly departing down the hallway. I breathed an audible sigh of relief.

"I figured the less she knew about your specifics the better, I've only recently found her and I don't really have a firm grasp on her agenda. I'm sure she'll continue to ask questions though, so outside of dinner tonight you might want to try to stay away from her." Mik murmured pulling me down a different hall towards a beautiful polished door.

This unique door had no handles, and I couldn't help a smile. He's giving me one of the safest rooms for a sorceress. Stepping up to the door I tried to remember how to imprint my power into the marble, it took a few minutes but I managed to trace a crude looking star on the outside and with a nudge I was inside. Mik stepped in behind me, and quickly checked the room to make sure it was secure.

"It all looks to be clear to me, if you need anything my room is three doors to the left of yours, and eventually if you feel like talking about where you've been and what you've been through I hope you know I'm always here for you ok?" Mik offered me with a smile, before walking out and closing the door calmly.

I'm finally safe, but for how long can I keep up this web of lies? As children, Sal and I were able to go days or even weeks without anyone telling us apart. Hopefully I can keep this up until I feel comfortable enough to tell him, or well, never tell him.

Mateo smiled, and despite the situation Salvaya felt slightly calmer.

"If I were to say no?" She asked tentatively searching for an alternative.

"I'll keep it to myself and wait until you change your mind, I know you will eventually." He responded full of confidence, something Salvaya was suddenly in short supply of. But she was quickly adjusting plans in her mind, Mateo could be one of two backup plans.

"I'll agree, but tomorrow I will need to meet you in the evening again to arrange a few things. I'd like you bring your favorite broach or cufflinks or what you generally never leave your room without." Salvaya finally acquiested.

Mateo looked puzzled before drawing up his sleeve to expose a beautiful bangle he could never remove, "Will this work? I never take it off?"

Salvaya smiled, her cat like eyes assessing the piece of jewelry before deciding it would work famously. Quickly she pressed the enchanted amulet against the bracelet and pushed a few extra tendrils of power through the amulet into the jewelry. It took on a faint glow briefly and Salvaya knew it had worked before she murmured that it was perfect.

Mateo withdrew his hand and shoved it into his pocket, "So tomorrow evening we'll meet in the stables again then?"

Salvaya nodded and brushed past him into the halls heading back to her room. It wouldn't do to be caught not in their rooms when morning was so quickly approaching.

I released my hold over my flame inside the room, feeling the relief that comes from letting go tingle it's way up and down my arms. My new room, well my temporary room, was beautiful with silk hangs on the obsidian walls and a balcony to the left overlooking the port of the city. I pushed open the windows and sat down to admire the view. Enjoying the idea of not being forced to join the girls tonight or ever again, I stretched out on a chair. My breath caught in my throat, what if they came looking for me? I don't know what they do to girls that escape, I've never heard of someone escaping before. I'm the king's favorite though, that dirty little scoundrel will be in for a surprise now that I'm not going to be there to service his needs anymore.

I looked up at the clock, there was an hour left before dinner and I wouldn't mind getting into something more suitable. So I stood up, and made my way over to the beautiful oaken armoire in the room to find it filled with clothing. I'm sure they aren't all my size, and they're just there for emergencies but they'll do just fine for tonight. I grabbed a silk emerald colored gown and soft leather slippers to lay out on the bed when I headed into the attached washroom. The obsidian tower was magically outfitted with running water in the form of something Mark had called a shower and I was excited to determine if he was bluffing or not.

There was all kinds of levers on the counter, but in the corner stood a beautiful container with a summon stone on the ceiling and a grated hole in the floor like you see with tubs. Excitement built up from my toes to my finger tips as I stripped down and stepped inside. Closing the glass door behind me I reached up and touched the summoning stone. It was smooth and warm. Pushing a tendril of magic into it, I prepared for the water to spurt forth. It quickly left me sputtering for air and shifting so that I could breathe, but it was wonderful! I vowed then and there to never take another bath if I could prevent it, they took baths in Astolat. I was no longer in Astolat so I would shower. Taking the soap I lathered up everywhere and then rinsed off. Standing an extra few seconds in the water, I withdrew the tendril of power inside the summoning stone and took two dripping steps out of the glass dome. A pile of fluffy towels sat on the counter and I wrapped one around my body to dry off.

Quickly I set about dressing myself and as I finished pinning the last of my hair out of my face there was a tapping at my door. When I pushed it open Mik was standing outside with a very old man who looked very familiar. Mik smiled and I stepped aside to motion for them to come in.

"Sal this man was once your father's closest confidante and your godfather, Ilrac Matat." He introduced excitedly.

Ilrac looked over at Mik and murmured, "I'm sure she knows who I am Michael, would you allow us a moment of privacy to discuss some sensitive family matters?"

Mik nodded his consent and stepped from the room, closing the door behind him. Once it was securely shut, Ilrac turned towards me and motioned for us to sit down. "It's been a long time my dear," he murmured, despite his age he was still sharp. Motorri's were known for their excellent longivity and so I knew his forced gait to be an act before he even sat down.

"It most certainly has, much longer for some than others." I murmured in response.

"So where has my apprentice gotten off to, he was supposed to escort you here himself?" Ilrac asked me calmly.

I frowned, "Mark unfortunately didn't make it past the phantoms, I was lucky to get here unharmed."

Ilrac stood up and walked towards the window, he sighed. Turning around after a few moments of silence he looked me directly in my cat like eyes, searching me for something, I have no idea what. Sadness over the loss of someone who played such an important role in my freedom maybe?

"When were you planning to tell everyone you're actually Elaine?" He chuckled.

I must've paled significantly because he stopped chuckling and sat down beside me, grasping my small hands in his.

"My darling, you needn't worry about impersonating your twin sister here, you're as equally important as the crown princess." He spoke gently to me.

I tried to process what he just said, my eyes widened at the revelation. I was so young back then, we never realised that our similarities were more than coincidence.

"What do you mean my sister?" I asked, my voice quiet.

He sighed again, "I suppose you were still young and nobody ever told you.. But when the king and queen of Takor have twins it is custom to split them up to avoid competition for the crown. Generally on their 16th birthday they are told of the split. In your case you are identical twins so it would have been discovered far sooner had everything not happened."

I tried to digest that information, so without Salvaya around I was technically the only living princess of the court? How did he know I wasn't her though? "How did you figure out that I wasn't Sal?" I asked him tentatively.

He smiled, "Your flames were always different colors, you could never fool me even when you were pretending to be eachother and playing pranks around the castle."

I didn't remember playing pranks, I didn't remember much of that time but keeping time in mind, I looked up at the clock and we were about to be late for dinner. He caught my glance and nodded, "We can finish our chat later, but we should probably head down for dinner."

I stood up and he followed me towards the door, placing my hands on it I used a tendril of power to nudge it open. Mik was still leaning outside in the hall waiting for us and I instantly felt worse for my charade, he was too kind and patient to be lied to. I pulled him aside before casting him an uncertain smile, "Mik, " I began. He linked our arms and I continued, "I'm actually Elaine, not Sal, I was just scared you'd cast me out if I said so."

Mik smiled, "I knew you were Lainey, we spent enough time together as children that I can tell the difference between my cousins you know? I was just waiting for you to tell me yourself. I figured there was a reason you were pretending to be Sal but I didn't want to push you away. Why don't we head to dinner Selece will never let me hear the end of it if we leave her waiting."

I smiled up at him brightly, "Of course, lead the way." Mik pulled me along as Ilrac followed us closely behind.