" restricter immediately. " Moving with practiced haste a soldier pulled a collar from one of his pouches and handed it to James who was restraining the leader of the group
A few steps away lazza and Selena rushed to alaine who had tripped when she was blinded " your vision will return soon are you alright."
They examined her finding the blood on her leg following it back to its source
" im ok i-i just want to go home." Her leg jolted away when Selena touched it to make sure she wasn't hurt
" ok,ok let's get you back." Slowly helping her up after cutting her free they left the tunnel beginning their trip back to dragon tooth on the back of the transforming soldiers
The flight back didn't convince anyone alaine was really ok the closest to her could hear her sniffing
When they arrived in front of alaine's diner a gathering of people met them most worried about what took place while the others were just interested in what was happening
" please make a path." Those grouped parted allowing alaine surrounded by James,kal, lazza and Selena to enter the building
" ill have people be stationed outside from now on at night...one of us can stay with you for a few nights if that will make you feel safer."
She shook her head " no that's alright I just want to be alone right now." None of them voiced a word of opposition just assuring her they would be right outside the left, leaving her alone in a silent seemingly more cold room
Standing there not thinking about anything in particular tears began well up and fall once again,The now dry blood that ran down her leg stood out to her senses
" why?" The tears kept falling for a time before she finally decided to get herself clean she felt uncomfortably filthy
That night she didn't get much sleep unable to settle her mind or her body ending up just curling into a ball
.
.
.
" alaine are you up here?" The sound of footsteps woke alaine up a ping of fear ran down her spine until she recognized the unique pattern
Uncurring herself she moved towards the door opening it just as a knock echoed in the room
" umm...sorry to come up her but it's time to open and you weren't down stairs." In front of alaine was her two young servers looking at her with concern
" w-we heard what happened to you are you alright, do you not want to open?"
Alaine finally got pulled out of her stupor by their faces growing more concerned as they looked at her
" im alright I didn't realize I slept in ill be down right away go ahead at get people seated."
Once again left alone a oppressive feeling set in making her breathe hitch and her body to shake for a moment ' what is happening to me?'
She didn't understand why she was feeling this was even after it passed returning to mostly normal
Taking a slight shaky deep breath she moved downstairs to the kitchen hoping getting back into the rhythm of things would break whatever came over her
And it did for a time as she cooked for the people that were now coming in filling the room with the scent of cooking food and the changing of utensils, relaxing her mind a bit
However the feeling still lingers " stop, dont go back there." Someone suddenly burst into the kitchen scaring her an causing her tails to shot straight in the air her fur fanned out
A human wearing very fine clothing " you are the one in charge yes, I have to say my experience as been horrible."
He started listing all his complaints " first your place opens late, second I have been treated like the rest of the commoners that unacceptable my father is a valued merchant of this city, lastly what is this slop I've had better at taverns in the capital the only reason I suffered this place was because I was promised the food was amazing but this is just shit."
The man threw is plate on the floor shattering it into pieces and leaving alaine stunned, this was the first time she ever got a complaint let alone one so aggressive she didn't have words for
The feeling she has been having spiked causing her to start trembling heavily dropping the knife and vegetable she was holding about to chop it for a stew that was for later
Just as the man berated her again a strong hand clenched his shoulder making him yelp in pain " you should leave before you get hurt, throw in a cell or both."
Alistair's deep voice could be heard. And the noble men turned to berate the soldier but quickly feel silent at the hostile gazes from the other patrons
" this isn't the last you hear from me." He turned to leave still in a state of annoyance only to be stopped again
" it better be if you know what's good for you and your father." Alistair finally moved out of his way completely so he can leave
" are you alright." Alistair asked alaine but she kept trembling like she didn't hear until one of her regulars a old Dwarven woman placed a gentle hand on her arm
" come you've taken care of us let us take care of you." Around her were people that frequent you her diner all showering her with care understanding what she went through,
most have delt with a similar situation themselves since a large portion of the city's population were people the queen or king brought here and they decided to stay
Alaine slowly nodded letting herself be led up stairs " im sorry about the food."
" shh isn't nothing sweetheart that prick was just being over dramatic now just rear for a couple days ok you'll feel better I promise and we will be here for you."
***
A week later at the shore of a island near the merman capital
" are you sure this is fine we can send you back on a ship." The now king of the merman Aquinas asked not feeling right about taking us to this island just outside their capital
" you dont have to worry this is my husband preferred way of travel anyway." Elise answered as I nodded beside her
" well than thank you for attending the ceremony I hope it was a pleasure staying in the city."
" it was the city was gorgeous thank you again for inviting us." We exchanged a few more pleasantries and they discussed a couple little details about shipments before I grabbed her and emily teleporting us back to our home
" im heading to the office im sure Amelia is on the verge of drowning in work." Elise said raising her voice iver the sounds that accompanied the busy streets
Inodded kissing her on the cheek before she left picking Emily up and putting her on my shoulder while I moved towards the castle
But she left me too when some of her friends came running up to us asking about the trip,asking if she wanted to play
After Emily flew from my shoulder to join her friends I changed my destination from the castle to my work space beneath Leon's shop
" i hope she likes it." It was at this moment my footsteps halted and I realized i was excited to see her fidgeting with the ring I held in my hand the same one I got at the merman capital
' damn it." I let out a deep breath as I moved enjoying the sights of the growing city
" hey oda nad Alistair how have you two glad to see your relationship still going strong." As Leon's shop came into view the loving couple were just about to pass by me when I noticed them
" welcome back my king its nice to s~see you as well." Oda answered as they both bowed towards me
" what's wrong why do you look like that." Alistair had a sorrowful look on his face and he wouldn't look at me straight on
" im sorry, about what happened if we were quicker that wouldn't have been done to her." I squinted my eyes at him
" what are you talking about?" My heart was racing begging for it not to be what I thought
" its alaine she was taken a week or so back but she hasn't i was just pulled off watching her kal should be ther-" I was already gone before he finished appearing in front of her diner
" alaine!" I rushed into the building through the kitchen and up the stairs unknowingly using my element to speed me up
When I opened the door to her room I caused a gust of wind to blow through it
" alaine!" inside three shocked women we're staring one a elf, the other a old Dwarven woman and finally sitting on her bed was alaine who met my eyes and smiled brightly running towards me
She latched onto my upper half locking her legs around my torso while she hugged me, i gladly held her up cradling her head as she buried it into my shoulder
" im so sorry I wasn't here, i was blocked out of our earpieces and my elements so I just found out." I could feel her tears begin to soak my shoulder
" just dont leave me please." The other two in the room got up and left leaving us alone in the room. " of course I won't i never will." Wrapping my arms around her I sat on the bed while she cried