Read Through the Looking Glass Online

Authors: Rebecca Lorino Pond

Through the Looking Glass (9 page)

BOOK: Through the Looking Glass
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Isobel sat alone at the table when someone had asked to speak with Jakar in private. No one came up to the table as she sat there by herself, making her feel extremely uncomfortable. She reached for her glass of wine when suddenly Nyla landed on the table in front of her.

 

             
“Geez, Nyla! You scared the crap out of me,” she laughed as she addressed the fairy.

 

             
The tiny giggle that came from the small fairy reminded her of a little girl’s laugh. “I didn’t mean to startle you, Isobel. I wanted to come talk to you and see how you are doing.”

 

             
Isobel folded her hands in her lap. “I’m ok I guess.”

 

             
Nyla stood on the table and walked closer to the edge where she sat. “That doesn’t seem promising. Everything is going to work itself out, I promise you.”

 

             
“How can you be so sure? I mean, no one can tell me how I really fit into your world.” She leaned back in the chair and let out a breath.

 

             
Nyla sat on the edge of the table swinging her tiny legs. “I am not allowed to tell you or anyone else how things will play out. But, I am allowed to tell you that you are the one who will bring down the wall around Jakar’s heart as well as bring down Tuloch.” She smiled up at Isobel, her eyes sparkling. “You have some troubling times ahead of you and there will be those who will try to hurt you. But, you must remain the strong woman that you are. You were brought here for a reason but time is the only way to find out why.” She reached out her small hand to touch Isobel’s.

 

             
“I’ll take your word for it but will I be able to return to my world?” She already knew the answer to that question but had to hear it from the direct source.

 

             
Nyla’s smile faded as she felt Isobel’s sadness. “No, I am sorry. This is your home now.”

 

             
Jakar’s voice called out. All heads turned to see who he was calling out to. A tall man entered the dining hall who was the same height as Jakar and had similar looks. The two men hugged each other roughly then laughed when they broke apart.

 

             
“Who is that man, Nyla?” she asked.

 

             
Nyla stood up on the table with a huge grin on her face. “That is Jakar’s younger brother, Brock. It’s been awhile since he last visited the castle. I must go and say hello.”

 

             
Isobel watched as the fairy darted into the air with her silvery wings. She made a wide loop before she came to a stop in front of Brock, hovering. The two talked back and forth then looked in her direction. Even Jakar turned to glance at her as Nyla pointed in her direction.

 

             
Great, just freaking great!
The trio approached the table just as she was about to get up and leave.

 

             
“Isobel, I would like to introduce you to my brother, Brock. Brock, this is my wife, Isobel.” Jakar kept a straight face as he introduced them to each other.

 

             
“Isobel, it is a pleasure to meet the woman who has managed to snag my brother.” He bowed to her, giving her a smile to die for.

 

             
“It’s nice to meet you too, Brock.” What else was she supposed to say? All she wanted right at the moment was to leave the room and go to bed.

 

             
“I would like to talk with you in private, Brock. Would you walk with me to the library?” Jakar asked of his brother.

 

             
“Of course. Isobel.” He bowed again to Isobel then turned to leave the dining room with his brother.

 

             
Was Jakar really going to desert her here in the dining room in front of his servants and people?

 

             
“Nyla, would you mind escorting Isobel to our room?” He didn’t even look at her as he addressed the fairy then walked away.

 

             
“Yes, My Lord.”

 

             
Isobel felt her heart drop down to her feet. He didn’t even bother to ask her if she minded his absence. It shouldn’t have bothered her, but it did. As much as she might despise the man, she still didn’t want to be alone on her wedding night. She watched as he walked away from her and out the door. She had to struggle to keep her emotions in check. She would die if he found out she was upset with him leaving her. It really was stupid to feel the way she was feeling, but the nagging tugs she kept feeling only infuriated her even more.

 

             
“I’m going to my room,’ she expressed to Nyla. She didn’t wait for the fairy to follow her as she headed off in hopefully the right direction. She stormed through the halls as she meandered away from the noise of the dining hall.

 

             
Nyla appeared next to her, flapping her wings furiously. “My lady, if you will wait, I will show you the way!”

 

             
“Go away!” She flung her hand to the side to shoo the annoying fairy away from her.

 

             
“My lady, please! You are going the wrong way.”

 

             
Isobel halted. She swung around to face Nyla. “Then which way is it?” The threat of tears burned her eyes.

 

             
“This way,” Nyla said as she turned back in the direction they had come from.

 

             
They walked to the room in silence. The noise from the reception slowly faded away as they moved farther into the castle. Tears formed and blurred her eyes as she followed behind like an obedient child headed to bed. She felt totally ridiculous for acting this way but something wasn’t right. She never got upset if Daniel ignored her or left her to go do something with his friends.

 

             
They finally reached the big carved door that was her room, or she should say, their room. She pushed open the door then slammed it behind her. Luckily she hadn’t smashed Nyla in the process of spewing out her anger on the door.

 

             
“Isobel. May I ask what is wrong?” Nyla followed behind her as she walked over to the bed.

 

             
At first, she refused to answer, feeling it was ridiculous to be speaking to a fairy. She wanted this nightmare to end so she could wake up in her own bed in her own world.

 

             
“Are you upset with Jakar’s actions?”

 

             
“How’d you guess? I shouldn’t be upset one bit, but I am. Bad enough I had to marry a man I don’t know, but now he deserts me in the middle of the dining room. Several people saw him leave with his brother, and without a word to me.”

 

             
“You shouldn’t worry so, my lady. If Lord Jakar left you in the dining room to go with his brother you can bet there is a problem.”

 

             
“Problem my ass!” She stormed into the bathroom to undress. Her movements would inform anyone, if they saw her at the current moment, of her anger because of the way she jerked everything off and tossed it to the floor without another look.

 

             
Isobel stood before the mirror hanging on the wall and stared at herself. Her skin was flushed and her eyes were so dark she became frightened of herself for a second. Even when Daniel had viciously cut down her parents, her eyes hadn’t been as dark. She guessed it was because at the time she was more scared then angry though the anger did come at a later time. But why was she so angry with a man she didn’t even know? She should be glad he took off with his brother and left her alone, but for some reason it just didn’t sit well where her. There was a knowing feeling in the pit of her stomach that never seemed to want to go away since she arrived here. She wished someone, anyone, could explain it all to her.

 

             
After slipping on the thick nightgown that had been left for her in the bathroom, she went back out into the bedroom, hoping Nyla had left. Even though she was fascinated with the idea of fairies being real in this world, she didn’t want to be bothered any more for the night.

 

             
“I see you found the gown,” Nyla chimed when Isobel came out of the bathroom.

 

             
Isobel smoothed the material down over her stomach. “Yes. I have to remember to tell Nana thank you in the morning.”

 

             
Nyla giggled in her high pitched voice. “Oh no, Nana didn’t give you the gown. My people made it for you. They knew the time was approaching when you would arrive, so they got to work on it. It is beautiful!” Nyla fluttered around Isobel as she surveyed her new friend in the material made by her people.

 

             
The nightgown was a light weight weaved material that felt like a combination of silk, cashmere, and cotton. The thick but delicate gown hung down to right above her ankles. The color was a very light pink that had been weaved together with some kind of shimmering silver thread. A vine of tiny flowers had been embroidered down both sleeves with the silver thread as well as on the rest of the gown. It also had a scooped neck that showed about half of her breasts which felt rather odd to her.

 

             
“What is it made out of? It’s so soft, like nothing I have ever felt before,” Isobel rubbed her hands up and down her arms to let the material slid beneath her fingers, her anger forgotten.

 

             
“The Hunnaflies spin the thread that is used to make it.”

 

             
Isobel looked up confused. “What’s a hunnafly?”

 

             
Nyla flew over to the bed to sit on one of the pillows. “A Hunnafly is similar to what you call a butterfly in your world. They are very beautiful and can produce threads in any color. My people do not like to part with the precious thread since it takes the Hunnaflies so long to make.”

 

             
Isobel watched the fairy as Nyla sat in her bed. Too much had happened too quickly. Without warning, the threat of tears struck her again. Nyla must have sensed her change in mood because she quickly took notice.

 

             
“Isobel, come sit by me,” Nyla said and patted the pillow she sat on. Isobel reluctantly obeyed and soon was sitting in front of her. “What is bothering you? I understand that everything here is new to you, but I told you everything will work out.”

 

             
Isobel sniffed her she spoke. “What’s going to happen to me? I mean, I didn’t ask to come here and I want to go home. I don’t understand how I play a role in helping your world. I’m nothing special. I’m just Isobel.” She shrugged her shoulders and let the tears fall. She was tired of having to keep them in.

 

             
“I will see if I can find out more answers for you but for now, you must believe that things will turn out fine.” Nyla smiled at her.

 

             
“But, how do you know that? How can you be so sure?” She brushed away the tears trailing down her cheeks.

 

             
“Fairies never lie. The elders of my people have known about you for a long time now. You might be surprised to know that we fairies know a lot about your world.” Nyla winked at Isobel then stood up. “I need to go and you need to get some rest.”

BOOK: Through the Looking Glass
8.62Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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