BLACK APPLE

"Listen," Becki said lowering her voice so much that Sany could hardly hear her. "No matter what happens, don't look directly in our king's eyes."

"What?" Sany felt like something was wrong with this girl. "What do you mean by that?"

But Becki did not reply. She just walked away.

What's up with her? Sany thought and turned back toward the approaching soldiers. She swallowed hard, and balling her hands, she started marching toward them.

She stopped right before them.

"Are you the girl from the future?" the man in the purple cloak said.

"I'm," Sany said, "and you must be one of the wizards everyone has been talking about.

"Indeed I'm," the man said, "I'm Dev Mato."

I knew it, Sany thought; his name is not from this era. He is definitely from my world. Is he the one who created that barrier that sent me back in time? If he is the one, then I need to be careful around him. A person who can do something like that is a no joke after all.

"Our king would like to meet with you," Dev said.

He is too calm, Sany thought. Could he really be that strong? "I'll love to meet your king." Sany gave him her charming smile.

"This way," Dev said, turned around, his cloak billowing about his ankles, and started ambling toward the front gate of the palace. The soldiers stood there, waiting for Sany to follow him.

With her heart racing in her chest, Sany started walking in his wake while feeling the eyes of the four soldiers on her back.

"I'm bored!" Mr. Peru said from inside her bag.

Sany stopped dead in her track. Dev had turned around and was now apparently (As she could not see his face) looking at her. "You said something?"

"Ehhh..." What should she do now? If they found out that she had trapped a parrot inside her bag, they would start looking at like she were a time-traveling witch.

"Hello," Mr. Peru said.

Sany instantly moved her lips and tried to make it look like she had said that word. "He... He..."

"Your voice was completely different now," Dev said.

"I-I'm a little nervous that's why voice is cracking," Sany said, and then whispered. "Shut up, Mr. Peru."

"Hmm..." Dev turned around and resumed his walk.

He led her across the gate and down a narrow hallway.

"Where are we going?" Sany asked.

"To the throne room," Dev said.

Sany saw double-doors up ahead her. Dev, without breaking his step, pushed them open and went through. Sany walked in behind him and found herself in a profoundly big hall. Colorful, shimmering light was pouring in through a high, picturesque window. It dazzled her senses so much that it was a while before she noticed the man sitting in a throne at the far end of the huge hall.

"Ah, the lady everyone is talking about is finally here," the man said and got up, his golden crown gleaming in the shimmering light. The king seemed to be in his mid-thirties or late twenties. He had a square jaw and a kind of haggard look to his face.

No matter what happens, don't look directly in our king's eyes. That's what that girl named Becki had said. What had she meant by that?

"I'm Darold Cadle. The king of Briroy Trail. Our Kingdom is small but prosperous." He came forward and took her hand. "First wizards and now you. I guess I'm truly blessed." He kissed the back of her hand and squarely looked into her eyes.

Sany gasped internally.

His eyes. They were red, too red. Too bright.

What's happening to me? Sany thought. Why can't I look away?