Seven
Song: You Can Run - Adam Jones
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The world was spinning around me. Despite laying myself down on the floor, the world eventually wouldn't stop and go back to normal. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. It would pass eventually, I just needed to keep my stomach contents down until it did.
I should have known better than to push myself so hard. Maybe Julian was right. Maybe I did need to meditate and slow down.
I hadn't pushed my body that hard in so long. It wasn't used to it.
Faerie or not, maybe I didn't heal as fast as I thought.
Even at the Keep, my food portions were smaller than they used to be. 'Work up to normal portions,' I was told.
Once the nausea subsided, I sat up again and took in my surroundings.
I spent most of the morning in the gym running as fast as I could on the treadmill.
I started while it was still dark outside and didn't stop until long after sunrise.
I wanted to build my stamina somehow so I went back to basics.
But going back to basics wasn't really going back to basics.
And I was sure I set myself back on any little progress I could have made.
Pushing myself off the floor, I left the gym, shutting off the light of the room as I did.
I paused at the entrance hall. The doors of the study were wide open. When I had seen that man, I was sure I shut them. I tried feeling for the same energy I sensed before when I first met him but found nothing. I peaked my head inside the study and found the room was empty.
Maybe he did leave then.
I didn't question it and made my way to the kitchen instead.
The kitchen was modern with an electric stove and top of the line, brand name pots, and pans.
I fished my breakfast out of the cabinets, having helped Julian put it all away before.
My breakfast was small since I was unable to stomach much more, but I made sure to make a bigger portion for Julian.
Judging from what he ate the day before, he probably ate like a quarterback.
And judging from his physique, he probably trained like one too.
The kitchen was in the back of Julian's home with large bay windows that bathed the entire kitchen and breakfast nook in sunlight.
The windows were large. They were tall, going as high as the vaulted ceilings and down my hips.
The windows encompassed my favorite part of the home, it held the entire back of the estate in its frame like a master painting.
I passed the windows and made my way to the back door to the patio where we had been training the day before. Upon opening, I froze.
Julian was training, delivering blow after blow to a still, wooden mannequin in front of him.
Training or fighting...I couldn't be sure.
Julian moved fast. His hands and arms moved quickly over the mannequin like he was practicing drills he had one time memorized.
He changed. He began to put even more strength into the attacks.
Suddenly, a staff appeared in his hands and what was once simple movements, escalated to full-on attacks.
The mannequin didn't stand a chance. He repeated his attacks with more force every time.
I bit my lip as I watched him, worried.
Something was wrong. There was too much aggression in his attacks. He wasn't training. He was releasing his anger on the poor mannequin.
His staff broke in half in his hands but he didn't stop. Instead, he stepped forward and pressed his hand against it. As soon as he did, it exploded.
The deafening sound and force rattled the windows and doors of the patio. The foundations of the house shook beneath my feet as splintered wood rained around me.
I jumped and squeezed my eyes shut, letting out a small scream as I did. My hands gripped the bowl and cup in my hands tightly.
After a moment, I opened my eyes again. Julian had his hand raised in my direction with a worried look I wasn't used to seeing on him.
He lowered his hand. "I didn't know you were here." He cleared his throat and nodded in my direction. "I'll have to show you how to make a barrier soon. I won't be able to place one for you every time."
I frowned. I certainly didn't see a barrier but nothing hit me either. I looked at the floor. There was a clear mark on the cement floor, where there was splintered wood and where it was stopped.
I cleared my throat. "Have you been back long?"
A frown creased his brow.
I set the bowl in my hands on the table on the patio we stood in. "The guy is the study. He told me you leave at night sometimes." I crossed my arms. "Who is he?"
He sighed heavily. "What else did he tell you?"
I didn't answer his question, instead, I shot my own. "Don't you think I have to a right to know if a stranger is here while you are out?"
He shook his head. "He won't touch you."
"I know he won't. I won't let him."
A small smile appeared so quickly that I almost didn't catch it.
"Who is he?" I asked again.
"An ally." He began to unbutton his heavy jacket revealing a dark shirt underneath.
The jacket was deep black with designs over the collar and shoulders that I couldn't make out.
Buttons lined the front. I was surprised he was wearing it despite the already humid morning.
"A very powerful, very well connected ally essential to our plan. "
"He's a jerk."
Julian laughed out loud. His laugh was contagious and I even found myself smiling slightly.
"Yes," he laughed. "Yes, he is. His name is Asmo. When the time comes, he will help us."
"Not for free, I imagine?" I shrugged. "He doesn't seem to be the kind of person that would do this just out of the goodness of his heart. What did you promise him?"
Julian shook his head. "It's not a promise I made. It's something that was established a very long time ago. Underworld law."
I frowned. "What does that mean?"
He didn't answer, instead, he placed his hands on the back of the patio chair in front of him. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about him or that I left." His gaze didn't meet mine. "I was summoned. As Lord, I must obey and answer when I'm called by the king."
I felt like the world stopped around me. He'd seen Damien?
He finally looked at me. "No new plans yet. King Damien," he hissed, "has been discussing finding his uncle's allies. He wants to hunt them down." He shook his head as he sat at the table in front of us at an empty chair. "He's speaking of bringing them to justice."
He saw Damien. He was in the same room as Damien. How was he? Was he all right? Did he try to fight his way out? How was Kymra?
A new thought settled in me, chilling me.
Did Robyn know? Did he know about our plan? Did Julian say something that could have led him to believe that I was no longer there? Did he know we were planning to overthrow him?
I looked away from the food in front of me. My appetite was gone. I had to think rationally. I couldn't let what I just learned get the better of me. I would steel myself. I couldn't break down. Damien needed me.
I squared my shoulders. "What do you think he wants to do with his allies?"
Julian exhaled sharply. A gesture of frustration not at me but at the situation. "I wish I knew. It could be anything. He might want to keep up appearances and make it seem as if he wants his revenge." He looked away. "Or..."
I knew exactly what he meant. "Or he wants to continue his plans."
Julian nodded. "Yes. Whatever they may be, he didn't share too much with me even before.
" He sighed deeply. "I am trying to stay on his good side for as long as I can.
I am a lord but I used to be a General. I would train most of the officers in the army myself.
I helped defeat our enemies during the Winter War.
" He shrugged. "If he thinks I will help him in his plans, he might want to keep me longer.
He might even share his plans with me." I couldn't deny the seriousness in his tone.
"I have to meet with him when he asks, even if its overnight. "
"Secret meetings then," I assumed.
He nodded. "Important, secret meetings."
"Just-" I paused. "Just be careful, Julian." I looked away. "I don't want anyone else I know getting hurt."
I could hear the smile in his voice. "Why, Emylin, I'm touched."
I rolled my eyes. I nodded towards the door back to the kitchen. "I made breakfast. I thought you might still be out, so I left it on the stove for you."
No sooner did I say it, the plate I left in the kitchen appeared in his hands with a spoon.
I snorted. "Show off."
I saw a smile twist the corner of his lips as he began to eat.
I sat across from him at the table and began my breakfast. "What's the plan for today?"
His silver eyes met mine from over his bowl. "Continue to meditate. Gather your strength, exercise."
I looked at the mess of splintered wood on the floor then to the mannequin left half broken. Somehow, it was still standing, though, barely. It had been a mannequin of a man but now, it was barely a torso. "When will you teach me how to do that?"
He shrugged. "Soon, I hope. But, it's advanced, so not today. Maybe not even tomorrow."
I sighed. "But eventually?"
He looked at with a raised brow. "Yes. With training, we will get there."
"But nothing advanced."
He shook his head. "Not until you're ready."
I could hear the man's voice in the back of my mind. 'I'm sure you'll need all the running exercises you can get at this pace.' I knew exactly what he meant. If all I was doing was meditating then I should know how to run away instead of how to defeat Robyn.
I shook my head. Kymra trusted Julian. Julian knew what he was doing. I wouldn't doubt him, I wouldn't doubt the process.
No matter how fast I wanted to go.
"Fine."
I snapped out of my trance and looked at Julian who set his empty bowl down in front of him on the table.
"If it stops the melancholy look you have, we'll start with more today." He lifted his hand. "However, once I start, I will not be easy on you. We do not have the time."
I nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, that's fine."
Julian gave a smile. "We'll start in an hour."
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What did you think? Please let me know with a comment! This helps me very much when writing the chapters. (And also motivates me!) Like I said, updates will be a little more frequent, I hope to have another one soon!