The Vanishing Stone (5 page)

 
              While she was eating, she decided she would take the time to study her new companions. She looked at Bosh first. He was handsome even though she felt guilty for thinking so. She thought for a moment that he and Day may be a couple but judging by their body language she guessed not. They never got too close to one another, nor did they seem romantic or intimate. But why did they live together? Anyway, back to Bosh, he was very brave. He was a leader. He was strong. Nikoleta didn't know if she liked that or if it intimidated her.

Day, on the other hand was very different. She had those freaky lavender colored eyes. Her hair was cute though. But she didn't know what to make of her personality. She was very serious but seemed like she really liked Nikoleta.

                Then she looked at Kibbie, her sort-of sister. For being a dragon, she was actually very beautiful. She realized that she never really looked at Kibbie until now. Kibbie had long black eye lashes and very pretty blue and purple eyes that matched the rest of her. Nikoleta would have never guessed all that fire would have come from her.

   Nikoleta then looked at the situation as a
whole. She wondered how these three people became friends and then came to live together, no less? Was it seventeen years ago after everything happened? What were their stories? Did they have families? If so, where? If not, what happened to them? Then Nikoleta thought that this may all be a hoax. What if these people were messing with her? What if they didn't really know her parents? But that didn't make sense because they knew her name somehow...and the necklace.

  
              Nikoleta's thoughts were interrupted by Day's question, “So, Nikki, Can I call you Nikki, too?” Nikoleta nodded and smiled. “So...what's it like where you live? What do you do every day?”

 
              “Well, I have lived at the orphanage with twelve other girls my whole life. Right now, they are all younger than me. There are three women that take care of us: Helga, Misty and Mary." “Were they nice to you?” Kibbie asked. “They weren't the best, but they didn't do too bad considering they were raising thirteen girls.”

 
              “Do you miss them?” Bosh asked. Nikoleta looked down and said, “Yes, a little, even though I always tried to distance myself.”

 
              “Do you have any friends?” Day asked. “Not really...um...actually I don’t have any friends. I am kind of a loner. People just upset me. There is a girl named Mandy in my school who always bullies other kids. Her and I fight a lot because I didn't feel how she treated people was right.”

 
              “Interesting, that's just like your dad,” Day said. “Does anyone help you with this Mandy girl?” she continued. “No. No one else will challenge her,” Nikoleta answered. “Well we will be there for you Nikki," Bosh said. They all smiled at each other.

 
              “Well, we should get going. It's almost noon,” Bosh suggested. They packed their cloths and canteens and they were walking again. They came to a small meadow, which Bosh suggested they hurry across. Entering the forest again, they walked along with red pine needles under their feet. This part of the forest seemed to have a little more wildlife. They saw a rabbit, a doe, and a lot of spider webs—not something Nikoleta was fond of. There were never spiders at her beach.

  
              Finally, they arrived at the edge of the forest. They stood and waited. Kibbie stopped flying and sat on a low tree branch. “So, where is he?” asked Nikoleta. “He'll be here," Kibbie answered. Just then, they heard someone climbing down a nearby tree. He climbed to the lowest branch and jumped to the ground and landed on his feet.

              “Raphael! It’s so good to see you!” Kibbie flew over and hugged him around his neck. The young man greeted the others with hugs as well. Nikoleta studied this young man for a moment. This was their castle spy? There was no way he was much older than she was. He certainly didn't seem like a groundskeeper. He was too...too...pretty. He had medium length reddish-brown hair that was in a ponytail going down his back. He had a chiseled jaw line and light blue eyes. Weren't groundskeepers supposed to be dirty and rough looking? Raphael didn't look like he had ever stepped outside a day in his life.

 
              “Nikki, this is Raphael,” Bosh introduced the two. “Hello, Nikoleta. It's so nice to finally meet you. I am Raphael McGinn. I thought I would tell you face to face that your parents are indeed still alive. They are mostly in the dungeon but the princess often uses them for nasty tasks around the castle...you know, plumbing, cooking, and cleaning. Right now they are in the dungeon in chains. They have mostly been given bread and water all of these years. But don’t you worry, Nikoleta. We will save them. I know all the ways in and out of the castle. We can do this.”

 
              Amazed, Nikoleta just said, “OK.” At the same time, she was heart broken for her parents. They have lived in a dungeon for seventeen years only to be let out to serve a disgusting princess. It was despicable. “What are we going to do?” Nikoleta asked Raphael.

 
              “Well, follow me to my house and I will show you the map I have. There is a secret tunnel we can use. We should be able to come up with something.”

7

T
he group of now five started walking to the east along a small trail. Raphael began talking about the map and things around the castle, “There's a secret tunnel behind the fountain on the East side of the castle. No one really knows about it so it stands unguarded and is never used. Problem is, who ever goes there will have to know how to swim because the moat is approximately ten feet deep. But we may need to find another option because it was rumored that King Kerusso put some sort of creature in the water to attack someone if they entered the water. I'll look more into that.”

  
              While Raphael was explaining this, Nikoleta was thinking about how dangerous this mission was going to be. Her life was possibly at risk, but to her it would all be worth it since her parents have done so much.

 
              “Now,” Raphael continued, “once you go through the tunnel you'll swim about twenty feet out and see a ladder on your right. You climb the ladder and push the loose block up then you can climb into the dungeon where Jack and Amelia are. You'll just have to take them out the same way you came in.”

              “It seems simple enough. We can do it,” Nikoleta said, bravely. “Yeah!” Kibbie exclaimed. “We are team, we're in this together!” Day and Bosh smiled.

   “So, Nikoleta
, how did you find us?” Raphael asked curiously. “Well, one night I found this necklace and it brought me here when I put it on. So, here I am," she answered with a smile and a shrug.

  
              “Nice. Well, you all look tired. Why don’t we let you all rest when we get to my home? I can also fill your bellies," Raphael offered. “Yes, that would be good, we need some rest and a warm meal," Bosh replied.

  
              They began walking and stayed along the trail. After a little while, they came to a stone bridge. Kibbie's feet and wings were getting tired again so she sat on Nikoleta shoulders. They crossed over the bridge and Nikoleta started whispering to Kibbie, “Hey, um, I just want to thank you, for everything, for helping me, giving me the letter. It means a lot.”

 
              “Oh, it's nothing. What are sisters for?” Kibbie and Nikoleta smiled at each other.

They finally arrived at the village. It was full of people. Everyone was busy and working. There were people selling fruit, vegetables, fish, bread, clothing, pottery. Nikoleta noticed a woman making a dress on some sort of sewing apparatus. Continuing their walk, which seemed like another mile, they started to come to the houses. Around that it was quieter than it was by the shops. The houses were small compared to any house Nikoleta had ever seen before. They were made of different colored stone; red, gray, brown. The roofs were made of straw. Some of the homes had small gardens in front of them of flowers or vegetables. The village felt eerie to Nikoleta despite the gardens and busy shops. The people just didn’t seem happy. It was as if all the joy had been sucked from their lives. They stopped in front of a brown, stone house.

  
              “This is my home," Raphael said. “Oh, I haven’t been here in a long time. I miss it!” said Kibbie. “Why dont you all stay here with me until we complete our...
ahem
...mission? So you don’t have to travel?” Raphael suggested. “That sounds like a good idea," Day answered. Raphael opened the wooden door to his home and they all walked in.

 
              “Sorry if it seems messy,” Raphael apologized, “I'm not here often being as how I work at the castle and all. I mostly lend it to my visitors that come here and right now, it's you fine people.” Raphael winked and Nikoleta. Nikoleta wasn’t sure if she liked the gesture or not.

 
              Inside Raphael's house there was the small living room area, dining area, and there were three small bedrooms. Nikoleta sat down on the couch and observed her new surroundings. The living room had a coffee table in the middle with books sitting on it. The books were old. Missing her books at home, she picked one up and began to read:

"
Love is never something to be explained. It is only felt. Love is like the wind, you feel it but you never know where it comes from or what it looks like
..."

                “Do you like to read?” Raphael asked interrupting her. “Yes, I love to read. I try to read one book a week,” Nikoleta answered. Feeling embarrassed, she closed the book and put it back on the table. Why was he reading a book about love? That's an odd thing for a guy to read. “Wow, an avid reader. We have something in common.” All Nikoleta could do was smile a faint smile. “What do you like to read Nikoleta?” “Oh, anything really, mysteries, fantasy, sci-fi, biographies, the list goes on,” Nikoleta told him. “Wonderful! Reading is good. Would you like to eat? I have turkey left over from yesterday. I'm warming it up now.” Raphael waved her to the dining room table. The table was oval shaped and made of a dark wood and the chairs were more like stools. Nikoleta hadn’t noticed the smell of Thanksgiving while she was reading a few minutes ago but it now had her appetite going insane. She hadn't had a warm meal since her last dinner at the orphanage. Fruit and bread just weren’t enough.

 
              Raphael passed around plates, wine glasses and silverware. He brought a bowl of fresh green beans, a big plate of turkey and chopped potatoes. It all smelled so delicious. “Serve yourselves! There's plenty to go around,” Raphael said. Nikoleta didn’t talk much during the meal because she was more focused on feeding herself the hearty food, but the others had plenty to say. “I miss coming to the village,” Day said. “The problem is that it's not as safe out there anymore. Even on the way here we ran into ruffians.” “Luckily, Nikoleta had her mother's necklace to protect her. She will always be safe,” Bosh added. “That's very true, Bosh, and a powerful necklace it is," Raphael responded.

 
              Dinner was finished and Nikoleta went back to the couch, not daring to touch another one of Raphael's books. She was afraid she may find out more than she wanted to know about him. Meanwhile, Bosh was standing outside and enjoying the evening air, Day was in the bedroom getting ready for bed and Kibbie and Raphael were cleaning up. They seemed very close, those two. Nikoleta already knew that they had been friends for a long time, but how? They were laughing and joking about something in the kitchen area like time hadn’t passed. “You remember that one time when I went with you to shoot arrows and you tripped?” She heard Kibbie say. Kibbie and Raphael laughed. “Oh, yes Kibbie, but now I have much more grace!” Raphael turned around and smiled at Nikoleta in the other room. Another gesture she wasn't sure she liked.

 
              A couple of hours later, everyone was washing up and getting ready for bed. Apparently, Bosh brought everyone's clothes in his large bag. He gave Nikoleta and Day their nightgowns and clothes for the next day. How efficient he was. He didn’t miss a beat, it seemed. In the bedroom the girls would be staying in, there was a bunk bed. Day took the bottom bunk and Nikoleta took the top, being as how she was used to sleeping above everyone else. Kibbie took the top bunk with Nikoleta.

 
              Nikoleta decided to take the opportunity to ask Kibbie some questions. “Kibbie?” Nikoleta whispered.

 
              “Yes?”

 
              “What are my parents like? Or should I say our parents?”

              “I never called them mom or dad but they were like parents to me. Amelia is wonderful! She always took such good care of everyone. She was also very protective. Jack was somewhat quiet, but very loving. They were a perfect couple.” They smiled at each other.

 
              “Did you help take care of me when I was born?” Nikoleta asked. “A little. There was only so much a small dragon could do but I did sing to you.” “You did? What did you sing?” Nikoleta thought it was very sweet and could imagine a younger Kibbie singing to her. “It went like this...” Kibbie began to sing:

“Go to sleep little baby,

You are very tired.

Mommy's rocking you by the warm fire.

Daddy reads you a book and sissy sings you a song,

So you can sleep well all night long.”

Kibbie
laughed, “It's something I made up myself.” “Did my dad like to read?” Nikoleta asked. “Yeah he did. Seemed to always be reading something and like the song says, he read to you, too.”

 
              “That must be why I like to read,” Nikoleta smiled.

   Nikoleta found it interesting that her and her father were similar. Slowly and surely pieces of her life were falling into place. Things finally started making sense.
Kibbie curled up in Nikoleta's arms and they both drifted off to sleep.

***

The next morning, inside the castle walls, Princess Karina sat at the breakfast table angered and outraged, “How could this happen?! I want them killed!”