Chapter 17: Chapter 17

A foul smell entered my line of smell and I began to wrinkle my nose and sat up as I coughed. I could feel like I was sitting on hard and solid ground. As I open my eyes, I can barely see anything. The flickering of the torch on the wall was barely enough to provide me with light or warmth. Thankfully, I was a winter fairy, so I could easily control the temperature of the cold to my liking.

I started to get up, dust my clothes, and move toward the torch. I stumbled back as my feet started to tremble from the sudden movement. As soon as I touched down on something plush behind me, I heard a soft meow and a purr. I quickly turned around and noticed that I was perched on a black panther.

I yelped and started crawling back until I was at a safe distance for me to raise my hands defensively to use my magic. I waited for the Panther to jump at me and attack, but it didn’t. The panther simply yawned and shook its fur. Its feline eyes regarded me carefully through sleepy eyes. When it was fully awake, its eyes widened, and I saw how its tail wagged excitedly when it saw me.

"S-Stay back," I say as I get ready to blast it with ice. But the more I looked at the panther, the more docile it appeared. It wasn't hunching or growling. It seemed to be approaching me in a friendly manner. The closer it got, the more I heard it purring with delight.

“That’s enough, Javi. You’re scaring her.” I hear a voice speaking somewhere in the room. I got up on my feet and grabbed the torch over my head so I could see the person who spoke.

Javi? That name sounded so familiar, but my brain could not access my memories completely at the moment as I was more concerned with the stranger.

“Who’s there?!” I demanded when I still could not see anyone aside from the panther and me.

The only response I got is laughter echoing in the stone walls that I was in. There was something familiar about this place that did not sit well with me, but I lightly pushed it back because I have to focus on the more important matters right now. I need to figure out where I am and who brought me here.

“I said, come into the light!” I demanded fiercely this time, making sure that I sounded confident and strong. “I command you.”

“Command? Wow, I always knew you were such a bossy person, but I never guessed that you were that demanding.” The man continued to chuckle but never made any attempt to follow my request.

“Stop being such a coward and show yourself.” I started to raise my hand in the air to lower the temperature in the room so he’d know I was serious. “Show yourself or would you rather have me come over to you?”

There was a sigh before I heard the clip-clop of his footsteps echoing as he made his way towards me. My breath nearly got caught in my throat when the light touched him. Hair as black as the night and crystalline crimson red eyes that used to be my source of comfort during the times of my capture back when I was held captive.

It’s Kellar. And yet, it sort of is not him.

This version of him, an older and muscular one, seems to regard me with arrogance. His smirk looks teasing, friendly, and a little dangerous. It’s not like the usual and timid version that I once knew of.

“Not the type of reaction that I would expect from you, Stella. But then again, I also did not expect that I would meet you in this way.” He says, smiling and tilting his head playfully. His arms were crossed when he leaned against a wall with his shoulder while studying me with his gaze.

“Kellar, it’s you, right?” I almost bit my tongue because I was surprised by how deep his voice had become. Everything about him seem to change and whether it was for the better, I got no clue.

Kellar’s smile faded and was replaced with a puzzled one. “You’ve got Javi right there to answer your question. Or, don’t tell me, you forgot about her.” He pointed at the black panther, who seemed to sneak closer to me the moment I got distracted and started rubbing its head on my thigh.

“Javi, of course. Now I remember.” I whispered and lowered myself to the ground to look closer at the black panther. Javi is Kellar’s animal familiar just like Custard and Viex are to my sister. Javi purred with delight when I brushed her head with my hand. “I’m sorry for not recognizing you sooner.”

As if responding to my apology, Javi licks the side of my face.

“Gross. I’m still not used to that, Javi!” I chastised her and wiped her slob with the back of my hand. I don’t even like Custard liking my face even though he is basically family!

Kellar chuckles, “Still as close as ever.” Kellar commented, and I noticed how he seemed to approach us. Then, he paused before me and offered me his hand to pull me back to my seat. Once he hauled me up, his eyes turned serious. “Stella, I know that this place is the last place that you’d rather be. I’m sorry for bringing you here.”

My mind flashes back to the person that I faced before I passed out. I remember that I was up against a hooded man. But looking at him now, his physique matches my opponent at that time. Not to mention that he’s wearing the same black cloth as before.

“You were that guy who I followed out of Sanver.”

Kellar nods, “Yeah. And which you shouldn’t do. Haven’t your sister ever told you not to follow strangers?”

“It's my sister, Kellar. You know as well as I do what I mean by that.” I deadpanned.

Kellar coughs in his fist. “Well, you should know better since you are the smart sibling.” He muttered before scratching the back of his head like he was recovering from his previous embarrassment. “By the way, I have a favor to ask of you.”

Now it was my turn to cross my arms as I glowered at him. “Kellar, you disappeared on me and the first thing that you ask after the reunion is-”

“Stop trying to look for me.” He cut me off before I could finish. His brows furrowed when he said this. “Do you understand?”

“Kellar,” I pause and straighten myself. “Why does it sound like you are going to disappear again when I just found you?”

Kellar avoids my gaze, looking guilty. “Because I plan to. I’m just here to personally tell you to stop. You’re simply putting yourself in danger. Hell, I am putting us both in danger just by meeting with you like this.”

“Danger? What danger?”

Kellar looks at me for a brief second before averting his gaze once more. His fists balled into fists. “Doesn’t matter. I’ll take care of it.”

“Kellar-” I reached out and grabbed his hand. Kellar flinched at the touch and drew his hand back, as if I had somehow electrocuted him.

“Don’t…do that! Don’t just grab other people’s hands like-” He stopped himself and lifted his gaze to look at me suspiciously. “Wait, do you touch people’s hands like this?”

“Kellar, come home. Whatever sort of danger that you’re in, we’ll protect you.” I ignored his question because there is one that I am more concerned of.

Kellar blinked at my suggestion and let out a sarcastic laugh. Then, a sort of dangerous aura emitted from him as he took a step closer in my direction. I moved a few steps back out of instinct, but he continued to close the gap. We kept dancing until I was pressed up against the wall, at which point he had me pinned by placing his hands on either side of the wall as if to lock me up.

“I’m the only danger here, Stella. Which is why I don’t want to return. It’s also why I cannot return.” He says carefully, as if he was trying to tell me something but stopping himself midway.

“Kellar-”

“King Renevier’s troops are looking for you. Which is why I have to get you out of here as soon as possible.” He moves back. His emotions were now unreadable for me because of the dimness in the room. “Remember my words, Stella. Don’t look for me.”

I tried to open my mouth to call out for him. I even reached out my hand to grab onto Kellar because it seemed like he was going away again. But before I could grasp him, Kellar drew something from his cloak. It’s powder, sleeping powder, that he blew right at my face.

As I inhaled it, his body started to become numb and I fell. Kellar caught me just as my cheeks touched his chest. I barely remember Kellar wrapping a blanket around me as my eyes were closing.

“Nice to meet you again, Stella. And goodbye. For real this time.”