Click here to start Lenore’s story from the beginning.
Click here to read part 2 of Lenore’s story.
Vaughn did not leave her personal space for a moment as he walked her through the most amazing and clean city she had ever seen. Spiraling towers shaped like narwhal horns shot high into the bright water, shimmery bubbles encasing each one. Hundreds of walkways and bridges connected the city buildings. There was so much to see and gawk at and Vaughn would not let her slow down at all.
When she grumbled and tried to pull away, he only laughed. “Ah, Lenore. This is not the time for sight-seeing. We have things to accomplish today.”
“But we are leaving. When will I ever get the chance, if not now?”
“You will be back.” His hand on her back propelled her forward, his eyes scanning for openings in the crowd for them to pass through. They were moving fast.
Lenore shook her head. “You don’t know that. Your king might decide to have me disappeared instead. Get rid of the pesky annoyance before she can make any real problems. Maybe that’s what we are doing now. Are you going to make me disappear? Send me through a gateway with nothing on the other side? Make your king’s life a little less stressful?”
Vaughn continued walking, half pulling her along. “Such a delightful imagination, Lenore. However, despite your gruesome opinion of me, we are going to visit your mother.”
“My what?!” She shrieked, halting in the middle of the path. “I thought you were joking. You are not going to meet my mother. Are you insane? Why would I take you to visit my mother?”
It was his chuckle that stopped her cold. “You act as though you have a choice.”
Her shoulders slumped just a little. “I’m not going willingly. And you will have a hard time explaining yourself if you drag me everywhere. It’s not socially acceptable where I’m from.”
“Lenore. I will not be dragging you anywhere.” He held out his arm and gave a small bow. “However, I am the one who will be escorting you on the journey.”
“No. What am I supposed to tell her? I just met you and randomly thought the two of you should meet?”
He pulled himself up straight and shot her a charming smirk. “I will pose as your boyfriend.”
“No.” She shook her head so fiercely that her ponytail smacked her in the face. “That won’t work. I have…had a fiance and she’s met him, so you can’t be him either.”
“Do you currently have a fiance, Lenore? Or do you no longer have one?” The poor man looked genuinely confused.
“Had. I had a fiance. Though my mom doesn’t know yet that I don’t.”
“Why not?”
She sighed and pulled herself a little further away. He didn’t stop her. “Because I stupidly went to check out the golden arch that was shimmering on the wall of a cliff and a crazy psycho pulled me through it.”
Vaughn had started walking again and Lenore realized that she had followed without thinking. “I do not see the connection.”
Holding in a growl, she clenched her fists instead. “I broke up with my fiance the same night I was pulled through the arch. Was that last night?” She sighed, remembering how angry and sad she had been, walking down the beach. “I obviously haven’t had a chance to talk to her since then.”
He nodded. “I can see how that would prove to have been difficult. Why did you end the relationship with your fiance?”
There was devastatingly chill silence as Lenore abruptly put significant space between them and walked at a faster clip, her jaw clenched shut. It didn’t take more than a second for him to catch up, however he didn’t speak. They walked side by side for several minutes until his hand caught her elbow. She didn’t have a chance to yell at him because he quickly pointed down a hallway.
“We turn here.” He didn’t say more, waiting for her to begin her long striding steps. Not wanting to deal with looking at his penitently chagrined face, she complied. Again they walked until they reached a room that looked very much like the room she had arrived in, however there were several plush couches to the side where people were sitting around amiably chatting.
“Are they waiting for something?” Lenore whispered.
Vaughn motioned her closer to the arch. “This is one of the portals that is in current regular use. And they are probably waiting for people to arrive, not waiting to leave.”
She peered at the twisting archway again. “Regular? Where does this one lead to?” Her analyzing stare turned on Vaughn.
“For the next twenty minutes this one connects to downtown Denver, Colorado. Which reminds me. Where does your mother live? And what is her name? Where is your father?”
A little ‘ha’ burst out of her lips. “Shouldn’t you know all that already?”
“I was attempting politeness, but if you’d rather I not bother…” His face blocked out the rest of the room as his arm snaked around her waist.
She was stunned to discover herself in his embrace, and not hating him for it. Despite her startling feelings she pushed him away. “How about we not hug it out. And you can let me go through the shiny magical portal alone.”
“What happened to being worried about going through a gateway to nothing. Have you decided to trust my word?”
She laughed sardonically. “No. Though I seriously doubt all these other people have gathered to willingly walk through the portal of doom or wait for people to come back through it.”
He shook his head and extended his arm to her. “Come. It is time for our departure.” Vaughn nodded over at one of the men standing near the arch and then pulled her through. He caught her around the waist once more before she had a chance to stumble when they ended up in a small empty office. Blithely walking into the also empty hallway, Vaughn nodded toward the window. “Now, your mother lives in the small town just to the west of here and we must hurry if we are to avoid traffic.”
“Here?” Lenore tried processing the sights she was taking in. “This is nowhere near the beach. This is Colorado.”
His persistent tug on her waist, had her in a taxi and zipping away towards her mother’s house before she could think to ask any questions.
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