Chapter 7 We never Change
Chapter 7 We Never Change
The inn was cold, empty and void of any human touch. The walls were blackened from fire and as Carmen ran a finger over one of the tables, she could no longer feel that it had once been pure wood. She watched as Alex stared around, he used to work here before all hell had broken loose and he had had to fight to stay alive. She understood him better than he thought she did, she had spent two years analyzing him, studying his every move and trying to grasp what he was thinking. Once she had seen into his dreams, knowing then that he would never give himself willingly to her. She sighed as she let her finger trace the blackness that covered the table. A piece of wood crumpled under her touch and fell down, a soft puff and then it was gone. She stared at it, it reminded her of something. Alex had emerged from the kitchen, “It’s all gone back there,” he said and she nodded. “I have not come here to cook,” she said, “I have felt a balance here, or rather something that was off balance. I believe even you can feel it, someone channeled here,” She did not add that the force was much stronger than her own ability, someone very strong in the One Power had channeled and if she could concentrate better she might feel the reminiscence of the weaves. “A chair would be nice,” Alex suddenly said, interrupting her train of thought. Carmen watched him, what did he mean by that?
“I can’t even remember the last time I sat down,” he said and then grinned at her. He grinned, she could not believe it. Not an indignant grin, but something to be happy about. He sat down on a bench and looked up at her, “I don’t think there’ll be anyone here to serve us anything.” Then he rose and offered her his seat on the blackened bench, “I think I’ll remain standing for now,” she said. Her head was spinning with the force of what seemed to fill the room. Nobody else was there but them yet still she felt it. Like a thick blanket that laid over her skin and pulsed like a breathing creature. She smiled sourly and said, “I’ll go have a look around, maybe we should split up and try to find something to eat?” He nodded and started for the stairs. “No, let me go up there,” she said and noticed the look on his face. He had changed so much since last she had seen him, she was well aware of his constant hatred but it mattered little. In the end, they had both survived and the Wheel had brought them back together. He would be with her now and if he left, he would be alone in the chaos of death and destruction. Surely her presence could not be considered worse than that? He left the room and she was alone in what looked like the common room of any inn. Tables were shoved to one side but she could easily imagine how people had sat down to eat dinner and to have a drink. Her eyes moved over the space around her, longing gazes that seemed to drink in the memories this place held. Memories of parties and of long romantic nights that young lovers spent together in the backroom. Had she ever allowed herself that? She had not known much that even remotely resembled romance, her conquests over both men and women were not romantic. Once she had known something personal, it was not love as that was a weakness her seductress skills had eliminated. But it had come so close with Marcus, who had made her feel like a woman, without her actually having to work for it. She had not needed her tricks and plays to make them both feel truly powerful and alive, if that was love than she had had her taste of it. Yet, as she looked at Alex who had just returned from his quest into a backroom, the love for Matalina and the hurt still shining in those bright eyes, she could not help but wonder if there was not something she was missing out on. Her feet carried her up the stairs to avoid looking at him much longer, he had made his choice not to be with her a long time ago. She had gone on living and would never change, she was too old for change now.
As she gently pushed open the door, Carmen was pleasantly surprise by the sight of a double bed with blankets and pillows, untouched by the flames and warm. She smiled and started to undress slowly. The fabric that covered her skin was soft velvet and she liked how it caressed her skin without losing its basic function of protection. Smiling she walked over to a basin, there was no water in it but with a simple weave that was helped instantly. She washed herself and then found some soap and cleaned herself up, washing off the dust and smelling the rose scent fill the air. When she was done she wrapped herself in a sheet and laid down on the bed, when she remembered Alex was still down stairs in the inn’s common room. She rose from the bed and walked over to the door, “Alex, come and see what I have found my pet,” she called and left the door ajar as she moved back towards the bed. She laid herself down on it, the sheet only covering her private parts and just up to her bosom which was rising steadily with every anticipating breathe. She suddenly longed for the feeling of passion, it did not matter that he did not like her, maybe hated her, she wanted to feel something. He entered the room, looking around carefully and then surprise shone through on his face as he noticed her. “What did you need me for? To complete your party?” he asked in a knowing voice. She sulked and said, “It’s just a bit of pleasure, it’s not like I’m going to hurt you,” he nodded. “No, you did that before,” she smiled but he did not and so she straightened her face again. “Come lie next to me Alex,” she said in a sweet voice that would have lured the fly into her spiders’s web. He looked at the bed, longingly, then at her, with disgust showing in his eyes. Still? After all those years? She smiled, “I won’t bite ya,” she said and patted on the blanket next to her. “I just washed up and have not been able to put myself back into my dress, it’s so dusty,” and he nodded. Carmen was not sure if it was her body, the warm scent or just the promise of a soft bed, but nonetheless he came and sat down next to her. Leaving a large portion of the bed untouched, like a gap between them. “I won’t bite,” she said and turned on her side, then stroked the side of his face. “I like your hair, the way it is longer now,” and he nodded, then turned to his side. His back was turned to her now and she sighed deep. “Fine, if you don’t want to play, then don’t.” Alex turned to his back and stared up at her, the fire blazing in her eyes as she went over his body. Longing, wondering what it would be like to touch him and to feel the strength of his muscles, those hard eyes staring deep into her own as their passion would rise to its peak. She smiled warmly and let her pout become full and round as she licked her lips. Alex’ flushed slightly and she wondered what he was thinking now, maybe she had hit the right cord? “I don’t have feelings for you Carmen, none what so ever,” she nodded. “Then this will be so much easier,” and with that pulled the sheet away from herself. He stared into her eyes, seemingly unwilling to go below her face, but then he did and she could feel his physical attraction heat her up inside. A warm feeling filled her belly and ran through her legs and upwards. “You have a beautiful body Carmen, but your timing is off, you’ll never change and nor will I,” and with that he turned over to his side again, back turned towards her. Carmen sulked and then pulled the sheet back over her body. She nestled herself against his back and placed her head on the pillow. He might not want to share his passion with her, he did not move away and she fell asleep listening to his heartbeat.
Her eyes flew open, the shades from the light seemed to fade and as she looked around, Carmen was not sure there was any light left. Crumbling beneath her feet, the floors seemed unable to hold her weight. Carmen looked around and noticed how the scenery of the small room with the bed and the table in it seemed almost gone now. Alex was gone too, though she could not be sure she had actually seen him present. Where was she now? Could this be The World of Dreams? Had she entered it without thought, risking her life in doing so? A cough broke her train of thought and as the room was completely gone and she stood in silence and darkness a clear voice called to her. “Carmen, come over here, I need to speak with you,” it was a voice she had last heard before Tar’mon Gaidon had come over them. Before she had even thought that the Last Battle could near, a year before when she was in a place similar to this, except for a large silver throne in the center of the black void. She started to walk in no apparent direction until she noticed a door coming out of nowhere. It had to be the Mistress of the Night, for no other had such control over Tel’Aran’Rhiod and Carmen was now without a doubt sure that is where she was. She raised her hand and noticed how the black dress she had been wearing had changed into a high necked green dress, long and tight around her legs with low boots below. Had she changed her appearance to come of as less sensual and more powerful? It was not unlike her, as she knew that Lanfear was one of few who did not want Carmen for her charm and her body. She wanted the dreadlady to use those in her task, but not around the Chosen herself, she had been very clear about that. “I come to you and bow down, may the Light Illumine you Lanfear,” she said and curtsied deep before her Mistress.
“Stop groveling and listen, for I have little time now,” Carmen nodded and rose to meet the voice, then she noticed Lanfear standing just a few feet away from her. She looked beautiful, her dark hair combed straight down her back, her dark eyes gazing over the dreadlady with a coldness that chilled Carmen down to her spine. She looked pensive somehow, Carmen had not seen her often but the times they had met the Chosen had always looked mysterious, self assure and strong. Not pensive, it was a bit too much like doubt for her taste. Yet, as their eyes met, Carmen shivered uncontrollably and cast her eyes to the ground. “I have spoken with some who have brought me no answers to my questions, I think in stirring up these questions I have only found more.” Yes, there was a clear hint of doubt in the other woman’s voice. Carmen was about to respond, ask what these questions were when Lanfear spoke, “I need you to find out some information for me Carmen,” and at this the dreadlady nodded. “Of course,” she said and wanted to say more, but already Lanfear continued in a calm and contemplating voice, “I need to know where Arid Mosinel is hiding.” She paused then said as an afterthought, “You know him as Rahvin, he was last seen near the Bore and since then I have not heard a single thing about him. Find him for me.” Carmen nodded, not sure how she was ever going to find a Chosen, one that clearly did not want to be found if she could go by Lanfear’s words. “Of course Mistress, as you wish,” she said with a curtsey. The Chosen seemed lost in thought and Carmen shuffled her feet, waiting to be excused. She did not like being asked to wait or not to be recognized for her power, but somehow whenever she was around the Mistress of the Night she accepted. She accepted the waiting and the lack of control from she, who controlled her dreams with the ease of a flick from her wrist.
As she opened her eyes, Carmen looked up and found Alex deep asleep next to her. She was back in the small room in the ruined inn and sighed deep. This was certainly not what she had expected from her stay in the inn. How had Lanfear found her? When she started to think back on the strength she had felt earlier, when they had just stepped into the inn. She had been unsure as to whom it could have been, maybe Lanfear was in fact very close. She almost jumped from the bed, tossing the blanket and the sheet from her and staring around, frantic looks shooting left and right. Then she looked down and realized she was bare, her hand reached out for a black silk dress she had taken off to feel proud and the master seductress before, not it only made her feel cold and an unsettling feeling mastered her senses. What if Lanfear was looking down at her now? Eyeing her with the air of someone looking down on a child misbehaving. She quickly slipped back into the dress and then wrapped the blanket around her. The cold did not want to leave her body and a good hour later, when Alex woke up from a comfortable sleep he found her dozing, sitting half upright and wrapped in a blanket on the bed next to him. If he did not hate her so much, he might have held her and told her it would all be alright. Now he merely sighed and nudged her to wake up and tell him what she needed him for. He had no sense of time, but looking through the window he could see the sun coming up. Soon a new day would set in and he would have to prepare a trip, away from here and from her if he could help it. Though, where to then?
