Shay's Pov
I was already beginning to assume that things were never going to turn around.
Afterall, this was my very own wish.
I had wanted to return home.
Why then was I feeling empty? Why then was I missing Kai?
If what Tasi had said was true? Then my work there was done!
I can't be used as a toy by Kai, then be discarded like an item.
Yet, I felt the vacuum inside me widening, I had left Kai without confrontating him.
Asides that, what about Sikeka?
I didn't even get to say goodbye.
I stared back at the mirror which I had fortunately retrieved, my mother had thrown a tantrum that she wanted it gone because it was bewitched.
Ryan, my dad didn't believe any of my stories about the mirror, to him, it was just an ordinary mirror. Why then would such an object possess such powers of transiting one to the medieval times?
I had to stop myself from worrying after a month had waltzed by.
It was ridiculous watching myself sit in front of a mirror after a hard day's work, anticipating a miracle that might never occur.
I needed to get serious with my life, why was my life fixed on Kai?
How long have I known him?
Infact, I barely even know him.
Yet, it had felt like I'd known him.
Lately, I opened up to Jennifer giving descriptive details about Kai. She was a good listener though, she never shrugged me off like my mother would. She never reprimand me like my dad would.
Other times, she pointed out the words like it was a figment of my imagination and I would laugh it off.
Maybe, it was pointless thinking about the past.
It was a month gone already.
How long would it be at the other part of the world?
Sometimes, I'd wished it were all a dream or simply a work of fiction. Yet, this was all real. Occasionally, I dreamt about Kai and wished again that I could see him.
"You need to move on, Shay," Jennifer had to speak up one day.
She had followed me to the house again at my insistence. I wanted her to agree to my terms that all I had experienced were real and not a mere figment of imagination.
"Move on?" that struck me.
"Yes, Shay. You need to move on. If Kai were real, he would have found a way to get to you. Or you to him." she reasoned.
I thought about it briefly, there was some truth in it.
But I refused to accept it whole heatedly.
"But the mirror, something could happen again. It could probably transit me back to Siuan," I pointed out.
"The mirror, Shay is just an ordinary mirror," she demonstrated.
I paused, scoffing at how she pointed at the object, "you are beginning to sound like my mother," I told her.
She smirked which instantly swerved into a frown, "your mother, Shay, was only pointing out the obvious truth. Why do you go on hurting yourself? Let it all go. If that also means throwing this mirror out, do that to relieve yourself of this pure torture,"
"Well, I appreciate your suggestion. But I'm stuck with this for now." I answered her.
As the days continued to roll by, I had to agree with everyone that I was living in a fantasy world of my own.
*******
I had awoken to my blaring of my alarm, showered, ate and dressed up for work. The mirror had suddenly become ordinary. I stared back at my reflection while dressing then started out the door when I was finally ready to leave.
I was dressed in a purple jacket and pants, with a pair of dark shoes. My hair was rolled into a bun. As I stood on the other side of the road, awaiting the red sign, i noticed an unsual face.
A face of a Tark.
I recognized his dressing, he wasn't dressed as a Siuan.
He stood on the other side of the road, watching me.
He side-grinned as he watched me.
I turned around, why wasn't anyone noticing him?
Why was I the only one seeing him?
I started walking down the road immediately the lights turned red, walking directly to the Tark, he didn't cross to me. In a minute, he disappeared amidst the people who were crossing.
Panicked, I started walking briskly to where I'd seen him last.
My stomach churned at that instant, my world whirled round in circles. My head began to ache.
What was happening?
Not here!
Not right in the middle of the road.
What had I eaten?
Suddenly, I saw the Tark racing through the crowd, and just I thought he was racing towards me, an arrow whisked through his heart.
I gasped, watching what was unfolding.
Turning around, wondering why I was the only one being able to see this?
I staggered, maybe a Tark was lurking nearby.
An arrow might whisk through me as well.
I didn't realize that the red light had switched to yellow. I fell to my knees as my head continued to burn. My hands began to quake.
I looked up to see the Tark lying ahead of me, his eyes were stark opened, gaping back at me. The horns from the cars began to blare. I swirled round, wondering what was happening.
I was slowly feeling dizzy, my eyes rolled backwards.
Slowly, I fell into a world of silence.
Tasi POV
I regretted the words I said to Muna.
Because as soon I left her, I heard she had slumped.
Kai got to hear from the kids that Muna had had an interaction with me before she collapsed.
"What did you do to Muna?" Kai asked me.
"What did I do?" I scoffed at the question.
"You think my question is funny? I could bring you before the elders and have you questioned for Muna's accident,"
"Accident? Muna? I am innocent of all charges, my king. I did nothing to her." I told him.
"The kids told me that you were past seen with Muna. How then am I to believe that you never had an altercation with her? You never liked Muna, you never saw any reason why she should be placed in such powerful position. You invited this notion among some men in Siuan. You think I was no aware?"
"Kai, you know me. As much as I never agreed to her poise as an assistant to Sikeka. I would never do such a thing to hurt her."
"Then, can you give me a reason why you had an altercation with her?" Kai moved closer, his face hard as nut.
Kai scoffed, "exactly, like I had thought. You can't say nothing," Kai turned to go.
"What hold does she have on you? why does hold so much attachment to you? She is just a stranger who holds nothing to this tribe. I still can't fathom why you like her so much?"
Kai stopped in his tracks, turning back to face me, he smirked.
"So, you saw us?" Kai asked.
"I was doing some works around that area and I happened to catch the sight of you both." I told him with a stern face.
"It is good that you understand the attachment she has on me. She is dear to me," Kai laughed, "I don't think you really understand. You were there when we rescued her from the Tarks. Why then do you see her as a spy?"
"I see the reason why Sikeka had you learning that strange language of hers, she is from Muna's world, isn't she?"
"What nonsense are you spurting?"
"Look intently my king!" Ibspat out furiously, clenching a fist as I rambled on, "don't you think Sikeka had this planned out all along? She wants to control this kingdom. You are only her puppets. She hides under the guise of revelations from the gods," I continued.
Kai laughed, "you are nuts."
"You can't as well have Muna. Her place holds so much respect, so tainting her reputation will only bring dishonor to whatever gods the Siuans believe in."
"You make a fool of Siuan, Tasi."
"I'm not. I'm only stating clear facts."
"You are strong headed. I hope this doesn't land you into trouble one day," Kai turned away then stopped midway, "nothing, I repeat, nothing happens to Muna."
I sighed once he left, never had I thought I would say such words to Kai. Kai was thwarted by the feelings he had for Muna.
He knew he couldn't have her, he must marry royalty.
That was tradition.
Or would he change tradition just to appease himself?
He would make a mockery of himself.
*******
Muna woke up with a start.
Luckily, she had Sikeka beside her.
I was opportune to be around her too.
Her face was stricken with so much fear. Sikeka handed her a cup of red drink.
"Are you alright?" Sikeka asked her, concerned.
Muna looked around us, I knew who she was looking for. "He's not here, he's attending to politics," I told her.
Sikeka looked up at me, then back at Muna, "you can't be serYous. You were down all night and the first person you wish to see is Kai?" It baffled her.
"No. Has he been killed?" Muna asked.
"Who?" Sikeka looked puzzled by the question.
"I think I saw into your future," Muna told Sikeka.
I rolled my eyes, not another one of her tactics. I was grateful that she was hake and hearty. She had been down all night and half a day, Kai had to regrettably leave her to attend to politics.
Maybe, this was where I should take my leave.
"Tasi," Muna called me as I tried to step out.
I stopped, turning back to look at her.
"I need to see Kai, or better still let me get to him," she tried to get up but staggered as she did.
"You can't just go out there. You need to eat and gather your strength. Tasi will get him," Sikeka told Muna.
"No," Muna objected, "I need to speak to the council of elders. I have to talk to all of them, this is a warning. I hope it is not too late." Muna said to us.