Chapter 50 Lost On The Island
“Stand steady, things are about to get dizzy.” Maya stated, her hand reaching for the stone that sat gently against her chest. She was about to create a portal through the pendant for all three of them to pass through.
Levi scoffed lightly, ”Wouldn't be my first time.“ He commented, pulling Fernanda closer to him. He was about to lift her up but Fernanda protested against that. ”What are you trying to do” she asked nervously.
“Pardon me your highness but Maya's right. Their means of transportation can be quite soul jerking and I can't afford you getting any weaker than you are right now.” Levi told Fernanda and the way he spoke told her that he would not be listening to any further protests from her regarding the matter.
Fernanda simply nodded and allowed him to carry her. Levi lifted her up all too easily and gestured to Maya to come closer too. “I actually don't get affected by the portal.” she muttered but held Levi's arm anyway. Fernanda almost wanted to smile but she decided to pretence to be oblivious to what just happened.
Then everything became folded. That was the only way Fernanda could describe it, like reality itself had been grabbed at the seams and wrung out. Her stomach lurched, her chest tightened, and for a terrifying half-second she was certain her soul had slipped half a step behind her body.
She didn't remember it being this bad when Damon took her from the tunnels in the palace. She then recalled that he knocked her out hence why this feels like a first time experience.
When they got through the portal, Fernanda felt like throwing up immediately her feet touched the ground. “Are you alright your highness?” Levi asked, him and Maya looking concerned.
“I'm alright I just need some air, that's all.” Fernanda replied. She almost wanted to cry when took in a handful of clean and fresh air through her mouth. Considering how she stayed in a single room for so long for days that she felt so choked. So being able to freely breath the air outside felt like luxury to her.
It was breezy where the portal had brought them. Fernanda raised up her head to see the environment and was a bit surprised when she saw they were on an island. “Where is this place?” She asked.
“I was just about to ask.” Levi replied gruffly but he wasn't looking at Fernanda, but Maya. Maya raised her brows at the intensity of Levi's glare. “Don't stare at me like that, I'm not trying to ambush you or anything.” Maya shot back in defense.
Fernanda was immediately confused, ”Wait... What happened? What's going on?“ she demanded, looking back and forth at Levi and Maya. ”The portal was supposed to lead us directly to wherever the king and his army currently are. But we got a barren island instead.“ Levi was visibly annoyed but not as much as Maya back at him.
“This isn't my fault.” She angrily pointed a finger at him. “I can't entirely control where my portal leads, especially when I'm weak myself. I'm not strong enough right now so I will have to generate another portal but first I need to catch my breath because opening a portal requires energy!” Maya didn't shout but the way her voice got quieter each word told both of them that she had gotten extremely weak.
She slowly went down and Fernanda immediately rushed to hold her, Levi also immediately apologized. Maya struggled to blink back the tears in her eyes so they wouldn't know she was about to cry but Levi didn't miss it.
Nothing gets past him.
He watched her silently, hating himself for demanding too much from her at that moment. How could he have forgotten that she was also a prisoner at the order's base. Starved and dehydrated too.
He had a duty to fulfill but right now his priorities would have to shift.
“She is weak Levi, we have to give her time.” Fernanda said, holding Maya's cold hand tighter in hers. Levi nodded firmly. “I particularly am not in a hurry.” She said with a small laugh. Maya laughed back and Levi who isn't finding anything funny did not like that, ”We both know that's a lie.“ She told Fernanda.
“Don't talk, you need to save your strength.” Levi told her, concern written on his usually impassive face. Maya, on seeing how serious he was, cleared her throat and nodded. “Noted, vice commander.” Fernanda smiled again at her comment, it had been so long since she smiled or laughed consecutively like this.
Everywhere was silent for a moment, only the sound of seagulls squaking waves splashing against each other was heard. Levi got up after a while to go find a way to start up a fire as it was getting dark already.
“It wasn't a lie though,” Fernanda clarified as soon as Levi was out of earshot. “I am really not in a hurry to go back.” she said. “Is it because of the king? You don't want to see him? You still plan on running?” Maya's question came like a stream, she was very much concern for Fernanda.
Fernanda shook her head, ”No...It's more about how I'm going to face him. I don't know how to face him after everything that has happened.“ she said. Maya reached for Fernanda's hand and held them in hers reassuringly.
“Sebastian Kozlov might be a lot of things, arrogant, merciless warrior, prideful. I personally do not like him as he had tried to kill me so many times, I would have been dead now if it weren't for your intervention always. But one thing I'm sure about is his love for you. That man will move mountains just to see your face, and everybody knows that.” She told Fernanda, still holding her hands tight.
“Let me tell you something, I'm certain he is also wondering how he is going to face you since it was his actions that drove you to run away from him in the first place.” Fernanda smiled at Maya's words. “Thank you Maya,” she said, ”It's my pleasure.“ Maya responded.
“I wonder how Yolanda is doing, I just hope Sebastian spared her. It would break me if he didn't. She was only trying to help me.” Fernanda said, remembering the last time she saw Yolanda. “Even though Sebastian can be so unforgiving, I'm sure Yolanda is fine. She's a smart woman.”
“She is indeed,” Fernanda agreed, she then gave Maya a playful nudge. “So what is going on between you and the vice commander?” Maya scoffed, ”I absolutely do not know what you are talking about, your highness.“
“Both of you talk to each other like you have history. I'm just too observant to not see it.” Said Fernanda. “We might have had some encounters in the palace before everything went downhills.” Maya explained.
“Some encounters?!” Fernanda was thrown aback, ”Believe me your highness, it's totally not in the direction I'm certain you are think about right now. You can just call us unlikely partners.“ Maya told her. ”Alright,” Fernanda said with a knowing smile.
“I thought we agreed on you not talking so you can save your energy.” Levi's voice startled both ladies.