“They do exist in other dimensions and levels of existence. There are both angels and demons here on Kurbridor. How else could the first demgels have been born?”
How else indeed? Since this was all somewhat crazy, her writer’s imagination could come up with several really wacky ways they had come into existence. But she would listen to his version of events.
“So tell me more about demgels.”
“No, I have to go. You will stay here. If you wish to rest, there is a bed in that room.” Dreydon pointed to one of the doors on the far wall. He stood up, picked up the bowls, narrow container, knife, and spoon, and took them over to the sink. After placing them in there, he moved his hand over the faucet and water poured out for a minute into the sink. He came back to the table, took the bread and board and put them back in the cupboard.
As he closed the doors, Dreydon looked at Esther and explained, “There is a window in the bedroom, but you cannot open it.” He walked to the front door and added, “This door can also only be opened by me. I shall return later.” Without any further talk, he opened the door and moved outside. The door banged shut.
Esther wasn’t going to accept what he said, so she got up and went to the door. She tried to turn the knob, but it wouldn’t move. Next, she pulled on the knob, yet the door remained closed. After a couple more attempts of turning and pulling without success, it was obvious he’d spoken the truth. Now, she moved to the long window and looked for a catch. There appeared to be no way of opening it so she tried pushing up from the bottom. The window didn’t move. Esther hoped one of the other rooms offered a means of escape.
She went to the two doors, both of which were slightly ajar, and pushed open the one he hadn’t indicated. It was a bathroom with a pedestal bath, a sink, and a toilet, but no window. Esther was grateful the cabin had indoor plumbing.
The toilet flushed by itself when she was finished, but when she wanted to wash her hands, the sink had only the lower half of a faucet with no visible way of turning it on. The bath contained a similar faucet problem. There was a small cupboard above the sink, but it didn’t have a mirror so she had no idea how messy her hair might be. Without a comb or hairpins, she couldn’t fashion it into the usual chignon.
Esther left the bathroom and opened the other door. There was a good-size window in here and also a chest of drawers, a chair, and a very large bed. She was sure it needed to be long in order to accommodate his height and maybe it was also wide because his wings took up room. Whatever the reason for its size, the bed looked very inviting right now. She had walked such a long way, and even though she’d slept in the hut last night, it hadn’t been a relaxing sleep.
After trying to open the window without success, Esther sat down on the edge of the bed and removed her sneakers. There was a long thick pillow, a sheet, and a blanket that looked as though it had been knitted. She lay down on top of the sheet and pulled the blanket over her legs and up to her chest. The pillow felt wonderful compared to the hut’s hard floor of the night before. There was a faint smell of sandalwood coming from it and for some odd reason she found this comforting. Her fear was subsiding. She would close her eyes for a little while. If she fell asleep, maybe when she woke up this bizarre experience would have ended. Sleep claimed Esther.
* * * *
Dreydon flew high up onto the mountain. He was hoping to visit his dragon friend, Narrak. Some afternoons when the sun was warm, like today, Narrak relaxed on one of the several ledges, watching what was happening below him. Dreydon would join him and they’d sit and talk in the language of dragons. They told each other what was happening in their lives or discussed any topic that interested them. Recently, their conversations had been all about the prospect of Narrak becoming a father. His mate, Menil, had laid six eggs and they were impatiently counting down the days until they hatched.
Today, however, he wanted to tell his friend about what had just happened, his uncharacteristic act of rescuing a human female who was being taken to a mejin. Dreydon appreciated Narrak’s point of view on everything and he was curious to hear what he would say about what his friend had done.
At this high altitude, the air was cold despite the heat of the sun, but the demgel manifested a warm shirt that brushed against his healing wounds. By tomorrow, they would be gone, so they didn’t concern him. He glided by one of the wide ledges where Narrak sometimes rested and he could see the green dragon sitting with his wings stretched out in order to absorb the sun’s energy. Dreydon circled around and came down to land beside his friend.
“Greetings, Narrak. Are you enjoying the sun?”
“Dear friend, I’m pleased to see you. I was feeling so relaxed and was beginning to doze. I mustn’t linger here all afternoon; I need to hunt so that Menil can feed.” He closed his wings, making more room for Dreydon.
“I won’t keep you here for very long, I just wanted to tell you about something that happened today.”
“Of course, I always have time to listen to you.”
“I was flying over the grespat area when I saw Zortek pulling a human female along with him, obviously taking her to his mejin. You know who Zortek is?”
“Yes, he’s one of many demgels who have disgraced their angelic heritage.” Like all dragons, Narrak held great respect for angels.
“Don’t forget I’m a demgel.”
“Yes, but you don’t serve a mejin. You honor your heritage.”
“But like all demgels my demonic side does take over when I fight or mate.”
A deep chortling sound rose up from Narrak’s throat. “I believe we all have a demonic side when it comes to fighting and mating. So continue telling me your story.”
“I’ve seen Zortek and other demgels with captured males and females many times before but have never felt inclined to interfere. What happens to them is part of life on Kurbridor, but when I saw this human I had to intervene. I flew down and challenged Zortek and we fought.” He pulled his shirt open and continued, “As you can see, I was injured, but I am stronger than Zortek and I was ready to kill him when the female cried out. She asked me not to do so.”
“Perhaps she liked Zortek?”
“No, another demgel had challenged him a short while before I arrived, and he was killed in front of her. She was sickened by what she saw.”
“I can’t imagine why. Humans frequently kill each other.”
“So I knocked him unconscious instead and brought her to my home. My question to you, dear friend, is why did I behave in this manner?”
“Keep in mind the fact that demgels are attracted to human females.”
“That is why I rarely go to Earth. My demon always wants many of the women I see there. They are far more submissive during sex than female demgels, or so I’ve heard. This one is beautiful. Her hair looks like golden sunshine and she is very small.”
“Be careful, Dreydon, don’t allow your inner demon to cloud your thinking. Humans are enemies of Kurbridor’s inhabitants. Long ago they killed many of my kind.”
“I know, Narrak. I feel drawn to her, but that is foolish. Humans believe demons are ugly so I’m sure they would think the same about demgels.”
“So what will you do with this female?”
“I’ll take her home, but at the moment I can’t do that. Zortek’s scent is mixed with hers so I’m unable to track where she belongs. In another day, his scent should be gone, and then I can easily find her home. Dear friend, I have never known a scent as enticing as hers. It tells me she is good and honest, but perhaps I’m deceived. What do you think?”
“She is human, so I’ll advise you to be cautious. Why don’t you look inside her mind and see what is hidden there?”
“I’ve already done that, but not to any great extent. Her thoughts are concentrated on escaping. She has no idea how dangerous Kurbridor is for anyone who has just arrived here. A part of her thinks she’s in some kind of nightmare or dream world. She also considers me to be frightening, peculiar, and ill-mannered.”
“Then this is what we’ll do. Tomorrow morning bring her to my lair. Wait outside. I don’t want her to go near my precious eggs. I’ll come out and look deep inside her, and then tell you what I’ve discovered. Do you agree?”
“Yes. Thank you for being so helpful. I’ll be guided by what you find out.” Dreydon stood up and spread his wings. “Enjoy your evening with Menil, Narrak.” He lifted off and flew back down to his home. When he alighted on the porch, he told Toldo he could leave in order to find his supper. Dreydon opened the door with a slight movement of his hand and went inside.
Chapter Seven
Esther woke up and stared in confusion at the unfamiliar window. Then she remembered where she was. What time is it? She only wore her watch on the days she worked for Anna, so she hadn’t been wearing it when Zortek abducted her. Sitting up, she looked around the bedroom, but no clock was evident and she hadn’t noticed one in the main room. Don’t demgels keep track of time? She looked back at the window and it appeared to be twilight outside. This meant it was almost twenty-four hours since she was taken. Esther knew that by now Anna would be frantic. When Esther didn’t arrive at the store that morning, her friend would call and, getting no answer, she’d leave a message. As the day progressed, Anna would have called several times and left messages. She’d presume Esther was sick and would have Aunt Sally come in early to cover for her. Either during the time they usually went for coffee with their friends or definitely after the store closed, Anna would drive to Esther’s apartment to find out what was wrong. She had an extra key for emergencies, such as the time Esther left her front door key on the hall table. Someone would buzz Anna into the building and once inside the apartment, she’d see that her friend had gone somewhere without a coat or her bag. Anna would then contact the police.
When she did finally get back from Kurbridor, Esther wondered what she would tell her friend and the police. To say she was kidnapped and taken to a place that had individuals who were half demon, half angel would sound ridiculous. They would want to know what drugs she’d taken and from where she’d obtained them. If she managed to convince them she was clean, they would insist she go to a psychiatrist and he’d probably commit her. Esther could feel the stirrings of a headache in the back of her head. She massaged her neck in the hope of stopping it from becoming full blown.
The bedroom door was suddenly pushed open and Dreydon stood there looking at her. He moved into the room without having to bend because the doorway was sufficiently high for his height. She’d noticed the front entrance also offered the same advantage. It was obvious the cabin was built specifically for him.
“Why are you rubbing your neck? Did Zortek hurt you there?”
“No, I’ve got the beginnings of a headache. It’s either from tension or from the sun beating down on me.”
“I will heal that for you.” He approached the bed and placed his left hand a few inches above her head.
Esther could feel a warm flow of energy passing through her from head to toe. The headache was gone.
“Thank you. That worked faster than an aspirin. Oh, do you know what that is?”
“No.”
“It’s a pill, a little round thing you swallow when you have pain anywhere in your body. It used to be made from willow bark, but now they use coal tar.”
“The willow tree is a good friend. Shall I also heal the redness on your nose and cheeks?”
“That would be great, it’s sunburn. It does hurt and will blister. Then I’ll look like a total mess.”
He passed his left hand in front of her face and the tight soreness vanished.
“Are all demgels healers?”
“No, it’s only those whose angelic lineage gives them that ability.”
“And yours does?” She looked at the exposed section of his chest, which the unbuttoned shirt revealed. The gashes were definitely healing.
“Why don’t you wave your hand in front of your chest to instantly heal those wounds?”
“My healing power does not work as quickly on myself.”
And when did he put on a shirt? She knew he wasn’t wearing one when he’d gone out earlier. The thought of him coming into the bedroom while she was asleep, and getting the shirt from the chest of drawers made her feel uneasy.
“Did you just come back or have you been here for a while?”
“I came back earlier and saw you were sleeping so I stayed outside and waited for Toldo to return after killing and eating his supper. Why do you ask?”
“I don’t like the thought of someone I don’t know sneaking around when I’m asleep.”
“I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
Esther shrugged. “Don’t worry about it.” She moved to the edge of the bed, bent down and put on her sneakers. Dreydon stood watching her. Will he ever stop doing that? She got up and was quickly reminded how short she was compared to him. If he wanted to attack her, she wouldn’t stand a chance against him, but she would knee him very hard in a certain body part. Of course, she was presuming his demgel anatomy was similar to that of a human male.
Now he was smirking at her. Once again, Esther wondered if he could understand her thoughts. She needed to know if this was possible.
“Do you know what I’m thinking?”
“I can look into your mind when I want to do so.”
“That’s a real violation of privacy. Don’t do it again.”
“I rarely do it, but your thoughts are amusing. You chatter constantly to yourself.”
Esther walked away from him and entered the large room. There was a glowing ball of golden light floating close to the ceiling. It illuminated the whole area. So what to do now? She wondered if she could persuade him to take her outside. Esther was certain it was getting dark out there and if she could get away from him, hiding would be easy. Even if she couldn’t find a place to hide, she wouldn’t regret trying to run away providing he didn’t aim fire at her.
Dreydon took hold of her arm and pulled her to the armchair, which was now in front of the fireplace. He gave her a slight push and she fell back into it. Then he picked up one of the chairs near the table and carried it as if there was no weight involved. He placed it a couple of feet away from the armchair and facing Esther. After sitting down, he leaned forward and said,
“You have to stop thinking about escaping. At night, there are creatures on Kurbridor that could easily catch you, kill you, and then eat you. By day, there are other dangerous animals and also demgels who would be very happy to take you to their mejin. I understand why you don’t want to be here, but the alternative is worse.”
“Do you have any idea how awful all of this is for me? I’m in a weird place where mythical creatures exist. You say you don’t serve a mejin, so presumably you’re not taking me to one, yet you’re keeping me a prisoner here. Why? Are you going to kill and eat me? I don’t know what a mejin is. Would being taken to one be so terrible? I just feel like I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole and you won’t know what that means.”
“You’re referring to Alice in Wonderland. I’m familiar with several books written by humans.”
“Then maybe you do understand how I feel. I just want to go home where life is sane and normal.”
“I’ll take you home, but for now you have to remain here. Your scent is not yet free of Zortek’s, so it is impossible for me to track where you belong.”
“Would it help if I tell you where I live?”
“No, although I have been to your world I am not familiar with the cities or other parts of the different countries. I can take you right inside your home by following your scent, but not until it is free of his.”
“So that’s how he knew exactly where I live. He smelled me, and then followed his nose. You track like dogs. How long will it take for his scent to be gone?”
“Another day or a little longer should be sufficient.” He sniffed and added, “It’s already beginning to weaken.”
“The problem is my friend
will be worried that something has happened to me and she’ll notify the police. When I get back how can I explain where I’ve been without them thinking I’m on drugs or have gone crazy?”
Dreydon sat back in the chair and continued his close scrutiny of Esther. His wings were folded tightly behind him. “Time moves differently here than in your world. The passing of a day on Kurbridor takes a little over six hours of Earth time. What time did Zortek take you?”
“It was just after midnight.”
“Then when you return, it will not be much later than midday. Surely your friend would not contact the police so quickly?”
“No, but she’ll wonder why I’m not at her store. I help her there on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. I’ll have to tell her I was sick. So you do know what time is? I was wondering about that because you don’t have a clock in your home.”
“Of course I know what time is. I choose not to keep account of it. There are plenty of clocks in the cities.”
“Oh, so you have cities, as well. It’s not all rural. Do you have police in your cities?”
“There are demgels who perform a function similar to human police. Our worlds are the same in certain aspects, but Earth has pursued technology whereas Kurbridor concentrates on magic.”
“Yes, you open doors without touching them and make cutlery appear from nowhere.”
“Those are simple acts of magic. Demgels can do much more than that.”
“Tell me more about Kurbridor. Where exactly is it?”
Dreydon stood up and took several logs out of the box and piled them in the hearth. Then he looked down at the logs and two narrow lines of golden light projected from his eyes onto them. They burst into flame and he sat down. “It is cold here at night.”
Esther stared in amazement at him. “You really can make fire come out of your eyes.”
He nodded. “You want to know more about Kurbridor? Well, it is also known as the Kingdom of Legends. It’s a physical world, like Earth, yet exists in a different dimension. Kurbridor isn’t quite as old as your planet but is far from new. It’s the home of creatures you consider to be mythical and is parallel to Earth in certain ways, but there are differences. My world is also smaller than yours.”
Stolen Away Page 5