Accidental Escape

Days turned into a week. I’ve witnessed the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets from the view of Celphi’s “upscale” tree house. As Raiona calls it in her journal, Daystar. It was written in Roman alphabet, so that’s a clue.

I was miraculously able to read through the jumbled mess of her penmanship, thanks to years of deciphering worse scribbles from doctors’ orders. The journal has missing pages, but reading what I could gave me an insight into her personality.

Headstrong. Adventurous. Too curious to follow instructions. Quick to compete, but also quick to care for others. She looked after her ailing queen mother as a child. She also mentioned something about not being from this world.

Coincidences that don’t feel like coincidences. Could she have been taken from Earth too? She carried Earth memories. Overall, potentially a person I can relate to. I can see why Celphi would be loving and protective of such a character. Pity there wasn’t a thing written about him.

I found myself wondering what became of her. Celphi only said she vanished, and now she’s “back” as me. But when I insisted I was Ina, not Raiona, he stopped pressing the point. The diary gave me an insight into Raiona’s mind, but it doesn’t give me an answer on why I am here.

Now what? Celphi is not telling me everything. How long is his “give this world a chance” promo going to last?

I can’t deny what I’ve seen though. He’s very capable. He is strong enough to crush a carnivorous spider the size of a car. Eight hairy legs around three to four meters in size. I was just reading the notebook when something covered my source of light, and when I looked up to the window, trauma.

This is it. Finished. Game over. You died.

Before I retreated under a blanket, I made eye contact with one of its’ plenty eyes, which were the size of my palm. My ears rang with its’ screech as I cowered on the floor. Then the warmth of daystar returned. Celphi stood by the window, brushing dust off his hands as if he’d just swatted a fly. He wouldn’t explain. I prayed he hadn’t eaten it. Reptile instincts, after all. He said it was supposed to be extinct.

If I can be pulled here from Earth, then who knows what other creatures can come from other dimensions? Or was it local? Do they all get big? I wasn’t above any realms of possibility anymore.

I also learned there was no way down this tree unless Celphi carried me. There were stairs, but they only led one floor up or down. Never to the ground. I even suggested a pulley elevator. He just chuckled, like I’d asked for something scandalous.

Well, sorry for being a human who doesn’t have animal skills.

After several nights of me sobbing about Earth in his arms, I asked for separate sleeping spaces. He made me a loft above. He kept the lower floor with his gemstones and his little hoard. It felt like a small victory, but it wasn’t long before I realised how dependent I had become on his presence.

The nightmares started to reappear when we were apart. Not the full dream. As once I start to get fidgety in my sleep, Celphi came to the same room. He didn’t need to lie beside me. Just his close proximity smoothed the jagged edges of the night.

In that way he was my dreamcatcher. It annoyed me that his presence changed everything, but I was grateful for it all the same. I was used to being needed. I wasn’t used to being the one receiving help. He was a gentleman through and through. He didn’t linger more than needed.

He listened without judgement, even when he didn’t understand Earth’s etiquette or politics. He never volunteered information about himself unless I asked. When I did ask, he answered carefully. Making sure I wasn’t being addressed as Raiona.

Speaking of comfort, toilets were made for me. Celphi’s first attempt was a makeshift floor style latrine on the lower level. It horrified me at first. Very primitive, but it was practical, and better than trekking into the forest full of unfamiliar, possibly carnivorous plants.

He later added a seated version outside, simple and sensible. No flush, of course, but a nearby plant would absorb and compost everything within hours. Celphi liked to solve problems instead of complaining about them.

He’s also made an open-air bath with vines for a curtain. Water was warmed when I asked. A hammock outside where I could read. Everything handmade, adapted to me. There was practically nothing to be unhappy about. Other than the fundamental things. Such as the truth and proof of said truth.

‘Celphi, I want out, please.’

‘Do you want to go hunting with me?’

Always the same dance. I dreamed of escape routes, but never found a destination. And meanwhile, he kept treating me like a queen, tailoring meals to my tastes, seasoning meat with fragrant plants, pairing it with roots that reminded me of potatoes. Not the carbohydrates I’m after.

Still no rice. And still no answers. How long should I wait? I need both.

‘Ina?’ Celphi recalled my attention.

‘Oh yes. Yes please. We might even discover a new edible plant on the way.’ I smiled.

The look on his face showed that he knew that despite his doing everything within his capacity, I was still curious about a lot of things and was planning on leaving at the first opportunity that I could.

It’s one thing for him to assume what I was thinking, but for him to know for certain was something else. The idea that I was also slowly able to “feel” his emotions even when in another room is baffling.

With each day, our thoughts started to echo one another, as though some unseen thread connected us. He knew when I was restless. I knew when he was holding something back. He told me to give him time, over and over.

Time for what?

Sometimes I feared I’d been sent here to die, and he had selfishly decided to keep me alive. That he was my shield against a harsher fate. Maybe I was indeed being summoned by the king for coronation. Either way, I deserved to know what I was working towards. I was optimistic with this give-this-world-a-chance business. My full patience and faith.

Well, maybe not entirely.. It’s not that I’m distrustful of Celphi. Each day, I feel closer to him. Each day, he gets to know me and does everything I want him to. He has been an absolute champion for me. I’m just distrustful of the situation and his motives.

A bell chimed, snapping me back. One of his trap-nets had caught something. ‘Two noisefowls,’ Celphi noted calmly, pointing into the distance.

‘You can see that far?’ I blinked. It must’ve been hundreds of meters.

‘Yes. And I hear the river flooding, carrying debris.’

He made the impossible sound ordinary.

‘Shall we go soon?’ I asked.

He nodded. I changed into outdoor clothes. His handmade white dress tucked under a fur overalls.

It had been my routine to change into outside clothes before we head out. To cover up the fact that I wasn’t a magical being. We haven’t come across another magical creature so far, only animals that can be eaten.

Is it ok to be wearing another human being’s body part? This is technically his old skin… Isn’t this what some serial killers do? Well, technically we still wore animal leather, so maybe I should think of it that way.

‘I’m ready.’ I automatically took my position beside him. I was already used to seeing his partially human, full myth form. He looked mesmerizing. Like a mermaid, but with longer and snaking tail. I tried not to notice how satisfied he looked.

Is it the fact that I am now used to close contact with him, or that I am wearing his skin?

It’s my first rainy day. We crawled around the tree as we went down with extra care. It was drizly but humid and warm. The damp conditions have made the traps Celphi made more hidden. A puddle could have sharpened wood underneath, some could have nets, and some could just be mud. Try your luck.

We tracked the squawking birds, and he cradled me effortlessly.

‘Do you know their gender?’ I asked.

’I can figure it out for you. Does it affect the flavor or cooking manner?’

‘No. But… eggs.’

He smiled. ‘Brilliant. If we cage a few together, they’ll breed.’ His arms tightened around me.

I suddenly became self-aware that I was being held by Celphi against his chest.

‘Anything forced together for a long while is bound to procreate.' He said flatly.

I don’t even want to think about it... Do I?

His physique was impressive, with veins popping out from his muscles as he carried me effortlessly. My gaze followed the lines of his throat, down to his defined collarbone, then up to his toned arms and strong hands. The contrast between his fair, porcelain skin and the dark blue veins visible just beneath the surface was striking.

I wouldn’t call him very muscular, but I could see and feel that he has a strong core, and that his manliness perfectly balances his delicate features.

Devil on my shoulder: What’s wrong with just living with him in peace? Just enjoy this. You’re treated splendidly by a beautiful man.

Angel on my shoulder: Wait wait wait that’s not the point. Wake up. Don’t be blinded by his looks. And good manners. And a thoughtful nature. Anyways… WAKE UP.

Devil: Do we really have to? Just live in ignorant bliss. Who cares. Just be happy here. No more investigating. Just leave it. Enjoy life. He seems very satisfied serving you. Let him. Don’t go seeking problems.

Angel: THIS. is the problem. Snap out of it.

Devil: He can be the solution too. Look at him. Just imagine one drink of-

I smacked my own cheek lightly, earning a curious glance. My heart pounded too loudly for him not to notice.

Just because someone handsome is doing all my bidding and showing interest in absolutely all avenues of my life, then I waver? Tsk tsk tsk. Ina, you’re better than that.

As usual, Celphi made it easy. ‘Since they’re noisy, we’ll build their coop far from the treehouse.’ He never let awkwardness linger. I will always admire that about him. He’d learned and adjusted to my boundaries.

‘Thank you,’ I murmured. 

For the coop, for the safety, and for smoothing over my flustered silence. Will Ami give me blessing if I accepted Celphi as my boyfriend? Will she like him?

We settled on a location that is sheltered but still visible for Celphi, and most importantly, won't have much noise reaching the treehouse.

‘Do you think it’s safe if I tie them up on this branch while we look for wood and an ideal area for a base?’

’You don’t have to do that. You can just stay here with the noisefowls while I quickly gather the materials you said you needed to make a coop.’

’Uh-huh. So you think I make things move slowly?’ I teased.

He giggled and puffed in resignation. ‘Ok, have it your way. I will tie them up on this thin tree and attach bells so we can track escapees, but you also take one so I can have an idea of your general whereabouts.’

‘Yeah! Cause I am your biggest escapee.’ I teased, earning a sexy smile from him. Maybe it was a normal smirk. But it was enough to make me blush.

Heh, as if he can’t hear me from a mile away.

I smiled and leaned my head on his shoulders for a brief moment. ‘Thank you.’ And skipped away. I felt Celphi’s gaze on me, so I went a bit further into the forest.

I didn’t have plans of escaping, but I still wanted to have time for myself. I avoided a particularly muddy area and patrolled a section that had a collection of fallen twigs and vines. 

I started picking up potentially useful items and stashing them to one side. Also found a strong vine and wrapped it around my waist. I kept my head down and continued looking down on the forest floor, eventually unaware of where I was headed.

Thanks to Celphi already giving this area a thorough check a few days ago, I feel reassured exploring on my own. No more monstrous spiders.

’Oh wow that looks almost like a massive red blood cell.’ I went a bit further to pick up an object that looks like a good foundation for a bird coop cover. The shape is that of red blood cells, but the color is brownish green with white spots.

Astonishing! Is it a tree bark, a huge leaf, or maybe a mushroom head?

The item looked heavy and sturdy, but on closer inspection, it was like a rubber cushion to touch. I waved it around, and the lightweightness left me speechless.

I threw it up and it landed on a hanging vine and rolled a bit of a distance. I got preoccupied playing with it that I didn't pay attention to my surroundings.

A pillow! Looks huge, but is light and soft!

A moisture buildup inside my boots took me by surprise.

Oh, I thought it was dry around here. I am going to have Celphi make me a new one.

I jumped from root to root, avoiding stepping on the deceitful ground.

As I jumped on the next root, I seemed to have miscalculated the height and distance, snagging my foot in the process and projecting me straight to the ground with my face first. Thankfully, I landed on my giant red blood cell cushion.

I am pretty sure I skipped fine. It wasn't too far off. Unless I imagined it, then the roots must’ve risen. Then I got snagged.

Ouch! I felt tenderness when I tried to stand up. I sat on my cushion and inspected my foot.

Did I just feel the ground shake?

There was a low vibration, ominous rumble and sounds, growing louder and more insistent by the second. But I couldn’t see where it was coming from.

Where where where where where where where. Is this an earthquake? Meuquake?

I’d given myself whiplash from the number of times I turned my head desperately to the noises that surrounded me.

What was that?

I looked to the direction where I thought Celphi was and saw that the trees and foliage were getting bigger and bigger. Or higher?

Oh no. The forest was changing. And I was alone.