As I walked into the hallway, the ever-increasing darkness pulled me in more with every step I took. Steps that started to feel heavier the further I pushed myself. The sound of my footsteps resonating through the hall. The ever-increasing absence of light started to feel like a metaphor to the passing night. As darkness was the only thing left, I stopped with a mind racing from through thoughts without any room to breathe.

What happened tonight? What was that light? Where is Zephyria? I tried shaking the thoughts when Zeph’s voice pierced my ever-darkening world.

“Amber.” His voice was casual, though it entered my world like a wrecking ball. ”Thank you.” he finished.

I paused for a second. Wondering why my heart was racing. After taking a deep breath and calming down, I turned around facing the silhouette of 2 men standing in the doorway.

Confused about his sudden thankfulness, I faced him with a questioning look. My thoughts racing through the day, looking for the reason for his thanks. But for some reason, the thanks felt warming. This almost felt like the first time that something I had done was appreciated.

“Why are you thanking me?” My voice could hardly be called a whisper but the questioning intent did make its way to Zeph.

Even though the darkness enveloped his face, I swear I could see a smile on his face.

“For being there for me, of course.”

Then it suddenly hit me and I looked down in embarrassment. Memories of where I let Zeph rest his head on my lap as I tried to help him find some solace in a moment where he needed a friend. He was in a bad place and I wanted to help.

Was that wrong? Why did I do that? Nobody told me to, so why?

Why am I feeling this way? What is happening to me? I must be tired. Yeah, that’s probably it.

With some more deep breaths and a small pad on my cheeks, I calmed down a little.

“No worries. I’m glad you are ok.” I smiled softly though I knew the darkness was also hiding my face as much as theirs.

Having calmed down a bit we headed to the stairs. While approaching the stairs my mind flashed back to just a few hours earlier. The creaking of the steps reminded me of when we headed down these same stairs, trying to cover ourselves in silence and hoping to get the upper hand in the fight.

Who would have known the evening would turn out like this?

Climbing the stairs to the lobby felt like it took us much longer than the way down. The mood was completely different and when we reached the lobby I sighed in relief. The claustrophobic feeling of the walls of the hallway seemed to have gotten to me. Now in the lobby, it felt like a weight fell from my shoulders. The large open room was dimly lit by the almost full moon that shone through the windows near the front door. It illuminated the room in a soft cold blue light. But no matter the coldness of the light, everything felt better than being down there.

Zeph and Lucian decided to move to their rooms and try to get some rest. We said our goodnights and I went off to the safe room where the servants had taken refuge all this time, waiting for my return.

—

Two quick knocks, a pause, another 2 knocks, a pause, one final knock.

To my relief the door started to open as, apparently, the head maid still remembered the safe code we decided on. To be honest, I was glad I still remembered it myself.

The door clacked and the lock was undone from the inside. The doorknob started to turn slowly and you could feel the cautiousness from, what I believed was, the head maid. Slowly but surely the door opened and a warm glow started shining through the ever growing opening. It even felt comfortably inviting after having been in the dark for a bit, mentally and physically.

As the door opened far enough to look in I turned and moved in front of the opening and saw the worried look of the head maid staring back at me.

Suddenly the door flung open, almost hitting my head, and the maid came at me with arms spread wide. The incoming hug was unavoidable but avoiding it was the last thing on my mind.

“Ow, Amber! I’m so glad to see you are safe!” she said while I could hear her trying to hold back the tears. Her hug was a hug alright. I could feel the emotions through it as she pulled me in with a force that made it hard to breathe.

“This whole time we were worried so much about you.” She let go and started looking me up and down. Searching for anything that would be amiss.

“Are you hurt anywhere? Do you need help? How are Zeph and the others?” She shot questions out like a rapid firing fireball spell.

“Calm down Thalia. I’m alright. Don’t worry.” Hearing my voice and having noticed no signs of inflicted damage on my clothes or body she sighed in relief.

“It is safe to come out now. There are no more robbers in the building.” I looked through the safe room while trying to get eye contact with everyone to put them at ease.

The room was a large rectangle shape but had all the commodities you need to survive for a while. There were a few tables, chairs enough for everyone and a sort of sleeping back for everyone. The room was lit by fire stones that burned warmly with an orange glow. It contrasted the cold and dim moonlight from the lobby, making me feel at ease.

Though we never hoped to use it in the first place, my parents foresaw the need might arise with all the artifacts they brought back from their expeditions.

“I want you all to get some rest and tomorrow you can all take a day off. You deserve it.” I smiled and looked at everyone. It was unusual for the head of the household to give everybody a day off. Normally there would be multiple crews to fill in for each other, so me letting everybody off was not something anyone expected.

“Are you sure my lady?” came a question from one of the maids.

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“Clara was it not?” I asked with a friendly tone reflected by the soft smile on my face.

“Yes, my lady. You honor me by having remembered my name.” Clara bowed forward deeply.

She must have been the most recent addition to the maids and not yet accustomed to the, somewhat, unusual way I interact with my servants.

“Yes, I am sure. And please, don’t bow for me. I don’t want you to feel like I am your master. You are a friend. Friends don’t have to bow. We only do that kind of pleasantries when there are other people here for business.” I smiled and as she looked up, her face turned from worried to hopeful after seeing my smile and seeing it being confirmed by the head maid.

“Thank you.” She answered with a soft voice.

“Now everyone please go to your rooms, get some rest, and enjoy your day off.” I turned away, back to the lobby that was now just dimly lit by the moon but no signs of life. Walking up the stairs I thought back at what happened tonight and how I could help find Zephyria. After all, if it weren't for my history, Zeph and Zephyria would probably still be together.

The thought didn’t linger too long as I was also smart enough to understand that what happened could hardly be blamed on me or my parents' work. These were the actions of another party and we had to find out who they were and what they wanted.

Just as I wanted to enter my room, I heard footsteps coming down the hallway. When my gaze scanned the location I just came from, to my surprise, I saw Thalia come my way.

“Miss Amber, do you have a minute for me?” She sounded a bit unsure, not something I was used to. Normally she was always full of confidence and I hardly heard any doubts from anything she said.

“Yeah, sure. What is it?” I walked into my room and gestured for her to follow me.

“Amber, I have to get something off my chest.” She breathed out and then took a deep breath in. Her face revealed that whatever it was, it had to be something that could not wait.

She would normally never do something like this so my curiosity was piqued.

“Go on,” I said questingly. “What is it?”

“I have known you ever since you were born. I even helped deliver you into this world.” Her gaze went to the floor. and her shoulders hang down.

“You were always such a bundle of joy when you were young. Even though your parents were hardly ever home, you still loved them with all your heart. Your mother always asked if I would take her motherly place in her absence. And I did. With pleasure.”

She looked back up and looked at me as she took a chair that was behind her and set down in a motion that betrayed the fact she was hardly able to stay composed.

Something was bothering her so much that it almost paralyzed her body.

“We had the best of times together when your parents were away. You played with everybody, I gave you private lessons and took you out to the city and bought you sweets.

Not once did you ever complain about anything.”

Her face had a nostalgic smile that now twisted to reveal the sadness she was carrying.

I was at a loss for words and did not know what to say, so I didn’t say anything.

“After you received the message from your parents” she continued as tears started building in her eyes. “You lost all that playfulness. Ever since that fateful day, I have longed to see a smile return to your face. Even though you are not my daughter you did feel like one. What could hurt a parent more than seeing their child being in pain, mentally or physically, day after day, hour after hour.”

She burst into tears. Her motherly instincts have taken her as far as she could, trying to stay strong in front of her “child”. But after all these years, it seems something broke her walls.

“Thalia, what is wrong? Why are you telling me all of this? You know you are like a mother to me. You never let me down, you always taught me everything I needed to know. What more could I ask for.”

Thalia dried her tears and looked at me again. Though the tears were gone for a short moment, her face showed it would not stay dry for long. She has yet to reveal what it really is she wants to get off her chest.

“Amber, do you like that boy? Do you like Zeph?”

My eyes went wide. “Thalia, what are you saying? What do you mean, do I like Zeph…”

My heart raced again and had to tell myself to breathe.

Thalia genuinely smiled now, even though the tears were still in her eyes.

Though this time they looked like the tears of sadness turned into tears of joy.

“Ever since you received the message from your parents your smile never returned. Year in, year out, I tried to give you all my love. I tried to help you deal with whatever came your way. I tried raising you as my own and tried to distract you from the hardships of life as best I could. But no matter what I tried, your smile never returned.”

I was at a loss for words. Never had I realized this and now that it was put so blatantly in front of me, I realized the truth of her words. She did so much for me throughout my childhood. She really was as a mother to me and someone I genuinely loved her as such.

Did I really not smile at all since then? Did I really ignore everything she has done for me?

My face apparently showed my worry so much that Thalia felt the need to cut my thoughts short.

“Amber, you were always appreciative of everything I did for you. So don’t blame yourself. I don’t blame myself either. I believe I did the best I could and sadly it never gave you back that smile. Until a week ago. The moment Zeph and his friends joined you.”

I was surprised. “What do you mean?”

“You like Zeph, don’t you? You have never been open to any guy that visited. But Zeph seems different. Maybe you two have something in common or it is something else completely. But ever since Zeph walked in the house, I have seen you smile again.”

She cried again. Tears of happiness for the one girl she cared for the most.

I stood up and approached her with open arms. I hugged her for a little while until she got hold of her emotions again.

"Are you ok?“ I asked with a smile. Suddenly I noticed the smile myself.

Thalia looked at me and smiled as well.

“yeah. I will get out of your hair. You had a busy day as well so I will let you get some rest.”

Seems like she didn’t want to press the matter of me liking Zeph any more than she already had.

We let each other go and as Thalia walked to the door, I started to undress and get ready for bed.

Before the door closed Thalia peaked inside once more.

“Sorry for letting my emotions run like that. That was a …”

Before she could finish I cut her off.

“Don’t be sorry. I am glad you did. It made me realize something as well. So you too get some rest.”

She nodded and closed the door.

When my clothes were neatly folded on my and placed in the cabinet, I stepped into my bed. I looked around the room, thinking quickly about the day. For some reason, I realized how big the room was and how small I was in comparison. It felt empty as the moon’s glow dimly lit it.

I turned on my side and closed my eyes but that did not stop my mind from thinking about what Thalia said about Zeph. It is safe to say that I did not get any sleep that night.