We approach the castle after some more walking. There were many more guards at attention, larger walls to protect the castle, and the outside decor was certainly a sight to see. It was beautiful with many flowers and statues. I’ve never seen anything like it except for maybe in stories. The inside of the castle looked even more beautiful with the smooth floors and walls. There were designs etched onto the walls and ceilings with more statues and some plants at doorways and entrances. There weren’t many people in the hallways, only a couple of women that seem to be washing and scrubbing the floors. We walk down a hallway that leads into a large open room with a large stone throne at the back wall of the room. In that throne is a middle-aged man, dressed in bold red and purple colors with a golden crown on his head. He is, most likely, the king of this castle.
The king narrows his eyes suspiciously at Jason and I as we walk in. The guards stopped us several feet away from the king, and forced us to kneel before him. “Why have you brought strangers into my home?” The king asks the guards.
The guards who escorted us kneeled as well, and one spoke up. “Your Majesty, we have found these two suspicious characters in a nearby village.”
“What were they doing?” The king asks.
“They have not done anything, but the villagers were very wary of them, which caught our attention.”
The king looks towards Jason and I, as if studying our appearances. “Where are you two from?”
Jason and I give each other a look that seems to ask “Who will answer him? What will be the answer?”.
“Well?” The king asks impatiently.
Jason faces towards the king. “We are from a place that is probably far away from here.”
“Where would that be?” The king asks.
“We were living our normal lives before it got turned upside down, and then a merman showed up, and then here we are. Mermaids shouldn’t exist, they are mythological. I don’t know where we are, so it would be tough to say where we are from. Have you heard of Pennsylvania?” Jason says.
The king, for a moment, looked bewildered, like he could not believe what was being said. “I have not heard of the place. Merfolk, for certain, are not a myth. What is it that you seek here?”
“Oh, well, I suppose food and water wouldn’t be too much to ask for. A way back home would be better, though.” Jason responds.
“Why do you have strange clothes?”
“They are our school uniforms. You know, clothes we have to wear to school or else we will get in trouble.”
“What are your names?”
“My name is Jason Winters,” Jason gestures towards me, “and this is my twin sister Juliet.”
The king studies us for a few moments before making his decision. “Put them in a room, and keep a guard posted there until further notice. I must go see to something.”
The guards that surrounded Jason and I stood up, bowed, and pulled us up. The king himself stood up and walked away, while Jason and I were being taken somewhere in an opposite direction. We were placed in a room that was very bare. It had no windows, and there were two torches placed on adjacent walls. There were a total of four chairs in the room, placed in no particular order. We were inside the room by ourselves while the guards closed the door from the outside and locked it. Jason and I just looked towards each other, shrugged, and sat in the chairs. The chairs were completely wooden, but I suppose it is better than sitting on the floor.
We sat and waited in complete silence for about ten minutes before Jason starts talking to me. “What do you think the king is doing right now?”
“I don’t know. Why?”
“Why would we be locked in here? I believe it’s a little better than a cell, so we were placed here for a reason.”
“Like what?”
“He said he needed to see to something. He looked confused when I said our names. I don’t think he actually knows us, do you?”
“How would he know us? We don’t even know where we are, much less on how to get back home.”
“Why are we here, anyway? Why did that merman Leven pull us in? He knew our name as well. What is going on?”
“That’s going to be tough mystery for you to solve, isn’t it?”
“Perhaps.”
Ten more minutes of silence go by, with no sound of what was going on outside of the room. Moments pass before we hear the door unlock and open. As the door opens, Jason and I stand up to face whoever it is. To our surprise, it is the king himself. “Winters, you are welcome here.”
Jason and I glance at each other, utterly confused. “I’m sorry,” Jason starts, “What?”
“I had to check the records we have here. Jason and Juliet Winters, son and daughter of Dominic, son of Philip, son of Haveron and Tilda Winters. We have been receiving information about the Winters family for quite some time.”
“Why?” Jason asks.
“Before Haveron left, with his wife Tilda, the Winters were a distinguished family. They were always involved in situations that needed the peace kept in check. After Haveron left, the Winters fell apart. They were not large in number in the first place. We were afraid that they will not come back, but we were still being told of what was happening, such as who married whom, and who the children were.”
“Okay, okay, I have a very hard time believing that. Our family used to live in this world? If someone had been keeping you updated on our family affairs, how have they been getting back and forth? I know, for sure, that my sister and I would like to go back home.”
“You have just gotten here! Please, decide to stay. This world has been in need of peace for as long as Haveron left. We need the Winters.”
“I want to know. Who has been telling you about us?”
“I cannot tell you. Not now. Please, stay here for some time. Perhaps we can change your mind?”
I can tell Jason is getting agitated, and I would not blame him for it. This king was not telling us what we want to know. If someone has been keeping a close watch on our family, who is it? Why are they doing it? How do they go back and forth? Why us?
“Okay, fine,” Jason says, “We can stay, but not for a long time.”
“A week shall be long enough to convince you both that staying here will be the best choice.”
Jason and I share a look with each other, one that says “We’ll see.” It is not as if we can suddenly adjust to living in this world, if we somehow decide to stay.
“You will be escorted to the guest rooms where you will be fitted with clothes to fit in around here,” The king says, turning around to walk out of the room. Before he is fully out, he adds, “You can call me either Emond or King Emond.”
With that, he left the room, and the guards approach us in a different manner than before. They were more friendly than menacing. “Please follow us to your rooms.” One of the guards says.
Jason and I were hesitant, but reluctantly agreed. What else could we do? It is not like we could just run away from here. We would not know where to go. We still do not where we are.
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