Alcingeria Chapter Thirty Eight: The Lounge

A guest lounge has been constructed and our heroes go for a little stress relief. After all, constant danger surrounding you can be pretty stressful, no?

Chapter Thirty Eight The Lounge: We all stood up to leave for the lounge.

            “Don, can you lead the way?” Robert asked.

            “Sure. I can’t wait to show you guys the lounge. We’re treated like honored guests there. It’s almost like the staff are servants. All you need to do is ask for something and they’ll do their best to serve you.” Don replied as he took the lead.

I saw that Lawrence started to follow me.

            “Lawrence, since I’m going to be at the lounge, your services won’t be needed seeing as the staff will be serving us. Plus, it’ll be a little crowded in there with us plus all of you servants. How about you take some time off?” I suggested.

Lawrence grinned.

            “Thank you, sir.” He said, bowing low and walking away.

My friends looked to each other, then turned to their servants and gave them time off while we were at the lounge. As I started to fallow the others, I noticed Tabatha falling behind the group a little. I walked up to her.

            “Hey, Tabatha. How are things going with you and Don?” I asked in a low voice.

She turned to face me, her brow furrowed.

            “I don’t know! Boys are so confusing! I can’t tell if he likes me, I can’t even tell if he knows I like him!” Tabatha said in a frustrated, strained whisper.

I chuckled to ease her stress.

            “Hey, don’t worry so much about it. Just don’t come on to strong. That’s almost never a good idea. Just play it slowly, let him know you’re not going to… I don’t know… Magically hurl a carrot at his head from forty feet away.” I said with a smirk.

Tabatha gave me a playful shove.

            “Hey, come on! You know things were different back then.” Tabatha protested.

            “Okay, okay I know.” I said with a small grin.

Tabatha brushed her burgundy hair out of her eyes.

            “Redmond, I just want you to know that you’re a good friend. No one really cares about me quite like you do. Are you sure you don’t have feelings for me?” Tabatha teased.

I certainly didn’t have feelings for Tabatha! Regardless I could feel my face heating up. I was starting to blush.

            “What? No! That’s crazy, Tabatha!” I objected.

Tabatha giggled.

            “Your face says otherwise, lover boy!” Tabatha teased again.

            “Hey! I just think of you as a friend, okay?” I asked, smiling despite my embarrassment.

            “Okay, okay. I’m just teasing you.” Tabatha said with a grin.

            “’Ey! What’re you two schoolgirls gabbin’ about?” Walden joined in.

I just shook my head.

            “It’s nothing, Walden.” I said.

            “Pal, you’re blushin’. Ya got the hots for the witch, don’t ya?” Walden asked.

I looked at him strangely and scoffed.

            “No I don’t!” I protested.

Tabatha started giggling girlishly. Walden leaned in close and spoke in a whisper.

            “It’s okay buddy, I don’t blame ya.” He said.

I just laughed him off.

            “What? Somethin’ I said?” Walden asked.

Walden just shrugged and flew to the front of the group.

            “Hey, we’re here!” Don announced.

We all started filing in through the door of the lounge. When I stepped through the door, I noticed a bar to my right, there were a few stools in front of it. Some of them were occupied. There were some tables behind the stools, a few of them had people sitting at them. To the left was a table with a card game going on. Across the room from the door was a dart board with wooden darts that had metal tips to be thrown onto the board for points. Beside the dart board about fifteen feet was a small stage with a band performing. They played string instruments. Their notes were mostly high pitched and sweet. There were a few lower notes that complemented the piece quite nicely. There were also a series of longer notes playing in the background. I’m not particular about my music, but I know a good tune when I hear one.

            “Oh, and did I mention the best part?” Don asked us all.

            “What’s that?” Francella asked.

            “Everything here’s free.” Don said with a grin.

I looked around again, impressed by the setup.

            “Donovan, my friend! Here for a rematch to our game?” A male voice called out to Don.

I turned to the voice. I saw a man who looked to be about sixteen. He had black hair and blue eyes like Don, but his eyes were darker, colder than Don’s. He carried himself with more confidence. He was a little bigger than Don, too.

            “Fat chance, Jesse! I’m just showing my friends the lounge.” Don shot back.

Jesse chuckled.

            “Very well. Another time then?” Jesse asked in a challenging tone.

            “Are you going to use magic to win the game?” Don asked.

            “Probably.” Came Jesse’s reply.

Tabatha perked up.

            “You can use magic?” She asked, interested.

            “Indeed I can. I’m a warlock, and judging by your getup I’d take it you’re a witch.” Jesse said.

Tabatha nodded.

            “You got it.” She said with a smirk.

Jesse reached down to Tabatha’s right hand and took it in his own. I could see Tabatha stiffen.

            “And you are?” Jesse asked, pecking her hand.

Tabatha quickly reached her left hand to the side, used her manipulation magic to grab a mug of ale off of a nearby table and she angled a fingertip towards Jesse’s head. Sure enough, the glass hit him square in the left side of the head. Pretty hard, too. Jesse let out a pained oof! And fell to the ground, clutching his head, the mug lay on the ground next to his head, still intact.

            “Creep.” Tabatha muttered, looking down at him.

Jesse just clutched his head. He looked up to Tabatha sheepishly. Tabatha just scowled down at him. Jesse scurried away on his butt, standing up and running off, out of the lounge. No one noticed the little scene between Tabatha and Jesse, although he earned some strange looks as he dashed out of the lounge. I chuckled at Tabatha.

            “Tabatha, that was hilarious!” I told her.

            “He was a creep. He got what he deserved.” Tabatha said plainly.

Don just stood with wide eyes, staring at Tabatha. He soon regained his composure.

            “Good shot, Tabatha.” He said with a grin.

            “Thanks.” Tabatha said.

I could tell she was a little nervous. I still had a little trouble gripping the fact that she liked Don.

            “Congratulations, Tabatha! You’ve been in the lounge five minutes and a guy’s already hit on ya. Better step up your game, Redmond!” Walden joked.

I scowled at Walden.

            “Come on Walden! Tabatha and I? Can you honestly see us together?” I asked.

Walden eyed us both.

            “Ya know what? I can’t.” He said.

I exhaled in relief. At least Walden’s teasing was put to rest.

            “Alright, let’s actually do something.” Stella suggested.

            “Hey Redmond! Betcha can’t beat me at darts!” Walden challenged.

            “You’re on!” I replied.

Walden flew over to the dart board and grabbed three darts for himself and three for me. I walked over and he handed me the darts.

            “Alright pal. I usually start at a mutually agreed upon score and the goal is to reach zero, but I’ve also played versions where you start at zero and work your way up to a mutually agreed upon score. What’ll it be?” Walden asked.

            “Let’s start at zero and work our way too… Five hundred?” I asked.

            “Yeah, let’s do it.” Walden replied.

            “I’ll go first.” I said.

I threw my first dart. It landed on double eight. I threw my second dart. It soared through the air and landed on six. I threw my third dart and it landed on one. That gave me twenty three points.

            “Alright pal, my turn.” Walden said, flying up to me.

I stepped aside and let him stand in the shooters’ spot. He picked up his dart, which was pretty big compared to him.

            “Watch’n learn.” Walden said, throwing his first dart.

It landed on the bull’s eye.

            “No way!” I shouted.

Walden smiled and nodded cockily.

            “Yes way.” He said.

He through his second dart. It landed in the outer ring surrounding the bull’s eye. He through his third dart and it hit the triple twenty mark.

            “That gives me one hundred thirty five points.” Walden boasted.

We both stepped up to get our darts. When we had them, we both stepped back to where we were shooting. I noticed that a few people looked up from their drinks to watch our game. I took aim and threw my dart. It landed on triple seventeen! That gave me fifty one points.

            “Beginner’s luck, buddy.” Walden said.

I took aim and hit the twenty mark. Seventy one points. I threw my next dart and hit just outside the outer ring of the bull’s eye! It landed on the eleven sector of the board. Eighty two points.

            “Eighty two points, Walden.” I bragged.

            “The little guy’s gonna win!” Shouted someone from across the lounge.

            “Don’t count on it!” Challenged someone else.

Walden stepped up to the shooter’s position. He took aim with his dart… And missed the board! The dart embedded itself in the wall just beneath the board. This was followed by a series of boos and cheers.

            “Just warmin’ up fellas!” Walden said with a nervous laugh.

He then threw another and it hit the black area, out of play.

            “What’s wrong here?” Walden asked himself.

Something was wrong. Unless Walden had an amazing burst of luck, something was wrong. Walden lined up his shot and threw his dart, hitting the twenty mark.

            “Twenty points.” Walden said.

I stepped up. I threw my dart. I saw that it was going to hit the twenty mark, but it somehow changed course and landed in the outer ring of the bull’s eye! I threw my next one and much the same thing happened. It landed directly in the center of the board. I threw my next one and it hit the bull’s eye as well!

            “One hundred twenty five points.” I said, still not understanding what was happening.

Walden stepped up to the shooter’s position and threw all three of his darts. They all hit the black out of play area.

            “What’s goin’ on?” Walden asked me.

I gave him a smug smile and shrugged. I didn’t know what was going on either, but I liked it. I threw all three of my darts. One landed in the center of the board, one landed in the triple twenty zone, one landed in the outer ring of the bull’s eye.

            “One hundred thirty five points.” I stated.

            “Yeah? Watch this.” Walden said confidently.

He threw one dart after another, seemingly not taking aim. All of his darts hit the outer ring of the bull’s eye.

            “Yeah! Seventy five points!” Walden said, thrusting his fists in the air.

I stepped up to the shooter’s position. I needed one hundred thirty five points to win. Getting cocky, I threw all three of my darts at once. I watched in amazement as they all nailed a target. I counted it up. It was a perfect one hundred thirty five points. One landed in the triple twenty, one landed in the bull’s eye and one landed on the outer ring of the bull’s eye. Walden stood there, his mouth agape. Several people cheered in my victory.

            “Yeah! The big guy wins!” A man shouted.

            “Good game, pal. Not sure how ya won though. I know ya can’t use magic, ya must’ve gotten real lucky.” Walden said suspiciously.

            “Hey, I don’t know either.” I told him.

            “Alright, see ya ‘round buddy.” Walden said.

He then flew off to another location in the lounge. I looked around, looking for something else to do. I caught a faint glimpse of a woman’s figure peeking out from behind a corner about ten feet to my left. The woman had witch clothes. On. They weren’t just any witch clothes. They were black with green trim. Tabatha. I met her gaze and she gave me a smirk, fully emerging from her hiding place.

            “Tabatha! Was that you?” I asked her.

Her answer came in the form of a smug smile.

            “Alright. I helped you out, now you need to help me.” She said with a mischievous grin.

I was about to object, but she did help me beat Walden and take his arrogance down a notch. I guess I owed her a small favor.

            “Fine what is it?” I asked.

Her shoulders sagged in what looked to be defeat.

            “Redmond, I’ve tried giving Don hints, but he just doesn’t get it! I need help. Please, help me out.” Tabatha said sincerely.

I nodded in understanding.

            “Okay. In my opinion, it’d be a mistake to come right out and tell him how you feel this early. Knowing him as long as I have, I know that he’d be intimidated by you. Well, he sort of already is. Anyway, just keep giving him hints, but make them a little less subtle. Not obvious, just less subtle.” I told her.

She nodded slowly then grinned.

            “Thanks, Redmond. You’re a true friend. Not only are you heling me, but you’re also doing something else.” She said.

            “What else am I doing?” I asked, cocking my head to the side.

            “By helping me get close to your best friend, you’re proving that you don’t have a crush on me.” She said with a playful smirk.

I gave her a playful shove.

            “Come on Tabatha! Give me a break.” I said.

            “Alright, alright. Thanks for the advice though, really.” She said, her rich brown eyes sparkling in the light.

I nodded.

            “Any time, Tabatha. I’m your friend, remember?” I teased.

            “I remember. Anyway, I’m going to talk to Don. Wish me luck.” She said with a confident smile.

She turned on the heel of her boot and walked towards where Don was playing cards with a young man.

            “Good luck.” I said under my breath.

I saw Tabatha talking to Don, but I was too far away and there was too much chatter in the room to make out what she was saying. Don nodded and Tabatha grabbed a chair and pulled in up next to Don. I grinned. It looked like Don was starting to warm up to her.

Author's Note

Please tell me what you think!

Reviews

[KeithKVH]

A good one to come back to. The dart game held my interest really well. One thing, it feels like when Tabatha says "Boys" it doesn't really work with the characters. I think "Men" would be better, they're young but they're already very deep in the adult world. You otherwise had an interesting development with Tabatha here, smacking the guy with a mug and helping Redmond to extort a favor.

One thing I've been thinking though with recent chapters is why they're staying, do they have to? I remember the reward was to be furnished rooms and servants there, but given the master of the house I'd make as quick an exit as possible honestly. Make up some reason they have to get back or something. I know it would defeat the storyline, but it still might warrant more explaining.

As I started to fallow the others
As I started to follow the others

Let’s start at zero and work our way too… Five hundred?
Let’s start at zero and work our way to… Five hundred?

Not only are you heling me, but you’re also doing something else.
Not only are you helping me, but you’re also doing something else.

[Ryan Henderson]

Okay, thanks for the review! I really do need to think of a reason they would stay besides the accommodations...