There was no hint of the sun's last rays as Elora weaved through crowds of people, following Kiaro around the city. Finally, the boy stopped in front of a tall brick building in the quieter part of the city with many lanterns around it's door. With a porch and an overhanging roof above it's door, it seemed rather home-like. It was only two or three floors tall, but compared to the buildings next to it, it seemed enormous. The entire front wall was covered in glass windows, showing a view of a cozy-looking place. The room was dimly lit by lanterns that glowed orange. There were neat rows of wooden tables that indicated the building was a restaurant. Chairs made of darker wood were flipped over and stacked on top. A woman was sweeping, turned away from the glass door.

Kiaro watched her with an unfathomable expression as she studied the building.

She knew this would only amuse the boy, but she couldn't help asking, "So, what is this place? Do you know that woman?"

The boy didn't answer at first. "Read the sign," he said. Elora looked up. Hanging rather perilously on the overhanging roof read a wooden board with symbols Elora didn't understand.

She paused, trying to discern the strange letters. "Is that Greek?"

"Greek?"

"Latin?" she offered.

"What?"

"How about Egyptian?" she asked, remembering the question she'd asked when she'd first heard his name not more than a few hours ago.

"Luv, where are you from?" he asked, staring at her like she was a four-headed creature with a hot pink scarf on. Elora paused, amused at the thought.

"I'm just, you know, from . . . around here."

"No," he said bluntly, laughing. "No, you're not."

He pushed open the door, and Elora followed. A gentle ring of a bell indicated their arrival, causing the woman with the broom to turn.

Her black hair was up in a tight, messy bun, little strands escaping to bother her. Her eyes were a dark brown and her skin the color of rich dark chocolate. She wore a clean apron with flowers across it, brushing something off it as she opened her mouth to speak.

"We're close —" she started before stopping, a broad, joyous grin across her face. "Kiaro! You're finally back!"

"Donila," Kiaro said. He smiled as the tall woman embraced him. Unsure of what to do, Elora hung back, hand still on the door handle. The woman seemed kind, and didn't rub her the wrong way, unlike many others, but the sooner Elora woke up from this crazy little dream, the better.

"This is Elora," Kiaro said. The way he said her name filled Elora with a strange feeling she couldn't quite describe. She liked the way his accent changed it.

"Elora?" Donila repeated. She studied her.

Elora smiled nervously, tucking her hair behind her ear before giving a small wave. "Uh, hi. I'm — yeah, I'm Elora."

Donila nodded. "I like you."

Kiaro laughed. "She needs a place to sleep tonight."

"I do?" asked Elora.

"She does?" Donila said. "Well, you have two beds in your room and your sister is out with her friends for the night. She can stay in there."

"I can?"

Kiaro lead her past the rows of tables. "Thank you," he called over his shoulder.

Beyond the tables was a long black counter that started from one wall and ended a few feet short of the other. It was dirty, covered in spills and crumbs, as was the floor.

"Watch your step," Kiaro said kindly, though it didn't do much to help.

Behind the counter was a closed door. When the boy in front of her opened it, Elora saw a short hallway with wooden walls lit only by the glow of two of those odd, colorful lanterns. There was another door to the right and a staircase in front, spiraling upwards.

"Where are we going?" Elora asked. "How tall is that staircase anyway? Where does that door go? And you have a sister? Is she older or younger than you?"

"We're going to my room," Kiaro said, replying only to her first question as if he were already used to it. She supposed she had been asking him questions all day.

"So you and your sister share the room?"

"Indeed," Kiaro replied. Elora must have looked at him strangely because he asked, "What?"

"Nothing." Elora said, quickly following him up the narrow staircase. It was also made of wood, she noticed.

Not too big on saving trees, now, are you? she thought.

Her legs aching and burning with questions, Elora continued to climb until the stairs brought them to another door. Kiaro opened it, allowing her to go first.

Elora stepped past him into the room beyond.

"Woah," she said. It was, after all, the only word that came to mind.

The room was the size of an average bedroom, with a dark curtain lifted aside to let the dim light of the city filter through the glass door which led to a balcony outside. As she took another step, the dark wood beneath her boots creaked softly. There were two beds, one next to the opposite wall and one next to the door. The lanterns hanging on the walls were unlit, but they didn't need to be.

Littered in the air in front of her, were small shining orbs. Each one seemed to be made of glass or something of the sort, the size of marbles. Floating at various heights, the highest being the ceiling and the lowest being above Elora's knees, they glowed different colors. Some were purple, some turquoise, some orange, but there was not one color missing. And they were completely spread out in front of her.

Staring in wonder and awe, Elora wandered forward, turning to take in the lights.

Until she noticed Kiaro watching with an inquisitive expression.

"Have you ever seen one before?" he asked, placing his lute gently on the bed beside the door. "They're very common around here."

"They are?" Elora said, though considering she'd seen Ekodurs, a castle, and not to mention an entire kingdom, she wasn't very surprised.

Kiaro didn't answer right away. "You know, luv, you never really answered where you were from."

"Yup," Elora responded absentmindedly, her eyes still drawn to every orb. "So what are these?"

"Roshlurres. We usually call them lurres. It's much like firelight, but they're much brighter and they're harmless. It comes from an Ekodur's tail and we use them in our lanterns. Luv —?"

When he didn't continue, Elora looked at him expectantly, but he just shook his head.

"Well," Elora declared confidently, "this place is one of the most amazing places I've ever been to. And so is this room."

Kiaro looked up at her in surprise, his eyes lit up by the many lurres surrounding him, making his gaze look darker under the shadows "Really?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"I don't know, I just thought that . . . you know, I thought you came from a much . . . fancier place. And you lived in a much bigger home."

So maybe that was true. This was a very small room. But small didn't mean bad.

"What makes you think that?"

The boy in front of her motioned to her. All of her. "The way you're dressed. The way you speak. The way you act."

"So everything about me? Is that bad? Is it because of my questions? I don't ask that many, do I? Is it super annoying? Should I shut up? A lot of people tell me that — I can if you want me to."

Kiaro laughed, and this time, it was different. It sounded less restricted, less . . . shy. "No, don't shut up. I mean, you can if you want, but I'm not saying —" he paused. "What I mean is, you act differently than most of us."

"I — I don't really know how to take that."

"You don't have to — I mean, it isn't a horrible thing. I just thought —"

"Enough with the thinking!" Elora announced pretentiously. "This place is amazing, so deal with it."

"You like it?" he asked rather hopefully.

"I've said that twice now," she said, dramatically bored.

Kiaro laughed, but the subtle shyness had returned. He sat on the bed, lifting his lute back up. "Try the balcony. It's a good view."

He turned away, focused on his lute. His head was down, letting some of his dark curls fall forward. After a moment, he began playing a quiet, gentle tune. Elora couldn't tell what, but something tugged inside her as a shiver ran down her spine. The music was beautiful, and that was it. That was all that remained on her mind as she tilted her head and listened. That was all that mattered,

She could hear Kiaro murmuring a song under his breath, a bittersweet melody. She couldn't comprehend the words, but she didn't need to. She could feel it, the way one could understand what another is feeling only through their eyes. As if it should've and probably was hard, but it still made sense. The sensation that came over her wasn't just the feeling she got when one heard music. She heard love woven through the tune, happiness settling atop the words, and a slight sadness lacing the boy's voice.

It was magic, that moment. With the soft lights from the lurres shining gentle spotlights like stars and surrounding Kiaro to make him as lit up as the moon, his song was entrancing.

Without thinking, without pausing to wonder what she was doing, Elora didn't turn to look out the balcony. She didn't leave Kiaro to his timid singing and ignore the temptation to urge him to sing louder. Instead, she pulled closer, her eyes never leaving him as she sat beside him on the bed.

Kiaro practically yelped, leaping back on the bed.

Elora stared at him. She couldn't wipe off the smirk that was growing on her, though.

"Hi," she whispered, giving a playful little wave.

"Good grief, luv, you scared me half to death!" he exclaimed in a high-pitched tone, his voice slipping in and out of a voice crack. "Oh, wipe that grin off your face!"

Elora cracked up, laughing hard. "I can't! That expression was just priceless!"

The boy beside her blushed, very visibly with the lurres surrounding him. He ducked his head, setting his lute aside. "I thought you'd gone outside."

She didn't pretend not to notice the change in subject. "But you were singing. Beautifully, I might add."

"I was not singing, luv, I was —"

"Singing. You were singing. Don't pretend you weren't."

Kiaro sighed and shrugged.

"And I want to hear you," she insisted, "Keep singing."

He shook his head. "Or I could, er, show you the view."

Elora stared at him. As sweet as he was, she could tell he was also rather obstinate. He would never agree. Clearly, he didn't think anyone would ever overhear him sing.

"Fine." But she wasn't about to forget it. Kiaro stood, offering a hand to her. She took it, letting him tug her to the balcony.

The balcony itself was made of marble, unlike every other part of the building. It was a wide semicircle with intricately designed railings.

Elora leaned over it.

She was probably dream with a very vivid imagination, and probably hit her head or wake up at home to find her alarm clock ringing, but by no means did that stop her from enjoying what she could. Just because she was going crazy, she reasoned, didn't mean she couldn't enjoy it from time to time.

Don't drive yourself to insanity, she reminded herself as she peered over the edge of the balcony. Spread out around her was the layout of New York City, but it was as if she were in a parallel universe. The city cleaner, more colorful, and somehow brighter.

Each lantern could be seen from miles away, shining brighter than the stars. Not only that, the spiraling building towered over her like vast, beautiful giants. Like the lurres, they shone several colors. Down below, the city lived on.

She could still hear that music that she'd heard when she first arrived, though it had faded into the background. Just past a few buildings, she saw an enormous market square, big enough to hold thousands of people. Merchants were selling products from small stands or shops. There was no litter anywhere, and trees grew freely among the square. Citizens were dancing to the music in circles and spinning around, perhaps celebrating something, moving as if it were the last, yet the happiest day of their life. They were even dressed in fancy clothes, like that girl Elora had seen back home in the woods. More lanterns lit the place up, some hanging from tall poles like lampposts and others were handheld, swinging around and cozily lighting the square up like a fireplace in a dark room.

"Convenient," Elora said absentmindedly. "You use the lurres in the lanterns so nothing can really catch on fire, and it looks a lot cooler than a candle."

"Sure," said Kiaro, his gaze fixed upon the dancing citizens.

"Looks like they're celebrating something."

Kiaro nodded, his eyebrows pressing together. "That's strange. There's no holiday today. No one celebrates without a holiday."

"Maybe they just decided to party," Elora replied. Why was Kiaro so worried about all those people? They were happy. She was pretty sure that was a good thing anywhere.

"They don't do that, luv. They can't. This world isn't as beautiful as it seems. It's dangerous."

Beauty is dangerous.

"It's shattered," he said.

No matter how shattered something seems . . .

"It's lost."

Just broken.

"We've destroyed it."

It isn't lost.

"After our Queen left — luv?"

My Queen.

Beauty is dangerous.

No matter how shattered something seems —

Beauty is dangerous.

You, my queen, can put it back together.

Do you belong here?

Snap out of it! Elora thought harshly. Her vision grew blurry, her eyes burning. Her legs felt weaker. She could hear Kiaro talking to her vaguely, but his voice faded like the music into the background, along with the lights and the citizens.

It isn't lost, just broken.

Her breathing came ragged. Just calm down, she commanded.

But she couldn't. Voices rang in her mind, bouncing back and forth, confusing her. Her head pounded. She couldn't take it. She was too empty. She couldn't take any of it.

Trying to destroy her. They were trying to destroy her. Trying to hurt her, to take over and push her away.

"Elora!" she heard Kiaro shout, but she couldn't listen. She didn't know what was real or unreal. She couldn't tell what was what. She couldn't think.

So she let her mind go blank. Finally, the headache faded. She closed her eyes.

Maybe, just maybe, you won't have to die.

Yippee! How'd y'all like it? None of you guys are commenting so far so I feel like it can be changed for the better. CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED PEOPLE. Tell me, what can I change?

Also, don't forget to vote on this chapter if you guys liked it! :)