Castle of Illusions Chp 5

Castle of Illusions Chp 5

Chapter Five: James and Crystal

The two kids that walked into the castle grounds, were around the ages of twelve and thirteen. The girl being the oldest, and the guy being the youngest. The girl was certainly from a Private School, for she wore the black and blue uniform that represented her place. She stood five foot seven, her hair was slack, the colour a golden blonde which shimmered when light hit it. Her eyes an icy blue, and her skin a fair pale which gave off the look of a fine make up. She wore a dark blue vest, and a red tye that stood out from her chest. Her bossoms were big for her age, making visible curves where her chest was. The skirt was a dark black, the fabric folded in waves. The skirt met her knees, revealing the soft, smooth skin of her legs.

The boy, was shorter than her. Standing at five feet tall, he always had to look up in order to meet her eyes. His hair was unkept, a colour of dark, shaggy brown. His eyes were a deep auburn, a rare colour, this giving him a special feature in society. Unlike the girl, he was fairly tanned, his skin a golden brown. This made him look a bit out of place, what with his eyes being an abnormal colour for one. The clothes that he bore where that of a casual dresser. A black sweater with a hoody attached, and blue jeans that were torn at the knees.

"Hey, Crystal where do you think we are?" The girl looked down at the boy, her lips pinched together after rubbing some lip balm on. "Well kiddo, I'd say we are..." She took a moment to look at the surroundings, her eyes quickly shifting from left to right, and her mind deciphering what her eyes would see. "Well we aren't on the highway that's for sure. I'd say we are in a park, you know, like the ones in New York."

The boy raised a brow in confusion, looking back and forth from Crystal and what lay out front. "But...It's a swamp..." He looked out front again, and pointed towards something with a shaky hand "See the bubbles that come up from what looks like water? That is gas." Crystal looked in confusion, only seeing a park bench in which the birds made their perch. "I think you need specs kiddo, because this isn't a swamp; far from one." He looked up at her with embarassment and a feeling of being offended "Name isn't kiddo by the way. It's James."

Crystal looked down at James with a smug look, than took her eyes off of him "Doesn't really matter who you are, but what you are in society." James looked down at the ground, staring at the tips of his toes.

Crystal scanned the grounds outfront, and noticed something very queer. There was an old man sitting on an old oak bench feeding Pigeons. He wore a smokey bowler hat, and his coat plastered itself onto his back as he leaned over to toss out the bread crumbs. Tugging James, Crystal continued to look at the old man with awe.

James took his eyes from the ground, and towards Crystal who was tugging at the sleeve of his sweater. Knowing that only she was frantic, James tore his arm away from her feirce grasp. "What is the matter with you? You punctured the skin."

When her grasp was released, she gazed down at his arms, and noticed nail marks embedded in his fine, white skin. Blood dribbled from the engravements. "Ah, sorry their chum. Didn't mean to, I was excited, you know." Her hand went down to her purse, which was only the size of a pencil case, only with a strap attached. "Here." Taking out some tissue paper, Crystal handed it over to James "Dab this over your wounds. It won't stop the bleeding but it will slow it down..."

James didn't seem to be paying any attention to her, his gaze was fixed upon an old man on a Swamp Boat. This strange old man was sloutched over, his eyes seemed to be fixed upon his feet. He held his hands together, as though he were in the middle of a prayer. A straw hat perched ontop of his wrinkled, and blotched skin. Than he shifted an eye, fixing his gaze upon the curiosity of James. A toothy grin touched his aged face.

"He sees me..."

Crystal looked down at James, brushed her fingers through her hair, and shifted her attention to the old man. "He sees you?" She too saw that the old man was staring towards them. But a deep and disturbing feeling told her different.

James nodded without taking his eyes away. "He sees me Crystal..."

The old man stood up, and threw a leg over the ledge of the boat. "Hello there James Duberry."

James dropped his mouth open, dumbstruck as to the mans greeting. "How did you know..."

He chuckled softly, waving his hand in the air as to say "Stop." "I know alot about you, James Duberry. More than you think." He was now approaching James with long strides, his hand held out front.

Taking his hand into his, James accepted this kind, but also very upsetting greeting.

Mr.Keener smiled softly, still holding onto Jame's hand firmly, he looked deeply into his (soul) eyes. "Don't be struck by my appearance young, James Duberry. I bring you no harm, only peace." "Let me start by introducing myself properly. My name is Mr.Keener, owner of this land you stand upon."

His gaze still fixed upon Mr.Keener's, James was struck with an itch. "Are there...Gators Mr.Keener?"

Crystal shot a look at James, which exclaimed confusion. Opening her mouth slowly to state "There are no Gators James. We are standing in New York's Centeral Park." But she was stopped by the trancing gaze of Mr.Keener as he spoke softly.

"No James, there are no Gators in this part I am afraid. But there are a many number of other things that lurk in these parts. I will sure tell you that."

His look was startling, and also cheerful. He gave the impression of an old man whose killed many, but also helped just as much. "Mr.Keener...What kind of things, pray tell."

This was the one thing he was waiting to be asked, and this brought that toothy smile to his slack face. "Let me start with this, my dear Crystal Steward."

"How did you know my name? I didn't even mention it..."

The smile disappeared, and was replaced with emptiness. "I know much about you, Crystal Steward, much more than you know..."

His smile returned, but it returned with the presence of (evil) change in the atmospehere. "Come now, let us walk towards my home. Along the way I shall answer your many questions you might have for me. For I am an open book, and I desire reading." He let out a chuckle, keeping his eyes on Crystal's "If you know what I mean."

Taking off, he left Crystal behind in awe and wonder. She still looked at the empty spot where Mr.Keener once stood. "Did you see those Gorgeous Baby Blue eyes James?"

James looked at Crystal with curiosity, knowing that Mr.Keener's eyes weren't Baby Blue but they were "Blood Red...They were Blood Red Crystal, not Baby Blue."