Experiment Zero

34. Interruptions and Staring Contests

I take a dizzying step towards Lager, who seems almost surprised that I'm choosing him. I take another step, my headache seeming to fade with each step I take away from Zero.

That's weird, I think to myself, but before I can put any more thought into it, Lager is there, striding towards me. I take in the wings behind him and the railing, before throwing my hands out in front of me.

"Now way, buddy." I say, as Lager pauses in confusion. "I know how this thing works. You're going to scoop me up into your arms and fly us off and I'm going to scream and shriek before realizing how beautiful the sky looks and finally it'll end with a heated gaze as we soar through the sky."

"What in the name of Dalton are you talking about?" Lager says, seeming flabbergasted, while Zero lets out a warning growl.

"You are not going to fly me around on this "tour" we are going on." I say, my cheeks turning a little red as I realized I may have gone into slightly too much detail. I'll blame it on the endless romance books I indulged in when bored and working as a secretary.

"While that is an option, I'm afraid it's not what I had planned to do." Lager smirks, the gold in his eyes sparkling in the fading Sun.

"Then what did you plan to do?" I asked, ignoring the pang of annoyance I felt because I wasn't right.

"This." He says, lunging forward and grabbing my hand.

Zero snarls, lunging forward with ferocity in his eyes, but Lager towels me into his chest, wrapping both arms around my torso as we melt into shadow.

All I can see is darkness.

I don't know where I am, it's pitch black.

The atmosphere is tight, almost airless, and it feels like I've lost access to  all my senses, except for touch, because I can still very much feel Lager's warm body pressed to mine, his arms holding me tightly. He is so dead once we are out of whatever this is.

A few more seconds of total black, and a dizzy sensation, one I get from the feeling as if we are flying, and then the darkness seems to bleed away to reveal color.

The arms unwrap from around me and I stumble forward, very distorted and feeling like my stomach is in my feet.

I whirl around, but regret it when that just makes me even more dizzy. A dark figure stands in front of me, and the shape of it looks very familiar.

End?

But then my eyes decide that moment to focus and I realize it wasn't End but Lager. Darn, I was kinda hoping to see End.

"What was that?!?" I yell, glaring at Lager, who's watching me with a neutral expression. 

"Shadow traveling. It's only a method I can use in case you were wondering."

I sputter, wondering if I should pursue the subject and yell at him some more, but then I notice the setting we are in.

The sun has officially disappeared, , leaving only the stars and moon to give us a soft, gentle light. Tree branches shelter us above and tree trunks are lined in neat rows.

"Highclere's orchard." Lager speaks close behind me, making me jump.

"Well even I could've guessed that." I say, turning around in a full circle to take in the rows upon rows of trees.

"Come." He says, turning on his heel and making his cape whoosh behind him. I debate whether I should tell him I'm not a dog, but decide against it because one, I'm being way too snappy right now, and two, he's the Darklig High Commander. There's no way I want to be on his bad list.