"Tell me your decision by the end of the night and I will have a car pick you and your things up." Cypher smiled, looking from Eloise to Beck and back again before bowing lightly and walking off to mingle with a few friends.
Before my Time Runs Out (O/O fantasy romance)
“Holy shit!” Beck exclaimed, turning to Eloise. “What just happened?”
“Well, apparently—“ she began but was interrupted by Ladonia.
“Pack your bags, you’re no longer going to be working for me. You both belong to King Cypher now.”
Eloise felt like ants were crawling all over her skin at those words, but she forced a smile. “So, do you want to go pack? Oh, or, King Cypher offered for us to stay at a hotel!” she added.
(Yeesh, that makes Cypher sound like some sort of weirdo without context)
Cypher kept his ears trained onto the three figures behind him and smiled at the dignitary infront of him, nodding where he thought was right and laughing at appropriate moments.
(lol it totally does)
“So?” Eloise asked when Beck didn’t respond. Ladonia had wandered off in search of food, though she was never out of their sight.
“Does this seem a little weird to you?” Beck said, narrowing his eyes. “It’s so random. Everyone supposedly hates shifters or whatever, and now here out of the blue one of the highest ranking people here suddenly takes an interest in us?”
“When you put it like that, it does seem sketchy…” she agreed.
The dignitary wandered off to find a dance partner and Cypher.was left alone. He checked the time, 11:42 pm. He made his way back to the two workers, whispering together and stopped a good distance away from them. "So? Have you made up your mind?"
The two of them made eye contact, trying to have a conversation without actually speaking before agreeing. It was either lose the few belongings they had or spend another night with Ladonia (and Gale, who was super annoying).
“We’ll stay with you,” Beck replied, his arms still folded across his chest.
"Good choice. If you have anything to bring, you are welcome to grab it before we leave, although I suggest we leave quick, when the witching hours strikes, the hotel closes it door for the night." He said glancing at the time again, 11:46pm.
Beck thought for a moment. “I’m fine. Everything I actually care about is with me right now,” he said, digging his hands into his pockets. He cast a quick smile at Eloise, and she wondered if the comment wasn’t just about his trinkets.
“Me too,” Eloise agreed with a nod. “Let’s go.”
Cypher nodded and gestured to the door. "I already alerted the driver to wait for us and so we can go." He stated, walking out the door and opening the car door.
Once everyone was seated and the car started moving, Cypher studied his two new shifters with a curious gaze, what sort of relationship did they have?
Eloise shifted uncomfortably under Cypher’s gaze, unused to the attention. Beck, however, pretended not to notice. “Wow, this car is fancy,” he remarked, studying it in awe.
“Yeah, it’s really nice,” Eloise agreed softly. She smiled at Beck.
Cypher smiled at their awe and gestured around the small enclosure. "You are welcome to use it if you want to go somewhere. You are not being taken away as slaves, but as workers who can choose a certain job to apprentice in. You will be paid for your work, an amount can be discussed later, when you have settled I to your respective rooms."
Both of their eyebrows’ shot up. “Apprentices? Is this a dream or something?” Beck asked, eyes shining.
“Why did you suddenly decide that this was a good idea anyway?” Eloise added, looking at Cypher almost skeptically. “It’s not exactly common for someone of your standing to do this for us.”
“Shh, don’t remind him,” Beck whispered to her, looking almost comically worried. Eloise glanced at him and chuckled.
Cypher chuckled nervously and pointed out the window, changing the subject. "Look, we arrived at the hotel. the gateway will close in just a couple minutes. you will feel an odd sensation passing through your body, but that is only Fae magic examining you to make sure you are no threat." he explained
Eloise wasn’t fooled, but Beck grinned. “Wow, cool!” Beck gasped. Eloise rolled her eyes before glancing to Cypher nervously, hoping that her blatant skepticism wasn’t going to get her in trouble.
“So do we get out now?” she asked.
Cypher nodded as the car rolled around to the hotel entrance. The hotel was, as suspected, a fairly high end hotel with a beautiful entrance and classical music playing in the lobby. "Top floor, head in up there, I'm just going to register you in before coming up myself."
"Top floor? This really is fancy," Eloise muttered to herself before glancing at Cypher with a nod. "Okay," she replied, more loudly. She and Beck got out and went up to the top floor. Beck was clearly excited, while Eloise was more reserved.
Cypher watched as the two went up to the penthouse floor and walked to the registration table. "I have two more guests staying with me, I hope there is no issue?" He asked, eyes glinting dangerously. The receptionist nodded hurriedly and entered in the information.
Beck and Eloise waited for Cypher on the top floor. Beck flitted about excitedly while Eloise chewed her lip, uncertain. Beck turned to her with a grin. “Things are finally looking up for us, little rabbit,” he said, using the nickname he knew she hated. Eloise rolled her eyes.
“I suppose so, kitty,” she teased. Beck took her hands earnestly, looking her in the eyes.
“This is going to be great for us, okay?” he insisted.
“Okay.”
Cypher headed up the elevator, coming to a stop in the grand living room space. He stepped out of the elevator and saw that the two shifters were sitting on the sofa looking around. The following three rooms are empty. You may choose whatever one you want." He said, gesturing to three rooms on either side if his own. "This is my room. If at any point you need me during the next two days we will stay here, dont hesitate to come in. Do either of you have a phone?" He asked
(Should we skip ti morning?)
"No, neither of us have one," Eloise answered, a bit embarrassed. She was only a shifter; there was no reason for Ladonia to waste her money on getting her and Beck phones. Besides, Ladonia probably didn't want Eloise to have one anyway…
(sure)
"Well, it's late and I don't want to be tired tomorrow morning. We'll go and purchase anyting that you may need for your time working for me. I'll buy a phone for both of you and you are to use it whenever you go out." Cypress spoke yawning. " I'll be heading to bed right now, so if you need me I'll be awake for the next half hour. In your respective rooms there will be a complimentary outfit for both male and female so you are welcome to take a shower and get comfortable."
Eloise awoke the next morning slowly, peeling her eyes open with difficulty. She glanced at her surroundings, confused. Where was she? For a moment, everything seemed like a dream.
Then the memories of the previous night seeped into her consciousness. Oh, right. The fae king had brought her and Beck here. Cypher, she believed his name was. She wouldn’t have to live with Ladonia any longer.
She smiled as she got out of bed and washed her face. She glanced at the mirror with a sigh before looking in the closet. She might as well get dressed. She wondered if Beck would even wear the clothes offered to him. Probably not.
Cypher woke up and used the provided phone to order a breakfast buffet for all 7 people living in the large space. He decided to freshen up before the food arrived and went to take a shower.
Not even 20 minutes later, he came out, drying his hair with a towel. He selected a simple outfit for the day, a pair of black pants which were enchanted to have swirling patterns, a simple grey shirt with a collar and a loose tie for decor, a pair of black sneakers and sunglasses for later in the day when they head out.
Cypher heard a knock on the door and went to greet the hotel staff but to his surprise it wasnt a bunch of magical creatures in white uniform coming inside with trays, it was an older male wearing a sharp black suit and looking fairly angry. "Prince Cypher what is the meaning of this? I heard you purchased not one but two new slaves for the kingdom? With who's authority did make that decision?" He said, raising his voice with each word until he ended up yelling at the boy. "I'll remind you Councillor Reneè, I am king and I do not need any higher authority to judge why and when I purchase something. You may be my uncle but I expect the same amount of respect from you as I would from any other person." Cypher said using some of his abilities to expel some power. "As for you concern, I recently bought two new workers not slaves. I took a liking to them and would like to train them as apprentices. The reason why is of no matter to you."
Just as Cypher finished his sentence, a knock came on the door and a timid voice spoke upon a shaky voice. "Y-your highness? We've c-come with b-breakfast." Cypher stared at his uncle, curling his lip. "If you excuse me, my breakfast gas arrived, so please leave." He said, opening the door to allow the uniformed workers in.
Meanwhile, Eloise was humming to herself as she heard a knock at her door. She answered it, curious, to see Beck grinning on the other side. “Morning, bunny!” he exclaimed, walking right in. Eloise rolled her eyes.
“Good morning, you silly cat,” she responded with a smirk. All four of Ladonia’s shifters had joked around and referred to each other by their animals, except Honey, who detested being called “dog breath” on a regular basis.
Eloise shut the door behind Beck and the two of them sat on the edge of her bed. Eloise had always thought of Beck as being like a brother to her.
Councillor Reneè let out a 'humph' and walked out angrily. Cyoher had the workers set the table before dismissing them with a tip. He ran a hand through his messy damp hair and knocked on the closed doors of his workers and guards rooms. "Breakfast has arrived, if you are awake please join me." He said after knocking on each door.
Eloise and Beck glanced at each other, raising their eyebrows. “Should we?” Eloise asked nervously.
“Let’s,” Beck answered, taking her hand. She smiled and the two of them walked out of her room and into the hall.
Cypher was already spreading a peice if toast with some apple jam when Eloise and Beck along with Johnathan, his best friend and highest ranking guard, and Elly, his sister. "Hurry up, we all are going shopping after this!" He called, taking a bite of his bread.
(ack sorry i thought i responded to this already)
“Shopping? Why?” Eloise asked, raising her eyebrows with genuine curiosity. She’d only ever gone shopping for Ladonia before, and it hadn’t been very fun.
“All of us?” added Beck, glancing around at the food hungrily.
"Yes, the five of us at the table. Elly will help you, Eloise choose clothes and other necessary items. Johnathan will help you Beck and I'll pay for stuff while looking for something if my own." Cypher said, taking a bite of his toast.
Elly watched the two new people at the table interact with her brother and frowned. She grabbed some breakfast meats as well as eggs and some juice. She looked at Johnathan and the pair shared a look before eating.
Eloise glanced around at the two people in the room who she didn't know, sitting down. Beck sat beside her, instantly loading up his plate full of food. Eloise was slightly more picky, and more wary of the meat. Maybe it had to do with her original form being a rabbit, but Eloise was vegetarian. She pretended that she was invisible as she began to eat nervously. Beck gave her a comforting glance when he looked up from his food.
"So we get to choose our own clothes, then?" Beck asked, glancing at Cypher. "Like, whatever we want?"