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Elora

The men were quiet as they walked, Duke was still carrying me. I spent most of the trip- to his home, wherever that is- fascinated with the warmth coming from him.

The sun is never out here, and it always rains with really cold wind. I've lived in my little box for... a long time, I can't remember a time when I wasn't curled up in a ball next to the building. An old woman who looked dirty stopped by me to give me an apple some days. Those were my favorite days.

But I've never been this warm, and it makes me happy.

Much happier than Dukes friends are... they look angry. Duke told me their names earlier, but they're too scary for me to talk to yet.

"How old are you, Elora?" Duke spoke as he walked, glancing down at me.

I blinked up at him, holding up four fingers, "I'm this many," I answered, but was soon distracted by my own fingers. I closed my fist and held up my fingers as I counted, "One... two... three... four," I held my hand close to his face for emphasis.

Duke smiled, "And what's your favorite color?" He asked.

My favorite color? I looked around at things as we walked, trying to pick one. The stop sign is red, the sky is black, the grass is green, and my shirt is gray. "What's yours?" I asked Duke, needing another idea.

Duke raised his eyebrows at my question, "I like happy colors, yellow, blue, pink-"

"I like pink!" I remembered. I don't get to talk a lot, and I don't know too many words, but I remember I petted a dog one time that had a pink collar and I liked that.

My attention was caught by the biggest scariest building I've ever seen. My eyes roamed the bricks and the scary gargoyles on the edges of the roof. I shrunk in Dukes arms, the large building giving me the creeps. "Scary," I mumbled.

Duke bounced me lightly, "No, no, it's not scary. It's just dark outside," he assured me in a calm tone.

I buried my head into his chest, not wanting to look at the scary castle. "This is where you live?" I asked, struggling with a few words.

I heard a door creak, and it got very quiet. I looked up, seeing a big room, with two sets of stairs on each side. Now that we're inside, the wind isn't muffling any sound. It's so quiet I can hear my own breathing.

"It's where you live now too," Duke smiled at me.

"Give the kid a bath, I'm tired of smelling her," Quin snapped, crossing his arms as he stared at me. He has black hair, it's short and tidy, and his whole face looks pointy, his face bones stick out.

Duke glared at Quin, carrying me up the steps. "Do you like bubbles? I don't have any bath toys for you, but I do have bubble bath," he walked into a large bathroom, like the ones in pictures I've seen in the newspaper.

My eyes were wide as I stared at everything. The room was practically sparkling. I use a portapotty whenever I have to go, I've never seen a bathroom like this. And the only time I got to clean myself was when the old lady took me with her to a shelter, where a lot of dirty looking people slept, ate, and showered in cool water. I only got three minutes, and it was always hard. No one helped me, and I could never figure out how to open the soap.

"I've never had bubbles," I mumbled, still entranced by the room.

Duke sat me down on the toilet, as he messed with the bath. Water started pouring out of the faucet, and I stared at it, noticing how clear it is. The water I'm used to seeing is foggy.

Duke sat on the edge of the tub, letting the water run over his hand, "You can have all the bubbles you'd like here. And tomorrow I'll take you to get clothes that fit you, and toys," he promised.

I grinned, my heart swelling at the thought of having my own toys! I see pictures of soft things all the time, but I've never had my own. "My own?" I pressed my hands against my chest, overwhelmed.

He laughed, deep and loud, "Yes, I promise none of us will want them. And we can get you your favorite foods, too."

I slid off the toilet, reaching my hand into the bath to feel the water. At the warmth I pulled my hand away with a gasp.

"Is it too hot?" Duke grabbed my hand, concern all over his face.

I shook my head, reaching into the tub again and swirling my hand around in the water. Wow. "It's not cold," I said amazed. I get warm water?

Duke sighed next to me, pouring a bottle of something into the bath. "Of course it's warm. You'll never be cold again, Elora. I promise."

I watched as the water slowly started turning into white fluffy bubbles. "Wow!" I jumped, not knowing how to control my excitement. "So pretty," I played with the bubbles, clapping my hands together and making them go everywhere.

Duke smiled, "Ready to go in?" He asked.

I nodded eagerly, wiggling out of the big dress and undies I'm wearing. Duke helped me into the tub and I shrieked in excitement, feeling so warm. It smells good too. And the bubbles are so fun!

Duke laughed, watching me play in the bubbles. I played with the bubbles, and he helped me wash my hair.

"You have hair like Rapunzel, you know that?" He said in an amused tone as he struggled to brush through the knots.

"Who?" I asked.

"She's a princess with very long hair, I think we have the book in our library. I can read it to you," he explained.

"I like stories."

I heard someone walk in and turned to see Dane, a few pieces of clothes in his hands. He looks kind, like Duke. The rest look, well, not so nice. "These should work for tonight, until you get her real clothes," he set them down on the counter.

He sat on the toilet, looking like he wanted to say something, but didn't. "Do you really think this is a good idea?" He stared at Duke.

Duke continued to brush my hair, and I played with the bubbles, watching Dane. His eyes are red, he must be tired. Whenever I'm tired, my eyes get red. "I do. I think this will be good, for all of us. And her," he said in a soft voice.

Dane took a few seconds, then nodded. "I hope you're right."

"Owie!" I yipped, feeling Duke tug too hard on my hair. That hurt. I rubbed the spot and gave him a pout, "That's not nice," I pointed a finger at him.

Duke held his hands up, "I apologize," he chuckled. "If you want to look like a princess, I have to get these tangles out," he explained, turning me around again.

I looked up at Dane, as he just looked at the two of us. I pushed my eyebrows together, wondering why he's upset. Maybe I can make him happy? I grabbed a glob of bubbles in my hand and held it out to him, "I have bubbles," I said shyly.

He looked amused, a small smile finally breaking on his lips. "I can see that."

I smiled, grabbing more, "Here, it'll make you happy," I tried to give him the bubbles.

He looked surprised, "I am happy," he lightly grabbed my wrists and placed them back in the tub. I continued playing with the bubbles. "Thank you, though."

I yawned, "My eyes are red when I'm tired, too."

Duke and Dane both laughed, and I heard someone else laugh downstairs.

Dane stood up, "This is going to be an interesting few years," he laughed, walking out the door.