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Chapter Five
Once more through the Looking Glass
Wherein the rescue mission really starts
Stepping through the mirror again into the Beanstalk Forest Sydney glanced quickly around to make sure they were alone. Then she pounced on Julian. Ever since she first saw him in those clothes, especially the pants and boots she had wanted to gobble him up. Grabbing the handy pack straps that were over his shoulders she yanked him into her crushing their mouths together. Now that she had him she let go of one strap to trail her hand down his chest, down…
“Sydney!” he gasped, pulling back slightly. “Not that I mind you understand, but you did remember that your associate can still see us right?”
Hastily she shoved him away and snatched her hands back. Adjusting her corset she shot a chagrined look at the shimmering air and where Eric in the apartment would be watching them. Clearing her throat she adjusted her pack, “Well shall we be going?”
“After you luv,” he grinned widely at her.
She ‘harrumphed’ and red-faced started walking. Julian walked behind her and when she first looked back she noticed him checking the compass on his watch. When she looked back again he was frowned at her back.
“What?”
He walked up beside her, “I’m aware that the cloaks are necessary, for warmth, but it’s blocking my view.”
“Your view?” puzzled she glanced over her shoulder, then lightly smacked him on the shoulder when she realized what he meant.
He feigned a hurt expression, “What? You were certainly appreciative of my trousers. I just wanted to return the compliment.”
She opted not to say anything less she be tempted to show her ‘appreciation’ again. She needed to focus on saving her father and Marshall, not the way the pants snuggly fit Julian and that it was too bad the shirt was as long as it was covering... She jerked, her father, Marshall, save them, don’t jump Julian. She shot him a sideways glance, at least not right now.
She didn’t want to sound like a fool, but since he had the annoying, but still somehow attractive, ability to make anything she said sound foolish she asked the question that had been bothering her since they started walking, “Where are we going?”
“To rescue your father and Marshall,” he raised an eyebrow.
She rolled her eyes, “Yes, thank you. Why are we walking in this particular direction?”
“You’re the one who was leading,” he snarkily pointed out.
She stopped and crossed her arms, raising a pointed eyebrow.
He stopped as well, “We’re presuming the trolls took them and if you remember the map,” she nodded, “Then I would presume that they would take them to the castle indicated there.” He glanced at his watch/compass, “I belief the magnetic poles here are similar to our world and I know it’s a little vague, but if we head north we should come across the castle from the map.”
She nodded again, really thinking of the enormity of their ‘quest’. Her father could be anywhere by now and they couldn’t search the whole world, just her and Julian, no planes, no cars, no phones, hardly a luxury to be had.
Julian wrapped his arms awkwardly around her, avoiding the backpacks, and spoke into her hair, “I’m confident we’ll find your father Sydney. Mr. Flinkman too.”
She held on to the shoulder straps of his pack and pressed her face against his shoulder, taking a deep breath and a quick sniff, “We’re not going to find them standing here.”
He stepped back with a smile, “Indeed. Unless,” he looked around exaggeratedly, “no I don’t see them.”
She smiled at his attempt at humor, “Let’s go.” She checked his compass and headed north.
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