Page 33 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

After finding a brush near the sink, I take my time untangling the many knots before leaving it down to dry in its usual wavy curls.

Moving back into the room, I head for the closet to hunt down a pair of flat shoes and throw on the first pair I find. Only to realize that they’re a perfect fit.

Just like the clothes…

My stomach grumbles, reminding me I haven’t eaten anything in a while and I drop the mystery of the perfect sized clothes and shoes for now.

I turn and frown over at the door wondering how long it will take me this time to get through the maze of halls to find something to eat.

Begrudgingly, I get moving down the hallways and take a few estimated guess turns based on yesterday’s exploring and hope for the best.

But by some streak of luck, it doesn’t take me that long to find downstairs.

A couple of misguided turns have me lose my way for a moment but after that I end up just outside an arched doorway and what smells like a kitchen.

Smiling to myself, I step inside and scan the room for something to eat. But that smile quickly drops when I spot the small machines on every surface and countertop with no sign of food in sight.

But I can stillsmellthe food. So, I know it must be in here somewhere.

I move forward and begin opening draws and cupboards. Some reveal more machinery while others store cups and plates.

A bag of brown powder sits in the next cupboard, I pull it down and the smell drifts around me, making my stomach growl again.

This has to be some sort of food from this Realm.But do I just eat it as it is?

I dip a finger in it to taste it, wincing when the grainy texture makes me want to gag. I move to place it back in the cupboard when its intoxicating scent makes me pause.

Maybe I just have to mix it with something. It can’t smell that good andnotbe edible.

I glance around at all the small machines on the counter and try to figure out if it will go into one of them and magically appear as something tasty. Tinkering around with the small black one beside me, I add the brown powder into the small container and press some buttons when the machine revolts and attacks me, spitting the brown powder all over my white top.

Sighing, I swipe the brown powder off as much of the top as I can, but most of it clings to it, instantly staining it.

I wince and then glare at the machine for ruining it. And wonder how it would feel if I were to throw it on the ground, smashing it into tiny pieces.

I’m debating doing just that when Hook walks into the kitchen. He takes one look at me and immediately starts laughing.

I narrow my eyes at him, too tired and hungry to find humor in this moment.

He chuckles, wiping a hand across his mouth but unfortunately not wiping away the smirk that now seems to be a permanent fixture on his face.

“Why is there coffee all over you?” His eyes dip to my ruined top.

I frown, glancing down at the brown powdery substance now in splotches and streaks down the white top.

“That’s what this stuff is called? It smelled nice but it didn’t taste as good as it smelled—”

Hook chokes on another laugh. “You… Youtastedit? Like that?”

I wince as heat rises to my cheeks. “Is it not…edible?”

“Not like that.” He laughs again when my stomach rumbles loudly, only making my embarrassment grow.

He obviously hears it too. But instead of making fun of me, he clears his throat and steps up beside me. It’s only then that I notice what he’s wearing and how tight his top is. It clings to every hard muscle and is drenched in sweat as if he’s just been fighting or training.

His scent hits me as he starts cleaning the brown powder off the table, and I have to remind myself that not everything in the Realm tastes as good as it smells.

No matterhowgood it smells.

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