Shock wound its way through her, like she was taken out of her body for a moment. She’d come to believe that he really did create this space, all the rooms–both intelligible and uncanny–but another living person?
“Yes. After surviving in le Voile for so long on his own, I assume he wanted company.”
Rul said it so casually, like it was the most normal thing in the universe. And she supposed if it was really true, then itwasnormal for him. His reality.
When he noticed her strange expression, he chuckled.
“Don’t look so horrified. I was an adult when I wasborn, so to speak. He’s not my parent.”
“He’s your creator. Your God.”
Rul laughed, nudging her with his shoulder.
“He likes to think so. He loves when Iworship him on my knees.”
She ignored the lascivious tone, the naughty smile on his face, gazing out into the water and trying to control her racing heart.
“You’re the only one he created?” she asked.
“There are the servants, though I’m sure you’ve noticed they’re not particularly… intelligent. I am more than enough for him, though, of course, we enjoy our sweet companions like you.”
He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her so her head lay on his shoulder.
“It’s really not so strange,” he said quietly.
“How is this anythingbutstrange?”
Rul kissed the top of her head.
“Strange is what we make it, sweetheart. This is my existence, as it always will be. Now, before you let the mysteries of the cosmos worry that little mind of yours, why don’t I show you some more of my favorite spaces?”
Reality was fraying at the edges as he took her hand, leading her down the corridor to another room which defied logic.
Towering columns reached toward a sky that didn’t exist, the infinite ceiling rippling like a pool of water. The black sand stretched on endlessly in every direction, warm against her bare feet though there was no sun to heat it. There were statues too, some half buried, some with just their heads poking out of the sand, though they were all faceless.
“What is in this tower?” Rul asked, touching the gray stone with his hand as they walked up to one. “We will never know, as there are no doors, no windows, no entry or exit. It just is.”
They circled the column, and sure enough, he was right; no doors or windows or anything other than stone blocks stretching on and on into the heavens.
Isabelle breathed the dry air, felt the heated stones beneath her fingers. It felt real, like this could be a building in Marilet if not for the peculiarity, but was it? Was anything herereal? She felt lightheaded, weary from exploring for hours and the new information about Rul’s creation, the wonders of the le Jardin making her head spin.
“I think I need to lie down.”
“As you wish, sweetheart,” Rul said, scooping her up and heading back toward the door.
She circled her arms around his neck as he gave her a big grin, the chill of le Jardin such a stark difference from the heat of the absurd desert. He walked a few doors down, nudging the knob with his side until it opened, revealing an intimate parlor.
With tender care, he set her on a plush couch, sitting next to her and letting her head rest in his lap.
“How do you remember where everything is?” she asked, already feeling better now that she was out of the arid room.
“Like I said, I’ve been here alongtime.”
He smirked down at her, brushing her hair out of her eyes.
“How long has Bellinor been here?”
“Averylong time.”
