by J. G. Maltos
I jump into the air, not caring how jello-like my legs feel. "I know the risk, Koura, but I need to find the crystal! My people are suffering. They are being treated like dogs!" Anger rises in my chest. "No, dogs get treated better than them! What's worse, the one who is meant to help them can't even control her powers! It won't be long before the Elite strip me of my title for being inadequate. Then how am I going to help them?" I point a shaky finger toward my heart. "—I need to do something. I can't keep hiding here while my people are out there suffering. I need that crystal!" I finish my rant with a huff and brace myself for Koura's disapproval, but instead, I am met with something else.
Koura stares at me with nothing but pride in his eyes. No playfulness in his tone, Koura smiles at me and says, "Now, we're talking, Princess." He cups my elbow and pulls me toward him. He wraps his arm around my shoulder. "We can meet up later and work out the kinks in my plan to sneak us out."
"Wait— You have a plan?"
"Yeah," he says as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. “I know you better than anyone. I work fast. I just needed to be sure you were absolutely sure. I have one or two recruits in mind to help. People I trust with my life. We have to be careful on who else we bring along." He rubs his chin, deep in thought. "After the attack earlier this week, I'm unsure of who else we could trust. I'm not going into the Earth Kingdom unprepared."
I nod hesitantly. I feel Aries closer now. I shrug Koura's shoulder off and give him a light push toward the changing rooms. "Can you get me some water? After today, I don't think my legs can take me far."
"Sure, no problem. I think that is enough training for today. I won't be long." He pats my head and jogs out of the training room.
I release my hair from my ponytail, take a breath and call out for Aries. I hear clinks from within the cage. As I turn, there he is, in the same attire as always, stretching in the cage.
"It has been a while since I have trained or done anything in this body," Aries comments.
My arms fold themselves over my chest. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you train." His deep voice echoes within the walls. His face holds no emotion. "It was impressive. What you did to your boyfriend, I mean."
My face reddens at the thought of him wanting to watch me train, and the idea that he believes there is anything between Koura and myself. "One, he is not my boyfriend. And two, I didn't mean to do that, "I trail off, my mind trying to decipher what just happened. "It was like I wasn't here, but in—“
Aries is in front of me in a second, his smoke trailing behind him like his own shadow. His eyes look at me in question. The muscles from his jaw tighten. "What did you remember?" His low voice dances in my ears.
I blink at how quickly he appears. "I don't know." I swallow the lump that grows in my throat. "It was just like I was in the cell fighting for my life but—" I raise a hand and lay it against my chest. "But this time I felt warm. It was small, but it was there. When I was in the cage I felt cold and empty. But here I felt alive."
Aries dips his head, clearly deep in thought. "We'll speak about this later tonight and of your escape to the Earth Kingdom," he rushes. "You may not be able to go as soon as you think."
"Why?" An unease falls in the pit of my stomach. "What's going on?"
A mischievous grin appears on Aries, causing a wave of butterflies to flutter in my stomach. "I would not want to ruin the surprise, Princess" --he smirks-- "but have fun." And he disappears, leaving, yet again, his intoxicating smokey scent behind.
The training room door swings open and I jump as the door slams against the wall. "Look who I found looking for you." Koura's voice echoes toward me from the opposite side of the room.
Zee, Evie, and Odette walk in as if on cue. All three are wearing new, different dresses now that they became a part of my court. I smile upon seeing them. "Where have all of you been?" I head toward the bench and quickly drag a rag to wipe the sweat from my face.
"We have been working on something for tonight." Evie's smile holds a little too much excitement for my comfort.
I feel my back stiffen. My face turns to one of seriousness as I lay the rag around my neck and grip the ends with nervous hands. "What about tonight?"
Zee rolls her eyes at my demeanor. "The Elite moved the ball for tonight. It was supposed to be a few days ago but the whole attack happened—" She waves it off like it was just another Tuesday. "Now, please, don't make me come down there and drag you out to get ready."
I simply raise an eyebrow at her response.
Koura leans against the training room wall, evidently entertained at the whole exchange. His face holds no surprise upon hearing about the ball. In fact, he really enjoys attending balls. I vaguely remember his mother having to drag him out by the ears.
I zero in on him. He knew, the whole time.
I absolutely detest parties and balls. The constant need to be perfect, to know what to say and when to say it. I'd rather be in the cage fighting than be in a room full of people who are constantly assessing your weaknesses.
At least in a cage, I can hit someone.
“I am not going,” I say sternly.
Koura walks to me slowly and leans to match my height, “If you go to the ball, I will take you out to see horses?”
I raise an eyebrow, “Very tempting, what else are you offering?”
His hazel eyes brighten, “Banana bread.” My eyes widen, I love banana bread. He smiles at my reaction, “Two loaves if you include a dance.”
I pretend as if I am considering his offer, but he knows I love banana bread. “Fine,” I say, sticking out my hand and he accepts. “Let’s go girls. We have a whole lot of work to do.”
Chapter 9
Zee wastes no time in tying me down to a chair and draping a black cape around my neck. Originally, I had requested a simple trim to help the mess that was my hair, but I can tell by Evie’s wide smile that a simple trim is not on the list.
Apparently, this is what the girls have been planning the entire day. I don’t doubt Koura’s role in keeping this whole thing a secret. He knows more than anyone my loathing for these types of occasions and I assume that’s the reason why I have no time to come up with an excuse to avoid the whole ordeal.
Sneaky.
Zee turns me toward the far wall, away from the mirror. Meanwhile, Odette and Evie rummage through my closets like mice. Odette is kind enough to have altered one of my dresses, which I have yet to see. The shoes, though, are hard to get under the time limit she is given—hence the rummaging through my closet for a decent pair. Elite Theon must have had the maids fill my closet with countless wardrobes judging by the noise that the girls are making.
My fingers fidget beneath the drape. The closer we get to the finish, the more nervous I get. I try to zone out and clear my thoughts, but the anxiety plays its tune in the back of every thought.
Zee laughs behind me, “Banana bread? Really?”
“It is delicious. Plus Koura knows a baker who makes them just how I like them.” I smile to myself. When we were younger Koura had found my weakness for banana bread. I had gotten in trouble more times than I could count.
“Speaking of Koura.” Zemirah starts off hesitantly. “Would you mind if I dance with him tonight?”
“Oh,” I stammer. “Of course not, why would I mind?” I manage to say. A foreign emotion stirs in the pit of my stomach but I waive it away.
She lightly brushes a strand of hair behind her ear. “You two have been friends for ages, I would assume you two to be a bit protective of each other.”
I force out a scoff. “Protective? That’s more a comment on him than on me and that’s just because I had people out to kill me.” I freeze, worried that my joke might have been too lighthearted for its content. Zee peers up at me with a quirked brow. “What I meant to say was you have my okay. Koura would be one lucky guy to earn a dance from you.”
Zemirah beams an enormous smile at me. “Thank you! I am finis
hed!” She takes a step away from me, admiring her handy work. “I did an amazing job if I do say so myself.”
Anxiously, I stood from my seat, eager to see the final product, but Evie has other plans in mind. She takes my shoulders in her deceptive stronghold and forces my back to the mirror once again. “A respectful hell no, Princess.” She giggles at my baffled expression. “Evie! We’re ready for Odette’s dress!” Zee tugs me towards the closet where a shy Odette stood.
She gives me a small smile before disappearing behind the closet doors. Moments later, she reappears and lifts what she held in her small hands.
I am left in absolute awe.
In front of me is a traditionally black dress. Gold leaves cover the bodice, trailing the low neckline in a subtle shape of a heart. From the shoulders hangs a light material, falling past the sleeves like a gold waterfall. The skirt pools around the floor in a beautiful mesh of materials, revealing a slit that will undoubtedly reach my thigh.
“This is amazing,” I breathe, reaching forward to touch the dress. My hesitant hand hovers over the material. “No doubt made for a queen.” I try to hide the ache in my voice as Odette’s eyes lit up.
“Exactly.” Zee gives me a light push. “Go put it on.”
Odette grabs my arm and shoves me into the closet. As if the dress isn’t perfect enough, it feels incredibly silky over my rough skin.
I step out and in seconds the girls swarm my side, adding last-minute accessories to an already beautiful outfit. Once they finish, they take a step back. Unmistakable pride guides their lips to a smile.
“Princess Althea.” Zee breathes. “No one will second guess you are royalty.” Finally, she guides me to the full-length mirror and I see the three anticipated looks staring back at me. Once my eyes land on myself, I can’t suppress the gasp that blows past my lips.
It has been years since I've seen the girl in the mirror. My long, choppy hair is cut in even layers, long enough to still fall just above my lower back. Two large braids connect at the crown of my head, twisting into curls at the base of my neck. Two curly strands frame my face.
"One more thing," Zee whispers. She walks over with a velvet box in her hands. She opens it carefully, retrieving a small crown, and places it delicately on my head. "There. Now you're a princess."
The crown twists like a gold branch around my head. Black and white pearls dot between the branches and once again it amazes me how the girls managed to incorporate Earth-like elements into my outfit. My heart feels like it's about to burst with the effort they put into every detail.
I lean in closer to the mirror, admiring my makeup. It makes me look alive. She concealed the dark circles that grew beneath my eyes after years of lack of sleep. Zee gave me a discreet smokey eye with a slight pop of color on my lips. She finished the entire outfit with a pair of black pointy pumps.
Tears collect at the rim of my eyes before I can stop them. I turn around to look at my three girls and Evie's happy face quickly turns into one of scolding.
"Don't you dare cry. We worked so hard and you're not about to ruin it before anyone else gets to see you." She rushes to the restroom and retrieves a small cloth to dab below my eyes.
I choke out a laugh at her outburst.
Odette stands away from me, her two small hands clasped together as a huge smile hung on her face.
I walk over to her, take a hand in mine, and with my free hand, bring a flat hand from my lips to hers. “Thank you.”
Odette leans in and gives me a tight hug.
I turn to face all three girls. "Thank you all so much. Without you, I would look like an absolute mess." I smile at them. "The dress. The crown. Thank you for putting a little of my kingdom into it.”
“We are aware of everything you have lost." Odette signs. "But you are still a princess, regardless of what anyone says. It's time to show everyone what you're really made out of."
I am at a loss for words, and I have to look away before my emotions ruin the girls' hard work. For the remainder of the time, I sit by my desk and let the girls get themselves ready. Under normal circumstances, maids wouldn't attend this ball. Luckily, they are part of my court now and have received an official invitation to attend the ball. I don't know if I will be able to make it through without them.
A knock at the door disrupts their concentration and they immediately stop what they were doing.
"May I come in?" Koura's voice sounds from the other side of the door.
The girls stifled their excited giggles and nod my way.
"Yes, you may," I say.
Koura steps in wearing a dashing fitted black suit and a matching black tie. "Well, it smells like a bomb of hair products exploded in here." Koura scrunches his nose exaggeratedly. His eyes zero in on me, truly noticing me for the first time. His mouth gapes slightly as his gaze fixes on the high slit on the dress. He blinks a few times as if coming out of a daze.
"Wow," he breathes.
"I know." I tug awkwardly at the bodice of the dress, shy from the attention. "They did an amazing job."
Koura's eyes land on my crown and a smile splits his face. "You look like a Queen."
"The girls look amazing also," I deter quickly. "Don't they?"
Koura's eyes widen more as he admires the girls and a slow whistle blows past his lips.
Odette is wearing a beautiful red dress that grazes the floor. The dress wraps around one shoulder while revealing the other. After much contemplation, Evie decided on a strapless white dress with a heart neckline that accentuates her chest.
Zee, being the bold one she is, set on wearing a black two-piece dress that revealed just enough of her belly to attract some attention. All three girls' look like a force to be reckoned with.
"You girls are gonna have me work overtime. Fending off unwanted hands and all." Koura scratches the back of his neck. Genuine anxiety flickers across his face.
Odettes eyes gleam with excitement as she wraps her arms around Evie, clearly taking that as a compliment. Zee throws Koura a flirty wink and his ears flush red. His nervous eyes flash to me but I quickly deter my gaze. If Zee has feelings for Koura, who am I to intervene? We are just friends after all.
It seems their excitement is rubbing off on me. My hands' tingle, eager to head downstairs and get the ball over with.
Koura offers his arm, and I gladly accept. We exit my room, heading toward the ballroom. He flexes his arm under my palm, just as he did my first night back, and I laugh. He leans his face closer to mine. "You look absolutely breathless." His eyes roam over my ball gown once more, causing me to shy away from him.
I lay a hand on his chest, pushing back from his flirtatious advances. "Down, Romeo." I pat his chest. "We wouldn't want Zee to get any ideas now would we?" I say with a little bit more force than I intended to. I push the back of my hand to my lips, suppressing a chuckle as I notice the blush creeping up his neck once more. "She's quite lovely, isn't she?" I continue, keeping my eyes ahead of me not wanting to fall in the heels.
"She is a nice girl," he says slowly.
My heart pounds against my chest as I hear him say those words. He has always been a close friend of mine, and the thought that maybe someone will care for him brings me peace. Knowing that he dedicated most of his life to finding me pained me. Maybe now he could have a chance at living a relatively normal life with a new focus.
“You have always been alone, maybe it is time for you to find someone,” I suggest.
Koura gives my hand, which wraps around his biceps, a light squeeze. “Do not worry about me. I am right where I belong.”
I say nothing back, but somehow, those simple words bring me more at ease.
We continue in silence with the girls trailing behind and arrive at the big wooden doors that lead to the grand hall. Mus vibrates through the marble of the floor, tickling my feet. I turn behind me and a very excited Evie rushes in front of me, dragging Odette at her heels.
As the doors open, Koura escorts me inside. People fil
l the hall already eating, dancing, and mingling. My heart quickens as I take in the scene in front of me. Most of the Elites are sitting near the edge of the dance floor. Elite Theon and his wife are sitting at the top of an elevated stage at the opposite side with the orchestra playing a beautiful song behind them.
It's been a while since I've been in a crowded room with people that don’t want to kill me. The air feels light as if there was no bad blood that mingled with the guests' bodies. Beautiful crystals hang from the ceiling and the light that shone through the windows pierced them, leaving a beautiful array of colors to echo in their presence. Koura pulls my attention from my admiration of the party with a small squeeze on my arm. I turn to look at him with nervous eyes.
He lowers his lips to my ear, allowing me to hear him above the loud echo of the music. "Just like before, say the word and we're gone." The corners of his lips turn up in reassurance. “I got you.”
As Koura and I walk around, Elite swarm around me with compliments on my dress accompanied by some unfortunate encounters of eye-goggling men. Koura gladly escorts me away from the unwanted attention. Well, from most of it.”
“Why, don’t you look stunning, Princess.” Nathaniel towers over the crowd in his Frost Soldier uniform, an innocent smile on his face. “And in better spirits, I hope.”
Bash stands behind him, offering his bow before scanning the ballroom. His body remained tense as always. I wonder if he ever became relaxed enough to speak, but another part of me is happy that he takes his job so seriously.
“Only barely,” I answer Nathaniel with a chuckle. “Big parties have never been my thing.”
He nods understandingly and places an elbow on Bash’s shoulder. “Well if you’re thinking of running, let us know ahead of time so we can get a head start, will you?” There is no hostility in his voice, but that doesn’t stop the guilt that grows in my chest. Koura nudges my shoulder.
