At the Regent’s Hall
Please RSVP by 21st December
So, this is what all the fuss was about. She let her fingers trail across the letters. As much as she would never admit it, she longed to go.
21
Snow Day
“Snow is coming,” Ophelia said dreamily as they left their final lesson of the day. She had spent the entire class period staring out the window at the grounds. The professor had called on her twice. She hadn’t even heard the question.
Ana hadn’t seen a lot of snow in Georgia. The temperature rarely dropped low enough for the rainy winters to turn to snow. A single flake was enough to shut down the roads, schools, and businesses. There was no plow in her hometown. The locals didn’t own snow tires, and they panicked and bought all the bread and milk from the supermarket shelves. She never really understood why. Couldn’t they eat normal food?
It turned out Ophelia was right. When Ana woke the next morning, the light from the windows was blinding. Winter had arrived overnight and settled upon the academy. Ana hurried to the window and touched one hand to the icy glass. The grounds were covered in a blanket of pure white. The windowpane fogged from her breath. The first snow of the year.
Ana knocked on the door to the Fleur dormitory. A young Fleur sent Ophelia out. They made their way down the drafty hallway to the dining room. A set of French doors flew open, letting a gust of wind pick at the hem of Ana’s dress. Several boys trudged in from the outdoors.
Ophelia breathed in deeply. “You can smell it in the air.”
Ana sniffed the air. She had never thought of snow as having a smell, but maybe she just hadn’t been around it enough. They grabbed a table in the center of the room and ordered a hearty breakfast. Ana gripped her mug, breathing in the steam as she stared out the frosted window.
Moments later, Holden and Adam came crashing into the dining room. Holden steered Adam toward their table. Ana and Adam made eye contact for a split second. Adam looked away quickly, and Ana’s cheeks turned faintly red. Things between them were still awkward.
Holden’s cheeks were rosy from the cold. “Have you two been outside yet?”
Ophelia shook her head.
“We’ve been up since dawn,” Adam said, avoiding Ana’s gaze. Snow melted off his boots and onto the fine carpet. He didn’t notice. Despite the awkwardness, an uncustomary bubble of happiness surrounded him.
“How did you get so damp?” Ana asked.
“Snowball fight. We took back the West Lawn from the underclassmen.”
“Everything is fighting for you Rockwells,” Ophelia said.
“Well. What do you suggest, Ms. Fairy Princess?”
Ophelia ignored the jab. “Ice skating.”
They finished breakfast and headed to the pond. It was a perfect sheet of ice, and several other students were already skating on other sections.
Shy, quiet Ophelia morphed on the ice. She glided along with effortless grace, twirling and smiling. Her hair flowed around her.
Ana smiled. She was a fairy princess.
Ophelia stopped spinning for a moment and pointed at Ana’s head, where a circlet of ivy and winter white flowers appeared. She smiled in pure bliss.
“What?” Adam sputtered, his jaw dropped.
Shy, weird Ophelia had the gift. Ana had long suspected it. She was too good in botany class. The plants seemed to respond to her touch, but this was so much more. As Ana studied Adam’s expression and Ophelia twirling on the ice, she couldn’t help it. She threw her head back and laughed. She nudged Holden. He looked up with a small, guilty smile. He, too, she suspected was hiding the gift. Why couldn’t he be as carefree as Ophelia? Why couldn’t he just admit he had it?
Strong, lean, and poised, somehow Adam struggled on the ice. The worse he was, the madder he got. The madder he got, the more aggressive his technique became. As if the ice were one more opponent he could overcome. He toppled over at least three times.
Holden and Ana were laughing so hard they had to hold on to each other to stop from falling over themselves.
Ophelia skated over to help Adam. “The ice isn’t another enemy to conquer. Just let yourself glide. Don’t fight it.”
Adam frowned but stopped swinging his arms around and found he could stay upright. Ana was skating peaceful circles around the pond when Adam came to join her. “Pretty good moves, Halt.”
“Thanks,” she said, a little surprised. “You’re doing much better.”
He grunted.
A moment of silence passed between them. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a while.”
“Yeah?” Her heart fluttered in her chest. She hoped he was going to ask. Was he going to ask?
Just then, an errant snowball flew across the pond and nailed Adam in the shoulder. On the bank of the pond, a couple of young Rockwells booked it back toward the courtyard.
Adam lost his balance and toppled into Ana. Together, they fell into a snowbank, their bodies entangled. His face hovered mere inches from hers.
“Sorry,” he breathed.
She could feel the warmth of his breath on her neck.
“I’m not,” she whispered.
He gazed into her deep brown eyes and closed the distance between them, laying a soft kiss on her lips. It was warm and gentle. A different side of Adam than the rest of the world got to see. She liked this Adam. A lot.
She opened her eyes and smiled.
“Will you go to the winter ball with me?” he asked. “I should have asked weeks ago, but my pride got the best of me.”
Ana couldn’t help herself. She leaned in and kissed him again. With ferocity. He met her intensity. When she pulled back, she was breathing hard.
“I take it that’s a yes?”
“Yes.”
22
The Capital
Madame Bali stood at the door, wearing her usual dark pencil skirt, blazer, and pumps. Her infotab was at the ready. “Ana,” she greeted warmly. “I was pleased to hear the news.”
“What news?” Ana asked, a mouthful of Danish muffling her words.
“The ball, of course. I heard you were to be a special guest of the Rockwell family. Quite an honor.”
“Oh yeah, Adam asked me. I guess I am going to need a dress.”
Bali laughed. “Don’t worry. We will take care of all of the necessary arrangements. Now, do you know your date of departure and return?”
“Umm, the day after exams. Not sure about returning.”
She mmed disapprovingly. “And method of travel?”
“Not sure.”
She sighed.
“I do know we are staying at the Rockwell Skyscraper.”
“Oh no, no, no. That will never do. It implies things, Ana. I will arrange an alternate stay for you. Perhaps, the DuBoises or Jacobses would be kind enough to take you in.”
Those words rubbed Ana the wrong way. She was no charity case. Her days of foster homes were behind her. Plus, she hated Lydia DuBois. The last thing she wanted was to be in her debt.
She offered to arrange it all herself.
She never had to. The next morning at breakfast, Ophelia invited her to sleepover. Ana accepted right away. They would be staying with Ophelia’s aunt who had a loft in the center of downtown.
Madame Bali hadn’t loved the idea, preferring to make the arrangements herself. She was in a tizzy about Ana’s safety. She had spent the better part of a day discussing the need for escape routes, verified doormen, background checks on security personnel, and even dietary needs. However, when Samuel heard her suggest the Jacobs as a potential host, he pulled Bali into a vacant room.
Ana, of course, tried to listen at the door. Unfortunately, she could only make out bits and pieces. She was almost certain Samuel had shouted something about “dangerous” and “can’t trust.” Then, Madame Bali’s voice rose on the words “too involved.”
In the end, everyone agreed on Ana’s original plan. She would stay with Ophelia.
* * *
&nb
sp; Beautiful dresses. Hanger after hanger of beautiful dresses. Red and sultry. Black and classic. All white and hand beaded. Every color. Every style. Ana ran her hands over the fabric wonderingly. She had never worn anything like this. With three older brothers, it was all T-shirts and sports. Her Barbies had been casualties of war after the GI Joes infiltrated the dream house with bazookas.
Here she could be someone different. She could be whoever she wanted to be. If she wanted to dress up for the ball, she could.
A deep voice called from the doorway, “I see you have found my beauties. All handpicked by Michael.”
“Zora!” Ana exclaimed. “I’m so glad you’re here. Where is Michael?“
“He sends his regrets. He was heartbroken not to be able to come himself. He was already booked solid in the capital. “Now,” she said, turning toward the dresses, “what do you think of my beauties?”
“They’re fantastic.”
“I know. Do any stand out to you?”
Ana took a quick appraisal of the dresses. “The lilac lace and, hmm, maybe the red one.”
A changing area befitting a Victorian lady had been erected in the corner of the room. The first dress pulled was yellow, silken, and fitted. Ana had to be very careful stepping into it.
“How does it look?” Zora called.
Ana stepped out.
“Stunning.”
Ana walked in front of the mirror. She wished her arms were a little tanner. If it were summer, she would be bronzed, and the shade would be much more flattering. Still, she looked sort of like Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Imagining Adam as her counterpart, she giggled. The comparison wasn’t too far off.
“I don’t think the color is right,” she finally said.
Zora looked at the rack. “Try this one,” she said, handing Ana the scarlet in a classic silhouette.
Ana slipped it on easily. It was the perfect fit. She twirled in front of the mirror.
Zora nodded. “That’s the one.”
* * *
A few days later, Ana, Ophelia, Adam, and Holden huddled together near the academy gates. They watched as a trio of teenagers piled into the back of an elaborate silver sleigh. In front, reindeer stomped their hooves and blew puffs of condensation from their noses.
The woman sitting in the back was draped with furs and waved to the crowd of students. “Happy winter, my darlings! Warm wishes!”
As they pulled away with a dramatic “yah!” sleigh bells jingled in their wake. It was the most ostentatious display Ana could imagine.
“Who does she think she is? Santa Claus?” Ana muttered.
“Who?” Ophelia asked.
“Um, fat man, gives out gifts on December 25th, wears too much red.”
Ophelia frowned. “Do you mean the Nicholas family?”
“Maybe! St. Nicholas?”
“Well, they’re definitely not saints, but the Nicholas family gives out presents every winter. They’re close friends of the Jacobs. A few of their kids go to school here.”
“Does everyone get a present?” Ana asked, her excitement bubbling up.
“Of course not. Just those they think need them. Often they’re not really the sort of thing you want to receive. And it’s totally unpredictable. I’ve never received anything myself, but my Aunt Clair once got a tool shed. She kept leaving her shears and potting soil in the front yard…”
“Oh, that’s not the same. Santa Claus leaves toys for all the kids.”
“He sounds marvelous! We must journey to Earth sometime and visit.”
Ana laughed.
* * *
Adam opened the door and allowed Ana to enter first. At her height, Ana was able to just barely pass through the metal door frame. Adam and Holden had to duck. The inside of the Rockwell family jet was tantamount to flying Airforce One, only more modern. There were several rows of leather captains’ chairs and a polished mahogany table.
When planes took off on Earth, they were loud. It’s the reason why everyone avoided the back seats. It’s where the engine was closest. This jet had a barely perceptible hum as it took off.
“This is amazing,” Ana said. “I thought it would be loud.”
“No way, that’s old technology,” Adam said.
“Combustion versus magnetic wave,” Holden explained.
“I’ve never been on a plane,” she admitted. “Although I’ve always wanted to.”
“No wonder you nearly passed out on the Bumblebee,” Holden muttered.
“What?” Adam looked concerned. “You’re not feeling light-headed here, are you? I assure you every Rockwell pilot has been heavily trained. The flight should be very smooth, especially since no gateway technology will be in use.”
Holden spent the next thirty minutes explaining Rockwell Jet Theory. Adam mostly nodded, but every once in a while, he would chime in with a stat. Holden’s eyes lit up as he talked about the complexity of force and challenge of gross weight.
“Where were you for my exam on astrophysics?” she muttered.
“Oh.” Holden bit his lip. “Sorry. I’ve been talking too much, haven’t I? But hey, you know I’d help you anytime.”
Adam raised an eyebrow.
“Anything for my best friend’s girl,” Holden added, elbowing Adam. “We gotta keep her in school, man.”
Adam rolled his eyes, and they both laughed.
Several video games and a nap later, Ana woke with her face pressed against the glass. The jet was gaining altitude. Below, through mist and cloud, she could make out an expansive mountain system. Sharp, jagged peaks stabbed through the clouds, creating a layer of what she guessed was permanent ice and snow. The closest thing she had seen on Earth would be photos of the Himalayas. Although, these were more purposeful. They surrounded the city in a circular formation, creating an impenetrable fortress of deadly ice and altitude.
Ana wiped some drool from her chin and turned, hoping Adam hadn’t noticed. She and Holden locked eyes, and the corner of his mouth twisted up. He’d noticed.
“Well, looks who’s awake. That was some intense snoring,” Adam said.
“What?!”
She caught the gleam in his eye and nudged him. “Hey, not nice.”
“Just kidding, Halt.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and whispered in her ear. “You looked beautiful. As always.” He kissed her gently on the lips.
As they continued along, Ana found herself glued to the window and the views below. She’d seen the ring of mountains surrounding the capital on every map. However, she had never understood the sheer enormity and scale. To cross the mountains would be incredibly deadly.
“Are the mountains naturally occurring?” she asked.
Adam nodded. “Tectonic activity and rivers of glacier water formed them. The Fleurs and Arkwrights, of course, added their own touches. The landslides, for instance, were a threat to the capital. Of course, we added our own touches too. Landmines that react to various triggers—thermal imaging, heat signatures, that sort of thing.”
“So, you booby-trapped the mountains?” Ana was irritated. She had been thinking how lovely it would be to take photos from outside the basin. Something she could sketch later.
“Well yeah, for security.”
“So, it’s not possible to walk in them?”
The jet began to decrease in altitude, and the city came into full view. Ana’s jaw dropped. It was nothing like the seaside town and academy. They were old world. This was new.
A jungle of metal, glass, and reflective alloy in every shape imaginable punched through the night sky. Lights glowed below like bioluminescence in a pond. As they continued to decrease in altitude, the city became more clear. In the center of the city, seven skyscrapers wrapped in lights formed a circle. On top of each was a glass-formed lotus blossom. As they grew closer to one, the lotus opened, allowing them to land.
The jet descended, gracefully, moving in ways not yet mastered by the aircraft on Earth. It hovered soundlessly directly downward
as though turning the laws of gravity on its head.
Ana stepped out of the jet and into the world of science fiction. Skyscrapers surpassed the cloud barrier. The lights of a million windows beamed like fireflies. Hovercraft floated several levels below. Modified that they could not reach higher altitudes. None could freely pass the mountain range.
As she looked around, Ana realized something big. The academy and surrounding town were tantamount to taking a cell phone away from a teenager. It was low tech on purpose. Up until now, she had thought of this star-flung world as being very similar to Earth, but it wasn’t true. They outpaced the technology on Earth by two hundred years.
“I have to see this,” she breathed. Her eyes wide.
Adam smiled at her aghast expression. “We’re supposed to head straight to our floor, but what the hell? It has been a long time since me and the H man hit the streets.” He nudged Holden in a good-natured way.
Moments later, the three were slinking past the jet pilot, who was busy unpacking cargo and into a brightly lit palatial hallway and through a dingy metal door.
Ana could hear machinery. Adam hit the down button and glass chute arrived. They slid down to street level.
“It’s usually for goods,” Adam mentioned.
“But it’s a helluva ride,” Holden added.
Adam went first, sitting at the opening of the glass tube and crossing his arms over his chest. He lay down and shot forward. A little nervous, Ana imitated his movements.
“You got it, just keep your head down and enjoy the ride,” Holden said.
Ana closed her eyes and let herself slide down the shoot. After a moment, she opened her eyes and took in the amazing views. She was a shooting star, zooming through the dark night sky and watching the little people below. After a loop de loop that left her screaming but exhilarated, the tube leveled out before shooting her out streetside. She stumbled, and Adam steadied her.
“Well?” he asked.
She let out a hysterical fit of laughter. “Oh my God! Can we do it again?”
As they waited on Holden, Ana took in the street. A girl at a nearby stand with bright purple hair examined an infotab magazine. Her eye popped out of its socket, scanned the item, and returned with a suckering sound.
Seven Crowns (Bellaton Book 1) Page 17
