Hidden Worlds

by Kristie Cook

  Since Alberico never wed, there is no Queen and I am technically illegitimate, so that makes Duke Finnegan and Duchess Isobel next in line for the throne since Isobel is a descendant of King Enoch. Who apparently was this huge player. He was originally married to Talia who bore him a daughter named Liesl. At the same time, he was also fooling around with Agatha which resulted in an illegitimate son, Abel. Talia cheated on Enoch with Henry so he had her banished and then he married his mistress, Agatha which made Abel an heir. Princess Liesl went on to marry Lord Garrett and they had two daughters, Cordelia and the Duchess, Isobel. Enoch was eventually overthrown by Callum who took Agatha as his wife who then gave birth to Astrid. Astrid went on to marry Eurico and they had two sons, Alberico and Dugan. Yeah, it was like an elfish soap opera back in the day.

  “So what happens if Isobel or Finnegan die before Alberico? Who is next in line?” I ask.

  “The chances of that happening are very miniscule, but I supposed Lady Adele or Lord Blaise would be next in succession. And let’s pray to Sl that it would be Lady Adele.”

  “Adele is the one with the violet eyes, right?” I still have a difficult time keeping everyone’s name straight but she is one of the few elves who speaks to me. Most of them just stare and whisper as I walk by.

  “Yes, she is a very powerful Air user. She is the great-great-great granddaughter of Agatha and Enoch which by rule gives her a more legitimate claim to the throne since Blaise is only a descendent of King Callum’s sister. But he is a Fire user so if it came down to it he may be able to persuade people to follow him. Elves tend to associate great rulers with their elemental specialties, and Alberico and his father Eurico were both Fire users.”

  I assume from the look of disdain on Grey’s face that he isn’t a fan of Blaise’s.

  “Though I suspect Alberico will try to persuade the people to accept you as the rightful heir,” Grey adds matter-of-factly.

  “Excuse me?” I look up at him in disbelief.

  “You are technically more entitled to the throne than both Adele and Blaise.”

  “But surely he doesn’t expect me to actually rule some day? What about the fact that, as far as we know, he will outlive me anyway? Either Adele or Blaise would make way more sense.”

  After all, I am part human, and so far we did not have the slightest indication that I inherited that little fountain of youth gene.

  “You are his daughter. Even if you never rule the kingdom, he still wants your position to be recognized. I imagine that is the point of the upcoming ball.”

  “Wait a second....what ball? Nobody mentioned anything about a ball.”

  “The ball that is taking place this Saturday, of course. Alberico didn’t mention anything to you at breakfast this morning?”

  “No, it must’ve slipped his mind,” I said sarcastically. How can someone just forget to mention a ball?

  “Well, there is a ball. You will wear a fancy dress and everyone will spend the entire evening fawning all over you.” He sounds completely exasperated over my negative reaction to the event. I’m sure he probably expected me to be more excited. After all, what little girl doesn’t dream about discovering she is a princess and attending fancy balls thrown in her honor?

  I walk over and open the window to get some fresh air. I can feel the panic starting to bubble in the pit of my stomach. I’m hoping the fresh air will keep me from throwing up. Holy smokes. A ball. A real ball. With the fancy dresses and the uncomfortable shoes and dancing, the whole shebang. I should be excited and under normal circumstances I might be, but these definitely are not normal circumstances. These people, or I mean, elves seem like they really hate me. This has disaster written all over it.

  “Mia.”

  I turn towards his sweet velvet voice and he’s no longer sitting at the desk, he’s standing right in front of me. He wraps his arms around me, pressing his face to the top of my head and inhales deeply.

  “Once they get to know you, they will love you. Trust me,” he whispers.

  Sometimes I wonder if mind-reading is a secret elfish ability that he isn’t telling me about because he seems to always know exactly what is wrong with me. Suddenly my heart is fluttering with warmth and affection as I realize he probably just knows me that well. I lift my face up to look at him. Being this close to him, having him comfort me seems so natural. I stand on my tip toes so that our faces are aligned. Then I close my eyes and lean in slowly towards his lips but he immediately jerks away leaving me cold in the wake of his rejection.

  “Mia, what are you doing?” he asks in a breathy voice. He has a freaked out look on his face like he can’t believe I just did that and he’s completely freaking out about it. I feel like a complete idiot. I can’t believe I actually tried to kiss Grey. What was I thinking?

  My face burns with embarrassment. I drop my eyes to the floor, unwilling to look at him. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  “I’ve told you. We can’t be that way with each other.”

  It’s not like he hasn’t told me that before, I just seem to have a hard time remembering it since his actions and his words don’t seem to match up. But maybe it’s just me. Maybe I just interpret everything wrong. Maybe all the signs that I thought pointed to our mutual affection for each other were all in my head. I’m such an idiot.

  “I know, I don’t know … .I’m sorry. I just, uh, I gotta go.”

  I leave the library as fast as humanly possibly which isn’t nearly fast enough. What was I thinking? Of course he doesn’t want to kiss me. He’s my father’s best friend. He’s nearly 200 years old! I should not want to kiss him anyway. I shouldn’t even like him like that. It’s weird and it’s wrong and I’m not doing a very good job of trying to convince myself not to be attracted to him. Because despite the fact that my brain knows all the reasons why it would never work out between us, my heart isn’t quite ready to give up and get over him. I’m pathetic.

  I’m so engrossed in my self-loathing that it takes me a moment to realize that I’m completely lost. I’ve never been to this part of the castle before. In my distraction I must’ve gotten turned around and ended up in Alberico’s wing. In the center of the castle is the large great room, and then there are four wings that branch off from it. The north wing has the guest rooms on the first floor and then the spiral stairs lead up to the tower where my room is located. The west wing has the kitchen and dining areas and the servant quarters. The east wing has the main ballroom and then several smaller entertaining rooms on the second floor. The library is also located in the east tower. The south wing is all Alberico’s. I haven’t been told that the area is off limits, there is just so much to explore in the other parts of the castle that I haven’t made it over this far yet.

  Curiosity gets the best of me and instead of turning around and finding my way back to my room, I venture forward down the hall. The first door I come to is shut but it’s unlocked so I open it and step inside. It appears that I have stepped into an art gallery of some sort. Mom would love this room! I open the drapes, allowing the sun to brighten the room so I can get a better look at his collection of art. I didn’t know Alberico was into this sort of thing. I browse slowly, admiring each piece when one painting in particular causes me to stop dead in my tracks. It’s a painting of a rose garden with a stone fountain in the middle. I recognize this place. It’s located in the park where I spent countless summers frolicking among the flowers while Mom tried to get the colors just right. My heart starts hammering in my chest. I know this painting. It was the first one mom sold in the gallery a few years ago. She said it was her most special piece.

  “I see you’ve found my favorite room.”

  I spin around at the sound of his voice.

  “This is my mother’s.” I state. It’s not a question, there’s no denying that this is hers. I’d recognize it anywhere.

  “Yes, I wanted to have a piece of her with me.” He smiles, but I can see the sadness in his

  tw
inkling blue eyes.

  “She loved this painting,” I say as I turn back around to examine it. “She said it was her favorite.”

  “Did she ever mention why?” he asks as he steps closer to the painting. He stares at it so reverently that my gut tells me that he knows why this painting was so special to her.

  “No, she didn’t. But you know, don’t you?”

  “Yes,” he sighs. “I do. This is where we first met.”

  “What were you doing in Manhattan, Kansas anyway?” I ask him. Manhattan is a pretty small town. There is nothing remotely exciting about it, unless you are a fan of college football, so I can’t imagine what brought him there.

  “Would you believe me if I tell you I got lost?” He laughs.

  “No way.” I crack a smile.

  “It’s true. I thought I was in Manhattan, New York. I didn’t realize there was such thing as the Little Apple.”

  “Seriously?” I stifle a giggle. “How did you make such an epic mistake?”

  “It was the best mistake of my life. It brought me to her,” he says quietly, staring back at the painting. “Oh how I miss her. My Katherine. I knew she was special from the moment I first laid eyes on her. I was drawn to her. You cannot possibly understand how difficult it was for me to leave her like I did. But my father needed me. My kingdom needed me to help rebuild after the war with the Dark Elves. I thought I was doing what was best. But I think about her every day. For the rest of my very long life, I will never forget her.”

  “She was sad for a really long time, but she’s happy now. Paul is a good man. He makes her happy. But I don’t think she will ever forget you either.”

  I leave him then, alone with my mother’s painting and his thoughts. I shut the door quietly behind me and as I exit the south wing I pass Finnegan in the hall.

  “Hello, Duke.” I smile politely at him, but he doesn’t return my smile or my greeting. In fact, he just keeps on walking as if he didn’t even hear me. That was kind of rude. I suppose he might not have heard me. Maybe he was deep in thought or something. Or maybe he is just a jerk. Either way, it didn’t make me feel any better about this upcoming ball where I would be surrounded by less-than friendly elves all evening. I wonder if they will at least pretend to tolerate me in Alberico’s presence.

  I am so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I almost don’t see Grey standing at the bottom of the stairs obviously waiting for me.

  “Mia,” he starts as he takes a step towards me.

  I hold up my hand to stop him. “No, I can’t talk to you about it right now. I don’t really even want to see you right now so can you please just leave me alone?”

  I push past him and head up the stairs, but he is right behind me the whole way to my room.

  I stop outside my bedroom door and turn to face him.

  “Mia, please. Let me properly explain myself.”

  “I think you’ve made yourself perfectly clear thank you very much, and I really don’t think I can stand to hear any more so please. Just go.”

  “Mia! I was just looking for you,” a lovely sounding voice chimes as Isobel appears at the top of the stairs.

  “Isobel,” Grey greets her formally but I can see the tenseness in his eyes. He isn’t happy about the interruption. “Mia, we will continue training tomorrow morning, if you are feeling up for it.”

  I don’t respond, so he nods curtly before he leaves.

  “Lover’s quarrel?” Isobel whispers with a smile.

  “No, definitely not.”

  The knowing look in her eyes lets me know that she doesn’t buy it.

  “So what’s up?” I ask to try to distract her from Grey and me.

  “I was hoping we could get acquainted. Would you care to join me for a cup of tea?”

  “Um, sure. Of course. I’d like that.” I actually hate tea but considering I just had a fight with my only sorta-friend here, I’m thinking it might be kind of nice to make a new one.

  “Come along,” she says as she links her arm through mine and steers me down the stairs.

  In the large central room a group of elves stop to stare at Isobel and me. I look at my feet uncomfortably. Isobel must’ve noticed.

  “Don’t worry about them,” she whispers. “They just don’t know what to think of you yet. Give them time. They’ll warm up to you.”

  “Do you think so?”

  “I’m certain of it,” she assures me.

  I really hope so. I hate all the staring and whispering. It makes me self-conscious. I already have a hard enough time walking around in these stupid dresses and heels as it is without feeling like everyone is watching me.

  Isobel leads me to a secluded part of the castle grounds near a crystal clear lake. A little table draped in simple white cloth has been set for a tea party for two with antique-looking pale robin’s egg blue china. A gorgeous assortment of cookies looks almost too pretty to eat, and even though my stomach is a bundle of nerves, I can’t resist the temptation. I choose one and savor its crisp sweetness. Isobel sits and pours us both a cup of tea.

  “Are you excited for the ball?” she asks as she scoops a lump of sugar into her tea and begins stirring.

  “Not really. I’m more anxious to get home than anything.”

  “What do you mean, ‘get home’? Surely you are safer here?” Her green eyes widen in surprise and she seems genuinely concerned for my well-being.

  “I can’t really just stay here. I’m only seventeen, so I can’t really drop out of high school. And anyway my mom would freak out if I never came home. Albercio said it’s okay as long as I check in regularly, and he will be sending at least one other elf to help Grey watch over me. I’ll be back over spring break and then I’ll also spend my summer here.”

  “That seems like a fair compromise. Not that I expected anything less from Alberico.” She took a sip of her tea. “But you do like it here, don’t you Mia?”

  I take a sip of my tea and think about it for a minute.

  “Á lfheimr is amazing. It’s beautiful and has the most delicious food I’ve ever tasted. But it’s not my home.”

  After tea with Isobel, I return to my room to change for dinner. During the day, I can get away with wearing some of the less formal dresses, but Alberico likes dinner to be a formal affair. Which means the heels cannot be avoided.

  I open my bedroom door and find Grey standing by the balcony. He turns when he hears me come in.

  “What are you doing in here?”

  “I told you we needed to talk.”

  “And I told you I didn’t want to hear what you had to say. Don’t you think I’m embarrassed enough as it is? I don’t need you to tell me all the reasons why you don’t want to be with me. It’ll just make it worse, okay?”

  He looks at me with what I can only assume is pity.

  “You shouldn’t be embarrassed. This,” he gestures between the two of us, “is all my fault.”

  I can tell by the look on his face that he actually believes that.

  “Actually I’m pretty sure I’m the one who tried putting the moves on you if you remember. So I should be the one apologizing. You’ve always said that we can only be friends. I just seem to keep forgetting that fact.”

  “I just wish things were simpler.”

  “Me too. Can we just pretend that it never happened?” I ask hopefully.

  “Is that what you want?”

  “Yes, I just want to forget the whole thing.” As impossible as that may seem.

  “As you wish.”

  “Thanks,” I sigh. “I gotta go get ready for dinner. So I guess I’ll see you later?”

  “Of course, I’ll see you at dinner.”

  “Okay, see ya.”

  “Mia,” he pauses at the door. “I just want you to know one thing before I leave.”

  “What?”

  “It isn’t a matter of not wanting, but rather knowing that it can never happen. Good night, Mia.”

  He shuts the door quietly behind him.
>
  What does that mean? Why must he always speak in riddles? It would be so much simpler if people would just say what they mean.

  Chapter Ten

  I decide to spend the entire day barricaded in my room with every intention of losing myself in my favorite book before having to face what will surely lead to my demise: the ball. I shudder at the thought. I’m more than a little nervous about meeting so many elves. All the stares and whispers I have been enduring all week are quite enough. I feel like I have a sign above my head flashing: “Look! It’s Alberico’s illegitimate daughter!”

  Tonight is only going to be that much worse.

  I’m just about to lie down and get comfy when I notice a familiar book lying on my bedside table. I open it and a piece of paper floats to the ground. I pick it up and immediately recognize Grey’s neat handwriting:

  I thought you might find this more interesting now.

  —G

  I open the Cressey book he gave me months ago even though I am absolutely convinced that regardless of how relevant this book may be to my new life, the chances of me actually reading a history book for fun are still slim to none. I’m flipping through the pages casually when Dugan’s name catches my eye. I stop. Now this might be kind of interesting. I turn back to the beginning of the chapter and start reading:

  In the year 1690, King Eurico and his wife Queen Astrid were blessed with twin boys. They were named Alberico and Dugan, respectively. Given the longevity of elves, conception is a rare and wonderful gift. To be blessed with twin boys was a remarkable event.

  It was decided that Alberico, being the eldest by less than one minute would be the rightful heir to the kingdom.

  As the elves grew up, their differences in personality and beliefs became as obvious as their differences in appearance. Alberico, the fairer of the two, wanted to uphold the same policies his father had of maintaining a peaceful separation between humans and elves. Dugan, who had the darker features of his mother, felt otherwise. After learning about the suffering the humans inflicted upon the elves during the 15th century Witch Hunts, Dugan sought revenge. He felt that elves, being the superior race, should take over the Earth and punish the Humans. Dugan began preaching his beliefs to other groups of elves and eventually persuaded many to agree with his philosophies.