Forsaken

by Kristen Day

  “If you put any more hairspray on it, it’s going to look more like a helmet, than a hairdo,” Willow declared, “She’s going to a Ball, not for a ride on a crotch rocket.”

  “She might be by the end of the night…” her joke stopped short with Willow, but Phoebe snickered. “You don’t know how hard the wind’s going to be blowing. We can’t afford to cut any corners.” Carmen chewed on a bobby pin and circled me a couple more times.

  “Done!” she announced loudly enough for the entire third floor to hear. She came around to face me holding a small hand mirror.

  “Now if you don’t like it, lie and tell me you do,” she grinned. She held the mirror low, raising it slowly for effect. “Wait for it…wait for it-“.

  “I’ve been waiting two hours.” I groaned, as I tried to steal the mirror. She pulled it out of my reach just in time.

  “Patience, grasshopper. All good things come to those who- hey!” Phoebe snatched the mirror from her and passed it to me, rolling her eyes. Carmen had done Phoebe’s hair first and it looked absolutely amazing. Chunks of hair had been pulled back into a messy bun at the crown of her head. The style accentuated each streak of blonde, red, and brown perfectly. For an extra pop of color, Carmen had tucked a feather matching the bottom of Phoebe’s dress into the bun. I was reminded of the exotic birds I had in my vision. I figured this probably wasn’t the best time to mention that.

  Not having had my hair fixed that many times, I noticed how heavy all of the bobby pins were; not to mention the eight layers of hair spray that probably added a few pounds. I took a deep breath and looked in the mirror. A small section of hair had been French braided, starting from above my left eye and extending all the way down into the corner of a low side bun. It was elegant, classy and simple. I loved it.

  “Oh Carmen, it’s beautiful.” I moved my head from side to side to get a better look.

  ‘You really like it?” Her face was beaming.

  “I really do! You’re amazing!” I jumped up and gave her a hug. She held me at a distance, but patted my back.

  “Easy, trigger. No sudden movements. Don’t go messing up my hard work. You can come home a hot mess, but when you step off that boat in…” she checked her watch, “two hours, I want every head to turn.” I jumped down from the stool, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and ran in to the kitchen to eat a snack before the make-up portion of the extreme makeover started.

  An hour and a half later, Phoebe and I stood on the boardwalk of the marina along with about a hundred other girls dressed in exquisite gowns, also waiting to board the yacht. I looked down at my own dress nervously for the twentieth time. Despite my anxiety, I swore it was created just for me. I ran my hands down it, smoothing the posh fabric. I touched the aquamarine necklace Finn had given me. The skin beneath it tingled each time it moved, but oddly enough it calmed my nerves. I looked up as the large white yacht I had seen my first day on the island slowly pulled in to dock. It bore a resemblance to an oversized Ferrari on water with its sleek exterior and dark windows. I couldn’t even imagine what the inside would look like. I’d never been on a boat, much less a million dollar yacht.

  “Please tell me that’s not Olivia.” I followed Phoebe’s eyes and spotted the girl she was glaring at. She was in a skin-tight blood red gown that followed every curve of her body down to her glittering silver heels. It was definitely Olivia. She was talking animatedly to two other girls I’d seen around Maren. “Maybe she’ll fall overboard before we get there.”

  “She can’t be that bad. Girls like her are all talk.” I said. One thing I’d learned in life is that everyone had a story – good or bad. I wondered what Olivia’s story was. Right then her piercing eyes locked in on us. She gave us her best condescending smile and swiftly turned her back on us. I hoped she didn’t have a super hearing ability.

  “Well, her ‘all talk’ really works my nerves,” Phoebe huffed, still glaring at her.

  The crowd of girls began to move and I craned my neck to see if we were boarding. A single file line was beginning to form, as each girl walked up a ramp then disappeared onto the yacht’s deck. Several guys in black suits, who I assumed were Sons, stood on both sides, extending their hands to help each girl aboard. Finally, it was my turn. I held up the bottom of my gown and delicately stepped on to the ramp. For some odd reason I was reminded of the movie Titanic and the scene where Rose stepped off solid ground in her dress for the last time. All I was missing was a wide brimmed hat and a prescription grade case of resentment.

  The ramp itself was a little unsteady and had too many places for the heel of a shoe to get caught. I held on to the two guys’ hands and stepped onto the immaculate wooden floor of the deck. Phoebe joined me a second later. We were shuffled through a small opening that led to a sizeable room oozing with opulence. Clusters of candles adorned small tables throughout the room. Soft music played from hidden speakers, which added to the ambiance. A plush white carpet spread across the floor, meeting walls painted a warm golden color. They were trimmed with elaborate white molding punctuating the lavish surroundings. Phoebe and I chose a love seat that was a shade darker than the walls. Extravagant frames covered the walls containing pictures of guys, all with dark hair. According to the plates below, group pictures had been taken of each graduating class.

  The boat started to move and my pulse quickened, knowing I was getting closer and closer to seeing Finn. Most importantly, I knew I’d have to walk back down that plank without falling and breaking an ankle, or worse, falling into the water. My hair definitely wouldn’t survive that. Carmen would be pissed.

  I thought about Kira as waiters in white uniforms handed out glasses filled with ice water. I planned on texting Kira later since I hadn’t talked to her today. The memory of her blonde hair hanging limp over her bruised face flashed in my mind and a wave of nausea passed over me. I set down my glass and squeezed my eyes shut. I quickly realized it wasn’t the disturbing image, but the boat’s motion that was causing it. I didn’t even think about sea sickness! Falling in the water might not be so bad after I puked all over my dress. For the next thirty minutes, I concentrated on keeping my dinner down and calming my nerves. Phoebe had been talking non-stop about nothing in particular, which told me she was nervous too.

  The yacht inched to a stop, and the other girls began to stand up. I couldn’t see anything out of the dark windows lining the room, but I knew what loomed above us. And who. My palms started to sweat.

  “Showtime.” Phoebe’s eyes glittered with anticipation. As we stood up, the sea sickness in my stomach morphed into a million butterflies. Why was I so nervous? It was just Finn. Who am I kidding, that was exactly why I was so nervous. He will never be ‘just Finn’. We followed the line of girls and gave our clutches to a Son who was creating an organized pile. I guess they assumed it was easier to leave our belongings on the boat. That phone call to Kira would have to wait.

  When we stepped out on to the deck, we caught a glimpse of the rustic looking contraption that would lift us up to the light station ten stories above.

  “Oh hell no,” Phoebe shook her head vehemently; “I am not getting on that thing.” It greatly resembled a hot air balloon basket, except there was a single metal bar going across one side that swung out, acting as the entrance as well as the exit. Four steel ropes connected to the corners were all linked to a winch high above. I could imagine the Sons assembling this out of spare materials they just found lying around. I wasn’t sure I was ready to trust their handy work with my life. I watched as a girl in a flowing lavender gown began step in, but the Son manning the basket shook his head and said something that made her get back in line.

  “Anastasia Whitman?” The same Son was now calling out my name. Phoebe looked at me with alarm as my own heart seized up. Were they doing this by reverse alphabetical order? That seemed odd.

  “Yes?” I stepped out of line and raised my hand. He gestured for me to come to the front. I gave Phoebe one last confused look and walke
d past fifty or so girls to the front of the line, while each one glared at me as I walked by.

  “Is there a reason I’m going first?” I whispered to the Son who was now holding out his hand to help me in to the basket.

  “It’s tradition,” he said simply. I stepped in, completely confused.

  “What do you mean?” I asked, but before he could answer, the winch above me came to life and the basket started to rise. Holding on tight, I looked out over the water shining in the moonlight and a blanket of silence fell over the night. The view was beautiful, but I made sure not to look down. Why did I have to go first? Was it because of Finn? Did he arrange this? I looked up to see where I was going. A catwalk extended out from the main building, which I would have to walk down. My heart was threatening to jump out of my chest and I could feel my hands shaking. The winch came to a stop as I reached my destination. A crowd of dark haired guys stood about five yards away on the other end of the catwalk. For one horrible second I imagined Finn standing me up, leaving me humiliated in front of everyone. I’d have to be lowered all the way back down in a cloud of shame, to be taken back to the island.

  Then a figure stepped out from the crowd. My heart stopped and my mouth went dry. Wearing a black suit over a dark gray shirt, he confidently sauntered down the catwalk towards me. His dark hair was swept across his forehead perfectly and his dark blue eyes were slightly shadowed. He stopped a foot in front of me. The corners of his mouth lifted in a crooked grin.

  “Welcome to the Cimmerian Shade Ball, Anastasia.” he said formally with a gleam in his eye, then in a hushed voice added, “You look absolutely stunning” With a wink, he extended his hand and I tried to remember how to put one foot in front of the other. We walked across the catwalk towards the crowd of guys awaiting their own dates’ arrival in the basket of death. The crowd split down the middle allowing us passage. Each guy respectfully nodded their head at Finn as we walked by. Before I could figure out the reason for all the pomp and circumstance centered around him, we took a sharp left turn down a dimly lit hallway and climbed several stairs that lead to an unassuming door. It opened from the other side and we stepped out in to the crisp night air. I was entirely unprepared for the scene I saw before me.

  The Light Station had been transformed into a page straight out of a black and white fairy tale. Rows and rows of lights had been strung the entire length of the platform, resembling a thousand tiny fireflies hovering above our heads. Black carpet concealed the concrete beneath, with a dusting of glitter giving it the appearance of diamonds. As we walked, the glitter lifted and swirled around our feet. Thirty or forty formal tables had been set up around the perimeter, with stark white covers hanging over the chairs, each secured with a wide piece of black lace. Elaborate centerpieces overflowing with large white flowers and even larger black feathers sat on black and white damask tablecloths. Placed in the middle of the floor were at least fifty trees in white planters hanging with dark red fruit. At around six to seven feet tall, they encircled a shiny black dance floor. The glow of enchantment was awe-inspiring, and the Ball exuded prestige and tradition. In the middle of the ocean, the darkness of night pulsed with its grandeur.

  “Wow. This is incredible” I smiled up at Finn as I realized he’d been watching me.

  “Thirsty?” he offered.

  “Definitely.” With his hand at the small of my back, he guided me back towards the tower. We walked through a side door and I carefully made my way down another flight of stairs. Whoever built this station, they obviously hadn’t taken high heels into consideration. This time the stairs ended in a spacious room full of comfortable couches and chairs. Floor to ceiling windows lined two opposite walls and a lengthy bar recessed into another wall. I looked at Finn.

  “It’s a mocktail bar.” He smiled down at me.

  “A what?”

  “A mocktail bar. It has all of the normal drinks and cocktails, just without the alcohol.” He explained. I’d never heard of a mocktail bar, but it sounded pretty good. I tried to remember names of popular cocktails.

  “How about a pina colada?” I didn’t know what exactly it would be called without the alcohol.

  “One fake pina colada coming up.” I giggled at him as he headed to the bar, and then decided to inspect the many culinary options around me. There were several tables set up around the room, brimming with food.

  One table was set up fondue style, with large bowls filled to the brim with melted chocolate, caramel, and cream cheese icing. Chunks of pineapple, bananas, strawberries, and other fruits were stacked on platters available for dipping. Another table overflowed with an array of pastries and cakes.

  My mouth began to water when Finn appeared holding a tall hurricane glass filled with yellow deliciousness. A large wedge of pineapple hugged the rim and a cherry garnished the coconut cream on top. I took a sip and my taste buds were assaulted by the savoriness of a tropical island. It also reminded me of Kira’s drink. I took another sip. Finn eyed me with amusement.

  “Hey dude,” a large hand attached to a tall, curly haired guy clamped down on Finn’s shoulder, “I was wondering if you’d ever make it to one of these.” His dark brown eyes were warm and his smile was genuine.

  Finn punched him in the side playfully and nodded towards him, “This is Dominic,” he introduced me.

  I shook Dominic’s hand and smiled politely, “I’m Stasia.”

  “I know.” His grin contradicted his ominous tone.

  A cute girl with long auburn hair, wearing a silk green gown walked up to stand beside him. She had wide green eyes that matched her dress and a tiny button nose.

  “Claudia wanted me to introduce her to the Scion,” he told Finn. Finn glanced my way anxiously while I racked my brain for what the word ‘Scion’ meant.

  “I’m Finn,” he affirmed and shook her hand.

  “It’s such an honor to meet you,” Claudia gushed. “So, when’s your birthday?” Finn flinched.

  “Claudia.” warned Dominic, as if her question might be too personal. “Come on, let’s go dance. See ya’ll later,” he called to us, as he grabbed her elbow and practically dragged her away.

  I turned to Finn with suspicion, “Is there something you’re not telling me?” His face gave nothing away.

  “There’s a lot of things I’m not telling you.” Well at least he was honest.

  “I was waiting for her to ask you to autograph her forehead.”

  He wrapped his arm around my shoulder smugly. “It’s hard work being this good looking.”

  I just rolled my eyes. “Why did Dominic call you the Scion?”

  “Just a nickname,” he shrugged his shoulders.

  “And why did I have to be lifted up first? I thought I was going to get mobbed by the other girls.” I lifted my eyebrows at him, wanting an answer.

  “The most beautiful girl always goes first.” He changed the subject, “How ‘bout we go back up?” I narrowed my eyes at him, letting him know this wasn’t over and allowed him to guide me back outside. I looked around for Phoebe. If she had a breakdown while being lifted in the basket, I’d never forgive myself. I spotted her with Ian on the other side of the dance floor and waved at her. She waved back and smiled. It appeared she had made it up unscathed.

  Chapter 27

  We spent the next hour or so mingling with other couples. Faces and names started blending together, but one thing stuck out in my mind. All of the Sons treated Finn with a higher level of respect than anyone else. Some of the guys even seemed nervous around him.

  Something else that stuck out in my mind was Olivia’s hateful gaze following my every move. Maybe she really was as bad as Phoebe and Carmen said.

  We passed by several of the potted trees on the way back to the bar, so I took the opportunity to take a closer look at their ripe fruit. They were close to the size and shape of a lemon.

  “Pomegranate,” Finn said carefully, as if speaking the word aloud was taboo.

  “Is that what this is?�
� I cradled one in my hand and leaned in to smell it, when Finn stopped me.

  “It’s also called the fruit of the dead.” His foreboding tone had me releasing the fruit and taking a step back. His features hardened and the muscle in his jaw flexed with anger. He looked away and took my hand pulling me away from the trees. His entire body tensed and I followed his eyes toward the tower. An older man in a black suit with striking silver hair observed us, emotionless.

  “I’ll be right back,” he said, without breaking eye contact with the somber man. The stormy expression on his face didn’t look like he wanted to discuss the weather. He was the first person I’d seen that exuded more darkness than Finn. His body seemed to blur and shift within the shadows of the tower. It was very unsettling and I forced myself to look away.

  “Anastasia?” I looked up into the small, cold eyes of a petite girl with light brown hair, wearing a blue dress. She was holding a champagne flute with her pinky finger extended high in the air. She instantly reminded me of Laura Beth, which was not necessarily a good thing.

  “Yes?”

  “So it’s true?” she asked with a hostile undertone.

  “So what’s true?”

  She stared at me. “Don’t you think it’s a little ironic that you’re here with the Scion?” She twirled a ring on her finger that had a bright blue stone. A sapphire, maybe? If she was a Siren that could explain her hostility toward me, being a Tyde.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I turned to face her, not concealing my frustration.

  “Stasia!” Phoebe ran up to the table and threw her arms around me. Thankful for the interruption, I turned my back to the Siren, and then patted the chair beside me.

  “Hey Phoebs! Have a seat.” She sat down beside me and I could tell pinky girl was put out by her sudden appearance. She turned on her heel and walked away without another word.

  “Who was that?” Phoebe asked as she took a sip of something pink. Her face was flushed and her eyes were shining with excitement.