by A J Manney
She burst into the throne room and saw Kael and her mother and father laughing and talking. Didn’t they know they were in danger? Didn’t they know that they were going to die? Zalia tried to scream, but nothing came out. She tried running to them, but invisible forces kept her from getting there. She watched in horror as the soldiers came and surrounded them. She cried out again. She tried to run harder; she had to stop them. She saw as they were struck down. “No!” she screamed. She knew what would happen next. She fell to her knees in agony. As the soldiers moved in, her brother turned and looked directly at her. Then he was struck down.
Zalia shot up out of bed, crying softly, covered in sweat. She tried to get control of her breathing. She stood up on shaky legs and walked around her room for a few minutes trying to get herself under control. She finally sat back down on her bed. She didn’t want to sleep. She was terrified of going to sleep. She hated this feeling of fear. Her nightmares robbed her of peace. She got out of bed and lit the lantern on the end table. She pulled out the book she had been reading earlier and started it again. She read for a long time.
Zalia opened her eyes and looked around. It was morning. She had finally slept. She sat up, and the book toppled off her chest, having fallen asleep reading it. She carefully picked it up and placed it on the table. She walked over to the water basin and splashed water on her face. She looked in the mirror and saw the dark shadows under her eyes. It was a good thing everybody would be wearing masks tonight. Zalia slowly got dressed for the day and headed to breakfast.
Breakfast was a quiet affair as it was just Zalia and Raven. Her grandfather had left a note saying he and Beckam were busy attending to kingdom business. It looked like it was just Zalia and Raven for the day.
After breakfast, Zalia and Raven headed to their rooms. When they got there, Zalia asked Raven to come into her room. They both walked in and sat on the bed. “What are we going to do all day?” Raven asked as they lay back on Zalia’s bed.
“I don’t know,” Zalia said. Zalia sat up. “I borrowed some books from Grandfather’s library. Would you like to look at them and see if you want to read one?” she asked Raven.
Raven sat up immediately, her eyes sparkling, “Really? Could I read one of them?”
Zalia laughed at her enthusiasm. “Of course.” She walked over and grabbed the three titles she had and gave them to Raven. She watched as Raven held them reverently before her. Zalia asked her, “Have you never read books before?”
Raven looked at her. “I know how to read but I’ve never had books like these to read. I’m going to be busy the rest of the day!” she said with a huge smile.
Zalia smiled back, happy for her. Now she just had to figure out what to do for the day. She lay there for a moment longer before deciding to do something she hadn’t done since that fateful day when she lost everything. She got up and walked over to her bag and pulled out her sketchbook and pencils. She looked up at Raven and looked down again at her book. She wanted privacy but didn’t know how to ask without being rude. Just then, Raven stood up. “Do you mind if I take these to my room? I’d like to lie down in my bed and read for a while,” she asked Zalia.
“Of course,” Zalia said with a smile. “Come back this afternoon and we can get ready together.” Raven agreed and headed out the door with her treasures. Zalia walked over and sat down on her bed. She sat there for a moment without opening the book. She thought back to the last time she had drawn. She had no idea that her life was going to change forever. She wasn’t sure if she was strong enough to look through the pages, but she opened her sketchbook slowly. She turned through the first few pages, seeing pictures of the ocean, flowers, and other random pictures. She kept turning pages, then stopped. She stared down at her book. She was looking at a picture of her mother. Zalia reached out her hand to touch her mother’s face. “I miss you, Mother,” she said as tears began to track down her face. Next, she saw a picture of Kael. More tears poured down her cheeks. She kept flipping through the pages, looking for a picture of her father. She never found one. Sorrow overcame her as she realized she didn’t even have a picture to remember him by. He had been hard on her, but she had known he loved her. Zalia turned to a new page and began drawing her father.
The hours flew by as Zalia got lost in her work. She hadn’t realized she missed lunch and it was now late into the afternoon until Raven knocked quickly on her door and came flying in. “Zalia, we only have an hour until the guests start arriving!”
With a yelp, Zalia jumped up from her bed. “Oh my goodness! I completely lost track of time.” Both girls started moving in a frenzy. They spent the next few minutes taking turns in the bathroom getting washed up and putting their underclothes on. Raven helped Zalia do her hair first, managing to wrangle all Zalia’s curls into an elegant pile on top of her head. She left a few curls hanging down around her face, softening the look. Then Zalia helped Raven with her hair. They decided to leave it down. Zalia brushed it several times until it shined. She then pulled the sides up and twisted them, pinning them in the back. When they had finished everything, they were ready to step into their beautiful dresses.
Zalia picked up Raven’s and walked towards her. “Let’s get you into your dress first,” she said. She helped Raven step into it and then went behind her to fasten all the clasps. After finishing, she directed Raven over to the mirror and stood beside her. “Raven, you look absolutely stunning,” she said. Raven blushed. Zalia meant every word. Her yellow dress complimented her bronzed skin and dark hair.
Raven turned toward Zalia, “Your turn,” she said.
“Wait a second,” Zalia said. She walked over to the table beside her bed and pulled out the drawer. Inside lay her new dagger from Beckam and her sheath. She quickly placed the sheath around her leg and slipped her dagger into it. It felt weird, but she figured she would get used to it. When she turned back to Raven, she grinned at the look on her face. “What? I want to be prepared,” she said.
Raven shook her head. “Come on, let’s get you into your dress, Warrior Princess,” she said teasingly.
Raven picked up the beautiful deep red dress and brought it over to Zalia and helped her slip into it. Zalia pulled it up around her chest while Raven started the tiny clasps in the back. Zalia looked in the mirror for a second.
“Raven, this isn’t going to work,” she said in a nervous voice. Raven stopped what she was doing and came around to look at the front of the dress.
“You’re right. Your chemise is showing. Oh well, you’re just going to have to go without it,” Raven said nonchalantly.
“Go without it?” Zalia squeaked. “I can’t do that.”
Raven looked at her and looked at the dress. “Well, you don’t want to wear it looking like that. It will be fine. You will be plenty covered. Come on, I’ll help you take it off.”
Zalia stood there a moment longer pondering. “You’re right. Okay. I’ll do it.”
Raven chuckled and helped her step out of the dress. Then she came around to the front of Zalia. “Okay, we have to do this carefully so we don’t ruin your hair.” Together they worked carefully to pull Zalia’s chemise off. Then Zalia stepped into the dress for the second time. Zalia held the dress up around her chest as Raven walked behind her to help fasten the clasps once again.
Raven stepped behind her and gasped. Zalia’s head shot up. “What is it?” She turned around and looked at Raven. Raven stared at her speechless. Zalia felt dread pool in the bottom of her stomach.
Chapter 11
“When did you get these marks?” Raven asked.
Zalia looked at her in confusion. “What marks?”
Raven stared at her, then put her hand over her mouth and shook her head.
Zalia looked at her like she’d lost her mind. “Raven, what is the matter with you? You aren’t making any sense.”
Raven marched Zalia over to the tall mirror and went to the bathroom and came back with a small mirror and shoved it in Zalia’s hand. “Look!�
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Zalia was almost too scared to look in the mirror. She wasn’t sure what she would find. With shaking hands, she held up the mirror and gasped, almost dropping the mirror. She stepped closer to the mirror to look at her back.
There, just under her shoulder blade and trailing to the middle of her back, were the exact markings that Prince Valen had on his back. Zalia stared at the crescent moon surrounded by other intricate markings. Zalia couldn’t breathe. Her heart began pounding loudly in her chest. She shot panic-stricken eyes to Raven. “I don’t understand. What does that mean? How did this happen?”
Raven reached out and grabbed both her hands. “Zalia, look at me. Don’t panic. It’s okay. We will figure it out. We will just ask...”
“NO!” Zalia shouted. She looked Raven right in the eye. “You can’t tell anybody! Promise me you won’t.”
Raven looked at Zalia. “It will be okay...”
“Promise me,” Zalia said again.
Raven took a slow breath. “Okay, I promise I won’t tell anybody.” They both stood there silently for a moment, lost in thought. Then Zalia walked over to the mirror to look at it again.
“It really is beautiful,” she said softly. Then she moaned. “I can’t even wrap my head around what this could possibly mean. I mean, I’m obviously not a first-born prince. Do you think I got this because my father and brother died, but why would it be the same as Prince Valen’s? I am so confused right now,” she finally said. She was working herself into a panic again.
Raven came over to grab her hands again. “We will figure it out, I promise. But right now, you have to calm down. We need to get you to the party. Your party. We will have time later to sort this all out. The best thing would be to just not think about it.” She finished fastening the back of Zalia’s dress and started to turn towards the door. She stopped and turned back. “Oh, and don’t show anyone your back.”
Zalia sputtered. “How would I show anyone my back? I’m not going to be getting undressed at the party!” Raven laughed and stood at the door waiting for her.
Zalia took just a moment to look at herself in the mirror. The deep red dress from her grandfather looked more beautiful than she thought it would. Her mother’s earrings hung from her ears. Zalia couldn’t believe how they complemented her dress perfectly. Her soft leather shoes lay beneath the satin folds of her dress, safely covered but oh so comfortable. Looking in the mirror, Zalia felt she looked older, more mature. She looked away from the mirror to where Raven stood.
“You look beautiful, Zalia. Like the princess you are,” Raven told her. They smiled at each other and jumped when they heard a knock at the door.
Zalia looked in the mirror one last time, wondering what the marks meant and what in the world she was going to do about it.
Raven turned and opened the door. Beckam stood there, dressed in his royal dress clothes. He wore a white tunic top with black pants. Over that he wore his royal blue robe with gold buttons running all along the left side and gold cuffs on his wrists.
“Beckam, you look so handsome. How come you haven't made some lucky girl a princess yet?” Zalia asked.
He grinned with a cocky smile. “Haven't met her yet.”
Zalia grinned at him. “You haven’t found one girl that you liked enough to make her your princess? Maybe you’re being too picky,” she said with her hands on her hips.
Beckam looked at her for a moment. “You know I can’t just pick any girl, right? Never mind. Now is not the time for this discussion. We have a party to get to. You both look beautiful.”
Both girls smiled and said, “Thank you.” He put out an arm to both girls. They each put an arm through his and floated down the hall to the ballroom. Beckam explained that when they got to the entrance of the ballroom, there would be a basket of masks to choose from.
Zalia started getting nervous. She wasn’t used to being around a lot of people. She had never been allowed to be around visitors in Arrosa, and they certainly had never hosted any balls or parties that she could remember. She did know how to dance. She had a private tutor to thank for that. She knew she could dance well, but she had only ever danced with her tutor. What if she couldn’t dance well with other partners? She started getting worked up, and Beckam must have noticed.
He looked down at Zalia with a smile. “There’s nothing to be nervous about. Your mask will cover your eyes and most of your nose. No one will know who you are.” Zalia tried to return his smile but was sure she failed miserably.
They came near the entrance to the ballroom and just as Beckam said, there were several baskets of masks. Zalia and Raven started looking through them. There were so many, and Zalia had no idea which one to choose. After a few minutes of looking and getting more confused by the moment, Beckam held up a mask. “This one, Zalia.” He handed her a beautiful silver mask that looked as if it were decorated with tiny diamonds. It sparkled in the light. A single red feather adorned the side.
Zalia caught her breath. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
“For a beautiful princess,” Beckam’s deep voice said as he helped her put it on. It took a moment to get used to, but it wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be. Actually, it was kind of fun. She felt like she could be in plain sight and yet hidden all at the same time.
“I should wear one of these all the time,” Zalia said and Beckam smiled. Zalia looked over at Raven. “Raven, I love yours,” Zalia said. Raven’s mask had yellow butterfly wings that perfectly complemented her outfit.
Beckam smiled at them both. “All right. Let’s get you two lovely ladies to this party.” He walked ahead of them and opened the door.
“Wait, why aren’t you wearing a mask?” Zalia asked.
“I’m here for security. I will be watching over you for the evening, and I don’t want a mask to get in my way,” he said with ease. Zalia wasn’t sure what to say. Beckam turned around and opened the doors. “After you, ladies.”
Zalia felt as if she were entering a fairy tale. Everywhere she looked, ladies in beautiful gowns and glittering masks stood eating and talking. The men were all impeccably dressed and wearing masks as well. Tables loaded with food and drinks were lined all around the room. Musicians played music off to the side, and couples were already dancing on the dance floor. Zalia felt immersed in this fairy tale.
Raven put her arm on Zalia’s and Zalia could feel her shaking. She was just as nervous as Zalia. Zalia turned to her and said, “Let’s get some food,” Zalia suggested. Raven nodded.
Zalia and Raven headed towards the food, but before they got there, a man with a gold mask stepped into their path.
“Good evening, beautiful ladies. I am looking for a dance partner. Can I interest you in a dance?” He asked the question of both of them but looked at Zalia as he asked.
Zalia hesitated for a moment, and Raven whispered in her ear. “I’m fine. Go ahead.” She turned to walk away, leaving Zalia all alone with the man.
She took a deep breath. “I would love to,” she told the man. She took the arm he offered and walked toward the dance floor. They began to dance. The song and the movements were well known to Zalia, and she began to relax.
Her partner looked into her eyes. “My name is Hadden. What’s your name?”
Zalia froze for a moment. She was sure she wasn’t supposed to give her name, but was she supposed to make up one? She looked up at him and smiled. “I can't tell you my name. This is a masquerade ball after all, right?” she managed, smiling sweetly at him. He threw back his head and laughed.
“You are right,” he said graciously. They danced a little longer; then the song finished. Zalia thanked him for the dance and was going to make her way over to the food when another man asked her to dance. This continued on for quite some time. Zalia was never able to take a break long enough to get food before someone would ask her to dance again. She enjoyed the dancing, but she was starting to get weary. She had seen Raven several times on the dance floor, so she must have been kept
busy too. Zalia was just about to head towards the food table when she felt arms circle her waist and pull her back to the dance floor. She gasped and turned around to see her next dance partner.
“Hi gorgeous, we haven’t had a chance to meet yet. With a body like yours, I would have known if we had. I’m Jasper. What’s your name?” Zalia took in a quick breath and looked up at her dance partner. He was tall and well-built. Even though he was wearing a black mask, she could see his eyes leering at her. “Cat got your tongue, beautiful?” he asked.
Zalia looked up at him and tried to smile. She gave him the line she had been giving out all night. “I can't tell you my name. This is a masquerade ball after all, right?” He looked at her as if angered by her response.
Annoyed, he looked at her again. “No, seriously, what is your name?” When Zalia didn’t respond he continued. “What kind of a game are you playing?” he asked.
Zalia looked up at him in surprise. “I’m not playing any games, sir.” In response, he tightened his hold on her.
“Stop playing around and tell me your name,” he said almost angrily.
Zalia looked at him. None of the other men she had danced with had given her any problems when she didn’t give her name, but this guy seemed angry with her. Zalia stopped dancing and made a move to pull away. He didn’t let go but rather held on to her tighter. His arms were strong, and he was grasping her arms really hard now. She was going to have bruises if he didn’t loosen his grip.
He shook her angrily. “I’m done playing your games. Tell me your name or...”
Strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her hard up against a hard chest. “Or what?” she heard a low voice say behind her. Zalia stiffened as she recognized Valen’s voice, but it was cold and deadly now. Zalia stared at the man in front of her.
The man instantly took a step backward when he saw who held her. “Your Highness, I didn’t know you were here.” Beckam appeared at his side a moment later and yanked his arm, pulling him away from Zalia and toward the door. The man didn’t make a sound but allowed Beckam to pull him from the room. A moment later Kell, the captain of the King’s Guard grabbed the man from the other side.
