The Prevalence: Sequel and Final Book of The Premortals (The Premortals Series 2)

by Jacqueline Wrenley

  “So where do you really come from Lady Elaine?” Selene asked.

  “From Coastal City,” I answered shyly then I took a sip from my tea.

  “Oh I have been there twice!” Amelia declared proudly. Karina gave her an annoying look and Selene ignored her.

  “It must have been hard for you, your ascension from Beta to Elite but you are one of the lucky ones, leaving that awful station, I cannot imagine living in such impoverished life,” she remarked and delicately took a sip from her tea.

  I sat there in silence, not sure if she meant to be sincere or berate my previous station but I chose not to comment at all.

  “Tell us what is it like? When you were still a Beta? Do you get to eat like a full meal in a day?” Karina curiously asked.

  I was taken aback by her question and wasn’t sure if she was serious but when I glanced at her, it seemed she was unaware of how offensive and ignorant she sounded while she waited for my reply. I decided then to enlighten her about my life back home.

  “Well, most Beta had just enough to eat but some of the Omegas could hardly feed their family at all,” I explained.

  “That is sad, it is hard having only one course in a meal, and I cannot even have my fill with just two,” Amelia admitted looking glum.

  “True,” Karina agreed with the same misappropriate impression.

  “Imagine those hungry filth eating with us at our banquet dinners… they will surely be acting like savages,” Selene said with disgust.

  Karina and Amelia grimaced.

  I took another sip from my tea trying my best to hide my face while I frowned, not because I felt the same way as they did but the way they thought of us at the lower stations and how they belittle us.

  “I find them fascinating though,” Roland suddenly said staring dreamingly to nowhere.

  The three Ladies stopped what they were doing and stared at him dumbfounded, startled by his comment, even I wasn’t expecting that.

  “What? I get bored sometimes that I wonder what it would be like just for a day to live like the lower stations,” he explained and laughed.

  “Well, do not expect me to ever go with you,” Selene snapped, not amused.

  Karina must’ve notice the look of confusion and shock on my face when she giggled. “You did not know? Prince Roland and Lady Selene are to be matched.”

  “Oh!” I reacted and realized that was why they were comfortable talking that way around each other.

  Roland chuckled then turned to Selene. “Do not worry my dear I do not plan on anything to stain with abomination my station or you.”

  Time would come when Roland and Selene were to be matched, she would still be a Lady, but when he becomes the new Emperor, it was then she becomes our new Empress. I studied them, she would make a very stunning Sovereign but I fear for the future of the Empire when both of them would finally ascend to the throne.

  “Enough about that, I want to know what the lower stations do for fun,” Roland said and his eyes on me wearing a smirk on his face.

  I was searching for an answer while they patiently anticipated. “I can’t speak for the others but back home we’re too preoccupied with work that we don’t have time for any, and if we had time, we’d be too tired.”

  Karina and Amelia gave a look of disappointment at each other, Selene showed no emotion and Roland was shaking his head then he laughed and declared, “I guess I was wrong, they are boring after all.”

  The two Ladies laughed loudly with him and Selene couldn’t resist giggling. I was the only one who didn’t find it funny. The lower stations predicaments were nothing to them but a ridicule. Something they’d never come to understand in their lifetime. They’d never comprehend how families were working all the time to a job with no opportunities to succeed and wages far below their worth but they deal with it just so they can feed their children and themselves. They’d never know what it was like to be hungry or not affording anything even the necessities, and only living on daily meager wages barely enough to pay the bills and taxes.

  “Aw… Why the sad face?” Roland asked with no traces of concern on his face.

  Selene chuckled lightly and teased, “You hurt her feelings.”

  Roland smiled broadly. “I know what would cheer you up.”

  We headed back inside the manor and followed Roland. He led us across the magnificent hallway until we reached a large white double door. When he opened, inside it was like a giant maze of walls, one behind another where exquisite oil paintings that seem to come alive on the canvas hung on all surfaces. All framed in gold with impressive craftsmanship on the details.

  Roland guided us through, fascinated by the paintings as if he never saw it before, and he’d comment on what he thought the painting was about or what the artist was trying to say. Each painting told a different story and each depending on the point of view of the observer, even a simple painting could describe so much through its colors and strokes transforming itself into something magnificent, that was the great thing about art.

  Selene looked bored, Karina pretty much didn’t care, and Amelia was curious. I stayed behind while they moved forward. A painting with dark background caught my eye. There was a pale naked woman lying down on a red cushioned couch and her back on top of the arm rest, her head dangled from there almost touching the floor. It looks like she was tortured with the whip lacerations on her waist but her face was peaceful, then out of nowhere, Selene stood beside me.

  “What do you see?” Selene asked in a soft and low voice breaking me from the trance.

  I hesitated then answered, “I see her suffering from a fate she never intended to be in.”

  She was silent and after a while, solemnly said, “A love lost...”

  I quickly turned facing her and the words caught me off guard. She continued to stare forward and added, “Tormented by a love given then taken away...”

  She baffled me. I never saw her as someone capable of such words laced with sorrow and pain but her face revealed none of it when she spoke. It was like she forgot I was here, saying it for her own self-satisfaction and it unconsciously escaped from her lips out loud instead.

  “What are you two Ladies doing?” Roland suddenly appeared from behind.

  I jumped at his abrupt presence and Selene was back to her own self again facing him. “Are we done here? This place gives me the creeps,” she snarled with a hint of annoyance.

  He laughed. “Not yet, Lady Elaine has not seen everything.”

  We continued to follow him through the maze. He kept on discussing about his passion for each painting and I was the only one who had his attention and was starting to enjoy the tour while the rest were looking bored including Amelia who eventually lost her interest. The Ladies were falling behind as Roland and I walked forward, now nearing the end of the hall.

  “So what do you think? Do you have a favorite?”

  “Hmm… I think I like the one where a man was walking towards the lighthouse,” I replied with uncertainty.

  “Really? Why?” he asked looking puzzled.

  “I don’t know… it intrigues me. The man goes to the lighthouse every day alone in the middle of nowhere in the cold ocean because it’s his job and if he doesn’t do it, many ships would be lost at sea, and yet he could have chosen any other job but he chose the lighthouse,” I explained.

  Roland didn’t say anything and was silently gazing at me then smiled after. “You are really something you know? I did not see the painting that way until you said it. I guess that would be my new favorite too.”

  Was he being nice to me by saying that?

  He must’ve read my mind. “I see myself as the man and the lighthouse the crown. Without me, all will be lost,” he continued, beaming with conviction.

  I regretted telling him my thoughts of the painting after that.

  The three Ladies finally caught up to us and Selene clearly irritated spoke to Roland, “Finally! Can we go now?”

  He smiled and said, �
�How about a rest and freshening up before tonight’s dinner party?”

  I was in my chambers and all my luggage were already brought up. I laid myself on the large bed then sighed heavily, exhausted, not because of any physical activity but I was mentally drained. They were difficult people to deal with, although once in a while they’d seem enjoyable but it was obvious I had nothing in common with them. If only I could stay here and hide for the duration of the stay.

  I was about to close my eyes when I heard a soft knock. I was contented settling myself on the soft bed, not wanting to answer, whoever it was should go away but there was another knock. I frowned, too tired to go to the door so I lazily shouted, “Come in.”

  The door opened then a male voice spoke, “My Lady?”

  I gasp, quickly sat up on the bed startled by the voice after I was expecting a maid. A footman wearing the Bermule colors entered then bowed, he was one of Thomas’s men. I stood up and smoothed my gown.

  “My Lady, Thomas sent me,” he said in a slightly hushed tone while closing the door behind him.

  “Yes?” I asked.

  “We‘ve a problem my Lady,” he said exhibiting an expression of concern.

  I was dismayed when he said the word ‘problem’.

  “What is it?” I inquired with urgency.

  “We found the Prince’s route plan but we weren’t expecting it to be inside the manor.”

  “Then you could get it right?” I didn’t understand why this had something to do with me.

  “My Lady, it’s inside the office of the head of security, near the servant’s quarters and it’s always kept lock when no one is inside but we know where to get the key...”

  “So get the key and open it,” I interrupted impatiently.

  “Well…” His gaze dropped then back at me. “The head of security always bring the key with him and the only time he‘ll leave it’s when he’s sleeping, only then it’d be possible to get the key from him, but our main concern is…” he paused then continued, “the household keeps the doors locked at night so we need someone to unlock the servant’s entrance door from the inside and we were thinking you could do it my Lady.”

  “What?” I said, aghast by his suggestion. “Why me?”

  “My Lady, only the Prince’s personal servants are allowed to sleep inside the servant’s quarters while we stay in a separate quarters outside with the head of security, guards and drivers, and the only time we can get into the office without being caught is when everybody else is asleep.”

  This was a terrible idea, and I thought I was not going to be involved at all but I was wrong.

  “There must be another way,” I suggested.

  He was shaking his head. “No my Lady, you’re the only one inside the manor.”

  My stay here was getting much more complicated but they didn’t have anyone else and without my help, this would never work and it’d be all for nothing. Now I had more than Roland and his friends to worry about.

  “Alright,” I eventually agreed. “When are we doing this?”

  “Tonight my Lady at two o’clock before dawn. We’ll be waiting outside the servant’s entrance.”

  “Where’s it again?”

  “Go east my Lady along the hallway until you reach the stairs going down. Below the steps, the door will be farther to your left at the end of the hallway. We need to be quick but quiet my Lady. Guards will be patrolling outside the manor grounds even at night.”

  “I’ll be there,” I assured him.

  He silently nodded. Bowed and left my chambers.

  I took a deep breath and exhaled. It was hard enough I had to deal with Roland and the rest. Then I had to handle this whole other situation. I convinced myself this was a stroll in a park compared to what I had to endure at dinner tonight in the lion’s den.

  The maids came to my chambers to assist me in changing to another gown. It was beige and silver this time and exposed my chest and shoulders. After I was done, I left my chambers. The hallway was already lit up with warm lights like candles. I was on my way to the dining hall when I crossed path with Karina and Amelia on their way there too, and they had also changed to a more refined formal gown. They giggled and complimented each other and then at me when I came over. When we arrived, Roland was there outside the door waiting for us smiling broadly.

  Two footmen opened the large doors to the dining hall, revealing an excessively huge golden chandelier hung at the center illuminating warm lights and its vine like arms crawled on the ceiling making the hall more surreal. There was a long glass dining table with gold legs and cushioned gold chairs probably accommodating around fifty people. White candles and colorful varieties of flowers were the center piece stretching from end to end.

  At the center on the wall was a painting extending from the ceiling to the floor of a magical winged white horse standing on its hind legs, and riding on its back was a beautiful woman holding a sword, with a pale golden hair, wearing a white cloth flowing elegantly with the nonexistent wind.

  “That is our first Empress, Yuvaika,” Roland said, noticing me admiring the painting.

  “Our great Empress Yuvaika,” Selene suddenly spoke from behind us.

  We turned and I saw her approaching, moving effortlessly wearing an emerald gown and her golden hair was placed up neatly into a loose bun showing her perfect neck and shoulders, and her piercing light blue eyes glittered under the warm lights.

  Roland beamed and said, “Just like you someday my Lady.”

  He gently took her hand and kissed it, then guided her to the long table. We took our seats after the footmen pulled our chairs. Roland sat at the head of the table, Selene and I were on either side of him and Amelia sat beside me and Karina beside Selene.

  More footmen carrying trays of all kinds of sliced meat garnished in green herbs and spices or sauces of white or darker shade for our first course came in a single file on each side of the table.

  There were so many choices for just a single course and only five of us were dining. Expensive wine was poured while we chose a dish out of many. I was amazed and disgusted of the excessiveness and extravagance of it all. They didn’t even seem impressed like this was the way it was supposed to be every day. Back in Pinewood, we also had multiple courses in one meal setting but never like this.

  After we finally chose our first course, the footmen all left with their trays. The Ladies gossiped about their fellow Elites and Roland listened and joined if it pleased him. I sat there silently minding my own plate.

  “Have you heard of Lord Philip? Lady Amber caught him sleeping with Lady Genevieve in one of their chambers,” Karina said before putting a piece of roast beef on her mouth with her fork.

  I looked up from my plate confused and wasn’t sure if what I heard was actually what I thought it was.

  “Lady Amber simply left them in the chambers without saying a word,” Karina added and Amelia giggled.

  “Oh it is not the first time they were caught. They have been doing it for a while now and Lady Amber cannot do anything about it,” Roland said chuckling.

  I couldn’t contain myself anymore. “I’m sorry but what are you all saying?” I interrupted.

  They all paused and stared at me baffled. Selene was holding her glass and then she suddenly laughed, it was the first time I heard her do so, and even her laugh was so demure, then they all joined laughing with her.

  “Poor you… so innocent. Who has been teaching you the ways of the Elites since you became one?” Selene asked with pity, yet in a mocking way.

  I gave her no answer. She stared with her piercing eyes glimmering with amusement and continued, “Did you really think the laws apply to the Elites?” She took a sip from her wine before adding, “Of course not. We do what we want if it amuses us and having sex with whomever we wish is part of our entertainment.” She answered her own question and spoke with pride and firmness.

  Her words echoed in my head and it confirmed how vain and self-entitled they all were.
Everything was a game for them, permission was not in their vocabulary, and they had no consideration of the consequences of their actions, deeming themselves above the law. It was encrypted in their very being, born an Elite made them deserve all the respect and power no matter how they act or what they say.

  “I think… we should show Lady Elaine how to be an Elite,” Roland suggested with a coy smile, swirling his wine glass.

  “Ooh… great idea!” Karina happily agreed.

  “How about a masquerade ball tomorrow night?” Roland enthusiastically said.

  Amelia excitedly clapped her hands and said eagerly, “Yes please!”

  Not another ball. I felt myself sank.

  “You will love Prince Roland’s masquerade balls,” Karina gleefully said facing me.

  “It will be my great contribution to the Beta station, teaching Lady Elaine how to be an Elite,” he declared proud of himself.

  “Yes it is, the Crowned Prince himself teaching a Beta to be an Elite, is indeed the kindest thing you can do for her,” Selene agreed.

  I sat silently thinking how senseless and how full of themselves they were. I was punishing myself for tolerating this. I grabbed my glass from the table and took a sip of the wine to calm down.

  “I would make a great Emperor someday,” he announced dreamingly.

  I almost choked from my drink but thankfully no one noticed.

  “To the future Emperor!” Selene raised her glass with poise for a toast, beaming. Amelia and Karina enthusiastically followed and I awkwardly did the same, and we drank from our glasses to a bleak and dark future.

  The night went on with more courses served until the brightly colorful desserts arrived. We drank from the Prince’s expensive wine collection. Amelia began to get drunk and drowsy, nodding her head then jerk back up. Karina became noisier and louder continuing to gossip about her fellow Elites. Sometimes I couldn’t understand a word she was saying when she started to slur.

  She was talking about the Lords who use Ineverate, an illegal recreational drug, and she eagerly spoke about the latest trends of the Elite Ladies. She divulged about who slept with whom, and who secretly dislikes or desires who, and she spoke of the physical flaws of some of the Ladies she knew. Selene remained unaffected, sitting on her chair with the same elegance from the moment she entered the hall. Roland was laughing with Karina at the same time entertained by her drunken state.