Thanks to all who followed, reviewed and marked this story as favorite! It means a lot that you are enjoying it! Also, thanks to that guest reviewer who mentioned the spelling mistakes, don't be afraid to tell me if something bothers you! After all English is my second language.
They are not the same, and I don't know why I am so surprised when I walk into my new room; a more fitted room for a future Queen is what the guards said, and find that the servant red girls are not the same as the ones that took care of me for the last few months. Gone is the short and perky brunette who was always first in everything, ready to serve wordlessly to a girl who was clearly not Silver, but who never said a word about it. Gone is the tall blonde, who stayed in the back and made sure everything was perfect, from the towel position to the garments laid on the bed for me to wear. And gone is, too, the girl with the simple braid who laid little flower bouquets in my pillow, lavender, sweet Jasmine and honeysuckle tied together with a delicate ribbon. Small details that made of my time here a bit less lonely.
I didn't even know their names.
I don't know why it bothers me so much, why I thought they would be alive and well now that I was back, especially considering all they knew. If Maven had no problem killing his own guards, what were a few reds for him? It's ridiculous.
But as the guards leave me in the gigantic room, and the new girls undo themselves in bows and reverences, all I can think is how I never even knew their names, never even cared to know.
I thought I was doing what was right when I signed into the Scarlet guard. I did it was because I told myself it was enough. The silvers had taken my brother's life, I just wanted to stop them, to stop that empty feeling I got every time I reminded Shade from forming on another person, another sister, mother, daughter. That was what I told myself, at least.
That was the right reason, and so I wanted to believe that was why I was doing it but, besides my family what thought had I given to my actions? How come if I did everything for other reds I never thought of what would happen to them after the revolution? Not only Silver lives would be lost, they would fight back and try to maintain their domain over us, I knew that and yet I didn't care.
Had I really done it for them, or had I used it as an excuse to justify my actions? It sounded so much better and it was so much easier when what I did it was for the common good than simply to act out on revenge without caring who went down.
It was funny, but before I used to think I was worthless, pitiful but always oh so especial. I loved to wallow in my misery; nobody had it worse than me, the poor red girl with the parents who couldn't appreciate her because she wasn't like her sister. Did I ever felt guilty about the coins I stole from people who broke their backs to feed their families? People who lost food and health over a few minutes of my work on the shade as they melt in the burning sun?
No, because poor little Mare was justified, wasn't she? Poor little Mare was doing it for her family, but she never stopped to think of the ones she ruined. And I realize in this instant that it's not only Maven who has to die, but is old Mare who must go down too. The dark to Gisa's light, the shadow to Cal's flame are two sides of the same coin.
I have to change if I want to make this work.
"It's alright," my voice was firm but kind as I spoke and the maids stopped their shuffling to look at me with wide eyes. "I can bath on my own. What are your names?"
The three of them stood frozen, it's not common for a Silver to speak to a red with kindness, I never did, and if they do it's only for punishment, a cruel game to play on them.
One girl was so scared, she wouldn't even look at me, her eyes were pinned to the black crystal floor. The other two, so alike they had to be sisters, stood side by side. The taller one spoke first, barely able to contain the trembling in her voice but holding her chin high. From my etiquette lessons I learned about Reds too, and how a Silver should treat them and be treated by them. Those were the hardest parts of my training, and I still remember the anger flowing through me as I tried to contain the lighting from escaping and pulverizing the blood healer's smug smile.
A red would never look a Silver in the eyes, they had to remain head high but eyes low, never directly speaking with their superior unless it was requested for them to do so. A Silver could request anything they wanted from a Red, and as long as that servant was for their personal use, the demands may vary if you are a guest in a home and are being served by your hostess' servant. In that case they would explain which servants to fetch, though it would be impolite for a Silver not to lend a red as a worker if their guest demanded it so.
"My name is Eri, Your Highness." She looked at some point near my face for as long as she dared before bowing her head slightly and her sister immediately followed
"M-My name is Leri, Your Hi-Highness." The small red girl said, eyes casted down.
"I am Fillan, Your Highness." The last girl said, her eyes still glued to the floor.
Eri, Leri, Fillian, Eri, Leri, Fillian, Eri, Leri, Fillian, Eri, Leri, Fillian, Eri, Leri, Fillian, Eri, Leri, Fillian, Eri, Leri, Fillian. I cannot forget.
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you all." I managed to sound lady-like. The last thing I needed was for them to find something fishy, or to report back to Maven. Surely he had them by the troath, using the girls as spies to make sure I behaved. Two could play this game.
"But I like privacy as I bath, I'm sure you can understand. Why don't you help me and lay the options of gowns for me to choose for the ceremony today?"
"But-" The younger of the sisters stuttered and went quiet.
"Your Highness, King Maven has already chosen a garment for you." Her older sister finished for her. Of course he did, when it wasn't Elara it was him, controlling everything I did. But I knew that even though he was the King and this was his parents' ceremony we were attending, no lady of a high house, especially his fiancé, would be controlled on what she wore. She might be advised, or a compromise between the two families could be reached, but the same went for the groom. I had to keep appearances up.
"And how kind it was of him." I said with a disinterested shrug, as if it was nothing but a simple gift from him, a gesture of sorts. "But I have more than one option. Please, if you would be so kind."
I could see the hesitation in them, and I hated to put them in a position that would endanger them, but if I were to treat them any different or tried to reach out to them in some way Maven would notice, and the danger they would be in would much worse. I had to act as Lady Mareena Titanos, engaged to Norta's King, and she was not afraid.
"Lovely garments." Maven casually commented as we waited in the adjoining room for the ceremony to begin. He was dressed in his ever present dark suit, with silver trimming on the sides. A simple cut, modest and amplified by the elaborate embroidery on the cuffs, neck and pockets; small silver flames that made his suit look like it was on fire, slowly consuming the fabric. He looked powerful, burning but cold, smart but unreachable. He looked like a beautiful monster.
"I know, I picked them out myself." I sighed with false modesty. I had eventually chosen the black dress Maven had sent for me, after pretending to go over my options over and over, combining dresses with silk and leather belts, boots and sandals. Lady Mareena always took her time to look as good as she knew she was. Of course I still had to have something different, a small detail to show Maven (and myself) that I was my own person. I was starting to understand his games better now, and I knew Maven would get bored if I simply played along. He wanted a challenge, a chase or he would get rid of me. That was the reason behind my small ruby pendants. Red. Such an ugly color for a Silver.
His only response was a small smile.
I'm sorry for the short chapter, I have been really busy lately and this was the best I could manage. The story will pick up soon!