Chapter Two - The First Test
Roseberry007 : Thank you! And hehe, it actually only occurred to me as I was writing, but I decided it made sense! After all, sirens would be accustomed to swimming, so they wouldn't need to bother with tails. It just made sense to me.
Ashka Silver : Haha, thank you! I'm glad you like them so much! It means a lot that you take the time to read them. ;)
Evx : Thank you! I feel like Mina would've had a lot more guts had she been born and raised in Fae palace life, so I decided to implement that in the story. c: And thank you for taking the time out of your day to read all of my stories! It means so much to me!
andgirl12 : Thank you! Mina's going to be a bit more snarky, mainly because she's royalty and Fae, so she's had a bit of a different raising, but I'm really enjoying writing this!
Mina's POV
Seven Years Ago...
"You came?" Teague - although I don't think I'll be telling him any time soon about the fact that I'm referring to him in such an informal manner - looks totally stunned that I've showed up. "You actually kept your word?"
"Of course I did." I cross my arms. "Why? Did you think I wouldn't?"
"Of course not." He says it in a hurry. I can't help but smirk and snicker a little. He totally thought I wasn't coming.
"So, why am I here again?"
"Ah, well..." He frowns, avoiding my gaze.
"It's because you're lonely, isn't it?" I say, triumphant.
"No!"
I just smirk. He really can't admit it, can he? He's lonely.
In the present...
After talking with some of the other girls - I especially like the pixie, Ever, who seems very pleasant - we're herded into another room. As we go, I ponder one thing. There was a look on the prince's face that I just can't identify. I took it for recognition, but how would the prince know who I am? There's just no possible way. I sigh, and shake my head. No, it's best to just ignore that little thing. He must've been looking at someone else. I mean, surely I would remember meeting the Royal Prince...I roll my eyes at that. Royal Prince? Please. I don't care who he is. He's probably just a stuck-up brat like every other prince. If my mother wasn't so strict, I'd mingle with the commoners and find somebody among them. But, instead, I'm stuck here. In a game to try and win some bratty prince. Because he's going to be a brat. I just know it.
Once we're all standing, and the King Lucian finishes with his long - at least, it's long to me, although it probably really isn't - speech, Queen Maeve steps forward. She points to the middle of the room, where a pedestal stool stands. On it sits a crystal bowl, filled with water.
"Here is your first test. Trial by blood."
Oh, that sounds like fun. Yes, let's just all start playing with blood. What are we supposed to do, cut ourselves to show how loyal we are to the Fates? Please. A few of the girls look uneasy, but I just roll my eyes, although out of the watchful eye of the Fates and the Prince. Mother would kill me if my snarkiness and over all unprincessiness - ack, I can see her wincing as I think up a word like that in a sentence that also includes her name - caused me to be sent away. No, it's best to just get this over with.
"On the pedestal is a knife. You must prick your finger and let a drop of your blood mingle in the water. Blood is power, and the water will sort out the weak from the strong. Also, it will determine your heart and your reasons for being here."
I gulp inwardly. I really hope it can't detect that I have no interest in marrying the Prince. Mother would k...You know, Mother would kill me about a lot of things. Especially in these situations. The room goes silent, and we all stand there for a few minutes.
Finally, the stupid dwarf - what was her name, Annasnora? No, that's not right. I think it was Annalora or something. Annasnora fits her better, though - asks the question that I'm sure we all were thinking but didn't want to be the one to ask. "How?"
"Your blood will make the crystal bowl or the water react in different ways." King Lucian answers this time. He steps forward, picking up the palm-sized dagger, and presses it against the tip of his finger. When a small drop of blood pools there, he lets it drip into the bowl. The water within the bowls swirls, and begins to flash and sparkle. Impressive. Then again, that's to be expected from a Fate.
Annalora goes first - no doubt she's just trying to make a good impression on the Fates - and shakes a small drop into the bowl. The crystal bowl turns gold, and begins to glitter. It's impressive, and Annalora grins. It's not a pleasant smile at all. She looks even worse smiling than she does with her normal expression. I really hope she stops smiling soon, because it's disturbing. I can't help but think of what my brother would say if he could see this. No doubt it would be something that would be insulting if anyone heard it. But it would cheer me up, if he were here.
"Very good, Annalora. Follow Wilsey through the doors, and he will take you to the prepping room." So she passed. This didn't look too hard at all. Annalora walks out at King Lucian's announcement, and he turns back to us. "All right. Who's next?"
Ever steps up next. Her bowl turns a deep blue, and while it glitters, it doesn't look as powerful as Annalora's did. But, she passes. She follows Wilsey, and two more girls get to do the same. I couldn't be more bored if I were watching paint dried. At least then I could make it dry faster.
The next girl, I believe her name was Fuschia or something equally girly and princessy, cuts her finger - and pretty deep too - so more than a few drops fall into the bowl. The water stills. The bright red blood pols along the top, but does nothing to the bowl or water. She plunges her hand into the water and swirls it around - kind of dumb, if you ask me - but still nothing happens.
"I'm sorry, Fuchsia, but you will not be chosen."
She's about to cry. Great. Just great. I always hated crying. It's so annoying. The Prince looks annoyed at the tears, and frankly, I happen to agree with them. Although it does make me question if I'm stuck-up too or not.
Failure doesn't seem so bad anymore though. Two more girls get up and pass. Shaya's blood makes the water rise out of the bowl and dance. Estellya's blood makes the water freeze. All very impressive. I can't help but think my blood won't do anything though, and this worry deepens as more princesses go. My mother will be so angry if I'm out in the first round. Ferah steps up next. She's an elf, with red hair and the classic pointy ears. And I'd thought that was just a rumor. She seemed calm and collected...Till the water turns black.
They don't respond to this failure the same way they did to Fuchsia's. The Fates ruse up, alarmed. "An assassin."
That's when Ferah pulls a small knife from the folds of her dress, and lunges at Teague. I don't even realize I do it. It's a small flick of my hand. Subtle, but enough to send the knife skittering across the floor after leaving her hand. I don't think any identifies that I did it though. Ferah gathers her skirt and runs for the door.
"Guards, guards!" Queen Maeve shouts.
The door bursts open, and two giants enter, blocking the elf's escape. She reaches in her dress, pulling out two more blades. She was scanning the room wildly, searching for her targets, but the Fates were gone. Teague had disappeared. That's when a brush of cold air comes across my skin. Teague, at least, never left. The candelabras blew out after something passes in front of us, and everyone is plunged into near darkness. I can barely see, but from the small amount of light coming from the window, I can see a large, shadow-like beast materialize behind the terrified girl.
She turns, screaming, stabbing at the darkness that just dissipates. Her knife is piercing nothing. The temperatures dropping rapidly, and I can see our breath. The beating wings gets louder, and the girl is backed in a corner. Ferah knows she has nowhere to run, and she's panicking. Her knives whiz through the air, and she's continuing to stab at any shadow that comes close to her.
"Give me your hand." I whisper the words. My first instinct to is to protect the girls, and so I reach out to the girl closest to me. Will they listen? I get my answer when a trembling hand grabs mine, and after some feeling around, I find another arm. We end up forming a chain, and I pull them all to the side of the room, out of harm's way. They huddle in the corner, and I find myself in front of them. But I'm going to protect them, if I can.
The young assassin has regained her composure by now and dashes into the middle of the room, away from the beast. The shadow creature moves, materializing as it touches the floor. But the darkness is evident even in the Prince's real form. His eyes are dark with anger, and his hair is tousled from flying. He must've made a sound though, because the girl spins. Her dress doesn't hinder her at all though as she leaps into the air and lets the knife fly towards Prince Teague, followed quickly by another blade.
The Prince is surprisingly fast though, and he blurs a little as he dodged the knives. However, the knives continue on course. Towards us. Ferah realizes this though, and reaches out her hand as if to stop them. I get there first. I raise my hands up, freezing them, and then quickly let them drop to the ground. All of the girls were shaking, and a few had burst into tears. But we were fine, thankfully. I wasn't even positive I could stop those hurtling knives. But, I did. And just in time, thankfully. The Queen doesn't seem at all impressed, but the King does, which is slightly reassuring. The Prince, however, shows no emotion whatsoever, although I think I detect some curiosity.
"You, Ferah, have commited an act of treason with your assassination attempt. Your punishment will be doled out quickly and without mercy. What have you to say for yourself?"
She just glares at Prince Teague. "He will destroy us. If he makes one wrong choice, this entire plane will be thrown into disarray and we will all perish. If he was dead, we would have nothing to fear."
That just makes the Prince even angrier. She's on a roll, making these Royals mad. If it weren't because she just attempted to murder someone, I'd be impressed.
"Tell us! Tell us what this wrong choice is!" King Lucian roars the words, but Ferah pinches her lips together in a form line. She meets his accusing glare with steel and refuses to speak another word.
"She won't talk? I bet she'd talk to one of the Reapers." The Prince speaks, and the room collectively gasps - including me - in surprise and horror. He's focused on his parents though, and they nod their approval.
"Yes, fetch the Reaper, Captain Plaith. We will have a hunt," King Lucian agrees, and I'm not surprised. The guard turns on his heel and strides out of the room, only to quickly return with a Reaper, who is dressed in a black leather cloak. After some conversing - and a fear inspiring statement from Queen Maeve - the guards drag Ferah from the room with the Reaper close behind.
"No, no, not that!" We can still hear Ferah's begging for a bit before she's out of range.
Nobody dares speak, although Tawny's muttering about wanting to leave. The Prince hears this, and looks enraged, ranting on about life as a Royal not being easy. Tawny look even more embarrassed by this, and seems like she's going to burst into tears. It takes a lot of effort from his parents to make him stay, and he glares at Tawny as she passes. The other girls in front of me pass with flying colors as well, leaving me to face the crystal bowl alone.
I step forward and - carefully - pick up the dagger. With a soft prick, I tap the knife to my finger, getting a drop of blood and letting it slide into the crystal bowl. Nothing happens at first. There's nothing but silence, and I think the King is only a little disappointed. But just as he's about to speak - to send me back to my mother, who will be horribly ashamed - a faint noise can be heard. It's like a note being sung, and the water swirls in a circular motion, spinning round and round as it sings. I made the crystal sing. It grows in volume, and I keep myself from covering my ears as the sound grows louder and louder. After a bit of this, it begins to grow quieter, and the Fates glance at each other.
"No one has ever made the crystal sing before." Queen Maeve mutters, and I've even managed to catch the interest of the Prince. I try to look proud or confident, but on the inside, I'm slightly disappointed. I was hoping to be sent home. It's a good thing my mother doesn't know.
Wisley leads me from the room, to the other girls, and I can only think about one fact, and try to decide how I feel on it. I passed.
Maaaan, that was a long chapter! I hope you guys liked it though! I decided not to stop it in the middle of the knife scene, so hopefully it didn't disappoint! And as you can see, the prophecy is a litttttle different, but so is the plot. Guess you guys will just have to see how it goes!
~ Dagger
