Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Seventeen
The television casts a strange blue glow around Cal's salon. Surprisingly, the television has more than just broadcasts. There are scripted shows with painted actors and old footage of arena fights, there also are the daily broadcasts, or what Cal calls the news, which play twice a day. When Cal leaves his room the news is on and I can't help but watch it as I lay down on the couch, my head supported by the arm rest.
The same silver woman, Diane, is again on the screen. She must go home at some time, I muse as I watch her. Coincidentally she's reporting on the state dinner last night. Every time I turn this damned thing on they are talking about me.
"There was a sighting of the Lightning Girl, Mare Barrow, at the state dinner presented by Julian Jacos, envoy of the Nortan Republic, yesterday. There were several in attendance from the Republic of Montfort as well, all dressed in their best."
The screen flickers to pictures of different couples and statesmen. Evangeline and Elaine are in one, I don't even remember seeing them there. Julian and Sara, of course, her champagne pink dress shimmering in the lights of the camera flashes. Gisa made it, of course. And then there's me, downing a champagne flute in one gulp. Lady Blonos is probably rolling in her grave. If she has one.
I try and concentrate on the screen and not my dead tutor. The camera is behind me, I'm surprised I wasn't aware of them yesterday. The dress from behind is almost more impressive than the dress form the front. The lightning bolt cut out goes from just below my shoulder blades to my lower back, dimples I didn't know I had visible at the base of the bolt. You can see the scars and lines of battle across my back, Cal's hand firmly placed over them as if protecting them.
He's just as beautiful on screen as he is in person. I must make a request that he wear that suit at every event.
"It would seem that the famed couple may be back together once again." I need to know what this country's obsession is with my love life.
I see Natasa in the video reel as Diane babbles on. She never takes her eyes off me, her brows furrowing every now and then. The expression is familiar but I can't seem to place it. Is she angry, sad? It seems as if she's concentrating hard, but on what I'm not sure. Perhaps her next move to annoy me further.
A brunette comes on the screen next talking about the weather in different parts of the country. It's raining in the Stilts. I remember epic storms sweeping through the Stilts in late fall, storms that would rock the house, I would fall asleep to it swaying with the wind or the current. I would lie there hoping it wouldn't topple in the night or be swept away by the river rising to our front door.
As I sit here in a salon meant for a king, that life, those memories seem far away, another lifetime away. How could I be the same girl? The girl covered in mud and bruises sitting here in a palace. Sometimes my journey, the path I took, still amazes me. As if it weren't real, as if it is only a story. A fabled tale grandmothers tell their grandchildren at night. But it is real, it did happen, and it happened to me. And, because of me.
I destroy, M is for monster, M is for…
Cal bursts through the door, effectively pulling me from my thoughts. He smiles, that goofy smirk that curls my toes, and leans over me on the couch, one hand bracing himself on the back rest, the other sinking into the cushion at my side.
"I can get used to this, you know." He whispers as he kisses my lips, my cheek, my jaw, my neck…
I shove at him a bit, trying for distance, if only so I can think straight. "Get used to what?" I ask, his smile infectious. My stomach flutters and my heart skips a beat.
"You," He kisses me, "Here," He kisses the tip of my nose.
I push at him a bit more. None of his schmoozing and kisses can distract me from why he wasn't here to begin with. "How did it go?"
He pulls back, sitting on the couch by my feet. "Better than I thought." He grabs one of my feet and starts massaging the ball of my foot, his heat radiating through with each pass of his fingers. "She apologized for what she said last night. Said she had a bit too much to drink. And for this morning."
"That it?"
"No," He says slowly, looking at me sidelong, "I told her that she needed to respect my boundaries and that her and I are purely co-workers." He picks up my other foot and starts on that one, "She seemed to take it very well. She said she understood and didn't want to cause me any undue stress. And that she's happy we're working it out."
"That doesn't sound right." I blurt out, sitting up on the couch.
"It sounds pretty good to me." Cal lets go of my feet, his hands resting on my ankles.
I narrow my eyes, "I think she's up to something."
Cal rolls his eyes, "Well let's not jump to any conclusions," he warns. "You don't know that for sure."
Not at the moment. I think to myself, but for Cal I nod, "You're right." And mostly under my breath add, "I'll try to behave."
He smiles and it almost makes the lie worth it. Almost. I feel a pit of guilt forming in my stomach. "Good," He says, his hand curling around the back of my neck pulling me to him. "Come here." As if he even had to ask.
Diana Farley cleans up well, I can see the beauty my brother saw in her. She keeps fiddling with the folds of her dress. A deep scarlet red, it scoops at the neck and down the back, a slit up either sides of her legs. I never noticed how long her legs were before, no wonder she's so tall.
"I don't know how you wear all these dresses." Farley says as she gives me a pained expression. "This is worse than the Guard uniform." She whines.
"Wait till you put on the heels, you'll forget about the dress." I throw over my shoulder as I slip my own dress on. Deep violet purple, almost the same as the black dress form last night, but the back is just as high as the front and the lightning bolts are cut out on the sides, from my ribs to my hips. The fabric is cold and smooth as it goes over my skin. I don't know what Farley is complaining about, this is way more comfortable than the Scarlet Guard uniform.
Sara does not have any ladies in waiting for her walk down the aisle. She said she was too old and didn't have the need for them. I agree, she can walk tall without anyone holding her dress and she is no ones to give away. This time, I get to be a guest. I have no duties other than to show up for the ceremony and the reception to follow.
The servant from last night, Madeline, has already come and gone, braiding mine and Farley's in the same fishtail as before. She seemed elated when we asked her to help us, and even more so when I asked her name and told her to call me Mare. Her smile was bright and young and full of hope. She reminds me of Gisa.
Farley zips up the back of my dress as someone knocks on the door of the salon. "Come in," Farley calls from behind me and Kilorn opens the door.
"Ladies, ladies," He says as he enters the bedroom taking us in. "You look beautiful." He bows at both of us in turn.
"Give it up Warren," Farley bats at him as she passes, picking up her heels by the door. "Let's get this over with." She slips the heels on one at a time and grimaces as she stands fully. "Nope, nope." She kicks them off and walks past me into my closet, coming back with a plain pair of black flats, "These'll do." She waves a hand at us, "Well?"
Kilorn smirks watching her, "After you general."
She rolls her eyes and we follow her out of the room.
The wedding ceremony is held in a large courtyard, brimming with white and pale pink flowers, green ivy weaving through the garden. It's the same floral arrangement as the bridal luncheon and I know Carmadon must be in charge of flowers, he's ridiculously talented.
Cal is waiting just outside the doorway, his hands in his pockets, his suit black. He spots me immediately, taking my arm in his, "My colors, Gisa is good." He says as he looks at my dress. "You look stunning."
I blush dipping my head, "I really, really like this suit." I say running my hand down a lapel.
"Oh yeah?" He teases as he leads us to our seats, "I should wear it more often."
I nod, "I think so."
He laughs, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and brushing a kiss against my temple. We sit, fairly close, to the right of the alter centered at the end of an aisle draped in white fabric.
"Well hello you two." Evangeline purrs from behind us. "Mare, you look nice. Gisa?" She asks gesturing to the dress, I nod. "I need to talk to her." She muses playfully, but I still see the darkness spread across her eyes. She's not sure if she could even talk to Gisa, let alone request a dress. I don't think that Gisa would turn down an opportunity to make some money, but for Evangeline, what the Ptolemus did to our brother, she might refuse.
Cal is my savior and changes the subject swiftly. "How are the city planning meetings going?"
Evangeline rolls her eyes, "It's like they don't believe me when I say a certain metal isn't strong enough for that damn bridge." She huffs, smoothing down her dress, Elaine takes her hand and Evangeline visibly relaxes. "But, it's coming along. We're starting fabrication on another bridge farther down the river that lifts in the middle to allow taller ships to go through."
Cal and Evangeline start talking about the mechanisms of the bridge and I zone out, watching the crowd still pouring into the room. I notice a woman I recognize with one of the Scarlet Guard generals. Swan I believe her code name was, I've seen the woman she is with before but I can't place from where. Natasa enters behind them, our eyes meet and she looks away first. Good, I think. Maybe Cal was right, maybe she was telling the truth. Something in my gut tells me that's not the case but I choose to ignore it, if not for Julian and Sara, for Cal. I told him I will try to behave and I will.
Evangeline pokes me in the side with something metal to get my attention. "I hear you're staying a week."
I nod. I knew everyone would find out. "Yeah, I am."
"Spar tomorrow?" Her eyes flash over to the direction of Natasa before coming to rest back on mine, the colors of the room reflecting in her dark eyes.
"Yes, please." I agree, I have more than enough frustration bottled up and I need a release.
Evangeline smiles at me, "Regular time." I nod in agreement, turning back in my seat.
Cal looks at me as if I've grown a second head. "You two spar regularly?"
"In Montfort, yeah," I look up at him, "When she's around," I add over my shoulder. I can see Evangeline roll her eyes out of the corner of my vision. "We usually spar every other day."
Cal shrugs, "I never thought I would see it. You and Evangeline Samos, friends."
"We're not friends." Evangeline and I say in unison. "We just don't want to kill each other anymore." I add.
"Just almost kill each other." Cal notes, "Every other day."
"At least she's getting out her frustrations with me in an arena," Evangeline buts in, "And not elsewhere with someone else…" She says trailing off, her implication clear.
Cal shakes his head, the tips of his ears flushing silver, "You guys are so weird." He says brushing off her comment, his hand on my knee.
I shrug. We are weird, that's undeniable, and I have no plausible explanation for it. It just is.
Music began to build in the back of the room. A haunting string produced melody bounced off the marble walls. Julian appeared at the doorway making his way to the alter with a small smile. As if he had a secret no one else did. As if he knew something no one else did.
He met his nephews gaze as he reached his spot in the front of the room, and I noticed Cal give him a small nod of encouragement.
The doors at the back of the door opened and Sara stood, a cascading bouquet of white and pink flowers clasped in her hands. The rustling of clothes and chairs as people stood was almost deafening, muffling the sound of the instruments. Gisa had never made a wedding dress before and I was floored, I knew my sister was talented but I never expected this. The dress was a sheer fabric that shimmered in straight lines as the light danced over her. Sara looked like a star. Her cheeks paled as she glanced around the room, her eyes found Julian and she visibly calmed. I wonder if that's how I look when I see Cal.
Sara didn't falter when she took her first step toward Julian, a steady elegant pace. The words they spoke were not like other weddings I had attended but nothing like Maven's. The thought of him bringing a chill into my bones and I shiver. Cal put an arm around my shoulder, seeping heat in to, surely mistaking the shiver for my being cold.
I took a chance to look at him out of the corner of my eye. His gaze was glued to his uncle and soon to be aunt. He's mine, I thought and a warm bloom filled my stomach. How many times had I thought of our reunion, how many times had I told myself I didn't deserve him or that he wouldn't want me? But here he is, his arm wrapped around me pulling me ever so closer to his side. And I was always his. It's undeniable now, but was there really ever a question? I settle into his side and turn my attention back to the bride and groom. I can do this, I think, I can stay, right here, at his side and never leave. If I said it enough times, maybe it would be true.
Voices and laughter filled the hall, the colors of the dresses and suits mirroring a rainbow. I laughed as Cal spun me on the dance floor, a happy song playing through the strings of the musician in the corners instrument. Cal brought me back to his chest, one hand in mine, one on the small of my back. "You getting better at dancing." He smiles at me, a wicked gleam in his eye.
"I must have had an excellent teacher." I smirk back, remembering a dark room and a different song from so long ago.
"Must have." He muses twirling me again.
"You're going to make me dizzy." I groan as the room spins in my vision.
The song begins to change and Cal pulls me from the dance floor, "Let's take a break," He says leading me to a table with Farley and General Swan. "I'll get us something to drink." He leaves a kiss on my cheek and weaves his way through the party toward the bar.
Farley smirks at me as I take my seat, "Having fun, are we?"
I smile at her, "Yes, I am." And I was, I hadn't had this much fun in I don't know how long.
"Good," She says sitting forward in her chair, leaning her elbows on the table. "You know General Swan," Farley nods toward the other general and turns her gaze to the woman I had seen earlier, "And I don't think you've met Halley."
Halley, the name tugs at a memory. I meet the woman's gaze, her eyes are green, darker than Kilorn's, and almost brown in the light. "I've met you before." I say almost dazed. She can change her face… "You were in Archeon when I was…" I trail off, again not sure how to describe my imprisonment.
She nods solemnly, "Yes, we have, and yes, I was." She reaches a hand across the table, I can see scars marring the pale skin there. "I am truly sorry for your friend."
Farley takes a deep swig of her wine, her gaze far away, unfocused on the crowd in front of her. She looked down at her empty glass, "Well," She said holding it up, "I better get this filled." With that she hefted herself from the chair, General Swan following her with her own empty glass.
I follow Farley's retreating form as she makes her own way through the crowd. I spot Natasa on the edge of the party, her back to the wall. She sips slowly on a champagne flute, her eyes scanning the crowd.
"She's a strange one." Halley says from across the table.
I look back at her, my brows furrowed, "Who?"
"That woman." She tips her head in Natasa's direction. "She has a strange ability. Well, not strange really, just rare."
I can feel my face scrunching in confusion. "What do you mean?" I ask, panic rising in my throat. "She's red."
Halley's own brows furrow, her forehead creasing with the action. "No, she's not." She says slowly. Her eyes dart back to Natasa, widening in concern. "Maybe she doesn't know herself."
I turn fully to face Halley. "What is her ability?" I ask through gritted teeth. The rage boiling up inside me barely contained.
"Sh-She can read your mind." Halley stutters, taken aback by my anger.
"A whisper?" I ask, trying to control myself. The whine of the lights above threatening to split my head in half.
Halley looks at Natasa, her eyes glassing and going far away, "Not quite," She clarifies. "She can read and control thoughts, but not movement."
I turn back to Natasa, her eyes meeting mine through the throng of people. I know what you are. I shout in my mind. She takes a step back and my stomach drops. It's true. She can hear my thoughts. The lights above flicker, my rage spilling over.
I will kill her.
I'm soo sorry for the long wait! Hopefully the next one won't be as long. Let me know what you think!