CHAPTER TEN
Bella sat in the plush cushioned seat in Alice's quarters. She was told to wait for Alice. Today Bella wore a dress much different that her usual outfit. The material was soft and silky and hugged her skin in delicious comfort. It was also decorated with embroidery and beads and soft designs that made Bella trace them in wonder. It was also bright sky blue, which had always been a forbidden color for Bella.
Bella had to wear grays and browns and the dresses were always loose because they had been hand me downs. When she asked the King about it yesterday, he told her it was a precautionary measure. She had to be treated the same at some level or else people would get suspicious.
Bella's conversation with the king yesterday quite literally turned her life upside down.
The doors opened and fluttered in the court Fay.
Alice was small. She was a whole head shorter than Bella. Her body moved quickly throughout the room, as though her feet barely touched the floor. She smiled when she spotted Bella and walked her way toward her. She sat on the seat across from her.
"Hello, Bella," Alice greeted. Alice's voice was light and airy as though it took a fresh breath to say each word. Bella smiled in greeting. She had only seen Alice a few times, and they were fleeting glances. She had never truly gotten a chance to get a good look at her and last night she had been too busy worrying about her future fate than the Fay's appearance.
Alice's face seemed to glow, quite literally. Her eyes shined as though she kept diamonds in them and her hair was shiny and curled around her face. If Bella stared hard enough she could almost see Alice's translucent wings, sparking in the bright sunshine. Only the most powerful Fay's had wings. Alice was very coveted among the royal families. She had traveled from kingdom to kingdom. She was never permanent, but she had been in Tiemp longer than any other kingdom.
Bella did know quite a bit about fairies. King Carlisle had always insisted she study with Edward. She had always assumed it was to keep Edward focused in his studies, she never predicted that there was a hidden motive.
When the subject of Fay's had come about, Bella took interest. She wanted to know everything about them.
The story she had told Edward was true. Her mother, according to the King, had sought the help of a healing Fay. A very powerful one. Her name was Rose. She was Alice's older sister. Rose had helped her mother conceive a child.
What Bella had left out was the fact that Rose became Bella's nurse. She fell in love with the baby she had helped create and when the baby's life was threatened, Rose scarified her powers to save her. That was what had given Bella powers. Rose had given Bella her power to save her.
And because Bella's powers were a gift, not a birthright, she would never grow wings like Alice.
She also asked the King why she hadn't had any signs of her powers. He had explained quietly that the tea she drank every morning was made by Alice to help hide her powers, until they could be trained. Today she had not taken her tea, and would not be taking it anymore.
"Hello, Alice," Bella greeted, smiling slightly. The fairy didn't say a word, simply poured herself a cup of tea from the pot on the table and sipped quietly.
"Alice?" Bella asked timidly after the silence had grown uncomfortable.
"Yes?" she answered.
"What will we be doing today?"
Alice placed down her tea and looked as though Bella had asked the most wonderful question in all the land.
"Nothing," she answered just as happily. What a strange person this Alice was.
"Why not?" Bella questioned, feeling very confused.
"Well, the tea takes several days to wear off the body. Once it does, we can begin training, but until then there is nothing we could do," Alice responded.
Bella felt disappointed. She had hoped her training would take her mind off the preparations of the ball tonight.
"When the tea wears and your power beings to show, we can finally see what type of Fay you'll be. Most like a healing Fay like Rose, but magic can be very unpredictable," added Alice.
"You mean to say, there are different types of magic?" Bella had never read about this in her studies.
"Oh yes. There's healing magic, defensive magic, natural magic, and the least common dark magic," Alice said, listing them off with ease.
"What's the difference?"
"Well, healing magic is what allows court Fay's to heal. They can heal cuts and broken bones easily and make the best potions for all types of ailments. They are also the only fairy that can sacrifice their magic. Natural magic can only be obtained by birth. The Fay's who are born with natural magic turn into sprites and control the weather and seasonal changes. Defensive magic is very rare. It can come in very handy in battle and the spells can be deadly. It takes a strong Fay to control that kind of magic."
It did not skip Bella's notice on how Alice conveniently skipped over Dark Magic.
"What about Dark magic? What if I get that?" Bella asked, staring down at her hands with worry.
"Oh no, Bella. Never. Dark magic is only good magic gone wrong. It takes a very dark heart to obtain such power."
Bella's heart lifted just a little. She did not have a dark heart.
"Alice, could you not just create a potion to help my powers appear?" Bella asked. Alice immediately shook her head.
"No. The magic must appear on its own. Plus we wouldn't be able to do anything with your head in the clouds," Alice said, taking another sip of her tea.
Bella's temple furrowed in confusion.
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh come off it. It's Prince Edward's Courting Date. I know as well as you do that your mind is not here."
Bella huffed in indignation. Her hands shook in anger.
"You don't know what you speak off," Bella warned, looking away and feeling her face heat.
"It's plain as day you love that boy," Alice sighed heavily and continued speaking, "Love. What a foolish thing to be trapped in."
"Have you never loved anyone?" Bella asked, feeling irked at Alice's cheery judgment. She sighed again.
"Oh no, I have. I believe it is just in a Fay's nature to love and love hard. But it can be so very dangerous. I've learned the hard way what happens when you love. Rose loved you and gave her life to save you. Vlasta, the sorceress, gave her own soul for the love of a man, falling into the dark magic. You'd be better to never love at all," Alice said, with a wave of her hand. But Bella could see the hurt spark behind Alice's diamond eyes when she spoke of love. Whoever she had loved before is no longer apart of her life.
"Do you ever get over it?" She whispered her voice barely audible.
"Truthfully I do not think so. I believe with time it gets easier, but you never completely forget it. Perhaps it's different for everyone," Alice said.
Bella's heart sank.
"I can't stand the thought of watching him marry another, fall in love with her, have children. I can't stand the thought of not being his source of comfort anymore. How do I befriend his wife, all the while wishing I was her? It's torturous." Bella felt the tear slide down her cheek.
"Bella, all princesses are eligible," Alice reminded her. Bella's heart pounded at her implication.
"I'm supposed to be in hiding," she reminded her.
"True. But if you married Edward, Fuego and Tiemp join as one."
"What if he changes his mind? What if he finds someone more suitable at the dance? What if he feels obligated? What—"
"Bella! I cannot tell you of the future. I cannot decide for Edward. But if you have the opportunity to make yourself happy and let your fears get in the way, then you have no one to blame for your miseries but yourself," Alice said, losing her cheery tone and staring at Bella with eyes of steal.
The only sound in the room was the pounding of Bella's heart.
Okay so I know this chapter is a bit confusing. Everything will be explained, but for now I shall help.
Tiemp is the kingdom they live in. um, in Spanish Tiempo is time so that where that comes from.
Fuego in Spanish is fire and is a neighboring kingdom.
Vlasta is basically Victoria, but I changed the name to make it more…idk evil. Anyway she'll come to play later in the story. Hoped that helped.
