I don’t get why I have never seen her before. She does feel familiar, but I don’t think she lives around here. Somehow, I do understand why the king chose her now. If she can really control the sun, she has the power to ruin the world and she might be a real risk if she has been trained correctly, if she has reached the bottom of her magic already.
As soon as the speeches and announcements end, I crash onto my bed, exhausted from the night before. I close my eyes, and before I even realize it, sleep pulls me under and the nightmares start all over again. A frightful scream leaves my throat, waking myself. I clear my throat before sitting right up in my bed. Cold sweat trickles from my back and my hair sticks to my face. I hold the bed, steadying myself. My heart pounds in my chest and my ears are filled with buzzes. It feels like my veins are popping and my heart will explode. I throw the blanket away and jump up.
3:50 a.m. the clock says. I can’t stay here, not if I am feeling like this. Maybe I can go to the garden? I look out the window. A flash of red hair catches my eye, letting me know the woods near my hiding spot are already occupied.
I know what I am going to do. It has been too long, and maybe at night nobody will recognize me.
After fifteen minutes of walking, I reach the bridge. Our garden is enormous. The bridge leads to the main village. I look over the rope railing straight into the waters that stream into the abscess. The bridge I stand on bridges the ground of our palace to the ground of the main village. I stroll forwards, towards the light. Even in the middle of the night some people are out. The cozy cottages form pretty alleys that look welcoming. Out on the market are still standing carts with fruit and other things they sell. I wear a black, tight long sleeve and black pants. Most of my tattoos are covered and since the king doesn’t show me off a lot, I didn’t expect all these people to look at me.
“Isn’t he—” someone whispers.
“I thought he was too ugly to be shown off. Well, I was wrong.” Someone else sighs, looking flustered. I must say, the last comment boosts my ego. I lift the left corner of my mouth a bit. They all think I am the monster the king projects me to be. There might be something in that, but it isn’t the complete truth.
A delicious smell of cinnamon, fresh bread, and wine enters my nose. I follow the smell and find myself on a square. On the left and right are cafes with terraces and people drinking beer and listening to music. The square is surrounded by some columns. Between each column are lights on wires. In the middle of the square people are dancing. And I mean really dancing. They move on the music and let their bodies flow. They smile widely as they switch partners during the songs. They sing the parts they know and bystanders in the café clap their hands as encouragement. Plants wrap their warmth around cottages and columns like a natural embrace. I’ve seen many beautiful landscapes, but this place feels especially rich and inviting. I settle into a chair and order a glass of their signature wine. Everything around me amazes me. I’m surrounded by so much beauty that I almost lose track of time.
It is 9 a.m. when I decide it is time to head back to the palace.
Chapter 7
Eliane
Every head turns to me as I walk through the door Da opens for me. I walk inside feeling insecure. I roll my shoulders back and push my chin up, showing everybody the confidence I want them to believe I have. On the front row are nine, good-looking, young people sitting.
“Eliane? This is your seat,” a guard informs me, putting his hand on my back, pushing me forward. A shiver rolls over my spine. My brain screams for him to let me go.
“I can walk on my own, thank you,” I say calmly to him, repressing the urge to snap.
The man looks surprised, but decides to not make a thing about it. He shrugs before walking away. I stroll toward my seat and turn around to scan the crowd for Da. My eyes find his and relief washes over me. He didn’t leave me on my own. I give him a small smile as he silently speaks to me.
“Stay calm, collected, and confident. You got this,” he mouths to me. I give him a thumbs up and shift my focus to the stage. The king starts speaking and the introduction of the candidates begins.
“Braxon, you can come up,” the king says smirking, calling his son up after the demonstration of the other boys called Aiden, Ethan, and Caleb. The prince walks up, looking no different than any of us. He is walking confidently, not showing any emotion. He doesn’t look at his father as he steps beside him.
“As you all know this is my son. I understand that you might think he will have an advantage, but I promise you he hasn’t. He will be treated exactly the same as any other candidate,” the king continues. No wonder the boy doesn’t seem warm and fuzzy. The king isn’t only bitching on me, it seems. “Since you already know my son, I will not ask him the usual. I do assume you are curious about one thing.” The smile on the king’s face grows wider and wider. “What is your goal by entering this trial?” The crowd goes silent as Braxton swallows, showing his Adam’s apple to the people on the front row.
“I want to prove what I am capable of,” he replies, pressing his lips together and locking his jaw. His shoulders are tense, and he has this strange look in his eyes.
“We already know what you are capable of! You’re a monster!” someone in the crowd screams. I turn around to look at the guilty man, wanting to give him the finger, but before I even blink, the man is being dragged away by the guards. Braxton dashes off the stage, not giving the man any attention, and sits down as fast as he can. I turn to look at him, but he doesn’t meet my gaze. He is staring to the ground, clenching his fist and a tick pops up in his jaw. This boy has such a handsome face it is almost unfair. As he clenches his jaw, a small dimple appears in his cheek. I bet it is even more visible when he is smiling, but if I have to believe the rumors, he never shows his smile.
I am getting drawn out of my thoughts when the king starts talking again.
“Next up is my mystery guest. Last but definitely not least. Eliane, you may come up!”
I jump up from my chair.
Shit.
Focus.
Stay calm, stay collected. I need to focus on my breathing for three seconds. I wipe my sweaty palms on my dress as I step forward. I feel with my hand on my leg, making sure the dagger is still there. I hold my shoulders back and straighten my back, the dagger between my bra pressing in my flesh as I do so. The king welcomes me on the stage with his arms outstretched. I crunch my nose and nod at him, turning my face towards the crowd, not sitting down like the others did.
“Welcome, dear, what is your name?” the king asks.
That moron, pretending like he doesn’t know my name.
He just said it.
Why can’t he just put my name in the letters he sends me? Even the letter with the invitation for today we got this morning was addressed to the girl with the power of the sun and light. I turn to him, holding my head high, but narrowing my eyes.
