“Good girl,” she praised as the roaring sound of the train drew closer and louder, bringing with it a gust of wind that whirled around the platform.
The train pulled into the platform at a relatively slow pace. I laughed lightly once it had stopped. I had imagined it flashing past us as quickly as I saw the trains move on the tracks back home. But I had nothing to fear.
“Not at all scary, was it?” Selene asked, a whisper in my ear, her chin against my shoulder.
“No,” I agreed.
The doors opened, and the pressure of Selene’s jaw on my shoulder lifted as she straightened behind me. Releasing me from her hold, she stepped to the side, and I reached out to take her waiting hand.
The crowd on the platform began to quickly bundle onto the train, except for the people nearest the carriage door closest to us; they waited for Selene to board.
I didn’t like feeling watched. Being the Princess’s pet meant that I was always under scrutiny. But usually, it wasn’t so obvious. Most of the time, I was completely unaware of being watched until Selene approached me with some ridiculous rule I’d broken or enquired about parts of my day she couldn’t have possibly known about unless I was being spied on.
But on the platform, as we walked towards the open door, the crowd made space for us, and all eyes watched as we passed.
I caught the eye of an Arden’s student—one who might have been a Vouna student just a few months ago. his brows were drawn in a frown, and his eyes flashed bright red when they met mine, his lip curving asymmetrically in a silent snarl.
I quickly looked down to my feet. Was he angry with me personally, or at the situation of being forced to leave the Academy? It didn’t really matter, either way I was the cause of the mass exodus of Ardens and Borealis students.
Selene squeezed my hand, and I looked up at her. “Mind the step,” she said. I looked down at the space between the platform and the train carriage. It wouldn’t be my best moment if I managed to fall into the small gap—small, but large enough for a leg to get stuck. I stepped up to the carriage carefully.
I was met with a long, narrow hallway lined with slim doors, each featuring a glass window that revealed individual compartments.
Selene tugged gently on my hand, and I followed her as she led us down the narrow space. I had no choice but to walk behind her.
She stopped at the last door of the carriage and opened it.
“I apologise; this was the last remaining sleeper compartment available. It was booked at such short notice, and the Aqua to Ardens line is fairly popular. It’s my understanding that every seat has been purchased, and some passengers will need to stand,” Selene told me as she opened the door to the compartment.
Directly opposite the door was a large window. The seating to either side of the compartment was red and velvet, and asmall foldable table was attached beneath the window, currently closed. Above the seating on each side was a storage shelf for bags.
“Where are our bags?” I asked as I stepped into the small space.
“Rylan is escorting our bags personally. He and the others are in two compartments—one in this carriage and another in the carriage at the back of the train,” she explained.
“Our overnight bag will be brought to us soon.” She made a disgusted face and looked away from me, her expression almost resembling embarrassment.
“There is only one shower room and two individual washrooms shared by this carriage,” she told me. “I know it is not of an acceptable standard,” she admitted, a frown marring her face.
“Selene, it’s fine,” I laughed, sitting down heavily on one of the red velvet seats. “Are you seriously worried this isn’t up to my standard?” I asked, shaking my head in amusement.
I looked up and noticed a small golden chandelier hanging from the ceiling. “Oh, Poseidon, there’s even a chandelier!” I exclaimed, unable to hold back my laughter. “Don’t tell me even the window frame is real gold,” I said, subduing my laughter when Selene didn’t seem as amused.
“Gold coating, I think,” she stated sombrely.
I couldn’t contain my laughter for very long. It burst out of me until it was hard to breath, and tears trailed down my face.
After such an intense day, I felt almost manic as I laughed. My nauseous stomach tightened, and I bent over, holding my stomach.
“I feel very much that I am the joke you laugh at,” Selene said, a growl rumbling in her chest as the door to the compartment clicked shut and she stepped in front of me. She tilted my head up and I tried not to make it obvious how nauseous I was.
“How are you feeling?” she asked as she examined my face.
“I’m fine,” I told her and sat up, exaggeratedly look around the compartment. “Come on, Selene, this place is fancy, and you’re embarrassed about sharing a bathroom?” I asked.
Selene sat down on the seat opposite me.
“I am not embarrassed,” she corrected. “I am ashamed,” she continued. My laughter ceased at the confession. Shame was bad. Embarrassment was normal—I felt embarrassed in some way every day. Selene enjoyed my embarrassment, but shame… shame was for when you had done something wrong.
