Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at Amethyst. Wearing a floor-length, figure-hugging dress, she wept, wiping her nose and dabbing her eyes with a matching handkerchief. It was the silver trim on the dress and the Warrior insignia stitched into her gown that gave me pause. Before her confession, I might’ve thought she was doing it for attention or to appear like she actually gave a shit about her son. Now, I saw the raw grief that lay bare for our world to see.
As the solemn song continued, reaching the crescendo of our silent goodbye, the emotion became too much. I hadn’t had amoment to process my own grief and loss. My eyes burned with a moisture that forced its way free down my face.
I ached for the families who’d lost a Warrior to Chrome’s hands. No one ever stood a chance against him, but no one ever expected him to turn on us.
And Peri. Gods, I still couldn’t even go there yet.
The string melody wound down, and everyone present dropped their heads in respect until it came to a complete stop. All light evaporated from the room, dropping us into total darkness. Shuffling occurred, signaling those to remove any clothing covering their arms, including myself.
At once, all the pyres lit and began to burn. That was our cue to raise our arms and let our currents flow freely. Multitudes of colors for each energetic source electrified the room as we honored and thanked them for their service to our people while their bodies burned.
The crowd grew raucous and deafening as they cheered on the passing souls, congratulating them on reaching the other side. The various colors from our currents swayed and pumped the air, illuminating the room in an ominous glow while the flames licked higher and higher around the bodies. It reminded me of what a magical and darkly archaic rave would’ve looked like.
“Let’s revel!” King Forest’s baritone voice boomed above the chants.
A chorus of “Aye!” rippled across the crowd. The somberness was passed; time to party for the dead.
The alcohol bars at the edges of the space began to fill with drinks as the crowd dispersed. Keeping our currents alight, everyone drank and danced in the dark, using only our currents and the pyre flames as the light.
I hadn’t moved from my spot, unsure if I really wanted to. Reveling wasn’t exactly my vibe tonight. Not with grief and guilt seizing me in a chokehold. I scoped the darkness, seeking justa hint of the princess. Due to circumstances, her bracelet was removed for the night, so I could see her unglamoured.
Well, partially, at least.
As my gaze swiveled through the sea of bodies, I knew she’d probably be relegated to the dais near her father. I hoped I’d catch a glimpse of her from the glow of someone’s currents.
And I did.
Her arms were ignited by electric blue currents that zipped up and down her arms and neck. My breath caught as I studied her, wishing we were in the training room so I could be free with her.
My pocket buzzed. Startled, I reached my hand inside and pulled out my phone. An unknown number appeared on the lit-up screen.
Unknown
Make her happy and safe. That’s all I ask.
My heart sank, and I pushed down a thick lump in my throat before shoving my phone back into my pocket.
I needed air.
Suddenly, I grew suffocated, like the walls of the Land of the Lost were going to crumble and bury me alive. My lungs spasmed as I just couldn’t bring enough air to them while my head felt too light.
Too much. Too many emotions were crashing into me at once. But I had to keep it together. I was the level-headed one, the reasonable one.
I bolted from the dais, heading toward one of the bars. I fidgeted and bounced on my toes impatiently as I waited for my drink, never having felt so trapped before.
Finally, the bartender handed me the glass of whiskey, and I didn’t waste any time tossing it back. Not to get drunk. My excessively high tolerance made that nearly impossible. Knowing what I’d recently learned, I began to form anunderstanding as to why. At the very least, I hoped the alcohol would calm my nerves and mind.
Pushing through the throngs of dancing bodies, I gasped for breath. My heart thundered against my chest bone, and I worried I was going to become the first Kinetic to die from a heart attack. All I wanted was to lie down and hide away from the world.
At last, I reached the door and slammed it open, the fresh night air blasting me in the face. I gulped it down, stumbling away from the building and further into the trees lining the King’s Palace grounds.
Holding my drink, I let my shoulder catch me against a tree before I lowered myself to the ground. My muscles felt spent, like wet noodles.
The sun had set, and the crickets and cicadas sang their spring songs into the night. The tree canopies bathed me in shadows, and I exhaled, finally finding a moment of solitude and peace where I could justthink.
Leaning my head back against the bark, I let out a deep, relieving sigh as if I had been holding my breath for far too long. My lungs felt as if they’d opened up at last, pulling oxygen in to revive them. The drink burned with the strong sweetness of whiskey as it slid down my throat, blazing away the anxiety. I closed my eyes, letting the rhythm of the cicadas and crickets guide my breaths and heart rate.
Footsteps crunched in the leaves behind me, shattering my peace. Irritation flared in my chest at the lack of privacy. It made me think of Chrome and how he’d rarely been granted a moment of solitude. As much as I missed him, I was glad he was finally free from the stranglehold the palace had on him here.
