Airess watched Melanth’s face soften as the glow illuminated the queen’s face, hungry for power.
“I have been practicing, Your Majesty, and this is still as much as I can do,” she drew out innocently. Airess, of course, was telling the truth, to some extent. She possessed a rare Magick that resembled the light of burning stars, something she had never seen before in anyone else but her mother.
“The Gods gift us all differently,” Airess recalled her mother saying in a distant memory, after asking as a child why her powers were so faint. Airess supposed she should be grateful to what little power shedidhave. Others were not so lucky, and had none at all.
Magick had died in Luciena. There weren’t many Elves that had the ability to manipulate Shadow Magick anymore, and the ones thatdidhave the rare gene running through their veins would be tracked down by the Lucien Dynasty and taken under their employ. Only the Lucien House members, or their guards, could legally possess such an ability. Any others who had the power and refused to join House Lucien were either executed by the monarchy or murdered by the Mrkynian Guild.
“I have a hard time—”
A wave of energy hit Airess’ body, an aura so powerful, she felt it through the fitting room doors and down the hallway. Airess glanced to the twin doors that burst open beside her, the motion cutting Melanth off from whatever she was about to say.
Princess Morana Lucien walked through, her one-year-old babe in one arm and a glass of wine in her free hand. Airess’ Sight pushed past her mental barriers and coated her eyes, revealing Morana’s dark, heavy energy swirling around her like molasses. Airess blinked The Sight away, no longer wanting to see what her shell of a friend had become.
The princess was a younger version of her mother, aged eighteen with the same pale skin and dark hair cut short above her shoulders. Her eyes were colder and more calculated than Melanth's, her demeanor lacking any emotion.
Morana gave Airess a void stare, her eyes trailing down Airess’ wedding gown before handing her child off to the nearest attendant. The queen finally dropped the subject and started conversing with the princess.
Yes, finally!She was thankful Morana had diverted the queen’s attention. Airess narrowed her eyes, staring at the back of Melanth’shead with a vengeance. “Bitch,” Airess whispered.
Melanth turned around, face twisted into a scowl. “What did you say?”
“Oh, nothing. I just found a loose stitch.” Airess motioned to the one white stitch that Esper hadn’t caught. The queen huffed out a breath, eyeing the loose fabric like it was her enemy. “Esper, I expect that to be fixed.”
Esper nodded intently, bending down to examine the skirts of Airess' dress. When Esper looked up, there was a mischievous smirk upon her lips.
The queen walked towards the princess. Airess watched them, how Princess Morana stiffened at the sight of her mother. She wished she could ask Morana what happened all those years ago, how they went from sneaking wine out onto the palace balcony to barely speaking months later. It was as if a flip had switched in Morana, her old best friend, and she was never quite the same.
Airess’ mind went numb as she lost herself in her thoughts, thinking how the remnants of their girlhood died after Morana left.
Airess had finally made it back to her chambers for the day. She kicked off her heels and changed into her nightgown. She rubbed the blisters on her heels before sinking into bed and drawing the quilt up to her shoulders.
She was alone at last. Finally away from the queen, her chest released a breath that she had been holding all day. Airess was thankful to be in her bedroom that doubled as a prison and a haven. She felt this even knowing that two guards stood outside her bedroom doors, on strict orders to stop her if she tried to leave.
How warped was she to feel so at ease with her own confinement?
Airess didn’t know. She didn’twantto think about it anymore. She rolled on her side, rubbing the soft sheets between her fingertips as she gazed out the arched window beside her bed. Moonlight streamed through the window, brushing her face with a gentle warmth that offered quiet comfort. Airess hummed a gentle, lilting tune. It was a soothing ritual she could only do when she was by herself.
She looked out and wondered if anyone would take her from this place, save her from her impending marriage that she knew would ruin her. Her melody dipped, the note low in her throat. She knew no one ever would.
Why would anyone come for her? She was alone with no real friends, allies or even living family.
On the outside, she was believed to be a daughter of a late Lord, privileged to marry the prince.
On the inside, she was in a cage.
Airess closed her eyes, deep in thought. Tomorrow would be the engagement ball. The next day, the royal wedding.
The night of the royal wedding…
She changed melodies, humming a tune she had often heard her mother singing to her when she was a child. She envisioned her mother, happy and smiling as if she were still alive. The sorrow she had tried to bury earlier bloomed unexpectedly in her chest, a feeling she knew all too well. A feeling that always felt the same, no matter how much time had passed. Grief.
Airess had more rights as a child than she had at twenty years old, only allowed to stroll in the castle gardens if she wanted to get out. She wasn’t permitted to go beyond that point, making her decade of confinement even more torturous.
She longed for the beaches from her childhood the most, the distant familiar feeling of the sand beneath her toes, the manor she was raised in—
Airess shook her head and shut off her train of thought. Dwelling on what cannot be changed wouldn’t help her now. She could only focus on what shecouldcontrol, and although it wasn’t much, she did have one thing that no one could ever take away from her. A secret power, an ability her mother had drilled into her to keep to herself for as long as she could remember.
Dreamwalking.
