14
CAPITAL CITY
Torches light the way as I follow the sound of laughter coming from down the hall. Tane, Evander, and Mina are already waiting in the throne room.
“Hey,” Mina calls. “Are you coming with us?”
Her tight, strapless, emerald dress resembles mine, and I feel at ease about my choice now. Her short bobbed hair is curled and shows off her long, slender neck. The guys are dressed in black jackets and matching black pants. Their outfits are almost modern-looking except for the shiny black thread embroidered on the sleeves in runes. The thread is so delicate that you can barely see it until the light hits it just right.
“Yeah, Mathilda invited me. Is that ok?” My insecurities overtake the confidence I felt walking down here. Mina grabs my hand and pulls me towards her.
Her smile is lethal. “Of course! Now we can show you some real fun.”
“Oi, don’t scare her off, it’s only a bit of dancing,” Tane throws my way.
“We’re going dancing?” I ask, my eyes bulging.
“Drinks, dinner, and dancing,” Evander answers.
My swallow is audible, and everyone chuckles.
Tane whispers to me, “It’s not torture, just a night out.”
It would be pretty pathetic of me to tell my new friends that I’ve never danced before besides in the kitchen with my parents, so I nod and try to will calmness into my sweating palms.
Mathilda rounds the corner into the throne room, and the group cheers. Mina is the loudest. “She’s only a few minutes late!”
I get the feeling they do this a lot, and I try to find my place in the group. I follow along, smiling and clapping for Mathilda. They are a tight-knit group, a family.
Mathilda gives a mocking curtsy before throwing her arms over mine and Mina’s shoulders. “Alright, let’s go have some fun!”
We meander down the steps and head into the city instead of flying down. Tane and Mathilda bicker over which restaurant has the best “welcoming” feel for my sake and ultimately lead us to the one Mathilda picked in the West district. The restaurant is a little cottage on the main road in the city. There are tables out front and lights strung from the building across the seating area and into the trees. It reminds me of the whimsical lights Lachlan set up for family dinner—our last dinner together.
I feel the faint stirrings of homesickness.
The sun has set, but the streets are teeming with life, full of people coming and going through the shops and restaurants. The smell of the food from the restaurant we chose makes my mouth water. A waiter, an older man with a kind face, approaches us, all smiles and welcome.
Evander calls, “The usual Carlo, plus one extra plate, please.”
Carlo studies my face for a moment. I can see the realization dawn, and he places a hand on his heart, bowing lowly. With a slight Italian accent, he says, “Welcome.”
My cheeks catch fire at the sentiment, and I bob my head in return. “Thank you.”
While we wait for our food, I try to follow the conversation around me, but my mind wanders to Lachlan, wondering what he might be doing and if he misses me as much as I miss him. A waiter walks by with a plate of bread stuffed with meat, cheese, and arugula. Homesickness continues to make my chest ache, only now I’m left feeling lost all over again.
Mathilda must sense my discomfort and nudges my shoulder. “You ok?” she asks, frowning.
“Yeah, I just—just was thinking of my family back home,” I say dejectedly.
Mathilda’s smile is understanding, but she nods towards the table where our group is discussing the merits of flying versus Luna’s traveling. I refocus on the conversation at hand.
“Wait, what do you mean she disappears and then reappears somewhere else? Like teleportation?”
My mind is completely blown that something like that is even possible.
Tane responds, “We call it traveling, but yeah, she just poofs and then she’s somewhere else. It’s wild.”
The group agrees, and I ask, “Does everyone have powers?”
