21 Sévir

The ball is everything that one speaks of. My head splits into an ache when a girl with beady blue eyes asks me to be her first dance for the night. I decline her offer with politeness and make my path to the seamster's cabin. Men and boys likewise enter and step out of the busy crew who i guess will assemble their apparel for the grand feast. I could sport anything from the armoire in my room, but I had orders from the higher authorities to be presented as best along with the rest of the Aces to the courtiers.

Which could also mean the presence of Antarian Sarkim.

The law of our banishment. The king behind our suffering. A father protecting his son.

The son whose shoes I barfed on. The son who held my hair from my face when I flunked to control my bile. The son who has been fending me since the day i escaped. The boy I can never truly seem to understand. The Man- I am fading to hate.

I pull at the lever, stiffled from the upheaval that strings my mind and heart. Cold from what I know. Hot from what I cannot tell. Aware of my cause I cannot keep my head in place, It has shattered into a hundred pieces, and with each piece, a question stands.

what happens to Antar if I fail?

And then the other part of me is curious about my powers. With a ventim origens power swarming in me, what else is it that I can do?

Arran mentioned their power is infinite- magical even. He has bestowed a part of him to a human like me. I must've been nothing without it, without him. I stretch my fingers to feel if there is a surge of Elemental energy that awaits to slip out. I look at a candle, hoping to blow it off from where I stood- when no one watches I coil my finger to make it dance.

Nothing.

"Timo?" my breath struck down my throat at the sound of Dorin. I turn and find him prowling towards me. He seizes my elbow and rounds a street to an alley that smells of turned earth and intoxicants. From the looks of us both we seem well kept and fed, a life of amenity has changed us so much to what we are seen as. I can barely recognize him with his new hair.

"We have been tricked" he says, jerks to look around as if he was skimming off an intruder.

"I know" my whisper has his brows in a scrunch.

"You know?"

"I do"

"Then why did you not tell me?"

"Because the less you know the safer you were" I defend "Believe me. I was put into a much compromising position that had kept me from notifying you. Did General Slantis tell you this?"

"He was clear with his motives," Dorin says, but his dissatisfaction isn't gone yet. his glare is clear proof that he won't be trusting me in the near future."We are trapped here. aren't we?"

I am?

Yes.

But for Dorin.

I aim to make sure he leaves this hellhound prudently as he comes .With his limbs intact and muscles tight. Dorin and Castle are my purpose now. Getting them to safety is a priority I cannot gamble with. If the prophecy is known by the royals, they would destroy anything that I keep dear to me. I cannot hide for long, it's not merely the crown of Antar after me but the Origens too. I don't know where they hide or how they look- but I know I cannot pelt or hide from power as theirs. Avoiding Dorin I lept at a gravel stone making my path to the stitcher mart.

"Are you ignoring me?"

"Yes"

"Why?" he seeks me closely.

"We cannot be seen together"

"I do not understand" he sighs, I wince within at my childishness, but I do not know how else to behave. Dorin won't leave me, I cannot have him be seen with me. What do I tell him. "Are you distinctly aware of why the these highbornes scheme to steal a property that belongs to themselves?"

"No"

"I know when you lie" he grabs my arm interrupting me from taking the stairs. "What does the Ring do Timo?"

It walks on two legs to a tailor's shop.

"What are you hiding from me?" he asks again.

Everything. I want say. So many things. I long to scream.

A serve of energy crackles through us and the temperature fluctuates, at first I look at Dorins palm for the cause- but then I see Erix behind him.

"Is that a colleague Snowflake?" Erix walks to us tailed by two of his guards. Dorin gives him a sharp glance but bows with immobility.

"His brother my lord"

Dorin. No.

"You did not mention a family" Erix blinks lazily, I shuffle on my feet in hesitation but not a word slips my mouth with people around. So many people under the guidance of the crown. so many with proficiency to kill us in fancy ways. Dorin interfaces our hands, the act of stupid solidarity doesn't skip from Moranas keen eyes  "I see your protectiveness towards my student young man. I love that, I am an ally of anyone who insures what's mine"

I see Dorin's hand fist on the side, in other circumstances I would have slapped the ice man with my own five fingers for objectifying me, But I am too preoccupied doing it myself. I am a forbidden cores strength, how else was I any less? I am Arrans object. Arran is my old man. I am bound by a prophecy and I - have no power to change it.

Or do I?

If so. At what cost?

Yet- and yet- I am a vessel.

I am a puppet.

I am a-

"Snowflake?"

Snowflake?

I am a snowflake?

"You there" Nodding my head I blink at Erix who wraps his arm by my shoulder, walking us in. Dorin pursues us but gets gated by the guards, eventually he leaves my hand. They let him go when Erix orders it. But Dorin doesn't follow us in, he leaves after a painfully accusative stare my way.

"Everything Alright Snowflake?" Erix asks, incredulously. His concern a moment real for me. But then I remember who he is and I shrug him away.

"I am fine" I look around at the large room marred with fabrics, beads, and ornaments. I see the room become empty at the sight of Morana. I have ceased feeling impressed at the influence of a Lordship- I now nickel at one. "Is this necessary?"

"More than you think" his blue eyes were steady and dark. He crosses his arms "The way you dress is seen as the way you live" he presses the side of my head with two of his fingers- his gaze pouring into me, a strange sort of attraction in them "If your mind is a weapon, then your clothes are the sheath"

Perhaps he is right. The manner he is decked has been the foremost aspect of his that I cited. He scared me with his humor and the manner he never had a speck of dust on him. He feels surreal. But then again I had seen Ezdan in rags, it seldom did him a bother. he still appeared every inch the prince he is.

A cruel prince sworn by his arrogance.

The seamster is an aged man with a balding head, he comes to us with hurried steps- the one he opens his mouth for has mine agape.

"Remove your tunic and trousers please" The seamster lowers himself to a silver cot and I gape at a Morana whose only response is a very royal snort. The semester then looks at me through his small round glasses, "Go on"

This time Morana does say a thing to help.

"We are not here for the warrior's armor Jeslan"  the seamster quirks his head to the side and squint his eyes-

"But I was told-

"You were told to make armor for my disciple. Yes"  Erix looks at me, laying a hideous sheathed hand above my knuckles and pulling me forward towards Jeslan "But it should be concealed in normal wears. I am here for attires that stand against attack of bullets and metals" I shake with anticipation when he himself grabs a measuring cord.

"Jot down the measurements jeslan, I won't crowd much of your time" With that Erix began to encircle my waist with the rope, he gives it a deliberate tug toward him and when I see him, he is stifling a smile. he bites his lower lip in concentration and soon he is providing the stitcher with numbers.

I flush when he lifts it up to my bust, our eyes lock and I steal my glance away from the grip of his cautious stare. When he finishes he doesn't accompany me back, in its place a silence expands in the wake of something unexplainable between us.

***

My eyes are dry of tears. I cannot tell if I even have the tears in me to mourn the betrayal. I have become a rock, unfazed by any storm that's thrown at me. Too much has happened and too much is inside me, furious to be let out. so I drink a glass of wine and sweep my eyes at the glitter and glamour of people scattered. Having spent a good fortune of time in the library and reading the information manuscripts I could name each and every important figure here tonight.

The General Ostra from Dothen who is old to his bones. The mayor of Ledras who is suspected of extra marital affair, the naval officers from the grand army of east and the far relatives of crown that are here to bet on horses and Aces. I see their women laugh at what they say, swoon silently at another man, and wait for the Lords and Lady's to arrive. Frantic for a glimpse of king and his only son.

I am down in another glass when I see the serpent boy, the fourth ace. Evander Hollin I recall his name is. his dark eyes never had been pleasant on me, tonight from the shadows I glare at him. He cannot detect my form- but to the least, I get to be hostile and bitter from afar.

My head is dizzy when I pick the fourth glass, but someone snatches it away from right under my nose. I frown at my empty hand and then at Marlon saga.

"Haven't seen you in a while" he takes a sip from the stolen drink. My drink. a hot anger skitters up my channel but even in my intemperate state my tongue swallowed the bite of it.

"It's not like your men haven't kept a watch on me" I rub my palms by the cuffs of my new suit, it's the color of the ink- similar to an Armins uniform but embroidered with silver threads in a fabric that is almost black. If I were to step out from here I wouldn't be able to repel the attention I'll attract. "How many of us know about the heist?"

I cave in. They do not look like they have kept it from Dorin, it's only fair I know how far in danger they are in.

"Castlena is wise. She caught on soon" The break in his tone is displeased and more displeased is his gaze that's on the Castle standing by the fire torch beside a desperate Slate willows. I stare at Marlon long enough, but he barely notices in the amusement I was delivering his way. he chugs in the whole glass and slaps it back into the table.

I don't need a vision to sense his anger. The ventim in mistake, sloppily stares at the girl he fancies in niche of a drunk fox such as me. Castle looked lovely tonight wearing a peach gown and over-knee socks. flowers adorned her hair as the Rixilian girl ignored the efforts of Slate quite painfully.

"There had been attacks in the harbor" Marlon grumbles "Strange attacks from undiscovered animals. Some are gutted but others are drained of blood. We suspect Rixilians but it doesn't fit the story. Not all invasions could be done by them, can it?. Dothen has declared to side with us, And in such face of upheaval, Rixile is not foolish enough to proclaim war on us. I just- I cannot understand"

The more I attempt to ignore him and his topic the further i find my mouth run its course.

"What if the Rixilans have someone else, an unknown part of the faction helping them?"

What if the origens had found Rixilians and their contempt towards Antar easier to manipulate? Wasn't there a rumour milling of rixilans having discovered the land of core? I might be reading too far into this, but an attack odd to a ventims eye isn't something to be reckoned with.

"You mean a group of rebels?"

"I mean like higher power" I pause "Like Origens"

He hoots a laugh and I drop my head low. Regardless of his behavior that I most certainly had been expecting. I think of what I sound like. If only had they seen what I saw.

Who I met.

And what he said.

I think of ways to make them believe, and to show that I have to reveal my true self. To be discovered would lead me to an dead end. Everyone has a past- and my power becomes a threat to those who have to hide. Be it a king or a slave.

The core of the ring has been worshipped for years.

But will they do the same to a person who is a threat to their heir? I have seen and heard their love for him. I have seen him as their hope. I have-

"something big is on the way to happen" sniffs Marlon "I can feel it. if only I can understand"

You Will- if only you hadn't laughed at my theory and allowed me to elaborate.

"Lets not think of it tonight saga," I say, his brows reaches his hairline at the manner I addressed him. The drinks have made me braver and I feel not an inch of remorse anymore. I smirk "For others to know I will be having the first dance with my sister. but you know better don't you? She looks ravishing in that dress, don't you think  "

he occurs as if he could smash the glass of wine at the top of my humble head. But quick as a rat I am who weaves through people as the light dims- I am in the middle of the hall when my little escape cost me a first-hand show of Ezdan arriving at the ball.

His stare captures mine as if there isn't anything else he wills to look at. he walks to me rejecting the bows and curtsies. But I bleed into people until I am hidden between two large bodies of Armins who couldn't care less what I do beneath their generous behind. Arching on my toes I look at the happenings through the shoulder of these mountains. Ezdan is in the spot where I had previously been. He is searching for me, peering at the directions and ends where I am not.

But wasn't it long after I was caught, the Armins moved to side simultaneously leaving me open to him. His teeth clench and he grips his other wrist slightly tighter than I have liked. I am thrown by the change of course as styainne Marmoris comes to stand in his way. He composes into a smile for show but the twinge of his frustration blooms in me, he doesn't bother to hide it from me and lets all his sentiments gush.

I hadn't spoken a word to him last night after I had come out of the spree of a vision. No matter what he asked, my lips remained sewn with shock and fatigue. He did help me out of the trance by shaking me, but I had asked Erix to take me back to the mansion.

It's when he resisted trying. I left him behind with Erix who didn't ask me anything. Neither the night. Nor this morning.

Even now I see him with a beautiful, a Dothen princess- Fleur Maddezza. I suppose there will be an alliance between the two countries if any war was to happen. The Dothens has pledged there support to Antarians- I see so many political moves being made with the high bornes as pawn in the board. But everything will fall once the Origen will arrive.

Once I will be bared.

Soon the music fills the room and as suspected I feel the Lord and Ladys make their appearance. But I get pushed back too far to see them by the elevated balcony where they sat. All eyes were on Ezdan and Styainne as the music began- the sweet melody from piano keys wafts through every corner. the flowers decorated were gorgeous, and I appreciated finding another table designed with wine. the dinner in the other room looked striking. so was the aroma of it in the air. everything reminded me of the emptiness in my stomach.

But wrong was something more in my heart.

And Eyes.

They refused to look at them dance. My heart pains for another reason unknown. There are countless aches and the wine seems to numb it just fine.

Regardless of my efforts, I see them. I see him see me. I see him twirl her while watching me. He looks satisfied once he has my attention as he smiles down at styainne. The ache is merciless. I wish someone else to feel it too. I lack a partner to feel such jealousy as mine.

Jealously?

Did I use such a brazen term to justify this alien feeling? A sober Iris shall laugh and smack her own face at the lunacy of it. But a drunk one is on a quest to find castle as their dance is joined by Erix and Princess of dothen- then furthermore by sons of retired generals and further more. the song ends and I lose sight of Ezdan but find the one I was in stint for-

Castles lower lip trembles with a shock of a smile, she leaps to me and twists me in a hug.

Marlon Saga fumes with similar emotions bottled as me I think as I drag her to the dance hall, away from the approached hand of saga that castle ignores with mastery. I think castle signs me something which I refuse to listen to, my aim has been reduced to becoming a barrel rat that irks people by merely its presence. But sadly there are too many people recognizing me sooner the fire brightens in the room. I hear their whispers, the rate of their hearts, and the rattle of their feet. The crinkles from the women's accessories are the most annoying of all.

'is he the boy?'

'....the Dragon instigator'

'his core remains yet a mystery'

'what if he becomes another Arran?'

Arran.

His name brings me a platter of dread. But not for the yearn of God can I remember why. Events begin and the stage rises from the ground. Music and ballads are sung and tribute is paid to the martyred warriors in the frontline. When a host praises the years Ace, I crinkle my nose with disgust. But luckily we weren't asked to demonstrate our core like exquisite animals to the guests. Not that I had any extraordinary visual core to soothe their eyes. but I would have loved to see the looks that gain on their faces when they'd discover that Antar has a seer among them.

That would make antar untouchable.

and me, a valid Asset.

Only if it was this easy.

The world is ruthless when it comes to revenge, so when I turn and Marlon saga deliberately awaits with firewater in hand to accidentally spill it down my shirt. I nod with honor at his doing.

"you are so petty" I laugh feeling the bubble of mirth in my chest. He smiles at me. It's false to his his bones.

"Have you not learned from the best?" he says, praising himself "I was about to hit you with my fist. But I wear my humanity in front of people who love me"

"The kindest thing you can do now is hit me so my body could bear the pain and not my heart"

this does the opposite. in place of cruel intentions, a young suspicion is born.

"How much did you have to drink" a hiccup hikes up and he receives my answer. He grabs my arms warily and pulls me to the side "You cannot go on the night like this. Might you reveal yourself foolishly I will see to it personally that you do not get to see the sunlight again"

"Are you threatening me?" I quip while being dragged out from a new path "So much for a man who wears hospitality"

He pushes me through a small study door and shushes me when I open my mouth to protest about all the food that I might be missing if I leave this ball soon.

"Go"

I do not oblige.

"Leave or I will have Julian take you"

I obey.

Uneventful. it's how I retire from the ball and head for my chamber in Moranas Mansion. Once in the cocoon of my safety, i take off my coat, trousers, and the bandaged corset. Ignoring the male costumes I shift through a pile of dresses in the crate to wear. The one made of tulle and laces catches my attention. When I pull it over my body the soft lining of silk inside teases my skin to sigh with ecstasy. The fabric spills to the floor as its auburn sashes wrap by my bare side arms. Removing the pins braiding my hair I allow it to breathe. my eyes are watery from the breezy path I had taken- and in solitude i watch my reflection with eager eyes.

There I stared at me, a girl full of lies once in her true form. A daughter of misery, a spirit without a home. But yet it's undeniable, the armor of beauty a Helian possesses and what she has been bestowed with, small lips, sharp nose, and wide eyes. a doll in armor to mask the scar that marred her soul.

"Are you proper?" I gasp, whirling to where the voice came from, my hands folding to my chest. There on the sill of my open window under the light of night sat Ezdan with his eyes closed. Reclined and relax was his body in all formals as if he had been here in my room for a long while. With firewater dwindling in my empty stomach I cannot seem conjure my anger at him. though a small part of me reminds me that I shall be obligated to feel shock of this happening the sooner toxicants wear off. But I shush it away to focus on Ezdans welcoming presence.

"How long have you been sitting there?" I pause, my heart threatens to race with my thoughts. and my thoughts- were all him "What did you see?"

He isn't expressive with his face, but now even with his eyes shut they soften slightly.

"I saw what undoing two buttons to a coat could make me see" his feet reach the ground, standing tall with his stature he still did not open his eyes. "Tell me, Iris, am I allowed to look at you now?"

A thousand times I would say yes and a thousand times I will ask myself why. Why him? What significance of him in my life is making me feel this way or are these his emotions for me that are enticing such baseless conclusions?

"You can look" I breathed. The room falls away and the moment halts when he opened his eyes. I had been wrong. So so wrong. Ezdan wasn't less expressive. In the moonlight he flooded with what he aims at. It drinks me in, that glassy gaze of his like he wants to tangle himself in me. Like he wants to bend me to his likes. Like he wants to desire me for the night. And I could feel it all. Feel him all.

The bond. It's merciless. The bond- is truth.

"How do I look?" foolishly I ask, my hands light and cold on my side with nerves.

"Like something I am not willing to look away from" he nears, unfazed and unchanged. "like someone I cannot bear to look away from"

I should be running from him and not walking to where he stood, but I do neither. I stand where I am, watching him reach me- waiting for him to meet me. But I put my hand on his chest before he could take mine. I might not be sober, but my sanity remains alert with possible cons like him.

"Don't do this" I plead "Don't make me stop hating you, Julian"

I beg. to know his situation without knowing the real him had been susceptible. But now, I am walking on all water with my melting ice drowning me each wise I think of what I had been told. The guilt is like charred ash- I once burned to detest this boy. And now- my heart beats with his emotions. I know he is a living person. I know he is warm. I know he is humane. Now that I know he is real- nothing is easier.

Nothing is sufficient.

Not him. Not me. And not this unattained distance between us.

"Then stop hating me"

I open my mouth to speak but he puts his finger to my lips in warning.

"Don't go on spewing something that will ruin this," he says, a tally of calculated lightness in him. He tucks the hair out of my face and holds my jaw so gently, He makes me look at him from his new boots that I had begun fixating on "Why have you been avoiding me?"

"I-i haven't"

"Liar"

"Why aren't you at the ball?"

"It's amusing to hear the reason ask" he encloses any last breath of hair between us "Quit running away from me. I will always find you"

His other arm circles my waist pulling me into him if even it was a possibility, he smiles. A small smile that counts as a twitch when I blink widely at him to keep myself focused.

"You are so intoxicated" he whispers "It'll be a miracle if you'd remember this tomorrow." With that his hand dropped to take mine, he commenced to slowly sway us to the faint music from the palace drafting through the room.

"Are we dancing?" I ask.

"No Iris, we are Hunting"

"Liar, we are dancing," I say "Erix taught me these steps very well"

A few second passes after he makes no moves of our bodies, but he plucks me with a sudden twirl. My back presses to him in a rough act. His hands trail my bare arm and shoulder and despite his sheath, I could feel his possessive marks enveloping me as a whole.

"Did he teach you these too?" his free hand cups my neck, craning my face as he strokes my jaw. a blush spreads through my cheek down to the neck where he clasped me."Did I not tell you to stay away from him?"

It's a small ragged growl from him as he runs a hand down my spine, I want to snatch myself away but he won't let me. I am learning things about my body that I had preserved and shackled. That it has its need for a girl. Perhaps this is it- I tease him with a smile. A drunken sloppy smile that I would regret the second my sanity relays.

"Was it not you who threw me at his mercy then?"

He doesn't spare me a minute to take it back, he twists our bodies until my back drenches against the pool of mattress. he grabs my wrist and crosses it atop my head, and the funny thing is he doesn't even require two of his hands for the menial job. I am pinned.

Marlon is right, I should be consuming more almonds than figs.

"Want to know what it took for me to see you leave with him last night?" his voice is low, deeper, and more intense than it ever has been. Just an octave above a whisper. An alarming indication of how serious he was. I gulp in the air. I struggle for the air.

"Yes," I whimper. "I want to know"

He tilts his head slightly, and he looks at me like I was his favorite poetry and he wishes to have it memorized.

"I bled without a wound," he says, his touch on my wrist deepening ,his fingers curls by my soft waist. I gasp when he leans- brushing by the crook of my neck as he warns to my ears "And it's a feeling I do not intend to go through again Iris, I will tear him apart if it is all it takes"

My back arched as he molds me to him. Cautious to not let our skin touch But careless enough to shape me to his fascinations. His lashes dips at my lips then he looks into my eyes. It appalls me. The vulnerability with which he regards me as if he has chaos exploding within him and only I have the keys that would set him free. As if the touch of me is all he needs. As if I was all he had.

For a moment I am astonished at his transparency, and then I am surprised at how he lets me go. Something dawns on him as his features hardened, and he flips to the side and away from me. The cerin horns from her cage and I cannot understand a thing. But it all fell away when I got up from my bed and in time a loud siren blared over the city.

The harsh reality of what is happening vapors any trace of drunkenness in me. I join Ezdan by the window where screams and alarming tones rang by the palace grounds. Guns shots and smoke clouds the path.

Strange noises of tortured creatures rise through the surroundings.

I turn to look at Cerin, her calls are plagued and I peer at the window behind her.

A shadow looms.

And then it shatters.

Ezdan slips me behind his protection and draws out a gun.

I draw in a breath.

We are under attack.

So.....

I am all ears