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Chapter 20: A Dance
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A Daughter’s Revenge Chapter 21: The Evening Primrose
I made my way towards the hall for the traditional dance. I could feel the vibrations from the drums pounding. The words of the songs floating above the drum beats praising the moon goddess and begging her for a love match mate. “What house?” A bored dance coordinator asked at the stage door. “Alpha Osiris.” I said with a flat tone. The coordinator handed me two silver bell anklets The bells are worn to add to the drum rhythm as you dance. “Turn around so that I can pin this number to your back.”“Be careful of my gown please, it’s to be judged at the feast this evening.” “You will dance to the Full Moon dance in group three.”It has been so long since I danced to this song. The drum beats steadily build to a crescendo and the singers declare devotion to the moon goddess. Your hands and arms telling a story as you spin and stomp to emphasize the beat. We make our way to the hall to perform for the gathered crowd. The crowd is mainly the aristocracy gathered at tables drinking win
A Daughter’s Revenge Chapter 22: A Prince
“Congratulations!” Number forty-four said. “I’m Joy. I’ve never seen you before, what troupe do you dance with?” She looked at me puzzled. “Ceres.” I stuck out my hand. “I belong to Alpha Osiris’ house. I rarely have the chance to leave the estate.” Being a slave is a strange thing to tell other people. I don’t belong to anyone. I’m not a thing to be possessed. I am though. Even if it shouldn’t be the case it is. So I say I belong to the house to make it seem less degrading. “You dance beautifully. I danced in group one so I was able to watch most of the performers. I already know them from dance class and private parties though.” She shrugged. “But you. YOU I don’t know,” she giggled. “Where did you learn to dance?”I thought back to watching the dancers of every fair and festival held in the pack perched on my fathers knee, or when I was older proudly sat beside him. A front row to all the most talented dancers, singers, and instrumentalists in the pack playing and dancing their h
A Daughter’s Revenge Chapter 23: Cordelia
The ten of us spread across the hall stage. Somehow I ended up being in the center. I always enjoyed the haunting nature of this song. It is both seductive and terrifying. I again feel an intense gaze burning into my skin. I feel completely exposed and on display even if my dress is exceptionally modest. The slow and steady beat of the drum begins to pound. “Go on,Go on and break my heart.Go on,Go on and break my heart. I am not worthy of your heart my king” the singer’ sorrowfully croon. Our bodies moving seductively to convince him otherwise. “Go on,Go on and break my heart. Go on,Go on and break my heart. Burn the funeral pyres. I cannot live without you” the singers continue to plead. Our arms extended above our heads like flames as we spin and pound our feet to create the jingle of the bracelets. The drums and the bells like a beating heart, pleading to be loved.“Go on,Go on and break my heart. Go on,Go on and break my heart. Reject me,Plunge your sword into
A Daughter’s Revenge Chapter 24: The Owl
We quickly make our way to the wood craft tent. Barn owls have an angelic heart-shaped white face. The males are more ghostly with white bellies and white feathers streaking their wings falling from brown feathered epaulets. The females are more striking with white faces framed in a coppery red feather. Dappled brown and red body with a white belly splattered with copper red and brown feathers. The barn owl had more of a shriek than a hoot, raspy and cutting, swooping silently in the dead of night. Their white bodies gliding like spirits and ghouls, swallowing their prey whole. Some believe that these owls are demons that swallow your soul. Hearing the owl screeching is an omen of your death. I like to think of them as beautiful nighttime creatures. Graceful but strong. Elusive and solitary. “Ceres!” Dmitry exclaimed, running towards us. “Where have you been? I expected that you would have been here much earlier.” He asks while tightly embracing me, his little arms tightly claspin
A Daughter’s Revenge Chapter 25: The Procession
The bells clanged to signal the start of the feast ceremony. Pack members begin to line the pathway leading to the pavilion where the feast is held. The clergy would proceed first carrying religious relics. This parade was different from the others because the full harvest moon relic was paraded. The relic was a large harvest moon with thousands of small orange and rainbow moonstones set in silver. It was created upon the realms foundation as tribute to the moon goddess. I had seen it many times before, but every single time I did it left me awestruck. “Let’s hurry and get a good vantage point to see the moon!” I said excitedly. “Again?” Groaned Mari. “We need to hurry to be up front so I can see too!” Dmitry demanded. I grab ahold of Dmitry and he grabs ahold of Mari, creating our own little daisy chain cutting through the crowd. I settle for a spot just behind the ropes on a bend so that we can see everyone. First the clergy, the Harvest Moon, the Alpha family, the school child
A Daughter’s Revenge Chapter 26: Harvest Feast Ceremony
The man who has invaded my daydreams has just appeared. Riding a trotting horse, with a perfectly manicured mane. Each step precisely on beat with the drums. Trotting triumphantly up the pathway. I squint. “Why would a guard be riding on a horse in the parade?” I ask myself as much as I ask Dmitry and Mari. “What? No, that’s Prince Edward. I saw him when he stayed at the estate.” Mari responded confused by my mistake. “Prince?” I couldn’t even speak from my shock. His eyes snapped to me and met mine. His eyes are a piercing jade, cold and hard. His blue suit had the star constellations stitched into it with moons in all phases, sparkling silver. The blue so deep, I imagined only the deepest parts of the sea could be such a dark blue, devoid of light swallowed by darkness. I wanted to get lost in that darkness with him. “Uh yeah. You know the Crown Prince’s eldest son and declared heir. The King’s grandson.” Mari answered sarcastically. “He’s stunning right?” I stood there stunne
A Daughter’s Revenge Chapter 27: A Moment
There is a buzz of excitement amongst the women backstage. It isn’t everyday that you get to see a handsome unmated young prince up close. A man that maids and slaves whispered about. That debutantes wanted to be mated to. That old social climbing mothers dreamed about for their daughters. His breathtaking beauty and cold demeanor. His dark aura. His power and dominance. “I hear he is quite skilled in swordsmanship and fighting. He wins all his matches.” A young model in a harvest moon orange colored gown. It seems unwise to beat up a Prince, I muse silently in response. “According to the Kingdom of the Moon Court Circular, it is a pastime the future king enjoys; second only to charity, his favorite activity. He will make an excellent king, so handsome.” Another model in a silver gown added. “I pray to the goddess!” She squealed clasping her hands in prayer. If charity is cutting ribbons and opening libraries. Or maybe charity is dining on fine meals at every fine house in
A Daughter’s Revenge Chapter 28: The Winner’s Circle
“Top Three will be announced. Those three are to go to the wing on stage left and the Prince will be announcing the order and giving the medals.” The old woman explained. “The medals will be given to the head of the house that submitted the dress, not the model; unless you are both the submitter and model.” She recited as if she had the rule book in front of her. “The three models to stay are,” she spoke clearly and sharply. You could feel the collective breath taken by the room in anticipation of the names being called. We all had our own reasons for being here, whether by choice or as a slave, but we all wanted to win.“House of Chairman Zhadnost, House of Beta Vtoroy, and House of Alpha Osiris.” She took a short breath. “The rest of you are free to go, thank you for the lovely submissions. Please go enjoy the feast.” She said attempting to minimize any disappointment. An uncomfortable smile settling on her face. I smile to hide my disappointment. I’m happy that my work is one of
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