She climbed to her feet and wrapped her hands around herself, shivering obstinately. She sized up the palace from her spot and she realized that it was the first time she was in this sort of situation. Does the palace even have doorbells? Usually they’d be expecting her arrival so they would be prepared to open the gates but-
“Katie? Katie!”
She felt a pair of strong, slender hands wrap around her from behind, Alexander’s nostalgic scent reminded her of the salty air in the island of Oreis. She smiled and placed her hand on his, surprised at how cold it was.
“Nice to see you too…?” she muttered. “What’s with this sudden gesture?”
Alexander released her and made her face him. He smiled the brightest smile she had ever seen and cupped her cheeks in his cold hands. He scanned every feature of her face as if he couldn’t believe it was her.
“Are you alright?” Katie asked, swatting his hands away. “You’re hurting my face.”
Alexander
Katie ran to Arden’s car where he waited patiently, scrolling through his phone. When he heard light footsteps approaching, he looked up and smiled at Katie, greeting her with a warm ‘hello’. Katie stopped in front of him and spread out her arms to show her outfit to Arden, slowly pivoting in place, her grey trench coat gracefully twirling with her movements. “What do you think?” Katie asked, absent-mindedly tugging at the ends of her shirt. “I am no fashion expert but I think I look okay.” “You know I always like casual Katie,” Arden grinned. He stepped aside to open the passenger side door. “Shall we be off?” “It won’t take a while, right? Alexander’s kind of expecting me to come back early.” “Shh… I don’t want any mention of Alexander today. This is our time together, please don’t ruin my happiness.” Katie’s lips curled to a thin line. “Alright then. Where’s our first stop for our time together?” “You know I’m your pa
Alexander’s father bounded down the stairs, almost running into him when he reached the floor below. “Did you eavesdrop on our conversation?” Alexander asked his father, shaking his head in disbelief. “If you mean the part where you were feeling selfish, yes,” the King grinned. “It was so surprising; I thought I could die happy then and there.” “Ha. Ha,” Alexander rolled his eyes. “So let me hear this solution of yours.” “Alex,” his father raised a dark blue, velvet box. “Don’t you think it’s the perfect occasion?” Alexander eyed the box in his father’s hand, memories of his childhood flooding back to him. He didn’t know he took that box with him, nor why he even considered taking it. Alexander swiped the box from his father, giving him a grateful nod before running back to the library to finish what he started the night before. At the end of the day, late in the afternoon, Katie entered the library. “Alexander, I’m sorry we to
Katie laughed as her parents shouted ‘ARE YOU CRAZY?!’ from the other end of the line. “Aren’t you too young?” her mother complained, “Who the hell are you engaged to?” “It’s the Crown Prince of Anatolia, Alexander Piper,” Katie replied. “It’s a political marriage… just to tell people that the tension between Anatolia and Aelysia is finally at rest.” She heard her elder brother laugh. “When are you going to tell us you like him?” Katie felt heat rush to her cheeks. “Alright, there’s nothing wrong with that!” “Anatolia?” her father muttered, “Never heard of that country.” “Pretty sure I didn’t too before I got here,” Katie said, nodding in agreement. “It’s a neighboring country, I’m pretty sure you’ll find it near Aelysia.” A brief pause. “Mm… nope, can’t see it,” they said in unison. Katie winced as she felt pain radiate from her left temple to the back of her head. “I think I’ll hang up now, I’m not feeling good.”
Alexander cussed and rushed to intercept them but the two paused in their tracks. Katie now stood at the threshold to the veranda, her eyes cold and piercing. Alexander feared that Katie’s eyes would turn red again but it didn’t. “Do you honestly think I have use for cults like you?” Katie tilted her head. “You have lost sight of your goals and chose to seize the power that will never belong to you,” She reached out her hand like she was asking for something. The ring tore free from the man’s grasp and slung back to Katie’s outstretched hand. “This ring is made for me alone.” The ring dissolved to dust in her hands and she took a deep breath, as if power was surging through her body. When she opened her eyes, it had taken the brilliant blue hue of the gem. The dust danced around her arm and created an outline in the shape of a sword. The shape immediately took form as Katie’s hands wrapped around its hilt. “The god’s descendant…” the man muttered, falling to his knees. He tugged at
The light knocking on her bedroom door roused Katie from her sleep. She jumped from her bed and hurried to her door to open it, cussing under her breath as she did so.“Wow, you’re one light sleeper,” Shirley remarked, smiling. “Good morning! I hate to break it to you but you need to be ready soon.”“Diplomatic visit, got it,” Katie nodded. She allowed Shirley to enter, darting to her bed to make it but stopped midway, turning to face her aunt’s attendant. “Miss Shirley, how is aunt? I heard she collapsed yesterday afternoon but I couldn’t visit her.”“The Queen is feeling better. She’s still a bit pale but she said she wouldn’t miss meeting with the guest today,” Shirley replied as she entered the room, balancing the contents of the silver tray in her hands.“What’s so special about them anyway?” Katie muttered. Her eyes widened when she realized s
Katie pulled back, her eyes widening in surprise. The Queen’s smile remained, expecting Katie to just go with it. The princess glanced at Alexander. He didn’t look surprised at all. Was she the only one who didn’t know? Realizing the casual expression on her face was broken, she promptly corrected it and plastered on a smile.“The official announcement will be three days from now so you have time to warm up to each other until then,” ,” the Queen turned to the King of Anatolia, dismissing the topic then and there. “Come Alaster, I must show you the book you requested to see!” Her aunt waved goodbye, dragging the King of Anatolia away, leaving her and Alexander alone.Alexander crossed his arms over his chest, shaking his head in disbelief. “They’re oddly casual.”“That would be good, isn’t it?” she faced him. “At least they still have their friendly side intact. It’s
Two days later, in the afternoon, as Katie read a book in the palace greenhouse; she heard a gentle knock from the door. She glanced up from her book and was greeted by Arden’s warm smile.“Hey!” he greeted cheerfully, holding up a coffee cup with the word 'Princess' written on it. “Were you bored?”Katie exhaled, a tired smile on her face. “Exhausted. I just finished my lessons. Dancing was fun but tiring so I am kicking my feet up,” she stared at the coffee cup in his hands. “I thought you would bring me coffee two days ago… seems a little late, isn’t it?”“I didn’t indicate a specific time,” Arden grinned, handing one of the cups to Katie, taking notice of how red the soles of her feet were. “So how is your fiancé? You’re right here so I assume he’s boring?”Katie accepted the cup and took a long sip. "He was... condescending
Katie felt her knees weaken and she leaned against the threshold to the closet to keep herself from collapsing on the floor. She clawed at the fabric on her chest, feeling her chest tighten, making it difficult for her to breathe. As her breathing became quickened and shallow, she could feel herself start to get lightheaded. Arden rushed to her side and made her sit on one of the chairs.“Alright, Katie, I need you to breathe slowly, okay?” Arden told her, demonstrating what she should do.Following his demonstration, Katie fixed her eyes on Arden, the gentleness in his eyes calming her heart. After a few deep breaths, Katie felt calmer and was able to think clearly again. Arden glanced inquiringly at her and she nodded, unable to hold back a faint smile.“Why are you smiling?” Arden muttered, resisting the urge to smile as well.“It’s just… with how much you distance yourself from me from time to time, it’
Alexander cussed and rushed to intercept them but the two paused in their tracks. Katie now stood at the threshold to the veranda, her eyes cold and piercing. Alexander feared that Katie’s eyes would turn red again but it didn’t. “Do you honestly think I have use for cults like you?” Katie tilted her head. “You have lost sight of your goals and chose to seize the power that will never belong to you,” She reached out her hand like she was asking for something. The ring tore free from the man’s grasp and slung back to Katie’s outstretched hand. “This ring is made for me alone.” The ring dissolved to dust in her hands and she took a deep breath, as if power was surging through her body. When she opened her eyes, it had taken the brilliant blue hue of the gem. The dust danced around her arm and created an outline in the shape of a sword. The shape immediately took form as Katie’s hands wrapped around its hilt. “The god’s descendant…” the man muttered, falling to his knees. He tugged at
Katie laughed as her parents shouted ‘ARE YOU CRAZY?!’ from the other end of the line. “Aren’t you too young?” her mother complained, “Who the hell are you engaged to?” “It’s the Crown Prince of Anatolia, Alexander Piper,” Katie replied. “It’s a political marriage… just to tell people that the tension between Anatolia and Aelysia is finally at rest.” She heard her elder brother laugh. “When are you going to tell us you like him?” Katie felt heat rush to her cheeks. “Alright, there’s nothing wrong with that!” “Anatolia?” her father muttered, “Never heard of that country.” “Pretty sure I didn’t too before I got here,” Katie said, nodding in agreement. “It’s a neighboring country, I’m pretty sure you’ll find it near Aelysia.” A brief pause. “Mm… nope, can’t see it,” they said in unison. Katie winced as she felt pain radiate from her left temple to the back of her head. “I think I’ll hang up now, I’m not feeling good.”
Alexander’s father bounded down the stairs, almost running into him when he reached the floor below. “Did you eavesdrop on our conversation?” Alexander asked his father, shaking his head in disbelief. “If you mean the part where you were feeling selfish, yes,” the King grinned. “It was so surprising; I thought I could die happy then and there.” “Ha. Ha,” Alexander rolled his eyes. “So let me hear this solution of yours.” “Alex,” his father raised a dark blue, velvet box. “Don’t you think it’s the perfect occasion?” Alexander eyed the box in his father’s hand, memories of his childhood flooding back to him. He didn’t know he took that box with him, nor why he even considered taking it. Alexander swiped the box from his father, giving him a grateful nod before running back to the library to finish what he started the night before. At the end of the day, late in the afternoon, Katie entered the library. “Alexander, I’m sorry we to
Katie ran to Arden’s car where he waited patiently, scrolling through his phone. When he heard light footsteps approaching, he looked up and smiled at Katie, greeting her with a warm ‘hello’. Katie stopped in front of him and spread out her arms to show her outfit to Arden, slowly pivoting in place, her grey trench coat gracefully twirling with her movements. “What do you think?” Katie asked, absent-mindedly tugging at the ends of her shirt. “I am no fashion expert but I think I look okay.” “You know I always like casual Katie,” Arden grinned. He stepped aside to open the passenger side door. “Shall we be off?” “It won’t take a while, right? Alexander’s kind of expecting me to come back early.” “Shh… I don’t want any mention of Alexander today. This is our time together, please don’t ruin my happiness.” Katie’s lips curled to a thin line. “Alright then. Where’s our first stop for our time together?” “You know I’m your pa
She climbed to her feet and wrapped her hands around herself, shivering obstinately. She sized up the palace from her spot and she realized that it was the first time she was in this sort of situation. Does the palace even have doorbells? Usually they’d be expecting her arrival so they would be prepared to open the gates but- “Katie? Katie!” She felt a pair of strong, slender hands wrap around her from behind, Alexander’s nostalgic scent reminded her of the salty air in the island of Oreis. She smiled and placed her hand on his, surprised at how cold it was. “Nice to see you too…?” she muttered. “What’s with this sudden gesture?” Alexander released her and made her face him. He smiled the brightest smile she had ever seen and cupped her cheeks in his cold hands. He scanned every feature of her face as if he couldn’t believe it was her. “Are you alright?” Katie asked, swatting his hands away. “You’re hurting my face.” Alexander
Lightning struck overhead. Kaine quickly patched up Alexander’s wound as best as he could and carried him on his back. He called out to Ryle who was still looking over the edge of the cliff as if he’ll see Katie if he stared long enough.“Ryle!” he pulled his right shoulder. “We have to go! You know this island will be gone by morning!”“But Katie-”“-Is gone!” Kaine met Ryle’s eyes. “She fell. We can wallow in that later, but we still need to make sure this Alexander lives! We can at least try to do what the real her wanted to do!”Ryle glanced at the violent waves below, already trying to eat away at the island little by little. Kaine was right, they didn’t have much time. He looked back to his friend and nodded. Kaine nodded approvingly and they ran back to town, toward the building where Alexander’s father was waiting.They rushed over to the worried Alast
When the light dissipated, they found themselves in a dilapidated cottage in the middle of the woods. Katie pivoted in place, giving the place a quick scan. It barely had anything aside from a small, wooden bed at the corner and a small table by the door.“I recognize this place,” Katie ran out of the cottage, looking at it from outside. Ryle and Kaine hot on her heels.“You’ve been here?” Ryle asked, grimacing at the sight of the cottage. “It looks like it can barely stand on its own.”“This cottage is where Miss lived. She was an augur eons ago.”“Oh wow, she is talented,” Kaine muttered, oddly cheery. “So why are we here?”Katie bit her bottom lip. “I have no idea… but I guess it has something to do with releasing Jainella.”“Then let’s get this over with. Do you know how to get out?”“Miss says it&rsquo
Xena felt her heart almost stop and she glanced up at her companions who shared the same expression: shock. They didn’t know what to do at that moment.“It would be wise that way.”They turned to the direction of the unknown voice. In the general direction it came from, they saw a red-haired woman in an olive-green dress, a theater mask over her face. Just the sight of her made the group stand on attention and bow respectfully. Katie, on the other hand, could only stare at her with eyes of… was that jealousy?“You’re the red-haired girl from Alexander’s childhood,” she muttered.“Katie,” Xena knelt in front of the princess. “She was the one who saved us when we were in the labyrinth. We practically owe our lives to her.”The woman approached Katie like she was approaching a rabid animal. “I have no intention to harm you, Katie. Please soften those eyes. There is no need
“You’re as resilient as I thought,” the voice in her head muttered. “As expected of my oracle.” “Oracle-” Katie muttered. “Then who am I speaking for?” “If I tell you now, would it satisfy you?” Katie thought of it, and the voice was silent the entire time she was thinking, as if she was waiting patiently for her answer. Katie nodded… but a doubt gripped her mind. “Actually, maybe not.” “Indeed,” the voice seconded. “Because it would be too easy then, isn’t it?” Katie replied with a nod. “Will I know soon?” “How soon is soon? But you will know the truth when it comes along.” Katie’s eyes fluttered open, the light from the cave blinding her. As her eyes adjusted to the brightness, she tried to move her body, but an intense pain washed over her. “Ow!” she groaned, alerting her companions. “Katie!” her friends rushed to her, the worry on their faces now replaced with relief. “How are you feeling?” Xena asked. “My stomach hurts like hell but I’m fine.” “Oh, right!” Éclair prod