“We have the glasses,” Katie slightly raised the tray in her hands when they got to her bedroom. “Nice setup you got here.”
The pillows were arranged in a circle one the carpet, probably one for each person. The bottles of soda were placed on one side and the snacks were piled beside it. Katie distributed the glasses among them and filled each glass with soda.
“You guys, I swear this is not Katie’s first time sneaking! You can barely hear her footsteps!” Arianne praised, resting her hand on Katie’s shoulder.
“My parents were strict so I learned to go around them whenever they were sleeping,” Katie replied, but a sheepish expression showed on her face. “Although, I never thought I would feel proud saying that.”
“So there is a dark side to Her Highness,” Xena snickered. “I know you nobles have troubles from time to time but… it’s still refreshing to know you have such pasts.”
“If we show instability, it could trouble the people.”
Tha
Kaine carefully studied the princess’ face for any changes in her expression. He expected her to retaliate a little but she looked like she knew what to do. Katie curled her lips before replying. “I understand if you don’t trust-” “He’s… too quiet…” Kaine wrinkled his nose. “Back at the camp, he probably just stepped on a branch on purpose to make his presence known. I just can’t help but feel like he’s hiding something. Do you really trust him that much?” “I’ve found reason not to trust him completely,” she sighed. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve figured he’s much too hard to read so I knew better.” Kaine bit his lip and nodded. “Alright. Watch your back, Katie, You’ll always have a place in our camp.” Katie smirked. “I’m not sure I want to leave the high life behind just yet,” she shook her head as if she didn’t believe she just uttered such words. “You’re always welcome to come back here.” The demigod bid goodbye and jumped off. Katie r
“I heard you’re here!” Alexander muttered once he had entered the library.He approached the familiar wall of books that Katie had set up from a week before. Behind that was a napping Katie, using an open book as her pillow.“Did she not sleep properly last night?” He muttered to himself. He brushed away the hair that had fallen on her face and noticed the dark circles under her eyes.The doors to the library opened once more and Katie shot up on her seat, pretending to read the book she opened. Alexander practically sprang away from her table, startled with how sudden the princess moved.“No use pretending,” Arden told her. “Here, I brought you water.”“Thanks,” Katie grabbed the glass of water but paused to look at it. “Why is there a cam inside?”“A… clam?” Arden and Alexander exchanged glances.After a split second, Katie’s
Katie opened her eyes and saw a bright, warm sea around her. She was breathing, despite being underwater. Below her was a gigantic octopus.She screamed and swam away but the tentacles blocked her path, not letting her escape.Wait! I mean you no harm!Katie’s eyes widened in both horror and astonishment. Did the octopus just… talk?She looked down to meet the octopus’ eyes. The tentacles around her descended save for one that wriggled side to side as if saying hello.Hi! I hope you forgive for almost drowning you, miss.Is this how animals talk to each other?Oh, no. I only communicate like this to my friend. You seem to have the same energy as her, but I don’t recognize you.Should I be concerned?No. I just got a bit excited. It had been forever since I saw her. I really didn’t mean to drown you. Do you h
Katie awakened to a heated argument among the group. When she opened her eyes, she found herself in a familiar, large, well-lit air pocket, its ground covered in dense vegetation. The only exit visible was a large opening ahead, but past it was nothing but darkness.“Why are you being so insensitive?! Shouldn’t you be a little more caring? You’ve been in this situation before!” Éclair exclaimed, her motherly demeanor gone.“Because dwelling on the fact that we’re back in this damn labyrinth will be detrimental to our performance,” Ryle replied, his voice barely even.“Guys, please stop. Fighting won’t help us either,” Marielle said calmly, picking at the loose seams on her clothes.“Katie’s awake,” Xena told the two as soon as she noticed Katie open her eyes.The others gathered around her, asking how she was feeling. Katie winced when she felt her head throb. She
“Yes, you’re perfect. I hope your friends make the right decision.”A bright light engulfed them. When the light dissipated, they found themselves in front of a large temple. Marielle counted the people with her. Katie was curled up on the ground further ahead of them, her hands raised protectively over her head. Xena walked over to her to make sure she was okay.“Alright, we’re all here,” she said. “But… where exactly are we?”“You took the words right out of my mouth,” Éclair muttered, looking up at the marble temple ahead of them. The carvings of nature on its stairs were emphasized with gold, and elaborate patterns of flowers decorated its walls.“We’re fairly close to the sea,” Katie remarked as she approached the group with Xena. “But if that’s a cliff, I’m not going anywhere near it.”Ryle ran closer to the edge of the cliff.&n
“I think there may be a fixed path to this,” Katie muttered weakly, wiping the blood on her mouth with her clothes. “I think so too,” Marielle nodded. “The right path was not to prevent the murder. It was to let things happen the way they were supposed to.” “So why bring us here at all?” Ryle asked. “If nothing can be done, it feels-” Arianne wrinkled her nose. “Useless,” Kaine continued. As the commotion escalated, even to the spectators, the group decided to hide in the forest beside the temple. Katie noticed how they all closed their eyes or would avert their gazes in guilt whenever they heard someone scream for help. She looked down herself, knowing that they would have helped if it didn’t kill her. “What could possibly lead to an entire population to resort to this?” Kaine muttered. “I don’t know the reason but I think I know where we are now,” Katie answered. “This is Aelysia… when it was still a continent.” “Have you seen Aelysia? It’s a small country, not a continent,”
“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
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
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