Who opened the window? Where is this blinding light streaming from? Is it morning already? Does morning come too early over here? I cussed, turning on the bed to the other side, signing contentedly when I was blessed with a non-light zone. I hugged the pillow tighter to myself, and would have continued to sleep if a certain thought hadn't been chosen at that particular second in the time continuum to filter into my mind. The thought that I had proposed before I went to sleep last night; to be awake before everyone in the family, so that I could start cleaning the surroundings. This way, they would know, especially Laura, that I was more than appreciative to them for taking me in. With that remembrance came an instant jerking up from the bed, and a sharp flinging of the soft pink pillow to the side.“Oh no..” I muttered, irritated with myself, irritated with my keen love for sleep, when I saw that the side of the bed where Diana had slept in last night was empty. The young girl had
As I toweled myself dry, I gritted my teeth in anger and retribution as I beheld the scars on my body; scars that had been left behind by Adam and his brothers. They weren’t much, thanks to the wonderful medicines of Peter, but they were present on my skin, a reminder of what I had gone through. Oh yes, I liked it to an extent. It would help me remember the atrocity the triplets had committed against me. It would help me never to forget their acts of wickedness. It would help me never to forgive them for their inhuman betrayal.When I was done with drying myself up, I took up the clothes that Diana had left at the bed; and starting with the pants, which were black and stretchy, I got dressed. They were okay. The big cloak—or was it a sweater? I was not sure—was okay. Good I had gotten used to wearing oversized shirts when I had been bullied at the pack. Who would have believed that after the torment that Adam and his brother had put me through then, that I had still gone ahead to
“Here goes nothing.” I mused to myself, touching intermittently, the oversized sweater I was wearing. This was the first time after all I would be going out without a bra and panties. And I needed it to be not so obvious. Not that I could change anything with this touching here and there, not that there was anything to see. The sweater was big enough to hide my breasts and long enough to cover my buttocks region. I doubted I would be tried for offensive dressing on the first day. Wheew. I couldn’t wait to go shopping. Does the community have a mall? I had seen the clothes that Peter and his family wore, and although they were quite good, they were not in the league of the Dolce and Gabbana collections. I hadn’t seen their entire wardrobe, but at least I had seen Diana’s. Did the villagers make their own cloth? If that was so, they would just be taking my measurements, right? And if that was so, then I wouldn’t be seeing the clothes for a week. No. Hopefully no.I remembered Dia
The meeting ground was just as Laura had described. A hall tastefully designed. Even the chairs were intricately patterned beautifully. This community was really creative. I thought as I let my eyes wander through the entirety of the very large hall. It was even bigger than the hall back at home that had been used for my sendforth party. Remembering that hall brought a bitter taste to my mouth and heart, such that I tuned off my admiration antenna, and let Laura lead me to one of the seats. It was then that I became aware of the glances thrown in my direction from left, right and center. Of course, everyone knew everyone here. I wasn’t inclusive.“It's okay, Maya. They don’t bite. They are just not used to seeing new faces.” Laura mentioned, as she pulled my hand so that I could sit my buttocks on my seat. The many stares had me petrified at the spot. I hadn’t experienced that before. For a moment, I thought that some unseen force had kept me at attention to allow the members of t
I was more involved with my thoughts than with what the Queen was talking about. My mind kept thinking back, to many events, trying to point out if there had been a time when I had shown an indication that I had a magic trait. But no matter how much I tried, nothing came up. There was no pointer. There had been no event to indicate it. The only time I had felt different was during and after sex with Adam, after he had marked me. That had been when my sensors had gotten sharper and keener. But that's all. Could it be that sex with Adam had triggered something that had laid hidden with me? “Maya, you should listen to the queen before she calls you out. She knows that you are distracted.” Laura said, shocking me for the third time since we entered this hall. The queen knew I wasn't listening? Could she read my thoughts too? I wondered, hoping it was not so. I might die if that was so. Okay, an exaggeration. But I wouldn’t be happy. Maya, focus still, unless you want to be called ou
We were currently standing outside the Queen’s private meeting hall. According to Laura, it's a place where the queen meets people privately, away from the eyes of the others. It was different from her private office which was located in the palace; someplace I was yet to see, someplace I was curious to see. I have been asking myself, since the meeting had been over fifteen minutes ago, this particular question- If the hall had been so carefully designed, then how would the palace be? “You can come in now.” A lady said to us, gesturing that we come in after she opened the door. It turned out that the queen was available to see us. It turned out that when she had said that Laura should bring her family, that had included me. I had tried to wait back in the hall, till the queen was done meeting with Laura and Peter, but Laura had touched my shoulder, and told me that I was part of her family; that she was sure that the queen wanted to see me too. It was probably to know who I was a
At the Queen’s question, there was a notable silence, in which I believed that Peter and Laura were gathering genteel strength; checking to ascertain if their earlier decision of keeping me had been right; if I was worth the trouble of going against the queen; if they should have submitted me to the Queen first.With the shadowed scared look on Laura’s face, I actually said a little prayer for them. I didn't know the punishment for going against a queen’s order, but from the way they were acting, the queen wasn’t all smiles and happiness. “Peter..??” The Queen called again, darting glances between the couple, wondering what was holding up the answer. “Well..” She was talking now, deciding not to wait for their input. Bad if you ask me. “She can stay at Laude and …” She was still speaking when Peter cut her off guard with his sharp reply. But I noticed that he had looked at Laura hard and long before giving that reply. “We have decided to let her stay with us.” “We?? She doesn’t
Aliana. Queen Aliana. Not a bad name for a queen. “Does the name sound familiar, Maya? You are not saying anything.” Queen Aliana mentioned.Saying anything? Should I be saying anything because she told me her name? When I tell my name to someone, I don’t wait for them to say something, I just move on to the next subject, unless I didn’t know their name, then I expect them to say their own.The queen knew mine. What was she expecting me to say?“You have no questions at all to ask me, do you?” she asked, and I shook my head without wasting any time.I needed to be out there, with Laura and Peter; we were supposed to be on our way to the market. But this woman…does she do this with every newcomer in her pack? “Honestly Maya…” She stood up from her seat as she began to speak again, and strolled to the window, peering away from it. “I know that you remember so much more than you let on. I know that you didn’t lose your memory a hundred percent.” She whispered, as if she was talking t
Because the beast’s voice could be heard by all in the field, and maybe even outside of the field, I used magic to amplify my voice, so that everyone could hear me speak too. So, when the crowd erupted in mild shouts and mutterings at the previous words of the Queen, they echoed affirmations after mine; affirmations mixed with amusement at the nonchalancy in my voice and then anger at the Queen for breaking the laws that had been in place for many years. The beast obeyed. He turned his mighty head and stared at the Queen, whose hands were shaking. Out of nerves or shock or anger, I wasn’t sure. But her cool composure was gone. “Well, to be fair to the Queen, she didn’t call you out…” The beast grunted, in confusion I was sure, if the thinning of his eyes were anything to go by. “Who called me then? Only she has the power to call us out…” “Well…” I smirked, and pointed at a Rachel who was shaking with fear beside her mother. Oh well, she was scared of what she had conjured? Inte
Rachel stood still even when the crowd was shouting ‘Fight!’ ‘Fight!’ like a mantra. I knew she wanted me to attack first. “I’ve been watching you fight, and you have never attacked first, well apart from your last match….” She started, placing her hands on her waist.“Well, that’s a stupid deduction to make. I’ve only fought two contestants. Didn’t your mother teach you that, when she taught you how to fight with the subtle magic, when she taught you how to cheat in the competition?” I shot back, a smirk appearing on my lips.Her eyes widened, and her composure disintegrated by a meaningful portion, as she looked around her, to check if the others were hearing. “Tsk, your family is terribly disgusting. You want me to attack you? Then you will have it. Don’t regret it though. There’s a reason I don’t attack first. I thought my last battle would have explained that, but it seems you are slow…” I said, right before I advanced toward her. She jerked back, as I approached, causing me t
Laura’s infamous meat sauce would have been enough reason to win this last battle, even if the Queen’s rewards hadn't been attached to it. Thinking of it now as I sauntered into the battlefield brought out the hunger pangs that had managed to stay hidden for a while, under the layer of fruits and water. I was hungry. “Wait, until I am done with this.” I muttered to myself, flexing my hands. Laura should have better prepared my favorite meal to celebrate my win, because I wouldn’t settle for less. Not when my mind was already clouded with meat sauce. Rachel was already waiting for me in the field, her arms folded across her chest, disdain notable in her eyes. I didn’t bother mirroring the same, I just wanted to be done with this, so that I could go home and eat. ‘That’s a good attitude, keep it up.’ El spoke then, causing me to pout. ‘Is that sarcasm?’ She chuckled. ‘Not at all. It’s good that you’re not nervous, considering the principal’s insight, considering that it lowers you
Rachel won her own fight. But it had been by a sharp luck; the senior had been varsed in combat, very varsed, despite her not so big stature. Probably why the organizers had linked her to Rachel; they had thought it would be an easy defeat. After her match, the Queen had called for a little recess, so that the final contestants could have some rest before the last phase of the competition. It was why I was reclining on the chair in my tent, drinking an energy mix that Laura had given me. “I’m sure that the Queen is giving Rachel some tools on how to fight you, some tricks. You have to be careful out there, Dora…” Diana spoke, with a disgusted expression on her face. “That woman can be so sneaky.” She added, placing her arm around my shoulder. “If you win Rachel, I will give you my meat sauce for a week.” I laughed then, unable to hold it this time around. Diana was a darling. “Deal!” I shouted, jamming fists with her, whilst her parents and Levina watched on with wide smiles on th
My second opponent was the senior that had tried to bully me in the hallway a few days ago; that had tried to instigate me to fight her so that I would be disqualified from the competition. She was prancing around the field like an overzealous proud horse, getting cheers from the crowd. I thought she looked hilarious. I was going to win her. That was a given; not because I was proud, but because I had no choice. I had no choice than to make her eat her words, than to make her regret troubling me that fateful day. My quiet demeanor was mirrored by Rachel and her family. At intervals, I looked at the people in the crowd, at the Queen, at her. It was as if they knew that the senior was making noise. A noise that was uncalled for. Rachel, especially, had a bored look on her face. She knew I would win, never mind that it wouldn’t be pleasing to her. When I had won Courtney, I had seen the dread that had flirted past her face, right before she conditioned her countenance to stoicness. Sh
The battle was over before the senior knew it. With swift movements that I had never learned in any training, I started to free myself from the painful hold of the senior. It was like my hands and feet knew exactly what to do, guided by some unseen force, guided by El.I twisted and turned, using techniques that felt instinctive yet unfamiliar to me. With each move, I could feel my opponent's grip loosening. I managed to break free and turn the tables. Now, I was the one in control.I didn't hesitate. El didn’t hesitate to attack. It was like a dance, each step calculated and precise. I surprised myself with my own agility and strength. El was not just guiding my body, but also my mind, giving me the confidence to face my opponent head-on.I dodged punches and countered with moves that I didn't even know I was capable of. It was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. But I trusted El; she wouldn’t let me down.Soon enough, I gained the upper hand. The senior was struggling to k
The fight was against ourselves. Since we were just eight contestants, we were paired against each other in a duel. But the announcer had picked out rumpled papers in a bowl to know who we would be contesting against. For my first time, I was selected to duel with the senior that had bothered to speak with me after my victory in the magic prowess session. We were both surprised to be fighting each other, but we had no choice but to advance to the field when our names were called by Professor Zokel. We had been the last in the list too. The others had fought, and now there were only three females moving to the final; three and whoever would win this duel that was about to happen. “I had never imagined to be pitted against you, Dora. But I will make it quick. You have outlasted than we all had gambled for, a feat, but it comes to stop now.” I nodded slowly, not knowing what to say. The seniors had gambled on my position in the contest? Did anyone gamble for my win? “Did anyone gambl
Standing in the middle of the clearing, surrounded by the never ending, echoing applause and cheers of the people, I felt a rush of emotions surge through me. The silence that had enveloped the arena moments ago, as I wielded my magical powers, was now replaced by this overwhelming cacophony of approval. It was surreal, almost like a dream I never dared to dream.I turned towards my family, their voices rising above the rest, shouting my name with unabashed pride. They had been there from the beginning, believing in me even when I doubted myself. Then I saw Adam. He was sitting two bleachers behind his family. And his smile stood out—bright and wide, his eyes shimmering with a mix of admiration and wonder. I couldn't help but touch the scarf he had given me, a talisman of his support and friendship.Friendship? We will see about that. I wondered if he had confided in his brothers about the change of the status quo. I didn’t think so.Bowing graciously to the audience, I savored the m
As I stood in the midst of the expansive field, chosen for the competition for its grandeur and open skies, doubt crept into my mind like tendrils of mist on a cool morning. My earlier dose of courage had evaporated.The memory of Rachel’s captivating rain dance rather haunted me. The way she effortlessly commanded the elements, enthralling every eye and heart in the audience. Could I match that? Did I have what it takes? I could. And I did. But what do I create? The judges were still talking animatedly about Rachel’s magical display. How do I get their attention?I clenched my fists, trying to dispel the doubts that threatened to paralyze me. "You are capable, Maya," I whispered to myself, my voice almost lost in the rustling of the wind through the tall grass. I needed to win this competition, not just for myself but for my family, and for my pride. A movement caught my eye, and I turned to see her – Rachel with that infuriating smirk playing on her lips. She knew she had the upper