I didn't know how long I stood at the same spot, just beside the entrance door, staring at the wall where Queen Aliana had just passed through, but when a resounding knock on the door reverberated through my ears, I was brought to attention to my environment again. “My Queen, can I come in?” I heard from the other side, and half expected the Queen to appear again through the wall, but my hopes were dashed; she didn’t appear. As the entrance door was opened, the former girl that had ushered us in, peeped into the room, a bit stunned—when her nose almost touched my cloth—at how close I was to the door. Behind her were Laura and Peter. They had been waiting all this while. How long had I stood staring at that wall? I didn’t know. I didn’t know either when I opened my mouth and asked the girl the first thing that rang in my mind. “How did she do that?” I asked, pointing at the wall. Now, Peter and Laura had stepped into the room. “Who is the she?” The clerk asked, her eyes furrowed,
‘Wife to their king.’ This phrase kept ringing in my ear, undaunted by my selection of clothes from the community’s mall. It was smaller than the malls in the human world, but at least they had one; my pack had none. Clothes were bought from the human malls. “Maya, don’t you like the clothes?” That was Laura. I wasn’t aware that she had been standing beside me all this while. I nodded, then shook my head when I thought that she might misinterpret my nod. I liked the clothes, all of them. They were comfortable and beautiful. Laura had mentioned at one time during the tour that some of them had been made with magic. They were of course costlier than the others, due to their value, but she had managed to snag me two. A sweater, and scarf. When I had touched them, I had felt peace. I had literally felt the magic running through them. Laura seemed to think that I could feel those because I had the magic trait. A normal person wouldn’t even notice. “I like the clothes, Laura. How c
We ate an early dinner, where talks about what had happened today were suspended and left until later. My new family took table manners seriously.The only time I had spoken was when Diana had come home from her classes, late afternoon. We had spoken because I was just so damn curious about what kind of classes would keep a girl of her age in the palace from morning till that time. Her enthusiasm whilst narrating all she had learnt slightly toppled my experience at the market earlier.When Laura and I had gone to the market, it had been my first time seeing so many sellers in a shade with their goods. Back at the pack, my mother had been in charge—I had never picked up groceries—and it was still from the human world. We usually got groceries that would last for two weeks and stock them up in the refrigerator. But here, the stalls were similar to those that I had read about in african books, about african markets. I’ve always had a diversified taste in literature. The market environ
A knock sounded on the door, bringing all our attention to the sitting room. Who could be knocking by this time? This question was drawn on all of our faces. Peter dropped his cutlery, and stood up from his seat. “You should continue. Let me see who is knocking. It might be a patient.” He addressed us before turning away and walking past the flimsy curtain into the sitting room; his strides were quite overconfident. My eyes perched on Diana, then strolled to Laura. Peter had told us to continue dinner, but what was going on here was far from it—it was a silent discussion between Diana and her mother. They were looking at each other, and Diana's eyes kept squishing and her lips kept pouting. What was going on? I was sure that they weren’t werewolves, but could part of their magical influence include mind communication, telepathy? My questions were answered in the next minute. “Diana, I am not a mind reader. Just tell me who you think is at the door.” Laura mentioned tiredly as if
“Who knocked?” Laura asked Diana again, taking a sneak peek through the curtain. We just noticed that Peter was no longer in the sitting room. “Uncle Dim. I don’t know why he is here though.” Diana answered calmly as if she was talking about the weather, as if she didn’t just utilize a gift that was impossible to humans, to ordinary werewolfs, to me. A gift of prophecy? I was not sure what to term it. When Laura’s mind processed the name that her daughter had given her, she stood up agilely from her seat and strolled out of the dining room. Well, I was unsettled too. If Dim was anything like his deranged wife, whom I had met in the market, then there was a need to be out there too. Who knows? Possibly Lourdes had reported to Dim what had transpired today at the market, or maybe he had come to lay his grievance on Peter for usurping the queen’s intention for me, or possibly both. I looked at a not-concerned Diana and furrowed my eyebrows. Why wasn’t the girl perturbed? From the
“I wasn’t vying for your position, Dim. I was just trying to grant the girl’s wish. She wanted to stay with us. She had lost her memories, and had no iota of who she is, except for her name. She was only forward with us because we had saved her. That was why we had appealed to the queen to let Maya stay with us, till she recovers fully; till her mind is totally restored. I have no interest in currying favors with the queen, nor do I have interest in politics. If I did, you wouldn’t be in this position of yours, you know right? You aren’t the chosen one. Don't forget that. Now, leave my house this instant, if you have nothing useful to say anymore, than cruel words and insults.” Peter commanded, his voice louder than ever as he pointed his finger toward the picket fence that surrounded his property. Dim huffed in anger, his chest rising and falling. I feared that he would raise his fist at Peter, but seeing a faint smile on Laura's face and the relaxed look on Diana who had left her
Diana has been tucked to bed. She had been reluctant though, not pleased that she had been sidelined from our discussions again. She had finally agreed, however, when Peter had promised that he would tell her a bedtime story with some demonstrations. He has been gone for fifteen minutes now, leaving Laura and I to tidy the dining and kitchen. “Are you done arranging your clothes and room? It’s possible that tomorrow, Peter will take you to some places like the school and the palace. He might introduce you to some of our friends that will look after you if we are not around.” I nodded, ruminating on Laura’s words. Diana had helped me arrange my clothes in the wardrobe after she had told me about her classes in the palace and what they entailed. Whilst we had been busy with that, Peter had returned with some people, carrying a table and a chair, a small sofa, a dressing table, mirror, a flower vase, and some other room rudiments. At first, I had thought the items wouldn’t fit in, bu
“What have you two been up to?” Peter queried immediately he stepped into the kitchen, reclining modishly by the doorpost as he stared lovingly at his wife, before sparing me a curious glance. “Girl’s stuff.” Laura replied, a short smile on her lips—the pride that had clouded her during her husband’s defense against his brother, still running in waves around her. She could fly at this moment. Peter pouted at his wife’s comment, and I couldn’t help but spurt out a laugh. If anything, his pout became more prominent. Dude had been doubly shaded now. But that was the least of my concerns. We were supposed to be talking now, they were supposed to be answering my numerous questions now. I thought, biting my lips, not knowing how to broach the topic without making them think I was impatient. Thank the goddess for Laura who could read auras or was it face expressions, because in the next moment she was asking that we move to the sitting room so that we could talk about myself and the ques
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