At least Teyana isn’t scared of me. She came creeping into my room right at sunrise. Luckily for her, I was already awake. Well, I never went to sleep. My mind kept replaying everything that was done and said last night. From the death of a young boy, to the vote that was said to take effect this morning. I tried to offer up a smile when she entered the room. The one that she provided me with didn’t seem genuine. "I brought you tea," she says, setting a small ceramic teacup on the bedside table, before forcing me to move over and make room for her on the queen size bed. I took a deep breath, wondering if she heard what happened."Did Will tell you to bring that?" She gave a nod, silver eyes reflecting her pity towards me. "I don't really like tea. I take it so I won't come off as rude." We both sat quietly, though we really had things that we wanted to get off our chest. "I heard what happened,” She was the first to speak, “Something this exciting doesn't take place without it eve
I sat on the lawn, legs crossed, letting the sun shine down on me. The rain and gray skies have long gone away and now they're beautiful rays across the land. It matched what I was feeling.Overjoyed. Teyana crashes down beside me, breathing heavily. Why would she come running at me at full speed like that? "Didn't you hear me calling your name?" She had hair divided into two buns. One side for the black hair, the other for the blue. The strands were falling loose, and she was quick to readjust them when she sat. I shook my head. "I'm sorry. No, I'm just lost in my thoughts right now.""I can imagine! Everyone's talking about it. There will be an Ascension ceremony and you are the guest of honor!" She grins. "Shit, I forgot to bow." Her sudden realization of this is amusing to me. I hold both my hands up at her, shaking them. "Please don't," I started. "I'm not very fond of that as it is. Besides, it's not like you did it before.""True.""I don't want things to change between us
POV SIR HENRY “I took her to bed, that is true, but, I can not, I will not marry her!” I shout to my father. Talks of Athena’s and I late night hit my fathers ears faster than I care to admit. It had been days since then, and he had now locked me away like a child. “You will bed her, but you won't wed her?” He groans, rubbing his temples. “Son, I know you hope for some wild love story, but that is not in your future. Athena is your future.” “She is not, Clara will come—” “She will not come!” He yelled. His tone showed that he was certain. Too certain, and I didn’t like that. My father is known to take things in upon himself, it is the way he keeps control. “What did you do?” I asked him. “Clara is not coming back!” He roared. “You will marry Athena! She is the mother of your unborn child!” “Child?” I was taken back. “Is this what we have resorted to? Making up lies!” “I DO NOT SPOUT LIES!” “Her kind knows earlier on. She is carrying your child! This union has already
Happy Accession Day! That was the phrase being thrown in my direction everywhere I went this morning. Let’s not forget the immediate bowing that took place any time I entered a room. No matter how many times I’ve seen it, I still wasn’t used to it. Today was the day.The official ceremony. Now that I was on my way to replacing her, Lana didn’t come near me. It had been days. I was left to handle my looks all on my way. I quite liked it that way. Teyana was here to offer her advice. I went with a big gown. One that was shown to me before, that I actually hated, but for this ceremony I was expected to dress like a princess. It was a bright yellow with gold lace. It was tight at the top but opened up like a flower towards the end. Imagine a dark skinned Bell. The ceremony was outside of the gates, taking up the track field. It looked like a rather large wedding was set to take place. There were rows upon rows of chairs, and every one of them was filled. “How many people would yo
A servant comes up to the table, taking away our used dishes. Right behind him is another, setting down a plate of chocolate mousse and chocolate cake. I get a whiff as it passes my face, but I do not react. I hate the smell, but right now, Lana is begging for my undivided attention. “Excuse me?” I ask. Will she repeat herself and be loud this time around? “I said, I. WILL NOT. ALLOW. IT.” Brr, the coldness in her voice is very apparent. It’s rubbing me in all the wrong ways. “Which one?” I asked for clarification. “She is able to choose her own second,” Antonio tries to intervene, but still takes my side. “I am not saying that she can't,” Lana continues to stick to her words. “I am just saying it can't be Will or Teyana.” “And why is that?” I asked. “Lana please, tonight is supposed to be—” Nova is next in line, trying to save this conversation and this night. “Let her speak,” I said. I didn’t want to be rude to them, but Lana was just about to reveal her true thoughts on th
I sat in a tube filled with hot water. The water is light pink, as the blood of that poor woman washes off of me and mixes in. I keep picturing her in my mind over and over again. I only kill bad men. I only kill those who are a threat to me. I do not kill those who should be protected. In my mind I knew that I wasn’t responsible for the death of the maid, but I felt that I could have prevented it. If I didn’t somehow rub Lana the wrong way. She says she did it for the reaping, yet she did it alone. Yeah, right. She was the biggest liar in this compound. I feel a soft scrubbing on my bare back. Teyana is here to help me clean, as if it was something I couldn’t do on my own. She hums an unfamiliar melody, trying to put me in a state of peace. “You don’t have to be here,” I remind her, knowing I was not the best company at the moment.“I don’t mind,” her humming ceases. “Besides, it looks like you could use a friend.” I blink. “I can’t believe she did that,” I said softly. “I
CLARA’S POV “Oh, you look ill,” I hear the princess’s voice squeak. I slowly open my eyes, seeing her between the bars of my prison. As weak as I am, I struggle to sit up, using the chains around my wrists for assistance. My bones are brittle, my body light, my head heavy. I was tempted to close my eyes and never wake up again, but I had to keep going. Just for a little bit longer. I lean up against the stone, eyes locking in on Athena. “Look at you. Someone is about ready to give birth, isn’t that so?” Her voice is taunting. I feel the bump in my stomach. It has been growing so fast. I was sure that Henry would have found me by now, saved us, by now, but he never came. Athena’s appearance was shocking. I had heard about their nuptials before I was taken. I was sure Henry would make a great escape of some sort. It was he who I thought would come to the rocks beside the peaceful stream, but instead it was Mr. Grove and his league of barbarians. I’ve been here ever since, losing
SINCERES POV“You didn’t have to come with me,” I said, looking at Teyana as we walked up a dirt road heading to the infamous Grove. We were okay being out in the open because we didn’t look like ourselves. I wore the skin of the teen girl, one I used before. Ameila. Teyana was a completely different person as well, finding a Zyte Witch to perform a glamor spell. The effects only last up to ten hours. That was more than enough time to get in and out. “What kind of second would I be if I let you run towards the danger on your own?” She asks, tossing blonde hair back behind her shoulders. She’d be like Will, who refused to be a part of this. Then again, I couldn’t be mad at him. At the time that Teyana and I took off, Will was completely in the dark. He knew I had planned to go to the Grove, but I was not clear on when. He couldn’t follow me blindly like Teyana. He questioned everything. He was afraid to make any moves. He could have a point. I could be the irrational one, not thinki
The bullets fly through me. So many at once. At first, they weren’t noticeable. I feel myself falling backwards, arms flailing helplessly. I had planned to catch myself, but the blasts of their weapons were unexpected, and hit me harder than anticipated. Lying on my back, I watch as Athena stays law, trying to crawl her way over to Elias. I feel the warming of my skin and I know immediately the bullets are laced with Inferno. Don’t think about the pain. Get up! I grunt and moan as I find my way back on to my feet. The Zyte soldiers have made their way out onto the lawn, picking and choosing their targets. I keep my eyes on Athena, trying not to lose her and dodge the flying lead as well. Just as I am about to reach down and grab her, I’m thrusted backwards. I land on my feet, catching myself. My eyes lock with Elias. He breathes, heavy, his shoulders and chest rising and falling together. The glowering in his eyes tells me I may be in for trouble. “I got a bone to pick with you,” h
I ran up the stairs, heart thumping out of control and my mind flooded with negative thoughts and what ifs. Will and Teyana are behind me, and I can make out their panicked breaths as well. The commotion we heard before had quieted down. I pushed myself out of the secret door, into the kitchen. I see people still in their pajamas crowded in the foyer, worried expressions showing on all of their faces. I find the guard in charge of this particular side of the house. Sam. He stands at the door of the main entrance, eyes fixated on movement happening at the gate. I push my way through the crowd, wanting to get a good look myself.“What’s going on?” I asked, at the same time seeing a row of armed men, standing tall and waiting for a command. “The Ma’zhee?” Sam nods their head. I assess the situation. “They blew the gates, there is nothing stopping them from entering.” I can see small grass fires and the iron gate broken over. “What are they doing?” “If I had to guess,” Sam’s voice is lo
I stand directly beneath the shower head, the pitter patter of the water silencing the world. The colder temperature cools me down quickly. My eyes are closed, my head filled with images of Will and I being lost in our kiss, in our feelings. I part my lips to catch my breath, knowing I could live off this memory for a while.Was our relationship always leading up to this? My memories took me for a spin. I remembered when I couldn't trust him, and when he turned into my only friend. I remember when I thought I could hate him, but realized I could love him. I wondered if my feelings were being driven by this supposed heat that Teyana mentioned. Should I bring that up to him, or would that hurt his feelings? "I like to look at you too. You're beautiful." His compliment is searing itself into my brain. Wait, does this mean he likes me? Are we together now? I bring a finger to my lips, touching them as softly as he kissed them. It was such a rush.The memory suddenly begins to alter. A
So, this is where the cafeteria is. I stood outside its doors, staring in through the glass trying to get a sense of the people. Everyone seemed very comfortable with each other; talking, laughing and having a good time. The large room was full of the young and old, everyone so lively. This seemed to be more my speed. In our dining room it was always just me, Lana and Will. Most of the time we didn’t engage in conversation; just eating quietly, sitting properly. I have been here for more than two months, and this is the only time I’ve come to the common area. With all the commotion last night, I thought it would be a good time to show my face. Will explained that this part of the compound was for the people. It was like segregating the rich from the poor. I've never been considered a rich person, so this whole thing was odd to me. Here, everyone ate together, lived together… did everything together. It was its own community. When I walked in, everyone went quiet, staring me dow
SIR HENRYS POV My father found her, floating in the creek where our favorite spot used to be. I wondered how long she’d been there. I wondered if she was waiting for me. I tried to romanticize it in my head, as if that would make it better. I had to come to terms that my precious Clara was gone. Maybe that was why my health took a turn. I felt her leave me in the world alone, and my soul wanted to follow her. Without her, what was my reason for existence? Athena and I are already married. A child, my child, will be born into this world. Would it be enough? ATHENA’S POV He barely said anything these days. Ever since they confirmed the death of Clara it was like he had given up. He wanted to succumb to his mysterious illness. Well, I wouldn’t have it. Clara had him in life, she would not have him in death. I must call upon the dead. I must call upon the Gods. "Invoco eos, qui ante me vixerunt, obscuri vigore pleni! Coniuro missas et misters ter ter. Da mihi
SINCERES POV I felt a sharp pain penetrating the skin of my chest, digging in between the bones of my ribcage. It slides through to my heart, and my eyes open in fury and torment.How do I go from sleeping so soundly, to experiencing a pain like death. A deep throated growl is emitted from my voice box, coming out loud enough to wake the house. I swing my arm against the traitor who snuck into my room in the middle of the night. They fly in the air, through the paper like wall, landing in the hard tub.Light spills into the room, just as I reach out and grab the handle of the sword used against me. “Oh my god!” Teyana yells, ready to fall apart. “That does not look good.” My mind goes blank, and I can feel me slipping away. That dark side of me is coming, and it is enraged. WILLS POVA roar seemingly coming from a beast wakes me from a deep sleep. I heard the panic sounds of the others in the main hall, just as concerned and confused as was. “WILL!” I recognize Teyana’s voice in a
ATHENA’S POV I shared a peck of a kiss with Sir Henry at his bedside. Our fathers clap and our mothers are in awe as we are officially man and wife. Henry’s body appears to be giving up on him yet again, and our fathers refused to call off the wedding. It didn’t matter to me where or how we got married, just as long as we did. At the beginning I was against this, but somehow in the mess of things, I fell for Henry. The child also helped push things in my favor. I looked down at my husband, feeling my cheeks blush. He stares back up at me, and though weak, I can tell he wants to speak. I lean in to him, letting him have my ear. “I love you Clara,” he whispers. My smile is gone. I keep my anger hidden. I step away from him, looking over at our parents. “He asks for his rest,” I lie. They nodded in agreement. “It has been a pretty big day,” his father is overly cheerful for someone who has a dying son. I follow them out of Henry’s chamber, requesting to speak alone with my f
I was too late. That was a hard thing to acknowledge. Though I came back as soon as I could, ready to fight everyone for Elias, he was not there. I left the others in Teyana’s hands, wanting her to provide them with showers, clothes, and food. I had plenty of questions for them, but they would have to be asked in the morning. Tonight, I was done.I wanted to be alone and work out the emotions I have. From anger, to sadness, to guilt. I held up in the boxing room, but instead of hitting a punching bag like a normal person would, I released everything into the walls. It did hurt, but I think that was exactly what I wanted to feel. My knuckles cracked, my fingers popped, and I yelled out my pain. “AAAAAAAHHHHH!” I roared. I continued until my hands were bloody, and then I fell down to my knees, letting my tears stream down my face. I feel arms wrap around my upper body, squeezing me. I recognized the scent immediately. I feel his lips at the nape of neck, and he whispers my name. “S
I stormed the house. Walking as fast as I could to find Will. Teyana was right behind me. She was not on a warpath like I was, but I felt she was more concerned for Will’s safety. The guard outside the compound said that Will was having tea in his favorite room. Sure enough, there he was, sipping from his mug without a care in the world. He looked up at me when he heard the doors open.“Where have you been?” he asked. Oh no, he was not going to question me. I smacked the ceramic glass out of his hand, letting the hot liquid drop over him. “What the hell?”“Did you know that The Grove had Elias?” His face drains of any color he has and I can see his panic. “God damn it Will!” I want to strangle his neck. I want to physically hurt him! I want to cry. “I didn’t know how to tell you,” he stood up quickly, ready to beg for my forgiveness and explain his decision to keep me in the dark. “I know you’d want to rush in and save him, but we couldn’t do all of that. He’s one person!” “He i