6 SIX

Celeste lost track of time lying on the lofty bed in the little room. She loathed herself , utterly and completely loathed herself. She had wept and sobbed as quietly as she could, and whenever she told herself she was done crying, she would burst into fresh tears again. It scared her to think that the tears would never end, and neither would the pain. Eventually, she wore herself down as it turned dark outside. Then she stared at the ceiling, Will's voice ringing in her head. She cried for her father, who was betrayed by his own. She cried for her mother, who's throat was slit mercilessly. But most of all she cried for her brother, a boy of mere seventeen who was beheaded in front of a crowd just because of the blood in his veins.

I left him behind, Celeste thought miserably. If only she had found some way, any way to save him. . Gabriel would've done the same for her. He wouldn't have run away, he wasn't a coward.

" I am not afraid" She whispered to herself then smiled bitterly. Those words haunted her. How could he not be afraid? His whole family was dead, he probably thought she was dead too. He probably cried himself to sleep in the cellars. He probably was terrified when he put his head on the block. How must have it felt? Knowing that you were about to die and not being able to do anything about it? Did he hope for some last-minute miracle that would save him? That's what happened in the old stories, didn't it?

When did Gabriel realize that there was truly no way he was getting out of this?

Celeste fell into a restless sleep full of nightmares. She dreamt of them, her family. Their faces haunted her. Told her that it was fault they were dead.

She woke up late the next day. Then the sun was at its highest, it would be sometime after lunch. But Celeste didn't get up. She didn't think she could. She felt so entirely drained as if she had nothing more to give, no fight left in her. She felt like she was trapped in a black chasm, and every time she thought she would hit the bottom she realized it just went deeper and deeper. She stayed in her bed still now thinking about something else entirely.

Why was she so surprised by it? She should've realized the moment she knew Gabriel was dead, she was next in line. She would be the queen. She almost laughed at the thought.

She could never bear being a princess. And now she was a queen. It was absurd. She was a girl of fifteen, how was she supposed to rule an entire kingdom?

She didn't want that. She didn't want to be Queen.

All her life, she was prepared to be a princess. To marry some rich royal and have a family. Gabriel was the one who was reminded every second that he was the future king. He didn't want to rule either. He only confided in Celeste that he loathed the idea of being King. Celeste knew him well enough to see the burden on his shoulders. She knew him well enough to see he always tried to play the role of the invincible ruler, but he was just a boy. And in the end, it was all for nothing. He would never be king.

An old memory flooded through her mind

" What do you want to be when you grow up?" Eight-year-old Celeste asked her brother.

" I have to be King when I grow up" Gabriel shrugged.

" But I asked you what you wanted to be?" Celeste frowned. Gabriel smiled at her.

" I'm not sure that matters Celly"

The situation was so ironic it hurt. It didn't matter what she wanted. It didn't matter that she would spend the rest of her life in misery.

She needed to be Queen. She was all the country had. She was the last of her bloodline. Her family had devoted their lives to Astoria, her father had dreamt of a country where there was peace. Her brother had dreamt of a country where the people smiled. She couldn't just let some monster ruin everything her family had built.

Celeste jumped when the door opened. She expected Yogi or Thomas or maybe even Will. Instead, she stared at a girl with shoulder-length blond hair, rosy cheeks, delicate features, and startling green eyes. She was almost the spitting image of Thomas.

" You're awake," She said awkwardly.

" I came to get you for lunch but you were passed out cold. Can't blame you.

And then when Celeste continued to stare at her blankly she added,

"Oh, I'm Karen, Thomas's little sister. Though I always act like the grownup but don't tell him I said that! "

Celeste stared at her some more.

"Oh and before I call you the wrong thing and embarrass myself completely, what should I call you? I mean I can obviously call you My lady or do you-"

" Call me Celeste" Celeste interrupted monotonously. " I hate titles. And I'm afraid I'm not much of a lady"

Karen smiled at her, relief evident on her face as she sat on the corner of the bed.

"Thank God! No offense or anything but Your majesty is such a mouthful. It's so nice to finally have a girl here!. I thought Will's face was the only feminine one I was ever going to see around here" Karen joked.

Celeste bit her lip and chose not to answer that. She had just met this girl, and here she was ranting and smiling at her as if she was a friend. Was she like this with everyone, she wondered?

" Is Will your brother too?" Celeste asked when the silence finally became too uncomfortable.

Karen laughed heartily.

" He's as good as. But no, only me and Thomas are related by blood here" Karen chuckled.

Celeste frowned, obviously confused.

" We're orphans" Karen added. " Yogi took me and Thomas in when we were eight. And then he took Will in a few months after"

" Is he an orphan too?" Celeste said hesitantly, not wanting to seem intrusive.

" Probably. He doesn't talk about his family. I know he came off as an ass, but he's a good person"

Celeste had to refrain from scoffing.

" Oh, I almost forgot. I brought a dress of mine for you. You must want to shower. Not saying you stink or anything." She added quickly. " And then we can have dinner"

Celeste would have refused but it was only then she realized how hungry she was. Karen led her to the bathroom. The house was small and crowded with only two little bedrooms, a little space with an old table and a small kitchen. Yet it was cozy and homey. Karen then handed Celeste the dress

" I know it's not pretty or an-"

" Thank you Karen" Celeste stopped her mid-sentence. Karen only smiled.

Celeste scrubbed her skin raw, trying to get the dirt off of her. She poured the water over herself, but no matter how much rubbed she couldn't get rid of the feeling that she was dirty. She felt so much better though when she left the bathroom, she then experienced the sudden urge to go outside. She felt very out of place inside. She quietly opened the front door and walked out. The cool breeze hit her immediately making her shiver. It was so calm outside like there wasn't a war going on. There weren't any houses but she could see the outlines of a town nearby. She stared at it for a few moments with a blank mind.

" Penny for your thoughts," A voice said suddenly from behind her. She looked behind her with a start only to see Thomas smiling cheekily at her.

" I wasn't thinking" Celeste admitted.

" Well all of us need a break from our thoughts now and then" Thomas shrugged.

" Do you regret it?" Celeste blurted out. " Bringing me here now that you know who I am?"

Thomas laughed.

" I couldn't live with a life on my conscience. And it was completely hypocritical of Will to holler at me when he would've done the same"

Celeste snorted.

" I doubt he would've" She admitted.

" You don't know Will. He loves playing the hero" Thomas said brightly.

" Thank you by the way. For saving me" Celeste said trying to sound like she meant it.

" Don't mention it Blue" Thomas said.

" Blue?" Celeste frowned.

" Yep. That's your new nickname from now on. Blue, for your eyes ."

" You couldn't think of anything more creative?" Celeste said dryly.

" Hey, don't blame me! I spent a whole day with Will. My brain is fried" He said dramatically.

Celeste smiled tightly so as not to make him feel awkward and think he wasn't funny.

" And now Blue, no matter how much I love chit-chatting with you. I am required to take you inside for dinner" Thomas said.

" Though I have to warn you, it might be a little overwhelming. If you want to eat alone that's fine"

He looked at her for an answer.

Celeste shrugged.

" It's just a dinner right?"