9 Chapter 6

With trembling hands, my fingers button up my white ruffled tunic- which was a gift from mother- across my chest. My eyes roam around my room, which was no bigger than an actual broom closet.

It's was a compact room with carpet in-between shade of scarlet and dark orange, the walls the same color of all the rooms in the castle, beige. A full-sized bed in the middle of the room, covered in thick throws and oversized white faux fur pillows accustomed to my cousin's liking simply because she had a better eye for the whole "decor" thing. I was funny watching her bring in giant satchels full of decorative items just to make me feel more at home. While I, on the other hand stood unimaginative, admiring her taste in ideas I'd never thought of. Or, never would have actually cared about.

It's a hard thing to ignore the ragged reflection staring back with purple eyes that should be feared, almost has hard as it is to look back at. The reason laid in the hands of those claimed to know about powers. The elders. I'd only been allowed to come forth once. When I was child, with my brother so that true future king could be chosen for the celebration. Did I want to be king?

Yes! What child wouldn't want to have the pleasure of being almost worshiped and blessed with great power when coming of age? If I said no in an attempt to seem brave, I'd be a tremendous liar.

It was three of them, ragged faces and eyes that were dead like coals. Grey hair sticking out under teal bonnet like hair coverings. All women who feed their faces with platters of an assortment of fruits. One of them, Mother Akon, who was legally blind and claimed to be able to see with her mind only, proving the truth in it time and time again- the truth that it was a lie and a was a way to keep her position as one of the mother elders. The others, Mother Light and Mother Harriet, seemed pretty hospitable. The pounding of my heart was the only thing I could hear as I flanked my brother, walking through those giant doors that I had once believed was made of gold. It had been a long trip through the mountains to get here, two days by train and then by stagecoach.

At least it was summer when most of warm weather had came from it's hiding and welcomed us into it's embrace. The summers were warm, unlike the harsh winters that lasted for months, sometimes haunting the early spring. Mother Akon was the first to greet, not with kindness or the homelike feeling that most of the elders from my home had. The welcoming feeling of warmth whenever they told an interesting stories that entangled you in a web of wonder. It was a dull greeting, no expression in her dull eyes. It was almost like expecting a empty wall to give you a warm hug.

She said a few words(about her job and the jobs of her sisters), then met gazes with me. I wasn't sure if it was intended or just a mistake. Whatever it was made me want to hide my eyes from her. She snarled, reveling unusually sharp teeth before pointing her finger in my face and calling me the devil. It took me a while to figure out why she was upset. Her cheeks turned fire red, tears welling up in my eyes as I searched my father's eyes for any indications telling me that it was all just a sick joke. That this woman who I just met was playing with me. But in my father's expression was a scowl, not towards the person who insisted that I was a demon.

He was scowling at me. My brother, looked at me with sympathy. It wasn't like him but it was a kind gesture that finally made the tears fall much like a waterfall. The next few minutes passed quickly in a cold silence. As young as I was, I thought that I'd sinned or something. Sinned how, that I could comprehend until I was older. Until my brother was named future king and awarded with a smile instead of cutting glare. I was the product of a forbidden relationship and children born from those shouldn't exist.

I had to shake away the thought just to keep myself from destroying something in the room when my abilities were already fresh and at their peak of strength. Today would be a special day, but I knew what trouble attending the celebrated occasion would bring on me. First off, most of them would know that I used my strengths, two, me and my brother had a falling out of the day before and three, the elders hate me.

The whole fallout surrounded me becoming a man of honor for one of the girls. Like what? It's not like I can say no to my brother but I can at least give the little flea a piece of my mind. My soft shakes eased off a bit. Breakfast would start anytime now, giant portions served upon even bigger dishes full of more food that one could possibly eat. They overfed themselves while the servents were only allowed measly amounts of the food they cooked.

I took the pin of blackdown, placing on my chest. The last accessory to complete my outfit even though I felt like a liar wearing it. A symbol of a grey wolf within a obsidian circle, snarling. Kinda reminded me of my own step father who spent most of his time showing fangs that he was too afraid to use.

The sound of loud classical music and chatter coming from downstairs was my que to descend upon the crowd and hope that they didn't notice anything unusual about me.