7 Dance

'You called me here.' The faint figure in front of me said as I began to slow down, the music stopping as well. 'Are you just going to stop as I came?'

Looking at her sly smile, I could not help break into one myself.

"How could I let the goddess dance on her own?" I asked, continuing the song as I danced with the faint figure of her. It was only then that I realised just what I felt was missing in the dance.

And that is a dance partner. It was also then that I realised just how well she fit into the dance though she would disappear in parts of the dance, only to reappear again.

It certainly did feel different with her in my arms and she looked exactly as I thought she would. Long hair that looked like it was made of stars and a long flowy dress also made from the sky above us.

Snapping in front of my eyes, the goddess grinned at me, 'Pay attention to the person in front of you, did your dance instructor not tell you that?'

"I apologise. I could not help but marvel at how you look." I said, smiling at her under the veil that I felt so happy covered my mouth perfectly.

'Hmm? Flattery will get you anywhere, I see.' She chuckled, voice sounding like the waves washed against the shore I would go out to hear every now and then.

"I have been known to make use of anything I have," I answered, twirling her as she scattered into a million little stars all around me, surrounding me as I moved with the music.

Soon, she collected herself again and came in my arms, 'You certainly are not a bad dancer.'

"I am with you that is why," I said, smiling at her as our feet moved in synch around the space, underneath the moonlight as I felt anything but light at the moment. "By the way, why did you tell me to come here all those years ago?"

The goddess just stared at me blankly for a second before breaking into a smile. 'Well, that is for me to know and you to find out.'

"Is there something here for me?" I persisted, holding my hand out to hers as we interlocked palms. "Something I don't know about?"

'Perhaps.' She said a sly look coming on her face before it turned sad. 'I cannot say much. I apologise.'

"I suppose that's fine." Picking her up in my arms, I spun as she dispersed into a million stars once again, surrounding me. "The dance is coming to an end."

'So it seems. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.' She placed a gentle hand on my cheek. 'So, what is it you wish for?'

"Prosperity in this kingdom. So that the people never grow hungry." I said without hesitation. I knew I could have asked her why I was here or even ask her for wealth or power beyond my belief.

But all those things are only tied to sadness. I would rather have the kingdom than let all that begin to weigh me down once again.

And I will find out my reason for being on my own. It might just be fun.

But, if I did not ask for the prosperity of this kingdom, I will be riddled with guilt because I know just how much all the people are counting on me.

Looking at me sadly, the goddess asked, 'Do you not wish to ask for anything for yourself?'

I shook my head, "I only got this opportunity to meet you because the people placed their trust in me. I also know what will happen if I do not ask for your blessing on this kingdom."

I paused for a second, remembering just how parts of the kingdom are entirely reliant on their crops for food. A drought hit once and we set off to offer help where we could.

Just one week of drought resulted in so many starving families that it completely baffled and humbled me. We lived modestly but we did not have a thing to complain about.

After seeing all those things, I don't think I could ever ask the goddess for anything relating to me. My conscience would just not allow me to.

She looked at me as the music ended and our steps slowed down, sadness clearly evident in her eyes as we gave our last bow and she walked to me, placing a hand on my cheek.

'I wish you would have asked me for blessing, and I would have extended my protection on you.' She said, smiling gently at me. 'But you have made up your mind, I can see. You made an excellent choice, nevertheless.

'Just as I expected you would. You would not have been someone I favoured greatly if you were willing to ask something for yourself.'

Pulling the veil on the lower half of my face down, the goddess placed a light kiss on my cheek before breaking into a million stars and disappearing.

It was only when she disappeared that I suddenly felt really, really heavy, stumbling to my knees as I fixed the veil back on my face.

"Orion." The Head Priest, Badar rushed to my side as everyone began whispering amongst themselves while staring at me closely. "Are you alright? It appears that you might have seen the goddess."

Might? I thought, looking at my trembling hands as I tried to get to my feet. I definitely did but my mouth would not move and my body continued to grow weaker.

"Hand me the cup," I said, looking at the Alpha who was also on his feet with the Luna holding onto his robe, looking slightly confused.

The other priests grabbed the cup and held it up in front of me as Badar gave me the blade that I clumsily tried to hold onto. I had to cut my wrist and pour my blood into the cup for the Alpha to drink, in order to turn to his full form as the king.

The colour of your blood will determine the pureness of the blessing bestowed upon you by the goddess, in turn, making the king either more powerful or less.

Seated on the ground as I could not stand on my own feet, one of the Priests in training, I completely forgot to mention that we are called the 'Perigee', held up the chalice for me.

With all the strength I could muster up, I cut into my skin, letting the blood flow out of the wound as everyone watched with bated breath, the deep red liquid flowed out of the cut before turning completely silver against my copper brown skin.

Huh?? What is this?? I thought, staring at the sparkling silver liquid that almost looks like mercury, except … sparkly.

"This is indeed a miracle." High Priest Badar said, looking at the silver that left a trace down my skin. "Your majesty, you must drink it quickly."

"Are you alright?" The Alpha asked, holding his hand out to me first as I shook my head, pushing the cup to him.

"I am alright, your highness. Please go ahead." I said, feeling a little strength come back to my legs as two of the Perigee wrapped the cut with a bandage.

The man looked at me closely before turning to the head priest who blessed the cup and he drank the liquid immediately, almost half of it.

Perhaps, because that is my blood, I could not help feeling utterly disgusted while my stomach just felt queasy.

Must be from all those meals that I skipped.

Once the Alpha is done drinking, then comes the moment that the other Alphas in the room have been waiting for. The distribution of the remainder of my blood for them to consume.

Most of the people in the room are about the same age as the man at the very front and they are also his closest and most trusted advisors.

They will be given a little bit of the blood to drink, a little bit of the blessing from the goddess. As I watched them take their sip, I could not help throw up a quick prayer that all these people around us are actually good people with only the kingdom and its peoples' well-being in mind.

__________________________

"That was incredible, Orion!" Nova ran to me with another boy in tow while I rested in the dressing room, holding my aching arm. "You looked so pretty and so elegant when you danced, didn't I tell you that he would, Comet?"

The blond-haired boy beside him nodded in agreement, eyes sparkling with excitement.

This is Comet, we do not know much about him, but by his cut off tongue, we can tell that he was from a powerful family that had some problems. That is all we wish to know too.

He is also the one that made me the mouth mask.

"Did you see the lights around him?" The boy asked, waving his fingers around.

Oh yeah, he communicates with sign language. My mind is a little muddy so narrating is a little hard but I will continue to try my best.

"Lights? Did you not see the godde- ack." I asked, gripping at my throbbing arm, the blood suddenly spurting out of the wound.

What in heaven and earth is going on?!?