Hideous masks

"Student? And they just let him go?" Kitanna chuckled. Almira shrugged.

"The ancestors are wise".

Kitanna blew up with laughter. She'd never thought the princess would go out of her way to help someone. Making up lies just to save them.

"Where is he?" Kitanna asked.

"Avoiding me," Almira replied with an eye roll. The first he did the minute he was released was run. "He's an ingrate."

"You said he was going to be punished. The poor boy was too terrified to wait for another second. He was probably scared you would change your mind," Kitanna defended.

"I'd be traumatized if you didn't defend him. Dante does not look like a boy to me…" Almira paused, her mind creating a detailed picture of his face.

"I think he only has an abundance of hair. Everything else is perfectly human. I was shocked at first, but after a closer look, I didn't mind," Kitanna shrugged. Almira gave her a look.

"I am not talking about his hair, Anna. I meant his face. He doesn't look like a boy. He may be skinny, but he has a mature face. I don't think he is a teenager, I may be wrong, but he doesn't look like one" She explained. Kitanna tried to wear a blank face as Almira continued.

"Have you seen his eyes? I've never seen anything like it. Blue eyes are very common, I know, but something is electrifying about his. I never thought blue could be so beautiful until….. Why are you smiling?" Almira switched suddenly.

Kitanna blinked. She touched her face subconsciously and feigned ignorance.

"Me? Smiling? Where?"

Almira narrowed her eyes, and Kitanna stared back innocently. Almira shook her head, mentally noting that discussing Dante with Kitanna was unhealthy. It will build silly ideas in her head.

Better Dante than Jephthah, right? Kitanna would flip if she found out, and so would other sirens. That was an automatic goodbye to the throne, and Almira wanted the throne. Not just for Jephthah, but for herself as well.

There was a knock on the door. When she opened it, the timid human stared at his ground, shifting from foot to foot nervously.

"Are you here to thank me or apologize for running?" Almira asked. Dante gulped, sucking his lip aggressively. "Whichever it is, your apology is not accepted".

"Huh?" He lifted his face, then quickly bowed again, afraid to make eye contact. Almira lifted his face gently with a finger. She frowned at the mask, concealing his expression. Before he could say another word, she pulled it off.

Dante stepped back in shock, anxiety eating deep into him. He was tempted to push his hair to conceal his hideous face.

"Do not wear these hideous masks around me. I want to see your face," Almira's tone held a warning.

"My face is not worth looking at, your highness. It might ruin your day," Dante mumbled. Almira had never seen anyone put themselves down so easily. Instead of commenting on it, she opened the door wider for him to enter.

"I… I…"

"No excuses. You are my student now," Almira reminded him.

"I do not possess any mystic powers. I am not a wizard!" He exclaimed. Almira pulled him inside and shut the door. Dante was about to protest when he saw Kitanna.

"Hello," Kitanna waved with a smile. Dante immediately smiled in return.

"Hello, _ he greeted back, shyly.

Kitanna glanced at Almira. "The princess said you were avoiding her." Dante glanced at Almira, who raised a brow, challenging him to say otherwise.

"I… I… I'm sorry," he apologized when he couldn't think of any excuse.

"As I said, your apology is not accepted".

"What can I do to make it up to you?" He asked. Kitanna glanced at Almira, trying to figure out what the princess was up to. As usual, Almira's face was a blank mask.

"Take us on a tour into the city".

Color drained out of his face. He could still remember the last time he ventured into the city. A woman lost her bag of jewelry and everyone pounced on him without second thoughts.

They brutally beat him with anything they could pick. Just when he was about to give up and escape the cruelty the world had subjected him to, she found her jewelry.

No one apologized. In fact, they delivered their last blows, screaming that he was lucky the pieces of jewelry were discovered.

The memory still hurts him to date. That day made him realize how eager the people around him were, to get rid of him. To add to his pain, his father punished him, despite his condition, for venturing into the city to scare the people.

"Can I do something else, your highness?" He pleaded. Almira could tell from the fear in his eyes that he had a horrible memory of the city.

"I insist."

She wanted him to confront that memory. Maybe it would help him make up his mind to end this misery he was being subjected to.

Kitanna noticed Dante's trembling state. She attempted to beg Almira on his behalf, but the seafoam eyes snapped to hers with a dangerous warning.

Kitanna stepped back, unable to defy the princess.

"Is there a specific place you would like to see?" Dante asked.

"Mostly the market. I need a new set of clothes," Almira casually said. A knot formed in his stomach. There was no way out for him.

An hour later, Dante was ready to take them to the market. He wore his most decent pair of clothes and fixed the head mask properly. Everything changed the minute Almira saw him.

"You're wearing this?" She asked with distaste. Dante looked down on his clothes. They were nothing compared to what an average person wore, but they were decent enough for the poor.

"This is the best I have," he said, nervously. He hoped she would either ignore it or change her mind. He would rather not hear another demeaning comment. A lot was waiting for him already.

Like the heavens heard his prayers, Almira walked ahead. Dante trailed behind them, imagining the worst scenarios in his head. The day promised so many bad endings.

He bumped into someone and gasped. Almira frowned.

"How do you lead from behind?" She asked. He quickly bowed in apology and scurried to the front. Almira took long strides towards him.

She pulled off the head mask and he froze. She easily pulled off Kitanna's hairband and tied his messy hair to the back.

Dante's blue eyes met her mysterious ones.

"What? Didn't I tell you I enjoy looking at you?"