The Invitation

    I know that my emotional state is a mess, I didn't go to aunt Thalia's cottage, and I dare not go to the dining hall to eat dinner. After my emotional breakdown in front of Nick, I told him that I am fine, I asked him to leave me alone, he reminded me that he will always be there for me, then left without a glance.

I make my way to the roof of the academy, I lay there with my wings wide open for how many hours, I observed the moon and stars shining brightly above me, the splendid colors of my wings brighten up my gloomy night, I was untruthful to Flynn, and to myself when I told him that my feelings for him will be gone before sunset, maybe after millions of sunsets, I know deep within myself that I will forever be in love with the Erthesia's hot crown prince.

    Silently, after midnight, I get inside our door room, Freda is already sleeping on her bed, but she immediately got up, when she sensed my return.

    "Mal! I was worried about you, Nick told us what happened, and I am sorry Mal, I thought you were gone to the forest."

    "I am not in the mood to go there tonight Fred, I feel so lost and tormented. I hate myself for loving him this way, I can't express the throbbing of my heart."

At once Freda hugged me, and she is crying with me.

    "I hate him Freda, I never thought that he is more wicked than Avery, why did he even bother to save me in the first place, how could he break my heart?" I asked Freda, my tears are still flowing like waterfalls.

    "Maybe, because Declan was with you?" She asked me with uncertainty in her voice.

     "Yeah! You are right Fred, I am such a fool for believing in him when he told me, he was there to rescue me, just let me cry tonight Freda, I promise you tomorrow I will be strong."

     "Just cry your heart out Malia, tell me everything what is in your heart and mind, that's what friends are for." She smiles while brushing my back. My vision became blurry because of the tears that continue to run down my cheeks.

I woke up finding Freda on my bed sleeping beside me, my eyes are swollen from crying and from lack of enough sleep, and I had a terrible headache, as usual I skipped breakfast to avoid seeing my nemeses. Freda helped me

Fixed myself before attending our classes. I looked totally fine in the mirror after her makeover.

"Freda, I can see my mother staring right through me, why do I need to be looked like her, I am not sad that I resembled my mom's face and figure, I think my life would be a lot easier if I am similar to my father." I said frustrated.

"Malia, it will always be complicated, whichever face you resembled it still be the same, you will always be the heir of Erthesia's throne."

"I think you are right."

"Now let us go, before Nick and Hale come to us." She said smiling to me, I give her a slight smile in return.

When we arrived to our room, our classmates are talking boisterously, they are talking about the invitations.

"Why they looked so excited?" I asked Freda and I can see her face turned so dark.

    "What kind of invitation they received that they are like dying with happiness." I asked her again curiously.

    "Malia I am so sorry, but it was so saddened, King Maverick sent invitations to all the royal blood in the academy, and anyone who has the invitation can attend even he or she is a commoner, that is why many of our classmates are excited to attend the Ceremony, you know not everyone can go to the Palace except you have an invitation, but I am even surprised why a lot of royals now are inviting commoners." She said, and I was confused why she is saying sorry to me.

     "I heard it was Flynn's idea, that all the royals who have received the invitation must bring a commoner, so that many can attend." I can see that Freda is not behaving herself.

    "Why you look suddenly sick Freda? Are you alright?" I asked her worried.

    "I am fine, Malia." She said, avoiding my eyes, I can sense that something is not right.

   "By the way, what kind of Ceremony they are going to celebrate? Why everyone is dying to attend?" I asked her curiously, it took her a long time to answer me, then she hugged me out of the blue.

    "Hey, what is wrong Freda?" I said while stroking her back.

"It is the Engagement Ceremony of Prince Flynn and Avery, everyone is shocked that their parents announced it last week, actually many believed that it will happen on the last full moon of the year, but according to rumors, it was Avery's father King Theodor asked King Cassian to do it within this month, to strengthen the ties of the two kingdoms. The invitations arrived early this morning.

    I was not able to say a single word, how many times I think about this moment, facing the reality that Flynn is not for me. I don't have any right to get hurt, they were already destined to be together, even before I arrived at the academy. But the unbearable pain I feel is killing me on the inside, yet I needed to act that I am fine in front of her, and to others.

    "Freda, I am fine, I know that this will happen sooner or later, you don't need to feel sorry for me. The reason I am in this world is to save my parents, not to have a love life." I whispered in her ear pretending to be so happy.

    "Are you sure, you are okay?" She looked directly into my eyes, I nodded and gave her my sweetest smile. Just in time Nick and Hale get into our classroom, while Declan is a few steps behind them. The three of them are bringing a golden envelope on their hand that has a seal of the Erthesia Kingdom.

    "I guess you know already Malia?" Asked Nick, I can feel that he is very careful talking to me.

    "Yes, I do, why Nick? Are you also worried that I might go running away because of that news, believe me Nick, I am more than fine, what I heard from his mouth last night made me realized I am such a fool okay." I told him, and gave him a warm smile.

     "I will not waste my time thinking about his stupid game anymore, he only played with my heart, I won't give him the contentment of seeing me in despair. I am brave and strong Nick." He looked at me, unable to believe what I am saying.

    "Wow! I just want to invite you to the ceremony Malia, but thanks for telling me what you feel." He said smiling at me, I know he is just trying to cheer me up again. He had seen my devastation last night, Nick knows I am not fine. I am thankful that he did not look at me with pity.

    "So are you going to say yes?" Nick asked me earnestly.

    "Sorry Nick, but I think I will pass, since it falls on the weekend, I have training in the forest with Serpentina on that day, so I am saying no."

   "Common Malia, you can say no to me, Freda is going with Hale." He said shocked by my answer.

   " There are a lot of common fairies around Nick hoping to be invited, why not try asking someone from our classmates." I said to him looking around for possible candidate to be his date. My smile widened when my gaze is fixed on the direction of Amy, she is a fairy scholar from Eirini, she is so smart and beautiful too.

"Nick you can ask Amy, she is lovely, you two will look good together." I said to Nick looking excited.

"Malia, I don't want anyone, if you are not going then I won't go, but it only means one thing, you still want Flynn despite everything he had done to hurt you. Wake up Malia, he is not into you, he only got close to you, in order to break your heart. You heard it clearly Malia, don't limit your own happiness because of him." Nick said angrily, but he kept his voice low so that our classmate will not be able to hear our conversations.

"I don't want to go Nick, I hope you understand that." I said to him irritated, I didn't expect him to remind me about what we heard last night.

"Okay, but I will be waiting just in case you change your mind."

"I am not going to change my mind Nicholas. No is my final answer."

"I still have a lot of time to convince you Malia, I will not surrender until on the day of the ceremony. You know me, I don't easily get discouraged" Nick said firmly. I don't want to argue with Nick anymore, so I just shut my mouth and wait for our Professor to get inside.

My classmates are still talking animatedly about the upcoming engagement ceremony, they just don't know that out of their excitement in going into the Palace, I on the other hand is hoping that the ceremony will be canceled. I wanted to get out and go to the forest, but the words of my aunt's echoed into my mind. I already have many absences I don't want to worry Headmaster Amos.