A Game of Crowns

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

-Eleanor Roosevelt

It had been two days since the second trial, two days since Lucas had escaped, and two days since four people went home.

When I kicked over the chest of pieces I never thought it would result in an extra elimination. Thankfully, I wasn’t disqualified over it but I was given a stern talking to by Madame Lorrelle. Tobias and Killian were spoken with as well even though it was my action that was brought into question.

I wouldn’t think about any of that today though. I wouldn’t think about the extra girl who went home because of me. I would keep my thoughts for Ruby. Today she’d be sent off to meet the Great Mother.

“Is there anything else I can do for you, my lady?”

Georgiana’s sweet voice brought me back to the present. “No, Georgiana. Thank you.”

She smiled and left me with my thoughts once again. I studied my face in the mirror of my vanity. Dark patches lined the bottom of my eyes. I had not been sleeping the last two days. No matter what I tried, I couldn’t get my mind to turn off.

Georgiana had done an amazing job on my face. She covered the small cuts I had accumulated over the course of the trial and most of the darkness beneath my eyes. She added color to my pale skin and lined my grey eyes with black liner. It added a spark to my lifeless eyes. The light pink shade of my lips was masterfully crafted by Georgiana. She was happy to put her skills to work but she didn’t relish the reason. She tried her best to lighten my mood but nothing she did helped.

She dressed me in a white sleeveless bubble dress that had pockets. The pockets were my favorite part. I was grateful for Georgiana. She was the kindest person I had ever met and I was truly blessed by the Mother to have her. If only she had been able to distract me from thoughts of Lucas and Ruby.

Lucas had been the traitor. He was a part of Ruby’s death. Had he been part of the death of the royal family? How had I not known? The teardrop tattoo on his face was like a punch to the gut. He had been my friend. He didn’t seem like a bad guy. How had my intuition been so wrong?

I shook my head. I couldn’t keep letting him control the course of my thoughts.

I stood up, straightened my dress, and adjusted the necklace I hid beneath my dress. I slipped on the royal blue wedges Georgiana had picked out and took one last look in the mirror before heading out.

Tobias surprised me at my door. His usual sexy grin was muted. He didn’t say a word as he offered me his arm. He looked lovely in his white fitted suit.

We walked in comfortable silence. The service would be held outside. Rowan and his sisters would be leading the prayer. The night was beautiful. The smell of blue lilies drifted in the wind and every star was present to welcome Ruby home.

The training grounds had been cleared and rearranged with a funeral pyre. Ruby’s body had been wrapped in gossamer material. She laid atop of the pyre on a thin board. Rowan and his sisters walked around the pyre wafting small bunches of burning sage. There were no chairs for us to sit on so we stood and watched as the Trinity purified Ruby’s pyre. It was a closed sendoff. Only participants, Ruby’s family, and close family friends could be present. We had all worn white as custom demanded. I had never seen a funeral like this. I had only been to one and it had been completely different. My grandfather had been buried in the community cemetery and I wore jeans.

One of the twins struck a match and lit the fire. Ruby’s family cried silently as they watched the flames climb closer to their daughter’s body. Just as the flames reached Ruby, the Trinity joined hands and chanted in an eerily beautiful unknown language. As the flames engulfed her body they changed into a purple and blue-ish hue.

I wasn’t an expert on how long it took for a body to burn but this had to have been enhanced by magic. Her body was gone in seconds. A silver shimmering essence flew towards the stars. Ruby’s mother wailed loudly in her husband’s arms and nothing her husband said or did could calm her.

I struggled to breathe as everyone’s emotions hit me like a tidal wave. The lump in my throat refused to pass while tears stung my eyes and threatened to fall. Tobias held my hand tightly while he muttered soothing words into my ear. I couldn’t explain the emotions running through me. I hardly knew Ruby but her family’s grief shook me to my very core.

Rowan, Willow, and Ivy spoke in the same hushed tone. “Mother Creator, you are the giver of life. We memorialize and honor a life that is precious to us. As we mourn our fallen sister, we ache from a void that has been created in our hearts. We lift our grief and sorrow to you. Mother, we ask that you comfort Ruby’s family and friends in their pain, and shower them with your healing grace. May Ruby find her new home in the stars. Praise the Mother.”

Ruby’s mother had calmed some but not completely. Rowan detached himself from his sisters and pulled Mrs. Cahill into his arms and whispered into her ear. Her response was immediate. Her shoulders sagged and her cries quieted. She nodded her head as he continued to whisper to her.

Mr. Cahill comforted his younger daughter while Rowan comforted his wife.

One by one people began to leave the ceremony until Tobias and I were the only ones left. Rowan and his sisters continued to stand by the Cahill’s. They stared up at the sky watching as the stars danced in the night.

I took a hold of Tobias’s hand and pulled him away. The warmth of his hand in my own settled the sadness in my heart. We walked hand in hand towards the east wing, not caring who saw us. It was a dangerous game we played. We weren’t supposed to be romantically involved with anyone here until the coupling.

We stopped at the entrance of the east wing. Tobias looked around the hall before bringing his lips to mine. The heat of his mouth on mine warmed me and the graze of his teeth along my bottom lip incited a moan from a place deep within me.

He snaked his hand behind my head, curled his fingers into my hair, and pulled my head slightly back to gain access to my neck. A trail of fiery kisses started at my jaw and ended where the material of my dress began.

He whispered into my ear. “Inviting me in?”

Oh, how I wanted to.

“Not tonight but soon,” I promised.

Tonight didn’t feel right.

He let out a heavy breath and slowly disentangled himself from me. His blue eyes shone with desire but he nodded and kissed my cheek. “Goodnight, Penelope,” he said smiling beautifully. “I’ll be seeing you.”

A genuine smile lingered on my face. He had managed to break through my melancholy. I watched him leave until he was gone from the wing. As soon as I could no longer see him, I turned and walked towards my room.

Arguing voices came from Viktorya’s room as I passed. I should have kept walking but something made me want to stop. Her door was slightly ajar and I knew I shouldn’t eavesdrop but I couldn’t help myself. So, I tiptoed to her door and turned an ear to the opening into her room.

“Mother, I’m still in the game. Is that not enough?”

“No, it is not. You should have come in first in the second trial, not fourth. You’ve lost in both trials so far. You are a disappointment. You can be better. Work harder,” an older woman’s voice argued.

Viktorya’s mother had been here since the second trial. She was even present for Ruby’s funeral. She must have known the Cahill’s.

“Mother, not now, please. I..I need time to mourn Rubs. We weren’t close friends anymore, but she used to be my best friend. That counts for something,” she said, voice breaking.

“It counts for nothing, dear daughter.”

Footsteps quickly made their way to the door I currently stood near. I stumbled back and waited across the hall.

A small woman with light brown hair raised an eyebrow at me. I wasn’t hiding the fact that I’d overheard them. She stalked off without closing the door.

Viktorya stood in the middle of her room, silent tears falling down her face. She looked up and saw me. Her face hardened. “What do you want?”

“Nothing.”

She rushed to shut her door. Just as she was about to click it closed, I pushed the door slightly open. She stopped it, leaving an inch of space.

“What?” she groaned.

“I know she’s your mother but letting her speak to you like that is wrong. You shouldn’t let others make you feel inferior. Especially your mom.”

She scoffed. “I don’t care what she has to say. I’m going to become queen in my own way. I don’t need her telling me how I should do it. I’m here, not her.”

Okay, not what I was expecting.

She pushed to close the door. I stopped her again. “Viktorya?”

“What?” she asked annoyed. I could just picture the look on her face.

I whispered, “I’m sorry about Ruby.”

She remained quiet. Just when I thought she wouldn’t reply, she choked out a response. “Thanks.”

After that, she shut the door before I could say anything else, not that I had anything to add.

I opened the door to my room, not bothering to turn on the light. I unzipped my dress and snuggled under the covers. I held Rowan’s pendant in my hand and closed my eyes, ready for the day to end. Surprisingly, the pull of sleep worked its magic. I was out in seconds.