Blinding Light (BLS Book 1)

Mila

The days seemed much shorter. I don’t even remember what I did before a week’s gone by so quickly. Judging from everyone preparing, it must be for the party outdoors. I was surprised when I didn’t wake up in the middle of the night. Midnight didn’t show up last night, maybe all the previous laughing night scared him away.

I’m actually excited about this event. Cooped up in the castle for three weeks is something the outdoors could definitely be the solution to solve my boredom.

I sit on the edge of the bed, consumed by my own thoughts.

I had missed Raven so much when she had gone. It was beyond imagination stressful for me to hold everything together. I was only fifteen, taking on four jobs, trying to keep the Blagrove House in check so we don’t go bankrupt and it doesn’t totally, economically collapse.

Raven and I caught up a lot the past few days. We even snuck out multiple times at night, only to be caught by James, her friend. I’d say her lover but she would die than admit it, at least for now.

***

After my lunch, I head out to the East Courtyard to meet Raven. She waves me over.

“What has my little sister Mila been up to these days?”

“Nothing much. Preparing for the party of the year over the sea.”

She winces at my statement and I cringe. I forgot all about her hatred of the oceans over my love of it. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to remind—”

“No need, it’s quite alright. I have dived temporarily underwater and drowned out any word that you have said.”

I chuckle at her sarcasm. Linking our arms, we both head out to the front.

Just before we enter the gates, something brushes my face before running over my hair. I gasp, giving myself a fright, but Raven, on the other hand, is howling with laughter.

I rub my face and this time, duck under the tree branches, flicking off invisible bugs on my shoulders.

“Your luck must be as ghastly as the Lord of Hell,” she chokes out, wheezing. I push her playfully. She stumbles but does not fall, and continues laughing. I shake my head, a smile creeping up my face; I wipe it away before Raven could see, too late.

She gasps, covering her mouth, “Is the noble, emotionless Mila Hayes finally developing a sense of humor?”

She grabs me by the shoulders, shaking me before poking my dimples with her finger. “Oh! Congrats, congrats! We must celebrate, ah oui, a party at sea shall do it.” I glower at her, my mouth betraying me, letting my dimples reappear. Raven laughs at the sight.

She pushes me aside, links her arm to mine instead, and starts skipping. I struggle to keep up with her quick pace as we skip down towards our carriage. To my dismay, Asher stands before the door.

I lean down, whispering to Raven, “He’s a roiderbanks (lives beyond their means), that one. A total jerk.”

“Really?” She whispers back.

“Yeah. He insulted me during my ride to the tasting. I was not ever disrespected this way.”

Before I could stop her, Raven casually strolls until she stands in front of Asher. He’s a head taller than her, she merely looks like an angry child, screaming to an adult.

“Hmmm…” she crosses her arms, circling him like a predator. He doesn’t move, not even a flicker of an emotion escape. Then she points a finger to his nose.

“If I ever hear you disturbing my sister again,” she flicks her finger at me, “You’ll have me to deal with. And I can assure you. I am not someone to be messed with.”

Asher simply nods, and steps aside, opening the carriage door for us. When he offers a hand to help, Raven slaps it away as she enters. She pulls herself up the stairs and hauls herself into the carriage. I take his hand out of respect for the people around us, even as they still gawk.

Raven is not scared of embarrassing herself. I’m the total opposite, I rather have my composure even if it rots out my internals. That is, at least until we’re out of public eyes, I rather not have the court of nobles judge me because of a misinterpreted action. Probably because of the two years of pretending to keep the House alive and remain composed, faking that everything was indeed, fine.

Raven sits next to me, keeping herself as a barrier between Asher and me. She chats with me throughout most of the ride as Asher stares out the window, emotionless, like last time.

When I glance over the outside, a spark of green captures my eyes. A pair of forest green eyes stare back at me in my barely visible reflection.

“He is very quiet,” Raven says suddenly, breaking me away from my reflection.

“Monsieur Moore, was it?” Asher closes his eyes, furrowing his brow. His chest rises up and down.

Inhale.

Exhale.

“Yes, Lady Song,” he replies. His voice deep, monotone; those blue eyes, as empty as the Dead Sea.

“May I ask why you are to be my sister’s escort? Who appointed you?”

He thinks for a second before ruffling his messy black hair, always the same hand, the same direction.

Stop.

“I was appointed by Lord Kaine, My Lady.”

“Really?” Raven asks, skeptic.

The irony of this conversation is too much, I think as I stifle back a giggle, thinking back to my conversation with Karen.

“Well, you can inform Lord Kaine that Mademoiselle Hayes does not want you to be her escort anymore,” Raven says, mirroring his monotone.

Alarm crosses his face, “I’m afraid—”

“You will get her a different escort, or I will see to it myself.”

“Very well, Lady Song.”

The carriage comes to a stop, anymore of this and I might die of embarrassment. I should have known better than to tell Raven about a minor encounter that went wrong.

I should have known that she would overreact like this. Always wake snakes (get into mischief). At least we were shinning around.

Asher exits first off, extends a hand to Raven, who slaps it away again. She blocks his path and bows towards me sarcastically. I glance around wide-eyed.

It’s not some pumpkin (a big deal), get yourself together.

I smile confidently and take her hand. I don’t glance back, especially not at that gentleman of three outs as we head in.

***

We enter the gates that guard the private entrance of the Honfleur harbor. It’s changed so much. New trees surrounded us, showering us with newly formed Oaktree summer leaves.

A pirate-like ship approaches us, the king and queen wave before stepping off.

“Listen up!” The announcer shouts, “The King and Queen will not be joining us for this party, as Lord Kaine has just informed an emergency with the ministry. Welcome your guests, as His Highness Prince Nolan is in charge of all orders. The alliance members will also be joining you. That is all.”

The sponsors are called up to the ship. The alliance has just arrived with nobles only. Their King and Queen are not present like ours.

They’re probably meeting elsewhere, I think. When the suitors are called up, I don’t see Raven anywhere. They must’ve moved the sponsors elsewhere. Prince Nolan steps to the front of the ship.

He smiles, “Welcome to the second event of the Alliance’s Tour. Enjoy yourselves!”

To that, the ship starts moving. People grab their instruments and start playing music. I approach the outside, the sunlight bright and warm on my face. I find myself by the rails, watching the water attack the ship. The music almost drowns itself out. Someone taps me on the shoulder. I turn to see Prince Nolan. He stands there, blocking the sun, emitting a glow that traces his jawline. I shake my head and smile, pulling the corner of my lips up.

“…Hello, Votre Altesse.” I give a small curtsy. “To what do I owe this pleasure of a visit?”

He clears his throat, “We are almost at our destination. I was hoping you would join me for the first dive?” I giggle, he frowns, confused, “Is something entertaining?”

“No, not at all, Votre Altesse. I would love to join you for the dive.”

His face lights up, and he grins brightly, “Fantastic. Meet me at the luxury front view in a quarter of an hour?”

“Of course.”

I find my way to the washroom. In a turn, I bump heads with a woman. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”

She glances up,

“It’s quite alright.”

She has bright blonde hair with deep brown eyes. The woman reminds me of someone. I tilt my head.

“Can I help you?” She asks, startling me.

“Oh, I’m sorry for staring, but you seem very familiar? Have we met?”

She laughs, “Of course? We are all a part of the Suitor’s Campaign after all. Ameryn Aldine.” She extends a hand that I take hesitantly.

She’s the one Raven’s sponsoring. I recognize it now; the girl Raven was chatting with the other day was her.

“Mademoiselle Aldine—oui…but I felt as if I’ve seen you elsewhere?” I laugh nervously.

Get yourself together, it’s not like she’s some important figure that you have to impress.

She frowns, “I’m sure we—”

Surprise lights up in her eyes, “Oh oui! We have met,” she says, beaming, “How are you?”

“Good good.”

That’s what I thought, she was the woman that I met just before I saw Raven the first day I was here.

“Good to see you again!” She says, embracing me in a tight hug.

“Oui, you too.” I grin and slide past her. “Please excuse me.”

Ameryn nods and shuffles out of the way.

It was indeed more similar to a bathroom. There are white tiles as walls instead of wood, and they have multiple stalls. It was not something I was used to. The bathrooms back at House Blagrove were nothing as fancy as this, our estate was barely holding on from going bankrupt, I could’ve cared less about how nice our bathrooms were.

I entered one of the stalls and slipped out from my dress, then my corset, and put on my swimwear. The soft fabric is similar to a nightgown but only covers my knees as undergarments. I was about to head out when the mirror reflects something bright. I blink a few times, my attention drawing itself to the mirror. My hair is down instead of up, messy and protracted. I frown, my eyes green, blinking unmistakably at me.

Touching my hair, I can feel it fall down my shoulders, down my back. It’s no longer in a braided crown that Karen did earlier for me this morning. My vision blurs, then back to normal. I shake my head, a voice whispers in my mind.

“Mila…”

What’s this?

The sink handle turns on, the water intensely cold although I’m not touching it. I wanted to get away, but I couldn’t, glued down by my own two feet, stuck in place. Frost is forming on the mirror and I could feel it in my fingers that the temperature is dropping harsh and fast.

“…Help.”

What?

“Wake up. Get out…”

My mind suddenly goes blank.

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Thanks, with lots of smiles

☆•Yiona•☆