Promises of Glory

“Perhaps I am no more than a burden, the way that I cause destruction where I stand.”

-“Crona’s Poem”

“Are you almost done?” Livinus called from the other side of the door. A maid tightened up the back of the dress and gave her a reassuring pat. There was a thud on the door that Rhode knew was him hitting his head on it. He was not a patient man.

“Yeah.”

“Thank the gods.”

“It hasn’t been that long.” Rhode was cheerily joking with him, like nothing had changed, but her mind was a mess. Her mind kept going back to the kiss and how she wished it would happen again.

She took in the sight of herself in the mirror one last time before she would leave. She looked at her hair, the way it was curled and pinned up, exposing her neck. The champagne and black silk dress was beautiful and and cinched at her waist. It flowed down into a flare at her feet. The heels she wore would keep her from stepping on the edge. What really caught the eye was the elaborate bodice, the pearls that strung along the heart-shaped neckline. It made her look fuller and more womanly, and Rhode liked it a lot. She knew this would always be a dress she kept close to heart.

Rhode finally stepped out of the room and Livinus stood quietly. “Does it look bad?”

His eyebrows shot up, “No, no, no, not that. Trust me, it’s anything but bad.” He laughed, holding out his arm to her, “Gods, you’re breathtaking.” She took it and they walked together to the ballroom.

Rhode couldn’t stop eyeing Livinus in his suit. He’d never looked so professional or regal. He walked with a grace that could only belong to someone of his stature. His movements were fluid, from the sweep of his hand as they entered the ballroom, to his bow as he parted from her. He told her he’d be right back but she wasn’t paying any attention his words.

The room was filled with red tapestries and golden fixtures, she could hardly believe her eyes. Rhode felt like a sore thumb, sticking out the way she did in the crowd. She scanned the mass of writhing bodies, nobody made a move to approach her. After all, the guests probably all knew each other, the fact that she was here and not known to anyone was probably a sign of her low standing. In that moment, she no longer knew how she should stand, how she should walk, how she should smile. A single pair of eyes made contact with hers in the crowd. The face smiled at her but Rhode felt like she couldn’t comprehend it. Suddenly it was like a suffocating feeling had caressed over her. She saw the faces of enemies in every person that passed. She took a deep breath, wishing the feeling away.

Livinus joined her just as she was getting worried about him, “I’m back. I got us some drinks.” He handed her one and she downed it in one gulp. “Woah there, that was alcoholic, you’re going to get drunk if you keep going like that.”

She sneered, “I don’t care.” Taking his glass from his hand, she gulped that one too. The burning sensation in the back of her throat was pleasant in the way that it made her forget lack of oxygen.

“Hey, you don’t look too good, do you want to sit down?” She sank a little into the hand he hand pressed against her back. “What happened while I was gone?”

Could she tell him? Rhode shook her head, answering herself physically. She didn’t want him to think her weak. After all, she was not weak. She was stronger than him, faster. If he thought her weak then everyone would.

He led her to a small alcove, “Just rest up here, I’ll be right back. I have to greet some of the more important guests and then I’ll be right back to your side.” She nodded, “When you’re feeling better we can open some gifts, if you would like, that is.”

“I would like.”

She struggled to breathe while he was gone. She didn’t know what was wrong with her. It was like the world was collapsing on her, like the planets have given up their rotations and decided that landing on her was the correct place to be.

The velvet curtain in front of her pulled back, she was surprised at first, that Livinus would come back so quickly. But the surprise quickly grew into a fear. The client from the other night stood before her. Rhode was reeling, trying to think how the woman could have recognized her, but maybe she didn’t. So she smiled despite the pain that was exploding in her lungs. The woman laughed, “No need to strain yourself, I know how you’re feeling.” Rhode felt her eyes become heavy. “Yes, good. Listen to that feeling. Close your eyes, I promise that you’ll wake up in a much better place.”

Rhode mumbled to herself before she could no longer understand what the woman was saying, “But there’s no better place than this.”