The Aldean Chronicles: Hidden

The makeup artist arrives around noon and does a light coat for me. When she’s done, I sit in front of the hairstylist and she does my hair up with flowery silver clips. I get to the venue at 2 PM, three hours before it’s scheduled to start.

Jason claps when he sees me. “You clean up nicely.” He teases.

“I see you’re not still mad at me,” I say carefully. “You look really good too.” He does, he’s wearing the black tux like a second skin.

“I’m calling a truce for the rest of the evening.” He offers me his hand to shake. “Besides, I wasn’t sure you noticed my absence. I thought you had Tristan to fill that void.”

I smile sadly. “It seems I have a talent for pissing people off. Tristan and I aren’t on good terms.”

He frowns. “What did you do?”

“I’m selfish, self-centered, and only think about myself.” He doesn’t object. “You agree?”

He shrugs. “I do actually. I swear, you live in your whole world. It’s all about you and everyone else are just extras in your show. You’re not the best friend to have.”

“Harsh,” I mutter. “I wish you didn’t lower my self-esteem right when I needed a confidence boost.”

“Again with you, you haven’t even once asked me how I feel about all this.” He complains.

“This is your territory, you’re the best at socializing. I didn’t think you’ll be nervous.” I defend.

“How about just saying sorry and asking how I feel instead of yelling at me.” I groan and do what he says. “Thank you for asking, Cassie. I feel great, been waiting for this night for a while.”

I huff. A few feet away, Derek whistles at me . “Look at you.” He comes over. “Never thought you could look this good.”

“That’s inappropriate and rude Derek. You can’t say things like that.” I scold.

“Bold of you to assume I was talking about you.” He turns to Jason. “Looking good, Jace.”

Jace responds by laughing and walking away from both of us. “So Cassandra, I need a favor.”

“And I will do that because?” I'm seriously waiting for an answer.

“You help me and I help you. I don’t know what’s going on between you and Princess Katya but she might introduce you to her mother.” He waits a few seconds so that his words can sink in. “Or at least some council members, we’re in the same boat. We’re not as high positioned as these people. The only thing keeping us here is our strength. I say we form a little alliance and secure a place next semester. Kick the little first son out.”

My smile is forced and crooked. “Derek, If they’re picking two people next semester, it’s going to be you and Jason. I’m not even sure if I’m coming back in January.” He looks shocked. “So just, do your thing, I’m going to try not to embarrass myself tonight.” I tap his shoulder lightly and leave.

I’m proud of myself, how’s that for not being selfish. The things I told him are true though. Am I really coming back to this school in January? I have almost no friends and everything feels too much. Maybe I’m just a coward who runs away at the first sign of trouble.

Paisley gets back to my text and asks how I am. I reply on the way to my designated table, at the back, with the other first years and new members. At five, the guests start coming, before long the room is filled. They catch up with old friends and enjoy the adoration from current members. I try to talk to a middle-aged woman. She seems nice and approachable but I freeze as soon as we start talking.

I run away in shame and sit at my table. The Queen arrives an hour late in a dark blue dress and the previously proud alumni are swarming around her. She gives a speech five minutes after she arrives and I see her appeal. She starts with a light joke about how she didn’t prepare anything for this occasion but will just say what’s on her mind.

She talks of her time in Blue rose and of the friends she made and how she still talks to them, even works with some. She tells us that the society helped her during some tough times and she’s grateful to have been a part of it. She concludes by encouraging everyone to make big donations but refuses to disclose how much she’s giving.

“It’s not the amount that matters, it’s the gesture. I’m joking, it’s the amount, the amount matters very much.” The audience laughs. “But I will not be telling you how much I’m giving, it’s a secret.” She says with a smile. The photographers take pictures of her and of the audience’s reactions to her words.

After she’s done, more prominent alumni give their speeches. I remain at my seat, sipping a glass of apple cider. Half-past six, Derek and Jason come up to me.

“We need to meet the Queen, she just stood up from her seat. We need to move before she goes back in.” Derek starts. “She’s swamped so we need an in. That’s where you come in, can you please talk to your royal friend.”

I look between the two of them. “No thank you, if you want to talk to her, do it yourself.”

“Please Cass.” Jason pleads.

“Derek I get, but you. Can’t you just bring up your dad or whatever?” I ask.

“That’s for the main conversation, I need an introduction. She’s not just another guest, this is the first time I’m meeting her.” He says.

“Me too.” Derek moans. They both look at me, it takes me a few seconds to catch up. “Me too,” I say in my most convincing voice. “Good, then you understand that first impressions are everything.”

I shake my head slowly. “I don’t know, Kat looks busy right now. I’m not sure if she’ll even agree.”

“Come on Cass, please. We’re begging you, if anything it’ll be good for all of us. You haven’t socialized once since this started. Soon the party will end and you wouldn’t have talked to anybody.” Jason says. Yeah, that’s the plan.

“We’re not going to leave until you say yes. We will wear you down.” Derek threatens. He and Jace bug me for five minutes nonstop. I can’t take it anymore.

“Fine.” I agree angrily. The party was going great till these two showed up. I stand up and smooth my dress down, I check my reflection in my phone camera and adjust my face anyway I can. “Let’s go.” I walk away, I don't care if they’re following me. I pass by Kat and go straight to my aunt.

The Queen is standing close to her table, talking to both adults and students. She says something and they all laugh, they’re all hooked on her every word. If I hadn’t met her before, I would have been under her spell as well.

Jace, Derek and I join her crowd. She catches my eye before smiling and says. “It seems we have some newcomers. This is the first I’m seeing of you tonight, do you mind introducing yourselves.” She says to the three of us.

Jason smiles charmingly and bows. “Your majesty, might I say it truly is an honor to meet you. My name is Jason Leander, I’m a first year.”

She beams. “Leander as in President Leander.” She looks fascinated.

Jason sighs softly, he looks embarrassed, he always does this. “Yes, that is my father. I’m from Calais.”

My aunt laughs. “How ironic, I was talking to your father just last week. He failed to mention he had a son here. I wish I knew of this sooner, you simply must visit the palace one of these days.” She doesn’t wait for a reply, she turns straight to Derek. “And you are?”

He bows. “Your majesty, I’m so honored. I’m Derek Hayward, I’m also a first-year.”

She nods. “Lilian tells me you’re one of your class’s most promising students. I hope you become a member next semester. Blue Rose harbors the strongest Illyria has to offer.”

Derek looks happy to hear that and smiles genuinely. “Thank you so much, your majesty. It means so much to hear you say that.”

Even I’m starting to believe that she’s a good person, then she gets to me. “And you, young lady. Would you mind telling us who you are?”

I force myself to bow, she looks smug. I suppress the eye roll forming. “Your majesty, it’s an honor. My name is Cassandra Flores.” The woman beside her purses her lips. Everyone else seem unfazed, they must not be council members.

“Cassandra Flores.” The Queen muses. “Your name and your accent sound so foreign. Where are you from exactly?”

“Massachusetts.” I joke, no one gets it so I clear my throat and say. “I’m from Earth, your majesty.”

She nods like this is news to her. “How fascinating, you have to tell me more about that.” I think she means at another time but apparently, she means now. “Walk with me, tell me about some of your more Earthly experiences.”

She gets closer to me and takes my arm before leading us out of the crowd. The people there look pissed that I took her away. I don’t blame them, if I spent all night sucking up to her and she took some random person aside, I’d be angry too.

“So tell me, Cassandra.” She says in a loud voice. And once we’re out of earshot. “Why exactly you’re trying to ruin yourself and everyone else in this family.” Her smile wavers. She restores it effortlessly. “No matter what, don’t stop smiling, people are watching.”

I smile too. “What are you talking about, I haven’t talked to anybody. How am I ruining everything?”

“That’s exactly how you’re doing it, do you think the council will walk up to you? Why aren’t you talking to them, showing them how efficient you are.” She laughs. “Or at least lie. That’s so funny, tell me another story.” She says as people pass us.

“I don’t know anything about them, I don’t even know who’s a council member.” I argue.

“That’s not important, just talk to everybody you meet. Just because they’re not on the council doesn’t mean they’re not influential.” She stops. “I’m leaving you now and I expect you to do what I said.”

“Please, aunt Freya,” I say in a very low voice. “I’m scared, this is my first time doing something like this. I can’t do it by myself.”

She frowns. I can only imagine how pissed she is. “Fine, it’s your first time so I’ll help you.” She scans the room and pauses when she sees Tristan talking to a group of people, he’s standing next to his father. She catches his eyes and gestures for him to come over.

He excuses himself and walks up to us. He bows slightly. “Your majesty.” He doesn’t look at me. He's wearing a suit that is the same dark shade as his hair.

“Tristan, I need you to show Cassandra around. Introduce her to people, don’t leave her side.”

Tristan nods. “Of course, your majesty. Cassandra, are you ready?”

I turn to my aunt. “Did director Lilian really mention Derek to you?”

Her eyes flash. She smiles widely and says. “It saddens me to hear that that’s what’s on your mind right now. Don’t make me regret coming here.” She then walks away from the two of us. She’s quickly joined by a relentless student and soon two more as she makes her way back to her seat.

I take a deep breath and turn to Tristan. “Thanks again for saving me. Tonight’s important for you and you’re spending it helping me.”

“It’s alright, let’s get this over with.” He takes us to the first group. He smiles at all of them. “Representative Quartz, Representative Filt, Representative Kerr, it’s so good to see you tonight. Have you met Cassandra Flores?”

Representative Quartz looks me up and down. “You look like your aunt.” Is all he says.

“So you’re Infante Matteo’s daughter.” The woman in the knee-length, black dress says as shakes my hand. “I’ve been meaning to meet you.”

“Thank you,” My heart is threatening to burst out of my chest. “It’s a pleasure to meet you all.” I turn to the last man, he looks hostile.

He sighs and reluctantly introduces himself. “Representative Kerr, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Flores.” He says in a dry tone.

“We should be making our rounds, have a good evening.” Tristan takes my hand and pulls me away from them. We walk a few meters to another couple. “Good evening Mr. and Mrs. Whitehall.” He greets them. “This is Cassandra Flores.”

They seem pleasant. “How are you, you must be a friend of Tristan’s. Nice to see he has more than one.” The woman jokes.

“He and Jamison are practically brothers, so he doesn’t count.” Mr. Whitehall adds. We all laugh.

I talk to them for a few more minutes before moving on to the next group. The council members I meet are either interested in meeting me or irritated to see me. It’s an emotionally daunting night. We walk up to a group of four who aren’t interested in either.

“Tristan, how have you been?” The first man starts. “How is school, how are your parents?”

“School is good, my parents are good. Thank you so much for asking.” He says. “So Cassandra is one of the candidates for next year’s members.” He tries to steer the conversation back to me. “She’s a really strong elemental.”

One of the men snickers. “Strong by your standards or actually strong?” The people in his company all smile and suppress their laughs. I blink, are these grown adults making fun of someone three times younger than them?

“How has school been for you really? Since the incident, I heard it was gruesome.” Another person says.

“It was two years ago, I’m good and better now,” Tristan says calmly. “Cassandra got the highest mark in her Fire 101 class.”

“So she’s not ‘strong’ by your standards then.” The first guy laughs.

Tristan nods. “Always a pleasure talking to you, Mr. Sandrin.” He says. “You all should have a good night.” He leaves them and I follow after him. “I spotted the Secretary of State sitting not too far from here.”

“Tristan.” I stop him. “What was that about, what happened two years ago?”

He shakes his head. “Forget about it, let’s just take you around the room. The party is almost over.”

“No.” I put my foot down. “You were right, I am selfish. I only think about myself and I’m sorry. You’ve been telling me your problems and I’ve been ignoring them. Let’s talk.”

He looks around and sighs. “Fine.” I lead him to my empty table at the back. “So, what now?” He asks once we’re both seated.

“I’m not sure, I’m not usually the one leading the ted talks.” I joke. “You can start by talking about the incident. If you don’t want to, it’s alright, you can just hide here. I can do the rest by myself.”

“It’s alright. I don’t want you to say you asked and I didn’t tell you.” He smiles to let me know he’s only joking. “Growing up, I wasn’t the strongest elemental. I lost all my school competitions and my family took it hard. They kept pushing me to do better, that Oisin’s aren’t weak, that I can’t be a part of the family if I don’t prove myself, I can’t bear the name.” He scoffs. “I didn’t even get into Brimstone on merit, my parents asked Lilian to offer me admission as a legacy. It was embarrassing but at least better than attending a different school.

“As expected, I flunked my first semester. It got so bad, professor Harding asked Lilian to kick me out. When my father found out, he was pissed, it was a dark night that I rather not remember.” He massages his forehead. “After that, I started giving magic everything I got. I trained nonstop, every day, every night. I was so scared of failure that I was prepared to work myself to death. Fortunately, I got better. The next semester, I got so strong, my father was finally proud enough to call me his son. Some people still see me as this weak powerless kid and I hate that. If I screw up again, I’ll lose everything I’ve worked so hard for and I can’t let that happen. I just can’t.” He finishes.

“I’m sorry you went through that, any adult still pinning that on you is an idiot.”

“You’re just saying that to make me feel better.” He insinuates.

“No, I'm not. Tristan, you’re one of the best elementals I’ve ever met. You’re strong and nice and as I’ve said before, really responsible.” I stare into his blue eyes. “And you’re a great friend, a better one than I deserve sometimes.”

He leans forward in his seat. “I’m sorry about last night, I shouldn’t have been so harsh. I was tired and stressed and I took it out on you. It wasn’t fair.”

“I needed to hear those words. I’ve been worrying and whining about my own problems, I didn’t think about anybody else.”

“Well, now it’s time to be selfish. You need to talk to more people before the party ends. If we leave now, we might make it.”

“Thanks, but you’re not coming. It’s time to face my fears, for real this time. Been so busy complaining, that I hadn’t done anything about it.” I say. “Thanks for your help, but it’s time for me to fly.”

He smiles. “I’m proud of you Cassie.” I walk away from him and head for the Secretary of state first.