Page 24 of When Wishes Bleed

These sectors were loud with machinery churning violently and steadily. They were also the worst smelling, with sharp, indistinguishably unpleasant scents emanating from each factory. Some of the scents burnt my nose. I was glad when we neared the sector’s wall.

Six… Six took my breath away. Even the wall encasing it had been painted in vibrant shades and scenes. Murals captured humanity and nature alike, including the most miniscule details. Other sections were abstract and strangely beautiful.

Five was more elegant and formal, showcasing a classic beauty. Its streets were lined with statue after statue; so lifelike, I thought they were watching us pass. The bridges were masterfully erected, bowing with elegant lines swooping over wide, shallow rivers and deeper, narrow canals. Flowers hung from every post, spilling lush petals onto the streets and sidewalks.

Before we left the sector, I got to see an artisan at work. His brow was sweaty and his muscles strained beneath his short-sleeved shirt as he chiseled away at a chunk of granite that stood three times taller than he did.

I didn’t get to see nearly enough of Five or Six. I looked to Courier Stewart as we left the beauty behind us and were pulled into Four. “You were right.”

He inclined his head and offered a small smile. “I’m glad you enjoyed passing through. You could spend a lifetime in each of those sectors and never tire of their beauty, nor see all the treasures hidden within. There is constantly something new being created.”

“It’s a wonder they’re not the most densely populated.”

“They’re the most visited,” he confirmed. At least that much was unsurprising.

Four passed much faster than the others had. There were buildings stacked next to buildings, rising high into the sky; rooftops were the only places large enough for gardens and small trees to grow. Three and Two were smaller still, with sleek, glassy buildings climbing even higher into the heavens. I could barely see the rooftops from the carriage window, but there was no green to be seen there. Only steel and metal and glass.

And One, I almost missed altogether. It was more a neighborhood than a sector, and the homes closest to the palace were enormous. Their yards were impeccably manicured, their gardens immaculate. They were what I envisioned a palace to look like. So, when Courier Stewart announced that we had arrived, Brecan, Mira, and I craned our necks to see where the royals lived, and where we would temporarily reside.

The palace was nothing short of breathtaking. The stone encasing it was a pale pink. The entire, magnificent structure glittered in the distance, set on a knoll and surrounded by the most luxuriant, green grass I’d ever seen. The Earth witches would be in heaven here.

And the witches of Air… the bright blue sky stretched on for miles. Brecan studied it, his eyes catching on every wispy cloud. There were no trees in the yards closest to the palace, but there was plenty of woodland. The palace was a city unto itself, a glittery star in a vast sky. Not even the homes and buildings in surrounding sectors could be seen in the distance.

“Wow,” Mira breathed, scooting closer to the window.

Even Brecan was transfixed. The palace’s scale could not be appreciated from so far away, but as the horses trotted nearer, it seemed to grow taller and expand. Rows of perfect steps swept up to a pair of grand, white doors, taller than ten men.

The driver yelled, “Whoa,” and the horses slowed their pace, then stopped.

Two waiting guards opened the carriage door, and I accepted one of their hands as I climbed down.

Courier Stewart exited next and announced me. “Arriving is Miss Sable, from Sector Thirteen.”

Brecan cleared his throat.

“And her companions,” amended the courier.

Brecan and Mira exited the carriage.

“She travels light,” one of the guards joked, glancing at the pile of trunks on the small platform behind the carriage itself.

I couldn’t help but smile at him. He tugged at his collar and cleared his throat, looking away.

Courier Stewart gestured toward the immense palace door. “If you will allow me to see you inside, Miss Sable.”

“Thank you.”

Brecan and Mira fell in step behind us as we ascended the layers and layers of steps, climbing toward the first floor of the mountainous palace. For a second, I felt like a parcel being delivered. In a way, I was.

“It’s so much bigger than it looks on the telecasts,” Mira said in wonder.

Smartly dressed doormen pulled open the two doors a sliver, which was more than enough for us to comfortably enter. We crossed the threshold and stepped onto a stark white floor, whose mirror finish made me suddenly thankful for Mira and the magical clothes and shoes she’d loaned me. My simple dresses wouldn’t have been enough for the floor, let alone the people contained inside these walls.

“Daughter of Fate,” a familiar, deep voice called out. Goosebumps prickled on my skin as the smooth tone slid over me and my title echoed across the arched ceiling. Prince Tauren strode down the hall, stopping in front of me to offer his hand. I reluctantly shook it, but his grip seized my hand. He brought the back to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss onto my skin. As he did, his golden eyes glanced up to mine. “Thank you for accepting my invitation.”

His eyes flicked meaningfully to the men at his side, one of whom was focusing a camera on the pair of us. Uh… he said something. The invitation, right.

“Thank you for extending it.”

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