Page 16 of Scalebound

A large banister wrapped around the entire front area, leading down to the ballroom, where hundreds of people danced and swayed to hand-strung music by the most experienced musicians in the kingdom. Everyone was smiling, laughing, clapping, and merrily drinking their wine.

The scribe that we ran into grabbed Cora’s hand and kissed it. “How would you like me to introduce you, Miss Coraline?” I sucked in my breath, realizing that the scribe called out everyone’s names, introducing them as they walked down the steps. Fear and panic arose in my chest as I obviously could not go by my own name. No one knew that I was alive and shouldn’t.

“Miss Coraline, the king’s ward, is perfect, Mr. Deetry.” She bowed, and her eyes twinkled as she did so. Wow. I felt so inferior. She was a natural at being the king’s ward and knewthis man by name. A moment of jealousy stung my heart as I realized she had everything I wanted–almost.

“Miss Coraline, the king’s ward!” he shouted across the banquet hall. He did it so loudly that I flinched.

She immediately grasped her hands along the railing and peacefully made her way down, her purple dress flowing behind her elegantly. Half the ballroom's eyes made their way to her as she gracefully descended, one step at a time, with one hand on the rail and the other charmingly waving to the people, claiming her title.

The scribe turned to me, the wave of his sea-blue hair jiggling with the movement, waiting for me to state what I would like to be called. I paused. An audible “uhhhh” escaped my mouth as my mind stopped working.

“MissLaneux1.” My voice shook as I lied, barely able to get it out fast enough before it became suspicious. I didn’t think I would have to come up with a fake name, and the only name I could think of was the dragonLaneuxthat Tobias slaughtered for this party to happen tonight.

The scribe called my fake name out loudly, and for a moment, I forgot its purpose, motioning me to walk down the stairs.

Mr. Deetry stared at me and then looked to the stairs, almost ushering me with his eyes. I took one hesitant step and slowly started to descend from the staircase. As I began to step down, one golden-heeled foot at a time, I could feel the entire room’s eyes on me.

Looking up, I realized that it wasn’t just a feeling; everyone’s eyes were staring at me. Even the band stopped playing, and everyone watched me as I slowly went down the staircase, reaching the main floor of the ballroom.

Was everyone looking at me because I didn’t fit in? Could they see right through me? Were my eyes gold for some reason? Whatif they knew what and who I was? Insecurities started to blast through me, locking up my confidence for the night.

I reached the bottom, and instantly, Tobias rushed toward me as the band began to play again, everyone falling back into their drunken stupor. “MissLaneux, was it?” he said in a question, lifting the corner of his mouth upward, his eyes making impeccable contact with mine. I, on the other hand, was not here to flirt and did not want any form of his attention.

I had enough of it when I was sixteen and foolish. The thought of his face alone was disgusting to me.

He then reached for my hand, lifted it to his parted lips, and kissed the top of it.

I didn’t know what to say for fear of him recognizing my voice. It was every night for three years that we would stay up late talking. I knew he would recognize the sound of it the moment I spoke.

Nodding, I pulled back my hand, rushing to the edge of the room where Cora was standing, drinking some mixed cocktail. Tobias was dumbfounded as I abandoned him in place, confused at why I had left so early in our conversation.

People were drunkenly dancing or swaying side to side, staring up at the ceiling, almost waiting for something exciting to happen. The bar was crowded, overwhelmed with people grabbing more drinks to take with them back on the dance floor.

When I reached her, she pulled me into the shadows where we wouldn’t be seen beneath the large banister from above. “Did you see the way that Tobias was looking at you? He didn’t even recognize you!” She laughed through her words, not even believing it herself.

“I am not here to flirt, Cora,” I reminded her, thinking of our past. I glanced around the crowded ballroom, which resumed dancing and playing the orchestra of sounds, noticing the vibrations of the hums ricocheting off the walls.

“Yeah, but it doesn’t hurt,” she said through her teeth as she sipped through the straw of her violet bubbly drink.

“Who do you think has the map?” I asked, looking around at each person, wondering if I could see anything suspicious. Everyone was only holding their drinks or their partners as they pranced along the floor. I didn’t see one person holding any type of scroll or paper.

“I don’t see anything,” she said, winking at a waiter who approached us, a silver platter displayed in his hands, holding fruit tarts that were drizzled with honey. She plucked one for me and one for her as it met her lips. “Looks like you’re going to have to be social to figure it out.” She grinned, elbowing my ribs as she faced her body to a group of fashionable young admirers, glancing in our direction.

“Do you think anyone would recognize my voice?” I worried, watching as Cora effortlessly flashed a brilliant smile their way with a small wave.

“No, I barely recognize you!” Cora exclaimed, rolling her eyes, turning back to face my way. After taking the final sip of her drink, she motioned me to follow her to the bar. “Come on, let’s get a drink in your hand and get you socializing. It would probably look more suspicious if you were to stand by me all night. Let’s split up and see what we can find.” I was grateful to Cora for helping me find this map. I had no idea what I would do without her. Sighing, I attempted to release some tension on my shoulders.

Walking around the large room slowly, I took in the ambiance that enveloped around me, reaching the bar that filled the right of the ballroom. Curtains and banners flooded the walls, hugging the glass windows that covered the back leading to the garden.

We reached the black slick counter of the bar. A man wearing a tuxedo with a bright pink vest matching the coral color of hishair shook a metal container in his hand. The ice rattled when effortlessly the flap of the lid opened, pouring velvet red fluid in tall intricate glasses that he handed to a couple next to us.

A rag near the counter was found in his hand, rubbing the splotches on the clean glasses away, his deep blue eyes glancing our way to take our orders. He had to be older with how his face had matured with a few lines of weathered experience, his square jaw, and crooked smile.

“Two Warped Dials, please,” Cora said. Pivoting on his heel, he turned to create the concoctions behind him, utilizing the wall filled with syrups, drinks, and fruits lined neatly along it. I had only had a Warped Dial drink once at my mother’s birthday celebratory dinner months ago.

Within a few moments, the man whipped back around, handing us both glass cups with a sparkling dark purple liquid. A few bumble fruits were topped along the front with a straw sticking out. Cora snatched hers, leaving her other empty glass as the man swiftly picked it up and hid it behind the counter like it had never been there.

A few sips of the Warped Dial, and my taste buds shot right up. It was sweet, tart, and bubbly. “I wish I had a bar up in my tower,” I whispered to Cora, and she responded with a laugh.

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