Page 28 of Scars and Burns

I stand looking straight ahead. Head held high. Hands together behind me. While Saphrina seems more timid. On edge. She’s got one foot on the ground and the other is teetering behind her. The toe of her shoe balances on the ground. She has one arm down in front of her and the other crossed over her torso. Hand clasped around the opposite elbow.

He shuts the door, walking over to his desk, and takes a seat. He motions for us to sit. We look at each other and both take a seat atthe same time.

It’s clear he has something important to say. He glances between the two of us a few times. His fingers intertwined under his chin. As he rests his elbows on his desk, he says, “I know Dinalia is already aware of this but last night during the raid we lost your Mother.”

I tuck my lips between my teeth. Holding back my tears. I let my rage slip last night when I found her. Threatening the King’s life for thinking he had been the one who killed her. He just glared down at me, said no, and walked away. I collapsed next to her dead body after that. Letting a few tears fall down my face as I made my apology for not protecting her. For not being enough. I released a blast of my magic in aggression. The room caught fire. I quickly put the flames out not wanting to burn the castle down even more.

I feel Saphrina look over at me. Eyes wide open in shock. Saphrina and Mother weren’t estranged but they weren’t close either. Just distant. She was put up on a pedestal since the day she was born. That never really sat well with our Mother. Along with the fact that King Elio was entirely too overbearing of her. Tracking all of her lessons and progress. Barely even giving Mother a chance to bond with her. But Saphrina knew how close Mother and I were. Knew the bond we shared. Jealous of it. Probably even resented me for it. Which is why she’s always been a little cross with me.

I just look at King Elio. His eyes meet mine but give nothing away. Neither of us speak. Only Saphrina, “So… so what are we going to do? How did the Shadowlings even get in? Why did they attack us? How are we going to get back at them?”

King Elio gives a small smile. Amused by Saphrina’s naivety. “Saphrina, this isn’t as simple as you think. We can’t simply… get back… at the Shadowlands, as you put it. King Perseus is ruthless. Deadly. His shadow magic is not to be underestimated. And his son is becomingeven worse.”

His son. He has been mentioned before. That night the bargain was struck with King Charon of the Celestial Realm. He was only nine then and already making a name for himself. I wonder if he was here last night.

Saphrina slumps back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. “Okay, so what do we do?”

King Elio’s smile gets even wider. Leaning back in his chair, he says, “You wed Prince Proteus.”

She sits up straighter in her chair. ”Really? But I’m only two and ten.”

“You will not wed him right away. Not until you are of age. These next years, we will prepare you to wed him. You will learn what it is to rule a Kingdom, to be a wife.”

At that I raise a brow. My Mother told me the duty of being a wife when I came of age. The deed that needs to be done to produce children for their husbands. The men tend to enjoy it more than we do. More of a choir for us to complete. The intimacy that can come with the action of making children. But my Mother also discussed with me the pleasures of being a woman. Explaining the complexity of our bodies. I smile to myself. Is King Elio going to discuss that with Saphrina too?

“You will also start magic training with Dinalia.” King Elio says.

We both sit up a bit straighter. Why would King Elio want me to train Saphrina in magic?

Saphrina scrunches her face, “Why?” Clear annoyance in her voice. The feeling is mutual.

King Elio slaps his hands down flat on the desk. Standing, “Because I said so Saphrina. Your Mother was a powerful magic wielder and she never taught you a thing, while teaching Dinalia everything. Your magic is about to change and you will need someone close and discrete to teach you.”

“Discrete?” I cut in, “Why would she need someone discrete? How is her magic about to change?”

King Elio glares at me and I return it with just as much venom. I kept quiet and composed all these years for my Mother’s sake. For all she’s done for me but she’s not here anymore. And if King Elio wants to get into it then let the turmoil unravel.

I know Saphrina’s magic has not progressed the way he has expected. I know much more than he realizes.

“You will train her and teach her everything you know. And in return you may stay here.”

I grip the arms of my chair. I’m tempted to tell him to go screw himself. Why would I want to stay here anyway? But even if I left, where would I go? I have nothing. No family to go find. No home to return to.

I relax, sighing, “Very well”

Saphrina glances between the two of us. “Uh, don’t I get a say in this?”

We both avert our gaze at the same time to her. “No,” King Elio says matter of factly, “You both may go. I have funeral matters to tend to.”

We stand, bowing simultaneously. I turn and exit the room first. I hear Saphrina start to speak but quickly changes her mind. Following me out of the room.

“Dinalia!” I hear her call after me. Her footsteps increase as she tries to catch up to me. “Dinalia, please!”

I sigh, slowing my pace. She’s a little out of breath by the time she does catch up to me. “Thank you” she says, still trying to match my pace.

I don’t even look down at her. Still intent on leaving the castle. “We will start tomorrow at dawn.”

She gasps, “Dawn! Why so early?”

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