Page 85 of A Kingdom so Crimson

The tailor was almost a head shorter than me, with eyes that seemed too big for his narrow face. He was balding, with only a handful of black hair that wrapped around the back of his head, peppered with gray.

He helped me onto the small podium and promptly began taking my measurements, turning me around before he held up an outline of a dress with an air of disdain, poking me purposefully as I wiggled under his hold. He gave Levon a pointed look through his bushy eyebrows, hoping he might exert some influence over me, but only initiating an airy laugh from Levon.

I glanced at myself in the large mirror, remembering the last time I had a fitting. A few years ago, Calum had surprised me with new training attire, which inevitably earned him a few lashes from Jesri for using his money on me. As a result, Jesri threw out all my old training clothes, leaving me with no choice but to train in dresses until the new attire arrived.

"Hold still for just one moment," the tailor said, walking toward a table adorned with several pins, fabrics, frilly things, and lace. I kept my arms out wide, watching him gather items at the table reflected in the mirror.

"Sir Alder," he said, motioning for Levon to join him at the table. Levon gave me a quick wink before standing next to the tailor, towering over him much as Edmon towered over Levon. I stifled a laugh at the sight, eagerly awaiting to see what the tailor would bring over next.

"Eliah?" Levon said, returning to me. The tailor was holding a variety of colors, from dark blues to bright yellows, greens, and inky blacks.

"The tailor, Mr. Illeu, suggests a purple for royalty," Levon stated as the tailor held up a vibrant purple fabric that caught the light beautifully. Levon's eyes gleamed with a different idea. "But I suggest a crimson color for your passion, courage, and strength," he suggested.

The tailor displayed a luscious crimson fabric that almost shimmered in the light. "Perhaps we could also incorporate some complementary colors—gold, perhaps, with touches of white or black?" Mr. Illeu suggested, glancing at Levon, who then turned his questioning eyes to me.

"The crimson," I decided, slowly lowering my aching arms. Mr. Illeu eyed me, and I quickly propped them back up.

"Crimson it is," Mr. Illeu declared, walking back to the table of fabrics.

Levon walked back to my side, his presence comforting. "Red compliments you better," he whispered, sitting back on the sofa with a satisfied smile.

Mr. Illeu returned to my side and moved swiftly, measuring and noting, his hands working expertly with the chosen crimson silk fabric. He finished his last measurements before undoing all the pins and freeing me.

We exchanged thanks with the tailor before heading back to my rooms. The day had progressed well into the afternoon, and a nervous flutter danced in my stomach as I contemplated the challenges ahead. Facing the king, meeting the other contestants, dealing with Jesri and Calum. And then there was the looming prospect of being shown off like a prized horse, hoping desperately that no one in the Onyx Market caught any clues about who the Spellcasters were searching for.

Lost in my worries, I didn't realize I had stopped on the stairwell until Levon placed a comforting hand on my back, stirring me out of my trance. I looked up to see his saddened eyes, reflecting the weight of similar thoughts.

"You can do this, Eliah," he said, his voice carrying reassurance and concern.

I took a calming breath and accepted his outstretched arm, letting him guide me back to my rooms to wash and prepare for tonight. The gravity of the impending events pressed down on me, making each step feel heavier than the last.

We walked in silence until we reached the grand arched door, which seemed to be made for giants.

"I'm required to attend a sponsor meeting here soon, where we will find out more details about this Match. Once I get word Jesri's here, I'll send Aoife up to help you get ready," he said, his voice solemn with a regretful tone as if he wished he could stay by my side. He took my hands, holding them tenderly. "We should keep our distance for now," he apologized. His expression was heavy with sadness as he gently kissed my cheek, his touch lingering for a moment longer before pulling away.

I closed my eyes, trying to hold onto the fleeting moment of comfort, the sensation of his lips against my skin. When I opened them again, all that remained was the echo of his departing footsteps as he left me alone with my thoughts, the weight of his absence settling heavily upon me. With a heavy heart, I pushed open the doors to my chambers, steeling myself for the challenges ahead.

Lunch was laid out on the large table, and an array of small tea sandwiches were surrounded by sides of smothered vegetables, sugared fruits, and an assortment of confections. I sat in silence, mechanically taking bites of food, each morsel a futile attempt to quell the rising tide of anxiety within me. Doubt gnawed at theedges of my mind, leaving me uncertain if I could go through with the Match.

Throughout my life, others have always dictated what I should do and who I would become, but they have never acknowledged my soul.

The flame hidden within me rattled, stunning me to the core and zinging the air around me with electricity that seemed to dance on my fingertips. I sucked in a breath, quieting my anxieties but feeling every nerve ending in my body on edge, pulsating with an intensity that threatened to overwhelm me. I expanded my lungs, inhaling the sweet air, desperately trying to ground myself amidst the tumult of emotions and sensations that surged within me.

As I sat at the table, the amount of food before me only added to my frustration. Without thinking, I seized a bag and hastily filled it with the remaining food. Racing to my trunk, I grabbed another bag and stuffed it with clothes and a soft blanket from the large closet, hoping it wouldn't be missed.

Without a second thought, I slung the bags over my shoulder and stormed out the door, taking the same back stairwell that Levon and I had used the night before. Emerging onto the bustling city streets, I felt a surge of determination coursing through my veins, hoping to remember my steps to find that poor mother. The sun arched in the sky as I navigated through the tangled alleys. I stopped often and distributed food to anyone I encountered, offering warm words and as much comfort as possible.

Finally, I arrived at the small alcove where I had last seen the mother and her children. I found no trace of them besides the remnants of their things and took in my surroundings. A broken chair leaned against the corner, a makeshift shelter fashioned from thick clothing hung from a loose brick to the other side of the small corner, and a scatter of worn clothes, shoes, a rustyplate, and a wooden bucket. Without hesitation, I unloaded the bags, arranged the clothes and blanket within the cloth shelter, and placed the bag of food on the chair. I lingered for several moments longer, wishing she would return, but as I watched the sun dip lower in the sky, reality set back in, knowing what awaited me.

With a heavy heart, I turned away, retracing my steps and passing by those I had given food to, their expressions of gratitude still echoing in my mind. As I reached the final secluded alleyway leading to the castle's edge, I imagined the mother's face upon discovering the clothes, blanket, and food. A pang of longing tugged at my heart, and I wished I could see her again, learn her name, and offer support.

My thoughts drifted back to the present, to the daunting reality of what was transpiring with my fate in all this madness.

I sighed, listening to my boots scrape against the stone when my vision began to blur right as an oily darkness washed over me like a crashing wave, engulfing me in its suffocating embrace and pulling me deeper and deeper into a pressurized abyss.

I felt my muscles tensing and convulsing, unable to lift my hand as my legs gave out, and I fell to the ground with a sharp jolt that sent a wave of pain shooting through my left shoulder. Memories began to blur and rush past, fleeting and fragmented, each a painful reminder of my tortured past.

Agony erupted in my head, washing over me with so much pressure, worming its way through the ruts of my mind. Darkness scraped at my vision as I fought against it, feeling a sizzling fire within me recoil and squirm under its oily touch. I tried to scream but was consumed and plunged into a realm where I was no longer in control.

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