Page 6 of The Beginning
However, since her cousin—who was very much a witch himself—had successfully run for Governor and won, Mother's attention had turned to bigger things in the human world.Very big things, with implications that made my stomach churn when I thought about them too deeply.
Calyx had told me that whenever Mother thought she was alone, she would hum "Hail to the Chief" under her breath, a dreamy look in her eyes.I could only imagine what grandiose political fantasies were dancing through her head, and the thought made me shudder.Since she didn't think much of non-magical people—viewing them as lesser beings to be managed and used rather than served—the idea that she could hold public office and have any responsibility for, and power over, regular humans was genuinely scary.Her lack of empathy and casual cruelty were bad enough when confined to our family.Unleashing that on the general public seemed like a recipe for disaster.
Regardless of her being completely unfit to care for others in any capacity, Mother pushed on with her political ambitions.Hence the party tonight, which was clearly all about plotting out her future in human politics, making connections and laying groundwork for whatever office she had her sights set on.It was ridiculous to me, and, in my opinion, it was also potentially dangerous.
I asked Calyx again if she wanted to spend the night at my apartment, but she'd insisted that I come and hang out with her instead.
"For a change," Calyx had said, and there was something in her voice—something heavier than normal that made this request feel different somehow.A weight that suggested this wasn't just about my birthday or wanting to spend time together.
Like it had been a hard time for her recently.The thought sent a chill through me.Was Mother starting to turn against my sister now too?Had Calyx somehow fallen from grace, or was she simply getting old enough to see the family dynamics more clearly?
My sister hadn't said anything specific, but then again, Calyx didn't complain about our family the way I did.She'd been raised to see the best in people, to smooth over conflicts rather than confront them.If Mother had started treating her differently, Calyx might not even recognize it as a problem, or she might be trying to handle it on her own rather than worry me.
I shook off the feeling, not wanting to borrow trouble.Maybe I was just reading too much into her tone, projecting my own issues onto her perfectly reasonable request.
"Okay," I said finally, giving in to the inevitable."But I'm coming in the servant's entrance, and I don't want to be around Mother or her party.I don't care who's there or how important they think they are."
Calyx clapped her hands, the sound carrying clearly through the phone, bright with genuine joy."Deal!I'll order Chinese and we can bingeCharmedfrom the first season and eat cake until we fall asleep.It will be like old times.We won't even have to be near the party or guests, or anything political or horrible."
The enthusiasm in her voice was infectious, and I found myself smiling despite everything."Okay, let me pack some things and I'll be there soon.I'll text when I arrive.Wait for me at the side door."I was going to avoid every other person in that house if I could possibly manage it, especially Mother and her political cronies.
At least I'd have Calyx, and cake, and the comforting predictability of nostalgic supernatural television.For one night, maybe I could pretend we were just normal sisters having a normal birthday celebration, away from all the complications that came with being Blaines.
Chapter Two
Eamonn
The Fae Realm
* * *
My mother said I was born under luck.That shortly after I was born, it was prophesied that I would be lucky.Not moments where I'd be lucky until this or that point in time, but my entire life.A series of fortunate events occurred that allowed me to be acknowledged far and wide as a child who would live a luck-filled life, or so my mother said.Repeatedly.She'd spoken of stars aligning and favorable omens, though I'd never put much stock in such things myself.The events of my life seemed anything but lucky… betrayal after betrayal plagued me from the moment I had my first friend.
I couldn’t think of a single connection I had that hadn’t unraveled in the face of a stab in the back.My mother would counter that luck wasn’t shown from those events, but rather was proved in how impervious I was to the aftermath.She likened me to a cat that always landed on its feet.
My current assignment notwithstanding.
There had been groans of sympathy in the Guardroom when the commander relayed our orders to Gavin and me.My partner and fellow King’s Guardsman, was also my best friend.Indeed, he was the first person in my life, aside from my parents, who proved his loyalty over and again.Since we had grown up together as little boys, Gavin was a beacon of friendship in an otherwise untrustworthy world.
This morning’s orders found us escorting a noblewoman to be sent off for marriage.As King’s Guards we were deployed in all manner of duties, but direct work with the lords and ladies of the court was the least desirable.Courtiers made everything more difficult, and though we were the king’s instruments, we did not hold a position of power over the nobles.
This fact made my job all the more distasteful, as we dragged the Lady Annaliese to what she clearly felt was her doom.All I could hear was her tormented sobs, making me wince with each harsh, jagged cry and desperate gasp that seemed to come from the very depths of her soul.The sound echoed off the stone walls of the corridor, amplifying her anguish.
I averted my eyes, facing forward, choosing to focus on the long corridor ahead.The tapestries that lined the walls depicted scenes of courtly romance and noble marriages, their bright threads now seeming to mock our current situation.Almost there, we were almost there.I focused on the sound of my boots on the stone floor, the familiar rhythm of military movement that had been drilled into me during training.I wished that was all I could hear as the three of us–me, the Lady, and, Gavin, walked.
The corridor stretched before us, lined with tall windows that cast long rectangles of afternoon light across the polished stone.I was well-trained, capable of handling all situations.My instructors had drilled that into me during the grueling months of preparation for the King's Guard.But I could feel my heart beating faster, a sure sign of trouble.My pulse hammered against my ribs like a caged bird desperate for freedom.
But trouble from where?
I scanned the familiar hallways, searching for any sign of what might be causing this inexplicable dread.The lady’s crying put me even more on edge, each sob like a discordant note in a symphony of sadness.This should have been a routine task; no major concerns, but it didn't feel that way.
"Eamonn, why are you doing this?"Lady Annaliese stopped her crying long enough to send some guilt in my direction.Her voice was raw from weeping, hoarse and broken, yet still carrying the refined accent of her noble upbringing.
I didn't even know she knew my name.I was a King's Guard, true, but Lady Annaliese was a member of the court, with an important father and now, an equally important betrothed.Her father was Lord Aldric, one of the king's most trusted advisors, a man whose word carried weight in matters of state and policy.To her, I was nothing.
Or so I thought.
We inhabited different worlds within these same castle walls—she in the realm of silk gowns and political intrigue, I in the world of steel and unwavering duty.
