by s. Behr
When I emerged from the bathroom, I saw Ameli had come and gone, the only trace of her was my perfectly tidy room and my outfit for the day hanging on a hook next to my closet, all of the accessories laid out on the table beside it.
“That lady is very efficient,” Hailey said with approval.
My bracelet chimed, and a message arrived stating that I was to do my own hair for the day. It was punctuated with the command that a ponytail was not acceptable.
“Ameli’s still mad,” I informed Hailey. “She knows it takes me twice as long to coif my hair, and this is her way of punishing me.” Looking at the extremely formal dress Ameli had chosen, I groaned when I saw the corset that hung just behind it. “Really mad.”
I did my best to pull my hair into a braided bun, and Hailey approved with two and a half stars. “Out of a 4-star rating, it is better than average. Bravo.” She clapped.
I gave up and moved on to getting dressed. Walking over to the dressing panel, I wrapped the corset around me. Tucking the strings into the slot, I entered in long term wear, and the wheels began to spin, pulling the corset shut, cutting off circulation below my waist and making the ability to breathe difficult. My ribs felt like they were on the verge of rebreaking when I pushed the panic button.
“Blooms!” I muttered after sucking in a few breaths. “I think she recalibrated the settings.”
The question of breakfast was settled by the time I finished dressing. Nothing else was going to fit into this dress. The fabric was a tight linen press that didn’t allow much movement, not for scratching an itch or eating.
After struggling through several attempts at putting on my shoes, I finally settled on not fastening the final straps. “Remind me Hailey, next time, shoes first.”
Finally ready, I stared in the mirror, noticing for the first time that my bruising was gone. The only remaining sign of my injuries was a tiny scar on my right cheek.
“I guess that’s it. Ready or not, it’s time to go,” I said to Hailey, as I put her under my pillow next to Jane.
My com pinged, announcing, Healer River. Puzzled, I said, “Granted.”
The door opened, and the pleasant ginger-haired man walked into my room. “Good morning, Your Highness. Forgive me for coming so early, but your mother insisted.” His face was placid, and I saw the cup of chocolate in his hands.
“I understand. Thank you.” My stomach lurched at the sight of the cup. I took it from him; it was a simple, small mug of thick chocolate, no embellishments or hints of fruit. The simplicity unexpectedly hurt, but quashing the feelings into the lining of the corset, I took one sip and set it down on my side table.
Healer River gave me a forlorn look. “My apologies, but she also insisted that I stay and confirm that you drank it all.”
I felt my chest tighten, but I did choose to accept this mission. Nauseated, I retrieved the cup and gulped its contents down. The chocolate I had once loved now tasted like oil sliding down my throat, coating my insides with disgust.
“Your Highness,” Healer River dipped his chin.
“Thank you,” I said, with a small jerk of my chin.
As he stepped back, he peered into my cup and confirmed that it was empty. “Of course. You’re welcome, Your Highness. Have a good morning and a splendid day.”
“You as well,” I said, feeling the pressure of the chocolate, swirling around my stomach, making my clothes feel even more constricting. As he turned and exited my bracelet chimed.
“Twigs. I’m going to be late.”
From under the pillow, Hailey’s muffled voice scolded, “Language.”
Hailey was not happy about being left behind, but I couldn’t fit her in this outfit, and until I could transfer her to my old bracelet, we had no alternatives.
“Thanks,” I tossed back, eyeing my bed as I hurried out the door and to the lift. I took the private elevator to the grand ballroom. This floor had the largest set of terraces of the seven towers. Large platforms spread out like wings in all four directions. I arrived at the northern terrace two minutes later.
Staying as quiet and unobtrusive as possible, I took my place next to my parents. None of us spoke a word, not even a good morning or hello. My chin dipped in a curt nod before I turned away to focus as a royal hover of the Portla Realm carrying their King’s Court opened and its passengers began to disembark. The guards were the first to emerge, dressed in a similar fashion to ours, except for the turquoise colors of their breastplates, the Aldrich House symbol, and crest of the Portla Realm on their shoulders.
King Vale’s skin was a shade that reminded me of glaciers on a bright, cloudless day. His hair was almost translucent, making it appear as if it changed colors as it blew in the breeze. His wife, however, was a great scandal when they first married. Until then, Portla Realm had been the only one of the three ocean realms that had yet to have an inter-realm marriage, priding itself for being “pure.” Her Royal Highness Queen Consort Ashla Aldrich had creamy skin and mahogany brown curly hair swept into intricate braids. She was a highly skilled transporter having once been a princess of Ico. Although she was not officially part of the Council of Kings and Queens, as a former princess and the wife of the King, we were still obligated to address her with a royal title.
“Your Majesty,” my father said as he greeted Queen Ashla. “King Vale, Princess Nyssa, Prince Gage. Welcome to Neyr.” My father turned. “May I present Queen Eva, who you know, and our daughter, Princess Violet.”
I dipped into a small curtsy, hoping I wouldn’t fall over, then stood and pulled my lips into what I prayed was a convincing smile.
King Vale was thin and willowy, and as he approached me, I noticed the faint scaling along his skin. When he shook my hand, it was smooth, almost like water. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Princess Violet. My wife,” he said, waving to his queen, “has been eager to meet you as well.”
Queen Ashla kissed me on the cheek warmly and smiled. “What a sight you are. Just beautiful. With eyes like those someone might mistake you for being from Blue Mountain.”
Surprisingly, I found a genuine smile to return. “Thank you. I have always loved the name of your Capital.” It was a name that dated back to ancient times and was perfectly suited for their biosphere. I had never been there, but every news feed I had seen of the city made it seem like a magical azure mountain encased in a delicate bubble. In reality, the bubble was a thick layer of polycarbonate blend that had a name so long I couldn’t pronounce it.
King Vale turned to his son. “Princess Violet, may I present Prince Gage.”
Prince Gage had creamy skin like his mother, and though I knew there were places with air to breathe within the ocean biospheres for visitors, I wondered how much they had to change in their palace to accommodate their queen, and at first glance, their son.
“How do you do?” he said smoothly.
“Very well, thank you. I hope your journey was not long.” I took his hand, noticing the faint scales on his skin that gave him the same silky texture as his father. So I was wrong; he probably can breathe underwater.
Next, I was presented with Princess Nyssa, who on the other hand, took after her father. Similar colors, similar build, and facial structure, the only difference being she had her mother’s dark hair. I could picture her swimming in the deep ocean, the long flowing locks behind her.
“Gage was shriveling in the hover,” his sister teased. “Hello, I am Nyssa, Fellow Princess, it is splashing to meet you,” Princess Nyssa beamed, practically knocking over her brother to take his place.
We exchanged small curtsies, and I replied, “I’m sorry to hear that. I would be happy to take you both down to the marina at Heart’s Cove. It’s a hidden jewel of a border town, and is close by.”
“That sounds wonderful,” King Vale clapped.
“After you get settled in, ring Captain Rall to escort you all,” my mother said, looking relieved. My late-night session with Hailey was paying off. I had made it through my fir
st task without a scene.
After an extremely light lunch, I was finally freed from my shackles. I kicked the corset across the room and put on my beach attire.
“How did it go?” Hailey’s muffled voice came from behind Jane, who sat perched on a pillow covering the tablet.
Pulling the tablet from its hiding spot, I answered. “So far, so good. I have to take this set to the beach.”
“A day at the beach? I am so sorry.” Hailey grimaced. I couldn’t tell if she was kidding or not when she added, “All that sand and water, it would be a disaster with this outfit.”
I looked at my sandals, my white swimsuit, and the light summer dress that ended just below my knees in the front but bellowed into a tail in the back. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing? It was on the list of approved clothing that Ameli sent me.”
Hailey raised an eyebrow. “Not you, Your Highness. Me. In this tablet, there would be no coming back from a day at the beach.” She waved her arms around. I knew she was impatient for me to figure out how to transfer her, but with my schedule, I was having trouble finding the time to even search for a person who could make that bit of technological magic happen.
“Well, then I guess you’ll be happy to stay here with Jane.” I rubbed the fox’s overly full belly. Jane had nearly doubled her weight in the four days since I returned home. I was starting to worry that she was beyond irreversible spoiling.
“Keep an eye on her,” I told Hailey. “She’s going to explode soon if we don’t keep Ameli from feeding her like she’s a guard dog.”
“That fox is crazy.” Hailey folded her arms. “Not like. Is.”
“She’s a baby.” I laughed as Jane nibbled my finger.
“She keeps chewing on my hardware.” Hailey pointed to a corner of the tablet where I saw scrapes resembling teeth marks.
“Jane, don’t hurt Hailey before we can get her out of here,” I told the kit, but her head turned side to side as if she was trying but failing to understand.
“I can put you in the drawer,” I suggested to Hailey.
“It’s too quiet in there, just put me under the covers.” I did as she asked, and as I walked to the door, I heard Hailey scolding Jane as a pillow or two fell to the floor.
Leaving the two of them to work it out, I met Gage and Nyssa at the sixtieth-floor hover bay with Rall. We boarded the craft, and the pair of siblings talked the entire way to the coast. All I had to do was nod or agree. They both appeared happy enough to let me keep my mouth shut, which was both a relief and annoying at the same time. Ten minutes later, we landed just outside the marina beach.
Gage whistled. “Look at that water.” He smiled. “That’s what I’m talking about!” He jogged down the beach and dove head first into the water with his clothes on.
I stared after him, and his sister laughed. “We won’t see him for an hour.”
I tried to find him in the sprinkle of swimmers who were not ocean born. Then I realized he likely would not need to surface for the entire hour.
“Oh, shells. Let’s see what they have over there.” Nyssa giggled as she pulled me toward the tiny village.
The center of town was comprised of little more than a couple of dozen shops and places for refreshments, run by a fair mix of people from both villages in this marina, Hearts Cove of Neyr and Pelham, which was the Maie biosphere under the water on the far side of the Harbor.
“Your Highness, Princess Violet!” I heard my name squealed as a little girl with deep blue skin and dark black hair ran up to me, her arms wide open.
I laughed as she tackled me in a hug. “Raya! How is your catfish?” I asked when she let me come up for air.
“Sparkles is huge! He keeps eating all the minnows that swim by. He ate a whole school in one sitting.” She shook her tiny head.
“I have a similar problem at home.” I told the little girl all about Jane. She held my hand as we walked to the hut her family owned that sold jewelry handcrafted by Raya’s parents.
“Ah, Your Royal Highness.” Raya’s father, Colin, beamed as he bowed. “So good of you to stop by. She isn’t bothering you, is she?” he asked as Raya pouted.
“Not possible,” I said, as I tickled her chin.
The little girl giggled for a full minute, then her attention fell on Nyssa. “You aren’t from around here. But I like your scales.”
I gasped. “My apologies. May I present Her Royal Highness, Princess Nyssa of Portla’s King’s Court.”
“Your Highness.” The two Maiers bowed expertly.
“Please, it’s not necessary.” Nyssa smiled with a sideways glance at me. “I was really hoping to get away from all of that this week,” she added with a fluttering wave of her fingers. We all stared at her. “No offense, but it’s not often I get to go out without someone making a fuss. You know how it is, right, Violet?”
Raya and her father looked almost ill when Nyssa called me by my name. I didn’t understand what she meant because I had never really spent much time around other courts.
But Raya had a look of worry that made my concern for Nyssa’s well-being evaporate as I knelt down to the little girl. “You know someday when my parents retire, that is all anyone will call me,” I said brightly.
The girl’s soft blue lips spread into a grin. “No, Your Highness, that is not true. One day everyone will call you Queen Violet.” She grinned, adding, “I know it.”
“Do you?” I asked with a strained smile. I took small breaths, each placing a new brick in the wall of armor around my heart.
Colin hugged his daughter. “Raya! It isn’t polite to speculate.”
“I am not, Daddy! I know it.” She beamed.
Colin picked Raya up and gathered her in his arms. “We should let the princesses have their afternoon. Come, let’s go get lunch.” He jerked his chin with a hearty grin. “Smooth sailing this afternoon, Your Highnesses. As always, it is a pleasure to see you, Princess Violet, and nice to meet you.” He nodded and gave a wave to Nyssa and me.
When they were well down the path, Nyssa turned to me and said, “That was close. I really do want a few quiet hours. It’s so hard to always look happy and pleased with everyone, even if all I want to do is swim away. Oh, look at these.”
A sapphire spun on its chain that in the right sparkle of light, the shape matched the marina, and the colors were nearly identical to the water in the harbor. I couldn’t shake the idea I had seen it somewhere else before. Maybe on a cloudless day, maybe in a painting.
Nyssa continued talking about the jewelry displayed in Colin’s hut, but I barely heard her as my thoughts were too full of what Raya had said. I knew Colin well enough to know something was off and that there was more Raya had wanted to say than what her father allowed. As I thought of the little girl, I wondered. I may have been the first with new and unseen emerging abilities, but no one ever said anything about me being the last.
As the sun set on an afternoon of swimming and listening to Nyssa gossip about the other courts, her brother finally resurfaced with a splash. Nyssa squealed and threw sand at her brother as he pulled me up to shield him. For my cooperation, I got a fistful of sand squarely in the face.
Nyssa’s fingers flew to her lips. “Oh, shells, I am sorry,” she cried.
I looked at Gage, and even though I barely knew him, he nodded and said, “This means war.”
Gage held his sister hostage, as he said, “Throw a good sand ball!”
I wasn’t sure if this was part of my duties, but I picked up a handful of sand and threw it in her direction.
“You can do better than that, Violet!” He laughed as Nyssa kicked him off, then chased us both into the water. After a while, the three of us were the last to remain on the beach. The sun had turned the sky to every shade of pink, purple, and blue with billowy clouds as far as the eye could see.
When we collapsed on the beach, Nyssa gasped. “Is that Prince Leo?” My heart thudded at the sound of his name while her voice went dreamy. She narrowed her
eyes. “Who’s he with?”
“That’s the Ice Princess, Camelia,” Gage said, disinterested.
Sitting up we all turned in same the direction Nyssa faced, but I didn’t spot Prince Leo until the red-haired beauty next to him came out of the shadows of a shop, and they continued down the walkway, laughing and talking.
“Let’s go say hi,” Nyssa said, pulling Gage to his feet. Within seconds a teleporter appeared in their unique way that always looked like magic to me.
“Oh, look! It’s Crest!” Nyssa added.
“Oh, um...” Twigs. I could not face Prince Leo, not yet, maybe not ever. And certainly not in front of the media. “I um…”
“Come on Vi,” Gage coaxed, the two of them already halfway there. My face bloomed with heat, and as I stood looking for an escape, Rall came to my rescue as he stopped to talk with Leo just as Nyssa and Gage bounded up to the Phoenix Prince and Cana Princess.
As Rall made his way to me, I pulled my day dress back over my swimsuit. “Princess Violet, I am to take you back to the Palace at once. Prince Leo has been kind enough to agree to take the others back in his hover. Are you ready?” he asked with a knowing smile.
“Yes, thanks.” I waved at the group who hardly seemed to notice me leaving. Rall’s pace matched mine, and when we reached the hover, and I was safely on my way home, I thought maybe I hadn’t left the coward behind in the cave the day I rescued Jane. A piece of that princess was alive and well in my pounding heart.
By the end of the second day of my official duties as Princess of Neyr, I flung myself into bed relieved the day was over.
“Tell me what happened,” Hailey insisted as I pulled the covers over my head.
“Can’t it wait until morning?” I sighed as Jane pushed her way under the pillows, and her nose bumped mine.
“No.”
“Please, save me from this relentless A.I.,” I practically screamed at my inner voice which was still behind an impenetrable wall. When I first woke up, I thought that it had to do with how weak I was, or maybe something they did to me while I was unconscious. But after the tribunal, I was convinced my mother’s serum had everything to do with his silence. There were three days when I was unconscious, there was no telling what she could have done to me in that time. Maybe I didn’t convince my mother as well as I thought I had, and if anyone was capable of ‘fixing me’ it would be her. Still, out of habit, I found myself talking to that empty space, just in case.