by Nina Walker
Finally, King Richard swept into the room, his energy bigger than anyone else’s here. The buzzing conversation quieted instantly and the silence that hung in the air became thick and stifling. He sat in the big chair that was between the loveseats, the center of the action, brushed off his collar, and rolled his shoulders in his heavy navy sweater.
“Let’s get started.”
“I can’t believe I got so lucky,” Lucas said, pulling me in close and leaning over to kiss my forehead. He lingered for a moment, and his scent filled me, making this pretense easier than it should have been. I grinned and snuggled closer.
“Yes,” I said to the camera. “We’re very lucky it all worked out.”
I turned back to Richard who’d been conducting the interview. “Thank you again for accepting me into your family. I hope I can make your son happy.”
“You already do,” Richard replied, smiling at me for a long moment.
“Well, then,” he continued, breaking the eye contact and returning his attention to the main camera. There were two more on either side, and spotlights behind those that reflected in our eyes. “As much as we all enjoy a good love story, I think it’s time we get to what everyone is most excited about: color alchemy.”
He shifted and focused on Callie and Lily who sat patiently on the other loveseat. The cameras followed.
“Our first exhibition featured some of our best male alchemists, of course the ones who aren’t off winning the war.” The spectators laughed accordingly. “In our second, I’d like to introduce you to some of our best female alchemists.”
Callie blushed deeply at the compliment, her eyes lighting with the praise. As far as I knew, she’d always been treated like the others. And actually, she wasn’t sent out to the war because she said she wasn’t a good enough fighter. Maybe being chosen for the exhibition was a great honor to her. Or maybe there was something else going on.
I watched her carefully, looking for a break, but there was nothing. The way she smiled openly, the gleam in her eyes, her upright position on the couch, they all indicated that she was genuinely excited to be here. And that made me question again why she’d sought me out before to inquire about joining the Resistance. I wanted her to be my real friend. But was she just a stand in for Reed? Another lackey sent by Faulk to spy on me?
“This is Lily,” Richard said, motioning to the women. “And this is Callie.”
They nodded at the camera.
“Now Lily, let’s start with you. Will you tell us what color you specialize in?”
“Purple. Or some may call it lavender. Violet. Lilac. Plum. Amethyst.” Her voice tapered off as she thought. “Periwinkle,” she added.
Richard laughed. “Well, I’m sure our viewers at home get the picture. Will you show us what you can do with it?”
“Of course,” she said. “Whose future would you like me to read?”
“Why don’t you read mine,” he said.
She nodded, reaching for the purple stone that hung around her neck. A second later the color floated in the air, a cloud of sparkling hues, and then drifted into the top of the King’s head and then her own.
“There will be more assassination attempts on you in the coming weeks,” she said, her voice darker now. “But you will survive them all. You will be the victor.”
Richard nodded, eyes heavy on her. “Thank you. Anything else you feel would be beneficial for us to know right now?”
I suspected that she was holding back. Or possibly, she was lying.
It was the look in her eyes. They didn’t have that same faraway gaze she’d had when she’d done my reading. Not to mention, she was much more direct with her words and not as confusing. And this kind of magic had a way of twisting words, leaving too much to the imagination.
“You will make more progress in the war,” she said. “But it won’t end quite as soon as you have been planning.”
“Thank you,” Richard replied.
He raised his eyebrows at the camera. “Lily doesn’t always get her predictions correct as the future is fluid and not set in stone, but she’s been right about a lot of things.” His voice became deep, certain. “It’s been helpful for our planning. Now, I know it sounds like this war is going to get more dangerous than we expected, but in the end, we will prevail.”
Everyone nodded encouragingly, even me. Not that I agreed or knew Lily to be telling the truth, but because of the watchful eyes of the cameras.
Are they going to show telepathy with purple? But my question was answered for me when Richard turned on Callie next.
“And Callie. Tell us, what is your magic?”
She faltered for a moment. “Um–orange, yellow, green, and a little bit of blue.”
“We saw green and yellow at last exhibition,” he said. “Why don’t you show us some blue and orange?”
“Okay,” she said. “Which one first?”
She blinked rapidly, like she was fighting back an avalanche of nerves. Her eyes flicked around and she briefly made eye contact with me. I nodded my approval. You can do this, Callie. I knew she couldn’t hear me as I wasn’t using magic, but I hoped our friendship connection would be enough. Just relax. She nodded back before beaming a bright smile on the King.
“Let’s start with blue.”
He addressed the camera again. “Blue is very useful. One of its uses is for listening in from far away. Right now we have someone outside, about forty feet away from the lodge. There’s a camera with them as well. They’re going to say something at a normal volume, and Callie here is going to relay the message back to us, here, in this room.” He paused to let the explanation sink in as his eyes traveled from one audience member to the next. “Callie, has anyone coached you on who that person is or what they’re going to say?”
“Oh no!” Her eyes were as wide as saucers. “I would never cheat.” Even if she was going to cheat, nobody would suspect it with the innocent look on her face. Maybe that’s why Richard had chosen her? She was just so sweet, opposite of the ruthless Dax of the first exhibition.
“Of course you wouldn’t cheat.” Richard laughed. “Let’s get started, shall we?”
She nodded, and an officer quickly handed her a blue flower, stepping off-camera. She held it in her hands, and the magic twirled out of the petals in a tiny blue stream. It bounced around her and then formed a cone shape before entering her ears.
I bit my lip, wondering what this meant for our friendship. She’d never told me that she was a blue alchemist. Reed was, and look how that had turned out?
There was a moment of silence while she closed her eyes in concentration. “They’re repeating two words: progress and order.” Her eyes popped open. “Is that right?”
Richard smiled. “That is right. Good job, Callie. The camera outside will now confirm it for us.”
The spectators applauded lightly, just the right amount for this intimate gathering. They sat in three neat rows of chairs along the back wall, a mix of alchemists, officers, and Richard’s favored family. As I watched them, I knew that although Callie might not have been coached, they had been. I scratched my lip, trying hide the smirk.
“Progress and order,” Richard said, “that’s exactly why we’re doing these exhibitions and showing the world what we’re made of here in New Colony.”
More applause.
“Now let’s move on to orange,” Richard said. “It’s a much more common color for our alchemists to be able to perform.”
“It enhances emotions,” Callie said, shifting excitedly in her seat. Next to her, Lily almost looked bored. “But only if they’re already feeling it. It’s great at parties! We have a lot of those at the palace.” She giggled, appearing again as the perfect picture of sweet youth and wide-eyed innocence.
I studied the way the crowd looked at her. They were enamored. No wonder Richard had chosen Callie for this job. It was a brilliant move by an expert strategist.
“Would you say you’re treated well as an alchemist?�
� Richard asked. “Are you happy at the palace?”
“Oh, very well,” she gushed, her cheeks turning rosy. “We all love it at the palace. We get our own bedrooms and plenty to eat. We get to learn about our magic, help other people, and have a great time together. We’re a family. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
And there it was. If anyone at home was wondering if their long-lost children were happy, they had their answer, straight out of Callie’s pretty mouth.
Okay. Callie had been coached. She was a happy girl, sure, but I’d never seen her quite this excited about anything. And I did think she missed her real family, it was the same vibe I got from a lot of the alchemists.
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, waiting for whatever was coming next. Lucas gently squeezed my hand. I met his eyes, and he stared back, his expression guarded. Something lifted for a moment, and I saw a vulnerable pain there I’d only seen when talking about his mother’s death. I wanted to reach out and bottle it up, hide it away so he’d never have to feel it again. But then his eyes darkened, and he looked away.
“I’m pleased to hear you’re happy here,” Richard continued.
“Thank you, Your Royal Highness,” Callie replied. “It’s an honor to be part of it all.”
He chuckled. “Well, all right, let’s get on with the orange alchemy, shall we?”
She stood eagerly as an orange orchid was passed into her hands. She lifted it to her nose and smelled it, then leaned back with a wide grin and looked out to the small crowd of observers. “I need a couple volunteers, please,” she said. She shifted toward me and Lucas. “Unless you two would like to volunteer?”
Lucas stiffened. My eyes probably looked like they were about ready to pop out of my head. If our feelings got enhanced, we might not be able to put on this charade any longer. After his behavior last night, I knew he was mad at me. And I was still angry with him. There would always be something between us, but it didn’t feel like love anymore. It was tainted.
Richard laughed, swooping in to save us from the embarrassment. “Oh, I don’t think we need to guess what those two are feeling, nor should we enhance it. There’s been enough public displays of affection from those two lately.”
The crowd snickered.
“Don’t be shy.” He flicked a wrist toward the audience. A few brave souls raised their hands to volunteer.
“How about you?” He pointed to a young woman who had most definitely not raised her hand: Celia. Her face flooded with color as she shook her head and sank deeper into her chair.
“Don’t be scared, we don’t bite,” he teased. After another moment of hesitation, and a nudge from her mother, she stood and strode toward us.
“As you can see,” Richard said, “this is Celia Addington, my son’s first fiancé. I already admitted my mistake in pushing two young people together who, it turned out, didn’t have romantic feelings for each other. Luckily for everyone involved, we’re all still friends, aren’t we, Celia?”
By now he was standing next to Celia, draping one arm laboriously over her petite shoulders. Her mouth twisted ever so slightly, skin turning paler than usual. Her ill expression cleared quickly, however, as she turned to the camera with a demure smile. “Of course,” she purred. “My family is happy to serve in whatever capacity is best for New Colony.”
“Considering who your parents are, The Duke and Duchess Addington, I’m not surprised by your loyalty. Though, I am grateful.” He squeezed her shoulders once and stepped away, sweeping his arm wide. “Callie will give you a little boost with this orange and I’m going to ask you a few questions. Whatever emotions you’re feeling will be clear to the audience. Should be easy enough.”
I gripped Lucas’s hand. This was bad. And cruel. I wasn’t her biggest fan, but even I wouldn’t subject her to this. How was she supposed to save face with orange magic working against her?
Callie made quick work of the orange alchemy as she teased it from the beautiful orchid. It flowed elegantly from the flower and into Celia, seeping into her skin before disappearing. Immediately, her body tensed, becoming much more guarded than she was before. Gone was her cool exterior and in its place was an insecure woman with shifting eyes. She wrung out her hands nervously as she waited for Richard’s questions.
“How do you really feel about Lucas’s and Jessa’s engagement?”
I stilled, holding my breath.
Orange magic didn’t make her say anything, but it did make her feel it, and enough would have her talking.
“I feel good about it,” Celia hissed. Her expression darkened considerably, mouth turning down and eyes thinning into angry slits.
“Again, I’m sorry for my haste in setting up the match,” Richard said, acting the part of the admonished and regretful man. “Did you get hurt by what happened?”
Still standing, her knees began to wobble as she looked at the floor.
“It’s okay,” he pushed.
Tears fell down her face as she turned to look at Lucas. I stood, wanting to end this, but Lucas tugged at my hand, holding me back. “Don’t,” he whispered in my ear. “Don’t interfere with Richard. You’ll only make it worse.”
“More,” Richard motioned to Callie.
Celia’s parents were no longer sitting either. They glowered from the back row of spectators, eyes wide with undeniable fury. Mine would be too if it was my daughter made to cry on a national broadcast! But trained guards and Royal Officers surrounded them. I watched as Mark eyed the people around him, tense. He knew, as well as anybody, that he’d have to wait and see how this played out.
Callie hadn’t moved. The magic swirled around her, ready, but she held it at bay, her mouth open in a small pout.
“More!” Richard barked, no longer caring to appear polite. Callie’s hesitation vanished. The orange magic twirled through the air. It fell upon Celia quickly, like a drop of food coloring seeping into the exposed skin of her arm. She broke down into sobs.
“Tell us,” Richard said, resting a hand on her back in feigned comfort. “Let it out. I promise, nobody will judge you.”
“It’s not what you think,” Celia gasped between sobs. “It wasn’t as if we loved each other. I’m just so…embarrassed.”
Her cries continued.
“And whose fault is that?” Richard asked.
Celia looked at me again. “It’s Jessa’s fault. She took him. I offered to share but she wanted him all to herself,” she sobbed. “And Lucas. He didn’t even try to care about me. He never gave me a chance.”
Lucas and I grasped onto each other, motionless and chastised.
Slowly, Celia’s sobs relaxed and her demeanor became filled with something else: anger. She whipped her head around, hair flying in an arc, and glared at me.
“More.” Richard motioned to Callie. When she didn’t move, he said it again, louder, and she jumped into action. The magic once again went to Celia.
I stepped closer, wanting to stop this. It was wrong. Celia didn’t deserve this. Whatever she was feeling, it wasn’t right to enhance it this much and embarrass her further.
“Whose fault is it, did you say?” Richard asked again.
“Jessa’s fault,” Celia growled. She glared at me, hatred seething in her eyes. Her face contorted as she watched Lucas pull me closer against him.
“I’m so sorry,” I replied, my voice cracking. Guilt ripped at me. “Nobody ever meant for you to get hurt. It wasn’t your fault, just bad timing.”
“More,” Richard said.
The magic shot through the air. The moment it hit Celia, she pounced.
One second, she was across the room, and the next on top of me. My head bounced against the floor with a sickening crack and she clawed into me, screaming profanities. Lucas grabbed at her waist, pulling her off.
“Stop!” I gasped. She had a fist locked onto my hair and wasn’t letting go. Pain ripped through my scalp. I yelped, my vision blurring. Instinct kicked in, and I fought back, grabbing at her wrists.<
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She was up now, in Lucas’s arms, and guards were swarming, but she wouldn’t let go of my hair. I was half up and half on the ground, trying to get free. The pain burned, shocking me, as she yanked and yanked.
“You’re a monster. A home wrecker!”
Reaching up, my nails dug into her wrists. I recognized the wet slick of her blood. I called to my magic. It only took a second. The red danced between us and then it was exactly where I needed it.
“Stop,” I yelled. “Get off me!”
She did. She stepped back, all the emotion clearing from her face. It was a complete 180, one second she’d wanted to hurt me, the next she barely even cared about me or about anyone else. She slumped against Lucas and stared at the floor.
“Go to your room and clean yourself up, forget this ever happened,” I ordered. I turned from her and assessed the damage she’d inflicted on me. There were a few small cuts on my arms but overall, I looked okay. It was my scalp that hurt. I needed something green…
When I looked up to make sure Celia was long gone, my heart raced in my chest. The room was silent. Everyone watched me, their faces confused and shocked. A few shook their heads. A few smiled knowingly. And that stupid camera was right in my face!
I closed my eyes for a second, counting down from five. Then I spun on Richard. “What did you just do?” I was careful to keep my voice down.
“That got out of hand.” He raised his hands in protest. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay, Jessa?”
“I’m fine.” I gritted my teeth. Then I took a deep breath. “I just feel bad for Celia. She didn’t deserve that.”
“But she attacked you,” Richard pressed.
“Only because of the orange alchemy.” I sighed and found my place back on the couch. Lucas joined, looking for wounds while I canvased the room.
What just happened?