by Leigh Walker
To my dismay, he fell into step beside me as we proceeded down the hall. “Miss West,” he said tightly, “is everything all right?”
“Everything’s fine.” I tried to keep my face a smooth mask, even as girls around us looked at me curiously. Just great. I didn’t need any more attention. “Can I help you with something?”
He adjusted his tunic. “I just want to make sure that everything I said this morning was clear, and that you understand your position and your duty to the royal family.”
A million questions dangled on the tip of my tongue, but I remembered what Dallas had said. He’ll be watching your every step.
“Yes, my lord. I’m here to follow the contest rules to the letter. It’s very important to me. I came here to represent my district well.” His eyes briefly locked with mine, both of us thinking of Settlement Four’s other candidate, whose story had gone decidedly off-script.
He nodded formally. “And I appreciate that, Miss West. See you in the salon.”
He walked away, and the girl next to me eyed me worriedly. “Are you all right? Everyone seems to be fussing about.”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
She smiled kindly. “I’m so sorry about what happened to the other girl from your district.”
My shoulders sagged. “Thank you. I’m sorry too.”
The girl held out her hand and shook mine firmly. “I’m Shaye. I’m from Twenty-Four, on the western border.”
“Wow, you traveled far.”
She nodded as we filed into the salon. “We drove non-stop.” She selected a small sofa toward the back and motioned for me to join her. I sank down, relieved that I had someone to sit with.
Shaye arranged her tangerine silk dress around her. She had thick, tawny ringlets that hung halfway down her back, enormous brown eyes, burnished-copper skin, and enviable curves. She was, as my mother would say, a showstopper.
“What did they use for transport?” I asked.
“A bus.” She leaned forward conspiratorially. “They had backup fuel for it onboard, lots of it.”
“Wow.” None of the settlements had access to fuel or vehicles since the war. The Black Guard had taken all of it and made using public transportation mandatory. In our settlement, we walked everywhere. When I went to the market, I pulled a wagon to hold my wares. Traveling great distances was out of the question.
Shaye watched as Tariq stalked to the front of the room. “It’s been an eye-opener, all right, even though I missed what happened last night. Everyone’s talking about it, though. Did the girl…did she make it?” She shivered.
“I’m not sure.” I didn’t want to lie, but I didn’t know what the truth was. Would Eve still be Eve?
Shaye’s face pinched. “It’s so sad. And I have to admit I was surprised. I didn’t know about them. I mean, I didn’t know for sure what they are.”
I sighed. “None of us did. Like you said, this has all been an eye-opener.”
“Some of the other girls said the royals were nocturnal. But the prince escorted you this morning. How does it all work?”
“He said only some of them can’t come out during the day. He can.”
“So strange…” She shook her head then obediently closed her mouth and focused on the royal emissary.
Relieved to be next to someone who followed the rules without making a fuss, I immediately felt guilty. Eve didn’t deserve what she got.
“Ladies.” Tariq paused his pacing long enough to address us. “As you know, there’s been a situation. The royal family and I have discussed it at length, and we are going to be making some updates to the Pageant’s process.”
Everyone started talking at once until he frowned. Silence settled over the crowd. “We will be making the first round of cuts today, first thing this morning.”
Again, the room erupted into worried whispers.
“I can assure you, this has been given very delicate thought. I appreciate your cooperation in this matter. Now, I have a list of names. If I call you, please take a seat at the conference table. I’ll be with you shortly.”
Tariq quickly announced fourteen girls’ names. Each one rose, cheeks flushed, and took a seat at the large table.
Unfortunately, the tall girl with the braids wasn’t among them.
I felt sorry for the girls, some of whom looked close to tears But they were free. Free from this place, free from the vampires, free from pretending to be happy to be here.
“It’s a shame,” Shaye said, breaking my reverie. “They’re going home to nothing, with nothing to show for this, not even a fair chance. I’m sure they’re all disappointed.”
“Maybe they’re relieved.”
“Relieved to go back home and resume starving? I kind of doubt it.” Shaye frowned as one of the girls started crying.
Tariq joined them at the table, speaking softly and offering tissues. Then he pulled out a dossier of documents, which he handed around.
“What do you think those are?” Shaye asked.
A redheaded girl who’d been sitting behind us suddenly leaned forward, putting her face between ours, and making me jump. “Probably some sort of non-disclosure agreement so they don’t rat out the royal family.”
“Huh.” Shaye shrugged. “You’d think the royals would do something nice for them. It’s not as if they don’t have enough to go around.” Her gaze traveled from the gold enamel on the couch’s intricately carved arm to the luxurious Oriental rug and the heavy, elegant drapes that adorned the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“It’ll be nice if they don’t snack on them before they leave,” muttered the redhead.
Shaye and I looked at each other. “Don’t talk to us,” we said in unison.
The girl scowled but moved back into her own seat.
“I don’t know about you,” Shaye said, “but I think we’re already in enough trouble without that sort of talk.”
“I’m in complete agreement.” Relieved that I’d found someone with a similar disposition, I said, “They should do something nice for these girls, I agree. I don’t know if anyone but the winner gets a prize, but it would be lovely if they were given something that could help their families.”
“It would soften the blow.” Shaye shrugged. “Unfortunately, we aren’t in charge.”
A woman in her mid-forties sailed through the door, ending our discussion. She was short and plump but so poised that she seemed six feet tall. She stopped at the front of the room and cleared her throat.
“Girls, I’m Ms. Blakely, and I’m here for your instruction.” She nodded at us over her half-moon spectacles, prim and proper in her nubby off-white skirt suit. “This morning, we are going through sensitivity training. There will be a test afterward, so pay attention.”
The redhead groaned, but Shaye and I didn’t say a word. We just listened.
Ms. Blakely began the lesson, outlining the proper steps when meeting someone for the first time.
“It’s imperative to ask them their name and try to get the pronunciation right, even if it’s difficult. Do you have difficulty pronouncing certain types of names? Well then, try saying them more often! You’d be amazed what you can accomplish when you make other people’s well-being a priority.”
Mrs. Blakely clasped her hands together. “Another thing you might want to consider is making eye contact. If the person you’re speaking with seems open to it, you can shake their hand or reach out and touch them gently. Read the signals they give you.”
She took a step toward us. “We may look different on the outside. We may indeed be from different places, eat different things, and believe in different gods. We might not speak the same or dress the same. But I can assure you, on the inside, we are all more alike than we are different.”
The redhead snorted, but I ignored her. Instead, I listened raptly to the information about how to get along with vampires.
It was a subject I couldn’t afford to fail.
We were given a midmorning break and allowed to t
ake a brief walk on the eastern grounds. I left the salon with Shaye and ran into my guard, whom I hadn’t seen in what felt like days.
He nodded at me. Remembering his admonition not to speak to him, I only nodded in return.
“Your guards will escort you around the grounds,” Tariq announced. “And maids are waiting at the entrance with wraps to wear. Please dress accordingly.”
Shaye’s guard came and stood at attention. We collected our cloaks and went outside, our sentinels following close behind.
Even in the early winter, the eastern garden was astounding. No flowers bloomed, but the meticulously kept grounds were stunning in and of themselves. The green grasses were still lush, and the bushes artfully trimmed. Large, square reflecting pools ran the length of the gardens, reflecting the sky.
“This is gorgeous.” Shaye stopped, breathing in deeply and closed her eyes for a moment. “And it feels so good to be outside. That bus ride lasted forever.”
“What is Settlement Twenty-Four like?” I asked. “Besides far away?”
“It’s lush, like this. We have lots of trees, and it rains often. I live outside the city, and where we are—well, let’s just say it’s pretty rustic.” She laughed. “We don’t have indoor plumbing kind of rustic. The palace is quite a change.”
“Do you live with your family?”
Shaye’s eyes darkened. “My mother and my sisters. My father and brothers enlisted…”
I nodded. “Mine too.” I reached out and squeezed her hand. “We don’t need to talk about it here.”
With a grateful nod, she turned, and we continued down the path. “I was surprised to see how many humans work here.” Shaye kept her voice neutral.
“As was I. I had no idea.”
We reached the edge of the final pool and looped around, heading back toward the palace. From this vantage, the building was even more impressive. Massive, curved windows looked out on the garden, the windows reflecting the beauty and light of the park.
She stopped. “I can’t believe I’m actually here. It’s like I’m dreaming.”
“I know. Can you imagine living like this?” I gestured toward the palace.
Shaye smiled. “Whoever wins will live here. And although a lot of this isn’t ideal, it is the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Chapter 12
The Flash
The doors to the palace opened, and a row of guards marched out, lining up on either side of the path. The prince strode out next, nodding as they saluted.
Shaye and I watched as he made a beeline for Tariq. The two men spoke for a minute, and I increased my pace. I wanted to see if I could catch Dallas’s eye, to speak with him about the contestants who’d been cut.
We got closer, and I noticed the other girls nearby, all watching the prince carefully. There seemed to be a sudden increase in giggling and hair tossing, which made me want to vomit.
Dallas glanced my way, then excused himself from Tariq. “Miss West, why are you frowning again?”
I composed my features even as Shaye’s jaw dropped at his easy familiarity. “I’m not.” I forced myself to smile at him. “May we speak with you for a moment?”
His gaze flicked to Shaye, and he bowed deeply. “You must be Miss Iman. It’s a pleasure make your acquaintance.”
“Your Highness.” Shaye curtsied flawlessly, and I tried not be jealous of her lithe grace.
“What can I do for you?” Dallas seemed back in good humor. He smiled at us winningly, every inch the perfect prize.
“Miss Iman and I were wondering—will the girls who’ve been cut be given anything? Any sort of…separation package?”
He cocked his head. “I don’t know what you mean.”
I clasped my hands together. “It’s just that they’ve come here from nothing, with only high hopes. And now they’re going home without anything to show for it—not even a full week of meals. It would be nice if they received some sort of compensation. A goodwill gesture from the royal family, if you will.”
He nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. “That’s an excellent idea.”
“It was Miss Iman’s, actually.”
Shaye blushed noticeably as Dallas smiled at her. “Thank you, miss. My family and I are working on our outreach and support of the settlements. Insight like this is extremely helpful.”
“Their families will appreciate any help you can give them. The rations aren’t enough for most.” I nodded. “It would go a long way, I imagine.”
Dallas looked surprised. “Do their families suffer?”
I raised my chin. “A good many of them.”
He cursed under his breath then turned on his heel. “I’ll speak with you two later.” He stormed off, Tariq nipping at his heels like a well-kept and demanding chihuahua.
“What was that all about?” Shaye asked. “Have you spoken with His Highness often? He seemed quite familiar with you.”
“We’ve talked before.” I didn’t say more.
“So? Doesn’t he know the conditions of his own kingdom?” She frowned. “He seems a bit clueless.”
“That was interesting, wasn’t it? He seemed genuinely surprised. I don’t know what he knows.” As I watched his broad back retreat, I wondered if certain realities were being kept from the Dark Prince.
After we finished Mrs. Blakely’s test, we took a break for lunch. I was thrilled to have a friend in Shaye. We ate together and sat next to each other throughout the afternoon’s lectures. It was a relief to have an ally, particularly a kind, smart one.
The girls who’d been cut weren’t present during the afternoon class. I wondered if they’d already been sent home.
We were directed to our rooms before dinner. I gladly collapsed onto my bed, enjoying the peace after a long day. The fire crackled, and I sank back against my pillows, my eyelids drooping.
There was a knock at the door. “Miss?” Evangeline’s perky voice chimed. “May we come in?”
“Of course.” I tried to keep the resentment out of my voice. My maids were the best. Plus, maids.
Evangeline, Bria, and Bettina filed in. Bettina made a beeline for me, clucking as she fluffed my hair, smoothed my dress, and pinched my cheeks.
“Ow!”
She grinned at me. “The prince is coming. Stand up, miss! And please don’t say blasphemous things this time. Or faint.” She winked as I rolled my eyes.
“What does he want?” I huffed, but another knock on the door silenced me.
“Yes, Your Highness?” asked Evangeline.
“May I come in?”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
Dallas came through the door, tall and almost painfully handsome in his steel-gray tunic. Still, he had a dark, brooding look, as if he’d been mulling over what Shaye and I had told him all afternoon.
Oh boy. Here we go.
“Evangeline. Bria. Bettina.” He nodded to them, and they curtsied, facing flushing at his use of their names.
His dark eyes flashed to me. “Miss West.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I thought we were on a first name basis at least in private, Dallas.”
Evangeline looked at me, shocked, then quickly composed her features.
He raked a hand through his hair, making it stand up in spiky waves. “I spoke with my advisors about the young women who were cut. We’ve decided to offer each of their families a generous stipend for letting their daughters participate in the contest. Each remaining girl will also be awarded a similar stipend when it’s their time to return home.”
When he told me the amount of money involved, I put a hand over my heart. “That’s very kind.”
He smiled a bit sheepishly. “Is that an acceptable amount for a family? I’m afraid I don’t really have much to compare it to. The Northern monetary system was quite different, and my staff has been assuring me for years that the rations we administered to the settlements were more than generous.”
“They aren’t.” For once, I wasn’t ashamed to sp
eak my mind. He needed to know the truth.
Dallas cursed under his breath.
“But what you’re doing will make an enormous difference in most of our lives. Even those of us who had wealth before the war are running out. Honestly, I can’t thank you enough. I don’t know what to say.” I exhaled shakily, imagining the look on my mother’s face when she learned of the money coming our way.
“Please don’t pass out,” Dallas said cautiously.
“I won’t, I promise. I was just imagining how thrilled my mother will be.”
His face relaxed into a smile, and it was like the sun coming out. “That’s at least one upside of all this.”
“What do you mean?”
The glower returned. “I’m not pleased with my staff’s misrepresentations. I’m replacing several of my advisors. Heads will roll for this.”
I swallowed hard.
Dallas’s shoulders sagged. “Not literal heads, Gwyn.”
“Of course not,” I fake-scoffed.
He rose to go. “You still think I’m a savage.”
“A generous one.” I smiled. “Thank you for what you’ve done.”
He bowed deeply. “I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”
“As do I.”
As I watched him go, I wondered if I’d just broken one of my rules again—and told the truth.
Chapter 13
A Glimmer In The Dark
We had lessons day in and day out. For some ungodly reason, we were doing academic classes—geography, spelling, handwriting, and arithmetic. Later in the week, we’d be learning posture exercises. Tariq kept pestering us to stand up straight. He’d threatened us with six-inch spiked high heels and an obstacle course if we didn’t shape up.
Next week, we’d begin spending more time with the prince, and the Pageant would begin in earnest. For now, it was lessons all day, every day. Tariq said he wanted us in top form for the first televised round of the competition.