I glanced at him, but he kept staring at the entertainers. How did you know I could feel his emotions?
You are an empath, and empaths feel other people’s emotions. What is the son of Llyr feeling right now?
He’s angry about something. When his eyes narrowed on Gavyn, I wondered whether I should have said that. We should feed him before he starts having thoughts like the woman next to him. She keeps imagining feeding on the entertainers.
Lord Valafar smiled. Most Nosferatus drink blood from the living—humans, minions, and animals—but they prefer humans.
I studied the woman. She was pretty, but fragile-looking. She’s a Nosferatu?
One of the few pure ones left. Her name is Iyana and seated to her right is Gabreel, her husband and the head of the House of Nosferatu.
The husband had the same smooth, marble-like complexion like his wife. He needs to use the bathroom.
Lord Valafar laughed out loud, drawing everyone’s attention. I’d never heard him laugh before. Since his eyes were on the contortionists on the floor, one would think he found the performers entertaining.
You are excused, my friend, I overheard him say.
Lord Gabreel teleported and came back a few minutes later. He tilted his head toward me and smiled. Thank you, Princess.
My gaze returned to Gavyn and caught him watching me again. I smiled.
He looked away. Either he didn’t like me, or something about me bothered him. Laughter from the audience drew my attention back to the floor, where a group of actors was having a mock battle.
Winged warriors battled those in black uniforms with red belts and cloaks. Black and red were colors I now associated with my people. Somehow, I knew this was a reenactment of the Great Battle. The winged people were presumably Archangels, except the entertainers’ wings had no feathers. Siding with them were men and women in white uniforms with broad, self-righteous grins on their faces. Guardians. They strutted and appeared to be showing off.
Boos filled the hall.
Then a flame-haired girl in a flowing white dress appeared and the room grew quiet. She walked past the Guardians and the Hermonites alike, a dagger with a wavy blade in her hand. The Guardians cowered in fear while the Hermonites followed her, until she faced the biggest archangel, a blond with massive wings.
“I dare you to fight me, Archangel Raphael,” she called out.
“You are nothing but a child. You can’t fight me. I am the mighty Archangel Raphael.” He flipped back his perfect blond hair, his wings lifting behind him.
More boos came from the audience.
“You underestimate me, Raphael,” the girl said, then she ran forward, dodging the archangel’s sword, flipping and teleporting until she landed behind him. In one smooth, continuous arc, she hacked off his wings. She raised her dagger in victory as the archangel fell to his knees.
Cheers filled the hall as the archangel lay dead at her feet. A chant rose in the air. At first, I wasn’t sure I was hearing right.
“Lilith… Lilith…”
The redhead was me? I glanced at my father. He grinned, his focus on the actors. Solange, on the other hand, watched me. Something in her eyes sent a chill through me. Then she winked, and I wondered if I’d imagined the hatred in her eyes.
“I curse you, Lilith, daughter of Lord Valafar,” the archangel whispered. “You shall not remember the day you defeated me, the mighty Archangel Raphael.” Lightning shot from his fingers and hit the girl.
Silence filled the room.
The archangel splayed his fingers and blasted everyone on the battlefield. “No one shall remember my humiliation.” Then he disappeared.
The audience jumped to their feet, clapping and chanting my name again. My face grew red. If everyone who fought in the Great Battle had their memories erased, how did they know I fought the archangel and defeated him?
-4-
The woman who’d welcomed people stood again and the arena went quiet. “That was a beautiful reenactment of the Great Battle. Now let’s feast.”
One by one, the audience members teleported and left the upper-level Hermonites behind. None of them was my age except Solange and the silver-haired guy, who was keeping his distance from me like I had cooties. Father led the way into the dining hall. The tables were laden with platters of food, fruit, drinks, and sweets.
My assigned seat was next to Father and Lord Gabreel.
“I know you don’t remember me, Princess Lilith,” he said, “but I was with you in the battlegrounds before the Archangels appeared. You saved quite a number of us that night, including my wife.”
I frowned, a bit confused. I was a prisoner of the Guardians at the time, yet I’d saved some of my people. I must have hated the Guardians to work against them.
“I wish I remembered that night.”
He smiled, his elongated canines sparkling. “I’m sure you will. You fought with my daughter.” He glanced around. “Her name is Lottius. Maybe you’ve seen her at the Academy.”
“I haven’t started at the Academy yet, Lord Gabreel.”
“Then you two must meet. Ah, here they are.”
The new arrivals were younger, dressed in trendy designer clothes I’d seen in human magazines. I wasn’t sure whose attention Lord Gabreel was trying to get, but the younger generation appeared not to want to share tables with their parents. They sat to our far right and left, and continued with their animated conversations.
I wished I was seated with them.
“You can meet Lottie later. Ah, you’re back, my dear,” Lord Gabreel added with obvious relief.
His wife had disappeared from the hall a few minutes before. There was a bit of blood at the corner of her mouth, which she wiped with a napkin.
“I was telling Lilith about the Great Battle and how she rescued us.”
“Oh, you saved my life, Princess.” She patted my hand, then reached for her glass of wine and sipped. “In fact, quite a number of us in here”—she glanced around the hall—“owe you a debt of gratitude.”
“Could you tell me more about that night?” I asked.
“I don’t know where to begin.” She jerked as though prodded and glanced around. “I mean, I wasn’t there long enough and didn’t see much.” One again, she glanced over my shoulder. “Do eat your soup before it gets cold, dear.”
It was obvious she didn’t want to discuss that day. I glanced over my shoulder to see who she’d glanced at, and my eyes connected with Sir Malax. He was by the doors as though personally guarding them, even though guards were posted around the room.
Had she been looking at him? Could he be the reason she’d lost interest in talking about that night? Maybe I was reading too much into the woman’s behavior. Maybe she’d decided the subject wasn’t right for a dinner conversation.
I couldn’t believe I’d looked forward to this. Dinner was boring. Most people used telepathy to converse. Platters of fruit and food floated to the table without spills, and bottles of wine refilled glasses without making a mess. Even used plates and utensils disappeared as soon as they’d served their purpose. Tired of watching what appeared to be natural to everyone, I studied the others.
Across from me, on Lord Valafar’s right, was Solange. She and Gavyn were having a heated conversation about some club. From the sound of it, it was one of his and he was thinking of expanding within the same sector while she thought he could move to the next one.
I tried to catch his eye with little success, so I studied him. He was determined not to look at me. The few times our gazes connected, he stared blankly at me or scowled. I managed to tap into his feelings. He didn’t like me. In fact, I’d go as far as say he hated me. He probably thought I shouldn’t be here or I was a spy for the Guardians.
Well, he could rot in Tartarus. I was finally home. He and everyone else who hated me had better accept it.
Lady Iyana appeared beside me when we left the dining hall for the arena. With her were two girls around my age. The one with g
ray eyes, pale skin, and black hair looked just like Lady Iyana. Her lipstick was dark red, almost black, and her makeup dramatic. Her black dress matched the choker around her neck.
The other girl was her opposite—short and curvy with medium-brown hair, and amber eyes. Her makeup was subtle. She was exceptional pretty, with Cupid’s-bow lips and dimples.
“This is my daughter, Lottius,” Lady Iyana said, indicating the pale girl, then she touched the brunette’s arm, “and my niece Katia. Gabreel insisted you meet since you’ll be going to the Academy together. Get to know each other,” she said with a warning look at her daughter. “Lottie, be nice, dear, and show Princess Lilith a good time. Don’t do anything that will disappoint your father, okay?”
Lottius rolled her eyes. “Yes, Mother.”
“That’s my darling.” Lady Iyana patted Lottius’s cheek and walked away, leaving the three of us alone.
“When are you starting at the Academy, Princess Lilith?” Katia whispered, amber eyes sparkling with excitement.
“I don’t know. Please, call me Lil…” I faltered and frowned. “Lilith.”
Katia stared at me with round eyes, then she glanced at Lottius, and then back at me. “Uh, I don’t think we can do that. You are the princess and we are…we just can’t.” She glanced at Lottius again. “Right?”
“She said we can,” Lottius said impatiently.
Katia still didn’t look convinced. “There are laws, and your sister always says—”
“I’m not Solange. I want us to be friends, so please treat me like you’d treat one of your friends.”
“She smothers them and drives them crazy with her incessant chatter and do-good projects,” Lottius said in a bored voice.
“Shut up, Lottie.” Katia focused on me, her expression hopeful. “Are you sure, Princess? Because once given, you can’t take it back.”
She was funny and sweet. “Yes. I’d really like for us to be friends.”
“You’ll want to take that back before the night is through,” Lottius warned.
Katia ignored her. “Then it’s an honor to be friends with you, Prin… Lilith.” She pressed her hands together and giggled. “Oh, we’re going to have so much fun together. I’ll let you in on a little secret, Lilith. Everyone is dying to meet you.”
“Don’t you mean all the boys are dying to suck up to her to get in good graces with Lord Valafar?” Lottius asked. “Boys are such idiots. Everyone knows the king will choose your mate when you turn eighteen, and it’s not going to be some wide-eyed young teenager with acne.”
“No, that’s not what I mean and you know it, Ms. Glass Half-Empty,” Katia snapped, and scrunched her face. “I apologize for my cousin. She tends to be difficult.”
“What do you mean, choose my mate?” I asked.
Katia glared at her cousin. “She has no idea what she’s talking about. You should never repeat rumors, Lottie. It is so improper.”
“Improper?” Lottie asked, and laughed.
“Rumors?” I repeated at the same time.
Katia ignored Lottie. “Yes, rumors. No one will force you to marry some old lord. Your father is not Queen Coronis. If you fall in love—”
“I’m gagging on your sweetness already, Katia, and it’s only nine o’clock,” Lottius said, making a face. She glanced at me, her expression hard. “Princess, I tell it as it is. One, I hate being told what to do. Two, bowing to royalty is a major pet peeve of mine. Three, if my bluntness is a problem, the same goes. I’ll leave. If not, I’ll help you escape this nightmare of a celebration.”
“Great! Let’s go,” I said.
She glanced at Katia and sighed. “Oh, and your arranged marriage is just a rumor.”
But rumors had to start from somewhere. I planned to find out where. “Where are we going?”
“The rides,” Katia said. “The entire castle grounds and the park near the waterfalls are packed with gaming booths.”
I nodded. “Sounds good.”
“No, we’re going to Lord Zhane’s club at the mall,” Lottius corrected.
“There’s a mall on the island?” I asked.
Lottius made a face. “Sort of.”
“Sort of? It’s a strip mall of shops, clubs, and restaurants that circles the island from the west, up the north shores, to the east,” Katia explained. “It has everything you could possibly need—fashion, electronic gadgets, foods from around the world, candy shops, cafes, gaming stores…”
“The best part is you can’t see the shops from the castle and the castle can’t see you,” Lottius piped in. “I hate the idea of being watched all the time.”
I frowned. “We are?”
“Oh, yes. The top floor of the castle is Sir Malax’s spy glass.” Lottius shuddered.
“Security and surveillance crystals,” Katia corrected.
“Spy glass,” Lottius retorted. “Even humans have more freedom than us.”
“But we are safer,” Katia cut in.
Lottie made a face. “We defeated the Guardians and the Archangels. We shouldn’t be watching over our shoulders 24/7.”
“We are not having this argument here,” Katia said. “And I don’t think Lilith can leave until the celebrations are over. We can play games on the grounds or go on rides.”
“The games are childish and the rides boring,” Lottius retorted.
“Get out of your funk, Lottie.” She wrapped a hand around Lottius’s arm and the other around mine. “You are making us look bad in front of Lilith. Besides, she’s okay with going on the rides.”
Lottius glowered.
Katia smiled sweetly back at her.
“Fine,” Lottius said. “But keep the children away from me.”
“Lottie pretends she’s all tough, but she’s a total softy on the inside,” Katia whispered, but I was sure Lottius heard. “She can’t stand to see anyone suffer. Do you need to ask Sir Malax’s permission before we leave?”
Lottius groaned. “Why should she? She’s the princess. She can do whatever she wants.”
Unfortunately, Sir Malax was watching us with narrowed eyes. Beside him stood Lady Nemea. She’d been seated behind my chair during the first half of the entertainment and kept an eye on me from her table during dinner.
Father was having a serious telepathic conversation with some lord in the middle of the room, but he looked up and found us. He studied Lottius and Katia intently, as though trying to remember who they were, then smiled and nodded as though giving his approval. I smiled back. Solange was with her two friends and a bunch of guys who kept glancing our way.
“You see that woman by the door?” I indicated with my head.
“Lady Sour Face?” Lottius asked. “She gives me the willies.”
“Everyone gives you the willies,” Katia said. “Yes, we know who she is. Lady Nemea. She is very close to Lord…I mean, your father. She used to be his nanny.”
I laughed. “Really? She looks younger than him.”
“She’s much older,” Katia said. “She’s nice.”
“Everyone is nice to you. They don’t know how manipulative you are,” Lottius added with a mocking grin. “Just because you do it with a smile doesn’t make you any less…annoying. Are we going or what?”
“First, let Princess…I mean, let Lilith speak. She was about to tell us something about Lady Nemea,” Katia said firmly, then flashed a smile my way.
I liked these two. They were different, yet complemented each other. “Can we lose her?”
Lottius chuckled. “Now you’re speaking my language.”
Katia frowned. “Are you sure, Lilith? We don’t want you getting in trouble.”
“Live a little, Katia,” Lottius snapped.
We walked across the room, skirting around men and women who bowed and quickly stepped out of our way. Being a princess had its perks. They weren’t so accommodating to Lady Nemea. We reached the outside, where rows of tables were packed with food and drinks. People were everywhere, eating, talking, and l
aughing. The ones who noticed us stopped and stared, then switched to telepathy, but I heard them anyway. Maybe I shouldn’t leave the castle grounds if people were this scared of me.
The gazebo, a familiar voice whispered in my head. Green Eyes. I’d recognize his voice anywhere.
Thanks. “Let’s go to the gazebo,” I said.
“Great! We can teleport to the gaming tents from there,” Lottius said.
“I thought you said the games were childish,” Katia reminded her.
“That was to shut you up.” Lottius didn’t even crack a smile.
I glanced over my shoulder to see Lady Nemea and several guards burst through the castle entrance. She searched around frantically. Forget about the people and their attitude; this was the most fun I’d had since I regained consciousness.
“Let’s go,” I whispered.
Lottius followed my glance and grinned. It was obvious she thrived on breaking rules, while the more level-headed Katia tried to keep her in check.
We teleported and reappeared behind the gazebo, bumping against each other, laughing and giggling.
“Next time, we teleport one at a time or hold hands,” Lottius whispered.
“It’s going to be fun having you around,” Katia said, squeezing my arm. “I can’t wait for you to start at the Academy.”
“Ah, ladies. She’s coming this way,” a voice said from above us and we looked up. It was Green Eyes.
“Thank you,” I said.
He bowed, his eyes twinkling, dimples flashing on both of his cheeks this time. “Any time, my princess.”
Was he mocking me or flirting?
“Hold hands,” Lottie ordered. She grabbed my hand and Katia’s. “I’ll choose our destination.”
We teleported and reappeared behind a secluded tent at the edge of the field. Behind us, the base of a mountain ridge rose sharply. To the right were terraces with swimming pools, slides, and tubes. In front of us were tents and booths. To our left were giant rides with more screaming thrill-seekers. Crystals on poles lit up the night, and voices, not telepathic ones, real voices filled the air with laughter and squeals of delight.
“You need to cover your hair or everyone will recognize you,” Katia said.
Forgotten (Guardian Legacy Book 3) Page 6