Ember (2 page)

“It’s wonderful to finally meet the daughter of Finnian.” His tangerine eyes sparkled under the moonlight.

“Evan’s been serving by your family’s side for generations.”

“Oh.”

Evan’s radiant eyes softened. He didn’t look his age. His face wasn’t young, but he didn’t look hundreds of years old either. Though I could see the years he’d lived in his eyes, so wise and experienced, he didn’t seem more than fifty years old. “You come from a very influential family, my dear. It’s good to see the line did not end with your uncle.”

I gave him an appreciative smile. “Thank you, sir.”

“Oh, no need for those types of formalities with me, Your Majesty. Please call me Evan.”

I nodded. “Okay. Thank you, Evan.”

“Evan,” Declan interjected. “I think our Queen would like to be shown to her room.”

“Of course.” Evan stepped aside, dropping his head as we passed. “Have a good evening, Your Highness. I look forward to serving you and seeing you crowned tomorrow.”

I waved meekly. “It was nice to meet you, Evan.”

“Likewise.”

I trailed behind Declan as he guided me through the halls. Strands of greenery snuck up the inside of the stone and tree trunk structured walls. Lantern lights flickered. I paused, watching the fireflies flit about inside the glass.

“Calliope,” Declan prompted. “It’s really not customary for me to be leading the way here.”

“It’s not like I know where I’m going,” I retorted.

“True.” He chuckled. “But, I would feel better if you would at least walk by my side.”

As we walked, his arm brushed mine. I was grateful for his comforting company in this foreign place. He was the one thing that made me feel like I could eventually call this home.

The halls were dim, only illuminated by the moonlight that shone through the windows and firefly lanterns. Once we reached a wooden spiral staircase, he took my hand. “Your room is this way.” He led me up behind him, keeping my fingers secure between his.

We passed a couple doors before Declan stopped in front of one and opened it, letting me pass before him. Light from the night sky cascaded into the room from the windows on the far wall. A queen-sized four-poster bed was nestled in the right corner. Vines dotted in pearly blue flowers curtained around the white bark bedposts.

Declan squeezed my hand before letting it go and set my bag down inside the door.

“This will be your bedroom. The washroom is through that arch,” he said, pointing to a vined archway on the left side of the room.

“It’s beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like it.” I felt his eyes on me as I surveyed the room. “I think I’ll let you sleep. You have a long day ahead of you; dawn will be here before you know it.”

I turned to him. “You’ll come get me in the morning, right?”

A subtle smile grew on his face and his aqua eyes lit up warmly. “If that’s what you would like.”

“Please.”

He nodded and bowed out of the room. “Goodnight, My Queen.”

I made a face, but didn’t correct him. “Night, Declan.”

The door closed and silence blanketed the room. It suddenly dawned on me that I was truly all by myself in this unfamiliar nature-filled room. I’d never really been alone before. I wouldn’t be saying goodnight to my parents. And though I’d seen them a few hours ago, I had never felt more alone in my life.

There was a nightgown lying across the foot of the bed. It looked a lot more comfortable than the tank top and flannel pajama bottoms I brought, but I needed the comfort of something that belonged to me—something that tied me to home. After I put my familiar pajamas on, I crawled under the cream blanket below the branches and flowers. I already knew it was going to be a long night trying to fall asleep in a new place. I heard nothing but the sound of crickets and rustling leaves outside my window. I waited several hours for sleep to take me as the same thoughts circulated through my mind.

Faylinn is my home now.

This is my kingdom.

Chapter Two

I
groggily woke up the next morning to shuffling feet. My body shifted between soft sheets and billowy pillows, nestling deeper into the softness. I did not want to wake up. I was much too comfortable and warm to get out of bed. Was it really time to get up? It couldn’t be time for school yet. I nearly felt sick to my stomach from my lack of sleep.

A subtle feeling crept over my body like I was being watched. When I pried my eyes open, I jolted and pulled my covers up tightly. Hovering over me were two sets of eyes, one vividly emerald and the other bright fuchsia. Both sets were accompanied by large grins. The smiles were meant to be friendly, but after only maybe three hours of sleep, they did not come across that way.

“Oh, Your Majesty,” the one with emerald eyes said. “I’m so glad you’re finally awake. It’s time to get you ready!”

“Dawn is approaching!” the other with fuchsia eyes exclaimed.

I blinked.
What the…

The disorienting feeling was beginning to wear off as I was reminded of my location…my life now. As I slowly sat up, they stepped back,
thankfully
, giving me back my personal space.

“Umm…hi,” I said cautiously.

Fuchsia bowed, her faint green wings waving behind her. “I’m Adelaide.”

Emerald made the same gesture. “I’m Evette, and we’re at your service to help prepare you for your Dawning.”

“Oh.”
Umm…
“Really. I’m okay. I think I can get myself ready.”

Their warm glowing faces dropped, making me feel one hundred percent lousy.
Crap.
“I suppose if you wanted to help me with my hair that would be nice. Or first, show me the way to a bathroom.”

“Yes, yes. Your washroom is just this way, Your Highness.” Evette held out her hand for me to take and helped me out of bed. She linked her arm through mine and escorted me to the arched doorway Declan had shown me last night. Patches of ivy crawled the inside of a corner wall while traces of tiny white flowers peeked from the ground at the base of the sink. At least that’s what it looked like. A tree trunk held up a large wooden bowl.

“Is it normal for plants to grow inside?”

Adelaide giggled. “My dear queen, nature grows all around us. Why put a stop to such beauty?”

“But how does it grow without water or sunlight?”

“We have our way with helping nature grow. We have the power to nurture it without the help of the elements, Your Majesty.”

The ground wasn’t covered in soil. It was lined with wide twigs, essentially wood flooring. The sound of trickling water peaked my interest. I was in desperate need of a shower. I looked over to the corner where Evette had started what must have been the shower. I couldn’t figure out where the water was coming from. Water streamed from a circle in the ceiling, but there was no showerhead or pipes. The water simply appeared as if a rain cloud hovered above.

“How?”

Evette smiled kindly. “It seems you still have much to learn, Your Grace.”

I couldn’t handle the formalities anymore. “Will you please call me Calliope?”

Their eyes flitted from me to one another, uncertain of how to proceed.

“At least until I get used to all of this. It’s a big change for me and I can’t bear to have you calling me something that makes me feel as if I’m supposed to be superior to you. I’m not. I promise you I’m not. I’m just like you.”

They both looked uneasy, but nodded. “If that is what you would like, I believe Adelaide and I could agree to your terms.”

“I would really appreciate it.”

They smiled and directed me to the shower. Their hands began to pull at my tank top and bottoms before I realized how much they were willing to help. I stepped hastily away. “I can do this part, too. When I’m done with my shower I’ll let you know.”

Their faces contorted, clearly confused and slightly offended. “Yes, your—” Evette cleared her throat. “Calliope, we will be in your chamber.”

My chamber?

“Okay. Thank you.”

Clearly, I was going to have to learn a whole new vocabulary if I was going to stay here. And I was. This was my home now. Faylinn was my home. Maybe if I kept repeating it in my head it would start to feel like the truth.

Before I stepped into the shower, I realized my dilemma. There were no doors or curtains. No privacy if someone was to walk in, which was definitely probable if I knew Evette and Adelaide at all. The archway back to my room didn’t have a door either. Did faeries not believe in privacy or personal space? I sighed and figured it was time for me to simply deal with it. Stepping under the water, steam immediately clouded around me, warming the space. Cameron would have flipped. I could hear him in my head now.
How did it know I was here?
Though the steam had solved my first problem of the day, I knew it was only the first of many.

When I appeared in the bathroom archway wrapped in a cream robe I’d found hanging on the wall, Evette and Adelaide didn’t waste any time with my appearance. Their speedy little hands got to work. Evette focused on my hair while Adelaide began on my face.

“It’s very important that you look perfect today,” Adelaide said, brushing some sort of soft bristles across my face. “This is a day you will remember for the rest of you life.”

“How many Dawnings have you been to?” I asked.

“Yours will be my third.” She smiled. “If you count Favner’s, but I don’t really like to do that,” she whispered.

I smiled to let her know I understood. “So you were there for my grandfather’s?”

Her eyes began to glisten as she nodded. “He was such a wonderful King. His Dawning was like no other. As soon as he took his vow as King, I swear there wasn’t a dry eye in the kingdom. We all knew he was our true King, and what a blessing it was to feel that kind of comfort.” She blinked rapidly to clear her tears as she concentrated on my face. “I’m sure you will understand after today.”

I nodded because I, myself, was having a hard time keeping my emotions under control. I would never get to know the rest of my family because of Favner.

They worked efficiently and swiftly. It couldn’t have been more than fifteen minutes when Evette said, “Done.”

“Already?”

“Your hair is very easy to work with,” Evette said thoughtfully.
Easy enough to dry and fix in fifteen minutes?

Adelaide emerged from the closet with a yellow gown. Flowing buttery fabric grazed the floor as she glided over to me.

“Is that what I’m going to be wearing?”

“Of course.” Evette beamed, her pale orange wings flickered behind her. “It was made specifically for you to match your wings.”

“But, how did they know my size? What if it doesn’t fit?”

“It will fit. I’m sure of it,” Adelaide assured.

“How did they know the color of my wings?”

“Kai told the weavers.” She smiled kindly. “He seemed to know exactly what you would want.”

I had tried to keep thoughts of Kai at bay, but knowing he had a hand in helping to create my dress made me feel like I had a little part of him with me today. And it made me smile.

Though it was strange letting others dress me, I let them put the dress on me anyway. Every time I tried doing something myself, it was as if they were offended that I thought I knew how to take care of myself.

Adelaide led me over to a full-length mirror to show me the final product. I was no longer
me
. Whimsical. It was the best way to describe my appearance. I looked as if I just stepped out of a dream. Evette had pinned my curls, letting only delicate strands fall around my face. A string of white flowers ran below my bust, where the cotton-like material flowed down like a waterfall. My wings gently fluttered as if agreeing with my thoughts. It was amazing how perfectly the gown matched the color of my wings. They looked like they were one.

“Don’t worry, Calliope.” Adelaide eyed Evette, applying extra emphasis on using my name. “It will all come together when the crown is placed on your head.”

Did they think I was disappointed? On the contrary, I was speechless.

“Thank you,” was all I could think to say.

There was a soft knock at the door. We were silent for a few seconds when Adelaide and Evette looked to me expectantly.
Right
. This was my room.

“Come in,” I called.

The door creaked open, and Declan’s familiar face appeared around it. His presence filled me with a sense of relief I couldn’t explain. Finally, I felt some familiarity in this land so far from home.

“Declan,” I nearly squealed. His mouth opened, and he straightened up in the doorway, filling it with his large stature.

“My Queen.” He swallowed and blinked. “You look beautiful.”

I couldn’t stop the blush. “Thanks, Declan.”

He smiled gently, and calmly said, “They are ready for you.”

“It’s time?” My voice cracked.

“It’s time.”

Chapter Three

W
e walked from the castle entrance out into the open air. An ocean of faeries spread across the meadow in the center of Faylinn. They all turned at the same moment, watching me emerge from the castle, and I felt my knees go weak.

Declan felt me wobble and took hold of my arm. “I’ve got you,” he murmured calmingly. He escorted me to the back of the crowd. His head bent down to me. “I must leave you here. All you have to do is walk down that aisle. You will be met at the front by Cavan.”

“And then what?”

“Just stand there and look pretty.” He winked.

I let out a quiet breath of laughter. This was no time for jokes, but before I could argue with him, he was gone, and there I was, left with thousands of vivid eyes scrutinizing my every move.

The woodlands towered like a curtain in shades of green behind the gathering. It was a backdrop swathed in colorful blossoms and vines. The sun hovered on the horizon, waiting to make its appearance, creating a faint blue mist that blanketed the meadow. It was a dream-like scene, completely magical. I nearly pinched myself. Could this place actually be real?