Special Day
Today is going to be one hell of a celebration. The kingdom of Bosnana is getting ready to celebrate Princess Audrey Vonderhaar’s eighteenth birthday. I have not seen so many people so frantic over a birthday in decades. My maids and servants are in high spirits. They rush to wake my manor. Luna, my unfortunate guest, is awake. She greets me with the door cracked open to the width of her body as I’m about to check on her mental status.
“Morning, Emrys,” Luna says, full of exciting energy. “Did you sleep well?” One of the maids inside her room momentarily distracts me. She is micromanaging Luna’s dress for Audrey’s birthday by ironing out all the small wrinkles.
“You know I do not sleep,” I say softly.
“I know,” she says, giggling behind a wide grin.
“Ah,” I chuckle. “How are you feeling?”
“Uh,” she says, soothing her throat, and then leans closer to me. “I’m feeling kind of parched.”
“Here.” I hand her a pinky-sized vial of blood mixed with red wine. “Do not drink it when she is looking.” She takes the vial and quickly downs it. The maid doesn’t notice. Her back is turned to us. “Or you could do that.”
“Thank you,” she says, handing the vial back to me. “Do you think this’ll last for the day? I don’t want to back out from all of the... smells.”
“If it is too much, I have a backup. I will give it to you and Caroline later.”
“Okay.”
I walk down to the end of the hallway to Caroline’s room. There is a strong scent of one of my maids lingering here. The door is closed, and I do not hear anyone but her inside. She is still sound asleep. Her breathing is long and slow. She won’t be up in time in that deep state of sleep. I have to gradually wake her now since one of my maids failed to do so.
I quietly step inside Caroline’s bedchamber. My eyes immediately adjust to the pitch black room thanks to the light-absorbing curtains. She’s sprawled in the middle of the bed with her head facing me.
“Caroline,” I say softly enough to make her human ears pick out my voice. “It is time.” Her breathing remains unchanged. My voice isn’t going to be enough. The second option I can try is opening the curtains, but that might be too harsh a wake-up. “Let me try this,” I whisper as I sit on the bed beside her. My weight shifting her body doesn’t work. “Caroline, can you hear me?” The moment I begin to stroke her upper arm, she makes a low grunt. “There you are.” Her breathing finally has a disrupted flow. Moments later, she speaks my name.
“Emrys?” Caroline mumbles.
“Sleep well?” She mumbles again. “I will take that as a yes.” She turns her head to glance at me with her left eye. “I have something for you.”
“What is it?”
“Blood.” Her left eye cracks open. “Do you need it?” I hand her the vial of blood when I see her lightly nodding her head. “Sit up, though.” She leans on her right elbow to elevate herself before swallowing it.
“This one smells different. What’s in here?” Even though she questions the mixture, she drinks without receiving my answer. “How long will this one last?”
“Just for the day.”
“Oh,” she says softly, staring at the bed between us. “Maybe it would be a bad idea if I came. I’m still not capable of...”
“I know. That is why I made something to filter out the smells.”
“You did?” she says, looking directly at me. “What is it? Where is it?”
“I will show you once you and Luna are dressed.” The door to Luna’s bedroom opens. A maid from further down the hall meets up with the one from her room. The maid from the hallway asks for assistance to wake Caroline up. “The maids are coming.” When they crack the door open, Caroline cups the blood vial against her chest.
“Miss Lorela, it’s time to get up now,” the maid from Luna’s room says.
“I’m up,” Caroline says, gently raising her delicate voice. She hands me the empty vial moments before they step inside.
“It’s a beautiful day, Miss Lorela.” The second maid parts the curtains to let the overcast light inside. “Sir Dorian?! Good morning! What... are you doing here?”
“Making sure she’s up,” I say. “I’ll see you later,” I whisper to Caroline.
I take my leave to get ready. The celebration requires the utmost formal attire, so everything I wear, down to the cologne around my neck, is high-quality. I check my clothing for any imperfections in a mirror, then my face. My eyebrows are a bit untamed. As I am brushing my left brow with my thumb, I notice my chest at the foot of my bed through the mirror.
“Ah. Almost forgot,” I say, looking directly at the chest. “Undoctor.”
The spell binding the chest closed releases the lock. I reach inside to take out two elegantly crafted masks for Luna and Caroline. These masks are my finest inventions. They are made of pure gold, my crystallized blood, and a purifying spell to filter human blood. The notion of these masks is that they will either smell me or the common quality of air wherever they are.
I take the masks to Caroline’s room since I can hear Luna speaking once I finalize my appearance.
“Ooo! Are these them?” Luna says, scurrying as fast as she can to me.
“Yes,” I say, holding her back by pressing my hand against her chest. “You will get to see. But first, let me look at you both.”
“What do you think?” She gives me a thorough twirl. “I’ve never worn a dress like this before, Emrys. The fabric is high quality.”
Luna’s cobalt blue dress reminds me of a flowing river, high in the snowy mountains. The bodice clings to her curves, its intricate stitches weaving like vines coiling up to the sun. Her sleeves flare wide at the elbows, long and sweeping.
Caroline’s deep burgundy dress brings out her mysterious yet passive personality. It matches her unique eye color. Her bodice is black and matches the stitching a few inches from the hem. The bodice hangs lower, showing more of her pale breasts. When she walks up to me, her eyes never waver. Each step she takes seems as if she’s floating. The only movement I see is her earrings sparkling in the sunlight behind me.
“Is there something wrong with my dress?” Caroline says.
“No,” I say, looking at both of them. “You all look wonderful.” Luna smiles, but Caroline doesn’t. “What’s wrong?”
“Forgive me. I don’t know what to think,” Caroline says, walking over to a mirror. “I’ve never worn anything like this.”
“Really?” Luna says.
“Aye. I was a poor farm girl. My clothes were the bare essentials.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Yes,” she says, nodding her head. “It’s just that my family’s land isn’t fruitful.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” She soothes Caroline’s right shoulder and arm. She does this until Caroline walks away from the mirror to stand before me.
“Could it be possible for me to return home for a few hours?” I do not say a word, but stare at her sternly. “Never mind,” she whimpers, putting her head down.
“Let her go, Emyrs. What could go wrong?”
“You should already know by now,” I say, handing Caroline her mask. “None of you can withstand the scent of blood.” I pass Luna her mask. “But these might help. Try them on.”
Luna holds her mask up to her mouth and sniffs it. Caroline does the same but harder. The masks fasten themselves around their faces the moment they press them on. Caroline shrieks, ripping hers off, nearly dropping it.
“What the hell was that?” Caroline says.
“You need to put it back on,” Luna says, giggling. “It smells different in here!” When Caroline puts hers back on, she flinches from the sudden adherence. “Breathe deeply.” I watch her closely as she takes multiple deep breaths all over the room.
“How is it? Is it working?” I say.
“It’s working perfectly! All I smell is... is...”
“Is it him?” Caroline says.
“Yes! As if he’s right in my face.”
“Same... How is that possible? I’m across the room.”
“My blood is infused in your masks,” I say. “And I have a purification spell passively blocking the blood scent fuming in the air.”
“Did you cast a spell?” she says as if she’s panicking. “Is this witchcraft?”
“Caroline, have you been living under a rock?” Luna scoffs. “Magic is common where I come from.”
Caroline’s shock is understandable. She hails from Mjors, a sizeable village in the countryside west of our kingdom of Bosnana. Most of the people there do not interact with the rest of the country. They live in their little world of their own. The only time they mingle is when they offer their farming products to the rest of the cities. In return, they receive equipment to till their lands, natural medicine for whatever ails them, and silver coins for payment.
On the upper echelon of Bosnana is the city of Eio, Luna’s birthplace. It is our upper class. The kingdom’s treasury resides there. Also, many banks are spread around there for the four-district sector. The west district is where Luna’s banking family lives. Each district houses various magic-competent users. Magic is used to build things like houses, heal the sick, or enhance items’ durability.
We are currently living together in my manor in the northern part of Bosnana, high in elevation. This special city is where the Dutch live. It is called Skydomfall. Only the royal family, their servants, a good portion of the military, and the super well-off live here.
“One of these days I will show you the other cities,” I say.
“Oh! Can I come?” Luna says, raising and waving her hand high in the air.
“Sure. What do you say, Caroline?”
“Only if you bring protection,” Caroline says, crossing her arms over her stomach. “Last time I went there... to Eio... I... we...” She looks at Luna as if she’s silently pleading for assistance.
“Oh... good idea,” Luna says softly.
Luna and Caroline touch their near-fatal scars. Caroline rubs her stomach while Luna rubs her thumb over her collarbone. I quickly redirect their attention so they won’t linger on that terrible night.
“Fear not. I won’t let that type of harm anywhere near you. You have my word,” I say.
“Bless men like you,” Caroline says.
“There are far fewer like me,” I say, offering my hands to be taken.
“Aren’t we lucky?” Luna says to Caroline, taking my left hand.
“Aye,” Caroline says, gently grasping my other hand with both hands.
**
The ladies don their masks as my coachman pulls up to Tederan Castle, home of the Vonderharrs. The royal servants open the door, and Luna steps out first. Caroline is second, then I follow behind her.
“Welcome back, sir,” the servant says.
“Thank you,” I say. We enter the hallway filled with people conversing, feasting on snacks, and sipping fine wine. Caroline sticks next to me like a scared child. I place her arm around mine in hopes she’ll be at ease. Her breathing is elevated. She keeps her eyes to the ground as we move deeper into the building. “It is okay,” I say. “Relax. Is the mask working?”
“Mhmm,” Caroline says.
“Luna?”
“It’s perfect!” Luna says, yanking my other arm to hold it against her chest. “This place looks so wonderful! I wonder where her highness is?”
“I do not know.” I check the foyer for the royal family. All I see are guests, guards, a few high-ranking military men, and the servants roaming about the place. When I look up at the second floor next to the railing overlooking the foyer, Audrey stares me down with a big grin on her face. She is standing with two of her childhood friends, Amelia and Monica.
“Emrys!” Audrey says, projecting her voice. She runs through her friends to reach the staircase as fast as her dress allows her.
“Ladies, you might want to stand back a bit.”
“Why?” Caroline says, easing her grip but remaining close. Luna lets go seconds before Audrey runs into me for a big hug. The impact frees me from Caroline’s hold. I place my arms firmly around Audrey and gently sway her side to side.
“Emrys!” Audrey cheers.
“Hello, your highness. Happy birthday,” I say.
“Thank you so much!” She giggles and jumps up and down in my arms. “Gods, I need to control myself. I’m getting hot in this thing.”
“That would be very wise.” She lets me go and wafts the hair around her face. “Who are these two well-dressed ladies, Emrys? I like their masks.”
“This is Luna Gizo and Caroline Lorela. My companions.”
“Happy birthday, your highness,” Luna says, giving Audrey a curtsy. Caroline curtsies too, but it is quick and not smooth in motion.
“Happy birthday, your highness,” Caroline says, shaky.
“Thank you,” Audrey says. “Do you mind if I chat with Emrys privately?”
“Uh,” she says, looking at Luna for help. Luna doesn’t know what to say. They end up looking at me.
“Mingle. Drink some wine. I won’t be long,” I say. Before I walk towards the stairs after Audrey, I whisper in Luna’s ear to keep Caroline by her side to avoid her being overwhelmed by the people. She nods and takes her by the arm to try some wine.
“Emrys?” Audrey says.
“I’m coming.” I follow her up to the second floor. She passes by her friends, telling them to go off and enjoy the party and not wait for her. We walk halfway down a long hallway without saying a word. I look over my shoulder to listen for any eavesdropping. All of the voices are concentrated on the first floor.
“Anyone following?”
“No.”
“Good,” she says and then makes a sudden entrance into a vacant room. “Get inside.” I keep my ears focused on the crowd until she closes the door.
“What’s the matter?”
“Excuse me?” She chuckles. “Do you sound worried?”
“You brought me here in haste.”
“That’s because,” she says, pausing to wander around the room. “I just want to be alone.”
“With me?”
“This celebration has been nothing but tons of praise and showering of gifts.”
“Sounds good,” I chuckle. “But you don’t seem happy about that.” Her smile dims. She stops walking and stands in the middle of the room. I can tell before the signs of something eating away at her start showing. “What is it?” I say, speaking into her soul. I see her body resisting me. She crosses her arms and tightens them.
“You don’t need to do that, Em. I’ll speak honestly.”
“Forgive me for attempting.”
“There’s no need for that,” she says, bringing out more of her smile. “This celebration won’t have the happy ending I want.”
“How come?”
“My mother wants me to pick a husband by tonight. Can you believe it?”
Fortunately, I do believe it. Audrey’s mother is the ruling sovereign in this land. She’s old and seeks to gain stability by marrying Audrey off to a powerful prince. Audrey fantasizes about choosing her spouse by merit. No man from the other three human kingdoms met her standards.
“This’ll cause a stir,” I say.
“Don’t you tell me I should reconsider.” She crosses her arms and turns her back to me. Her anger is something I’m very familiar with. Forbidden love, defiance, and family drama.
“I would never.”
“Does my best friend not have a criticism to give?” I stay quiet. “None?” she says, turning her head slightly to the right. “You... agree with me?”
“I have lived a long life,” I say, approaching her steadily. She turns around to face me and uncrosses her arms. “I know what you’re going through.” For a long yet short moment, I witness a revelation spark behind her radiant blue, somber eyes. Her pupils dilate. She holds her breath and then resumes breathing.
“Em... You do?”
“Aye.”
