Chapter 1 Celest #2
Besides the teachers and immediate family here in the castle, the only people I have talked to are the slaves who work on the grounds, and even then, it’s not easy to talk to them, we are always monitored.
My best and only friend Agnes came to the castle three years ago as a maid and servant.
I remember the day she was brought in. She was shackled in a wagon and dragged out by her feet, then tossed onto the ground at my mothers feet.
“Here Marcella,” my father said, “a new maid.”
That was it. When she arrived, Agnes was already 18.
She is tall and slim, and has the most beautiful black skin.
She has prominent cheek bones and a broad, gently rounded nose.
She has big full lips and her eyes captivate me.
They are hazel and very mysterious. She is the only person I trust, and she sneaks into my room at night, and we talk and laugh.
She has helped me stay strong through everything.
She knows about my beatings and helps me to dress my wounds and dress me when I must go out.
Our other maid, who used to help me, disappeared shortly before Agnes arrived.
I fear my parents killed her because she started asking questions about my wellbeing.
She disappeared after that. With tomorrow being the day I was going to leave this awful place, I am nervous about Agnes, because she knows the truth so I fear for her safety. I don’t want anything to happen to her.
“Marcus, she’s turning 18,” my mother says while using air quotes around 18, “it’s a big year and everyone gets an 18thbirthday party. We must have one or the people will question us. Zion will deliver the news tonight to our family and close friends anyways, it’s time,
” they continued talking but walked into a room and closed the door.
News? What are they talking about? They never do anything for me, so what could they possibly have to tell me?
About an hour later my mother informed me I would be responsible for all the decorating, cleaning, and cooking.
I was to set up my own party and still shower and get dressed before everyone arrived.
I would say that I was shocked, but the truth is, I had already figured this would happen and have been working with the servants.
Once Agnes helped me to my room and dressed my wounds, we found the other servants and began to prepare.
There was no time to waste. I looked at the servants, and we all nodded.
Okay, back to work. This party was going to be beautiful.
Everywhere I looked, clusters of colored lilies bloomed against the ballroom's towering tan walls, filling the massive space with their sweet, heavy scent.
Underneath my feet, the polished black onyx floor gleamed like a dark mirror, stretching out until it met the massive white circle cutting sharply into the center of the room.
Seven grand columns ringed that central circle, completely transformed by tight spirals of deep purple and royal blue streamers.
Clouds of matching balloons floated around their tops, bobbing gently in the air-conditioned breeze.
Along the outer walls, plush couches and elegant side tables waited for guests, there were also tall standing tables meant for mingling.
On every single side table, cascading towers of warm chocolate caught everyone's eyes, they were surrounded by perfectly arranged trays of strawberries, pineapples, grapes and melon.
Across the room, a massive, glittering number 18 anchored the designated photo wall, framed by a spectacular blue and purple balloon arch.
Nearby, a long serving table stood mostly empty for now, draped in crisp linens.
Crystal dispensers of tart lemonade and sweet punch, a crystal dish of crackling ice, and rows of shimmering glassware, all waiting for the feast that would arrive later.
It was clear my parents hadn't spared a single detail.
When the ball room was finished I went into the kitchen and started preparing food.
Our kitchen was huge. We had four stoves and a walk-in fridge and freezer.
The counters were some kind of white and black stone and were large enough to roll out dough, noodles, or cookies.
I prepared more food than our guests could eat in a day.
I was so tired before the party even started, but this was my party, and I was going to enjoy it.
After completing the meal preparations, I hauled myself upstairs to my room.
I am going to miss my room. It is the one place my family left me alone.
It was an okay size, maybe nine feet by twelve feet.
I was allowed to paint the room however I wanted, and when I was maybe four years old I told my parents I wanted our blue and purple galaxy on the walls.
They hesitated at first but ultimately hired someone to come in and paint it.
I had to sleep in a guest room for a week.
I remember it being so different then. Marcella and I had a girls week, we stayed up and watched movies and she read me stories and did my hair.
It was the last girl's time we had before she changed right before my fifth birthday.
I remember walking into my room once it was finished and it was everything I wanted and to this day is still my favorite place to be.
It felt like I was home. I spent all my free time there just lying on my small bed staring at the stars like they were going to come alive and speak with me.
Once I was a little bit older, I used my room as an escape and I would spend my time reading, or painting small pictures at my desk.
My favorite thing to paint were the castles we had been to.
I painted one every time we returned and each castle looked different.
I have my three favorites framed hanging by my desk.
The first is Castle Bloodmoon which is my home.
It has a sheer wall of defense built in nested rings.
It features a formidable, thick stone curtain wall dotted with round projecting towers to which my brother says are to eliminate blind spots.
At the center is a massive, multi-story Great Keep.
Every entrance is heavily fortified by a barbican, double doors, and a portcullis.
The second castle is Castle Eclipse. Unlike our castle, it sits atop a massive, sloping, geometric stone base.
The building itself is a multi-tiered, pagoda-style wooden tower with sweeping, elegantly curved gables, striking white-plastered walls, and dark, tiled roofs.
Around the bottom of the stone base is a mote filled with crystal clear water, and around the perimeter large trees with pink and white flowers towered above..
The last castle is Castle Blackthorne. It was definitely the most beautiful.
It is symmetrical, highly decorative, and blended beautifully with nature rather than defending against it.
It featured large, elegant stained glass windows, intricate carved stone facades, tall cylindrical towers with conical roofs, and ornate chimneys.
These paintings are the last things I want to pack in my bag in the morning before I leave, I don't want them broken.
When I made it to my room I flung open my door and found a beautiful blue and purple swirled dress that looked like the galaxy itself laying on my bed and accompanying it was a sparkling tiara.
The sleeves and collar were sheer dark blue.
It was beautiful. After taking a quick shower, I put on a shimmering body spray and lilly scented lotion.
I attach my kunai holder to my thigh and make sure it’s strapped in.
Then, I pull on the dress and fasten it around my neck.
I look in the mirror, I look beautiful. Agnes came in with bandages and wrapping to make sure my back was covered.