CH.3 The Bonfire Night
The stepmother refused to let Iris go to the festival in town. But in the end, she had no choice. She couldn't find a reason not to let her go.
"Did you dust the carpets?"
"Yes, madam."
"And did you feed the animals?"
"They even have changed the bedding."
Iris didn't let anything catch her off guard.
She did everything she could to meet the blue-eyed young man again at sunset.
Somehow she couldn't get him out of her head.
And if her stepmother would refuse despite everything, she was ready to sneak out of the house at dusk.
Quiet as a mouse. Inconspicuous as a shadow.
The city was celebrating from early morning.
While preparations for the greatest festival of the year were being completed, people were having fun by weaving flower garlands, hanging lanterns, and building bonfires.
And as evening was rising in the sky, people went into the streets and the real fun could begin.
Iris waited by the dragon statue in the main square, just as she had promised.
The sun was slowly setting behind the distant horizon.
The last rays of the day were dressing the landscape in a golden veil.
The stars, welcoming the night, were gradually rising to their rightful places in the ebony skies.
The bright light of the fire cut through the darkness of the night.
People were dancing to the rhythm of the intoxicating melody.
Iris waited and waited, but Eddie did not come.
She walked around the statue, looking for him in the crowd of masked faces.
She did not recognize him behind any of the masks.
"Will you dance with me, Miss?" one young man invited her to dance.
"I'm sorry, but I'll have to refuse. I'm waiting for someone."
She kept waiting and waiting, but he wasn't coming.
Iris thought she saw someone in the crowd.
A flash of memory, so ancient and blurry.
She was drawn to those strange eyes, the look of which made the whole world melt away, just a kaleidoscope of colors and swirling skirts.
They seemed so familiar, but where did she know them from?
Those golden eyes hidden behind the mask.
The man raised his glass of wine in greeting, letting her know that their eyes had met.
She walked towards him, determined to find out who he was.
The crowd of people blocked her path for a moment, and by the time she had passed through, he was gone.
As if he would evaporate into a void like the morning mist with the dawn.
It was only a split second. The blink of an eye.
She looked around to see if she could find him.
It was a strange urge calling her to that forgotten memory.
At that, Eddie decided to finally show up. Thinking that she was leaving, he gently grabbed her by the wrist and spun her back towards him.
"Wait!"
He seemed out of breath. His hair disheveled.
"You're late," she told him, more sadly than irritated.
"I'm sorry. I had to sneak out unnoticed," he said.
"Did you have to sneak out of the palace to be so late?"
"Indeed, yes," he admitted.
Iris' eyes widened in shock. Eddie wanted to shake the panic out of them before it grew into something more.
"I'm an apprentice at the palace. We have a quite strict regime, but I had to see you."
"So... an apprentice in the palace? That explains the gold coins and why you had no problem paying for me at the market."
"I apologize again for knocking you to the ground. I'm not allowed to leave the palace at these times, and I was running from the soldiers who wanted to take me back."
"Hopefully, the soldiers will be lenient today and escape will not be necessary."
People urged them to join in the dance. Eddie hesitated. He watched the celebrants dance in circles, changing partners, a tangle of steps and turns, and hesitated.
"Are you coming?" Iris asked him.
"I don't think I can dance that," he said.
"It's quite simple. Just let yourself be carried away by the rhythm," she told him.
She took his hand in hers and pulled him into the whirlwind of writhing bodies.
They jumped to the rhythm of the cheerful music.
Its melody floated in the air like a spell that forced everyone to dance.
Eddie held Iris by the waist, firmly and tenderly at the same time.
She felt his warm touch through the thin fabric of her dress.
She was absorbed in his heavenly eyes, drowning in their depths.
She no longer knew whether she was leading him or he was leading her.
"You're doing well," she told him.
"I have a good dance partner," he said with a smile.
He turned her around and pressed her back against his chest. They stood so close. The space between them disappeared. Even through the roar of the drums and the violins, she could hear, feel the beat of his heart. So powerful and peaceful.
The partners were swapped. They were separated.
Eddie kept his gaze on Iris. She fascinated him.
The way she let herself be carried away by the vortex that drew her in.
The way she smiled. Her smile more beautiful than a thousand stars.
Her laughter sounded like the singing of angels.
The golden strands of her hair fluttered in the air as she danced wildly.
Their eyes met. Every time he tried to reach her, another woman grabbed him and pulled him further away.
But finally, they met again. He held her in his arms. A broad smile graced her lips.
"I was starting to worry that I wouldn't see you again." He held her as if he should never let her go.
"And yet the circle brought me back to you."
"Will you finally tell me your name?"
"Try to guess. It's a flower."
"Rosabella?"
"No."
"Belladonna?"
"Still wrong."
"Lily?"
She shook her head mischievously.
"There are many different flowers in the world."
"But only a few names. I'll let you guess for a while."
"Give me a hint. What color flower am I looking for?"
"All the colors of the rainbow. It won't settle for just one."
Eddie sighed. He didn't know flowers very well. And he was dying to know her name.
"Jasmine?"
"No."
People in dragon masks jumped around the bonfire.
Tongues of fire reached for the ebony skies, tasting the starlight.
Sparks, like little fireflies, flew higher and higher until they faded into darkness.
Dancers in princess costumes danced with the flames.
Fire-eaters created miracles. They spat fire like dragons. It did not burn their throats.
"Why is Bonfire Night celebrated here anyway?" Eddie wondered. "I never understood the dragon masks."
"Haven't you ever heard the story of the dragon and the princess?"
"No. Never."
"An old legend says that a long time ago, a mighty dragon flew over the land and saw the beautiful Princess Adelaide, playing in the palace gardens with the ladies of the court.
It was love at first sight. He was determined to make her his, so he kidnapped her to become his wife.
Her father, the king, sent the best knights in the entire kingdom to save her from the clutches of a fire-breathing monster.
But the dragon was no ordinary dragon, he was the king of dragons himself, and he could turn into a human.
The princess fell in love with him. She saw in him more than a monster.
They were happy together. But then her father's knights came and destroyed their happiness.
They tried to kill the dragon king. To save him, the princess stepped into the way of an arrow and sacrificed her own life for his.
The dragon king went mad with grief at her loss.
He decided to burn the whole world to ashes and avenge the death of his love.
In the end, however, the knights managed to kill the dragon king, and since then the night of bonfires has been celebrated as a reminder of his wrath, which people have endured. "
"It's a sad story," Eddie said.
"It's a tragedy," Iris agreed. "I've always thought of the Dragon King as more of a misunderstood villain in the story."
"I agree. They loved each other and the king killed his own daughter because he couldn't accept who she chose. Do you think there's any truth to that story?"
"I don't know. It's just a legend. But I've always liked to believe in fairy tales."
"Will you finally tell me your name, Miss Mystery? Have I earned it?"
Iris looked at him searchingly. She read the plea in his gaze. The desire to truly know her name. She thought for a moment. Should she tell him or let him grope for a moment longer?
"Iris," she finally revealed. "My name is Iris."
"Iris. Iris. Beautiful Iris." He repeated her name dreamily. He said it with such tenderness and desire at the same time. "Iris."
He gently rested his hand on her neck and leaned gently towards her. A little closer. Their lips touched briefly.
"Will you be my princess today, Iris?"
"Convince me." There was a challenge in her voice.
He grabbed her by the waist and held her against his chest. She could feel his powerful heart beating in unison with hers. They drummed to the rhythm of the music that wrapped around them.
"We should go somewhere private and I'll convince you." A mischievous smile graced his lips, his eyes reflecting everything he wanted to do to her.
And Iris allowed herself to be tempted. She took his hand in hers. She led him through dark alleys to a secret place where she would meet Jace. She knew that no one would disturb them there. They were all in the square at the dragon festival.
Maybe it was the amount of wine in her veins, or perhaps she simply craved it.
She let it all go awry when he kissed her neck.
He kissed her at the neckline of her dress.
With a gentle touch, he pushed up her skirt.
His fingers slid over her bare skin, higher and higher.
She felt the warmth of his skin on hers.
She felt his pride fills her. A pleasurable moan escaped her lips, which he silenced with more kisses.
And she returned them. With an insatiable desire, she craved his gentle touch and the look of those ice-blue eyes that pierced her like frost.
?
Iris woke up alone in the morning. Eddie was gone. All that was left of him was a cold place and memories of that night. And an unbearable headache.
"I need to stop drinking so much," she said to herself.
She walked through the streets bathed in the golden hue of morning sun.
People were gathering from wild celebrations.
Sharp rays of light seemed to sting her.
The smell of burnt wood still hung in the air.
And it seemed that Iris was not the only one whose head ached from the festival.
Her heart ached slightly that Eddie wasn't there when she woke up.
She lay there all alone. But she understood him too.
They probably wouldn't be happy at the palace if he was late.
Strict rules of court life. But it hurt anyway.
That he had just left so easily. Without saying goodbye.
Did she mean so little to him? Did she mean anything to him at all?
But somewhere in the back of her mind, she secretly hoped that this wouldn't be the last time they met. After she gave him herself. There was something special about him. He wasn't like other men. He was etched into her mind.
She returned home. Her stepmother was already waiting for her. She had a murderous look in her eyes.
"Where have you been? Do you realize what time it is?
Morning is long gone," she scolded her screaming.
"You smell of alcohol. Is this how a young lady behaves?
It is debaucherous to get drunk at parties and enjoy yourself with men.
What if there are consequences? We don't need another hungry mouth on our necks. "
"I'm sorry, madam." Iris lowered her eyes in guilt. But honestly, she didn't regret a single second of the night. She enjoyed it like never before. "It will never happen again."
"Of course it won't happen again. From now on, you won't leave this house without my permission," her stepmother told her.
"And who will go to the market?" Iris objected. "You have long since dismissed all servants."
"You will go to the market. Anastasia will go with you so you won't wander somewhere you shouldn't."
"Why, Mom?" Anastasia was horrified. "Why should I be punished too?"
"A little sun won't hurt you, Anastasia," her mother told her.
Anastasia stamped her foot defiantly, but resistance was futile. The decision was made. Objections were useless.
At least Iris was able sneaked out to the garden shed at night to see Jace. She found him packing the things she had brought him.
"Where are you going?" she didn't understand.
"I'm leaving. I don't want to be a burden to you," he said. "If your stepmother finds out you're hiding me here, you'll be in trouble."
"They won't find out. They never come here," she said. "And besides, the soldiers are looking for you."
"I'm healthy. It's time for me to leave," Jace said.
Iris snatched the backpack from his hand. "Why won't you even look at me? You're acting strange, Jace."
"You have defiled our place, Iris," he told her the truth, straight to her face. "You took that man from the market there and defiled our place."
"You were following me?"
Jace averted his piercing gaze from her in guilt. Iris did not let him run away and forced him to face her.
"What about all those girls you've defiled our place with?" she reproached him. "Have you forgotten?"
"That's different," he objected.
"What's the difference?" Iris laughed. "If you do it, it's okay, and if I do it, it's wrong?"
"That's not what I meant, Iris," he tried to talk himself out of the words when he realized how they sounded. "For men, it's just physical pleasure, but for women, it's emotional. Do you like him?"
"You'd better go, Jace," she told him. "You'll do us both a favor."
"I don't want to argue with you, Iris."
"Neither do I, but go if you want to go. I won't hold you."
"I'm not going far. You know where to find me."
But Iris had a coldness in her eyes and a painful thorn stuck in her heart. Was it so bad that she wanted to live a little and not just survive, day after day as it passed?
"Wait!" She stopped him after all before he could walk out the door. She couldn't be heartless. She wasn't like that. She was feeling too much at once.
Jace turned to her, hope written in his eyes.
"Take this."
She took off the necklace her mother gave her on her deathbed.
"Let it protect you as it protected me for all those years. You tend to get into trouble quite often."
"Thank you, Iris. I know how much it means to you. I'll take good care of it."
"Take care of yourself first."