Ten #2
His expression remained neutral, yet his eyes softened. “My concerns are far bigger than your well-being. It’s the Realms that are at stake.” He paused, sighing instead. “Listen.” He looked at me with the utmost seriousness. “Anyone but him.”
“Him?” I repeated. Oh, here we go again.
I clenched my jaw. “If you brought me all the way out here to complain about how I am in love with Neil, I swear on the Four Realms, I am going to punch you square in that stupid face of yours. My love life is none of your concern. You don’t own me anymore.
Why don’t you just leave me alone?” I huffed, my voice strained with emotion. He just stared back at me.
“It is not as black and white as you make it seem, Aerilyn. You are not safe there. You should have been reborn in the Realm of Seasons. You should have wings, you should have Elemental Magic of snow and ice, and look the part of those who reside within Winter. You should be there, safe and well cared for, yet… look at you.” He gestured toward me.
I swallowed my pride. “And what’s wrong with how I look?”
“You’re different, Aerilyn.”
“Is that really such a bad thing?” My lip quivered.
“Aerilyn, please, just listen to me.” He took a step closer, but I stepped back, keeping even space between us.
“Don’t.” I paused, visibly uncomfortable, half turning away from him.
“It’s not like that. It’s just… How did you even end up in the Realm of Clouds?
Have you thought of that? You should not have woken up in the Realm of Clouds.
You know that, I know that, everyone knows that.
Neil, too. Haven’t you ever wondered why he keeps you locked in that Manor like a caged bird?
! He clipped your wings, and you let him. ”
I took another step back. “And? Are you expecting me to have some sort of answer as to why I woke up in the Realm of Clouds? Because I don’t, Zathrian, I don’t.
I don’t have any of the answers you are looking for.
Neil doesn’t know, either. He told me he found me by the same lake you—” She didn’t finish that sentence, not wanting to give him too much information.
“Neil would never hurt me. He can’t clip my wings if I never had any in the first place.
He has done nothing but care for me. You talk a whole lot for someone who made me peel potatoes until my hands blistered and bled for nearly a decade. ”
Silence loomed between the both of us. Even as the trees swayed within the breeze and creatures of the night frolicked within the bushes.
“Somewhere inside you is a power that has yet to be released. He’s going to exploit that,” Zathrian warned.
I shook my head no in response. Malarky. Complete malarky. Power? No. I’m just—
“And what about your father?” he asked.
I shifted my footing. My face paled. For a fraction of a moment, it felt as if time had stopped.
How in the Four Realms did I forget my own father?
“Aerilyn,” Zathrian whispered my name, and my eyes met his again. “What do you remember about before you woke up here?” he asked.
I bit the inside of my cheek, thinking back on my life as a Mortal.
Bits and pieces were blurry; clouded over, like my memories of the Summer Solstice festival.
It was an adjustment, becoming Divine. That must be it.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized how much of my memory had slipped away. “I remember enough,” I answered.
Zathrian’s lips parted. He looked like he had something important to say.
As if on cue, I heard Zathrian’s name being called from a distance. Surely, the attendees of his own festival noticed his absence. My gaze broke away from his. He hesitated, and I did, too, unsure of what to say.
“You’re being summoned, High Lord,” I said. Thank the Gods above, I thought, turning away from him. I didn’t give him the chance to say another word. Even if he had something else to say, I wanted nothing to do with it.
I marched my way back up the path alone. I wasn’t going to let him ruin my night.
And I certainly wasn’t going to let him get into my head. Why would he ask about what I remembered, anyway? My life as a Mortal didn’t matter anymore. I was Divine now.
Deep down, I knew everything he said wasn’t wrong. Perhaps that was why I loathed him so much. I rounded the corner, and my eyes met Neil’s. Finally, I felt at ease once more.
The toasts droned on forever. I was famished.
The food laid out before me smelled rich.
The Shepherd’s pie that sat atop my plate had steam coming from it, and I couldn’t stop myself from wafting the decadent scent into my nostrils.
Zathrian droned on and on about tradition, the gift of stardust, and whatever else he was going on about.
Something to do with the Gods. Truthfully, everything he said went in one ear and out the other.
All I could think about was the damned Shepherd’s pie.
“Gods above, bless this food, these people, this land, and the stars above. Amen,” Zathrian’s voice echoed.
Gods above, bless this food, these people, this land, and the stars above. Amen.
I licked my lips, waiting impatiently. The very moment blessings were done, and I was allowed to dig in with the rest of my peers, I did. I didn’t say a word. Almost like a squealing hog, I shoveled bite after bite into my mouth.
Gods above, this food is simply divine.
I paid no mind as Neil shot a glance at Zathrian, who was watching me devour the pie faster than any guest should have. Nor did I react when Neil elbowed me in my side. All I could think about was that scrumptious Shepherd’s pie and stuffing my mouth full of it.
“Aerilyn, manners,” Neil said, sterner than usual.
My eyes met his, my fork still in my mouth. I chewed the plentiful helping between my lips.
“That’s right pet, do as you’re told.” Mateo snickered.
I don’t know what came over me, but I was sick of hearing that word.
Sick of being called that. Sick of Mateo’s jabs at me.
I had done nothing to him, and he did not even know me.
My eyes locked on Mateo’s, then I grabbed a helping of Shepherd’s pie and threw it right at his face.
I still had the same perfect aim I had in my past life.
Mateo’s face was covered in carrots and gravy.
The look on his face was worth it, but the look on Neil’s face made me regret it instantly.
Neil’s chest puffed out. I had never seen him look so angry.
“I-I—” I stuttered.
“Not a single word.” He was about to grab at me but was hit in the side of the face with mashed potatoes.
He was fuming, and it only escalated from there.
Food was flying in all directions. Some attendees were laughing, and others were entirely disgusted by their fancy suits and dresses being ruined.
I had single-handedly ruined not just any festival, but that of the Realm of Stars. Their most special festival. The Celestial Festival. I hoped the Gods would forgive me.
Shit.
I stood there, covered in mashed potatoes, peas, and cranberry sauce. Eyes wide, I watched the scene unfold before me in horror. Zathrian looked as angry as Neil and based on the way they were both glaring at me, with the same look in their eye, I knew I had monumentally messed up.