crossfire || cardan greenbriar

two

TWO MONTHS AFTER THE INCIDENT

"Jude!" I yell out from across Jude's room, "Have you seen my gown?"

"No, Anastasia, I haven't!" she yells back from her room.

"Actually," she began, "I think your gown is in here."

She walks into my room, carrying a white off-shoulder gown in her hands, "How did my dress get into your room?" I query, but the thought quickly fades away as I recall how it went when I was first late to school last month.

"Never-mind that, we need to hurry," I sigh, as she hands me the gown.

An Imp undresses me, shes goes by the name Tatterfell, placing a plain waist corset around me, amplifying my figure, and pushing up my heavy breasts. She puts on the white dress that went beneath my knees with just an inch or two, its sleeves hung around my arms loosely, as my shoulders just remained exposed.

I sat down as I waited for ther to finish styling my hair, her fingers are slender and long, her nails are sharp, and she often unintentionally pokes me when placing certain pieces of clothes on me. We make no conversation at all, I just sit quietly and wait for her to finish styling my hair. After she was finished, I thanked her, her black eyes met mine, and then she left the room silently. I don't think she likes me much since now that I'm here she's got an additional person to dress and style.

I walked towards my dresser, pulling out one of the drawers, and picking out a specific necklace. One that keeps me safe, from all glamours, or at least I hope. It's the same one Jude gave me on my first day on Elfhame.

I place it around my neck, grabbing the miniature dagger from the other side of the drawer and hiding it inside my boot. Where no one would see it.

Madoc has taught me well these past few weeks. He taught me how to battle with a sword, engage in one-on-ones, resist glamours, and find weaknesses in my opponent.

Unfortunately, I haven't recovered any of my old memories, or even remembered my name. I don't enjoy being in Faerie, at least not with how I'm treated. It's like humans—or 'Mortals' as they call us, are burdens in their world, for one to be accepted amongst the other Faeries, is absolutely unfathomable, at least for them it is.

And I have to be especially careful when Cardan and his clique are around. They're the worst, no one has ever stood up to Cardan, and I don't blame them. He's ruthless, but unmistakably beautiful, he's one of the High King's worst sons, he no doubt is the worst.

Cardan has curly, iridescent, midnight hair, that resembles the color of a raven's feather. Sharp cheekbones and jawline that could rip through your heart like a sword. He has long lashes that rest against his pale cheeks, his eyes are a deep and mysterious black, with a golden ring around his pupils.

He is almost always seen wearing extravagant clothes made of rich fabrics, studded with gemstones and exotic feathers and patterns. Cardan is cruel, prideful, sarcastic, and manipulative. He sees those who are unworthy of being in Elfhame as useless, and only meant to be slaves.

There were many moments where I intended to return his insults and taunts, but Taryn and Jude constantly told me to ignore them. Well, it was mostly Taryn, Jude has a very similar personality to mine, and she's honestly the greatest friend I've ever had...more like the only.

His friend Nicasia, daughter of Orlagh, queen of the undersea, has blue-green hair, like the color of the ocean, and pale eyes that shine a metallic color under the sea, or so I've heard. She is constantly cruel to others including me, Jude and Taryn, and all those who are of lower status than her.

Then there's Valerian, his golden polished har and his bright blue eyes that boy is more arrogant than Cardan himself, which surprises everyone. He has sharply pointed ears, just like all the other Faeries, and he frequently wears expensive and unaffordable clothes, just like Cardan.

Finally, there's Locke, he has russet-colored hair, that is as orange as a fox's fur, and tawny fox eyes that are seemingly soft and mesmerizing. He has pointed ears due to his Faerie heritage, but it made him no less beautiful than Cardan. Locke is fairly tall and has a lean build, he resembles a fox, and even holds the traits of a fox, he's as sly as a fox, and he's smarter than he looks. He is kinder than the others, yet still as manipulative as them, he shows his caring side from time to time, but I'm sure he can be just as cruel as the rest.

I simply wanted to belong, but they made it quite impossible to. Yet I still have hope for the tournament, if Jude and I, or just one of us beats Cardan and the rest then maybe we'll be able to feel as normal or as accepted as the rest.

Jude has become my sister, she and I share almost everything together. She is strong, independent, beautiful, kind, and hotheaded. Yet, Taryn and Vivi, we're nothing alike. Taryn just wants to lay low all the time, she never wants to face them, or even get a chance to stand up to them. She dislikes swordplay and she is not into battling, she simply wants to become a Faerie, and that's all she wants. Vivi and I get along quite well, but she's not as close to me as is. She's beautiful, and sweet, she is also a Faerie, but she doesn't treat us any worse than she treats the other Faeries.

Today, was yet another tormenting day at school, where everyone scolds and taunts us.

"Jude! Are you ready?" I hollered loudly, grabbing my items and leaving my room.

"Yes, I'm ready, come on we shouldn't be late," she grabs my hand and drags me towards the stairs, we get downstairs and waited for Taryn.

"Taryn! Hurry up, we don't have all day!" Jude yells as the sound of her voice echoed through the estate.

Just after Jude had called for Taryn, we saw her strut down the stairs in a beautifully designed rose-gold dress.

"You look great Taryn," I compliment, as she slightly blushes, her slightly pale cheeks grow a faint red.

"Thanks, Anastasia" she smiles, "You look great too, and you too Jude"

We all head for the main entrance, and head towards the school.

~~~~~⚔️~~~~~

"Can someone tell me why the stars align?" asked the professor.

I raised my hand, wanting to answer his question, but Nicasia's hand went up as well, though I doubt she hardly knows the answer.

The professor unexpectedly picked me to answer the question, "Yes? Anastasia. Do you know?"

"Stars, as seen from earth, have apparent motion, also known as proper motion, and with time, two stars that have been viewed close to each other may align and appear as one star. Some binary stars eclipse each other as viewed from earth. When they do, they align with each other and the earth."

"Excellent job, Anastasia. I see someone has been done their reading" he remarks, a cheeky grin on his face.

Jude nudges me in the shoulder playfully, and pointing at Nicasia, who quietly mumbled "Nerd."

Cardan's head turned towards us, as he sat beside Nicasia. His black eyes met my emerald green ones and I quickly turned away from him, avoiding his stupid eyes.

I roll my eyes at him, turning to face Jude, "God, I despise them," I grumble to her, fidgeting around with the pen in my hands.

"Then again, who doesn't?" she grinned, as she slightly whispered, "It's only a matter of time before we earn our roles as knights in the high king's court"

"Yeah, you're right. Then I can beat the—Beat him," I correct myself. Insulting the High King's son is not the smartest move, especially around here. I would assume he couldn't hear me, but with ears as big and pointy as those I'm sure he would.

"Can someone other than Jude or Anastasia tell me what would happen if all planets align?" he questions again.

Nicasia's hand is raised once more, but he deliberately ignores her, and answers to Locke.

"If the planets did all align in a perfectly straight line, it would have negligible effects on the earth. In truth, the gravitational pulls of the planets on the earth are so weak that they have no significant effect on earth's life." Locke responds accurately. Turning his head towards me and smirking as though he's taking pride in his surprisingly accurate answer. Who he should be looking at is Nicasia, her face is as red as a tomato, and red and blue don't go very well together.

After a couple of minutes, the lesson ended, and it was time for breakfast. Jude, Taryn, and I, always sat together, after sitting near the lake we each pulled out our food, and began eating.

"Are you sure you both want to enter the tournament?" Taryn queries, but Jude and I have been yearning for this day for so long, too long to quit now.

"Yes, Taryn." I say, taking another bite of my sandwich.

"You know Cardan won't like this," she cautions, taking a sip of her drink.

"I could care less of what Cardan thinks, Taryn. He's a spoilt, arrogant and cruel delinquent who thinks life is all about beauty and wealth." I counter, disappointment written all over her face.

"Speaking of Cardan," Jude mumbles looking across, it's none other than Cardan and his little clique walking our way.

My hand automatically goes to reach the dagger I shoved in my boot earlier today but before I can pull it out, my intentions have already been discovered.

"You're not that slick," Cardan gibed coldy, "What are you gonna do, stab me?"

My hand still kept a firm grip on the blade, not wanting anything more but to jab it into his chest.

"Anastasia," Taryn grits through her teeth. "Let go of the knife, please?"

"You think you're so tough don't you?" Nicasia mocked, her blue hair swaying as she speaks.

"Well show us how tough you can be, cut your left arm with the dagger you were going to use on Cardan," she demanded. The glamour evident in her voice, but thankfully the necklace made of Rowan berries resisted her glamour.

"Oh I see..." she spoke, as the corner of her mouth twisted into a spiteful smirk.

"Get up," Valerian commanded roughly, his voice deep, and dark, making me shiver.

Jude stands up, but I stretch my hand, as I get up off the grass, stopping her from doing anything that'll get her in trouble, as much as I'd love to see Cardan's head get bashed into a wall, I'd like to see defeat him in the tournament first.

I stood up, my gaze completely avoiding Cardan's, Valerian is now right in front of me, while Nicasia, Locke, and Cardan watched from behind.

The dagger is in my right hand, it's useless. Knowing that even if my life was on the line, using it on one of them would just seal my fate.

Cardan pushes Valerian aside, so that he is now standing before me, I look down to avoid his eyes, but not too long after as his hands reached for my neck, his rings pressing against my soft skin, which makes me shiver helplessly. His other hands reaching for the necklace that hung around my neck loosely, he ripped it off, as I slightly winced, a foolish coil of fury forming in my stomach.

Jude and Taryn are standing behind me, Jude, her hands gripping the dagger tightly, and Taryn, too afraid to say or do anything, and I don't blame her.

"Let's see how well you do without your protective necklace, Anastasia," Cardan ribbed, his hands still on my neck, and his face inches from mine.

"Leave her, she's not worth it" Locke croaked, as my eyes shifted from Cardan's face to his.

"Yeah you're right," Cardan agrees, "But only if she and her sister drop out of the tournament."

I scoff looking back at him, "Are you threatened? Afraid I might win?" I bragged, as his hand softened the grip on my throat.

"No," he smirks, as he leans in, his lips brush against my ear, as I try to suppress another shiver. "Just be smart about this, you don't want me as an enemy."

I grip his hand, "Oh, but you're already an enemy, Cardan." I whisper back.

And with that, his hand was no longer on my throat, Valerian's expression hardened, seeing as he was clearly amused by this. Cardan gave me one last look, and turned around, walking away and leaving Taryn, Jude, and me, a bit confused.

Fucking d**k.