A Dance with Fate - A Celestial Court Novel

Act 1 - Scene 4

Before we’re even down to the great hall, I can hear my mother ranting about the preparations for Lupus’ Lunar ball in a fortnight. One of the merchants supplying fine silks has been held up in Vela, Cygnus planned to drape the whole great hall and add beautiful greenery, making it look like a lavish garden tent.

“If he isn’t here in two days' time, we will have to go with the contingency. Cygnus, I would suggest you start working on that now, I will not have a sloppy, depthless backdrop to the ball!” she blared before she turned to face me, holding a variety of flora. She gasped, seeing me for the first time in my new attire “You look incredible, Blessed Birthday my dearest, I can’t believe my idea to meltdown royal jewels turned out so well. Stunning, magnificent, sometimes I really outdo myself.” She bragged as she walked around me checking all the details.

“Mother, I believe it was a team effort, but nonetheless, I thank you. I do truly love it. I’m very excited to break everything in at the training grounds.” I’ve never missed training 2 days in a row before, I really hope my Alpha duties don’t make this a regular thing.

“Lilith, darling, look at you! I told you Annalise would never let you look garish! Do us a twirl?!” Cygnus gushed holding fabric samples and what looked like plumage.

“I’m not twirling...”

“Oh, darling but you will be! Your dance lessons start tomorrow!” he said with extra animation in his voice.

“Excuse me?” He must be kidding.

“Nine years ago, I wanted to start teaching you to dance, but you insisted on training with your father and the guard instead, but now you have no choice. Alpha Selene certainly will not have you embarrass her at the balls because you don’t know how to waltz.”

Remember, when I said playing dress-up is my nightmare? I lied; this is my nightmare. My eyes scanned for Wren hopping, she would save me, conveniently she slipped away during the conversation.

“Mother, you can’t possibly exp-”

“Lilith you wanted to play with weapons over dresses growing up, which for a future Alpha I saw no issue with but now I unquestionably expect you to learn to glide gracefully across the dance floor. Every being invited to the balls must be able to successfully maneuver themselves with and around others. And don’t start with the ‘You’re just doing this to me because I’m a girl! Male Alphas have different expectations blah blah blah.’ all genders have the same expectations at the balls and you will not give Cygnus or Annalise a hard time. Do you understand the order I’m giving you?”

Maybe I’ll become horribly disfigured during my first shift so I won't have to be put through this torture. “I understand.” I said through gritted teeth. Cygnus clapped with joy in the background. I rolled my eyes.

“Excellent, now about tonight. I know you didn’t want a lot of fuss for your birthday, so I’ve asked for a small dinner to be prepared in the garden. Hopefully, you’ll be as talented a hunter in Were form, since the roast will be from your first trophy after our hunt. We commence at sundown. Now then, Cygnus and I will be working on the décor contingencies if there’s anything else?” She said as she walks back over to the tables covered in seating arrangements.

A sigh heaved from my chest as I wondered where Wren slinked off too, the oratory perhaps. I walked through the great hall to a stone archway with intricate carvings of moon cycles. I’m greeted by the tranquil sounds from the water fountain in the center of the room. The oratory bright from the sun through the glass roof caused me to squint while I looked around. At night it’s a beautiful way to chart the stars, surrounded by candlelight. Wren is kneeling on one of the many floor pillows, encompassed by budding plants, meditating. I sat across from her with my knees pulled to my chest, waiting.

“You found me.” she said without opening her eyes.

“Yeah, thanks for the support out there.” I huffed.

“There is nothing I could have done, even I know how to waltz. In our current climate of political etiquette, these things are necessary.”

“Well, maybe I can be the first Alpha who doesn’t dance.”

“If you were to show up at Draco and not dance during their ball, do you think that would strengthen or weaken their support of you?” she opened her eyes, looking at me like these answers are ones I should already know. Which I probably should.

“How does me not dancing have anything to do with them not supporting me as Alpha? My abilities to dance have nothing to do with my abilities as a leader.”

“Because it shows disrespect, think how Selene would feel if the Alpha from any Territory came here and didn’t dance, or eat, or talk with her. All those things seem small but they create a situation where Selene would suspect she’s been slighted, in turn, she would be less likely to support them in the future.”

“So, I have to dress, dance, eat, and gossip all night, multiple times a year just to keep up appearances so no one gets offended and I don’t lose any political support. Basically, just don’t be me...” I hated having to go along with this.

“Now that is a very important thing to remember, imagine how many others are not being themselves, we have to be careful who we get close to. Trust the wrong being or saying too much could cost you more than you realize.” it sounded like that knowledge came from experience.

“I thought the Territories resolved all their distrust of each other, isn’t that the point of all this?”

“Making every Territory equal and including multiple beings into the royal houses stopped the bloodshed, but trust is a very hard thing to earn. We were all so used to fighting each other, plotting against one another, you couldn’t trust anyone, even your own mate... it’s a dark time in our history.”

“The mate bond is so strong, how could someone not be trusting, most beings can’t even lie to their mate, so I’ve been told.” Maybe that’s a wives' tale so you don’t even try to lie to your mate.

“This seems like a conversation you should be having with someone who has more... sentimentality, maybe your farther. Let’s focus on why we’re here, connecting with your Were spirit. The oratory has, in my opinion, the greatest link to the stars’ energy in the estate. It is peaceful, brimming with memories of beings searching for answers, relevance, guidance. We can connect with those before us, use them to help guide you in your shift. I want you to search your thoughts for someone other than yourself.”

I don’t know what I was expecting, but it was not this. With eyes closed, I took a deep breath and sat with my thoughts. ‘This is ridiculous.’ ‘I'm hungry.’ ‘I want to beat the crap out of some guards.’ ‘I can’t wait for ball season to be over.’ Yup, all these thoughts seem like they're mine. “There is nothing up there but me.” I sighed.

“You have to look deeper, don’t think about today or what’s to come, try connecting yourself to the oratory. What does it feel like to be here? How does your skin feel? What do you hear? How does your breath feel in your chest?”

Keeping my eyes closed, I do as she asked. I feel calm, hot from the sun, I hear the water, my breath feels steady.

“Now, keeping your eyes closed, what do you see?”

“The oratory, myself, I think I'm writing in a journal.” I said although I’m much more of a punch now, not write about my feelings later kind of person.

“Good, and what else? Look around the room.”

“It’s empty, just a large table with lots of papers and books, a few chairs on either side like it’s my office? It looks like the papers are battle plans. The Territory borders are all wrong. I’m wearing a large moonstone ring?” I opened my eyes to look at Wren “This makes no sense; I would never wear something so ostentatious, and I know exactly what the borders look like.” I stood up, ready for this to be over.

“That wasn’t you, it’s who your Were spirit used to be.”