Eclipse On Alpha

Chapter-3

[Irene Miles POV]

I took a bath. The bathtub was so gigantic that I could easily swim freely. Rose petals covered the water's surface like a red silk sheet covering them. The fragrance took me back to the forest. I could hear the birds chirp and the scent of roses raised with the steam. The dress they gave me to wear was as soft as cotton, but the texture was shiny. It was a sky blue gown with a halter strap neckline and below knees. They gave me matching sky blue glass shoes. Their texture and glimmer as if they were carved out from an enormous diamond.

Aided by a matching necklace and earrings, the outfit was beautiful. Too pretty to touch an ugly soul like mine. The day passed by. I sat near the window, peering out into nothing. As the seconds passed, my heart kept on descending. My fingers were stiff and no matter how much I fidgeted, they remained cold. Sky turned from blue to crimson to grey to black, people came and left the room. They spoke and became silent, but the excruciating void in my heart kept on being crushed by the thorny vines of anticipation.

Until I heard his song. The thorns turned into petals, the vines loosened, the chaos in my heart was silenced and all I could hear was his mellifluous voice freezing me from inside out. The serenity of the melody absorbed in my body and the lyrics, — they were sad and the only thing that bothered me about them were — they sung my dreams.

A story untold,

Feelings unsaid.

A gloomy day,

And a dream so vague.

Empty voids of yesterday,

Empty heart of today,

And a perpetual emptiness in tomorrow.

Sing to my the emotions I lost that day.

Warming the icy barricade around my soul, the lyrics and the voice melted my very existence. A part of my dream from where the story kept on continuing in the dreams I had every night came flashing in front of my closed eyes.

Under that tree,

When I was confused to confess,

Flames of life went off,

Burning my soul for an emotional rest.

A tale of two souls,

When they met, and left.

It’s ancient. Please try to remember,

I was a side character of your story.

Our eyes never met,

But you were always in my sight.

If I could live even in your faintest memory,

I could give up my light.

Light in summer,

When the sky poured,

Fading vision and muddy blood,

I helplessly laid, dying…

You were there a moment ago,

And the next we were dead.

I didn’t know the origin of those tears or the nature of my feelings, but the pain in my chest was suffocating and the only feeling within me was sadness. My memories kept on wounding me and the melody kept on healing. It was an unexplainable emotion I was going through. The acappella stopped, but the sound of harps kept on repeating the verses again and again and again. The entire night. I was sad; I was crying; I was hurting, but at the same time I was happy, I was hopeful, and I was healing.

I always imagined what if my dreams and this story that I remember were not some fantasy I created because I was alone? What if they were the reason behind my scar and ugliness? What if they were my past where I saw him lying drenched in rain and blood, a sword pierced right through him and some words that were trying to make their way to me before his breath broke? I wonder if all those vivid memories are true. If they are, what will I do? I can’t even speak a word because I am so weak.

It’s difficult to understand myself at the moment, but whenever I see that tree, that memory, I am filled with rage and questions. Questions that I wanted to ask him and rage because I couldn’t.

Who are you?

Why did you save me?

Why did you die to protect me?

And why did I do, what I did, even though he was a stranger?

All these questions never leave my heart space and every time this specific memory is triggered, they surge like unbearable pain and suffocate me. The dawn broke and the song that accompanied me in my solitude slowly faded away. As if they were the darkness that hid under the trees, afraid to be seen by the sunlight. I was relaxed and felt as if no matter what lay ahead, it would all be for the best. That day, for the first time in my life, I wished for two things. First were the answers to all my questions and second… to hear that song again. Hear that voice again.

The gate opened, and the maids came in. “Lady, it’s time you come with us to the queen’s room. Are you ready?” I got up from the chair and followed her to the queen’s room. My soul and body were at an equilibrium and my heart at peace.

“Everyone is here, good. Thank you for coming, everyone,” she signalled the maid standing beside her and she left the room. Soon after, a train of maids entered the room with masks in their hands. “I am sorry I had to keep it from all of you, but you are all invited to the masquerade ball. All of you are potent brides for my son. And at the ball, he will dance with everyone of you. After the ball, he will decide as to whom he wants as his bride.”

I saw the other girls flinch and tense their bodies as soon as they heard that. Adamantly, they were scared just like me. They fidgeted and looked at one another. We were all running low in self-esteem and confidence because we were the defective creations of God. At least, that’s what we had been told since we were born. They said we were ugly and unbearable to look at; they said no one would accept us. Love was an impossible dream. Society has crushed us and our esteem since the day we were born. It was instinctively nerve wracking when we were to suddenly be exposed to the society which we knew doesn’t accept us because we don’t fit their standard of beauty.

All of us wore masks and were taken to the ball hall. I wonder if the song last night was for the ball. If it was, I might hear it again. Just the thought of it filled me with excitement. I would do anything to hear it again. The hall was grand and huge, echoes filled it even when there were several people there. It was decorated with white flowers twirled around the giant pillars with golden laces. The gigantic chandelier hung in the middle was made of transparent glasses but gave out golden light. Light, in scintillation, dropping to us like the rain of stars in slow motion.

“Greetings to beautiful ladies here. I am Zemira. I will teach you a few steps for the ball tonight. Since the prince will dance with all the six of you, he won’t be completing the dance. A few steps is all you need to know,” her voice was musical, dreamy as the song of a cuckoo on a bright summer morning. She was royally dressed, in a high neck black gown with slit from the waist. Her leg was slightly exposed when she moved around to explain to us about the ball event. It was all planned. Every second of the prince’s time was planned out. No wonder his time was more precious than ours.

“Is it clear to everyone? You won’t be dancing with him for over ten seconds, so don’t worry. Everyone will be in masks, and so will he,” Zemira said with a soft smile. I felt she understood how each one of us was feeling, so she did everything she could to not be disrespectful. That was the first time I had seen someone being genuinely considerate of our feelings. Otherwise, I had almost lost all hopes from the world for misfits like us.

We practiced until the sunlight faded and the only source that was left was the chandelier emitting golden light. We were separated from the rest behind a translucent curtain. Slowly, the hall filled with people wearing masks. It made me realise that a non living insignificant thing like a mask had the power to blur the boundaries created by society. With the mask, no one was beautiful and none ugly. Everyone was equal because the standards for judgement were blurred.

Maybe the queen knew what she was doing. She was cutting all the webs of judgement based on physical appearance, but I wonder on what criterion will the judgement be made? I thought. Right then, the queen entered the hall. A tall boy dressed in a white military tunic with blue embroidery of crescent moon, stars, and clouds. The red sash across his chest partially hid under the golden aiguillette, stars and badges. A golden belt was strapped around his waist and with a groove on the side to hold his scabbard and sword. White pants and shoes complemented his royal look. His hair was black and long. Their tips easily touched his shoulders. A few strands hung loose above the mask, reaching his nose and cheeks.

He was definitely the prince of Azalea, Zane Eliezer. I had only heard about him from the girls in the Sin Garden. That was the first time I saw him and no wonder he was far better than what I imagined him to be. He was gallant, elegant and his blue eyes were eerie but captivating. I could easily see his eyes behind the mask. He was calm, composed and centre of attraction. After all, the ball was organised for him.

He glanced at us, I held my head low, and so did the other girls. We were all nervous. Who wouldn’t be? My body tensed, my heart beats became erratic. It felt like he was looking at me, but I didn’t have the courage to lift my eyelids and confirm it myself. At that time, a strange thought went past my mind — what if he rejects me? Just one day ago, I was praying to be rejected so that I could go back to my father. But the moment my soul met the song by the unknown, I wanted to see his face. Even if the prince rejects me, I wanted to see the one whose song cleansed my sanity.

The ball began with the queen addressing the crowd. For some reason, the Alpha didn’t come to the ball. The guests were all royally dressed. “Hey, you are the last with whom Prince Zane will dance, right?” The girl standing beside me asked. I nodded. “Ok, lady Zemira asked you to stay behind the prince once the dance is over and we will join you there. After that, the prince will meet the queen and she will announce the one.” She explained, and I nodded again. Maybe she sensed my nervousness and continued, “hey, it’s ok. Cheer up! The fact that lowborn like us are getting a chance to see this is enough. I know you are nervous. Honestly, I feel like my heart will skip out of my chest. But let’s do our best, ok?”

Her voice was soothing and her smile said that I shouldn’t worry because I was not alone. They were all like me. I looked at her and slightly lowered my head. She chuckled as silently as she could, “you don’t talk much, do you? Look, I understand we are all considered ugly and have been brought here for maybe a sacrificial ritual or something, but just imagine… Living in a palace like this and being respected for only one day is worth our whole life. At least I think so. There is always a positive side to a negative one, we just need to find it.”

I peered at her. My eyes didn’t even blink. Her words mesmerised me. All my life I was told to live in a cocoon, but that day, I was not only allowed to break out of it, but was made aware that I had wings. I could fly if I had the courage to. It was a new concept back then, a spark in my dark universe. But that made me realise we didn’t need everyone to accept us. We just need the right ones who will automatically accept us as we are. I wanted to ask her name, but the dance began.

One by one, every girl danced with the prince for ten seconds, then it was her chance. My heart beats increased and my limbs started becoming cold. I wish I could run away. But soon she returned behind the curtain and I stepped out from behind it. Trudging to the prince who was waiting for me in the middle of the hall under the chandelier. The glittering golden light fell slowly like rain around the prince. I kept on looking at my shoes as I approached him. He went on his knees and kissed my ring. While he got up, our eyes met for a second as I immediately averted them.

I messed up. I was wondering if the prince would find it offensive, but he placed his hand around my waist and, keeping a comfortable distance between us, he walked closer. I was too scared to touch him, but I knew I couldn’t mess up anymore. Placing my hands on his shoulders, our dance began. Gulping, I tried not to breathe so that our breaths won’t collide. A faint scent of lavender engulfed me. My eyes remained half shut so that they didn’t meet him.

The music was mellow, but it wasn’t the one I heard yesterday. I was so engulfed in the steps I took towards and away from him and the song that guided them; I didn’t even notice that my ten seconds were over. Prince should have stopped by then. I thought it would be indecent to stop, so I said nothing, but silent murmurs had mingled with the music.

His grip around my waist had tightened, and the proximity between us was lost long ago. His steps became faster. He wasn’t performing any additional steps, but kept on repeating the ones taught to me. I arched my back against him as he took control. Squirming slightly, I tried to meet eyes with Zemira or the queen because I had no clue as to what was happening. Soon it became difficult to cope up with him and so all the restrictions I put on my breath, eyes and body let loose.

I had no other option but to look at him. His eyes were always on me. As soon as our eyes met, it was as if time stopped and the past I thought was my fantasy came flashing in front of my eyes again. My fingers clenched the front of his tunic as we kept on stepping back and forth, twirling, being set free and the next moment being caged in his embrace again. The music didn’t stop and my heartbeats were definitely loud enough to be heard by him.

“P-Prince…” my voice faltered.