The City of Light and Secrets

~ Chapter 5 ~

I walked past my mirror that was up against my wall just outside the bathroom and caught my reflection, I looked absolutely awful. My eyes looked swollen and my nose was purple as if the circulation was cut off. I opened the bathroom door, the lights automatically turning on as I walked in, the bath was behind the door which was amazing, since no one gave me privacy in this house and stalked in whenever they pleased, including my nosey brothers. At least it gave me a few seconds to prepare. I turned on the bath, making sure it was at a good temperature while running. As soon as it was half full I striped down, placing my clothes on the bench next to the sink and looked at myself again in the bathroom mirror. My eyes are large almonds shape with a small nose that was slightly pointy on the top, with my lips centred just underneath, a soft cupids bow on the top lip, they were similar to Celestes but mine were more full on the bottom lip. I had three aligned small freckles in a row diagonally, on my left cheek, just above my cheekbones, like I was a constellation. My brown hair was all frizzy, all the way down to my waist. I started brushing my hair, getting all the knots out. I wasn’t thin like Celeste, my body was more curvy especially around the edges and my breasts were larger than mosts but still an average size. 

I turned to the bath and threw in a blue bath fizzer that smelled like sweet grape, turning the water into a dark blue. I squeezed some soap gel in as well, that formed small bubbles on the surface. I turned the taps off and placed one foot over, my big toe reaching the tip of the water, I sucked air through my teeth, my toe was definitely going through some sort of frost bite right now. The small cut stung and I hushed a sob that tried to break free from my lips, it was my own fault, I should have worn better shoes. 

My whole body was now covered in warm abyss, leaning my head back I closed my eyes and took it all in. I sunk down further so that my chin was just above the water now and my body could finally relax. My bathroom door slammed open, smacking the edge of the bathtub tile. I looked up and saw Kaces head whip around the door, with his eyes closed, “Are you decent?” He said, with a sharp tone. 

The top of his long dark blonde hair was half matted to his forehead, with small wavy curls lingering around the bottom of his neck. He usually wore his hair half up in a bun but it was all out in the open tonight. His ears were pointed like most Fae, but his face looked more human though, with a sharp jawline that pointed slightly at the chin, almond shaped eyes similar to mine but his were larger, his nose was straight and pointed but had a small bump on the bridge, his inherited our mothers lips, full and plump, it was an outright crime he had better lips than me. He looked like he was twenty five but he was actually thirty-eight on Fae years. Since he and Blaise are half-Fae, they aged normally up until there twenty fifth birthdays, thats when the Fae genes kicked in, slowing down there ageing process, but there soul would age normally, so when it reached there maximum life span, they would still look somewhat young but there soul, well it would be at its peak and cause the dying affect, there soul travelling to the other world, forever resting with the gods. 

My attention turned back to Kace, “Im in the bath!” I screamed at him. I leaned forward hugging my knees, covering all the important bits, just in time as he opened his eyes, the colour of bright silver steel “Close enough” he said, stepping into the whole bathroom, with his midnight blue uniform, the top of the shoulder blades in emerald green-Gold, displaying his rank. “May I help you Kace?” He said nothing as he threw something into my perfect bath, the bubbles spraying over the edge. I glared at him in disgust, as I reached for the object he threw. As I lifted it above the water, my breath caught as I realised it was my freaking flip flop! At least I wont have to buy another pair. “What an unusual gift you’ve brought me” I smiled as I looked up at him. His face was blank but his silver eyes were piercing at me, writhing in anger and holy gods, he had a small red mark on the side of his eye, “You have good aim when your not even trying, Everleigh Westmead.” I gulped at the sound of my full name coming out of his mouth. He was without a question, mad with me. 

He continued, “Why were you out after curfew?” I scoffed, “How do you even know this is my flip flop?” He looked at me like I had just ask the most dumbest question. He leaned forward grabbing the flip flop, turned it around, pointing at the heel “You wrote your name on it!” 

Well, it certainly was the dumbest question I have asked. I only started writing my name on my things since Celeste ‘borrowed’ my things, later claiming it was hers all along. 

I groaned and placed my forehead on my knees, “I was helping Celeste” I mumbled, closing my eyes awaiting for the lecture that was busting to escape out of his mouth. But he didnt, only replying with “why?” I could never lie to him or anyone in fact. Even if I tried my guilty conscience would be displayed all over my face. “Because, Paxton was at pebbles tonight with some Fae women and she needed someone to be with her, while catching him in the act” I looked up at him, his eyes lingering over my face, trying to determine if I was indeed telling the truth. He looked up at the ceiling and rubbed at his neck where the order brand was on the side of it. The mark is small, but you could see the sun with a half crescent moon on either side of it, with two arrows running through it, the points on opposite ends, his sharp jaw feathered as he whispered “Alright” I gawked at him, how is he even letting me off this easily? Last time he complained for three days straight, how I could be murdered in times like this, detailing every possible outcome of pain id experience, as well as my soul not being able to reach it to the other side because of reasons he still will not tell me to this day. Sometimes I believed he was dropped on his head as a child. 

He left the bathroom yelling out, “Mum wants you downstairs in 2 minutes” slamming my bedroom door behind him.  I groaned at the situation I was now in. Bad enough Kace was telling me off, now a whole family reunion was probably waiting downstairs for me. I hopped out the bath and put on my long pink silky pyjamas, I could tell tonight would be a long night, lucky I had the weekend off from working with the witches. Putting my purpler slippers on, I headed down the stairs a moment later to where, just as I thought, the whole family was sitting in the lounge room, my mum on the couch sitting next to my dad who was sneaking some whisky in his cup of coffee. Blaise standing at the window but with his attention on the TV, his eyes glowing the same  silver like Kaces, against the moonlight and TV reflection. He looked very similar to Kace but his hair was black and much shorter than Kace’s, with a small part to the side and the bottom shaved lightly. Kace was now standing at the fireplace, letting his hands warm up. He didn’t look at me, just kept his fiery stare on the fire sparking up.  

The TV was on mute above the fireplace but it had a news announcement about the upcoming ritual with a picture of Queen Rosette, the current ruler of Zelartine, on her palace balcony. She is a well loved Fae, who is just outright drop dead, beautiful. She wore her long silver hair down reaching her hips, her red jewelled crown that looked like a castle was on her head with all the spires at different lengths pointing up. She always wears the same dress though, matching the colour of the crown, the silky fabric reaching the floor like an ocean of blood, with its long sleeves and turtle neck collar that always looked like it was suffocating her, it was that tight. Her eyes matched her hair, like she was made of lightning, and her full lips were always painted a faint rose pink. 

I turned to my mum, “I can explain” I started saying but she cut me off, “Sit down my sweet Evie” smiling as she pointed her hand at the empty couch across from where Kace was standing. I walked over and sat on the soft white couch. Before I could say anything, my mum continued, “We have some, unique news that needs to be shared to you” a small whisp of pain echoed in her eyes, only slightly. I sat up straight, preparing for the worst, “Whats happening?” I asked with panic rippling in my gut. After a solid minute of silence, Kace finally looked at me, lifting up his right sleeve, to show the symbol of the sun and two crescent moon sitting inside it facing opposite ends with vines rippling around it, so it was noticeable, oh gods, “Ive been selected as a chosen for this New Moon Crowning” he smiled at me gently, but I could tell it was fake. He didn’t want a throne, he just wanted his family safe and sound and in close vicinity. I could feel the ache in his heart from hear. “Kace” I whispered, as I walked up to him, wrapping my arms around his waist, “This isn’t fair” I held back a sob, but I couldn’t help the tears that started to warm up around the edges of my eyes. Blaise chimed in, “Evie, for us its an honour to compete” he said in a neutral tone. “He could die” I spat out, Blaise nodded, “with an honour to his name”  Fae and their honour, “What good is honour when your in a grave at the bottom of an ocean!” I snapped back, letting go of Kace and storming to Blaise, “You don’t seem to care that our brother is about to participate in a trial that could kill him?” I asked. Behind me Kace playfully said, “Well, I am a pretty good fighter if I do say so myself” 

Blaise nodded in agreement of Kaces statement, I gritted out, “You don’t realise the risk his life will be in” Blaise didn’t have any emotion on his face, but I could see his eyes turn from bright silver to a dark charcoal before he responded back calmly, “I am well aware of the risks Everleigh, more than you, but there is nothing we can do. We need to accept it and be there with him” “Bullshit” I mumbled under my breath.

“Everleigh, your brother is right” my dad interjected, “We cant do anything, he has been chosen for his strength and worthiness for the crown and I have high hopes he will make it through” 

“So do I” Blaise mumbled as he looked out the window. I couldn’t stop the next words coming out of my mouth, “You hoped it was you. Thats why you don’t care, because at least your biggest threat will be out of the game for next time, am I right?” I shouldn’t have said it, out of everyone Blaise cared the most yet he didn’t show it. 

Blaise shot forward, he was to fast that I blinked and almost toppled over the coffee table, his eyes levelled with mine, filled with fiery anger. I obviously struck a nerve, “Watch your mouth” he muttered. Ive never seen him get angry before but I think this was just a entrée to what he could actually do. He started walking away as if to say he was done with this conversation. But I wasn’t, with no idea why I did it, I grabbed my slipper and threw it at him, landing mid back because my throw was weak as a feather. He turned around, but the anger in his eyes disappeared with shock. 

It was a no brainer id do something like that so I don’t understand why he was looking at me like I just died. “No, no, no” He pleaded as he strode to me, my dad had his mouth wide open and my mum was choking back tears. I turned to Kace, colour in his face fading as he croaked, “how is this possible” looking back to Blaise who now grabbed my faced with looking at my forehead, I pushed away from him and walked towards the mirror on top of the fireplace, “What are you all-” I stopped my words as I saw my reflection. Multiple small vines wrapping on either side of my forehead like a crown, with a dim glow of liquid gold travelling through them, the sun in the centre of it followed by the two crescent moons sitting inside facing opposite ends. Holy crap. Ive been chosen.