I took a walk down the dark hallway of the palace. I need to find the Prince and the youth rank; the group. I didn't change my clothes, I just walked. I don't care, in the First District we don't have a problem even if our clothes are torn, who am I to be choosy now? I have no right to this luxurious place in the first place. So whether I walk around wearing a rug-- it doesn't matter to me. I also tried to find Manang Omeng, I went to her room but she was not there. She seemed angry with me when I decided to join the group. I immediately felt that she was worried about me. And I'm glad to think that, even if it's just a thought for me, it's so sweet to know that someone is worried about you.
"Manang Omeng ..." I called softly when I went to the place with many books.
"Oh!"
"F*ckk--" We were both surprised by the person I met. I immediately bowed in respect even though I had not yet seen who it was.
"What are you doing here?"
I looked up. My eyes dilated in shock. Her gorgeous fierce look appeared before me. It was Nathalia.
"W--where is Manang Omeng?" I asked. The courage to go with them suddenly disappeared, I just couldn't. I had all the braveness earlier but now I couldn't even bring it up.
"Oh, we're getting our things ready. We're leaving soon." Nathalia replied, her forehead was still furrowed as she looked at me.
I looked down, "I--is that so?"
Gone was the courage I had. I could not even speak in front of her properly, and I can't just bring it up. How the heck would I do this?
"Nathalia? What are you doing there? You witch--" Corinthians stopped talking right away when he saw me, her lips curved, "Hi witchy?" She greeted. Her brows furrowed first, as if she just realized she didn't know my name.
"She's looking for Manang Omeng." Nathalia replied while looking at me,
Corinthians' mouth opened saying 'Ahhh' "Is this a sign my dear?" Corinthians said while staring at me, "She's right here, in front of us."
This time, it was me who raised an eyebrow. I don't understand them at all.
"We should probably go to the Prince now, I'm sure his temper is already exploding." Nathalia answered instead and left first.
Corinthians just smiled at me before leaving. They left. I just watched them disappear from my sight. I was stuck in my position. My courage to go with them is gone. Just watching them makes me realize our status. When they're in front of me, I couldn't just speak properly because I don't know how to address them. My status always slaps me hard. I'm really nothing compared to them. I can't even say a single word to ask a permission if I could join them. Indeed, the fact that I was just a poor theif who got lost in the palace is a literal slap to me. And now I am a prisoner. I'm advanced, they'd probably catch me sooner and I'll be a poor captive.
I turned around and sighed, I wanted to go along. I want to get free from this Palace, what if they find out that a Criminal has entered the palace? What am I going to do? The stones! I need to find a stone! I really need to go with them no matter what it takes. I closed my eyes, and when I opened them, I could finally feel the surroundings stronger and wider. I knew at that time that my eyes were a different color. I can feel, hear and see beyond my human limit now. Maybe I’m slowly getting used to my power. My abilities are now wider than earlier.
From my standpoint, they are 0. 06214 miles away from me. It's 100 meters. I want to be happy, because I can already calculate the distance I can see. They were at the back door of the palace;
"What do you mean Nathalia?" It was Greyson, his forehead furrowed as he fought with Nathalia.
"She has sharp senses and that's what we lack! It will be easier for us to find someone with someone like her ability!" Nathalia insisted.
"But baby, she has never been to any battles like we experienced. How are you so sure that she would survive with us? We were trained, and maybe, she might just ruin our plans. That couldn't happen!." Even Greyson.
What the hell are they talking about? Nathalia looks so persistent while Greyson looks so against I think I'm involved, I have the chills. They seems like talking about me. Perhaps, they're considering me to join their team because of my ability? Maybe, that's what Nathalia's insisting. But then again, who am I to join them? Ohh-- right, I might just ruin their adventure, I could only be a burden. Once again, my confidence and courage lumped behind the darkness.
"You witnessed how she battled those creatures in the Maze of illusion!" Nathalia again insisted. Corinthian tried to intervene to calm the group down, however, even Chrysler interjected.
"Right. But when something bad happens to her, you're responsible for it Nathalia!" Chrysler said making Nathalia roll her eyes.
"Nothing bad will happen to her, I'm sure of it!" Nathalia blurted out, "You're a bunch of cowa--"
"Nathalia!" Chrysler's booming sound echoed throughout the place. They all stopped when he yelled, "We don't even know her yet. Sooner or later she will be kicked out of the Palace or will be placed in the dark dungeon. We're all set now! She could be the reason of our doom if we let her join our group!!" exclaimed Chrysler.
Nathalia became quiet.
I stepped back. Dark Dungeon? Does that place even exist? What if they put me there? I want Nathalia to fight for me more, but based on what I see now she won't just talk. Sh*t, I badly want to do this in able to escape and fulfill my scheme. This is not just for my own sake. I have a district to save. But then again, their conversation makes me lose my confidence.
"Calm down people. It was just a suggestion, you don't have to fight." Corinthians rebuke.
The tension was getting higher, I wanted to shift my gaze because I was hurt when they talked about me just like that as if I am a useless trash. But I can't look away. I really want to go with them because I carry a scheme with me.
"What's going on here?" That authoritative voice stopped everyone and increased the tension even more. Shivers went down my spine. It was just a simple question, but the owner of the voice carries so much power that the ambiance suddenly changed and became dangerous.
"Nothing..." Corinthians replied.
The Prince glared at her, but I was the one who backed out in fear. They're clear in my vision, my senses are fully awake. And since I am pressured with their tension, I feel so fully alive.
"Zavan, Nathalia wants to bring that girl. I won't allow it, we trained almost our lives for this eclipse! if that woman will be the reason for our misunderstanding and fight, I will expel her from this Palace!" Greyson said while looking at the Prince seriously.
I swallowed really hard. What the heck did I even do? Why am I hurting? I should be okay, I should be prepared for this because I saw this coming already. But why am I hurting?
"How about a pawn?" said Nathalia.
Everyone shut themselves and listened. Seems like they were intrigued by what she said. And I clutched my shirt in shock. My heart is beating so loud and fast.
"We need a pawn, if she can't be our sense, atleast we have a pawn." Nathalia's sharp language weakened me.
Right. They're going to use me, they're gonna use me as a pawn. I'm going to be their prey, that's fine with me. But why does my heart seem to break? Why am I hurting?
"We need a bait. She's our answered prayer Zavan, we need that woman." Nathalia added.
I stepped back. They will use me as a bait. Why can’t I accept that I am just a pawn, a bait to them? Looks like everywhere I go disaster is really after me. Or maybe, I am disaster myself.
"Where is she?" The Prince asked.
My heart skipped a beat. I stepped backwards even more. Sh*t, what am I gonna do now? Looks like the Prince will consider. But why am I feeling so scared about this?
"Zavan? Don't say you agree with what Nathalia suggested?" Greyson asked, confused.
"When we found her in the forest of illusion, I felt sorry for her. But I was filled with hope when I saw how she fought. She killed the most venomous snake in that maze! Nothing and no normal could do that Greyson, nothing. If she is a normal girl and incompetent, she wouldn't even set foot in the forest of illusion. Only to enter there requires power! " Corinthians said, calming Greyson down for a moment, "She's something more. And I wouldn't insist on it if I knew she had no use to us, she's also a fighter. And we've all seen that. If we're going to be damned because of her, what's the point? We've been rehearsing and we know that this thing will come at any time? We won't be spared from disaster from now on, and that's what we prepared for eversince we were young. " She added.
Corinthian's words sent massive shivers down my spine. Gosh, my heart is skipping so loud and fast. Her words were that effective to change everyone's decision.
"Bloodsuckers also need preys."
I muffled my bursting laugh. I thought I would be happy because of what that blonde woman said, but it only weakened my body even more. I want to freaking fall down. I'm just a tool for them, but I'm not going to be choosy anymore because I don't have the right. And I had to come along at the end.
"Where is that girl then?" Chrysler asked and sighed.
"You know what? You are all a pain in the ass!" Greyson said and looked ahead of the car, "I'm going! You all suck!" He said angrily leaving the team.
"Don't be a coward! That woman can help us, it's easy to throw her away if we don't need her anymore." Nathalia said, and the other ranks agreed.
F*ck? I was caught on the table I was sitting on. I'm hurting. I wanted to thrash away because of that pain in my chest but I could do nothing. In the world I live in, I am not privileged. The battle hadn't even started yet, but I am already falling in the abyss. Because I am a pauper, nothing but a dust on the ground. I lost immediately.
"So where is she now?" Chrysler asked.
I was surprised when the Prince turned to my place. I don't know if he saw me, if he could see or feel me, I don't understand at all. But I know he's heading towards me as if he knew I've been there. He walked towards me and I started panicking.
The Prince is heading in my direction! Who wouldn't panicked? I was about to walk out the door but I became too late, because a respectable man was standing there already watching me and blocking the way.
"You have such a very beautiful eyes, my lady." His hoarse voice echoed in my head.
His posture, the way he spoke, I’m sure he was a nobleman.
"Prince Zandrus, we need to go. The youngest Prince's team will be heading out now..." said the man behind him. The man also looked at me and was obviously amazed at the color of my eyes. I blinked so many times, I don't understand what's going on anymore. My extrasensory is not shutting down, I could still feel everything beyond my normal range and I know my eyes are still on their beautiful shade. I can't restore the color of my eyes. What is happening? Why can't I stop my abilities now? I panicked even more.
"Do you want to join my team, lady?" Prince Zandrus asked.
I looked up only to meet a gorgeous man in front of me. Authoritative, imperious, he's totally beautiful. My world almost stopped because of what he said, is this the chance? I was about to grab his extended hand but...
"No..."
My heart skipped a beat when a hoarse voice coming from behind answered instead of me. We all turned to the speaker from behind me. I gasped when I felt and saw his presence very close to me. Am I deserving to be even beneath his shadows?
His furrowed forehead was replaced by admiration when his eyes landed on mine. Our orbs danced against each other. We stared for that very moment and my heart battled with my mind. I want to look away because he looks so dangerous right now, but at the same time I can't because he also looks so glorious and majestic.
His dark shadow feels like the darkness that has been covering the whole area. His respected stand made me feel so little after being so dominating. The way he tilted his head while staring at my eyes made me stiff. And the way he stands behind me, makes me feel uncomfortable.
He is menacing. His golden eyes is impeccable, I didn't know someone who's gorgeous as him exist?
The Prince who greeted me earlier was very handsome, but I admit I can't just ignore the appeal and presence of the man standing beside me. He is like a precious stone with it's darkest innards. How he moved, made me feel I'm a living trash even more.
"She will be joining my team." He spoke without taking his eyes off mine.
I swallowed. What the hell is happening? A trash stuck between two crystals is so damn impossible to imagine, but it's happening. And I know this is where my disaster begins.
"She's mine."
Prince Zavan.