One In The Same Flame. ~Red Queen~ 《Cal x Reader 》

chapter 11~undaunted white

The crowd at the end of the feast, their glasses raised to the royal table. On they go, lords and ladies in a rainbow of color trying to wiggle their way into favor. I'll have to learn them all soon, matching color to house to people. Maven whispers their names to me in turn, even though I won't remember them tomorrow. At first it's annoying, but soon I find myself leaning in to hear the names.

Lord Samos is the last to stand, and when he does, a hush falls. This man commands respect, even among titans. Though his black robes are plain, trimmed with simple silk, and he has no great jewels or badges to speak of, he had the undeniable air to power. I don't need Maven to tell me he's the highest of the high houses, a person to be feared above all others.

"Volo Samos," Maven murmurs. "Head of house Samos. He owns and operates the iron mines. Every gun in the war comes from his land."

So he's not just a noble. His importance comes from more than titles.

Volo's toast is short and to the point. "To my daughter," he rumbles, his voice low, steady, and strong. "The future queen."

"To Evangeline!" Ptolemus shouts, jumping to his feet next to his father. His eyes blaze around the room, daring someone to oppose them. A few lords and ladies look annoyed, angry even, but they raise their cups with the rest, saluting the new princess. Their glasses reflect the light, each one a tiny star in the hand of a god.

When he finishes, Queen Elara and King Tiberias rise, both of them smiling at their many guests. Cal gets up as well, then Evangeline, then Maven, and after one dumb moment, Mare and I join. The many houses do the same at their tables, and the scraping of chairs on marble sounds like nails on a stone. Thankfully, the king and queen simply bow and walk down the short set of steps leading away from our high table. It's over. Mare and I had made it through my first night.

Cal takes Evangeline hand and leads her after them, Maven and me, with Mare and a sentinel bringing up the rear. When Maven takes my hand, his skin is shockingly cold.

The Slivers press in on both sides, watching us pass in heavy silence. Their faces are curious, cunning, cruel-and behind every fake smile is a reminder; they are watching. Every eye scraping over me, looking for cracks and imperfections, make me squirm, but I cannot break.

I cannot slip. Not now, not ever. Mare and I, were one of them now. We're special.

I'm an accident. And my life depends on matching the illusion.

Maven tightens his fingers in mine, willing me onward. "It's almost over," he whispers as we near the far end of the hall. "Almost there."

Back in the passageway, a group of Sentinels waits to escort us upstairs. But then, what threats could there possibly be to these people?

Cal, Maven, and King Tiberias can control fire. Elara can control minds.

What could they fear?

We will rise, red as the dawn. Farley's voice, my brother Shade, the creed of the Scarlet Guard, comes back to me. They attacked the capitol already; this could even be their next target. Mare and I could be there next target. Farley could hold us up in another hijacked broadcast, revealing us to the world in an attempt to underline the Silvers. "Look at their lies, look at this lie," she would say, pushing their faces into the camera, bleeding us red for all the world to see.

"That went well," Elara says, snatching her hand away from the king when we reach the residence floor. He doesn't seem to mind in the least. "Take the girls to their rooms."

She doesn't detect her command at anyone in particular, but four Sentinels break off from the group. Their eyes glitter behind their black masks.

"I can do it," Cal and Maven say in unison. They glance at each other, startled.