The Colors of Truth

Chapter 3

"I think-," Before he can finish his sentence the door abruptly opens and the officer walks in,

"Alright, times up," Link looks disappointed as I get up from the chair, I turn around and silently wave to him before shutting the door. It's now up to him to choose me or not, I'm not even sure how I feel about him. I'm brought to a small room while I wait for his response, if he says yes, I have the option to decline, using my only filter attempt. If he says no, then it's a no, I just go back to the Great Hall and see if another male wants to meet me. He was sweet but I was so nervous that everything we talked about was a haze in my mind. I go to sit down in the room the females were first put into, with a few others I recognize. 

My name is called after only a minute,

"Serenity Wick? Is that correct?" the old woman drawls as she licks her finger and flips through a file,

"Yes, that's me," suddenly a flash of surprise paints her face but fades quickly,

"Well, you've been urgently requested, but Link Carenger has also chosen you. So, what's it gonna be." She blinks slowly at me through the thick glass. I have two options, I can get this over with and accept Link, or I can use my only and last filter attempt and meet the urgent request. I can't help but wonder what an urgent request entails...

"I want to use my filter attempt please, I'd like to meet the urgent request," I try to say politely, for some reason I feel the urge to know what this special request is, I didn't even know such a thing existed. After she writes something down and types in a computer, I'm escorted by another officer to the same corridor where I met Link.

"It's the door on the far right," the officer sounds much more tired than the first one. I walk in the opposite direction this time and place my hand on the golden doorknob, my hands aren't sweaty anymore but I'm curious to see what's on the other side. The door creeks open and I am met with the same room but with slightly different furniture, I scan my eyes across the room, but no one is in it except me. I relax my shoulders as I make my way to the loveseat next to a fireplace. The fire roars against the coals and logs, the flames remind me of the sun.

I start to laugh a bit, if it was such an urgent request then why am I alone? Has he forgotten? That's when I hear something rustle from behind me. I snap my head around, my hair bounces against my cheek.

It's the same boy from before, the raven-haired boy. He starts towards me with his hands in his pocket, he was standing in the corner of the room all along, just watching me.

"It's you!" was all I could make out, I stood up so I could greet him. I cringed at my excitement but held my hand out to greet him. This time, he only shook my hand. His grip is menacing, the handshake giving me shivers. I pull my hand away quickly. 

"What is your name?" I grind my teeth together at his question, his voice is dark and deep. I can't look him in the eye like I could Link. 

"I'm serenity. Serenity Wick, it's nice to meet you." I'm bolder than before,

"That's interesting... I've never heard of a female with a name that holds meaning." He says it without malice, but still, I feel slightly insulted. I can't help but get a closer look at his features- raven hair, of course, green eyes, full lips, there's a small scar on his eyebrow and jawline.

"I've never seen a male with a tattoo, yet here we are." I quip back, to both of each other's surprise. I look at it again, it is less covered than it was through the glass. His chest and shoulder muscles are defined, I notice. Perhaps his strength has something to do with him breaking records, I wonder.

"But you haven't told me your name yet," I break the silence as we both observe each other.

"I'm Orson." I sneak another glance at his eyes which are fiercely pinning my own down. I instinctively look away and blush. 

"I think I've heard your name before..." I try to not show him how much I know, but it seems he is clueless too,

"My name? What have you heard about me?" He wasn't nearly as chipper as Link was, but his voice echoed off of the walls of the room, deep and demanding. I quickly consider the cost of telling him the truth, unlike most people, I feel inclined to be honest with him.

"My sisters enjoy watching the males run in the morning... One of them mentioned a male with a tattoo." I tuck a curl behind my ear, trying to seem uninterested

"How charming...I didn't know I had so many fans." He smirks, obviously flattered. I refrain from smacking my face.

"So... Have you done this before?" I ask, trying to dig a little deeper.

"Have I done what before?" He smirks again like he knows what I'm talking about, and I feel myself getting frustrated and hot.

"How does that work-- when you urgently requested me? That can't be fair to the other males, I've never heard of such a thing. What if I had accepted Link to be my mate? I don't understand..." I let my hands drop to my side defeatedly.

He looks at me quizzically, like he does not understand what I just asked him.

"They really have taught you nothing..." He clears his throat, I shift in my chair, the air is suddenly thick and uncomfortable. 

"Are you a more powerful male then? They taught us in history that... The males and females are separated because the females were sacrificed too much by power plays. That must mean you have more power: the more power, the more control..." I drift off, realizing I didn't need an explanation from him after all.

"Ah, intelligent female..." He chuckles and nods.

I couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or not.

"We learned that years ago, in fifth, I barely even remember it. But I do remember being scolded and slapped for talking about it in the grades after that, we never learned it again. I had forgotten about it until now." I defend myself, just in case.

"We weren't taught about females, or our history, either," he says reasurredly.

"Then why does it seem like you know a lot of things, Orson?" I immediately regret the sentence, wishing I'd said nothing at all. I can't repress my curiosity for him.

In the firelight, his eyes almost look magical, I lean in, making sure I'm not imagining it.

"You are an intelligent female, I wasn't joking. But you are my mate now,  and that means talking to me like that will not get you far..." His words send shivers down my back, my eyes widening with fear. His eyes are swirling with menace, and I can tell he means what he said.

"I'm sorry," I say quietly.

His face stays stone cold as his eyes glaze over me again.