Wonderland Is A State Of Mind

Chapter 2

Stepping off the platform, Celeste returned her face to its usual guarded appearance. Turning to face the assembly of advisors who had gathered for her arrival, she put on a polite smile and nodded her head in acknowledgement towards them. The small crowd wore the traditional white and gold embroidered robes, meant for the highest-ranking members of the court. They stood with backs straightened, their eyes following her every move. Hale fell into step behind her as the Queen and her most trusted friend glided towards the palace's interior, the Queen's court following closely behind them.

The sweet Lunaria air had a crisp chill to it so when Celeste let out a sigh of contentment, she could see her breath in the cold air. The glass dome above them peered into the dark abyss of space. When morning arose, the glass would reveal a breathtaking sunset before settling back into night. On their planet, it was eternally night. The artificial light that filled the cities was on 24/7, casting a faint glow in the distance.

Having landed in the hanger, they made their way through the courtyard. Dazzling violet-coloured flowers stared up at them as they passed. This time of year the Lunaria, after which their planet had been named, were in full bloom. The small flowers enveloped the surface of Lunaria so much, you could hardly walk three steps without trampling one.

Stopping to pick one off of its flowering bush, Hale turned the purple flower's stem in his hand. "For you," he said. Offering the flower to Celeste.

She blushed, mumbling a word of thanks while she stared at the brilliant petals.

They kept moving and soon reached the entrance to the throne room. Waving the crowd away, Celeste expressed her desire to be alone for a moment but would be happy to see her court at the following day's meetings. Sensing how much she truly craved solitude, Hale left to get ahead on some work, leaving the girl alone. Clambering up the elegant stairs, Celeste turned down the familiar hallways of her palace, stopping to admire the silken tapestries covering the exquisite silver walls.

Although she loved her home, it was almost painful to return to it. Everywhere she looked she saw hurtful reminders of what her life used to be. Her heartbeat quickened, breath growing shallow. Flashes of memories flooded these halls, filling her brain and choking her as if she had plunged into a deep pool of water. The liquid filling her lungs and strangling her into a choking fit as her vision blurred and she collided with the nearby table. Gasping, she clawed at the hardwood, sending an oriental vase to the floor with a crash. The ground suddenly lurched and swallowed her into a pit of icy water. The water kept coming, drowning her more and more with each passing moment until she felt she could hold on no more. But then when Celeste thought that this was it, she was going to die. She found herself back in the palace hallway, struggling to stand upright. Plummeting to the floor, Celeste laid on the cold tiles. Her body violently convulsed in an attempt to shut out the painful echoes that haunted her mind. Finally coming to a halt, she lay surrounded by the shattered fragments of glass from the vase. Staring at the ceiling, Celeste whimpered and collapsed in exhaustion. Her body, at last, forcing her into sleep.