Help from the OtherSide

39. After Party

Yumiko's POV

The King tapped his feet on the low platform impatiently and the Queen communicated with Anarzia through certain unimpressive facial expressions.

"Alright, who's going? And don't y'all dare push me this time." Deccan indirectly referred to Hex and stepped behind. Rest of them uncertainly looked around, not sure what to do.

"Zia, please tell your friends to join us." The Queen gritted her teeth. We were really testing everybody's patience here.

"Deccan why don't you?" Telsin motioned him forward and gave a confused smile, not knowing what our fuss what about.

Anarzia facepalmed and Deccan looked at the ceiling and muttered some words, as if asking the Almighty for some strength to endure whatever was going to happen. Shaking his head, he walked and stood in front of Telsin like the other nobles previously.

"You may start." The Queen slightly relieved that someone initiated, which kept the circle moving.

Deccan didn't meet their gaze and kept his eyes on the floor. He slowly dipped his hand in the large bowl held by the guard elves. After a second he removed it slowly, trying to delay the fire part. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and his palm and held it before Telsin who was looking at Deccan struggle still unaware of the problem.

My breath hitched. With a jerk he opened his palms and nothing happened. No flame blue, red or yellow appeared. The King and Queen frowned and leaned over to peer at his hands. He slowly opened his eyes to look at the result. His face fell when he saw the flameless palms. The audible whispers of other elves made my hands sweaty.

"He's new to our traditions mother. I think we should give them some time." Anarzia interjected and hurried over to a steely faced Deccan; who looked like he had accepted his fate. 

While she pretended to talk to her parents, she slipped something in his hands and he too, looked surprised. She then turned and mumbled something in the pretense of hugging him. He subtly nodded not meeting her gaze and she joined back the circle.

He exhaled deeply and dipped his fingers in the water and closed his palms once again. Someone squeezed my hands with the same bated breath I watched him. With a determined look, he opened his palms.

I choked on seeing the result.

 Ripples of gasps travelled across the ballroom when a smoky black flame emitted from his palms. Horror etched on his face as he stared at his palms and the royal family grabbed Telsin and stepped away from the black flame. Seeing the reaction the flame had caused, Deccan hid his hands behind his back and stared at us in shock.

"HOW DID THAT OCCUR? WHO ARE YOU!" The King roared balling his fist. Telsin, for the first time had something apart from a smile on his face. A look of fright and betrayal washed over him.

I assumed from the little get-together in the kitchen, they must have grown friendly with each other.

"What in the holy Realm did he do?" Even Dora looked terrified of the flame which actually worried me.

However Deccan didn't flinch from the noise and questions being hurtled at him. He gazed at the floor and clenched his palm.

"Zia who is he and what are you hiding?" The soft spoken Queen raised her voice.

She didn't answer, instead she turned to us and whispered, "The charm put on your clothes are wearing off. He used too much magic." She muttered sadly.

A woman's scream directed all eyes on us. The nobility who stood next to me in the circle, backed off. I couldn't see any difference but the entirety of the court moving away from us indicated only one thing.