𝙎𝙃𝘼𝘿𝙊𝙒𝙎 (𝙖𝙯𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙡 )

𝑇𝑊𝑂

Chapter Two
Lesson Zero

She had honey blonde hair, and chocolate brown eyes. The woman was mad, shouting at me. I raised my hands in defense, but she threw her arms up in the air as she continued yelling. I couldn't hear a word she was saying, and the surroundings felt foreign. A cool night sky awaited outside as me and this woman were standing on a balcony, her tan skin milky under the moonlight.

I felt my body weight shift forward as I took a step towards her, reaching out. When she turned around to look at me, her eyes were filled with rage. I swear I saw red as she drew her hand back, continuing to shout. Not moving, I let her slap me across the face, and back to reality.

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Waking up, I nearly toppled out of bed. The side where I had dreamt the woman of hitting me actually ached. Pressing my palm to it, I rushed across my room and into the bathroom. I doused my face with cool water to calm myself but my cheek still stung. I nearly fainted from shock when a maid's knuckles rapped on my door.

Running across the room, I swung the door open. A short Fae, who had chestnut colored hair and pale skin, smiled at me. Her mask was a lion's, as it's fangs danced across her lips. She rushed in and I was careful to shut the door behind me. "You'll never guess what Tamlin brought home!" She squealed, digging through my closet.

"Do tell," I yawned, plopping myself down on my bed. The silk tapestry was now drawn aside as my loyal maid tied the curtain's back. Soaking in the sunshine that now flooded my room, I looked over to her as she continued picking out a dress.

"A human," she gasped, out of breath as she tugged a dress from the back forward, "One that killed Andras." I frowned, tilting my head as she revealed a floor length pink dress, with a high neckline that was embroidered with flowers. Cinched around the waist, tulles of fabric flowed down like an elegant waterfall.

Stepping forward, I shook my head as I changed into the dress. "Ione, do you think she could...break the curse?" I tried not to sound desperate, but I heard her disappointed sigh as I shrugged my dress on.

"Perhaps," Ione said, "But it's a tricky one. I worry that we won't have enough time before...until..." The words died in her throat, and I turned around.

My fists clenched as they held my skirt tightly. A sudden gust of wind blew the windows open, and Ione rushed to close them. My voice quavered as I whispered, "Don't say her name." Ione merely nodded, closing the windows and then sitting me down in a chair.

It was soothing as Ione brushed my hair, each stroke of the comb turning my wild mane into a silky white sheet. It was still hard to ignore the nerves despite the peace. The countdown I had been dreading my entire life. The one that kept every person I cared about trapped behind a mask, and too afraid to speak her name.

However, it wasn't fear that wouldn't let me say Amarantha. It was anger. Hot, sweltering, vicious anger that felt suffocating at times. For how I spent nights of my childhood, puzzling on how one could be so cruel. Only if I was calm, I could speak evil's name.

Ione stepped back, and I quieted my thoughts. She had left my hair down, only braiding in a few flowers into my short hair. I stood up and gave her a warm smile before I went downstairs.

I would stop Amarantha from hurting them. My people. My family. Ione's mask was just a reminder of a vow I made to her, my friend. I would need to fight, but in order to fight, I would need a teacher.

So I held my head high as I entered the dining room for breakfast.

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