Fly or Fall

Chapter Fifteen

The next few days around the palace were tense. Val had been hauled up in her room, refusing to answer her door. She'd also barricaded the entrance to the secret passage way, leaving Kol with no chance to sneak in I-hope-you-feel-better-soon cookies. Andy and Anna weren't speaking. Andy spent his days in the library with Hae reading and Anna with Kol practicing her magic. The only time the two siblings were in the same room were during their lessons with Zoriah Platten.

Kol was growing awfully tired of this. He missed the way it had been. Things were different now. Even the time he spent with Anna was different, she didn't laugh or tell funny stories of her brother. She didn't go off on silly rants about things Kol didn't understand but was always keen to listen to her try and explain. She didn't walk around the palace with him and have in depth conversations about the most outrageous things, like the little theories they'd come up for the otherworlds. Anna was convinced there were Mer-people on Auran. Why else would 95% of the world be made up of water?

He missed her. All she wanted to do now was practise her magic, spell after spell. Life in the palace was starting to revert to the way it was before the Echowoods arrived in Omora. Kol couldn't let that happen. He wouldn't!

"The Dello ball is in two days," he said casually as he and Anna walked down to the dining hall.

"Why is it called the Dello ball?" she asked, reaching for the pale pink carnation in her hair. She made sure it was secure within her thick curls before she turned to Kol with a curious smile. Kol had picked the flower from the gardens, he thought it would match her beautiful dusty pink tulle gown and her radiant smile. He hoped she'd smile when she saw the flower. She had and it was enough to lift his spirits. It'd been too long since he'd seen her smile.

"It's named after Dello, the god of love and magic," he answered her. "They say once a year he blesses all the lovers who attend his ball."

"Oh," she said. "Are you going?"

"Yes, it's the first one I'll be old enough to attend."

"That's good," she took her eyes from him and asked, "Are you going with anyone?"

Kol smiled. "I don't know," he said. "There's someone I've been meaning to ask but I'm not sure if they'd say yes."

"Oh," she said as she returned his smile. "I'm pretty sure they'd love to go with you. Who could say no to a dashing prince."

He chuckled before stopping in front of her. "Annabel Anesu Echowood, would you do me the honour of attending the Dello ball with me?"

"Prince Kolan Valkerie' Orgon, I'd be delighted to go with you." And they both laughed.

"What are the two of you so chirper about?" Sage said from behind them and they whipped around.

"Nothing," Anna said. "Just talking about the Dello ball. Are you going?"

The Kuth guard shook her head. "I'm working."

"Oh, you can't be," Kol protested, frowning. "I'm sure Anna and Andy can survive the night without your protection," Anna flinched and her smile fell at the sound of her brother's name but otherwise nodded. "There must be someone you want to go with."

Sage looked solemn for a moment but she covered it with a forced smile and shook her head. "I'm afraid not, your highness."

He linked his arm through hers and then through Anna's and said, "I guess we'll have to find you someone."

>>>>>>>

Nicco closed his eyes as he pinched the bridge between his eyes. "What does it matter what I think?" he grumbled.