The Fire Inside

Kova

Iridesa came in through the door, closely followed by Vela and Evolet. "I heard we were watching a movie?"

"We sure are." Camille pulled Kova closer to her on the main family room couch. Her daughter giggled as she made room for the three girls her mother was trying to get her to befriend. "Girls movie afternoon. Come, sit."

Vela sat on the other side of the couch, then Evolet, and Iridesa was closest to Kova. "What movie?" The lead lady-in-waiting took some popcorn from her lady's bowl, to which she offered some.

"Kova's never seen Aladdin, and I think we should introduce her to the live action version."

"Mm. Sounds like a good choice." Iridesa placed her arm over Kova's shoulder. "This, this is a good movie. You'll enjoy it," she grins, pointing at the screen.

"Will I?" Kova smirked.

"Well of course, I, after all, am rather intelligent." She shrugged.

Camille forced back her laugh. "Alright girls, the movie's starting."

Throughout the movie, Kova kept unwavering attention. She asked two questions, mostly concerned about the fact that 'the monkey was aware that taking something from the treasure was not allowed' and how 'Aladdin could've just gotten a job'. Iridesa stole most of her popcorn.

"Well, despite your obvious concern for Aladdin's welfare, how'd you like

the movie?" Iridesa twirled the popcorn kernels in the bowl with her finger.

"It was good," Kova squealed. "Completely confusing about how the genie became a human, but it was really good."

"Judgy," Camille teased.

Kova knew when she was kidding now. She giggled.

"Arlight," Camille sighed as she got up. "Kove, sweetheart, there's still about an hour before dinner. Is there something you want to do? You can just spend time with your ladies if you'd like."

Kova looked over at them, to which Iridesa raised her brows and gave two thumbs up. "Okay, ma'am."

Camille kissed her cheek. "Okay, if you need me I'll be up in the offices with Dad. The girls can help you get there if need be, okay?"

"Alright." When she left, Kova unceremoniously turned around. "So...what would you like to do...ladies?"

...

Kova squealed as she heard Evolet start counting. "One...two...three..." She dashed up the stairs and took a left, going somewhere she hadn't yet memorized-and ran straight into Iridesa.

Trying to quiet her laughing, Iridesa tugged her further down the hall. "Shh, shh, she'll find us." She pulled the two of them into a room. "Go hide in the cupboard, I'll hide in the bathroom."

Kova nodded. "Don't rat me  out if she finds you first." She opened the door to the cupboard by the television set and crunched into a ball before shutting it behind her. Darkness swelled over the light. She rubbed her wrists to remind herself she wasn't chained to the back of a truck.

"Are you alright in there?" Iridesa's voice sounded from the other side of the door.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine."

"Okay, I'm going to go hide." Her footsteps faded away.

A very distant voice shouted, "Ready or not, here I come!"

Everything went silent. As Kova stared into the blackness she wasn't sure if her eyes were opened or closed. "You're okay," she murmured to herself. "It's just a cabinet. You're okay."