Amethyst

Chapter 6 - The First Gemstones

I'm sitting on my bed, legs over the edge, staring at the floor. What did Ezekiel mean when he said 'no one has ever chosen a Shadow Pet like that before'? just what will I uncover about myself with my powers? I look over at Nuna. that's the name I gave her before Ben and I left the training room. She's sitting on the windowsill, looking out at the scene before her. Her black and silver fur seems to almost shine in the natural light pouring in from the window. I go join her window and she immediately jumps off, going to the far end of the room. I turn, look at her and say, "C'mon, don't you want to try to at least get along? I want to be your friend and get to know you. I chose you as my Shadow Pet, and it seems to me like you agreed to it. So why don't you wanna be near me?" Nuna looks at me with an insightful gaze and lays on the floor for a nap. I sigh in exasperation and look out the window. my room lets me look out over the Amethyst Court and I can still see the two camps. it doesn't even look like anything changed. in fact, there seem to be even more people than before.

most of the stores and buildings are still damaged and in ill repair. my heart feels like it's sinking. how can I possibly become strong enough to help protect these people, this world? of course I want to but the question is...can I do it? As I'm looking out the window, a knock on the door jars me out of my thoughts. I go over to the door and open it. It's the maid who showed us to our rooms. "Hello, I'm to bring you to the King and Queen. please follow me."

"Umm, okay. Nuna, c'mon let's go." I turn back to look at her, still sitting on the floor where she went to get away from me. Nuna opens her dark purple eyes and looks at me as though she'd rather do anything else than walk beside me. but she stretches, yawns, and gets up, following me out the door. Nuna and I follow the maid to the library. she opens the door and leads us through. Ben is already there and they're talking in hurried tones. they look up as Nuna and I enter and the King looks at me earnestly.

"Shelby, good to see you. And I see you, like Ben, have managed to summon your Shadow Pet. I trust you've had an alright experience here so far?"

"Yes, my King-umm Caspian, I mean. thank you." The King nods kindly and ushers me over to the table.

"Allow me to tell you both why I called you here. I told you both already what Rohit now has at his disposal. I know it doesn't sound good. believe me, we've seen it. Now, I trust you've had time to train?" I nod. but I feel like I should bring up the experience I had with choosing Nuna, how Ezekiel had said that how 'no one has ever summoned a Shadow Pet like that before.' I decide to tell him this and the King ponders over my words, saying, 

"Well Shelby, it seems like you will be a very interesting Gemstone Protector. onto another piece of news I wanted to share with you both. because Rohit will now try and get the first Gemstone for himself, we must now make it our priority to get them before he does. so, that means you will have different challenges to face, Shelby. Long ago, the first rulers of each Court were all told when they accepted their rule where the first Gemstone of their court is; where it was originally placed during the beginning of Liliya's birth. as you get stronger and train more, you will have to go through different challenges, trials, let's say, to get them. they will be incredibly hard and very difficult. they may or may not take a toll on you. each challenge and trial will require you to be so familiar with your abilities that they feel like a second skin. but for now, you don't need to do that yet. I recommend you keep training and getting stronger; familiarize yourself more with your powers. you'll need to for the trials ahead. now, the Queen and I have other matters that we must put in place now that you're here. leave us for now." the king kindly dismisses us and Ben and I leave.

Ben and I walk through the almost empty halls. There's a tailor or maid that goes past us now and then. "Well," Ben begins. "What do you think so far?"

"all this? I mean, it's amazing, it's beautiful. But I still have trouble believing that me, a girl so ordinary, so normal, could have these powers. I guess I just figured that someone else is better suited for this-" Ben stops me with one hand on my shoulder, turns me to face him, and says in a serious tone, "Shelby, out of all the people back home, the kids in our school, someone walking down the street, whatever it is, none of them could have done what you have so far. yeah, you showed a little bit of hesitation and wariness. but in my opinion, anyone back home would be outright scared, confused, and possibly even terrified. you were made for this, Shelby. I think that you're right where you need to be." Ben's gaze is locked with mine. he raises his hand from my shoulder and cups my face gently in his hands. I notice a flush on his cheeks and I suspect I have one too because I can feel it.

"You're amazing Shelby. I know you'll be the Gemstone Protector we need you to be." and again, that gaze that locks our eyes to each others passes between us. he begins to bring his face to mine. my chest is hammering as my heart is doing these stupid little flips I don't want to feel. I hate that I feel like this around him. closer and closer Ben's face gets to mine. there's no way he can like me. no way. but maybe he does? I guess it isn't too impossible to think he could have some sort of change in feelings toward me. Just like in the training room after I moved around the room and was embraced in Ben's arms, the feeling of his hand rising up to the back of my neck, intending to pull me towards him, I tell myself yet again that he's too good for me. So I pull away. And this time, I think he might be starting to think I don't think of him that way. But he couldn't be more wrong. I step back from him and say, faking a yawn this time, 

"Sorry Ben. I'm pretty beat after today. I'm going to head to bed. I'll see you tomorrow." I don't wait for any response he might give me, just quickly walk down the hall towards my room.

I quickly get into my bedroom, closing the door behind me. I sink down to the floor and bring my knees to my face, sighing loudly in the room. I can't let Ben know in any way I like him back. He has to find someone else, whether it's here or back home...I dont know. Just not me. I cant tell, but as I sit against the door, sighing and upset in my confusion over what just happened, I swear I feel Nuna's tail brush against my leg comfortingly.