Separate Crowns of One Heart

Sėvėn

The next day, at midday, a small entourage of royal guards (these are the Tigers— very efficient fighters and much more powerful than the Jaguars) comes to my quarters to escort me to the Palace. With Demi behind me carrying my personal effects and the guards surrounding us, we're led through the halls of the dormitory.

I avoid the eyes of the Fems who have gathered in the halls to watch me as I head off the palace, leaving the Academy for good. The looks thrown my way seem a lot dirtier than what I was met with yesterday. Someone mumbles "tikiweka" but covers it with a couch as I pass by. Then others begin repeating it. What starts as a whisper of "tikiweka" turns into a chant that rolls through the halls of the dormitory, growing louder and louder; chasing me, refusing to let me go.

The guards pick up their pace, sensing that things might take a nasty turn and that they definitely do. I guess calling me out of name isn't enough, so they begin chucking things at me. The first few miss but something wet and cold gets me square in the cheek. I wipe it away with the sleeve of my cloak without looking at it— afraid that I might be sick if I see what it is.

"Pull up your hood, Mademoiselle," the guard to my right tells me as they close the gaps between them.

I do so and as I am, I find a certain pair of red-rimmed eyes staring daggers at me. Camille makes her way to the front of the lineup of Fems and quickly pushes between the guards just as I approach. Up close, I can see her usually meticulous hair is messy— curls sticking out in places and twists matted to one side as if she hasn't gotten out of bed in days. Her red eyes are a clear indication that she's been crying and her clothes... Camille is always dressed to the T, she even takes pride in it but the plainclothes she wears right now are wrinkled and stained.

"Mademoiselle," one of the taller guards tries to stop her. "Please step aside."

Camille smiles at him sweetly, playing up her charm as always. "I'm only saying farewell to my dear friend."

"We have orders from the crown to not stop for anything," the same Tiger speaks. "We need to get His Highness's—"

"She is nothing to him!" The chanting and throwing of objects have ceased so her proclamation is loud and clear for all to hear. "I don't know what kind of witchery you've done to steal my love from me, but I will stop you, xilëni empeza." The last part of her sentence is better left untranslated but I've never been called a worse name. She turns away as if about to walk away then quickly turns back. Before I can think to stop it, her nails extend into claws and she slashes at my face, leaving long and stinging ridges across my cheek and nose.

A guard grabs her and throws her back against the wall of Fems but the damage has already been done. I clutch my face as my warm blood trickles through my fingers while fighting back tears— both from the pain of my injury and the insult of her words.

A coat is thrown over my head and I'm ushered even faster now through the building. Outside, a silver carriage waits at the bottom of the Academy's steps, the early spring sun gleaming off the metal. A smartly dressed coachman stands at the open door, waiting.

"Right this way." I'm pushed into the carriage and then Demi climbs in after me. Two of the guards join us inside while the rest hail another ride. The carriage door closes and we bounce along in the direction of the Palace, the horse hooves clicking against stone.

"Are you alright, Odusanya?" Demi whispers as if she's afraid to speak in the presence of the Tigers.

I turn to her and notice what a mess her garbs are. "I'm alright," I lie. "Are you?"

"Yes, but your face..." She starts to reach toward me but I push her hand away.

"It's not as bad as it looks." She doesn't seem too convinced but she doesn't push. The rest of the ride to the Palace is quiet as I stare out the small window at the passing landscape.