Silence: City of Ivory and Shadow

Chapter 3: Esmeray

Esmeray : /ESS-mer-eye/ - Turkish "dark moon"

Zephaniah's POV

Weeks had passed since I discovered the truth about the deaths of my parents and sister. On that very next day I decided to visit my uncle's domain to request an audience. We talk about matters about my parents but I did not fill him with all the details.

I still need to be careful not of him but of people that might be spying on us. Luckily my uncle was easy to catch on to why I was being reserved. He approved of my plans but was rather overly protective.

I had to persuade him a lot of times, but after three days we had reached an agreement. Later that afternoon before I went back to the secondary mansion I attended a tea party hosted by Archduchess Ananke.

It was a long week I must say but worthwhile. The preparation and plans had been laid all I need is to wait for it to hatch.

Thunder roared in the sky as I was staring at the pouring rain in the window. The cloud is dark and it's been raining nonstop.

"Calandra must be upset about something," I mumbled while putting firewood in the fireplace to keep us warm.

"You mean, the Goddess of rain?" Luna asked me.

Luna is my magical cat. When I was grieving over my sister's death Luna appeared out of nowhere and started following me. For a cat, she was very clever and smart on her own so I just adopted her. She had been my magical cat for about ten years, and we were residing in the secondary mansion together.

I nod. "I heard, that Pandora appeared in Caer's dreams, calling for her but no matter how much Caer try to look for her she just couldn't locate where she is." I supplied her curiosity.

"So what does it have to do with Calandra?" She asks.

"Calandra was said to be the lady in waiting of the late pandora. Sadly she still feel responsible of her disappearance 500 years ago or so was it. I'm not sure tho." I shrugged my shoulder off. "You know, I wasn't even born at that time." I supplied her.

"You mean the Primordial Queen, The guardian deity of all gifts to mankind disappeared not die?" She asked in disbelief.

"I dunno, yet, after all this time why do you think does she appear now?" I ask.

"Dunno. You know we will never understand the Gods no matter how much we try to do so." She replied in a matter-of-fact tone. As if what she said is common knowledge.

"I see," I said in between sighs. "I hope we can be as carefree as they are."

The head maid then arrive and gave me Luna blankets to keep us warm.

"Miss Zeph, don't stay too late okay, you might catch a cold if you do." She says as she places warm chocolates and cookies on the round table near me and Luna.

I nod and thank her before she leaves. Luna then went near me and made herself comfortable in the blanket as she continue speaking.

"It seems, the rain won't stop until the heavenly king returns to calm his wife." Luna continued as she cleans herself. "Oh, before I forgot you met with your Mighty archduke uncle of yours right?"

I just nodded.

"Urgh, I'm so envious you even attended the tea party of the Archduchess Ananke."

To stop her nonsense I handed Luna the ball invitation. The archduke palace holds royal balls every year to celebrate the winter solstice in Kaltain. This time, it's a masquerade ball. Also this ball will serve another purpose, it's a way to keep my private meeting with my uncle look unsuspicious.