Behind My Shadow - Book Three

2. These Are the Hands of Fate

The roar of the crowd is deafening. I can practically feel the soundwaves rolling through me as I climb the stairs to the stage.

I feel like I'm getting vertigo glancing out at the rippling sea of spectators jumping up and down with excitement at the sight of me. I can't help but smile even despite my fried nerves. I've never been greeted like this before! I feel like a rockstar. I laugh with disbelief as the crowd begins chanting my name. I wave with both hands as I take my place beside the Grand Judge of the Royal Jury, and blow kisses to the screaming audience.

The Judge holds up her hands in attempts to quiet the crowd, but their zealous cries last a few minutes more before finally tapering off. I am absolutely beaming with amazement at such a welcoming and clasp my hands beneath my chin as I gaze out at the crowd with unbridled appreciation.

"Here stands the heir of Alice!" The Judge declares, gesturing grandly at me. "Adara Ann Michaels!"

The crowd goes wild again.

"Tonight is the scared eve of the Eighteen Labors," the Judge continues. "This is the glorious night of the Exception! Tonight, the heir of Alice will pledge herself in blood to the legacy that has built this world and to the legacy that keeps this world alive!"

My smile flickers briefly with anxiety but the boisterous applause of the crowd impossibly fills me with confidence and conviction, and I hold my head high as the Judge carries on.

"On this night, Adara Ann Michaels becomes the Promised Alice! We shall celebrate in her honor and when the sun comes in the morning, she shall begin the Labors!"

Everyone cheers and chants my name again.

The Judge briefly bows to me and now gestures at the crowd as she takes a few steps back. I cautiously step closer, anxiously wringing my hands together as my gaze sweeps over the audience. They quiet down in anticipation for my speech. I gulp, my nerves feel like pop rocks sizzling in my veins.

Yeah, no surprise but I've never been very good at public speaking.

I force myself to breathe though, taking one slow, deep breath in at a time before shakily exhaling until my breathing becomes a little steadier. My eyes nervously flicker from one person to another, unable to meet anyone's gaze for longer than a second at a time. I slowly close my eyes and force myself to focus on the sound of my heart echoing in my ears.

My hands stop shaking and my shoulders relax slightly.

"Thank you all for coming," I say softly at first. I anxiously clear my throat and now speak up louder, opening my eyes once more. "It's really, truly an honor to stand here before you all tonight. Honestly, this...this is just wild," I chuckle with disbelief and shake my head. "I know I'm not from here, but truth be told, I feel more at home here in Raetri than I've ever felt anywhere else."

As I talk, I try to imagine my Dark Rider being in the crowd and somehow the thought of Vyndren's presence makes me feel safer and more confident. My voice doesn't tremble anymore as I go on. "In my world -where I'm from- we don't have talking animals. Or magical bloodlines. Or singing flowers. But here...we do. Raetri is the most beautiful place I have ever seen; the air here is different. I can feel life and energy from everything." I say passionately. "What I love most about Raetri though is that what was impossible in my world, is possible here. Everything is possible here. It's a magical miracle and I feel so deeply honored to be able to have a place here with you all."

I catch my father's eye, he's standing by the edge of the stage in the background with his apprentice, Quill. Quill readily smiles encouragingly at me, and I can't help but smile back. Cornelius nods slowly, his blue eyes shine with pride as he watches me.

I turn back to the crowd. "I never knew my mother... your last Alice, Adarina. But you knew her. And I feel close to her by being close to you. I promise you, the people of Raetri, that I will help to restore an order and bring balance back to this realm. Believe me this...this wonderland is in my heart too. I want to do everything in my power to ensure that this land thrives, and that her people flourish." I hesitate a moment before I vehemently state, "I promise you; I will be the next Alice! I will be your Alice!"

Everyone erupts into triumphant cheers again.

"Thank you!" I laugh with amazement and wave again as they start throwing flowers on the stage.

The Judge and the Jury and the rest of the Royal Court gather around me in a semi-circle and now the Judge procures a scroll in a flash of purple light. "Now you must take your oath to complete the Labors," she announces, brandishing the scroll so it rolls down in front of me.

"Sign with this," the wicked Queen of Hearts sneers as she hands me a golden dagger. Bejeweled clubs, diamonds, spades and hearts line the blade.

I glance at the Queens of Diamonds for some sort of assures and they both eagerly nod.

"Okay," I lick my lips as I shakily accept the dagger. "Sign in... in blood, huh?" I gulp.

"Only after the last Labor is complete -or you die trying to complete a Labor- will this blood oath be broken," the Judge tells me with a cheery smile.

I shakily smile and glance between the dagger in my hand and the golden scroll. "Um...here goes nothing," I nervously turn the dagger over in my hand.

"No, my dear," the Queen of Hearts purr darkly. "Here goes everything." Her pale eyes flash in the candlelight.

I furrow my brow briefly but now steel my nerves and slice my fingertip open. I lean forward to swiftly scrawl my name across the bottom of the page and now to my amazement, my name glows bright white. The light spreads like water across the scroll and illuminates the entire page. The scroll lifts into the air above our hands and begins transfiguring before us.

It abruptly explodes into a sizzling firework and now the flares rapidly morph into the silhouette of my animal soul spirit, the fabled Angelus Reprobi; a glorious Jabberwocky unicorn hybrid.

"She has been excepted!" The Judge declares.

The band victoriously begins playing and the crowd erupts into singing and dancing and chanting. More fireworks explode into the air high above the Palace, the display is so grand, I bet folks from halfway across the world can see them. It wouldn't surprise me if Vyndren could see the fireworks from Ghost Hills. That thought warms my heart a bit.

I smile with disbelief and shake my head as I watch the party unfold before me. I feel a little numb from all the excitement but in back of my mind -echoing loudly over the celebration- I hear myself screaming this is it! This is actually happening!

I guess there's no turning back now.

It's all official. My Labors begin in the morning.