Behind My Shadow - Book Three

4. All I Feel in My Stomach is Butterflies

"Are you sure about this thing, lady?" Bishop anxiously whispers to me, eying me with uncertainty. "You didn't even practice!"

"I know, I know! But I didn't have any time too!" I whisper back before nervously looking around backstage. My dressers and makeup artists are still hovering nearby. The last thing I need right now is more people learning that I may or may not have a Talent prepared for my first Labor. "It's either this or nothing!" I glance down at the puppy.

"My Alice?" Cornelius and Quill brush the curtain aside to join me backstage. "It's almost time to begin, how are you feeling?" The White Knight looks me over with concern.

"Ummm?" I bite my lip and shrug.

"There's no need to fret, Adara," Quill eagerly assures me. "You'll be bloody brilliant. I just know it. Here," he hands me my scarlet rhinestone studded guitar. "I notice you accidently left this sitting by the stairs. You'll need this if you're going to perform your Talent," he chuckles with a shake of his head.

I swallow hard as I accept the guitar and share a worried look with Bishop. The White Knights are still under the impression that playing instruments is my Talent. Only me and the puppy know that it isn't. Although judging by the anxious look Cornelius gives me when he thinks I'm not looking, he has his doubts too.

"Good luck, lady," Bishop grumbles and briefly bump his head against my leg. "You're uh...gonna need it," he winces and now scuttles away.

I roll my eyes.

"Odd," Quill stares after the puppy. "He's normally more upbeat."

"Bishop? Nah, he's always been a cynic," I shrug. "Well," I gulp as I hear music from the band on stage begin. The crowd starts clapping and cheering. I hear the Judge take the stage to start the ceremony. "I-I guess it's showtime," I anxiously tune my guitar even though it's already perfectly in tune. I'm pretty sure instruments in Wonderland just tune themselves.

"Hey, you're going to be bloody smashing," Quill strokes my arm affectionately before taking my hand to kiss. My heart flutters. "Just remember to breathe and be in the moment, love. Greatness is in everything you do, Adara."

"Th-thanks," I blush with pleasure as he squeezes my hand.

"I'll see you after your Labor," he promises, kissing my hand again. "Best of luck, love."

Cornelius waits till his apprentice is gone before he turns to me. "Adara, are you sure you're ready?" He briefly glances between me and my guitar.

"There's no time to be anything else, right?" I force a smile and shake my head. "I'll be...fine." I swallow hard, absently stroking the black strings as I hug my guitar tighter.

He sighs and runs a hand over his silvery blonde hair, glancing at the stairs leading up to the stage. We both listen to the Judge describing my first Labor to the spectators for a moment. Her voice echoes throughout the Palace's onyx amphitheater.

"If our Promised Alice is able to complete her first Labor then she shall be granted the awareness of self-realization and gain the power of unfailing confidence," the Judge explains.

Unfailing confidence. I nearly scoff. I could use like, an ounce of that right now.

"Quill's right, you know," Dad's soft voice brings my attention back. "Just remember to breathe and be in the moment," he gently brushes a lock of hair behind my ear as he looks me over once more. "Trust your intuition, Adara. You know yourself better than anyone."

"Isn't this whole Labor about proving myself?" I shake my head.

"It's not about proving yourself to them," he nods at the stage. "It's about proving your worth to yourself. That's why this is a Labor. If it were easy, anyone could to do. You're being asked to bare your sole in front of the entire world." I gulp. "I know it seems impossible to open up like this to so many persons all at once, but you are worthy of being seen, my dear. You deserve to be heard." He taps my guitar. "If this is the instrument you need to make them hear the sound of your heart than you must use it with all of your might."

I lower my head to hide the shame in my eyes as I stroke the strings again.

"No matter what happens, Adara, I'll always be proud of you, my daughter." Cornelius softly kisses my temple. "Follow your heart, Adara. You'll never regret that."

"Thank you," I whisper, my eyes are brimming with tears of gratitude. "I...I think I know what to do."

He smiles as he backs away. "I can't wait to see it, my dear."

"I'll make you proud!" I call after him. "I'll make you all proud of me," I say softly now that I'm alone.

"And now...please welcome our Promised Alice!" I hear the Judge exclaim. The crowd goes wild and starts chanting my name.

"Okay," I adjust my guitar in my arms and roll my shoulders back a few times to help shake off the tension. "It's showtime."