I stand before the crowds in the middle of the candlelight stage -wearing this stunning black and scarlet ringmaster outfit completely decked out in rhinestones and topped with a black top hat- with my guitar clasped between my shaking hands.
The excited cheers quiet down as the stage beneath my feet starts to softly glow and a hush falls over the coliseum. I gulp, anxiously stroking the neck of my guitar as I somewhat distractedly watch how the stage magically changes color with each new pulse of light.
This is it, I keep telling myself. This is it. It's go time. So...let's go. But I'm frozen, petrified with stage fright as I timidly lift my eyes to the thousands of eyes sparkling in the darkness. Everyone's staring at me. I feel the urge to run but my bones feel like they've all been fused together with steel.
I briefly glance up at the balcony the Royal Court is sitting in directly above me. Regina glowers down at me with disgust. I wince and nervously tune my guitar again. One of the strings hisses and the sound races around the room. A few people anxiously cough.
I clear my throat, tightening my sweaty grip on my guitar. "Um... Hello everyone," my voice fills the room despite my soft tone. I startle at the echo. "Um... for my first Labor, I'd like to... um, play something for you all. If you'd like," I hastily add. A few people chuckle and some cheer. I glance back up at the Royal's balcony. I notice Adisonia anxiously gesturing for me to hurry up. Got it. Got it. I quickly nod and now take a deep breath before I coax my trembling fingers to work.
The first few strings whine, but now as I start to play in earnest, a silky melody pours from the guitar and fills the room like a cozy blanket, enveloping everyone in the warmth of the rhythm. I smile with disbelief and pride as my fingers fly over the strings, moving faster with more confidence.
The audience is reinvigorated with life as the tempo picks up, they start to cheer boisterously as I start putting my whole body into the rhythm while I strum. They're actually enjoying this! I laugh and shake my head, emboldened by this promising reaction.
I hum to myself as I play, envisioning the melody as memories from my first days in Wonderland.
Much to my amazement, lights morph from the darkness above my head. A chorus of surprised gasps ripples through the crowd. I glance up at the watery, nacreous lights flashing like the Aroura Borealis overhead. If I squint, I can almost see silhouettes shimmering behind the veil of lights. I smile with enchantment; my blood is practically singing with eagerness to test my limits so now -throwing cautious and shyness to the wind- I start to sing.
The magic in my blood suddenly ignites like a flare in my veins. I can feel the power pour from me as I sing from the heart. The lights above my head explode into an all-out glow, washing the entire room in a brilliant rainbow that sweeps back and forth in time to the rhythm. Everyone cheers with awe.
It's working! I realize with amazement. The magic in my blood is roaring now. I can feel it coursing in my bones like a shot of adrenaline. I tear into my guitar with fresh passion, singing at the top of my lunges from the bottom of my heart.
Everyone is on their feet, dancing with the rhythm, alive with a fresh excitement. I laugh with relief and awe as I glance up at the lightshow. In each shade of color is a different image that coincides with my lyrics, like a music video unfolding before my very eyes.
Suddenly the other instruments on stage start playing by themselves, brought to life by the sound of my voice. They levitate off the ground and spiral around me as I rock out with my guitar, tossing my hair from side to side as I sing. My heart has never felt more free or wild in my entire life! I feel high on the charge of energy singing brings me, and the infectious joy of the applauding sea of dancing people has me seeing double.
I suddenly stop singing and hold my guitar high above my head victoriously and the other instruments abruptly stop too and peacefully lower themselves to the ground behind me again. "Thank you, Raetri!" I cry.
The rippling crowds cheer zealously.
The rainbow lights fade away the moment I stop singing and now I just bask in the amber glow of the chandeliers and soak up all the shrieking praise from the excited audience. Whoa! I could get used to this! I think with a laugh. I start blowing kisses into the crowd and try to catch the flowers they throw at me.
"Congratulations!" The Judge exclaims as she glides onto stage. "That was quite the spectacular performance!"
"Thank you," I hug my guitar as I bow. "But...is that it? Did I accomplish my Labor?" I look around anxiously. "Is something supposed to happen? Should I feel any different?"
The ground abruptly starts violently shaking. Everyone staggers for balance, and I stumble back and forth across the stage as what seems like the entire Palace is rocked from side to side. Just as suddenly as the earthquake starts though, it fades away, leaving no more damage than a few wildly swinging chandeliers.
The crowd is uncharacteristically silent and stares expectantly at the Judge.
A broad smile breaks across her face. "Raetri has accepted the first Labor!" My heart leaps with sheer relief and amazement. "Congratulations, Promised Alice! You've successfully passed your first trial!"
"Really?!" I shriek with joy. "OMG, thank you! Thank you!" I dance around giddily, hugging my guitar to my chest. "Thank you!"
I did it!
I can't believe it.
It's over.
Labor one is down, and I have FINALLY discovered my Talent.
I am a Singer.

YOU ARE READING
Behind My Shadow - Book Three
FantasyThe day has finally donned for Adara to complete the sacred Eighteen Labors of Alice to prove her merit to Raetri and secure her rightful place on the Vorpal Throne! But Adara feels like she's playing against a stacked deck. While struggling to conq...