Behind My Shadow - Book Three

6. It Feels Like a Perfect Night

Champagne bottles pop like fireworks all around me as everyone celebrates. The party takes place outside in the garden full of magically moving topiaries and fountains brimming with rainbow water. Banners made of fire lace back and forth overhead and a live band plays zealous music that matches the electric atmosphere.

I've changed out of my suit into a much simpler pair of high waist black leather mini shorts and a long sleeved lacy white shirt paired with a black fedora hat and red lipstick.

All night, people have been coming over to congratulate me and I've been hugging and thanking everyone for their support. Being the center of attention is still so new to me, but I definitely love it and can't help but be enchanted by everyone's positivity and encouragement. I kinda feel like a rockstar and yes, I love it.

"Oh, Darie!" The Princess of Hearts sweeps over and loops her arm through mine. "Come with me for a moment," she says while tugging me away from a group of people.

"Hey! I was talking to them!" I protest as she drags me along. I just manage to wave at the folks I abruptly ditched before Adisonia pulls me deeper into the crowd.

"Who? Back there?" She snorts. "Puh-leeze. You can thank me later. I just spared you from one of the most obnoxious pricks this side of the Amythyst Ocean. Trust me. I used to date that guy and he was a nightmare." She rolls her dark eyes. "He would've creeped you out eventually."

"Well..." I shrug a shoulder. "But I was talking with his sister!" I retort after a beat.

"Oh, she's even worse! I dated her too."

"You've dated siblings?" I widen my eyes in surprise.

"Not at the same time!" She huffs. "How obnoxious do you think I am?"

I shrug.

"See those two handsome chaps over there?" She points with her chin. "Avoid those two. They're celebrity serial daters." She gives me a look over top of her wine glass as she sips.

"And lemme guess," I pull my arm free. "You've dated them too?"

"Hey," she shrugs and takes my untouched glass from my hand to chug it. "I'm attracted to persons based on their personality. I can't help it that most persons fake a likable personality in the beginning."

"Somehow that makes sense... And I was drinking that!" I swipe my glass away from her. "So what do you want? Why are you telling me all this? Why do you care who I talk with?"

"I don't care," Adisonia snorts. "But you are a celebrity now and I think you should tone down all this fake modesty and sincerity. It's damn near nauseating when you greet everyone like an oldest and dearest friend. These persons are just fans!" She insists. "Pat 'em on the back and send them on their way for saints' sake."

"Excuse me?" I give her a look. "I'm not faking anything and unlike you, I actually appreciate people's time and kindness. Now if you don't mind, I'd rather get back to my fans -as you call them- then spend another moment with you and your sarcastic cynicism." I huff and put my glass down on the bar before hurrying away.

"Darie! Wait!" Adisonia bustles after me. "You're much too sensitive!" She cackles and loops her arm through mine again. "Learn to take a tickle, eh? C'mon, let's walk a minute...hmm?" She tugs me to the fringes of the crowd.

"Hey! Lemme go!" I protest as she hauls me over to the maw of the Maze of White Roses. "What do you want?" I demand as I wrestle my arm free yet again.

Adisonia doesn't reply right away, instead she looks around anxiously, straining to see into the darkness where the firelight cannot reach. "Hmm? Oh, uh... I just wanted to talk, I suppose..." She trails off distractedly.

"You suppose?" I furrow my brow. "Look, what is going on? You never wanna talk with me."

She nervously chuckles and shakes her head.

I arch an eyebrow. Despite the warm laughter and zealous music playing from the party a few meters away from us, a chill has settled over the air around us. The shadows have never seemed deeper and the coldness emitting from the maze has never felt more sinister. I can hear my heart racing in my ears, it seemingly mutes the music from the party with a low, cryptic beat. Adisonia herself seems to be as on edge as I am which is so unlike the normally confident and in control Princess of Hearts. She bites her lip nervously and cranes her neck, peering beseechingly into the shade.

"Adisonia," I hiss, looking around cagily. "What is going -"

She abruptly throws her drink in my face.

"Adisonia!" I yelp, bowing my head briefly to wipe my eyes.

In the exact same moment, an arrow suddenly cuts through the air just above me and rips my hat off my head.

I shriek with disbelief and spin around to see my hat pinned to the maze. I shakily breathe and turn to face the princess with round eyes of shock. "Did you...?"

"Darie, I'm so sorry!" She squeaks, eyes shining with horror. "I had no idea what was going to happen! She just said bring you to the edge of the Maze and that was it!"

"Who?" I demand breathlessly, my heart beating frantically in my chest leaves my entire body trembling. "Who said?"

More tears well up in her dark eyes but she adamantly shakes her head as she backs away. "I-I didn't know they were going to..."

My shock melts away into outrage as much as fear. "Of course you knew!" I explode. "And I know who sent you to do this!" I turn and furiously rip the arrow free from the Maze. "It was your mother, wasn't it?!" I whip around to face Adisonia again but this time the Princess of Hearts is gone.

I take a shaky step back as I anxiously look the party over. Everyone is still dancing and celebrating. No one even noticed the attempted assassination. I glance down at the arrow tightly gripped in my trembling hand.

The obsidian arrowhead is carved into a black heart.