Behind My Shadow - Book Three

18. Standing Here Hoping

"Did you see Adarina?" My dad is the first person who reaches me when I return to the garden. Everyone else is cheering and chanting my name and the Judge is congratulating me from the stage.

I sorrowfully shake my head. "I'm really sorry," I painfully whisper. He looks so crestfallen, my heart plummets. Adarina was the love of his life. I feel tears welling up in my eyes. This could've been my father's last chance to hear from Adarina beyond the grave. "Her spirit isn't resting."

"Right... Of course," he briefly bows his head but not before I see the tears gleaming in his eyes. He manages a smile as he takes my hand to squeeze. "Congratulations, my dear. This is well deserved," he squeezes my hand again before anxiously pulling away. "Excuse me," he whispers as he leaves.

"Adara!" Quill and Bishop rush over to me. "Hey, where's Cornelius going?" Bishop asks, glancing between me and Quill.

Quill gives me a sympathetic gaze. "I'm sure he just needs a moment."

"Right," I nod, stowing away my guilt and pain, and now quickly summon a bright smile to my face as the crowd flocks around me.

"Promised Adara!" The Judge calls for me and beckons for me to join her on the stage. "Well done, our Promised! Well done! Now that you have completed your fourth Labor, you have earned the right to wear the Amulet of Alice." She dramatically side-steps and gestures at the water fountain the stage is built around.

The Amulet of Alice, my heart flutters with disbelief as I look over the statue in the middle of the fountain. The marble statue is of a life-sized women clad in the formidable Vorpal armor, wielding a Vorpal blade. The Amulet of Alice is secured around her neck just under her helmet.

Only an Alice is able to bring the stone to life and retrieve the Amulet, or someone who has an Alice's blessing and since I just managed to win points from all of the Alices before me, this necklace is now mine.

The music ceases to play and a hush falls over the crowd as I cautiously step into the softly rippling fountain. The ends of my dress glide over the water after me as I trudge deeper into the pool, the mist from the arching geysers of waters crisscrossed above me covers my skin like tiny diamonds.

Everyone watches with bated breath as I reach the statue. The Amulet of Alice literally looks like it's carved into the marble and briefly my heart skips a beat as I worry if I can do this. But now I catch a glimpse of my dad in the crowd. His eyes are still red with tears but the admiration and pride glowing in his shiny eyes fills me with conviction.

I smile faintly as I reach out and wrap my fingers around the marble necklace. I give it a little tug.

Much to my amazement, the Amulet starts to glow and golden etchings rapidly fan out across the smooth surface. It makes a faint crackling sound as I finish pulling it free. To my astonishment, a marble replica is in place around the statue's neck and now in my hands is the most radiant looking necklace I have ever seen.

It's a white marble choker that looks like a glowing cord of golden rope is braided throughout the stone. A huge octadecagon medallion lined in tiny pearls hangs from the center of the necklace. On one side it's reflective gold but on the side that faces the world, it looks like a diamond full of twisting smoke.

I shake my head with awe, and now remember the crowd anxiously waiting behind me. I turn and proudly hold the Amulet over my head. Everyone starts to cheer again.

"The Amulet of Alice will serve you and protect you during your most dangerous and dastardly Labors," the Judge tells me. "It possesses the Talents off all the Alices before you, each of which you will be able to summon as you see fit during your later Labors. Until then, you may wear it for tonight."

"Thank you," I smile as the Judge gently takes the Amulet from me. She carefully clasps it behind my neck and now the music starts back up again and everyone is cheering, celebrating and chanting my name. "Thank you all!" I laughed and blow kisses to the crowd. This night feels like a little slice of heaven but I know the moment is ephemeral. Tomorrow morning I'll have to start my fifth Labor and I will yet again be tested to the breaking point.

But that makes me treasure the bliss of this moment even more.