The Infinity Ball

Part 2: The Process of Elimination: I

The queen of Nixllapis was on her throne, her husband sitting next to her. Her smile lines almost appeared to be frown lines with her strong negative mood. When there was no one but guards and her husband around, she slumped her wrinkled body to the left side of her throne.

"Are you okay, Zorana?" Mervin asked her.

"No," Zorana admitted immediately to her husband.

"What happened? Is it about the Norillian princesses?"

"No. I had a check-up with our doctor. He said that I am starting to get weak. He said that I should not be going to any events I don't have to go to."

"Dr. Wescott grew up near a royal family. I wonder if he knows about the Infinity Ball."

"I will still host the ball and visit it as I do every night."

"But you're fragile! You don't need to visit the ball. I'll be there."

"Yes, but who will lead the princesses to you? I told Peter I would eliminate them."

"I can lead them to the exit and eliminate them."

"I will still be visiting the ball anyway. I'm unlike most women my age. I have strong magic."

Zorana froze a gold pitcher of water in the room.

"I'll make sure you are okay there, dear," Mervin declared. "So, have you chosen who your royal heir will be? I've been hearing a lot of rumors about that lately. Some fairies think a distant cousin will rule. Others think there will be a battle after you pass."

"There won't be a battle," Zorana announced. "And no cousin will get my throne. I know who my heir is."

"But we disowned Brigitta," said Mervin.

"I don't say her name anymore," Zorana responded. "That woman has been dead to me for decades. The heir I want is her daughter. The older daughter."

"I don't think she wants anything to do with Nixllapis, Zorana," said Mervin. "You haven't talked to her since she was a young child."

"Then I'll talk to her soon," said Zorana. "At the Infinity Ball."

Felicity

I know my brother was just born, but it's almost time for the Infinity Ball and I need a night away from the worries Zora is giving me. What if Father is trying to kill me? What if I'm not safe in this palace? What if I'm not safe in Norillia? I need to forget about what Zora told me. I can think about it tomorrow. Tonight, I want to go to the Infinity Ball and dance to the foxtrot.

I decide to wear a new dress to cheer myself up. It's an orange A-line dress and I'm really excited to wear it to the Infinity Ball. I put the dress on and go to my vanity to grab my makeup. I own several drawers of makeup. I have one drawer for each type of item. I have the most eyeshadow. After finishing my other makeup, I look through my eyeshadows and grab one of my well-used orange eyeshadow palettes. I chose the color that looks the most like my dress. When I'm done doing my eyeshadow, I put on a pair of flare-heeled shoes.

I leave my room. Rowan is standing across from me, outside of a bathroom, wearing one of the suits I let him borrow for the Infinity Ball. But oh my goodness...I feel as if I'm in a dream as I stare at him, like I'm alive, but not awake. His blond hair is gelled to an angle, but only a slight angle. His hazel eyes stare at me and life feels even more dream-like. I can make out a blush on his cheeks...

Rowan

Felicity stands across from me, in front of her room. She's wearing a dress I've never seen her wear before tonight. She looks so good in it that I'm wondering if it was custom-made. Although her hair isn't styled, somehow it looks intentionally messy in a good way. Her eyeshadow almost makes her eyes look like they're a different, magical color.