Maiden of Moonlight | Tedros Pendragon

Chapter 1.8

" We will never get back the life we waste trying to be normal."

Atticus

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Sunlight beamed through the windows and gossamer curtains, basking the inhabitants of the room in a warm glow. Agatha stirred once the daylight flecked across her pillow and still half-asleep, sat up to see Sophie hunched on the third unoccupied bed that used to belong to Millicent.

" Why are you still here! If the wolves catch you or Marya wakes up, it's the Doom Room again! Besides, you should be home writing that anonymous love poem to Tedr-"

" You didn't tell me there's a ball."

Sophie held up a glittering snowflake invitation, Agatha's name in pearls whilst the Montague's laid on her nightstand.

" Oh, who cares about a stupid ball?" The ravenette groaned, but quickly hushed up to a whisper when Marya began to stir from behind the pellucid bed curtains. " We'll be long gone. Now make sure that poem talks about who he is as a person. His honor, his valor, his cour-"

The blonde was smelling the invitation.

" Sophie, listen to me! The closer we get to the ball, the more Tedros looks for a date! The more he looks for a date, the more he falls in love with someone else! The more he falls in love with someone else, the more he leaves us here to die! Got it?"

" But I want to be his date."

" YOU'RE NOT INVITED!"

Both girls fell silent as a groan, and a rustle of silk sheets was heard.

" But I can't miss the ball!" Sophie whispered urgently as her best friend shoved her towards the door.

" Use the Tunnel of Trees-"

" Marble hall, glittering gowns, waltzing under the stars..."

" If a wolf catches you, just say you're lost-"

" A ball, Aggie! A real ball!"

The Good reader kicked her out as a delicate yawn sounded, and humming began strumming through the air. Marya sat up and stretched her limbs, glancing over at Agatha through the curtains.

" Who's at the door, Agatha?" She called as Sophie hissed, " My roommates will help me. They're true friends."

The door slammed shut on the ravenette's shocked expression, who simply mumbled a quick "nobody" prior to the duo getting ready for the day.

♕

Marya flounced around the Clearing in delight as she showcased her Snowball invitation to Kiko. She hugged the bejeweled piece of paper to her chest and swayed as she told her friend, " Isn't this exciting? It'll be the most wonderful evening of the year! I have no clue what gown to wear! I haven't attended a ball in forever!"

" Do you think Tristan will ask me? I hope he does! If he asks Beatrix, I might...I might do something!"

Marya sighed and gazed softly at the girl, settling on the grassy floor beside her.

" I'm sure he will. There's nothing to worry about. You're a complete catch."

Kiko giggled, a blush reddening her cheeks as she fiddled with her skirt.

"As I said, I hope he does. I do wish on the North Star every night."

Their conversation came to a halt when the Clearing became as silent as a tomb, prompting both to see Sophie vying for Tedros' attention while being surrounded by possessive Ever girls.

" Though I do feel as if everything has gotten more complex with the appearance of the invitations. Evers will begin feeling the pressure. It will be chaotic to say the least."

Kiko simply nodded in agreement.

♕

Students assembled into their Forest Groups and awaited in anticipation for the day's challenge as they spotted eight glass coffins nestled in turquoise grass. Yuba explained the lesson of the day and instructed both Ever and Never girls to lay in the coffins before they were each transformed into identical dark-haired princesses with big hips, round backsides and trouty lips.

Marya watched as the Ever-boys warily made their way towards the glass boxes, but they stopped as Hort stated, " We want to play too."

Yuba hummed before agreeing.

" Mmm, I suppose it'll give our girls incentive to behave."

The Montague patiently waited and spotted Tedros leaning against a tree. He seemed to contemplate actually completing the challenge until his cerulean blue eyes flickered with something. The blonde proceeded to trail over to her coffin as Gavriel made his way over to Agatha's.

" Time's up!" Yelled the gnome prior to stomping his staff and letting his magic remove the glass seals that separated prince from princess.

A loud shriek sounded, and it was quite the spectacle. Sophie kicked Hort-who planted a big smooch on her lips-and he fell into a bush where a skunk sprayed him right in the eyes. He staggered around blindly before hitting the blonde's coffin and falling in, causing the lid to fall back into place, sealing them shut. Sophie looked completely aghast as she kept ramming into the glass.

" Rule #5: Nevers don't trifle with love." Yuba crabbed. " Fitting punishment. Now come, boys, let's see who you've picked."

Gavriel leaned down, lifting Agatha's thick hand to his tender lips. In utter shock, the reader kneed him in the chest, causing him to fall into Tedros, who bashed his head on the coffin top. The gnome professor hurriedly conjured some ice and let the princes rest as Agatha discretely exited her coffin along the others who did so in worry.

" Perhaps you both should sit do-"

" I-We want to finish." Tedros said, with no intention of letting his princess leave his grasp.

" Very well." Yuba nodded at the clones, and everyone placed themselves back in the coffins.

Marya was certain she had put herself in a different coffin when Ravan kissed her hand, revealing her true nature. She was sure that she previously lay in the glass container that Beatrix was currently in. The Never-boy let go of her hand and watched her elegantly leave the box. His stare didn't linger for long as the wolves howled in the distance.

The brunette peered over at Tedros standing next to Beatrix, who looked completely dopey-eyed as a mask of displeasure developed on his golden features. His cerulean gaze found Marya and a glare darkened his face as Ravan smirked at him, sauntering away with victory at the sight of an agitated Pendragon.

Tedros was about to make his way over to the Montague and speak with her, but Beatrix grabbed his arm as their Forest Group headed for the Blue Forest gates, leaving behind a screaming Sophie entrapped in a smelly coffin with the likes of Hort.