Netherling

Chapter Two

The party was at the palace, in honor of something. I didn't know what, and honestly, I didn't care. It was a party, and that was all that mattered. I knew most of the other guests felt the same.

Juliet started to say something, but I wasn't listening. I had spotted my dance partner, though he didn't know it yet. I walked across the ballroom, following him. "Dance with me?" I asked.

He turned. "Of course."

I danced with a different boy for every song, then sat on Juliet's lap when the King, Morpheus, stood up to speak.

"You don't stand up?" Juliet asked me. I could feel her confusion radiating off of her.

I twisted around so I see her. "No. Why would he make us stand for His whole speech?"

Viviana put her finger to her lips. "Shh. He's starting."

I shrugged. "He won't mind." But I stopped talking and faced the front of the room again.

The speech was short, because we Netherlings understand that no one actually listens to long speeches. It was still boring, with a lot of blather about "our glorious kingdom" and old rulers of Wonderland and other things like that. 

At the end of His speech, Morpheus asked us all to let Him know if we saw or had seen His sister. I stood up and called out, "I've seen her."

Netherlings parted to let me through and I walked up to the stage, to where my brother was wating.