Wings of Fire: A Ruined Dream (Book 4)

Chapter 17

As soon as he stepped out of the library, he wanted to go back in.

Damn it! Why did you have to argue with her?

You didn't say anything wrong, Stratus. She made an offensive comment and you had every right to respond.

How could she say that?

Why did you accuse her of being jealous and power hungry?

Ugh.

Stratus stood outside the doorway, holding one horn with his talon.

He let out a long sigh and collected his thoughts. Just walk away for now. Sort stuff out later.

So he walked away. He left the library behind, and went to go find Jeweldreamer and Cloudy in the art hall. But as he left the literature hall, the two of them were sitting in the middle of the main room.

"Oh hey," Jeweldreamer said, turning to him. "How'd it- oh, no."

"Yeah," Stratus said, feeling the familiar brushing of Jeweldreamer against his mind. "Not good."

"Damn, I'm sorry." Cloudy said, brushing his wing with their own.

"What happened?" Jeweldreamer asked.

"She didn't like that I said anything about Aconi. She and I had a really long talk the other night that changed my perspective." Stratus said, turning back to look at the literature hall.

"Long talk with Jellyfish or Aconi?" Jeweldreamer asked. He gestured for the three of them to walk down the residential hall.

"Aconi. I told Aconi about my mom, which she didn't know what had happened, and she promised to save her. Jellyfish said some messed up stuff about both of them, and well... I don't really want to talk about it right now." Stratus said.

"That's more than okay," Cloudy said.

"We have about three hours until the ball starts," Jeweldreamer said. "We should go get ready?"

"Yes," Stratus said. "That sounds like a good idea."

"Make sure we have enough time to really make Stratus look good. Make a certain someone jealous." Cloudy said.

"Yeah, maybe," Stratus laughed uncomfortably.

They made their way back to their residential unit. They took a different way, led by Jeweldreamer, and back to where they had spent the night. Stratus noticed that above the door way to both bedrooms was and engraved plaque with the title Her Majesty's Guests. Stratus wondered if this was a room for special guests, or if every guest room was made to feel special.

There was nobody inside, of course. The three of them called room service and ordered a shrimp platter, because what else do you eat with your friends amidst heartbreak?

The robes that Aconi sent Stratus were a deep dark red, almost black. For the chest piece, a deep, velvet colored tunic with a litter red lightning stitch up the front. On top went a black cape, with matching lightning patterns on the edge. The underside was bright red, with white lightning marks underneath. Aconi had provided him with real onyx studs and clip ons, to which Stratus was thankful for since he didn't have his ears pierced.

Silver and black chains layered his neck, and a connected piece on his horns. A few rings, his own rings that he had brought with him went on his talons.

The mask Aconi provided was to most a little controversial. But Stratus liked it. It was a simple masquerade mask, with simple white stitches around the eyes and edge. On the right eye, the eye that would go over his missing eye, was a large eight-point star that went beyond the mask. It was a light yellow color, and the white stitched that continued to outline the star.