~ The Unworthy Title ~

~ Chapter 15 ~

~ Crystal ~

No sound came from none of us for some time. We didn't know what to do, this was Mavise's idea she should be the one to start.

   "Um, let's see. A bad memory of my life... I would say my parents' death but it's not the worst. The worst is what came afterwards," As she was talking she wasn't looking at us. Her eyes were looking at her legs and her hands were on the end of her long lavender dress.

   "My parents had always been supportive in my life, especially with the fact that I was an unworthy until last year." Unworthy. That's the name this perfect society has given to people like me. They call us unworthy of being around them. They say the spirits forgot our existence and that's why we don't have their gifts. I hate this society.

   "When they died," Mavise went on.

   "I was with them. It happened so fast I don't remember much. The only images I have in my mind are my mother's face frozen in an expression of terror and my father- fighting the shadows that attacked us till his last breath protecting her, protecting me."

   "What happened then?" my voice made Mavise take her eyes from the ground and to finally look at us.

   "My older brother, Raven. He came and destroyed the shadows but when he did... It was too late. In my arms I was holding our mother's lifeless body and not very far was our father's. The same spot where he was fighting for his family before he gave his last breath." To experience that kind of horror... It's a miracle she is even able to talk about it after just one year. Aiden and I got used to people saying how sorry they were for our mother's loss after... 2 years?

   "Raven became the king one day after their funeral and while he was gone dealing with his duties I was alone. I was all alone in our mansion with only our maid to talk to. For the two weeks Raven was gone I wasn't eating much. I didn't talk, I couldn't do anything. And then it started the- the illusions. I started seeing my parents and talking to them, I saw Raven. I- I thought I was crazy, or that the depression was making me mad." Her powers. Of course... They might be funny and useful when she uses them on others but having them herself without controlling them? Anyone would think they were getting mad. That their mind and their sanity were slowly leaving them.

   "When Raven finally came back home, he saw me. He saw my bony body, my colorless face, my uncombed hair. I could see his horror. His guilt. He wasn't mad with me for doing this to myself. No. He was mad at himself for abandoning me in my hardest hour of need."

   "He sounds like a wonderful person and brother." Zaira admitted. Mavise's eyes sparked with surprise by Zaira's strange voice. She hadn't talked since we met her.

   "Indeed he is. He would put aside his problems and help anyone in need without a second thought." Mavise chuckled a little before continuing her story.

   "When I told him what I saw he laughed. He explained everything to me about my powers and how they worked. In the days afterwards I trained with him and Ancel, his friend kept me company when Raven was working." A nice story, even though it was tragic, in the end she could find peace in her parent's death.

   "Before hearing the next story I have to ask, why are we doing this?" Our attention now went to Zaira who asked the question Alyssa and I would ask too.

   "Because," Mavise's voice was still sweet despite the story she just said.

   "If we are going to live together in this room for a year we have to bond with each other. Also look around. 3 princesses and a girl close to the castle.Each of us have different roles in different kingdoms but we are bound with each other. If we don't get along now the years that await us will break us and you know it."

We were exchanging looks with each other so fast that the room around us seemed to be vanishing.

   "But if we help each other... In the future we can change so much in the world and we can achieve great things. But not alone, our parents tried. They failed." She is right. If the kingdoms were united we wouldn't be in this state. People without magic trying to survive and armies trying to be the greatest on the line.

   "Should I start?" Zaira asked. Mavise gave her a happy nod and we all waited for her to start.

   "My mother died giving birth to me. My father as the king's Morgan counselor is always busy. So I was mostly raised by priestesses who protect the royal library. I would wear their clothes, learn some prayers. But in the end it was me and the books. With them I would travel to other times and places." That explains her clothes and her behavior. What would you expect from a girl who grew up like that? Zaira was now looking at me and Mavise followed her glance. It was my turn.

   "Growing up I was very fond of my father. He was my hero, he would tell me stories and I would listen to him breathlessly imagining one day I would be like him.
Of course I loved my mother too. She was the reason for me to smile, she would dance with me, play the piano with me and the violin. When she died everything changed. My father changed, my older brother left to come here, my twin brother wouldn't talk at all and I was left alone watching them in silence.

As the time passed it got easier but things are still a little weird in the house." The entire time I was speaking I wasn't looking at them. It was like I was talking on my hands. Once I ended I raised my head to face them. It was just a story like the others. It was okay. I didn't mention much about my father, especially the practice part. That's something I don't like talking about. Now it was Alyssa's turn who was now looking at me with a sympathetic look. I don't need her to pity me. I want her to understand I am a human being like her, not her enemy. Alyssa took a big breath and started her own story.

   "My parents don't love each other," Oh okay, going straight to the deep.

   "In Keith we don't believe in mates, the heir to the throne marries the best option they have. The higher status in society, and that for my mother was my father. My father is a sweet man, a kind king and a caring father. But my mother was always harsh to everyone, even to herself. Growing up, her attention would always be on my older brother, Alarick. She would hit him, kick him, slap him, curse him, call him names, anything to make him hate her and be scared of her." For a second I even feel sorry for Alarick. I might turn into a holy person for that.

   "My younger brother, Sam, would try to stay out of her sight. He would spend most of his time with my father. I couldn't be with no one. I preferred to be left alone. When I was five years old, I could transform into a cat. As a cat I could go around the castle, explore every corner and sleep anywhere I pleased. When I am a cat I feel free. That's why I like it that way. I can't help it, I grew up like that." She was right. They were all right. We each had our stories and our scars. We couldn't just abandon habits of years in a second. We need time.

We were all  looking at each other without talking. Mavise sighed and stood up, the rest of us were looking at her surprisedly waiting to see her next move.

   "Now that part is over, get up. We all have experienced things we would like not to remember. But instead of changing the past, learn from it and move on." Mavise was right, we can't sit and cry like little girls, we have to move on. Oh my, today this girl is full of surprises.

   "What are you waiting for? Let's have a small party! Hehe Zaira, can you go grab anything to eat from the kitchen?" Zaira immediately stood up and nodded with a small smile on her face. Mavise went to her room, leaving Alyssa and I alone...

   "I am sorry for when we met. I was overreacting." Alyssa surprised me with her calm voice, the words were not very clear in her mouth she still had to talk more to get used to it.

   "It's alright. Can we just... Start over?" Alyssa chuckled a little and put her hand before her mouth as she was looking at me.

   "Yes, I would like that."

~~~~~~~~~~

When Zaira came back, she was holding small cakes, and a ball full of fruits. Mavise brought some rope and many small beads full of color to make bracelets. We ate, we laughed, we made bracelets and we even played pillow fight with the pillows from our beds. In the end we didn't sleep in our beds. Alyssa slept as a cat over the armchair, Mavise took a blanket and slept at the bench next to the window, leaving Zaira and I to sleep on the two couches. Before sleeping I brought my crystal close to my chest and held it until I was asleep. It was the first night that the room was full of laughs until late at night.