Whispers From the Magical World

Spirits of the Night

Little kids rush past me, running from stall to stall, collecting candy from the vendors. Some of them hand out small bits of candy, or even small samples of products, but the more well off vendors give each kid a handful of candy. Forgotten sweets litter the ground almost like stars in the sky.

Most kids aren't watching where they're going while running so it's no surprise when one of the kids bumps into me, sending me falling onto the ground. Most everyone within a few feet of the incident freeze when they realize what happened. I luckily landed in a sitting position so there's not much damage.

I pick myself up from the ground and help the little girl who ran into me stand up, also spending a few extra seconds with her to help collect the candy that fell.

"I'm sorry, Princess Starre," the little girl apologizes.

"It's no problem, Madeline," I say, it was an accident after all.

The girl and her family walk away, the controlled chaos of the Spirit Market starting back up again. Only after everything returned to normal did I notice the lack of my crown's weight on my head, it must've fallen off when I fell. When I turn around to look for it, I notice a boy, around my age, ducking into an alleyway, something gold catching the lights of the market as he runs.

I quickly run after him, entering the alley only a minute or so after he does. I see him standing near the back wall, studying the crown.

"Interesting find?" I ask, using simple magic, simple for my kingdom at least, to mildly change what I'm wearing into a simple vampire costume. Just a plain black dress and black heels. Hopefully he won't recognize me.

"You could say that." he holds up my crown. "Princess Ondines crown."

"I thought it looked familiar, her father is going to be pissed when he finds it gone." it's true, father will be furious.

The boy glances up for a second before resuming studying the crown. "So, what's your name?"

"Ah, my name." I didn't think this far ahead. "My name is Namika."

"Cool, I'm Dimitri, I work at the apothecary near the town center."

The more I look at him the more I notice how similar we look. Both of us have black hair, although mine is in long braids with blue ends and his is short and curly. We both have darker skin than is normal in Kaira. He seems to have fire red eyes whilst I have vibrant blue eyes.

"You're staring," he deadpans.

"You're interesting," I respond.

"You look familiar," he whispers.

Did he figure it out already? No, I'm great with disguises, that's my whole purpose of my power, stepping into a new skin, changing who i am in seconds. Maybe i didn't change enough, but if i change too much i'll forget myself, i can't forget myself ,what if i forget my father too? Or my mother? Actually she wouldn't matter considering she's dead, but oh well.

"Have I seen you in the apothecary?" he asks.

"Maybe, my fathers got sick a few times, I was probably picking up something for him," I say. "Are you sure that isn't a fake? Lady Ondine is known for wearing fakes in public."

"I'm sure, it's got the weight of the real deal."

A voice rings out from the front of the alley, "Ondine? Princess Ondine?"

I drop my disguise, the black dress and heels melting away into my usual blue dress and heels. If the guards dont find me I'll be in a world of trouble with my father.