Caidoz

Chapter 7- Acknowledgement Of The Moon's Heir

I exhale, closing my eyes. "Well, that was that," I say, glancing at Draco only to see him quickly falling on one knee, one hand on his leg with the other on the ground, facing a person behind me. "Your Majesty," he says, head bowed.
   I turn around, and my eyes widen when I see her. "Mom," I say, my chest suddenly becoming tight.
   She smiles, her violet eyes twinkling. She wears a red gown that hugs her body in all the right places, accenting her curves and revealing her perfect figure. The skirt embedded with sparkling sapphires, the fabric flutters when hit by the sudden breeze, along with her elbow-length black hair.
   She is the Maiden-- the embodiment of beauty.
   "Cancer!" she says, her tone one of sincerity. Her lips part as she leans from side to side, her smile growing wider as her eyes run up and down my gown, taking in the design with wide eyes. She walks up to me, her skirt swishing in the grass, taking up my hands and squeezing tight. "You look beautiful," Mom says, her voice dropping to a whisper.
   I look down, noticing a grey pebble at my feet. "Thank you," I say, but my chin is in her hand in seconds, and she immediately pushes it up.
   "Accept compliments with more dignity," She says, frowning, staring me dead in the eyes, before she then laughs, brushing her finger against my hair. "Then again, tonight is not the night to spend on lessons, is it? It is supposed to be a celebration."

   I smile as she then turns, glancing back at the castle, but her eyes widen as she sees Draco, who had not risen from his kneel, still awaiting her command. "Draco?" she asks, her eyes narrowing. "What business do you have here?"
   "My queen, I am to be Cancer's escort."
   She raises a brow, blinking slowly, but says nothing as she nods. "You may rise, Captain Draco," she says.
   He never looks up at her until he stands, and his arms are still by his side as he regards her, jaw stiff.
   "At ease, captain," she says, her eyes sparkling as he relaxes, smiling. But, then, an odd look passes over her features, and she raises a finger gently to her lips, which purse. "Draco," she asks, her eyes narrowing. "Have you seen Gemini?"
   My eyes widen, and we both share a look of terror before he coughs, shaking his head. "No, your Highness. But, seeing as Lord Gemini is close to the princess, I cannot see a reason why he would not be attending."
   She nods once, slowly, her eyelids half-way closed. "Then, my nephew is late," she says, before sighing. "I cannot say it surprises me. I suspect everything I lectured him on punctuality went in one of his Twin's ears and never reached the other's. Ah, but look at me," she says, shaking her head as she looks at me again, and I jerk a grin on my face.
   "It must be that I am also anxious for the ceremony, but, I know Gemini. He will be here, that is certain-- even if he only shows up at the end," she says, her tone something of a low growl. She then sighs, shaking her head. "I wonder why I feel so uneasy about his absence..."

   Draco exchanges a glance with me, and I narrow my eyes at him, mouthing, Don't you dare.
   He shrugs. Your loss, he says.
   "Regardless," Virgo claps her hands together, startling us from our silent conversation, "We have spent far too much time our here. The guests are being welcomed in at this very moment, the food is being served and laid out, and, whenever he decides to show, Gemini will be starred as the entertainment. Besides," she says, casting the pond a silent glare, much to my irritation. "Who knows what might decide to make an appearance if we linger."
   She turns without warning, her skirt blowing against her ankles like a bird's feathers, and I move after her, slowing after I make it to her side to walk next to her. Draco stays in the rear, watching out from the back, and, as we get closer and closer to royalty's entrance, for some reason, I become more grateful for his presence.
   I never noticed just how much detail was placed on the silver doors to the balcony for the royal family-- like how the curved handles look too delicate to be opened. Or how they seemed so massive one could just walk away, and no one on the other side would notice anyone was ever there, especially with the eardrum-shattering sound of voices from the other side. However, before I can inspect how the tiles appeared too fine to deserve the shoes of those using it, I find myself pressed against Queen Virgo's chest, and my eyes widen.
   "I know what you're thinking, Cancer," she says, whispering into my ear to be heard, her tone oddly soft as she hugs me tight.
   "I doubt that." I glance to the side at Draco, all too knowing of his skill in blackmail, but, strangely enough, a genuine smile rests on his lips, his eyes suddenly clouding as they drop to the floor.
   "Trust me," she says, unable to help a laugh, despite her attempts to restrain herself. "Everyone is nervous for their first connection with their Wander. Even I must admit I was not void of butterflies on my thirteenth birthday," she says, and a rare pink coloring floods into her cheeks as she clears her throat. "Although neither Gemini, your father or I am an animal Caidozian, we all had the same nerves you did, even if the ceremony goes a little differently for human Caidozians."
   I frown. "A little differently? Homam didn't say anything about there being a difference in our lessons--"
   "And now, ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please!" A booming voice comes from the other side of the door, and I jump out of my mother's hug, my legs beginning to tremble. Goosebumps rise up and down my arms as the sounds of chatter slowly dies down until silent is present.
   "Please allow me to present to you her Majesty, Queen Virgo, and her Royal Highness, Princess Cancer!"
   Just as we rehearsed it, the doors slowly swing open. In that time, I forget how to breathe, my heart beginning to race as if I am the prey of a wild beast and sweat breaks out on the back of my neck.
   "Princess." Draco's voice snaps me back to reality, and oxygen comes easy again. "Do me a favor, would you?"
   "Yes?" I ask, my voice higher than I expected.
   "Don't forget to smile."
   Shocked, I turn to look at him, a massive smirk sliding over my countenance, but quicker than my powers, Mom grabs my hand, and I find myself face-to-face with my people, the smile still plastered to my face.
   Thousands of people arch their necks, craning with all their might to merely get a look. After a moment, with a start, I realize that not one soul even glanced at my mother. Everyone was staring-- and at me! It seems as though everyone had been given invited, including the nearby villagers, dressed in their most beautiful garments of brown coloring, for identification requirements, and they mix with the other colors-- all of them held under the same spell by my arrival.
   It did not come as much of a shock to see so many races in a single ballroom given the occasion, but my heart suddenly jerks when I realize how correct it all seems. Unable to help but stare back, it is as though my reflection in the ocean of people is colorful, causing a wave of bliss to crash into my heart and wash small tears of joy into my eyes, which I quickly blink away.
   I did not hear the silence until it hit me, and, like a ship smashing into a glacier, I deflate a bit under their eyes. But my smile is the one thing I keep fixed, even as I think, Maybe the dress is a bit too much, even for Caidozian fashion.
   Then, a massive roar erupts from the crowd, and they explode into applause and ear-splitting cheers of joy. Parents squeeze the shoulders of their young adult children, pointing me out from underneath with broad smiles. Great-grandparents chuckle as they gently lean back, probably recalling my grandfather.
   "They were supposed to bow," Draco whispers, voice a low grumble tone, and I turn to see him clicking his tongue. He notices me and attempts to hide an eye-roll from my mother as he says, "You can wave, you know."
   "Huh?"
   "They're going think something is wrong with you if you keeping staring them like a hungry cat."