For Annabelle being so young its surprising how good she is at makeup.
She contoured,concealed,and lined everything like shes done it a million times. She put a bronze and lavender shadow on my lids and she puts me in a simple lavender dress and curled my hair. She turns me around doing jazz hands smiling goofily.
"How'd you learn to do that" i say astonished at my appearance
"Its part of my training"
"Training?"
"All servants of the house learn acting,disguises,and get a education"
"Why acting?"
"So you know how to fake emotions to get information"
"What about disguise"
"So we will never be recognized,secrecy is of upmost importance here"
"See I'm not actually this pale or even white."
She licks here hand and rubs a spot in the corner of here elbow. She exposes richly tanned skin. "My hair is actually black"
I stand there gaping like an idiot
"Whoa"
She taps her wrist and looks thoughtfully at the ceiling
"Now we have approximately 8 minutes to get to the throne room"
We walk quickly through the thickly carpeted hallways,
The lavishness of just the hallway is sickening.People outside the castle are dying and living in shacks to make stuff for so called royalty.
They're a royal pain in th-
"We're here,remember never make eye contact,curtsy, and add your highness or majesty behind everything your say. " Oh and put this on"she hands me a golden cuff with a trident in the middle.
"Good Luck I'll be outside"
I take a deep breath and open the door.
"Ah Raina" the queen greets me
I curtsy "Your majesty"
"You happen to be right on time ,unlike the rest of your comrades"
Just as she says thats a guy around my age with brown hair and striking blue eyes enters ,the prince.
He noticed me and i curtsy "your maj-"
"Save it" he says holding up a hand
Jerk
He sits unceremoniously in the throne to the right of the queen.
"I apologize for his rudeness my son has been rather unruly lately"
"No your majesty its an honor to be in your presence"
I hear the prince snort "suck up"
I glared fiercely at his polished shoes
"Well take a seat and we can wait for the rest of the candidates to show up."
"Yes your majesty"
I walk over to an area with rows of pillows i sit on my knees at the first cushion.
Minutes pass and finally a girl in a gold and white dress walks in with a cuff with a trident like mine.
"Anise please take a seat besides Raina"
The girl had tan skin and dark eyes and black hair she was toned but not bulky.Her eyes where hard as they met mine i incline my head in a greeting and she does the same. We sit in silence as the other 38 candidates enter the room.
"Welcome all candidates of the elite i hope you all are enjoying your stay in the castle but most of you will be leaving in the next hour or so"
Anise tenses up beside me
"This is your first test, you see those cuffs on your arm they are programmed with a shocker"
Many candidates look in horror at their arm i stare unflinchingly at the carpet.
"You will be asked a series of questions while simotaniously being shocked"
"First up Anna" a feeble looking blonde girl walks up and stands in front of the queen and prince.
Suddenly she gasp and starts clawing at her arm not even getting to the first question.
The shocking stops and she collapses on the floor. "Pack your bags" the queen says dismissing her. She walks shakily to the exit.
"Next Raina"
I walk up to stand in front of the queen
At first their is a light buzzing coursing through my arm then it keeps intensifying until it feels like its burning my skin i suck in a shaky breath and wait for the first question.
"Tell me what your here for"
Im silent for a minute thinking
"Im here to make a difference"
I say willing the shakiness out my voice.
She nods
"What would you like to persue while you are here?"
"I believe thats up to you.....your majesty"
She makes a small noise in the back of her throat
"very well i choose combat."
My blood freezes in my veins
I cant fight
"I will do my best"
My arm is in excruciating pain
"Well done Raina you have passed your test,please remove your cuff and place it in front of your cushion. I walk back to my seat trying not to seem to hasty to remove the cuff. I place it in front of the cushion. I look down at my arm and see a small black trident on my arm.
I look at the inside the cuff and see little needles covered in something black and liquid like.
They tattooed us.
My rage burns under my skin.
Anise grabs my hand, her firm cool confidence cuts into my rage.
I let out a silent breath.
When its her turn she shows no emotion even though i know shes in pain just like me. She comes back to her seat and i realize shes shaking i grab her hand.
"We'll be ok" i mouth to her
She nods
⚜
After our first test only 18 of us remain.
We all walk out looking dazed,and the same question in mind.
How much more do we have to take?
YOU ARE READING
The Elite
Fantasy"If you don't win" he said pacing the floor slowly,chuckling darkly "you've probably died " He stops pacing and claps his hands together "who's ready to start"
