The Omega Princess

Chapter 3

The journey to the Red Moon would be a long and tiresome one; Father had not attempted to make it comfortable and had only donated one carriage to transport us to the other side of the country. I hoped that it was not because of me, but in the bottom of my heart I knew he did not want to spare me any pain.

We stood in a line, like soldiers as the horses were readied, the cold wind whipping the trains of our dresses like veils. The men tending to the carriage watched us and I could only imagine that they saw five virgins sacrifices, young, vulnerable and alone, though some more than others. When I had returned to the room after Fantine had prepared us, the other women decided to introduce themselves to me.

Their ages ranged from nineteen to twenty-two and they were all orphans. Tatiana was the oldest, with long blonde hair and blue eyes, although she was angel-like in her outward features I felt her to be fake and insincere. Next was Daphne who was the same age as I, she looked like a faery with her honey brown hair, hazel eyes and tanned skin. Of all the women she was the one who seemed the kindest and the most respectful, she had greeted me with a small curtsey and a smile, of course I had not expected the curtsey from anyone but I had hoped that I would be shown a smile from more than one person. Next had been the young sisters, Tara who was twenty-one as well and Delia who was nineteen, they were both very slender with pale skin and brown hair, though Tara had blue eyes and Delia’s eyes were green.

After they had introduced themselves I also introduced myself, though I knew there was no real need. Everyone knew who I was, my reputation as always preceded me. The small introduction however had been my only social exchange with the women and for the rest the hour in which we had been waiting only my raging thoughts kept me company.

The longer we were left waiting the more everything seemed to become reality. Although Fantine’s words had been of some comfort, my heart would not calm itself for a single moment. It attacked my ribcage with a fierceness that was so frightening, I thought that soon it would no longer be in my chest but on the floor. The white dress was no longer comforting, it became tight and suffocating blinding me with its purity. My eyes had remained at the door praying that someone would come and rescue me from this uncertain fate, my mother, Marcus, anyone…

I even found myself missing the tower. Although I had once been the most sociable of creatures, the solitude in which I had lulled four years of my life in had been a comfort to me. I didn’t have to hear people whispering about me, I didn’t have to hide and I didn’t have to see the faces of those I had disappointed. The tower had given me certainty, a regime that would never change. Yet now I found myself standing on a precipice staring at a black, ravenous abyss of uncertainty, of change, all the things which I feared so deeply.

Finally we were informed that our journey would begin, fear gripped my heart and once more I looked about me for some sign of a rescue. The teary brown eyes that met my own, told me that there would be no rescue for me. In another life, perhaps even a few weeks ago those tears would have melted my heart but now…now my whole body stiffened and I cast away from them without a twinge of love in my heart.

The sob that erupted at my actions, was one that I knew I would never forget but at this moment I could not listen to it, so I put my frail fingers into my ears and climbed into the carriage.

A mother wailed for the child she lost long ago. The child did not feel anything, she had not died a painless death but had become so numb that she no longer recognised what a mother’s cry connoted.

***

“Would you like some bread and cheese?”

I turned my head as Daphne offered me the basket of food. I shook my head trying to conjure a smile but failing to. She did not move the basket.