Of Blood and Fire

Chapter 6 - Khani

This chapter has been edited and finalized.

The next three days passed in a blur of sadness as Khani slowly came to terms with the fact that she would never mean anything to Henri. She would never count the stars with him before falling asleep enclosed in his arms. She would never wake up beside him to watch the sunrise turn the snow to diamonds. She would never be more than just a face seen in passing in the halls of the palace.

Khani couldn't even bring herself to wonder who had been chosen. It only caused her more pain.

It took all of Khani's willpower to trudge to the kitchens and begin to bake. She chopped apples, melted chocolate, filled turnovers, sprinkled sugar on strawberries, did absolutely everything to take her mind off of her misery. But the recipes were too familiar, and the movements too mechanical, and it did nothing to help.

At noon on the third day, the holovision started up with Merrick once again. "This program is mandatory viewing," he said. "The women of the competition have arrived!"

Khani's heart sank. She didn't want to see this! But interest quickened her pulse and she found herself staring hungrily at the holovision as if it could heal her misfortune.

Merrick stepped away and revealed a bird's-eye view of the palace gardens and entry gates. Seven old-fashioned, beautiful horse-drawn carriages were pulling up at the doors to the Grand Hall – Khani squinted. Seven? Shouldn't there have been eight?

Merrick's unembodied voice carried through the kitchens. "These girls will be put through a series of tests that will determine how skilled they will be as queen. One girl will be eliminated at each stage, leaving three for Prince Henri to choose from. In two weeks, five of them will have gone home. In one month, at the most, we will have our princess."

One month! Khani's head spun as one of the carriage doors opened. A petite blonde girl stepped delicately out. She had clearly had a soft upbringing – the daughter of a district mayor, perhaps. She wore a dainty pink dress that shimmered like dew in the autumn sun.

"Lady Lamia Harar of Ekaï," Merrick announced. Another woman exited her carriage – another blonde, with a willowy frame and lush green eyes. "Lady Amina Nix of Dyaké."

A redhead. A dark brunette. "Lady Pandora Remena of Kolme and Lady Emmalee Jasper of Neljia." One in white, one in a bold explosion of purple and blue and green. Khani didn't like the cutthroat gleam in Pandora's gaze.

Four to go, Khani thought. But where's the last carriage? Has something gone wrong?

"Lady Margareta Hettler of Anula." A light brunette with a lily in her hair. Khani was instantly drawn to her smile, which seemed to warm the chilled kitchen air.

"Lady Rosaline Willis of Seono." A girl with long platinum hair.

Two more. Two more.

"And finally, Lady Jemma Dotina of Hikal." A tall girl in a sunny yellow thing, with a long mane of raven-black.

The camera panned to Merrick. "Citizens of Arehlia, seven of the contestants for beloved Prince Henri's heart have just arrived. But the contestant for Laihara is already waiting inside. Instead of filming her live inside the Grand Hall, we are simply putting up an image of her, and calling out her name."

A sickeningly familiar face flashed up onto the holovision.

As Merrick declared, "Lady Sora Larkwood of Laihara!", Khani crumpled.

"Are you okay, dear?"

Khani felt fuzzy. Her ears were still ringing, and Sora's name bounced in Khani's mind.

Lady Sora Larkwood of Laihara! Lady Sora Larkwood – Lady Sora...Lady...

Nausea rolled in waves in the pit of her gut. It was like her life was cracking down the middle. She'd known Sora for only three months, but they'd developed so close a bond they were practically sisters.

How could she do this to me? Distress burned inside her, and she squeezed her eyes shut even tighter, fighting the urge to puke. She knew I loved him! She knew!

The nurse pushed her hair out of her face and patted her forehead with a damp cloth. "You don't have a fever, dear," she said, and instantly Khani pictured a sweet old lady wearing an apron. "Are you dizzy? Sick?"

"Sick," Khani managed, before leaning over the side of her bed and vomiting onto the floor.

The nurse tsk tsked and walked away, and she returned with a bottle of pills and a mop. She emptied three onto her hand and gave Khani a glass of cold water. "Take these, dear," the nurse told her, and Khani obeyed. Her prediction of the nurse's appearance was spot-on. She could have been the prince's grandmother.

At once the rolling in her stomach ceased, and Khani inhaled shakily. But medicine couldn't shake the utter desolation that wailed inside her mind like a hungry child; couldn't take away the throbbing in her chest whenever she thought of Sora. Be positive, she thought weakly. Maybe Henri won't like any of the girls. Maybe he's looking for more than what they have to offer.

She felt horrible as soon as the notion occurred. Of course Sora has things to offer!

Her breath came in short gasps of pain, but not the kind that came from the outside. She could feel a hole appear in her heart, widening each time she tried to force her thoughts away from the image of her best friend and the person who she knew without even holding a conversation was her soulmate.

Perhaps it was better this way. Sora had always had less and yearned for more. A perfect rags-to-riches fairytale, unlike Khani.

I'm nothing special.

Her head felt like it was splitting apart. She could feel the storm-clouds of misery gathering on a dark breeze.

Khani groaned and fell back onto her cot, listening to the rain hiss on the ashes of her dreams.

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Khani's getting angry and I don't like it and you probably don't like it but it will all work out in the end I PROMISE! *deep breath* So yeah. Khani's sad. And mad. And she'll never forgive Sora....until [insert future plot event here]. 

GOSH gosh gosh. Two chapters in one day! So far this thing is 21 pages on Microsoft Word. 21 WHOLE PAGES!! That's more than most of my stories ever get!

WELL it's been an exciting day! It's Snowfall, and peace out!