The Final Protection (On Hold)

Chapter 3: From Hated to Love and Saving Grace

Callie's mother made such a fuss about Callie, her usually annoyed demeanor with Callie turned into happiness and praise. That night, Callie felt unnerved. She had not expected this. Callie sat up in her bed. She couldn't sleep. Quietly, she got up and crept down the stairs. Callie wasn't sure what she was doing yet, but she was sure it would help her. Once Callie was out the door, she sat down in the fresh, sweet smelling grass. She had never been out past dark before. Well, that isn't entirely true. Callie thought. As she gazed up at the stars, she thought she could see her father up there. Callie turned her head down and remembered how he used to put her on his shoulders and point out the constellations. He would practice sword fighting with her brother, and he taught her how to horseback ride. She remembered when her mother would be nice and make fresh pies and talk about how amazing life was. Callie sighed, that was all before the Queen took over. Callie looked up and her jaw dropped. She scrambled into the flower bed and hid herself among the roses, dahlias, and peonies. A golden chariot appeared in front of her house. 4 beautiful silver mares stomped their hooves and snorted. The Queen stepped out. Callie cursed life, "Why does life have to be so ironic?" She whispered at a barely audible tone. The Queen didn't notice as she stepped up to the doorstep and knocked. Callie's mother opened the door and bowed deeply, "Your highness, I wasn't expecting you." She squeaked. The Queen said nothing as she breezed in and sat down on the couch. A black veil covered her face, so no one knew what she looked like. Callie shimmied up to the window and leaned against it. Listening. "May, I get you some tea, or something?" Asked Callie's mother. The Queen raised her hand in dismissal. Callie's mom leaned back in her seat, clearly scared. "I have come, to talk to you about your daughter." The Queen said, her gorgeous voice sounded like the waves on the shore. Callie's mother's eyes darkened and she nodded, "Go on." "The selection, is a bit different this year." The Queen continued, her long, slender fingers sitting in her lap. "How so Your Majesty?" my mother asked her face full of tense lines."Well, you see, my son, is eligible for marriage." The queen said, Callie cringed. She could literally hear the smirk in the queen's voice. My mother nodded and opened her mouth to speak, but the queen quickly waved her hand and my mother snapped her mouth shut. "And so I am deciding that the girl who gets to the final round against me will be my son's bride, if she wins." My mother stared open mouthed at the queen. "Why are you telling me this your majesty?" she stuttered her words slurring together. The Queen looked up elegantly, "Because my son, has chosen your daughter to compete for him." My mother"s eyes widened, "Callie! She is but a girl and her skills are still being improved..." The Queen raised a hand and my mother's mouth closed. "Haven't I always heard you tell your daughter, what an honor it would be to be chosen.... You have had your wish." The Queen stood and walked gracefully to the door. She stepped outside and looked directly at me, "See you at the announcing, Callie." The Queen quipped as she strode to the chariot. How did she know I was there. Callie thought. No one ever sees me... Callie thought. "Callie." Says her mother, "Come here!" Uh oh. Callie thought as she walked into the living room and took a seat opposite her mother. "What in heaven's name happened to your dress, and why were you outside?" Her mother demanded. Callie looked sheepishly at the ground, "Mother, I may have been, eavesdropping," but to Callie's surprise. Her mother laughed, "My darling, you remind me so much of myself... I would have loved to see you flourish." Her usually impeccable mother slouched in her chair and Callie saw the concealed shadows lining her mother's eyes. "Mother, I always believed you wanted me to be, well, selected and I'm ok with it." Callie said quietly. Her mother shook her head and stood, "Get some sleep please." Then she fled the room. Callie stared after her, "Well, that was interesting." Her brother melted from the shadows

On the other side of the room. Callie frowned at him, "Jacob." she warned. He came up and ruffled her hair, "Don't you always know I have a plan for my little sister." He cooed. She smacked his hand away, "Yeah, ruin my life and watch as I get slaughtered on the bleached floor of the palace." She snapped. He burst out laughing, "Why would they bleach the floor?" Callie gaped at him, " You don't know why they bleach the floors?" He gave a shrug, " It's never bothered me." "Well I know why. Ever wondered why the chess room for all the Selected to compete is always so crystal clean and shiny? It's because the people after someone dies bleach the floor to remove the blood stain. They make it look as if that person never existed." He frowned and looked at me, "I thought people like, melted when the queen beat them." "You're giving me something to look forward too." Callie snarled sarcastically. "Sis, come up to my room." Jacob said, serious. Callie shrugged and stood. They walked slowly up the steps. Jacob stopped, "Callie, I want you to know that.." He trailed off. Callie nudged him, "I never told you because I have never told anyone before." He finished, then half-heartedly walked up the stairs and opened the door to his room. Callie had always loved Jacob's room, he has the constellations painted on his ceiling and a bed was in the middle of the floor. Plants grew from barely visible pots, ivy crawled along his walls and trees stretched out the unpainted windows. The most odd thing, was a beautiful chess board on his coffee table. "Where did you get it?" Callie whispered as she approached it. The pieces sparkled in the moonlight streaming through the window. "It is my chessboard." He said. His dog awoke from his bed and panted at Callie. "Impossible." Callie declared, turning to him. "Boy's do not have chess pieces." He stared at her and ran his hand over a beautiful crafted pon. It slowly started to change shape and color until it looked exactly like Callie's. "Go get your pon." He said. She scurried to her room and snatched a pon off her board. When she returned to Jacob's room he had already sat down. He glanced at her, "Callie, our father was the king before The Queen took over." She nodded, a throb of pain passing in her chest. "Continue." She choked out. "I have his chess board, I inherited it." Callie stared blankly at him. "Callie, its magic." He tried once more. She nodded and stared at the identical wooden pon, "How does that help me?" She asked, confused. Jacob stood and walked to Callie, pressing the identical pon in her hand, he whispered, "Callie, replace this pon and give me your real pon, I will keep it safe." Callie took the pon and stared at it, the least important piece in the game would save her. "Callie," Her brother said, looking into her eyes, "This is your final protection."