The Golden Child

~Syren~*

I watched him go, forlornly. He weaved through the streets with only his father for protection. I had a sense that he liked it that way.

I wondered whether Elias was truly my friend or he was pretending to be. Probably the latter, worried I would torture him. Would he spill my secret to the world? Would my thousands of adoring fans suddenly come at me with pitchforks? It would be a relief, actually.

Or would he be a true friend? Would he be kind? I didn't know. The more I thought, the more confused I became. Having a friend was almost worse than not having one.

My thought monologue was interrupted by Alistair knocking on the door. "Time for the monthly spectacle, miss," she said politely.

Not the spectacle! I thought. I always pushed it to the last day possible. Now, I had no choice but to do it, even though I was tired from helping Elias with his guise.

I trudged through the door and down my steps. When I reached the street, there were throngs of people there. They saw me, and as a mass, lunged forward, grasping and clawing at me.

I raised my hands above the crowd, and before they could reach me, I paused time, gold magic glowing at my fingers. It was not as hard as it seemed, you were just dragging out a moment indefinitely.

With my pause I first sought out Elias, and saw him about to enter the palace. I then climbed the steps to my tower, climbed up the window, and restarted time.

The crowd yelled until they could find me at the top. "Look!" Someone screeched. "She's going to jump!" The person had it right. I was going to jump.

I fell, suddenly twisting myself into a golden bird. I landed gently on the paved street. Spreading my wings, I bowed, and as I did that, I became human again.

"The great goddess, her power is endless!" Someone yelled. How wrong you are, I thought. But I smiled and put on a show.

It's what the people desired.