Coal [on hold]

Chapter 3

Ten years later.

"Carbo! You are going to be late!" My eyes shot open. My adoptive father, Cedric, was calling me. I had overslept. Again.

"Coming!", I called and jumped to my feet.

"Were you still sleeping?", I heard Cedric ask.

"Of course not!", I lied and pulled my white linen shirt over my head. "I've been up for hours!" I quickly chose my most comfortable trousers and put them on. They were supposed to be black, but heavy wear and a lot of washing had turned them gray. Then I put on my boots with haste. I was ready for yet another day of hard work in the Forges.

"And what have you been doing all that time, dear Carbo?", Cedric asked sweetly as I opened the door.

"Reading,", I replied just as sweetly. Cedric could tell I was lying. He chuckled. Shoot! I thought. I forgot to do my hair!

"You forgot, didn't you?", Cedric asked. I tried really hard to remember what he was talking about. Cedric laughed at my expression.

"You forgot your own birthday,", Cedric sighed. Oh, that.

"It's not really my birthday,", I said. "It's just the day you adopted me."

"Just the day?", Cedric said incredulously. "It's the day my whole life was turned upside down! I don't know what I'd do without my little whirlwind!" Cedric picked me up and swirled me around. I giggled and hugged him tight. He was the best dad ever!

"So,", I said when he put me down. "What is it that you're planning to do? You always have something planned." Cedric rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Er,", he stammered. "About that. I-um, ah, didn't have anything planned." That was a relief. I would have the whole day to myself and my projects, hopefully helping Cedric with some of his. But I still sensed there was something more to it.

"But,", I said. Cedric tried to feign innocence.

"But what?" I frowned at him.

"There is something more, Cedric!", I said. "You have to tell me what it is!" He sighed.

"Fine,", he said. "We were asked to a, hmm, gathering today, by Governor Hill himself." A party. I hated parties. And Cedric knew it!

"A party?", I asked, my lips pressed into a thin line. "And when did you plan on telling me this?"

"Carbo," Cedric put his giant hands on my elegant shoulders. "If I would have given you a day's notice, you would have found a way to escape this. You always do. I'm asking you to do this for me."

"But Dad,", I whined, playing the daddy-card. He always melted when I called him 'Dad'. "I hate parties! And Annja will be there with her loathsome husband!" Annja had gotten adopted a month after me by none other than the Governor himself. Then a few years later she had married Fletcher Finch, one of the most arrogant and boastful Creator that was so full of himself that I had to try not to throw up! Now that party had been awful! And that was saying a lot when most of the Creators were self-absorbed fools. And now we had to go again? No way!

"You don't have to talk to Annja,", Cedric said calmingly. "Or her Fletcher." Then he turned stern. "But you are coming to this party, whether you like it or not!" I sighed. I had tried. I had failed. I would have to go to that party and try to survive.

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