The Shadow

s e v e n t e e n

A/N: Happy Reading!!

The next day was set out for everyone to meet in the Central Cabana. There were about fifteen royal family members.

The door to the Central Cabana was an icy white with intricate designs in lapis lazuli. The interior was even more grand. Everything was either made of glass or lapis lazuli. The pillars had intricate designs similar to that of the main door. There was a large glass and ice chandelier that hung in all its grandeur from the ceiling. There were seventeen lapis tinted vaayus, fifteen for the royal members and two for Dane and Saerah. Everyone was chattering, excited to be reunited. Dane and Saereah sat next to each other, with Nuha and Cleisha to Dane's right and Aegir, Maja and Roman to Saerah's left. respectively. A huge cheer went up when Tewagi Petra came in, with Tethys Gehzi on her arm. Tethys Gehzi was truly a vision of elegance, with flowing ice white hair, and sensuous caramel skin. They were wearing a black tunic adorned with lapis, that accentuated their sparkling black eyes. On their head rested an ice white crown with an Ashaha flower and Kasha bird carved into it. Petra was no less alluring. Her black hair, with strands of gold dispersed, was tied up in an intricate bun. Her pale green eyes were adorned with azure and lined with antimony. The combination of bridal eye fashion. Her skin was pale and she was wearing a fuscia tunic with gray lace. Her hands had been hennaed and her lips were painted cerise. The two Royals took their seats.

It was time for Petra's Initiation. A Sacre Nymph of each of the six elements came forward to where Petra sat. The first one stepped forward, with blazing hair and a body of ochre. They raised their fingertips over Petra's scalp, a a flame materialized on the princess' scalp. Another nymph came forward, bald and with a gorgeous body of blue. A puff of air joined the flame on Petra's scalp. And then a tendril of shadow, a drop of water, a shard of soft glass and finally some dirt. The flame didn't burn Petra nor did the glass cut her. The Elements protected her. They merged together, forming the Sacre Trail, that flowed, fell, blazed and moved from Petra's scalp to her womb, nurturing her senses and highlighting her intelligence. And then it was then. The chamber erupted into cheer.

Outside in the lawn, an array of food was laid out. Everyone was chattering and munching. Squeals erupted and hugs were exchanged. Cleisha took Saerah and Dane to meet Petra. The princess was as charismatic as she was gorgeous, but the three friends didn't get much time with her as she was whisked away by excited relatives who wanted to congratulate her.

"Lets go to the Lagoon," Cleisha commented. She, her friends and her four cousins were sitting on rocks and eating aromatic food.

"Oooh yes. I have't been there in a long time," Roman commented as Maja, Nuha and Aegir nodded their agreement.

"You'll love the Lagoon," Nuha told Saerah and Dane.

They certainly did. The Lagoon was a beautiful inlet of the River Teleki with its water glistening turquoise. Unlike the main river, everyone who saw this inlet saw it as turquiose. It was surrounded by iridescent corals, rocks and flora. The girls were wearing their waterproof breastbands and underwear while the boys wearing trunks and Nuha was wearing a tunic made of waterproof material. The water was lukewarm and pleasant. And so was the swim.
***

In the evening, everyone gathered around the bonfire. It was a bonding tradition where people sat around, talked and shared stories about the betrothed. Colourful garments dazzled as stars sparkles in the night sky.

Laughter echoed in the air. Saerah turned to my left to see Dane staring straight ahead at the fire, in a trance. She put her hand lightly on his shoulder, and then everything went black. It was as if Saerah was floating in space. Then a scene materialized in front of her. It was a lady that looked a lot like Saerah's mom, donned with jewels and a crown. The lady held up a sapphire necklace. The the scene changed. Saerah's breath was snatched away by the sight in front of her. It was Elias, frantically searching through a room for something. Saerah's head started throbbing. Nausea enveloped her, along with the sense that something was going on. And then all went black. No, it was actually a gray whirlwind that Saerah was in now. And then all went back. And then she was back at the bonfire. Dane stared at her, his eyes wide and scared. A trickle of sweat dropped down his forehead. Had he seen what Saerah had seen?

Saerah was confused. What had happened? She looked at Dane, who met her gaze. After speaking to Elder Holden yesterday, Dane had arrived at the orchard and he looked quite shaken up. Saerah wondered what was going on.

Aiger examined the two friends carefully,trying to discern what had happened.