Beyond

Torrid ☆PART ONE☆

Stepping back on home soil sent a fissure of happiness up my spine, but it also made me unusually depressed. I walked with purpose, Tome struggling to keep up, into the Glass Palace. It was as hollow as my heart was at the time. I let a sigh escape my lips and dissmissed Tome. The war had taken a lot out of me, but I didn’t want to be back either. As I walked into my chambers I ran my fingers along the shelves, the books that lived there were getting old. How long had I really been gone?

I didn’t want to sleep, for I was not tired. I wanted to cry, wanted to go back. I could not, I had responsibilities as Queen Veera. The rivers were flowing before I could stop them and I viciously wiped my sleeve accross my cheeks, I welcomed the burn that followed. I shielded my eyes from the blinding sun that shone through the endless amounts of glass.

“My Lady,” Tome’s voice sounded relaxed, “I hope you at least got some sleep.”

I felt nothing. I was becoming nothing. “I slept. What is it Tome?”

There was a shuffle of papers. I didn’t bother to look at his holographic face. “You have a welcome home meeting with your brother and General Mareena. Later tonight you have a party you have to attend to celebrate the end of the war”

Another sigh escaped my lips. My head hurt from the lack of sleep but I ignored it. “I'll be there soon." Was all I said before the call was ended.

I slippeed off my old dress and put on the dress I always wore. I had a plethera of the same dress.

"Why must you wear so much white? It's such an ugly color, Veera, green would look so much better on you."

"Yess, green would look so much better on me." I said to the empty space of my room as I slipped the gown on.

It was sleeveless and was formfitting. I hated it.

"Computer," I said, waiting for the loud 'ping' to fill up the space in my room, "inform Tome to purchase more dresses...in green."

I powered everything down when I left the room. My  crown felt heavy on my head and I was going to have to get used to wearing gowns. When I entered the Hall, my brother was already into the alcohol.

My heels are what alerted them. "I see you have already broke the seal to that bottle, Ova." I forced a smile.

His smile was genuine. "You look...very different, Veera."

I shrugged my shoulders and sat in my crystal chair. "War changes people, Ova."

General Mareena, a gorgeous woman with golden skin and white eyes laughed a hearty laugh.

"I sure have missed your face, Veera. But you do not look well, have you seen the doctor?" Mareena was special to me, special enough to take what she said to what was left of my heart.

I merely smiled at her and forced life into my eyes, "the time change is something I must get used to, dear Mareena."

"You've been gone for six years, sweet sister, nothing about is the same." Ova knocked back the drink like the words knocked the air out of my lungs.

I stood abruptly and left the room, the river of tears was already ruining my makeup. I walked to the Garden of Queens and sat amongst my roses; a gift from Earth.

"I read the articles," Mareena was sneaky, "a forbidden wedding."

My lungs were not working properly. "He is not dead, if that's what you're thinking, General."

"I do not see him here, My Lady." Mareena was as snappy as I was.

"General Jamison Stevens, Earth born and trained on Mars." I recieted the story I knew too well, "fell in love with Queen Veera of Torrid. They married in a Catholic church with General Mastov as their witness."