Divinity

Chapter One

One would think the security at a marriage reception at one of the highest noble houses would be stricter than Headmaster Taja at the Sisterhood. But, it was surprisingly easy to sneak in as a commoner, serving the nobility at Isadora Mirai’s ball. The ball for the elder sister that  I once shared a last name with had a new surname, just as I did. However, her surname rang with honor, while mine reeked of indefinite servitude.

 

It was quite easy to slip in. Under the veil of a servant girl, no one could recognize my face. Without a shadow of a doubt, I knew I could have snuck in even if veils weren’t required for the servants. My old family hadn’t seen me in eight years.

 

Celestine squirmed under my long dress “Shh! Stay still!” I hissed. “I let you come along, and no common girl would have a pet dragon. It would give me away in seconds.”

 

With a reverberating sigh, Celestine curled inside the pocket I had crafted into this dress. I could just imagine her rolling her violet eyes in contempt. That dragonling was smarter than half of my teachers.

 

“And now…” A man in the front of the room announced. It took me a few seconds to recognize him as Martin Mirai. My father. “Introducing the lady of the night, Isadora Amelie Esther, daughter of Mirai, newlywed to Augustus Eldrick Ilario of the house of Murphy!”

 

Izzy! My sister. No, my ex-sister. Still, I cared enough about her to sneak out and travel twenty miles on horseback to see her once again.

 

A woman entered through the hall, and the crowd split. Huh? Izzy? It couldn’t be… Her long hair floated behind her, wispy blonde strands adding to her angelic face. Bright blue eyes were her best feature, but tonight they looked… Vacant. Even from this distance, I could see the lack of emotion in Izzy’s eyes.

 

The man next to her wasn’t as old as I thought- he looked in his early twenties. His blonde hair was even lighter than Izzy’s, but trimmed close to his scalp. His shirt and trousers were laced with purple, the color of royalty. According to my research, he had been a member of the Guard and the king’s court. Izzy definitely married up.

 

I would have been married off, too. I would be here, by Izzy’s side. But, the fact that I can shoot fire from my hands prevents that.

 

“Something’s off about that guy,” I murmured, just loud enough for Celestine to pick it up. “His eyes seem… Seem like he’s planning something.”

 

It was the same look I got when I was planning mischief in the abbey. I knew the clever flame flickering in the eye better than anyone. Whenever I looked into the mirror, I could glimpse that quality about myself.

The happy couple (at least, I hoped they were) walked into the center of the room. A trio of musicians started to play. A young girl, who couldn’t be more than ten, stood in the middle of them. She opened her mouth wide. And she began to sing.

 

“Louisa?” I gasped.

 

“Shut up, you peasant,” a member of the Guard snapped from behind me. “This is not the moment to open your insolent mouth.”