Dark Matter

Chapter Three

When Mare returns to the servant' platform this time, I don't waste time. As subtly as I can I make my way over to her at the back of the line. I think I'm doing pretty okay until a guy twice my size crosses his arms in front of me.

"Where do you think you're going?" He sneers, looking me up and down. I suppress a sigh, even amongst our own kind there will be bullies. I'm not their kind though...

"I was just walking back to"-- I gesture to the back of the room in an attempt to come up with an answer-- "talk to my friend back there, I will return to my spot in a minute."

The truth is I don't know if a minute would be enough for me to catch up with Mare, I want to know why she was so shocked to see the prince and if my speculations are correct, but the man in front of me doesn't need to know that.

The man hums, tapping his chin in a ridiculous show of thinking, it takes all I have not to squirm in anticipation.

"No." He states firmly and as soon as I open my mouth to protest her brings a hand up "You won't return to your spot." This makes me frown and before I can catch on he continues.

"You will be sent to the front." He doesn't even try to hide his smirk as I weigh my options, how bad could it be? I can deal with a couple of smug silvers.

"Deal." I move past him to where Mare is standing, still deep in thought. When I reach her I realize I have no idea what to say so I clear my throat once, her head snaps up, her eyes widening when she sees me.

"What are you doing here?" Her eyes move across my arm, but the bandage remains intact, showing nothing of my strange blood type.

"Are you following me?" I can tell she isn't joking but I have no time to blush and explain, instead I move closer to her eyeing to see if she's okay.

"You're not hurt are you?" My eyes find hers and I feel a shiver run down my spine, her eyes are a deep brown, the color of the earth, the color of life.

"Why would I"-- she stops herself mulling over my words, I take the chance to glance at the buff guy who taps on his bare wrist-- "You are following me." She says at last, her eyes showing confusion like I've never seen before.

I take my time to answer her "Yes but that was only because I was worried you'd get"-- I twist my face, searching for a suitable word-- "punished for taking care of me."

Her eyes narrow, searching my face once more. This time I don't hold back my squirm.

"Who are you really?" I open my mouth to answer her but a hand lands on my shoulder pulling me to where I assume is the front of the line. I want to mouth words to her, but I stay silent my eyes never leaving hers as I'm being dragged to the front.

To my luck the second I reach the front someone from the box belonging to the royal family pushes the detestable button, the indicator that I should serve them.

I don't waste a second in moving towards their box, wanting all of this to be over and done with as soon as possible. As I reach their box, the queen holds up her glass. I take it with as much delicacy as I can muster, moving towards the sink to fill it with water.

I stumble on my feet but hold the glass close to my chest, my heart beating rapidly. At last as I reach the sink, hidden behind some brightly colored flowers, I move the handle and let the water fill the carefully carved glass.

On my way back I walk slower than before, afraid of my feet betraying me once more and dropping the whole glass on the queen's precious dress. I shudder at the thought and hand the glass to the queen, she minds me no attention but one of the boys looks up at me for a mere second. His eyes are an icy blue, looking bored, like this whole thing disturbed his beauty sleep.