Ariadne has always been a dreamer. Her mother would always say she was away with the faeries.
Until one night, an envelope shrouded with magic lands at her doorstep, inviting her to the dance of the damned in the enchanting land of Altoria.
It's m...
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Ariadne somehow managed to find her way to the throne room, and when she reached the doors, she nodded to the guards stationed beside them; and the doors swung open silently.
The hall stretched out before her, and she ran her palms down the set of loose trousers that Kendra had suggested she wear. Kallen sat upon his throne at the top of the dias, his hands lazily cradling the wooden ends. The other two seats were vacant.
All around the room streamers hung in bright hues of red, while small paper lanterns hung from temporary hooks placed at intervals on the walls. Several quiet servants milled about tidying up the remnants of last night's revelry. The ball had yet to come to a conclusion and would continue again that night. Ariadne had once again been told she must attend. She swallowed and took a step forward.
One foot in front of the other. That was all this was, Ariadne convinced herself.
Her steps became more sure as she continued down the long hall. It had been made to intimidate, and so far, Ariadne had experienced every inch of it. Eventually, she came to a halt at the bottom of the dias and looked up. The Fae certainly knew how to put their rulers on a pedestal. Kallen sat above her in a display that could only be one of power, while she herself, was considered to be nothing but a speck of dirt on the polished floors.
Kallen looked down on her, and his eyes hovered there for a mere a second before he looked straight past her to the back of wall, by the doors.
She was insignificant to him, a blemish on the boot of his kingdom. For all she knew, Ariadne might as well have been invisible.
Kallen's words were clear and unmistakable, and made her jump.
"Leave us!" The words rang with the tone of power, and the servants hurried to obey.
Once the doors were closed and Kallen scanned the room, he motioned for her to approach him. Ariadne shook her head lightly, no.
Kallen inclined his head, and his lips quirked upwards, a shadow of a smirk.
"So be it," he drawled.
He lounged back into his chair, and in a move swifter than she could see, his legs were dangling over the side of his throne. It was unexpected, but he looked at home draped over it. His elbow rested on an arm, while the other was laid over the back.
Ariadne rolled her eyes, absolutely typically Fae. How quaint.
Kallen scanned her face again, and Ariadne pulled herself to her full height, as he straightened a little on his throne. He tilted his head almost quizzically, then pointed at her. His fingers snapped once, and she jumped again.
"Aha!"
"What? What do you want with me?" Ariadne was tired and she wanted nothing but the warm embrace of her bed.
