Hidden Secrets

13

I wake up startled as I look around my room, 'Was it all a dream?' I think to myself. No. It was real, I remember coming home in tears flying high above the trees not caring who saw me. It's still dark out, I guess I'm not sleeping very well. Even though I'm exhausted I know I won't get much sleep. Hope's body burning is today and I have to be there. Maybe looking tired will help show my disloyalty to my father.

I take off my cloak that I forgot to take off when I got home and flop back down on my bed with my wings almost blanketing me. A rush of thoughts fills me thinking about what will happen in a matter of hours. 

The body burning is where the body takes place the day after execution. The body is dragged out ropes tied to its ankles to a big pile of wood in the only field we have on this island (other than farmer fields of course) it is set on top and then burned.

Body burnings are mandatory just like executions, but if you're caught missing a body burning you are to be arrested on sight. They are the only time I'm allowed out of the castle. It's my job to light the fire. It's supposed to symbolize my loyalty to my father even though I don't exactly have a choice.

This is the second ever body burning, the first one was when I was very young and it's engraved into my head because I saw them treat my mother the very symbol of beauty like a monster. Well, it was my father's order his soldiers follow him blindly which is good for them in this kingdom currently. 

Hope used to spread rumors about how I'm going to save us all just like my mother. Of course, they are just rumors, there's no way I could even come close to what my mother did.

Besides, I can't save all of us if she's dead.

Hope's words ring in my ears.

No, I'll save everyone, I made a promise didn't I? Did I...? If I didn't I'm making it now, honestly, the past few days have passed in a blur. 

I promise the townspeople, the children, the elders, the lovers, the dreamers, the brave, the servants, the soldiers, the dead, Jess, Hope, My mother, that I will save of all of you.

I eventually cried myself into a dreamless sleep.

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"Wake up Scarlet!" Light floods the room as my curtains open wide. I scramble to get up and regain my composer.

"Big day today honey." He did this for mom's body burning as well, he's always so cheerful and full of energy when it comes to death.

'Psychopath' I think to myself.

"Maybe I could stay home for this one, I'm not feeling so good and my cape could slip and-"

"No no you have to burn the body, it's tradition." Why must he make it sound like a celebration? Also tradition? This is only the second time. He makes it seem like a holiday. "Now, go take a shower, I'll have your outfit laid out for you when you get out."

I nod in response then he leaves.

I walk into my bathroom and step into the shower. My bathroom is the only one in the kingdom without plumbing because of how outdated this tower is, which is annoying but I have maids that set it all up so it's not so bad.

I open the shower water hole thing that lets the water fall out. I was never told what it was called so I always just called it a waterhole. It's cold as always but I'm used to it at this point.

Once out of the shower I wrap a towel around me and walk back into my room. A dress lies across my bed with matching shoes to the side. I don't bother to look at it much, I never really like looking at what my father thinks would make me look like a murderers daughter.

As I put it on it feels so soft and warm, almost like a really big hug.

Now all set with the shoes and accessories I step in front of the mirror. My maids come in hurriedly and do my hair and makeup.

When they rush out to get my father I stand there looking at myself. Emerald green dress, matching pale green shoes, if you look closely there are little emeralds across the seams. My makeup is done very pale as if the goal was to strip my face from colour and my long dark hair is tied back in a bun with white pearls lining it.

My door opens and my father walks in with a cape across his arm.

"You look as beautiful as your mother," He says softly.

It is true, I have matured over the course of 10 years but I'm still only 15 and my beauty could never match that of my mothers. Never.

He pulls off my mothers cloak and puts on the cape he has in his hands. It's white lined with emeralds. He throws my mothers cloak on the ground as if it were nothing. I want to lash out at him but I clench my teeth tilt my chin up and stay calm.

"Sure," I respond. "I guess I'm kinda pretty."

He smiles in response and turns away leaving me alone once again.