Hidden Before Their Eyes

Chapter 34: My Name is Esklan

The day has come. Two whole weeks have come and gone. Today I am Esklan. Today I am an Esklan that I never thought I would be. I take the day off from going to lessons. Today I must make myself just as perfect as Esklan always made herself.

Being the bad student that she is, Codra is skipping lessons alongside me. When the time draws nearer for me to head to the arena for my battle with Dracix, she will help me though every step. The dress, the cloak, the energy tablet, and making myself appear in my true form again.

"Codra, what do you think, should I open it?" I ask, holding the box I got from Kalvik over a year ago. When I had taken it out I explained that it meant to Codra and she had just shrugged at the idea of it. Now however I am afraid of what I may find within this box.

"Just open it, you've been debating over the darn thing fur an hour now," Codra snaps. The little accent she has warms my heart and I do it.

Opening the box I raise my eyebrow at the contents. Inside is an exuberant necklace. Pure white in all of its aspects it is light a day of sun against the black velvet it rests upon. The metal is possibly the whitest and shiniest platinum I have ever laid eyes upon. The stones inlaid in the necklace are a mix of white topaz and small clear diamonds. In the center a heart shape with a six pointed flower within it. All around shapes taking inspiration from the moon or like dulled spikes jutting out. My breath is taken away.

For what reason has Kalvik given me such a treasure? As if answering my question the room fades and once more I am in the garden with the gazebo at the end of it. Only difference being that Codra is alongside me this time around. We walk together towards the foreboding figure that is Kalvik. He is wearing almost completely black, however his look is accented by a striking purple.

"Esklan," he greets me, turning towards us. "And guest."

"Codra, sir," Codra introduces herself.

Kalvik laughs and says, "Drop the formalities. Today is a day of rejoice."

"Kalvik, may I ask of what you have given me such a necklace for?" I inquire.

"Yes indeed, that necklace there is a gift to say. The current queen received one herself before the king's coronation," Kalvik explains.

"What does it mean?" I ask, my brow scrunching.

"It is a show of allegiance," Kalvik says. "We give the Queen, free of charge, free of debt, a gift of great value whilst she is but betrothed to the heir. In doing so the legion of demons align themselves with you. Once you accept the gift our following is of yours, Esklan."

"Why?" I ask, my suspicions through the roof.

"The leader of the demons is a Queen herself, this is one of the only countries where we may live in peace, this allegiance is our hope for it to remain that way," Kalvik explains.

I nod, understanding his reasonings, although a little suspicious even still, and the scene fades away. Once more Codra and I are within my room. Noticing the time having past she heads out to retrieve herself some food. When she returns it will be time for the first step to be taken.

The energy tablet tastes not unlike chalk. Nasty in every sense of the word. The taste, the texture, the smell, and the feeling of it. The effects start kicking in very quickly. It takes me no time to be ripping away the blouse I have on. My undershirt is left ripped and damaged in the back as wings sprout from my back, growing into their full glory in less than a second. The tail is next on the list to make its appearance. Growing from the base of my spine I am glad I though that one through and am wearing a skirt. The next effect to start is a gnawing hunger rooted in the pit of my stomach.