The Hidden Orphan (The Chronicles of Mistar - Book 2)

Four · · · Evangelene (.2)

Lightning flashed through the large oval windows all along the sides of the ballroom. It made Eva wince, turning her head away to the glinting silver walls and navy blue dance floor. Large, dark blue curtains hung in the windows with silver constant metal chandeliers strung up all over the room, giving it all the light it needed. They blinded Eva, so she stood still, letting her eyes adjust to the light.

Her father, King Evert, sat on his throne. He was too fat and stout to have a grand entrance, so he was already in the ballroom when the guests started to arrive. Now the room was filled to the brim with people milling about in fashionable gowns, each one looking their best in front of the king and his family. Eva despised it. She jumped when the trumpets sounded, letting her and her sister's presence be known to the entire kingdom of Tatin.

All of the conversations that filled the ballroom, started to dwindle down until there was only a murmur when the trumpets stopped playing their racket. Eva wanted to roll her eyes and clap sarcastically, but she held onto her fake smile letting all her subjects think she was happy.

On his throne made of silver constant metal, King Evert cleared his throat. His throne sat on top of the double staircase that down into the midst of the ballroom. Two more thrones flanked his side, made for Eva and Eve. Behind each throne, were the guests from Gazar. If Eva could remember correctly, their names were Raypha Pollun, Chaka Twenden, Monta Ruemon, and the famous lost princess of Lotna, Tapalla Monae. She was definitely a name Eva would remember.

The four looked uncomfortable standing behind the king. The boy with blood-red hair, Eva thought he was Monta, shifted from foot to foot in his suit made of navy lined in silver. After he was all cleaned up, servants had slicked his hair back to try and make him look like a gentleman at least. Eva could tell it hard though, because of the lines of white that had scarred his face.

Six? Eva thought when she looked closer. Three on each side of his face.

At first, Eva had almost nearly jumped out of her skin when she first saw them, but then kept her composure and acted as if they weren't even there. Monta was friendly enough, but very closed off as was Tapalla.

When Eva first learned that Tapalla was coming to Tatin, she had jumped for joy in excitement. She just couldn't wait to show Tapalla around her city, but then was sad to learn that Tapalla couldn't leave the side of the king. Tapalla had to be as discreet as possible, hiding in the shadows so the assassins that were looking for her wouldn't find her on Ablatin.

Eva glanced in Tapalla's direction and smiled when she saw her purple skin. It almost seemed to sparkle when the lightning flashed, which also reflected the yellow, a sign of fear as Eva had learned in her teachings, in Tapalla's face. Even though she was a princess, Tapalla had grown up on Gazar her whole life without the worry of having to act like a princess. Eva should shyness take over as Tapalla's face became red with embarrassment when she found Eva staring her.

Tapalla's eyes also mesmerized Eva. They were a deep, dark brown filled with waves of different colored blues and greens. To Eva, it reminded her of the galaxy in the pictures she's seen in books, a place she would like to spend at least a day in.

Even though her eyes were what showed off most of her beauty, Eva thought Tapalla's hair was gorgeous and wanted it. Eva had bright blonde hair herself, but it always became greasy after a few hours and liked to curl into knots so it looked messy. That's why Eva liked to always have it an updo so every day didn't look like a bad hair day. Tapalla's hair, on the other hand, was something Eva had never seen. Even from a distance, Eva could tell that Tapalla's hair was naturally smooth, if that was possible, and straight, not threatening to turn on her at any moment and become a tangled mess like Eva's own hair.