This time around, the shock on the Queen’s face lasted for more than two seconds. It lasted until she croaked out a sound of amazement from her lips, which was similar to one in my head, which was similar to the ones I heard from our watchers, which had increased by the minute.
“You…” She stuttered, unbelief in her eyes. She was still holding the offending hair, an offending hair that I vowed to cut when I got home.
As I was still cussing the offending hair, the Queen pulled another one, and this time around, it was a little lower than a chunk. What the hell!
Without much ado, I pushed her away from myself, held my hair by myself, and swerved to one of the windows of the castle-the windows could do the job of a mirror. My mouth dropped open in shock when I noticed that almost one quarter of my hair was white hair-not together-some were scattered, mixed with my black long hair. It looked like a trend, like a swag, only that it was not. I wanted it gone.
It had appeared first when I had used magic the first time, but then it had been just a mere strand. If I would be honest to myself, I have been seeing white strands on the floor of my room for a few days now, but I had refused to admit what it was-the absolute coloring of my head. I hadn’t told Laura too, not sure what to think of it. And now the gods had brought it out, open to the world.
If I had told Laura, she might have done something to cover it, just like she had done with the mask, but I had been afraid. I had been afraid that she would bundle me to the palace and demand they make me queen, seeing that she wasn’t pleased with the rulership of the other queen. It was what had made me think twice about telling her, but now that was off the list.
My significant other sighed tiredly. ‘Maybe this is fate. Maybe it’s what the gods want. Maybe, there’s a reason for it.’
I shook my head, stepping away from the Queen when she tried to grab me then. Her eyes hadn’t lost the dazed gaze in them, or her mouth, the amazement that had triggered it open .
The Queen seemed shocked that I had refused to be touched by her, but I wasn’t concerned about that. I just wanted to go home. I was done with training today.
Right then, I heard my phone ringing, and knew instinctively that my family was calling. Without much ado, I hurried over to my bag, and picked it up-it contained only a can of water, a spell book, a handkerchief, and then my phone.
Retrieving my phone, I sighed as I saw Laura’s number flashing across the screen. I saw a text from an unknown number, and another from Diana. I knew it was all about the fire and the white hair. Immediately, I flung the bag on my shoulder, and started to walk out of the court yard.
“Wait! You need to…!”
But I tuned the Queen’s voice off. Practice was over for today.
However, the Queen wasn’t one to take no for an answer.
“Seize her!” She shouted like a maniac, and immediately guards which looked as surprised as their queen stood at the exit door.
I paused, and immediately raised my hand toward them. There was no need for small talks or making requests. “If you want to see your family tonight, leave the exit.”
There was a moment of silence when the men hesitated on their feet, however after a few beats they tendered an apology to the Queen and fled. I smiled sinisterly, about to go forward, when I discovered I couldn’t move. Holding magic again?
I turned and saw that the Queen was closer, her surprise gone, replaced by gentleness. What a swift change! I thought, deciding to wait until she came, already covering the entirety of my body with shielding energy as Laura had taught me this morning. She had only given me the spells, the theory, not sure if I could grab it since there was a slim chance for it to be used. She would be proud of me now, seeing this.
“I’m not against you.”
I shook my head. “You sounded like you were. And you should be. I’m a threat to your throne.”
The Queen laughed, and shook her head. “Do you think it’s only this community that is ruled by a ruler with white hairs? No, my dear. I didn’t call after you because you had white hair. I was trying to see if I could detect your lineage, the community where you are from. Obviously you are a royal, seeing that the white hairs have gold tints on them. It also means that you took the gift from your mother, or grandmother. It wasn’t random like mine was. You see, it’s not my throne that you would be ascending. We don’t have gold tints over here. But I know of a few kingdoms which do, but as I think of them now, I don’t, for the life of me, know how you are here, how you had grown in that pack.”
She whispered the last clause into my ears, having noticed the cameras. Instantly, my feet were loosened. I didn’t bother stretching them this time. It wasn’t needed. The shielding energy had descended around them, but the Queen didn’t need that piece of information.
I belonged to another line of witches? I furrowed my eyebrows, partly pleased that I wasn’t really of this community. At least the Queen wouldn’t be breathing down my neck. However, I was left at a crossroad. What does this mean for me?
“That will explain your level of magic. I will need to do some research and get back to you. Till then, have a nice weekend.” The Queen stated, and walked right past me into the hallways.
I stayed at the same spot, for more than a minute, allowing my mind to roam here and there, trying to see if there had been any clue of my heritage at first, since I knew myself, but nothing turned up. Anything out of the ordinary had started with the sex with Adam. Had he triggered the power within?
‘It seems like. However, the queen is right to some extent. You are not for the community, at least not as a ruler. Your destiny transcends above that.’
When she puts it that way, it knocks me off balance. ‘What do you mean by that?’ I asked, picking my phone which was ringing again. Laura.
No answer. Well, let’s add it to our list of the questions that seem to be unanswerable by the being.
“Hello Laura, I’m coming back now. I know you are worried, but I will be home soon. The training is over.”
There was silence on the other side after I was done rattling.
“Okay then, if you say so. I will be waiting at home. Peter and Diana send their regards.”
Send their regards? I chuckled.
Someone would think I traveled. I rearranged the bag’s handle on my shoulder, and walked into the hallway. Can’t wait to eat.
I had not gotten far into the hallway when I met Raul. He was running toward me. Before I could say anything, he hugged me to himself. What the hell, dude!
And before I could lambast him, he disengaged from the hug, and with his palms slapped together, made a heartfelt apology.
“I’m sorry for doing that without your consent. When I watched the live feed, and heard my mother command the guards to seize you, I got here as fast as I could.”
He thought I was in danger, and had come for me? Well, I wouldn’t deny it felt good. A smile tugged at my lips. I’m sure he noticed it because a smile buttered his lips too.
“Why are you smiling?” He asked, when mine got wider.
I shrugged my shoulders. I wasn’t even sure. Maybe the knowledge that I wasn’t a helpless nobody helped more than I thought. However, the smile disappeared when I heard footsteps in the hall, when I perceived the woody scent approaching me. The scent that was Adam.
Adam was with his brothers and they were hurrying here too. I couldn’t tell how far they were, but they were near enough.
I had to kill two birds with one stone. I thought, staring at Raul’s lips.
I’m sorry, Prince.
I stepped close to Raul, knowing by the widening of his eyes that he was aware of what was coming. It was good that his hearing was limited, or else how would I have gotten out of this?
“Do you want to forget?” I asked, sure that this would be a joke to us in the later years, the best teasing phrase ever.
Raul smiled, and pecked my lips. “Make me forget, Dora.”