‘Death?’ I repeated, trying to keep the fear from the tone of my voice. I knew for a fact, having growing up around adults having “viewings” for adoptions, that children were never as clueless as you expected. They could read an adult far better than they were given credit for.

Morwena nodded. ‘She must stay in her rooms, for fear of accidentally touching someone. There are no exceptions, bar me— since giving birth to her, I was able to hold her.’

I had heard about pregnant mothers passing on their immunity to babies, but never babies passing on immunity to their mothers.

‘When she was born, our midwife sadly held her— and was cast these strange, black shadows along her skin. These marks grew, and within a day, she had fallen desperately ill, as if the baby had poisoned her. She did not recover.’ Morwena stroked Val’s hair sadly. ‘I allowed nobody else to hold Val after that day, not even her father. Sadly, there were still accidents. A child is very difficult to keep locked up. But until Val can control her power, we have no choice.’

‘Unless I can Steal her power,’ I said quietly, Morwena’s earlier enthusiasm suddenly making sense.

‘Can you?’

‘I’m not sure,’ I sighed, ‘but I can try.’

The entourage in the hall went silent, watching the three of us.

‘Alright,’ Morwena agreed, ‘what do you need to do?’

‘Time, and practice,’ I said firmly. ‘I’ll need Val to use her power on me. If that’s the case, if I fail, I die…I need to be sure I won’t fail.’

‘That’s reasonable,’ Morwena said, nodding. ‘In return, I’ll hide you here, on the provision you work for your keep. It’s what we all do here. And trust me, Lord Dale won’t find you unless I want you to. Nobody hates this system more than I do.’

I wondered what she meant by that, but I didn’t want to display my ignorance. Kirsten was nodding fervently in agreement.

‘I’ll also need volunteers to help me train,’ I said, and Morwena paused.

‘Ah, yes,’ she said thoughtfully, ‘Kirsten will help you. The other workers will help you, too. That makes three. Hattie as well, perhaps?’

‘That should be plenty,’ I said, shrugging. By my side, Hattie herself had appeared, taking my elbow.

‘I’ll show you to your new rooms, miss,’ she said kindly. ‘You’ll live in the workers’ quarters, they’re right this way.’

She turned to lead me, so I quickly looked back and gave Valkyrie a tiny wave.

‘I’ll come back for you!’ I promised her, and she gave me a sweet smile, hugging at her mother’s leg. Morwena ruffled her hair, her fingers tangling around the red curls.

Hattie led me to the ground floor, where the kitchens, cleaning cupboards, and workers’ quarters were all close together, separated from the guest rooms. As she showed me around, she explained that guests would arrive before curfew and stay overnight. By the way she talked, and my memories of the Sapphire district at night, this was a regular occurrence on Angelica.

Luckily, Hattie rightly guessed that I was new to the Emerald district, and took the liberty of explaining a little of the history.

‘This Bathhouse was originally just an inn, but its owners lost all of their money after the Red Solstice. The Emerald district struggled especially, because it’s an entertainment district. A curfew that bans anyone out after sunset, plus an island-wide poverty…it’s been a mess here. Is it like that where you come from, too?’

Hattie stared at me with big, innocent eyes. I almost scowled; I was suspicious that her simple question had ulterior motives.

‘Yes,’ I lied. ‘It’s been terrible, hasn’t it?’

Hattie looked appeased. ‘The King is awful! But…’

She glanced around sheepishly. ‘Ma’am tells me off for saying that out loud. I’ll get caught one day, she says.’

I desperately wanted to ask what happened to those that went against the King. An image of Arianna burned at my temples.

‘Getting caught wouldn’t be so bad,’ I said.

‘What?’ Hattie gasped, ‘Traitors are executed! Surely you knew that!’

I didn’t need to fake my horrified expression. I was absolutely nauseated by the thought of Arianna, captured, and being labelled as a traitor.

‘I didn’t know…’ I whispered, my half-truth rolling easily from my tongue. ‘My parents were very protective…’

To my surprise, Hattie believed me.

‘So many are,’ she said. ‘I’m luck Ma’am keeps me educated on what actually happens around here, rather than what they want you to know. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, the rebels are killed, and the King is never going to rebuild the Opal district.’

Rebuild? I thought. What happened to it?

‘And the worst bit is,’ Hattie leaned towards me, conspiratorially, ‘is that they say the King’s army are all the executed traitors.’

I actually twitched in response to such atrocity. The idea of killing people, and then reanimating them, was horrendous. But the worst part was that I had seen that monster arise from the priest. The rumour had to be true. It made bile rise in my throat, and sending my chest feel as though it were drowning.

‘That’s just a legend!’ Hattie was frantically pulling at my arm. ‘Please don’t vomit on the mats! They take ages to clean up.’

‘Okay, okay,’ I breathed, forcing the lurching feeling in my abdomen away. Gradually, the sweatiness in my palms faded and my body relaxed.

‘Actually…’ I paused, ‘a friend of mine was captured.’

Hattie’s eyebrows raised, and a flash of sympathy crossed her face.

‘I’m so sorry,’ she said, squeezing my arm gently. ‘I won’t bring it up again. Here, this is your room. Everyone lives in this block. They all have their own separate sleeping area.’

She slid the door back to reveal a small, square room with a futon, and a small window onto the river beside it. The desk and candle caught my attention. I hadn’t been able to craft since leaving Earth, and it was like a flash of Lord Dale’s lightning had just spiked in my mind.

I set down my belongings in the room, glad to heave the quiver from my back and the rapier from my belt. I took off my cloak, and stepped out of my boots.

There was a thumping of heavy footsteps, and a voice exclaimed, ‘It’s a girl! Score!’

To which, a gentle but icy voice said, ‘Iggy…this whole place is filled with women.’

I turned, and a boyish face beamed excitedly at me. The Angel called Iggy was short and stocky, with a thin, angular face and erratic brown hair, mussed around his ears and head. His skin was brilliantly golden. He wore the same black robes as everyone else, but somehow, they seemed so large on him. A mass of tangled orange feathers streaked from his back.

Beside him, a new figure emerged; a taller girl, with a familiar grace and elegance that I recalled I had avoided earlier on the bridge. She was even curvier up close, and she had let her hair down so that blonde waves rolled on her shoulders, contrasting against her dark skin.

She was cool with Iggy, but when she turned to me her smile was warm and genuine.

‘My name is Sakura,’ she said, inclining her head politely. ‘This rude person is Ignacio—’

‘Please, call me Iggy,’ the boy piped in hurriedly. Sakura rolled her eyes and then resumed her previous reserve.

‘Or, as he prefers to be called, Iggy,’ she finished, ‘He is a chronic womaniser and considers himself a heartbreaker.’

My eyebrows shot up, and I could have sworn Hattie’s did too.

‘Self-proclaimed,’ Sakura added, in case we hadn’t registered that she did not endorse the view at all. ‘I believe the only heart he’s broken is his own, when he realised he couldn’t marry himself.’

Iggy shrugged, as if he couldn’t understand why that wouldn’t break anyone’s heart.

I noticed Sakura’s wings were large and white, curling fluffily about her. I wondered if she could fly; they were as large as Morwena’s and second to Fabian’s.

Sakura made a face only towards Iggy, but Iggy was looking sheepishly towards me.

‘She’s giving you a very bad impression of me,’ he protested, ‘I’m nice, honest. If you come to my room this evening I’ll show you—’

Sakura gracefully stamped on his foot, leaving him bent double.

‘Work begins in the evenings,’ Sakura reminded him sternly, ‘Will you be joining us, Miss, erm…?’

‘Mina,’ I said.

‘Nice to meet you, Mina,’ Iggy said sweepingly, holding out a confident hand. I shook it carefully.

‘Guests will be arriving shortly,’ Iggy agreed, ‘and I’m in the kitchens, should you…need anything. Anything at all—’

Iggy stopped short at the look Sakura gave him, but I never saw it, because her face was a beautiful picture when it returned to us.

‘Ignacio works in the kitchens,’ Sakura explained, ‘whilst I am an entertainer.’

‘This is our new waitress,’ Hattie said promptly, and even I looked surprised.

Iggy was fist pumping whilst Sakura smiled.

‘I’ll be seeing her a lot,’ Iggy was muttering.

‘I’ll look after you,’ Sakura said over him. ‘Kirsten, too, is a waitress. But…’

The three of them looked a little scared.

‘She’s a tad unique,’ Sakura managed.

We continued to chat as Hattie fetched uniforms and Iggy showed me around the kitchens, with Sakura closely guarding me. Finally, Kirsten appeared, announcing that the guests would be arriving within the hour, and that there were already three parties of five, eight and seven booked.

‘Where are the baths?’ I asked, still entirely confused as to what the Bathhouse was.

A grin split all three faces of Kirsten, Sakura and Iggy.

‘Come with us,’ they said, ‘and we’ll show you.’

The baths were outdoors; the trio showed me several of the bath blocks. There were changing rooms, with hot towels and bath slippers. The changing rooms led to an indoor wash area, with private tubs to fill with steaming water, and shower pumps. The rooms were all relaxing; made of wood and stone, and the floors were warm to step on. Water ornaments, creating the sound of gentle bubbling, were built into the middle of the room, with simple pebble and grasses to decorate. Then, at the end of the room, Sakura swept onto a platform, filled with low cushions and tables. She slid back the door, revealing a deep, rocky pool area. The water was clear, with whirls of steam rising from its surface. The rock had been chiselled into areas to sit and areas to swim.

‘This is the mixed baths,’ Sakura said. ‘They’re the largest we have. They’re hot all year round, day and night, so they’re perfect for evening entertainment.’

I stared at her. ‘People are getting in there? Tonight?’

Kirsten smirked. ‘Of course,’ she said.

‘But what about curfew?’ I shuddered at the thought of being outside with one of those creatures.

‘Look,’ Iggy said, and he pointed to the stone and wood that walled off the pool area. ‘It’s fenced off. That means the pool is part of our building, and there’s no rule that we can’t use it at night.’

I looked doubtful, but decided not to go against it.

‘Relax,’ Kirsten said, clapping my shoulder. I twitched. ‘You’re too serious!’

‘I am not,’ I said defensively, but for some reason, it only made the three of them grin.

Next, they showed me the individual baths and the male and female only ones. Then, there were spa rooms, which I had never heard of before. Apparently, Angels went there to look beautiful. Morwena had beauticians that came to work in here, giving massages and hair and face treatments. I simply stood staring at the array of glass bottles, filled with oddly coloured liquid, and felt lost.

Thankfully, we left the spa rooms and located into the Lounge, where the guests had begun to gather. The Lounge was a large, open area of warm oak, cosy fires, and knitted rugs. A bar area was stationed at the back, and already there were Angels working there, serving the same green liquid I’d drank before, and more. Guests, clutching bags, were arriving from a reception area just outside, and were busy warming up whilst they chatted.

It was a flurry of activity, and for the first time since leaving the orphanage, I felt at home.

Immediately, I felt a flash of guilt. Scarlett and Fabian had been very nice to me. They couldn’t help that I had arrived on Angelica afraid and not knowing anything. Our priorities were different, that was all.

My priority is to find out what happened to Reia.

But I have no idea where to start.

And now I’m here.

By the sound of it, the only place Reia could be was at the King’s palace. I didn’t know where that was, or how to get there.

By brow furrowed as I thought. I would have to get researching.

‘Mina! Hurry up!’

I blinked to see Kirsten waving a tray in front of my face.

‘Work!’ she yelled, causing the room to turn and watch. I could see Sakura put her head in her hands at Kirsten’s manner.

‘Now!’

At first, Kirsten had me simply carrying drinks out to the guests. It was tiring but simple work, and soon I was watching how she made each drink and trying my hand at it. They were all surprised when I could copy Kirsten perfectly, and suddenly we were sharing the job.

Then it became clear why Kirsten had given me the transporting job. Kirsten was just about the clumsiest person I’d ever met.

Instead of taking an easy route, she would barge through a crowd, with drink splattering all around. She mixed up orders by accident, and she back-chatted. Several times during the night, I heard Morwena pull her to the side and say, ‘No sass, Kirsten!’

She was even more lethal with an empty tray. She carried it like a weapon, occasionally catching Angels as she strode past, or as a shield, allowing her to pass through gaps by taking the sides out.

Sakura, who was entertaining the party at the main pool with a stringed instrument, could be seen serenely glaring at Kirsten when she angered her customers.

  What seemed like hours into the night, I tripped back into the kitchen, where Iggy was smugly cleaning down his work area.

‘Food orders over, it’s gone midnight,’ he said gleefully. ‘Now I get to relax.’

I huffed at him.

‘You look exhausted already,’ he said, ‘it’s barely started. There’s another group that’s just eaten coming your way soon.’

I groaned, too tired to speak.

At that moment, Morwena came striding into the room.

‘Iggy, you’re not done yet,’ she commanded, ‘group that’s been in the baths want supper and snacks. You’re up.’

Iggy’s face dropped a mile, and it was my turn to snicker. Morwena gave me a wink, before disappearing once more.

Iggy was muttering curses.

‘Morwena will pay for this,’ he said darkly, firing up his stove again. ‘Although, you’re going to ferry this entire lot out, so I don’t envy you either.’

I was not good at being the comforting type, so I continued to laugh at his expense.

‘If you carry on laughing, I swear I’ll turn into a snake and eat you!’ Iggy warned, but I only laughed harder.

‘As if you could,’ I said, doubled over. Iggy paused, and then he was gone.

I jumped, staring at the empty air in front of me, and the stove that crackled with a fire he’d only just lit.

Then I saw movement by my foot.

A long, bent-legged, hairy tarantula was scuttling towards me on the floor. I screamed and threw the tea towel I was carrying over it, clambering backwards across the kitchen, breathing rapidly. Where had it come from? I had only heard about tarantulas once, when a travelling circus came by, and they kept them as pets. I hadn’t slept properly for days, feeling legs crawling over my skin.

To my surprise, the object under the tea towel was expanding, and I opened my mouth to scream once more before Iggy was sprawled on the floor, howling with laughter.

I saw his orange wings and his laughter and I roared at him, upset and humiliated.

‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry!’ he laughed as I cursed him. ‘It’s my party trick. I’m sorry, I won’t do it again.’

‘Why would you pick a tarantula?’ I screeched.

‘Because look how effective it is.’

‘I…that’s horrible!’

I grabbed his arm, and wondered whether I could Steal his power without him using it. I was going to get him back for the tarantula stunt.

But in my agitation, I couldn’t do anything. I simply squeezed Iggy’s arm whilst he looked uncomfortable.

I let go of him, frustrated.

‘I’d better get back to work,’ I said haughtily. But I smiled slightly before I left, just so he knew I wasn’t too angry.

I found Kirsten clearing up drinks at a rowdy table. The two men and one woman there were all drunk, and all three were flirting with the poor girl. I swooped in to help her clear up and she flashed me a grateful smile.

‘Good Lord!’ she huffed when we were out of earshot. ‘They just ordered more wine. I don’t think they need any more.’

‘That’s probably why they want more,’ I said dully.

Kirsten looked sympathetically at me. ‘It’s hard work, isn’t it? It never used to be this hard…what I would give to have the old days back.’

She stretched, making her way behind the bar and reaching for another bottle of wine.

‘Is it always like this?’

Kirsten shrugged. ‘Pretty much. They’re all excited about the upcoming ball, though. It’s the biggest celebration of the year.’

‘They’re excited about a ball? Isn’t the island in a state of turmoil?’

‘Yeah, it is,’ Kirsten sighed, uncorking the bottle in her hand and grabbing three glasses. ‘but this island’s split with those that are too afraid to do anything, those that can’t do anything, and those that choose to bury their head in the sand.’

I looked over to the raucous people in the room. The Lounge was filled with not only drunkards, but people quietly chatting, people playing cards, people laughing noisily. I wondered which people were in which category.

Kirsten angrily picked up the tray of wine and glasses, and stomped over, back to the table. I could hear them cheering as she approached.

She glared the whole time she trekked back to me, seething.

‘That man patted my ass!’ she said under her breath. ‘And then when I got angry, said it was a compliment.’

‘At least he won’t remember in the morning.’

‘He might not be alive by the time morning comes,’ Kirsten swore, rubbing her forehead tiredly. ‘I can’t believe people like them run our kingdom and trot off to the palace for balls.’

She meant for me to think about what was morally wrong about that group being in charge, but all I could register was that one special word.

‘Palace,’ I repeated, staring at her.

‘Yes,’ Kirsten said, pausing from stacking glasses and giving me a quizzical look. ‘The Equinox Ball is held in the palace. As it is every year.’

‘The palace? With the King?’

‘How many palaces are there? Of course with the King, you moron.’

I was too preoccupied with the idea that lit my mind to be angry about Kirsten’s attitude. A smile began tugging at my lips as I set back to work helping Kirsten.

She frowned at me. ‘What are you so happy about? It’s not like you’re invited to the ball.’

‘I don’t need to be,’ I said lightly, suddenly renewed with energy.

Not with a power like Iggy’s, I added silently.

Soon I will be able to find Reia.

Lumina is planning on going to a ball....how princessy! But how will she get there...? 

And when are Fabian and Scarlett coming back? D:

Media is how I imagine the "old" Lumina to look like. So angelic and feminine!

Larissa xxx