Kiora

Kiora turns around slowly to face Larissa.

"You?" she asks lowly. Larissa sighs and puts the brush down on the table beside her.

"Yes," Larissa replies, her voice even.

"So why aren't you going?" Kiora asks.

"People are selfish, Priestess. Myself included," Larissa says, sitting on the bed. Kiora closes her eyes and shakes her head. Larissa opens her mouth to speak but stops when Kiora slams her fist onto the dressing table, making the whole thing shudder.

"Do not lecture me," Kiora begins, sensing a speech coming. "You are no worse than your brother," Kiora hisses, her voice laced with venom.

Larissa shrugs nonchalantly. "I suppose not," she replies, looking into Kiora's eyes. "But I refuse to suffer because my ancestors made a stupid deal hundreds of years ago."

"That is your responsibility as princess of this country," Kiora seethes.

"Yes, it is. But as I said, I'm selfish," Larissa tells her casually. "Plus, without me here, who will keep my brother in check?" Kiora stands, glaring at the princess.

"Make all the excuses you want," Kiora begins, somehow managing to keep her voice even, "You and your brother are arrogant cowards. That's all there is to it. It was your ancestors that made that deal, not mine. It is you who should suffer the consequences. How dare you both expect me to take this punishment for you. How dare you both think yourselves so highly that you can steal from Winter to pay off your debt."

Larissa doesn't say anything as Kiora stares into her eyes, her expression a mix of anger and pleading.

"Please, princess, do the honourable thing. Let me go home whilst you fulfil your responsibilities. You are wise of the ways of politics and court. You have grown up with it, you understand it. You will survive an environment like that, and thrive even. Do not force me to go to that place. Please."

Larissa sighs and looks away from Kiora. Her lips pull into a tight line, and she shakes her head.

"I'm sorry, Priestess, but I am not giving up my life or power here," she says.

Kiora closes her eyes and shakes her head.

"Curse this realm," she says shakily, "curse you and your monstrous brother. I feel sorry for your people being led by such pathetic cowards. Leave me. I do not want to see you again."

Larissa laughs cruelly and rolls her eyes. "Wow, do you ever stop with your self-righteous pity party? It's exhausting."

Kiora baulks, taken aback by the princess's sudden change in tone and demeanour. The princess stands up and pouts mockingly. "Here's another lesson for you, Priestess. You're nothing," she says lowly. "You are an inconsequential little bug. The emperor will devour you. Everyone will forget who you are and what you were. This realm doesn't need you here, not like they need me."

Kiora looks at Larissa, her eyes burning with hatred. Her jaw clenches as she tries to find the right words to say. Larissa shrugs and stands.

"Shame," she sighs nonchalantly, "I tried to show you some kindness whilst here, but if you don't want it, I'll just leave. It doesn't bother me either way."

"It isn't kindness if you're only doing it to try and ease your own guilty conscience," Kiora replies, her voice monotone.

Larissa's face pulls into a sneer. "I'll be back in two days to get you ready for the emperor. Enjoy your solitude." With that, the princess storms out of the room and slams the door behind her, making Kiora jump. A second later, the clicking of a lock fills the heavy silence.

Kiora closes her eyes and lets out a long sigh. Slowly, she sits back down in the chair, holding her head in her hands in despair. Tears silently spill down her cheeks and she sobs once more, unable to process or understand the emotions that plague her.

She laughs humorously to herself, almost disbelieving. The princess was right.

"One moment they'll be singing your praises, the next, they'll be stabbing you in the back."

The words echo back in Kiora's mind. She wasn't expecting to see a practical demonstration so quickly. In some ways, she is glad Larissa showed her true colours. Kiora understands now that people can be deceiving, and she vows never to fall for that again.

***

As promised, they came for her two days later. No one visited Kiora during that time, not even to bring her food or water; not that she needed any. Kiora also didn't receive any materials to craft herself new dresses either. The Princess left her in the small room completely alone, with no entertainment. Kiora didn't mind it though. The boredom made the time pass slower, making it feel longer until she was given to The Dragon Emperor. She spent her days staring out over the luscious green gardens, imagining how they'd look so much better blanketed in snow.

The thought of this realm being consumed by winter completely and King Lucas shivering and starving is the only thing that brings her a small ounce of joy in this wretched place. It would be his fault too. Everyone would know it. The Fool King of Orthanya disturbed the peace of Winter and now his whole realm must suffer the consequences.

Kiora sighs and pushes those thoughts away. No, she can't wish that suffering on everyone just because of the actions of one man and his sister.

They prepare her in silence. Kiora doesn't fight it. She is just grateful that they don't put her in the same, ridiculous corseted dress as they did last time. A clear attempt has been made to try and replicate the glittering shimmers of Kiora's priestess dress. This dress isn't anywhere as close.

Kiora stares at her reflection in the tall mirror. They have dressed her beautifully, even she can't deny that. She suspects that this was all the princess's doing rather than the King's. If he had his way, she'd walk out of here looking like a strange, uncanny doll.

Her silver-lilac hair falls to her hips in elegant, silky waves. Around her pale eyes are light silvers and her lashes have been slightly darkened, making the colour of her eyes look striking. On her full lips is a pale, shimmering pink glitter. Over her skin, they have added a very faint glitter that works with her fair complexion, making her almost seem to glow. Only a faint amount of pink blush has been pressed onto her cheeks, adding just a twinge of colour to her paleness.

Kiora reaches up and runs her fingers over the cold silver metal of the headdress. Unlike the other monstrosity she wore, this one is small and delicate. The twisting metal has been woven into her hair and is decorated with tiny, sparkling diamonds and amethyst. Sparkling chains hang down the back of her hair, stopping at different lengths. Metal curls down the front of her forehead elegantly, decorated with two little diamonds.

She gulps and brings her hands up to the lumps where her horns should be. The maids had made sure that those awkward patches were completely covered by her hair. Kiora closes her stinging eyes, hoping that they would grow back, but knowing deep down that they wouldn't.

"The emperor is going to love you."

Kiora jumps as she hears Larissa's voice behind her. She turns and glares at the princess as she walks confidently into the room. The Princess ignores her look and reaches out for Kiora's dress. She pulls at the shimmering, lilac skirt and sighs as she stares down at it.

"It really is beautiful," she says as some of the sparkles catch the light. Kiora steps back and the material falls from Larissa's fingers.

"I wish the neckline was a little higher," Kiora says with a small voice. She turns back to the mirror and frowns as she looks at her chest. The neckline stops midway down her sternum, showing off the curve of her breasts.

Behind her, Larissa laughs, making Kiora wince.

"You're hardly showing anything," she says, rolling her eyes. She walks over to Kiora and spins her around so the two face each other. Larissa reaches out and adjusts the off-the-shoulder straps and then pins up the neckline ever so slightly.

Kiora shifts uncomfortably. The little straps which hang down just below her shoulders are beautiful. The material is delicate silver, adorned with swirling silver thread and little diamonds. They remind Kiora of winter, and for that, she is grateful. However, they are also itchy. She is grateful that the rest of the pale lilac material is soft and light. It clings to her torso tightly. A belt around her waist matches the silver straps around her arms. Beneath the belt, the skirts fall in elegant, shimmering lilac layers.

"Is that better?" Larissa asks sarcastically.

"A little," Kiora mutters.

Larissa huffs and steps back to look over Kiora once more. She nods her head and smiles confidently to herself.

"The emperor is going to be in awe of you," she says. Kiora looks to the ground and bites at her lip. "That isn't anything to be ashamed of, Priestess. If anything, you should use it against him."

Kiora doesn't reply.

"Beauty is a powerful weapon, priestess," Larissa continues. Kiora frowns, confused about how beauty can be used as a weapon.

The princess laughs at her expression. "You'll figure it out," she says. "Come on, it's time to go."

As Kiora walks out into the corridor, a loud ringing sounds in her ears and the world around her feels strange and distant. If it weren't for Larissa's tight grip on her arm, Kiora would stand frozen in a state of shock.

This is really happening.

She is led out to the courtyard, where a large procession waits. They are a sea of finely dressed guards on great horses adorned with reins of gold and red.

Kiora spots the king. He is wearing a deep purple velvet tunic, lined with threads of gold. He is cleanly shaven now and the dark hair on his head has been gelled off his face. His golden crown glints in the sunlight.

Seraphina's skin pricks as the sunlight hits her skin. Its heat makes her shudder in discomfort. Beside her, Larissa rolls her eyes and drags her toward her brother.

"She looks beautiful," the King says as Kiora approaches. His eyes rake over her. Kiora crosses her arms in discomfort and looks away.

"Thank you," Larissa says and sneers at him. She then turns to Kiora. "You should be grateful, if he had his way, you'd be wearing one of those ridiculous corsets and skirts that you were put in on your first day here."

Kiora just glares at her. Larissa rolls her eyes once more and smirks.

"Let's just get her in the carriage," the king says.

The carriage in question is a mass of gleaming and twisting gold, drawn by six huge, black horses with fancy red feathers on their heads. Kiora is ushered inside and the King and Larissa squeeze in opposite.

"Why are you drawing the curtains?" Kiora asks.

"Because the Dragon Emperor doesn't want you to know where the portal is in the fifth realm," the King says.

Kiora chuckles humourlessly. "I have travelled across all the realms," she reminds him, "I know exactly where his portal is. Keep the curtains open."

The king looks at his sister awkwardly and she scoffs. "Just leave them, fool," she snaps and leans over him to slap his hand off the velvet material. "I hate travelling in the dark."

Larissa hits the roof and the carriage lurches. Kiora looks out of the window ahead and watches as the portal weaver starts to make those strange gestures with his hands. Green tendrils of magic start to flicker away from his palms and soon, a large portal begins to form. Kiora can see the golden arches of the great portals on the other side and her stomach sinks.

Her throat dries and by her sides, her hands begin to tremble. She bites at her lips to stop them from quivering.

She leans back in her chair and closes her eyes tightly.

"Don't worry priestess, this will all be over soon," Larissa mocks. Kiora drowns her out and winces as she feels the pressure of going through the first portal. Reluctantly, she opens her eyes.

They are no longer in the courtyard of King Lukas's palace in Orthanya. Now, they are in No Man's Land, and the shadows of The Great Portals loom over her.

Soon, she will be in the Fifth Realm where the Dragon Emperor waits to devour her.