Crowned 10 - Lost and Found!

CHAPTER 10

     Heavy footsteps thumped against the dark floor as a man hastened down a spiral staircase through a flurry of men, drinking and dancing in between. Heads turned and eyes followed his hastening back.

“Lord Kairo, congratulations on winning over Bestia!”

“Brilliant party tonight, Lord Kairo!”

“Looking handsome as always, Your Highness!”

“Where are you rushing to?”

Kairo brushed past many a talking figures, letting their calls fall on deaf ears. He jogged past the dance floor and entered the room opposite to it. He locked the door behind him before calling, “Brother? Are you okay?”

The little room was dimly lit by a lamp placed on the center table, opposite to which was a wooden seat. It was a resting room for the servants, which had been taken over by Kaeo’s impatient grunts and whimpers.

“Kae, what’s happening?” Kairo asked as he kneeled beside the wooden seat, his eyes wandered over Kaeo’s pained expression.

“I—ugh, I can feel it, her magic,” Kaeo seethed through gritted teeth. His fist was clenched around a fork which he dragged over and over into the wooden seat.

“Close your eyes,” Kairo said as he placed a finger over Kaeo’s forehead and gently pushed him backwards, “Tell me what you see.”

Kaeo writhed under his brother’s touch and the fork was further pushed into the wood. “Arrgh, the’rre, there’s a, a fire,” Kaeo huffed as pain clutched his abdomen, “A big place is on f—ugh, fire, argh,” he grunted, voice deepened with controlled agony, “I can feel her stripping my magic.”

“It’s okay,” Kairo reassured, “She might need it. Tell me, what do you see? Give me a hint.”

Kaeo swore under his breath as he tried to concentrate. His body felt like it was being stabbed by invisible daggers and every hole was releasing his magic into the universe. Exhaustion took over his limbs and he let himself slip further into the curve of the wooden seat.

“There is a, um, trees, she is outside. The build—aargh, it’s on fire. There’s a magic circle, r-r-red and, guards, the crest, it’s the Count’s crest. Aramia. Ugh,” he grunted as pain ripped through his body, threatening to split him in half.

“Good work, brother,” Kairo smiled and knocked a finger against Kaeo’s forehead.

The ravenette fell limp, rolled off the seat and crashed against the marbled floor.

Kairo cringed at the loud thud Kaeo’s head made after hitting the table’s foot. “That’s gotta hurt…” he mumbled before a brilliant jade magic circle appeared under his feet and swept him away. “To think you had been so close…” Kairo muttered as he materialized in front of the burning occido wing at Count Aramia’s estate.

He whispered a spell and a small magic circle appeared within his right eye. Through it, he could clearly see the crimson magic circle over the estate. The circle throbbed furiously, unlike anything Kairo had seen before. He could feel the spell lending power from the very atmosphere around him. The roaring winds, the shivering leaves, the crackling fire, they are all sustaining the circle overhead.

“This…this is magic,” Kairo gasped in a whisper.

His bespelled eye caught sight of a pulsating red wave on the farther left of the magic circle. It seemed to be connecting something on the ground and something else in the burning building. The purest thread of gold was encased within, as thin as an eyelash, fragile beyond belief. Kairo wondered if he stared too hard, it would break apart.

He ran towards it and found a body being dragged by two guards. The pulsating red wave had one end connected to it and an orb of powerful crimson throbbed around the body.

Kairo looked up and spotted the other end of the magic entering the first floor of the burning building.

He snapped his fingers and a magic circle appeared under his feet, levitating him off the ground. He floated to a broken window and found a similar throbbing body, surrounded by raging fire and protected by the crimson magic. From his height, he could see two more waves pulsating on the opposite side of the estate.

Kairo casted a quick spell and brilliant jade magic circle appeared underneath the crimson. It sucked the fire away until all that was left was smoke and wails. As soon as his magic circle disappeared, Kairo entered the burnt ballroom, picked up the person and floated back to the ground.

“It’s a miracle!”

“The fire is gone!”

“All hail—”

With another snap of his fingers, the wailing guards were knocked out cold.

Kairo placed the two bodies beside each other and almost instantly, the overcast magic circle disappeared. The wind rested and the trees came to a standstill.

“It’s like the magic has a mind of its own…” Kairo whispered with fascination shining in his eyes.

Though, as soon as the throbbing orb disappeared from the two bodies, horror caused his eyes to widen. For whom he remembered with warmth now laid cold and scarred. His feet scurried to her side and clammy hands picked up her curly brown head. Tears threatened his eyes as he pulled the limp body against his chest, whispering, “I-It’s okay, you’re safe now, nothing like this will ever happen again…”

The gnarly bite marks disappeared from her body as a magic circle appeared underneath Kairo’s feet.

Five days later, her eyes fluttered open.

There was a heaviness in her limbs that weighed her down and a clog in her throat that made her croak out, “Ah.” She closed her eyes again then reopened them as memories began spiralling in her head.

“Clary!” she shouted hoarsely as she shot up, instantly regretting both the actions. A violent cough wrenched her momentarily motionless. Her world spun as her head throbbed, threatening to burst open.

She swore under her breath as her eyes scrutinized the strange surroundings. She came to a very obvious realisation that she wasn’t in Count Aramia’s basement or her hardwood charpoy.

No.

She was in an unfamiliar lap of luxury, settled in between an army of soft pillows and a sinfully addictive bed. A calming scent wafted in the rich air surrounding her, accentuating the obvious wealth around the four-poster bed. Opposite to the bed, a fireplace of black stone crackled a warm glow.

Clary.

She raised her hands to get rid of the silk sheets and spotted colourful pins attached to her wrists. She pulled out a pin and seethed as a few droplets of blood marked the sheets. The pins were a healing tool, she recognised. Their needle tips were supposed to prick the veins of a patient and the tiny glass blob on the opposite end stored a healing spell or potion, whatever the caster deemed necessary. The pins were an Alchemy Type Mage’s speciality.

Oh.

She had almost overlooked it.

She was so used to them and suddenly, the scars were…gone?

‘Did Count Amaria finally sell me off?’ she wondered as she slipped out of the bed.

Her feet landed on the softest carpet known to existence and she could not resist the urge to rub her feet against it.

Clary. Her mind reminded.

“Yes,” she whispered hoarsely and pulled out the remaining four pins before getting up.

Dizziness overtook her sight and she grabbed the bedframe to stabilise herself. It was then when she caught sight of her attire. Her eyes widened as she faced the full-length mirror placed beside the fireplace.

She hadn’t seen herself in anything but the maid uniform for such a long time so it came as no surprise when an audible gasp escaped her lips. Though, instead of fascination, hers was scandalised.

For on her body was the very familiar and very classic, pearly white, iridescence embroidered, fae-woven, wedding dress.

Alarm bells raged in her mind.

‘Count Aramia totally sold me. Some creep wants to marry me. I need to run away, as soon as I can, as far as I can.’ She concluded and limped out of the bed room, which was connected to its own living room, past which was an opaque glass carved door. She gulped and limped to the circle widows. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she realised that she was on ground floor.

She looked around the living room and picked an umbrella from the stand by the door. She would use it as a contingency weapon, she decided as she unbolted the window and jumped out. Her limbs were still weak and instead of landing gracefully on her feet, she plopped on the hallway, clutching her thundering heart and sweaty limbs.

“Elvira.”

The sudden acknowledgement made her jolt backwards. Her head hit the wall and a loud groan escaped her lips.

The person in front swore under his breath as he rubbed a hand on the back of his head.

Elvira looked up and found a pair of dark eyes glaring at her with annoyance. He seemed bothered by her presence, if not disgusted, yet the odd familiarity in his face made her breath hitch.

Her eyes narrowed at his face. The frowning thick brows, center-parted raven hair strands caressing the flashy eyelashes. Odd amethyst eyes wandering over her face, the high nose bridge representing the pride in his almond shaped eyes, easing into a philtrum and pouty peach lips.

 No way.

She had never noticed it…but there was a mark under his left eye.

Had it always been there?

She wouldn’t know.

She was so sure she dreamt them up.

But—no, was it a dream again?

Elvira reached out and her fingers grazed over his shirt-covered-stomach. The hard touch felt real. Her eyes widened to their brim as she whispered, “Kaeo.”

“Good that you have your wits intact,” the man replied, voice deep and so unfamiliar, “Now that you are up, I can finally use my room again. For star’s sake,” he swore under his breath.

No, it wasn’t Kaeo. The Kaeo she knew had brilliant blue eyes and a smile that would light up her world.

It was a smile worth dying over.

And Kaeo died five years ago…

I should find Clary.

Elvira used the umbrella to stand up. The stranger shadowed her frame with his lean build.

“Ex-cuse me,” Elvira muttered as she limped past him.

 

Crowned 9 - West Wing

 

CHAPTER 9

The soft crackling of firewood engulfed the otherwise silent living room. The indent on the shiny red sofas placed in front of the fireplace indicated a party of five people. A soft scent emanated from the candles decorated on the mantlepiece. Like the rest of the Estate, the living room of the East Wing was a flurry of glazed wood, books and antique furniture which Elvira walked past.

Her neck was craned up and her hair were tucked behind her ears in order to catch the faintest of sounds. The layout of the two wings seemed to be similar as Elvira paced through a hallway of doors, opening and closing them to check inside.

Just as she opened the last door in the hallway, she heard two maids walking up the staircase. Instantly, Elvira entered the dark room and hid behind the closed door.

“How long will it last? My feet hurt, ugh.”

“It’s a full night thing. But thankfully there is overtime pay.”

Elvira scoffed, ‘It must be nice being human.’ She thought.

“I feel bad for the slave girl, they don’t even get paid.”

“That’s their fault for being born wrong.”

“Yeah…”

Their voices disappeared around the corner and Elvira sneaked out to run downstairs.

“I’ll just make sure that she’s safe and then I’ll leave,” Elvira whispered as she eyed the empty hallway downstairs. She could hear a loud orchestra on the left end and proceeded to follow the noise.

There were guards at the door, Elvira spotted, then squared her shoulders and plastered a smile on her face. The guards opened the door for her, considering her a maid. She entered what she assumed to be the ball room owing to the majestic ceilings decorated with crystal chandeliers, hanging like upside down trees. The opulent carvings of gold made her breath hitch, people dressed in elaborate gowns and elegant masks meandered the circular dance floor, clinking glasses, passing whispers and in the center of it all stood Clary, scantily clad in a bedazzled brassier and panties, tied to a pole. Her eyes were covered with a silk cloth and a bejewelled clamp pursed her lips.

Her pale forehead was in a frown and her body shivered with every strange touch lent by a passerby.

Elvira saw red.

Her mind forgot all sense and let a scowl ease onto her face. Her tongue did not twist into another sweet-talking monologue and her knees did not buckle at the sight of the Count surrounded by his men.

The skies rumbled outside and the orchestra reached a crescendo.

Elvira stormed out of the ballroom, up the stairs and began kicking every lantern and candlestand in sight. She sped into the living room upstairs, grabbed the fire poker and tossed all the firewood outside. The hardwood floor and the furniture easily caught light.

“FIRE! FIRE UPSTAIRS! THERE’S A FIRE! EVACUATE NOW!”

She shouted as she ran downstairs. Panicked maids rushed past her, guards jogged upwards and other servants ran to their masters’ aide in the ball room. Elvira entered the ball room, amidst a crowd of servants and scoffed at the frenzy with which the nobles were running around.

Paying no consideration to the girl tied to a pole.

Elvira beelined towards her, shoving past numerous servants and reached Clary’s side.

Her chest was heaving and upon close sight, Elvira noticed how badly all of Clary was shivering. Elvira placed a hand on Clary’s back and she jolted away from her touch.

“Clary, it’s me, don’t worry, I’m here,” she reassured as she unlatched the clasp from Clary’s mouth. The girl moaned as soon as her mouth was free but the painful bruises of the clasp remained on her pretty face. Elvira pulled the eye cover off her head and Clary cringed at the sudden assault by light. Realisation struck her down; her knees gave up and she descended to the floor.

The screaming had trickled to the outside as the guests managed to escape. The crowd in the ballroom had thinned while Elvira attempted to unfasten Clary’s hand binds.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be done in a moment and we can leave,” Elvira assured, clawing at the thick rope to get it loose.

“I—it’s okay…” Clary said but her tone showed no optimism. Her voice was barely above a whisper, too afraid to let out and catch any more attention.

Elvira desperately pulled at the knot, attempting to undo it but all her strength could do was fray the thick rope. She swore under her breath as waves of heat threatened their safety. The fire must be descending down, Elvira concluded – was there no mage on the premise who could get rid of it? All she had wanted was a big enough distraction and an equally immeasurable loss to the Count but she did not want to endanger anyone else.

“It’s, it’s loosening, trust me,” Elvira said through gritted teeth as her nails dug into the crevices of the rope and blood oozed out of them, “I’ll, I’ll get it done.”

“You should run…” Clary whispered, her gaze mesmerized by the way the ballroom door caught fire.

“We- we, we will go together,” Elvira seethed through a clenched jaw as her fingers were finally able to breach the tight constraints. She heaved as she pulled apart the thick knot and dropped the bloodied rope on the floor. “Le—no, wait,” she looked around and ran up to pull a curtain off a window. The rod fell down with a resounding thud and Elvira hastily pulled the curtain off it. She ran back to Clary’s side and draped the fabric over her shoulders, “Let’s go now.”

The fire had caught up to them and the entrance to the ballroom was ablaze. Elvira rushed Clary to the window and used the curtain rod to break the glass. She got rid of the small shards encasing the window pane and called for Clary to jump.

The darkened gardens awaited with a promise of momentary peace.

Yet, Clary stared at the approaching flames, unmoving.

“I think I understand Yuna now. And I get why you and her are so brave…” Clary whispered, “Dying today is better than suffering every day.”

Elvira widened her eyes as she turned to face Clary.

Her light orbs reflected the fire and an odd sense of peace veiled her face. Gone was her gentle smile and earnest eyes, exhibiting all the hope and kindness in the world.

“No, Clary, death is not an escape.” Elvira countered sternly, “We are leaving,” she snapped and grabbed the girl by her shoulders.

Clary shrugged out of Elvira’s grasp and turned to scowl at her.

“Why do you keep saving us? Why do you insist on living? We haven’t had a good day ever since we failed the Awakening and we never shall! If we live today then we suffer tomorrow! So what if you helped me today, he is going to kill us tomorrow! And it will be even more humiliating! I do not want this anymore!” Clary screamed, molten rage pouring out of her voice and eyes.

Elvira gritted her teeth as she looked around, “No Clary, I cannot die because the world has yet to see all of me. You cannot die because the world has yet to see all of you. Just because a group of people reject you does not mean you are not worth the effort others put in for you. The world beyond the mage villages of Lunaria is better than you expect. We’ll run, we’ll escape, Lira, Yuna, you and I, we’ll run and we’ll build life for oursel--”

Suddenly, two crystal chandeliers exploded and their shards shot outwards.

Elvira’s eyes widened as Clary pushed her out of the window.

She propelled downwards, gasping, as horror graced her vision.

Crystal shards shot into Clary’s nape, back and feet, disabling her to the burning ground.

“No, no, no, no, no, Clary! No! CLARY!!!!”

The ear-piercing scream birthed a crimson magic circle over the burning estate. Winds howled in response and nearby church bells rang with fervor. Blood oozed out of Elvira’s eyes as she fell onto the damp prickly damp grass, chanting, unblinking, “I have to save Clary, I have to save Clary, I have to save Clary.”

She tried to get up but another sound of explosion tripped her back to the ground. Pain twisted her limbs and yet another ear-piercing scream escaped her throat. Her vision darkened as her bruised fingers clung onto the grass, digging into the soil, grounding herself under an immense yet invisible weight.

The last thing Elvira saw was a crimson magic circle expanded all over Count Aramia’s Estate, glowing furiously, before the darkness consumed her.

Amidst Northern Hills, a man shouted, “Kairo! I can sense her magic!”

Crowned 8 - Salary Day

 

CHAPTER 8

 

It was salary day.

All the maids were queued outside of Count Aramia’s office, armed with expectant eyes and whispering mouths. All but Clary, Yuna, Lira and Elvira; they were busy compensating for the loss of manpower around the estate.

Yuna was on garden duty outside, Lira and Clary were handling the kitchen and Elvira was left to clean.

Her back was beginning to heal but her heart still felt saddened by the lack of monetary compensation granted to the oddities. Upon seeing the jittery queue every year, Elvira would be reminded of the time she demanded Count Aramia to pay.

They were inside his office, an enormous room with glaze brown furniture and big imperial windows which overlooked the garden. Elvira had a rag in her hand, which she involuntarily clutched, dripping water on his hardwood floor. Her cheek was bruised in response to her demands, a slap to ask for a salary.

“I harbour a curse within my very home, is it not kindness enough? The roof on your head and two meals a day are worth more than what any of you could earn in a lifetime or give back to the society. So, be obliged that you’re alive, I’m doing you a favour because I own all of you.” All, he said, eyeing her up and down.

The sting of his words hurt more than her reddening cheek.

“A bruised heart holds colour much longer than a bruised body,” Elvira mumbled as she scrubbed the rag all over the hardwood floor, until it sparkled under the hazy morning sunlight.

“I do not understand how we’re worse off than humans…” Lira began as they sat down to mend the fraying uniforms of the staff. “They do not have magic and they’re living just fine. Have you heard of the Montrose heiress from Zinnia? She is from the inner world, a human, became a Crown Princess, went to the magic academy in Willow and made friends with a Saintess and other mages. She is so lucky… and here we are.”

“We were born in the wrong place…” Yuna sighed. She rested her back against the wood wall, “And maybe in the wrong families.”

“How was your life all of this?” Elvira asked, curiosity brimming in her eyes.

Clary grinned as she leaned forward, “I’ll go first!” she exclaimed and continued after receiving a nod of acknowledgement from everyone. “I was the daughter of the village seamstress. I had a younger sister and two younger brothers. My father was an Alchmey Type and died in the middle of an experiment so mumma and I had to sew a lot of clothes to make a living. Our villagers were kind enough to never let us go out of work. I know it sounds hard but it was so much fun, sewing new clothes, seeing people smile when they liked their clothes not knowing all that happened behind the scenes. There was this one time my younger sister tore up a piece of very expensive fabric to make a dress for her doll! Mumma and I had to spend two days going to town to buy it. It was fun though, we camped outside, saw the stars, sang songs…I was happy.”

By the end of her narration, Clary’s throat choked up and she blinked to let go of the tightness in her eyes.

“I was the daughter of the town chief, you know, my mother was, is, I dunno, she was a Grand Knight in the Royal Army of Lunaria. My father was the chief and they were both always busy so I would spend a lot of time outside, my town raised me more than my family…and when I failed the awakening, the townsfolk were the first to kick me out. They left me in the Linch Forest to die or with the Kindlers, I don’t remember exactly…” Elvira reminisced, staring out of the square window above Yuna’s head.

“I am an orphan; I did not lose much because I never had much to begin with. There was a boy I liked, we promised to marry each other when we were twenty-five and well established in our lives. We had plans, but I failed my Awakening and I was brandished,” Yuna pointed at the mark on her left arm, “Left to fend for myself.”

“What happened to the boy?” Clary asked.

“I do not know,” Yuna shrugged, “Everything happened so quick, I never got a chance to say goodbye. I was wandering around the outskirts when Count’s men caught me and I have been here, ever since.”

“Wah…that’s sad…” Elvira sighed.

“What about you, Lira?”

“My village is up in the North, it was being invaded and the army was reluctant to help so the Village Head forced an Awakening on us…I failed and we were attacked. I got separated from my family and then I was here,” Lira replied, “We come from an average household, my father and mother were Enhancer Types so they worked in the mines. We never starved or had any memorable days…we just existed. I’d wake up, eat breakfast, go to school, come back, do homework and my parents would be home in the evening, we would make dinner and eat together. I miss it now…”

“Are we so bad that we have no place in this world?” Clary whispered.

“Eh…I don’t mind being rid of my life,” Yuna mumbled.

“You’re so lame,” Clary grunted at Yuna.

The brunette rolled her eyes and continued darning.

“Who was invading your village?” Elvira asked, frowning, “There is no way the Royal Army would be reluctant to help, my mother was always on some mission.”

“Oh, no, no, it wasn’t any other empire. It was this chaotic duo, they have been really active in the recent years, you know the K—”

The door to the work room flung open and the head butler glared at the group of girls, “Less chit-chatting and more working. And you,” he pointed at Clary, “Come with me.”

Clary kept her work aside and stood up, her lips pursed and face in a grimace. She hated being singled out, it reminded her of her early days at the Estate, when she was all alone as the only Oddity in the Count’s possession.

“I’ll be back,” she whispered.

The girls nodded and got back to their darning.

After an hour of Clary not coming back, Yuna picked up Clary’s work and finished it for her. Yuna was nimble with her fingers while Lira was good in the kitchen. Clary could do it all and Elvira was best at taking hits for everyone else because she wasn’t particulary good at anything else.

“How did you people finish it so quickly?” Elvira sobbed, staring at her pile of clothes while Yuna and Lira’s were already darned and folded.

“I’ll get done with the kitchen work, take your time,” Lira smiled before picking up her pile and walking out.

“I’ll feed the animals,” Yuna said and walked out with Clary and her own work.

Elvira sighed, cooped up in the small room, she struggled with the needle and thread, looping the fabric away, wishing she could piece her life as easily as it.

Though, it wasn’t until night basked the estate that Clary’s disappearance rang alarm bells in her friends’ heads. It was Elvira who noticed it first because Lira and Yuna had been busy keeping up with their share of chores.

“I haven’t seen her all afternoon…wasn’t she busy with the laundry?”

“No, I just came back from the laundry room, no one’s there.”

“She wasn’t in the kitchen as well…”

Elvira sucked in harsh breath and raced up the basement stairs to the upper level of servant quarters. There, she uncourteously slammed open the aged butler’s room and demanded, “Where is Clary?!”

The man merely raised an eyebrow in disappointment, his poise remained unimpacted by Elvira’s tone.

“She is with the Count.”

Elvira banged the door shut and hastened her step above another flight of stairs. Her hands were beginning to grow clammier against her uniform and her heart thundered within its cage. She prayed to all the stars who might be listening, she hoped Clary was okay. She desperately hoped. Her teeth clenched in her mouth as she knocked against the Count’s office door.

Once.

Twice.

Thrice.

“Milord, I’m coming in!” she faked a glee and pushed open the door only to find it empty.

She ran inside and pressed her face against the window. The garden was covered under the thick cloak of night. It was Clary duty tonight to light the Garden lights. The estate was visibly missing her presence.

Elvira rushed out and ran all the way to the west wing, the Count’s living quarters. They had never been allowed in the West Wing and understandably so, she was stopped at the door by two guards.

“You are not allowed to enter.”

“No, hear me out, um, did you see a girl come here today? She’s tall and slender, curly blonde hair, light brown eyes, wearing a maid uniform from the Oriental Wing?” Elvira asked.

“We are not allowed or obliged to tell you anything,” the other guard countered.

“No, you see, she has this problem where she begins coughing blood if I don’t give her medicine, if she dies…you understand?” Elvira rolled up her uniform sleeves and showed the guards her marks.

They vocally cringed and looked away.

“Please understand, it is quite serious.”

“Okay, you may enter, but be back within ten minutes or we will alert the other guards.”

“Also, register your name with us.”

“Yes, yes, it is Sinclair,” Elvira replied, using the head butler’s assistant’s name.

“You may go inside.”

 

Crowned 7 - Facing the Music.

 

Elvira let go of the utensils and immediately ran up to Clary’s side for washing her hands.

Clary, numbed to a stand-still, let herself be pushed to the side while Elvira washed her hands.

“We must go,” Yuna declared, only for Clary to shake her head vehemently.

“I—I don’t think I can go…” Clary whispered, her gaze stuck on the vegetables in front.

“It’s all right, you don’t have to force yourself…” Elvira whispered while patting Clary’s back, “You don’t have to go.”

“B-but, Lira…” Clary sniffled, brows joined together and lips in an upside-down frown.

“Not everyone has to be brave, not at the cost of yourself,” Elvira smiled.

Yuna nodded as she hastened towards the door, “It’s alright Clary, we understand. Let’s go, Elvi.”

Elvira left one last reassuring pat on Clary’s back before jogging out of the kitchen. Clary stared at their backs before nodding to herself, “I’ll manage their chores here,” she said, flaring her nostrils. She wanted to go…she wanted to help Lira, but her body stiffened at the thought of being near to any of Helif’s parties.

The mere word shot her seven years back, when she was the newest collection in Helif’s basement. She remembered his leering gaze running over her body as he brandished her in front of a table full of grinning men and women.

A band of musicians played slow music behind her as she was forced to step on the table, clad in a short frilly dress and serve the nobility all night long. Glass after glass of burning liquids were poured down her throat until she was delirious enough to forget all sense. She did not know what happened to her as the lazy piano keys turned into chirping of the morning birds.

All she remembered was waking up on the table, unclothed and hurting all over.

Clary clenched her teeth as she went back to washing the vegetables, praying in her heart that Lira would not have to face the same fate as Yuna and her.

In the hallway, Elvira said, “I will go outside, you should alert the head butler.”

“The head butler? Even the laundry maid could care less when it comes to people like us,” Yuna scoffed.

Elvira could only grit her teeth in agreement.

“I’ll distract them, you search for Lira and run, yeah?” Elvira proposed.

Yuna sighed as she nodded. Ever since Elvira had arrived, five years ago, she had been taking the falls for Clary and Yuna. Every time the Count would want to corner Clary or Yuna, Elvira would jump in, get hit or be horribly degraded as distraction.

A while ago, Yuna had confronted Elvira about it, only to receive the reply, “I don’t mind, I have nothing to lose anyway.”

When she saw Elvira running out of the glass doors, leading to the Garden and Gazebo, without looking left or right to care for what’s coming – Yuna could only clench her teeth.

Elvira wasn’t brave, she realised, Elvira just did not consider herself as a person worth consideration.

Her hasty steps over the grass were a stark comparison to Yuna’s careful ones. She ran boldly, shoulders squared and head held high while Yuna crouched behind tall grass, shoulders curled and keen eyes stalking the shadows of the night.

 Elvira scowled as spotted Lira standing beside a grinning Count Amaria. He had his hand over the small of Lira’s back, fingers gently caressing her squirming waist. He was about to introduce Lira to the party in the Gazebo, when Elvira jumped in.

“Milord! You haven’t introduced me to your friends!” she grinned and lodged herself under Count Amaria’s arm, elbowing Lira out of her way, “Why are you wasting your time on new scum when you can have all of experienced me?” she giggled, fanning her face.

“Ugh, this girl!” Count Amaria scowled as he pushed her out of his arms, “Don’t you know your place?!”

“I do, master,” Elvira grinned and dropped to his feet. “Won’t you keep me for your friends, master?” she faked a mewl, fluttering her eyes at the grinning crowd. Thankfully, she had chosen to wear a high-collared, full sleeved servant outfit with her uniform stockings and shoes.

“No—get away, you’re hideous,” Count Amaria bellowed and tip-toed to look for Lira. “Where’s the pretty one gone?”

Unbeknownst to him, Yuna had carried Lira inside.

“Why look for the pretty one? She’ll cry and whine, be reluctant all night long,” Elvira jumped up to stand in the Count’s face. “I’m better,” she winked and walked up to a guest, “I can be very entertaining,” she whispered as she ran a hand over the guest’s chest, nearing his abdomen, she said, “You can test me.”

“I like this one!”

“Yeah, she seems fun!”

“Forcing isn’t enjoyable. She’s so willing, she’d do it all sober.”

Elvira winked at the guest who praised her.

Count Amaria sighed as he took a seat at the head of the table, “You folks do not understand,” he pressed his lips in a line, “She’s hideous all over.”

Elvira merely blinked flirtatiously.

“It’s okay, I like her face. She could do it all clothed, wouldn’t you, slave?”

Elvira fluttered her eyes and acted coy, “Why not? My bite grooves will only stimulate you.”

“Bite marks!” a guest exclaimed, leaning onto the table, he urged, “Show us.”

“They’re…” Elvira giggled, “They’re quite harsh.”

The crowd roared into laughter while Count Amaria rolled his eyes.

“Kinky lass.”

“How harsh?”

“Show me all of your marks, slave.”

Elvira obliged as she slowly rolled her sleeves. The slow piano and saxophone took over the silence as a dozen of depraved gazes waited for her to expose herself.

As soon as both her sleeves were above her elbows, Elvira raised her hands for all to see.

Instantly, the men began coughing, whispering and evading gazes.

“They’re not bad, just Kindler bites. You know them? Creatures of the dark! Their bite spreads their cause but somehow, I survived!” Elvira grinned.

The piano and the saxophone escalated into a giddy pace as people began shuffling backwards.

“Don’t back away, my saliva only hurts on a full moon,” she bluffed.

Instantly, everyone’s heads flipped to look at the two moons in the sky. One of them was a full moon and the other a crescent.

“G-um, just serve us drinks. Be—”

“Better yet, leave us be. We had something important to discuss tonight, did we not, Count Amaria?”

“Indeed, we did,” the Count sighed as he glared at the back of Elvira’s head, “The Northern Plains have been subjuga—why are you still here? Leave.”

“Yes, Milord!” Elvira exclaimed, a little too happily. She was about to run away when a cold voice halted her.

“Hold up, I can still entertain you all with her. Since she interrupted us, she has to pay a price.”

Elvira gulped, clenching her jaw, she turned back to face Count Amaria. His dark eyes caught a glint of the lanterns and gleamed deviously.

For as long as his soiree lasted, Elvira’s screams were the supporting vocals to their background music. Right outside the gazebo, Count Amaria had Elvira kneeled over the prickly grass while one of the guards lashed her back.

Guests drank, shouted, sang and were eventually taken away by their servants. Count Amaria too was taken inside, before his drunk mumbling could ruin public relations or reveal national secrets. All the while, Elvira laid on the damp grass, pricking and soothing her gashed back. The lasting notes of the music were heavy companionship along with the stars and the two moons.

The universe was so silent…or maybe it was screaming, like her, and nobody was paying attention.

The next day, the sun would rise and everything would stay the same. Her smiling face, the sparkling pond, the jumping fishes, the breezy garden, they would all stay the same.

“Some days…I’m grateful my scars exist.” Elvira informed the sky. A smile graced her face which eventually turned into a grin as she spotted her birth star twinkling. “Ah…Mirai, you cheeky traitor.”

“Elvi? Is that you?”

Elvira sat up and winced at the suddenness of her own actions. She groaned before replying, “Ye-ah, I’m here, Clary, it’s all clear.”

The girl jumped out of distant bushes, her blonde head glowing under moonlight. She ran up to Elvira’s side with a box of medicines in her hand.

“Was I that loud?” Elvira grimaced.

Clary rolled her eyes as she kneeled beside her friend, “I’m sure the entire empire heard it.”

Elvira seethed as Clary unzipped her dress and pulled the fabric off her body.

“Do you have any sense of self-preservation?” Clary scoffed sternly.

“My apologies, your highness, I shall do better next time,” Elvira joked.

“Wrong answer!” Clary exclaimed at the bloody sight of Elvira’s back, “There should be no next time!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah…”

Clary applied ointment over Elvira’s scarred back, cringing and wincing every time Elvira did.

“Does it hurt a lot?” she asked, apologetically.

“Surprisingly, not so much,” Elvira grinned.

 

Because, a continent away, a blue-eyed boy writhed in pain.

“Is it hurting still?” the boy beside him asked.

The boy in bed shot up and scowled, his face shadowed by the darkness of the room, “It freaking feels like I was lashed!”

Crowned 6 - Amaria County

 

CHAPTER 6

[ five years later ]

 

The gentle warmth of the sun caressed a pond’s surface, glittering like precious stones as fishes flung out to capture food mid-air, leaving behind a trail of sparkling droplets. The beauty of their freedom was short-lived because a maid was standing by the stoned edge of their limited world, ready with a hook and line to catch and make a meal out of the creatures who were chasing after their own food.

The fish jumping the highest was caught first. A well-aimed hook and a strong enough throw was all it took for the creature to wither in the hands of its catcher.

Overlooking the central pond in Amaria Garden was Count Helif Amaria’s Estate. Through his office window, he eyed the withering fishes in a basket beside the maid’s feet and a smug smirk took over his face. His dark eyes twinkled with anticipation.

“What a bloody catch!” he exclaimed.

The sudden shout alarmed the maid cleaning his office floors. She jolted and accidently knocked the dirty water bucket onto Count Amaria’s exotic Willow carpets.

The loud knock diverted the Count’s attention and his scrawny face birthed a scowl.

“What is wrong with you?! You useless piece of meat!” He spat as he got up from his chair, “You’ve ruined my one-of-a-kind Fae-woven carpets! How could someone be so utterly useless!” He shouted and thrashed the back of her head.

The girl fell to the ground, muttering and sobbing apologies. Her forehead was pressed on the floor, in the dirty water, and her exposed nape gave away her seal of banishment.

“Nobody wants you out there, so feel obliged that I tolerate your useless ass,” Count Amaria scoffed as he placed his foot over her shabby head and pressed it further into the dirty water, “Now lick it all up, clean my carpets or I will have every hair pulled out of your body and make a carpet for your deathbed.”

The maid gurgled out apologies, lapping up the dirty water as tears blinded her vision.

“Know your place. Keep your eyes and ears close. You don’t belong anywhere. The world would be better off with your death.”

“Y-yes mas-s-ter,” the maid managed to gasp in between the slurps.

A proud smile elongated Count Amaria’s thin lips. He was about to utter a rare word of praise when the doors to his study flung open and another girl came tumbling inside.

“Oh-my! Oopsie-daisy! I fell, Master! My honest apologies!” she twirled into the room and fell over Count Amaria’s feet, taking them off the maid’s head and wrapping both her arms around his ankles, “Forgive this scum of the earth, kind grace! You’re the most magnanimous!”

“Yah-yah-yah!!” Count Amaria shouted, scowling as he tried to get rid of her. He recognised the familiar nuisance inducing curly brown head and the fading bite marks all over her body. “Get off me, Elvira—you little, I will fire you instantly if you do not get away!”

Elvira let go of his feet and looked up with wide, earnest, auburn eyes.

“No, Milord! Do not deprive me of your noble presence! I am nothing without your shelter! Forgive this useless sinner because you are the purest form of existence alive!” Elvira exclaimed, sniffling dramatically, as she positioned herself in front of the other maid.

“Forgiveness? You deserve lashes!” Count Amaria bellowed.

“Anything from Milord is a gift,” Elvira grinned, “But I want you to only see me. Won’t you shower me with your gifts, Milord?” she began sliding the shoulder strap of her dress when Count Amaria interrupted.

“No, no, stop! Don’t you dare show me your hideous body again! The Stars know it’s a sight to cause misery, ugh, what a curse you are!” he spat, “Jus-Just, clean my carpet and leave. Ugh, I’m so disgusted…” he coughed and hurried out of the room.

Elvira turned to the other maid and pulled the sobbing girl into her arms. “Are you okay? I’m sorry I was so late. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry you had to go through it. You did not deserve it. I’m so sorry, my pretty,” she whispered into her ear while running a soothing hand over her back.

“N-no, it’s, it’s not y-your fault. I-I dropped the dirty water and ruined it, I-I-I am sorry you had to go through s-s-o much to stan-n-d up for me.”

“Hey, Lira, look at me,” Elvira said as she gently pushed the girl out of her embrace and cupped her chubby face in her palms, “It’s not your fault for being who you are, okay? Just because someone rejects you doesn’t mean that you’re cursed. It merely means that you haven’t found the right ones. People like the Count exist all over the world—but people like Yuna, Clary and I, do too. You don’t have to give in to the evil ones, next time, just shout and the right ones will run to you.”

Lira’s pouty lips were upturned and her teary eyes were swollen. But, for the sake of Elvira’s kind words, she tried her best to smile.

She had met Elvira when she was taken in by the Count’s men and brough to his estate. She had been kicked out of her village for not having any powers and struggled to survive in the forest until she was captured. She had been scared when those big, buff, men had thrown her into a dark and damp basement.

Her young-self shivered in the darkness until a sudden glow of candlelight illuminated her vision and under the yellow glow was the smiling face of an older girl. She held out a hand for Lira to take and introduced herself as, ‘Elvira.’

Though her eyes held kindness and her lips pursued warmth, her body was covered in inhumane bite marks, some bruising and some fading. There were two hollows over her forehead, the bite extending into her hairline—which Lira was able to notice because of Elvira’s bangs being tied in a pony-tail.

Lira had no idea how Elvira lived each day with such a confident smile.

She wanted to be more like her.

So, she had taken her hand back in the basement and smiled for her in the Count’s Office, eight months later.

“Yes, that’s my girl,” Elvira smiled and wiped Lira’s face with the back of her uniform sleeve, “You’re so pretty, don’t ruin your face.”

“You’re pretty too,” Lira said with a smile.

Elvira scrunched her nose and laughed out loud. “Get going now, I have to clean here. Meet Yuna in the kitchen, take some medicine and then help her instead.”

“Thank you, Elvi,” Lira said as she stood up and ran out.

Elvira stared at Lira’s pretty back as her smile faded.

You’re pretty too…Lira’s words echoed in her head. She raised a hand and stared at the intertwining scars she wore as skin. They were the only tangible memory of Kaeo and Kairo’s existence.

She had no idea how she woke up in Count Amaria’s slave quarters but a week had passed since she had been banished from her home. For all she knew, Kaeo and Kairo might have been a pleasant dream – but the Kindler bite marks all over her body said otherwise. Five years later, though her memories of their faces and voices had long faded, her heart held their essence.  

Elvira sighed. For if they truly existed – they would have searched for her…wouldn’t they?

Maybe Count Amaria’s words were indeed true.

She was sobbing, scared and hurting, clutching her hands and feet as the man before her smirked. “Your family left you to die. Your curse was about to take you out but I saved you. I, Count Helif Amaria, am your saviour. From now on, your life, your breath and your body are all devoted to me.”

Elvira cringed at the memory as she began to gently scrub the carpet.

The morning sun settled into a fiery dusk after Elvira was done cleaning. She passed the carpet to Lira to hang it outside for drying. Elvira avoided going outside, it irritated her skin, which she concluded as aftereffects of incomplete Kindler bites. She preferred night shifts of chores, which most maids ardently avoided.

It was one of the only reasons why Elvira was popular amongst the household staff at Amaria Estate, even if she was relatively newer.

“Elvira, can you take over the stables for tomorrow?”

“Yes, why not!”

“Elvira, did you prep the food for tonight?”

“I was on my way to do it!”

“Elvira, did you weed the garden?”

“Yeah, I got done with it yesterday!”

“Thank you for taking over the sewing for me! I was so stressed!”

“Always!” Elvira exclaimed as she turned around the corner, from the lobby and into the hallway leading up to the kitchen quarters.

Life at Count Amaria’s Estate was almost similar to how it had been back at home.

“Elvira! Run! Quick! I don’t think I can kill this--!” Clary shouted as soon as she spotted Elvira heading towards the kitchen.

The brunette jogged inside and scoffed at Clary’s scrunched stance over a withering fish. The girl was wielding a big sharp knife in her hand but her almost sobbing face countered the lethal weapon’s image.

“Give it to me,” Elvira laughed and grabbed the knife from Clary’s hand. She twirled its handle over her fingers, pointed at something outside the window and as soon as Clary looked away, she chopped the fish’s head.

The striking sound made Clary squirm. “I don’t know how you do it…” she sniffled.

“Death is inevitable,” Elvira smiled as she held out the knife to return it.

Clary pressed her lips in a line and her wide eyes stared at Elvira with expectations.

Elvira sighed as she rolled her eyes and began deboning the fish.

Clary grinned and clapped, “You’re the best!”

“When will you aspire to be the best?” Yuna asked as she entered the kitchen with a big box of vegetables in her hand.

“I’m the best at washing vegetables, give them to me,” she giggled and ran up to Yuna’s side.

“I heard the hag harassed Lira again,” Yuna began, “He keeps picking on her.”

“It’s cause she’s pretty,” Clary said as she unloaded the vegetables in the kitchen sink.

“And we’re old,” Elvira sighed.

Yuna took her place on the kitchen counter opposite to Elvira’s. She stirred the cauldron on the stove before grimacing, “Why are they all so gross? Even their food is gross.”

“Hey! I’m the one making it! And he loves that shit!” Clary shouted in protest.

“Wouldn’t be surprised,” Yuna scoffed. “Where’s Lira?”

“I sent her out to hang the carpet,” Elvira answered, “Here, Clary, all deboned.”

Instead of Clary’s cry of glee, the loud noise of Yuna’s ladle dropping on the ground distracted their attention.

“What’s wrong?” Elvira asked, seeing Yuna’s wide eyes and pale face.

“Y-you sent her out? there’s—there, uh, didn’t you know? His, ugh, he’s having a soiree tonight! His haggy friends were out in the garden!”

All colour drained out of Elvira’s face.

Crowned 5 - I won't let go!

 

CHAPTER 5

 

“Why would your father let his pet Kindlers attack you?” Elvira never thought a sentence so strange would ever escape her mouth.

“To kill us, obviously.”

Obviously.

“Aren’t you afraid of death?”

“I won’t die; the world is yet to see all of me.”

Elvira scoffed. She could hear the cheeky grin in his voice.

The light from Kairo’s magic circle was beginning to wear out around them and the abysmal darkness continued. Elvira noticed Kaeo’s footsteps beginning to take smaller strides as he continued. Though her vision was blurred, Elvira could hear the haunted shuffling fast approaching from everywhere Kairo’s magic’s failed to reach.

“Let go of me,” Elvira demanded.

“No. If we’re separated, you’ll fall prey to the darkness. You have no magic to protect yourself.” Kaeo replied, harshly. He came to a standstill right at the edge of Kairo’s magic circle. Beyond it, through his enhanced vision, he could see the glistening grey eyes of the Kindlers.

Something must have held up Kairo, Kaeo concluded. “We’ve underestimated the range of this realm spell. This could end badly,” he whispered.

“Do you remember what Kairo told us?” Elvira asked, noticing how Kaeo was taking small steps backwards.

“What?”

“The range of an illusion. We are in an illusion of darkness right now, so the spell has to be big enough to harness not only the whole market, us, but also the army of Kindlers. Kairo said that the density of the created object multiplied by the mass is the range of an illusion spell to last.”

“Which means that the Kindlers are an illusion?” Kaeo asked.

Suddenly, Kairo’s magic circle shifted backwards and a cold screeching body was about to prance at them. Instantly, Kaeo induced his magic in his feet and backed almost fifteen stris away in a millisecond.

“Or not,” Elvira gasped as soon as they were back in Kairo’s magic circle. “I meant that the illusion spell must be anchored on something. Like Kairo’s spell was anchored on real noodle bowls, this spell must be anchored on the real street.” Elvira explained.

“So, to break an illusion this big—oh! I got you!” Kaeo exclaimed.

Kairo seemed to be running in the opposite direction to them and his magic circle was following him. Kaeo had to simultaneously go backwards as he charged his fist. A brilliant blue magic circle appeared over his knuckles. “Are you ready?” he asked.

“Go!” Elvira shouted, covering her head with her hands.

Kaeo jumped backwards to remain in Kairo’s magic circle and positioned himself to land a punch. His right arm passed a sequence of magic circles before landing on the ground. Elvira yelped as the impact created a deafening sound. The illusion shattered around them as Kaeo found himself elbow-deep in the middle of a very bustling road.

Elvira rolled off to the other side, coughing and cursing under her breath. Her nostrils inhaled the dust underneath a stall, which caused her to cough even more violently.

Small smoke fumes escaped from the hole as Kaeo twisted his hand out of the concrete. Kairo’s appearance illusion had worn off and a small crowd began gathering around the foreigners.

“What happened?”

“Did he just…punch through the concrete?”

“Why does he look like that?”

“Maybe he is a foreigner…”

“A mage? Destroying our property?”

“Summon the Church officials! This is big!”

Kaeo stumbled back on his feet, unconcerned about the crowd’s whispers.

“Elvira? Where are you? Elvira? Are you okay?” he called, trying to make his way through the crowd.

“He has an accomplice? Find her!” a stranger ordered.

Kaeo’s otherwise humorous face switched to a scowl as he punched the stranger in his face, consequently breaking the local’s nose.

“Who are you to find her?” Kaeo spat as blue blood spurted out of the man’s nose.

“That’s assault! Grab him!”

On the other side of the street, Elvira rolled out of stall she was under. She scrambled back to her feet only to find herself in an even more tattered white dress. The dirt and grime were all back and her neck brandished the mark of a person abandoned by the stars.

She caught sight of Kaeo fighting the crowd and alarm bells blared in her head. She did not want to alert the crowd but she wanted to protect her friend like he had protected her. But…she held no amazing powers to come to his rescue.

Elvira looked around and picked up a few stones from the ground. She threw them at the crowd and shouted, “METEOR SHOWER! THE STARS ARE PUNISHING US!” on top of her lungs.

Instantly, everyone looked up, momentarily letting go of their violent desires.

Elvira’s eyes found Kaeo’s.

They shared a look of understanding before shoving the people away and jumping into a sprint.

Kaeo held out a hand for Elvira to take.

Elvira extended a hand to grab his.

As soon as he would get a hold of her, he could speed them away. The two magic circles over his feet indicated that he was prepare to stop only when they were out of town. The giddiness in his sapphire almond eyes indicated that he was prepared to laugh out loud as soon as they were done.

Elvira’s fingers were about to touch his when someone pulled her by her hair.

“It’s the mark of an oddity! The cursed one abandoned by the stars!”

“She’s cursing us all!”

Elvira’s eyes widened as she was pulled away.

Kaeo sped towards her.

In the very moment, something dark and sharp sped through Kaeo’s abdomen. Impaling him. Blood spurted out of his mouth as he fell to the ground.

Elvira screamed and kicked her way towards him.

Suddenly, darkness surrounded them. Yet again, the gurgling and shuffling began closing in on them as Elvira scrambled towards Kaeo’s body.

She pulled his head in her lap, wailing as she tried to press a hand over his bleeding stomach. She couldn’t make sense of what was happening anymore. Her teeth were chattering as the light left Kaeo’s eyes. Their dimming left Elvira blinded by the darkness.

The kindlers were speeding towards them.

Elvira wailed, desperately clinging onto Kaeo’s escaping blood.

“No! You cannot leave us! Kairo! Where are you?! Kairo! It will all be fine! Enhancer types can heal themselves; you just need a nudge. I’m here, I will protect you! I won’t let you die until your brother comes, I won’t—I can’t—no, no, no—”

A sharp claw grabbed her shoulder, another slender body climbed her back, sharp feet perched themselves on her head—but Elvira did not let go of Kaeo. She hunched herself over his torso, clinging onto his corpse.

“I won’t let you, I cannot, I won’t, I won’t, you cannot die, you cannot die, you cannot die…” she kept chanting.

He had held out his hand for her.

He had uttered words of kindness when all whom she loved had abandoned her.

He had protected her.

She couldn’t let go him like that.

She did not function like that.

She had to help.

But she was so useless.

So, utterly, pathetic. Clinging onto a corpse while creatures nibbled on her flesh.

No.

This couldn’t be how she dies.

This couldn’t be how her story ends.

The stars couldn’t be so cruel to her.

“Iwon’t lego, I won lego, iwon lewgo…” her tongue couldn’t roll anymore.

It wouldn’t be long until the Kindler poison took over her entire body.

Then she would become one of those creatures… devouring Kaeo’s body in the darkness.

The mere thought ran chills down her spine.

No.

Her eyes flashed open and a scream manifested from within her soul.

A brilliant red magic circle flashed over them, the intensity of which burned the Kindlers within and around it. Elvira’s eyes burned scarlet and her body could barely stand the weight of the power circling above her. She gritted her teeth and held onto Kaeo’s body as strong winds started spiralling around them.

Stinging pain coursed through Elvira, twisting her arms and feet. Her gut felt as if it had been punched by a thousand men and blood oozed out of the corners of her mouth, eyes and nostrils. They left a crimson trail over her pale face, forever changing the trajectory of her fate.

Magic circles appeared all over Kaeo’s body and the illusion of darkness began shattering around them.

As soon as the first ray of sunlight broke within the darkness, Elvira’s spine gave up. She fell backwards, her auburn eyes unmoving, fixated, as sharp rays of reality broke through the illusion. The piercing rays landed over the magic circle and crossed it to warm Kaeo’s body.

Elvira’s chest stopped heaving as soon as Kaeo’s sapphire eyes shot open. She fell back, onto the ground.

The illusion shattered. They were back in D’amar square.

All that was left around them was debris and corpses.