The Mob
Year of the Lilies
Torrid Season
The Hut
Altsas
Isla
IT'S LATE IN THE EVENING when the goldsmith returns home. Mye runs into his arms, clearly very happy to see him. He scoops her up in his arms, throwing her up and catching her again. Her bubbly laughter bounces off the walls, reverberating in the house. His overall is dirty and stained with grime, and his yellowed teeth flashes as he grins at his daughter.
Mistress isn't exactly pleased to see him, her conte is as indifferent as can be. She does send me a chilling look. Maybe she is still angry that he criticized her cooking earlier.
"Go make some soup for your master," she snaps.
The TornadoYear of the LiliesTorrid SeasonStreets of AltsasAltsasIslaI'VE NEVER BEEN MORE PETRIFIED IN MY LIFE. I can't believe that I'm in the middle of a wild mob. A hand flies through the air and lands on my jaw, giving me a teeth shattering blow. I taste blood.Another hand slaps me hard across the face and my eyes sting with tears. Zaps sizzle in my veins reminding me of who I am; reminding me I've healed enough to unleash my power upon these people so I can be free again.I will myself, probing inside me to allow the power inside me to break free. A sharp pain erupts in my stomach as someone punches me hard. Grunting, I fall to my knees and a hard blow sends me reeling as someone hits my back
The CellYear of the LiliesTorrid SeasonDungeonAltsasIslaMY HEAD THROBS AND MY BREATHE SMELLS FOUL. I'm totally disoriented and chained to the wall of this stone prison, this leaky cell of the dungeon. Though tomorrow is New Year's Eve, the new year marks the beginning of a new season — the Floral Season but the air is still thick with humidity of the Torrid and my skin is sticky and clammy with sweat.Next to me is a bowl of a creamy watery broth and though my tummy churns and grumbles, I won't give in and eat that disgusting looking broth. It has a sour stench, and it seems like it has been here since the last prisoner. The spoon that lodges in the broth is coated with white crusty something, just lo
The MakeoverYear of the LiliesTorrid SeasonSomewhere in the PalaceAltsasIslaTHOUGH I WON'T BE MEETING with the King till tomorrow (says Namir) I'll undergo a cleansing and makeover today. I stare at him blankly as he said the words. This most be a joke.Namir led me through various passages and corridors and a dozen flights of stairs to this room. I can hardly remember the way here. He gestures for me to sit on a human-sized cushion, the soft cushion sinks under my weight. I feel like I'm sitting on a cloud. I let my fleeting glance run around the four corners of the room; it is quite big, bigger than our hut back at home, it has a dresser, a cupboard, a ceramic bathtub in the middle of the room, drums of water, a stoo
The PresentationYear of the RosesFloral SeasonLysia's bedroomAltsasLyzaTHE GIRL THAT STARES BACK from the shiny surface of the mirror is plain. Behind her is the maid that gently combs her coily tresses into submission.I'm the plain girl staring back from the shiny surface of the mirror. I'm the only unattractive and undesirable princess. I'm the unpaired, unmarried princess of Altsas. I'm the albino daughter of King Tus III. I'm the little sister of Prince Kyan. I'm Princess Lyza."Lyza?" My maid, Rosa cuts into my thoughts. "What's going through your mind, dear?" She asks softly with a motherly tone. I've always regarded Rosa as
The DanceYear of the RosesFloral SeasonLysia's bedroomAltsasLyzaIT'S MIDNIGHT. I can already hear the hum of the happy crowd from the hall many floors beneath my bedroom. Rosa has managed to coax me into an ecru gown made out of satin. The hems are blood red and Rosa has fastened a matching blood red veil to my hair."What's the point?"'I moan. Rosa gives me a puzzled look. "What's the point of the kohl to line my eyes and the henna on my skin?"Rosa stares at me with something like pity in her eyes," Lyza—"I caught in immediately to stop her. "No one will ever want me, Rosa. I
The TrystYear of the RosesFloral SeasonThe Gardens, PalaceAltsasLyzaI DON'T WANT TO KNOW what Isla is thinking as I push and elbow my way through the crowd, not minding what the guests will think of the Princess running across the dancefloor and I suck in air as I make my way into the dark gardens.I can still hear the noise of the party as if I am still the hall. The only difference is the balmy air instead of the scorching heat and the faint scents of flowers and dew. I can hear crickets and distant hoots of owls. The moon is a glowing ball of light, it bathes everything under it — including me in it's ethereal shower.I know he'll be here.
The DealYear of the RosesFloral SeasonThe Gardens, the PalaceAltsasLyzaMY MOANS ARE THROATY and deep. They erupt from my mouth in pants. He kisses a trail down my throat, nibbling and licking as he goes.One of his hands are fondling my breast through my dress and the other is playing with my braid. He stops his trail at my cleavage and raises his head to look at me.I cup his face in my hands, pulling him down with me and I kiss his lips gently, teasing him with small bites as the kiss progresses. One of his hand finds my zip and he zips the dress down. He pushes the straps off my shoulders and I'm revealed to him.&
The RequestYear of the RosesFloral SeasonIsla's bedroomAltsasIslaMY EYES FLUTTER OPEN and I stare at the unfamiliar ceiling of white satin curtains. I blink.Jolting upright, I try to take in my surroundings. Stony walls, dresser, silver chandelier, wooden closet and the bed I'm lying on.Then all the events of the last few days comes crashing down on me. Sighing, I stretch and release an involuntary yawn.After the princess had pushed her empty cup into my hand and made a dash for the exit, I had also followed suit and retired for the night. The Duchess had given me a room just next t