Despite everything that had happened, only two thoughts occupied Archer's mind.
The first, that this bench was uncomfortable.
The second, that Eris had a very interesting taste in music.
In the carriage ride on the way here, she'd blasted Highway to Hell at full volume and sang it word for word.
Archer shifted in his seat, his handcuffs clinking together.
He'd been seated in the middle of Brooke and Valerie. He'd been rather shocked when Eris had taken her seat at the round, wooden table and her bodyguards hadn't stood next to her, like others were doing for their royals.
"Why aren't you with Eris?" He whispered to Brooke, hoping not to attract any attention.
"She can protect herself," Brooke answered.
"Or so she says," Valerie muttered, snickering.
Archer shook his head in disbelief, a smile on his lips.
Another set of doors swung open and the last royals entered.
He recognized these as the royal family of Kato Kosmos, considering only the princess of the underworld would have Cerberus as a pet.
They took their seats at the part of the table embedded with obsidian and dark crystals.
Queen Halen stood.
"Welcome everyone, to this year's Gathering. We welcome Princess Eris, thank you for joining us despite the circumstances," She said, inclining her head to Eris. Eris gave her a smile and dipped her chin. "Welcome to Princess Adelaide, we hope you have a learning experience today."
Young Princess Adelaide, who looked around nine years old, beamed and her little baby Cerberus leaped onto her lap.
Queen Halen continued, talking about various topics that would be discussed over a period of two days. Today, the first meeting would be held. Tonight, a ball would be hosted. Tomorrow, the tattoo ceremony would commence and everyone who wanted one would be allowed so. The day following, everyone would have free roam and were allowed to socialize. The day after, the final meeting would be held and then everyone would go home.
Queen Halen then asked if anyone had any problems to broach besides what had already been submitted.
Some alpha of some pack or other nodded, shifting in her seat.
"Yes Niki?"
Niki - who was seated next to her mate and Shimmer - coughed. Archer recognized the symbol on the table in front of her, she was the alpha of the Whispering Willows pack.
"I would like to ask why Princess Eris is permitted to be here? Other than the fact she's a royal, she hasn't been in Dynesteia in fourteen years. Why should she be here?" Niki cut a cold glare in Eris's direction.
Queen Halen pursed her lips. "Princess Eris, would you like to say anything?"
Eris gave her a smile. She turned to Niki and the smile vanished. The look on her face was cold, vicious and cruel. There was nothing human in her face. Niki paled.
"I am here because despite the fact I haven't been in my kingdom for fourteen years, I still manage to be more capable than some others who have been here longer," Eris crooned, frowning and faking innocence.
Niki's mouth fell open and she shook with rage.
Archer glanced at Valerie, who dipped her chin ever so slightly.
Unable to interpret that gesture, Archer turned his attention back to Niki, who flicked her ear and her guards stepped forward.
He blinked and Valerie was standing next to Eris, Brooke on the opposite side. Brooke had slipped twin daggers out from whatever secret compartment. Valerie held no weapon, but Archer thought he knew why.
He'd sensed it when he had walked into the palace and seen the tattooed girl, that otherworldly stench that followed her. How her eyes glowed every now and then.
He shifted in his seat and something brushed his leg. He glanced down and spotted keys.
The keys to his handcuffs.
He remembered the small nod Valerie had given him.
The keys - she wanted him to have the keys so he could use his magic if things went badly.
She was willing to risk him freeing himself to protect Eris.
He grabbed the keys and slid it into the lock in case any quick decisions needed to be made.
Just in case.
He looked around the room. Everyone who wasn't a royal was seated at the benches surrounding the table. It looked a little bit like an arena. The benches climbed upwards for about thirteen rows? Then there was a domed roof with colored glass in patterns, like mosaic. There were seven sections in the glass - for seven kingdoms.
There was a symbol in each section to represent the kingdoms.
Fysi had five symbols, one for each Lupai pack.
The symbol for Dynesteia - Eris's kingdom - always piqued his interest.
It was a white circle, inside of which was a gorgeous lady. She had fair, pale skin and long flowing blonde hair that flowed upwards - quite like it did with Katharos - and buried into her hair was a white and black crown. She wore a plain, white dress and held a ball of magic - half light, half dark. Her eyes were closed and on her neck she wore a chain around her neck with a green gem hanging from it.
He recognized that necklace - from where, he wasn't sure.
That picture was the Queen. One of the only pictures of her in existence. She had created Dynesteia with her two brothers.
The King of Dark.
The King of Light.
The Queen of Light and Dark.
He glanced to Gem and her family - the royal family of Imera, kingdom of light. They were all descendants of the King of Light.
He looked at Selene and her family - the royal family of Skia, kingdom of dark and shadows. They were descendants of the King of Dark.
The Queen hadn't wed nor had she conceived any children. She had fallen in love but had known the risks of her power carrying on through generations and falling into the wrong hands, and had decided against acting on her love.
Eris said something to Niki and her guards retreated.
Brooke stood her ground and didn't move.
In a flash of black, Valerie stood there with dragon wings tucked behind her and curled horns poked out of her hair. Her pupils had become slits and looked quite like that of a cat, or a dragon, depending on which you knew better.
Valerie spread her wings and lifted into the air and landed next to Archer. In another flash of black, the wings and horns had disappeared, and she was in human form again.
Archer had to hand it to her - that was a sneaky way of showing off her form.
Queen Halen straightened her papers before handing control of the ceremony over to her daughter.
Princess Mia stood and took over - tossing her long braid of blue-silver hair over her shoulder.
~
"That sure was an interesting meeting," Archer choked on a laugh as Valerie unlocked his handcuffs.
He sighed with relief as his magic came gushing back into him.
Eris hummed her agreement and used her chopsticks to yank more noodles out of her box.
"Listen to this one: Your ancestors were great and good, you will be too," Gem smirked, popping the broken fortune cookie into her mouth and tossing the paper aside.
Valerie barked a dark laugh. "My ancestors were all demons, but sure."
Archer snickered and snatched a box of Chinese food, because, as Eris says, maybe it's mortal but it's still delicious.
"Pass the chopsticks, will you?"
Shimmer tossed him one before grabbing a blanket off an armchair.
After that - well, he wouldn't exactly call it interesting - meeting, everyone had opted to chill in one of the bedrooms.
Since the Gathering took place over a period of four days, there were multiple buildings as well as the one for meetings. There was the ballroom - which would be occupied tonight - there was another large building where tattoos were done and a few other things Archer didn't know and the building that had a bunch of rooms for everyone to sleep, dress and relax in.
Since it was two hours until the ball, Eris had invited everyone to sit and chill with Chinese food in her room.
So here they are, sitting on the carpet, playing Two Truths, One Lie and reading fortune cookies.
"My turn. Okay, I don't like Archer, I don't own any jewelry and none of you have to leave," Eris said, putting her Chinese down.
"The first one is obviously a lie," Archer stated, matter-of-factly, running a hand through his hair.
Eris winked at him but shook her head.
Valerie burst out laughing and Archer scowled.
"The last one has to be true because you're a princess, you have to have jewelry," Selene insisted, frowning.
"Nope. You all have to leave to get ready," Eris chirped, standing and yanking Gem up.
Selene frowned at her watch and yelped. "She's right! We're late! Everyone out, out, out!"
"Wait what?" Will sputtered before he was promptly dragged out of the room by Brooke.
Archer quietly slipped out of the room and aimed for the exit.
He yelped in pain as someone grabbed his wrist.
"You're next door to me, and I'm locking the door and taking the key," Eris snapped, tossing him into a cozy room before shutting the door and locking it.
At least she doesn't break her promises.
Archer stood and looked around. It's similar to Eris's room, just slightly smaller. There's the exit door - currently locked - and there's the door to the bathroom. A closet is next to the exit and under his feet is a thin, woolen carpet.
He didnt want to go to the ball, but it would be uncourteous not to show. He walked to the closet and prayed it was empty, hence giving him a reason not to attend. Archer gripped the wooden handles and swung the door open.
He frowned at the fully stocked closet - everything in his size.
~
Hoping to the Queen he was right, Archer knocked on the doors.
They opened to reveal a small, young girl with blonde hair that faded into bright orange standing there, wolf ears twitching.
"Hi! So glad you could make it! My name's Andromeda, but you can just call me Andy. Welcome to this year's Eirini Ball!" She chirped, waving him inside.
Archer thanked her and introduced himself.
Andy took him through the hall until large, wooden doors and opened them.
Immediately, an eruption of noise tackled him, sounds of talking, laughing, glasses clinking and the orchestra playing their classical music wafted up to him.
He slipped down the stairs, sticking to the railing to avoid attracting attention. He reached the ballroom floor and slinked to the walls, keeping to the shadows.
"There you are, mister."
Groaning, Archer turned around.
And was met with a spectacular sight.
Eris stood there, wearing a golden silk dress, its skirt looked like an upside down teacup and didn't reach past her knees. She wore golden strapped high heels and black fingerless gloves that stopped just above her elbow. Her dress's sleeves connected with each other around her neck rather than the back of the dress. Her hair was done neatly into a bun atop her head, with two strands of hair falling in front of her face and a few loose curls falling onto her shoulders. She wore a small, simple golden tiara and large hoop earrings. She'd brushed her mouth with dark red lipstick and applied small amounts of gold glitter and eyeshadow to her eyelids.
Standing next to her was a tall, pale figure soft chocolate hair that fell freely and brushed her tailbone. She wore a tight, blood red dress that fell loosely on the ground. She wore simple makeup and red lipstick. Her eyes were deep red and her high, arched brows were raised in suspicion.
"Prince Archer, this is Princess Aima," Eris introduced the two.
Archer shook her hand and dipped his head in respect.
She did the same and gave him a small smile, her fangs glinting in the light of the sconces.
Eris glanced around the room and winced. "I'll leave the two of you to get acquainted but I'm afraid I have to go prevent Valerie from killing everyone. Ciao!"
Archer turned to Aima and asked her if she wanted a drink.
That was when the screaming started.
~
Hi everyone!!
I just wanted to say that chapters will come out whenever possible but the only guarantee is every Thursday.
I really hope you enjoyed this chapter and the book so far!
Who is your favorite character so far? And why?
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Ciao~