(Jess pov)
Mother's footsteps hurried around the house as the morning had only begun. Father already came home from work as soon as he heard the news. However, they hadn't told us, kids, anything that was happening. I hadn't really left my room since yesterday, a little angry at how my father had acted. I was hopeless for anything that happened to me and I didn't care if Tanner came back to kill me.
The candle shined in the mirror as I stared into it. I couldn't stop looking at it, with the way it made me look. The slap father gave me had turned a normal shade of red, and from my guess would be ok by tomorrow. What really freaked me out was how evil I looked in the mirror when I was scared in reality.
"Jess." My father's voice was firm and demanding as he knocked on the door.
"It's unlocked" I muttered, hearing the click of the door opening. In the reflection, he looked at me calmly, as if he had changed into a completely different person from yesterday. "How may I help you father?" I asked.
He closed the door and held up a letter with a golden tag on it. The royal signature of the king. I slowly walked away from the mirror, letting go of the desk and slowly walking towards him. He held up his hand for me to hold, and so I did.
"This letter was given to me, to tell you. The king is on his way here to talk to you, so when he talks to you, be on your best behavior. If you dare to make a mistake, I'll break your arm" He threatened, crossing his arms at me.
I nodded slowly. "I understand father. I won't let you down…" I watched him leave the room. As soon as he left the room, I went over to the closet to get clothes on instead of wearing nightwear. I must have done something wrong since the king himself was coming all the way over here to talk to me. Maybe I would be sentenced to death for almost killing that boy. Maybe years of looking at flowers finally got to the kingdom and he was here to command me to leave the place. If not, then he would be here because people mentioned my power use of fire. That scared me the most because who knows what would happen if people came after me. I could be experimented on. People would use me for war weapons. My flames would be used to kill people, which was exactly what the shadows wanted.
Three knocks rang through the house, nice slowly. The front door had been firmly hit by a metal thump from someone. I had just gotten dressed and got my hair done just in time. Opening the door, I quietly made my way to the stairs and walked down the edge of glanced into the kitchen where the front door was.
"Your highness," My mother's voice was heard as she bowed to him. I could hear a few whispers exchanged before my name was called out. Instead, my father kept quiet and my mother called me. I knew it was because if he called for me, I would look terrified when I came downstairs. When mother called for me I was calm and I knew I was going to be okay.
I took a deep breath and slowly walked out into the kitchen. The king was my father's age, and he had a son like father did, but no other kids. When the king saw me, his face lit up in the excitement and he smiled warmly.
"Hello your highness," I muttered respectfully, bowing my head and slightly glancing at father who smiled in approval. I calmed down, knowing that so far I was doing a good job in my father's opinion.
"Hello, Jess Ashmane," The king's low voice sounded dad-like as it welcomed me without threat. I didn't relax but I didn't tense. I kept my guard up and waited for the minute he said I was going to prison and get sentenced to death. He turned to father who bowed his head, showing he was listening. "I would like to speak to your son before I explain it to you," He announced.
"Of course. My son won't make trouble at all" Father said, glaring at me for a second. I couldn't control my emotions as I tensed from his stare. The king dismissed us from the room and walked towards the living room, with me following behind him.
When the door closed he sat down on a chair and patted beside him for me to join. I nodded and sat down, feeling a slight movement of a chuckle.
"No need to be afraid," He said, "you're not in trouble young man. I have two things to talk to you about, that may be alarming but please hear me out" He said. I thought about it, calming down at the news it was trouble he was looking for.
"Yes sir," I nodded, "I will hear you out until the very end. You are my king and I cannot define that". He smiled and nodded.
"Word got around about yesterday. The fight you had with that boy, who threatened your family, I would like to know what happened. Not the fight, but the flames" He corrected himself.
"I've always had the fire. I never used it, and it came up suddenly during that fight. I...I never told my family. I couldn't! I still can't." I shook my head, "If father knew he...I...he wouldn't like the fact people could get hurt from my fire" I looked down.
"Well I think I have a solution, but you might not like it if you don't think about it clearly," He said. I nodded for him to go on, and he did. "I am hosting a Bonfire party. I wanted to personally invite you to it, so you could meet my son. He um...when we got the news about your flames they brought in a picture or two about you. He found an interest in you, which doesn't happen often, and he wants you to be his…".
He watched my face turn to him with a surprised face. He could probably see both excited that I was going to a party and that I would have a night to spend without my father. He could also see the anxiety on my face from what he said about the prince.
"Sir, are you sure you want me to be with him? I'm sure he could find people so much better than I, and I'm not even that good at anything that a prince can do" I protested.
His hand laid on mine for reassurance. "He picked you, not me. The reason I want you there is because of your ability. Fire. My son has an ability too." My face lit up in amazement, "His is water. He could help you learn to control. How about this, you go to the bonfire and meet him. After that, you head home to pack and stay with us for a few months. When the time of summer comes you can tell me if you want to stay or leave." He suggested.
I was quiet. The thought went through my head for a few minutes. It was such a good offer, getting to live in the castle and have a chance to get married. At the same time, would I even like the prince? Yeah, I've heard stories of him, but would we even get along. Plus summer was months away. Almost a year since it was the middle of winter and I would have to get past spring.
"If my parents give approval, I will go to the party.." I said finally. His face lit up and he opened his mouth to speak, "But they will not decide if I go to the palace after the Bonfire. That's my decision." I kept going.
"That's perfectly fine. Why you are in the palace though, it will be like if you don't have any family members outside of it. If they want to visit they have to have your personal permission to do so. As if they were people coming in to talk to you about something going wrong in the village." He said.
I nodded and he stood up.
"If that's all then I hope to see you tomorrow night at the Bonfire. I'll go talk to your parents about it and try to make it seem as if you have to. My son will be pleased to know you might be there. I wish you luck, good day".
When he left the living room I walked over to the window in the corner that froze with cold air flowing in. I stared out the window, seeing a young-looking woman sitting in the carriage. It was the queen who seemed to be talking to someone else in the carriage. Was the prince here? I made sure no one saw as I raised my finger and watched it turn to a candle flame. The evening would be hectic.