When Nico opened his eyes, he found that he was floating on a cloud-well-not a cloud, exactly, but the bed he was lying in was very soft.
He pushed up on his elbows and looked around the room. He was in a massive bed with drapes hanging on all sides. He could see a large window to his left and a large bookshelf against the wall through the cloth.
The door opened to the right a Kaya stepped through carrying a bundle of sheets. She pushed aside the drapes and her eyes widened.
"Oh, Great mother!" she threw her arms around his neck. "I thought I'd lost you! Are you alright?"
Nico pushed her back slightly and shrugged his shoulder. His head was foggy, and he had trouble recollecting what'd happened the past few days.
"What happened?" he whispered. "Why am I here?"
Kaya blinked. "You mean you don't remember?"
"Maybe it'll come back to me. So, what happened?"
"Well, me and Xavier were kidnapped and so were your friends. As punishment, my father sent you down to the dungeons." Kaya swallowed. "When Luca brought you into the throne room you looked...horrible. You had cuts and bruises all over you."
Now he remembered. Nico massaged his temples. "So what of Master Lee?"
"What about him?"
"I remember you and him arguing. And then...then he pounced like he was going to attack you." Nico frowned, struggling to hold onto the memory but it was like trying to hold sand.
Kaya pursed her lips. "He tried but you..you killed him."
"I did what?"
"You burned him alive," Kaya said calmly as though they were discussing the weather. "My father demanded you be killed but I explained what happened and he changed his mind."
Nico wasn't sure how to feel about that. He'd killed someone with fire. He looked down at his hands, which were trembling in his lap.
Nico couldn't remember the last time he'd been able to summon fire without passing out from the exertion.
Nico clenched them into fists. "And my friends?"
"They haven't been found yet-"
Nico threw the covers off and blinked down at the gown he was wearing before he slid out of the bed. "Then I'm going to look for them."
"You can't!"
"Why?"
Kaya sighs. "My father has forbidden anyone was leaving the palace until further notice. I'd hoped that he'd call off the wedding, but no such luck."
"Wedding?!"
"My father is making me get married to Prince Xavier."
"Prince Xavier!!!"
Kaya cocked her head, her blue eyes wide with surprise. She was wearing a stunning teal gown that fell to the floor in ruffles. Her salt and pepper hair fell to her knees in soft waves.
Nico swallowed. He wasn't jealous. Nope.
"I mean..." he muttered. "That's great. When is it?"
"Seven days." Kaya pursed her lips. "I'm not looking forward to it."
Nico smirked. "Getting married to a handsome prince must be so traumatizing."
Kaya glowered at him and then punched his shoulder. "I see you're still as funny as ever. I'm going to let you get dressed."
...
For just about five hours, Kaya's mother had several dresses, jewelry boxes, and different powders sent to her room.
All the while, her new maid, Sabella, and her companion scurried around the room like ants to get everything prepared for her.
Kaya had only a small fruit for breakfast and all of this was making her head spin.
Sabella held up the final gown. "This is the last outfit for the day, Princess. Afterward, you're free to do as you please." she turned toward the elf. "Do you have everything out?"
He nods.
"I am going to help the princess out of her gown."
Her companion gave a nod before slipping out of the room, and closing the door behind him.
Sabella threw the gown on the bed before letting out a sigh. "I hate those elves," she murmured. "I can't believe King Kojo has them at the palace! Even after what happened to you and the prince!"
"My companion had absolutely nothing to do with what happened to me or Prince Xavier." Kaya snarled.
Sabella clicked her tongue.
"I'll get dressed myself, thank you." Kaya snatched the gown and shimmied out of the one she was wearing to pull on this one.
"If it weren't for those animals, there wouldn't be all of this death and fighting," Sabella growled. "My husband would still be alive."
Kaya gritted her teeth. "You forget that my grandfather was the one who started this mess."
"Oh, yes. He threatens them and they go on the attack."
"He followed through with that threat, mind you. No, he didn't kill all the dragons, but killing one was enough to make them retaliate." Kaya whirled on her. "You act as though they don't have feelings of their own."
"Monster's can't feel."
"Then that makes you on too."
Sabella opened her mouth to protest but Kaya continued. "We attacked the elves when they were least expecting it. King Kojo waited until they were weak and had no way to defend themselves before striking." she points a finger in the woman's face. "That in itself is the move of a coward."
"They deserved it!" Sabella protested. "They attacked and killed my husband.
Kaya smirked. "If I stand corrected, your husband's name was Michale Mahoney?"
"Yes."
"And you have two children?"
"Yes."
Kay tapped her chin. "According to my sources, your husband was a gambler who wasted his money and failed to pay others that he owed." she folds her arms. "So, he could've been killed by anyone and yet, you assume that the elves did it."
"Because they attacked when he was out in town!!" Sabella cried. "He had a dagger sticking out of his chest!!"
"And are you an expert on Elven weaponry?" Kaya hissed. "Last I checked, Elves are much more advanced when it comes to weapons. I highly doubt they'd use a dagger to stab your husband." she turned back to the mirror and began pulling the pins from her hair. "We're finished here. You're dismissed."
With a huff, Sabella marched toward the door, slamming it behind her.