The party was still loud, enough to the point that Shani felt a small tinge of pain behind her ears. The adults were beginning to become rowdier with each passing drink. Shani couldn’t help but scoff.
“Some party…” She mumbled to herself as she took the last bite of cake trying her best to keep her face steady despite the heavenly flavor. A maid took the plate and Shani returned her attention to the Astralite that was tucked precariously under her arm.
The orb fit into the palm of her hand perfectly, and now looking at it more closely it was nothing like the smoothness of her crystal bracelet. It had countless facets catching the candlelight. Honey-gold light shimmered beneath the surface, shifting to pale amber and champagne as it turned in her hands.
It felt so light.
Then a thought popped into her head as she tossed it from one hand to another. She turned her attention back to the incredibly tall man beside her, cradling the Astralite gently.
“Hey mister…”
Shin froze. Slowly he turned to look at the young girl, curiosity etched in his eyes.
“Are there lots of different types of magic things in the forest?” She asked as she tilted her head slightly.
“Yes… Astralite is one. But we also have crystals that heat, cool, and many more.” He explained calmly as he scratched his neck as his eyes drifted to Shani’s bracelet. She couldn’t understand the expression on the man's face so she returned her attention to the orb, her eyes darkening.
“I’ll have to tell Caelis later…” She said as she eyed the room once more for a familiar small figure.
“Caelis?”
“My cousin. He’s not here…” Shani said, a slight pout forming on her face. Shin’s lips formed a thin line. A maid came by with another slice of cake for the young girl.
I really shouldn’t eat another slice… But I don’t want to be rude.
She thought as she tucked the orb under her arm once more and took the slice with a nod. She nibbled slowly at the cake savoring the flavor, but her face never lit up.
“Do you like being in Gildon?” Shin asked. Shani simply shrugged.
“Some people are nice… And I like mama.” She said and froze.
No… I don’t like mama right now!
She groaned and shook her head before taking another bite, albeit more frustrated this time, of cake. A quick smile crossed Shin’s lips but it was gone before anyone would notice.
Shani glanced up at him. He was once more staring into the crowd watching Lucius and Quinn with a level gaze.
Her eyes drifted to the tassel earrings, then to the ears themselves. She looked, examined them for a long moment.
“You know… we have very similar ears.” Shani said without thinking and then her eyes widened. She bit down on her lip and stared at the man, Anxiety spreading through her being. He didn’t look back at her, but there was a smile on his face.
“Interesting.” Was all he would reply. She glanced out in the crowd and noticed no one looking in their direction. She glanced back toward Shin. After a moment, she motioned him closer. Shin complied, lowering himself into a squat beside her.
“That’s a secret okay?” Shani whispered in his ear.
“If you tell anyone I will have to pinch you…” Shani continued. Her eyes stern and even. Shin’s mouth twitched slightly, but he simply nodded.
“Understood.”
Shin rose back to his post and Shani felt a wave of relief wash over her. He didn’t seem like the type to lie after all.
“You know…” She started, suddenly feeling like it was okay to tell this man anything.
“My dad is Sullivian…” Shani whispered. Shin’s red eyes looked down on her, something akin to amusement in them.
“Oh?” Was his only reply as he took another bite from his plate. Shani nodded.
“Yeah, mama said he is quite the hunk. Although I’m not sure what that means.” Shani said with a slight head tilt.
Shin began coughing which caused Shani to startle. Quickly she set her cake aside and offered him a goblet full of water. He took it without hesitation. It must have been quite a bad choking fit cause his face, neck and even ears were a deep crimson.
Shin gulped the water down and Shani decided it would be impolite to stare so she tore her gaze away and returned her attention back to the remainder of the cake. She ate silently, every so often glancing at the man making sure he was doing alright.
She went to take another bite when the sudden volume in the room increased ten fold due to sudden laughter. Shani flinched and quickly raised her hands to her ears, her breathing pitching slightly.
Her eyes widened as she noticed the orb escaping from her grasp and began to descend towards the marble floor. She needed to catch it, what if it broke? But the voices were so loud.
She trembled, tears prickling her eyes as she slowly removed her hands. The sounds came crashing in once more as if someone was stabbing her eardrums with a dagger.
Then, almost too fast to see, Shin caught the orb. He let out a sigh and Shani stared at him with awe. The Astralight looked so tiny in his hands. The laughter died down and Shani slowly removed her hands.
“Did you see that? She can’t even handle a little laughter?”
“I know… She may look like her mother but she is so sensitive…”
Shani froze. She looked over at the crowd noticing two older women looking at her. Shani bit her lip and rose to her feet offering the man a polite bow before walking towards the exit.
Shin followed after her but Shani turned to look at him.
“I… I just need a break. Please watch that until I come back.” She mumbled before she turned once more and quickly left the room.
Shin stood frozen. A part of him told him to go after her… but he had a job here tonight. He glanced anxiously between Quinn and the orb in his hand. He sighed and put the orb in one of his pockets.
His gaze swept the room, stopping only when he found her.
Jamila stood at the far end of the room talking to some stuffed shirts. Her smile was radiant, but cold. Shin began walking towards her.
Shani stepped out into the corridor, her head pounding behind her eyes. She leaned against the cool wall. Loud, it was still too loud. Her chest rose and fell in rapid successions as her head began to spin. She felt her body beginning to drain, it was as if the atmosphere itself was sucking the life from her very soul.
Tears began to burn in her eyes. Servants noticed the birthday girl but no one approached her. They had far too much to do after all.
Shani slumped onto the floor pulling herself into a ball trying to drown out the noise.
She could hear everything.
People talking, shoes slapping on the marble, the rustle of clothes, even creaky tiles. It all hurt so much. She wanted to go back to her room but she was too tired to climb the stairs, especially if she needed to return to the party soon.
A whimper tore through her throat.
“Oh my…” She heard a gentle voice from above her. She looked up through blurry eyes and noticed a guard staring down at her. His uniform was loose around his frame, and although he was clean shaven she smelled a weird scent from him. She couldn’t help but think he looked familiar.
“Do you need somewhere quiet Princess?” The knight asked. His voice was much softer than everyone else's. Shani dazedly nodded her head. A smile spread across the man's face.
“I know somewhere, want me to show you?” He asked so kindly, but something in the back of Shani’s head was screaming at her. Something was off. She leaned closer to the wall, her lavender eyes darkening slightly. The knight noticed and backed up, raising his hands in peace.
“Not to worry… I won’t be taking you out of the palace.” He said calmly. A smile still on his lips.
The palace was safe, nothing could happen to her in the palace. And he was wearing a knights uniform afterall.
“So what do you say princess?” He asked. Shani thought about it for a second more. She just needed a few minutes, and she was sure a maid would tell her mom where to find her. She nodded weakly as her reply.
The man's smile grew.
He bent over and scooped Shani up in his arms. Shani whined as the smell intensified. She finally recognized it, it was some kind of alcohol. She wondered if perhaps the man was also celebrating her birthday just like the other adults. She didn’t fight him, she just rested in his arms as the man began strolling deeper into the palace.
Jaziel stepped into the hall to breathe in non polluted air. He leaned against the wall, exhaustion clinging to every corner of his body. Just a few more hours and everyone would be satisfied and leave. He was excited to see his bed after the day he had had.
He then noticed Shani being carried off by a knight. He lifted a brow. All of his knights had been stationed and expected not to wander, so what was this piece doing. Something about the knight's gait made him feel familiar. Jaziel was so close to grasping the memory when a voice interrupted his thought.
“Sir!” He turned to see another knight, standing at attention waiting for Jaziel. A smile crossed his lips.
“Weren’t you stationed near the servant quarters, Andea?” He asked with a patient smile.
“That is correct… but a maid told me she saw some suspicious people at the front gate sir.” Andea replied. The report made Jaziel pause.
“When?”
“About five minutes ago sir.”
Jaziel nodded as he pondered the news. He didn’t want to leave Jamila alone with the savages but he also couldn’t risk anything happening on such an important night. Even if it was just some curious urchins he needed to make sure.
He returned his attention to Andea, his gaze like ice.
“Let's go.” He commanded. The knight saluted. Jaziel ordered a couple more knights to follow suit and they left to investigate the entrance. It would only take twenty minutes at most. He would be back before Jamila even noticed.
The knight opened the doors to Jamila’s office and escorted Shani inside before he excused himself.
The room was cool and quiet. Her head finally began to feel normal once more. Shani laid down on one of the sofas and rested her eyes for a minute. Then… she smelled it. She scrunched up her nose at the subtle smell of alcohol in the office, she pushed the thought aside thinking it may be from the knight that dropped her off.
She rose and looked around the familiar room. Her mother’s desk was clear of paper for once, everything in order. In fact everything looked absolutely perfect. Her mother must have worked very hard trying to get ready for the party. To be perfect for her.
Looking back, it wasn’t all horrible. Shani got to eat her favorite cake, she got to meet people that looked like her, and better yet… one of them gave her a cool rock and the other protected it.
Her chest tightened.
She dragged her attention away and stared out the large window behind the desk. Snow fell thick outside, swallowing the world in white. She loved the snow, it always seemed so magical. Like millions of diamonds that also happened to make excellent snowballs.
A smile crossed her face. Maybe her, Caelis and her mom could all play in the snow tomorrow.
“Shani?”
She startled at the sound of her name. She turned around to see her mother’s flushed face. Some sweat was clinging to her nape.
“How did you find me?” She asked, her voice coming out colder than she intended.
“Your father mentioned you looked upset…” Jamila replied, and Shani’s eyes widened at the statement.
“My father?” Shani asked feeling slightly confused. Jamila smiled and nodded. “Yes… The tall one.” She said with a bright smile as realization dawned on her. She supposed it was a good thing she gave him the orb.
“I ran into a maid when I went to look for you… she said you were here.” Jamila said, a warm smile softening her features. She stepped forward, then froze mid-step.
“Are you still mad at me?” The queen asked as she messed with her own white locks.
Shani tried. She wanted to answer… But her lips wouldn’t move. Whenever she opened her mouth no noise would even come out. The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.
“I’m sorry…” Jamila said.
Shani’s eyes widened.
“I… I broke our promise… I know that must have hurt you.” Her hand clasped her opposite forearm before she finally forced herself to look up, meeting Shani’s gaze.
“I’m so sorry I hurt you Shani…”
There was no queen standing before Shani, no excuses, no reasoning. It felt like a flood gate had broken open and Shani suddenly realized this is what she wanted all along. What she had been waiting for…
She moved before she could think, running forward. Jamila followed suit until they reached halfway. Shani reached for her mother and Jamila lifted her, pulling each other into a tight embrace.
Jamila collapsed to the floor as tears streamed down her cheeks onto Shani’s hair. Shani simply wrapped her arms around her mother tighter as if trying to make up for months.
Neither moved. Neither spoke. For the first time in months, the silence between them felt gentle. Beyond the window, snow continued to blanket the world in white.