Part 2 (1/2)
One side of the closet had gowns, some long, others short, but all in pastel colors. Those looked modern. The opposite side had skirts in various colors, pants, tops, coats, and sweaters. The cloaks, all black with different-colored linings, weren't exactly this century. The inner curved wall had shelves of shoes, boots, and sandals. High heels, medium and low, as well as flats. Whatever world this was, it was a blend of new and old, which was intriguing and scary.
”Boring...boring...” Solange kept saying, flipping through the dresses and making faces. ”Whoever shopped for you had no idea what flatters someone with your coloring.”
I winced at my reflection. I had no color to speak of and my hair was a wet, stringy blend of red strands. Not liking what I saw, I looked at the dresses and pointed at a sleeveless white silk dress. ”That's pretty.”
Solange shuddered. ”No way. First, no sleeveless gowns for you. You are too skinny to pull them off. Do you know they had to pump fluids into you like they do humans? Totally gross.” She swept a hand across the gown. Plum color inked into the fabric, until every white thread was suffused with it. The white lace became black.
”What do you think?” Solange asked.
”That's amazing,” I said. ”Is that your power, changing colors?”
”No, silly. I can manipulate solids, among other things.” She kept walking and running her white-tipped nail across the fabrics. Cool pastels became rich and warm-burnt orange, red, magenta, navy-blue, fuchsia, rose... She laughed. ”Much better.”
”Did you fight in the Great Battle against the Archangels, too?” I asked.
She stopped smiling. ”Yeah, the evil fiends. I remember...” She stopped and frowned. ”Nothing. Like you and every knight and soldier on the island, my memories were wiped clean by those sons of b.i.t.c.hes. I'm rediscovering my powers, just like you will. At least I don't have to go to Mount Hermon Academy. School and I never mixed. I'd rather run it.” She shrugged, chose three outfits-one each in navy blue, burnt orange, and emerald green-thrust them in my arms, then sat beside me, crossed her legs, and c.o.c.ked her brow. ”Try them.”
I hesitated.
”Don't tell me you're modest. I'm your sister.”
My face grew hot. I didn't have any underwear. ”What's that got to do with modesty?”
”What have you done?” Lady Nemea demanded from the doorway, and I looked up. She carried a tray covered in plates covered with dome-shaped silver lids. ”All her beautiful clothes. You have no right to-”
”Right? Get out!” Solange ordered.
”But-”
”You don't dictate anything to me about my sister.”
Lady Nemea's eyes flashed. ”Your father-”
One second Solange was beside me, the next she was in front of the older woman. ”Remember, I don't need his permission to send anyone below, Lady Nemea. And by the time he realizes what I've done, you will have spent a few hours with energy-starved criminals.”
Lady Nemea grew pale, but her cheeks had the telltale redness of anger. She looked ready to strangle Solange. Then she disappeared.
”That was a bit harsh,” I said.
Solange shrugged. ”You have to let them know who's in charge. I don't just mean the workers in the castle. I'm talking about all of them-minions, lower, middle, and upper level Hermonites, even the regional lords. Our father is the king. He refuses to use the t.i.tle, but everyone considers him our king. As his children, we sit at the top of the hierarchy. You tell them what to do, not the other way round.” She paused, angled her head as though listening, and smiled. ”Father just arrived. Get dressed. I'll bring my stylists to fix your hair and makeup so you look less like a starving Nosferatu.”
She disappeared and I exhaled. Note to self-never get on the wrong side of Big Sister. She had a complex. What were Hermonites? Nosferatu? My head was going to explode from the information they kept throwing at me.
Back in my bedroom, I was surprised to see the tray Lady Nemea had carried on a round table in the middle of the room. Whatever was hidden under the silver lids smelled nice. My stomach growled again.
First things first-underwear.
I stood in the middle of the room, pointed at various parts of the room and waved like a conductor leading a band. Band. Conductor. More things I just knew about. Windows slammed shut, curtains closed, and the doors to the closet, the bathroom, and the one leading out of the room all slid open. No drawers.
Before I could close everything, a man dressed in black appeared outside my bedroom. The red hair gave him away. He was huge with broad shoulders. The black tunic and pants made him look intimidating. Our gazes met. He had dark, cold eyes, unlike my moss-green ones, and his expression gave nothing away. I s.h.i.+vered and waited for a flood of memories.
Nothing. Not even a flash.
”Father?” It came out as a question.
His eyes narrowed. Not a hint of a smile on his face. Once again, I s.h.i.+vered.
”Good afternoon, daughter. Will you join me for lunch?”
I looked at the covered food and then at my robe, my hand clutching the opening. ”Uh, okay. Give me a moment to change.”
”Of course.” He flicked a finger and the door closed.
I released a breath, my heart pounding and feelings I couldn't explain making my stomach flutter. I couldn't tell whether I was nervous or scared. My father didn't appear to be doting or act remotely like my idea of a father.
Walking to the bathroom, I waved a hand, and a dozen drawers and cupboards I hadn't seen popped out of the walls. Bath and hair products. Seriously, I needed a map to find my way around this place.
Closing my eyes in frustration, I took a deep breath. Something interesting started happening. A sparkly white glow appeared around objects in the room. It was as though I could see with my eyes closed. See-through walls and doors. Eyes still closed, I walked through the door and went through my bedroom to my closet. Finally, the drawers with my underwear.
Grinning, I opened my eyes and got dressed. I chose a ruffled goldand-black skirt that went all the way to my ankles, with a simple black top. The outfit was a perfect fit and comfortable. Blowing out air, I hurried back to my bedroom.
My stomach churned with nervousness and apprehension. So, I was about to have lunch with the ruler of my people. He also happened to be my father, someone who loved me even though I hadn't seen anything resembling love in his eyes earlier. I moved my finger the way he'd done and the door slid open with a bang.
I cringed.
Lord Valafar turned and scowled. Seeing me, he nodded and then went back to the conversation he'd been having with two men. The men were nearly as tall as he was and dressed in black, including long trench coats. One of the guys had dark brown skin, and something about him made me smile, though I couldn't explain why...until he turned and his catlike eyes narrowed on me. My smile disappeared.
He pressed his fist to his chest and bowed. ”It is nice to have you back with us, Princess Lilith.”
His companion, who had s.h.a.ggy brown hair and a thin moustache, bowed too and said, ”Nice to have you back, Princess.”
Once again, I wasn't sure whether to bow too, so I just nodded. ”Thank you.”
”Get it done,” Lord Valafar said dismissively, and the two men's bodies turned into black smoke before disappearing. The way they teleported was different from the way Solange and Lady Nemea did.
”How do they do that?” I didn't realize I had spoken until Lord Valafar spoke.
”Teleport? I'll explain while we eat.”
His voice was cool and impersonal. I wondered what kind of relations.h.i.+p he and I had. Swallowing, I watched him warily as he slowly moved closer to where I stood. It was weird the way he slowed down as though afraid I'd bolt. Sure, he was intimidating, but I wasn't that scared of him. He stopped and studied me as though waiting for something, his gaze probing.
”It is truly nice to have you back, daughter. You had us worried.”
Strange. He didn't make an attempt to hug me or anything like that. Lady Nemea's words zipped through my head. He loved me and never gave up searching for me after I was stolen by our enemies.
”I'm okay now, right?” I asked.