Chapter Two
Vincen
Ornate carvings decorated the heavy wooden doors that stood in front of Vincen, the sharp edges softened by the ages that had passed since they were first cut into the wood. He stood there for a long time, studying the various designs and doing his best to try not to think about what waited for him on the other side.
“They won’t open by themselves, you know,” a girl’s voice whispered in his ear. He jumped and quickly turned, startled from his reverie. A gray, translucent face smiled at him from only a few inches away. Across the room, a servant paused in his task and looked over at him curiously. The shade giggled.
Vincen shivered and took a step back as he waved the servant off, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks. Shades didn’t bother him, or any other mage for that matter, but they could still be unsettling when they snuck up on him like that. “Hey there, Ona,” he said nonchalantly, trying to cover his moment of surprise, though he knew he wasn’t fooling her. “What’s up?”
“I’m just bored,” she said, floating in a casual arc around him and still smiling. Her silvery hair flowed loose about her shoulders, half-floating as if she were underwater. It had been beautifully black once; he missed that. “Alba’s taking forever to get ready. Marie’s trying to get her hair just right, so I figured I’d come down early. That’s one advantage to being a shade, I’m always ready to go.” She tossed her hair back with a sly grin and it settled down around her shoulders far more slowly than it should have. Vincen gave a half-hearted smile back. Sometimes she could be a little too cavalier about her own death. “What had you so deep in thought, anyway?” she asked, ignoring his discomfort. “The whole academy could have snuck up on you just now.”
“Nothing much,” he said. “I can’t go in until Kelso gets back, so...” he trailed off as Ona glared at him, a mischievous grin creeping up at the edges of her mouth. His face started to heat up and he was reminded just how uncomfortable his dress uniform was, especially around the collar. They had known each other since they were six years old, and he knew she could see right through him.
“Well, you can keep hiding from your father in here,” she said, tossing her hair back and drifting toward the doors. “I’m going to go see the party.”
“Your parents will be there too,” Vincen said.
She turned and smiled at him. “That’s why I’m going. It’s been two years since I saw them last.”
Vincen fought down a grimace. “Alba won’t like you going in without her.”
“She already told me not to,” she replied with a mischievous grin.
Vincen chuckled. “So of course now you have to go?”
“I’d like to see her stop me. What’s the point of being a shade if I can’t enjoy it every once in a while?”
“Go ahead,” Vincen said with a wave and a roll of his eyes. “You’re the one who has to live with Alba’s wrath.” Her smile faltered ever so slightly and he realized what he had said. “Sorry,” he said. “I don’t mean live – I mean – uhmm – you know…” he felt like he was just digging his hole deeper.
Ona smiled wider. “You’re cute when you get all flustered, you know. See you in there.” She turned and floated through the thick doors.
Vincen was left alone staring at the doors once again. Had she just called him cute? It had been two years since she died and it seemed that she was losing more of her noble inhibitions the longer she was a shade. He pushed those thoughts aside, he had enough to worry about on his own. It was partly true, what he had told her about waiting for Kelso. As the son of Prince Andreu Canto, it was indeed improper for him to enter a public gathering without an attendant, but that was only a convenient excuse. The last time he had seen his parents was at Ona’s funeral, and a lot had changed since then. When he last spoke to his father he had been a boy, still excited about all the things he was learning at the Mage’s Academy and eager to show off his new tricks. Now he was graduating, leaving his boyhood behind and entering the world of adults. His father had made it clear in his last few letters that he was going to have to take his duties as a future duke seriously now that his time at the Academy was coming to an end, and that left him nervous.
The King had placed Vincen’s father in charge of the province of Selise. The Mage’s Academy resided in Savaria, the largest town in the province. One day Selise would belong to Vincen, and while the Academy had taught him all about what it meant to be a mage he had learned next to nothing about what being a duke entailed. Sometimes he envied the other noble children, the non-twins who attended the King’s Academy back in Albaron City. The students there spent all their time learning how to be proper nobles and forging connections that would carry them through the political battlefield that was noble life.
Twins, on the other hand, received an education of an entirely different sort. He smiled at that thought and idly levitated a few grapes from a nearby tray and brought them over to him, catching them as they floated near. All thoughts of wishing for a normal childhood vanished as he popped the sweet fruits into his mouth. He may not have spent the last ten years socializing with the empire’s next generation of rulers or learning how to smile at someone who was about to stab him in the back, but none of them could do what he could. He would take being a mage over being a duke any day.
Vincen heard the sound of footsteps on the marble staircase behind him and turned. Kelso was descending, looking very fine in a gray suit with long tails, a blue cummerbund, and a matching ascot.
“Marie wishes for me to convey Lady Alba’s apologies, my Lord,” he said when he was near enough not to shout. “Her hair is taking much longer than anticipated so she bids you please enter without her.”
Girls and their hair, he thought. “Yeah, Ona just told me,” he said. He had to admit though, she did have beautiful hair. Amongst other things.
“I did not see Lady Ona on my way down,” said Kelso, almost sounding disappointed.
“She’s a shade, Kelso,” said Vincen with a chuckle. “And a sneaky one at that. If she doesn’t want you to see her, you won’t.”
“I suppose that’s true,” Kelso said as he began to adjust Vincen’s suit.
Vincen let out a sigh and held out his arms while Kelso fussed about. He finished smoothing out the last of the wrinkles and Vincen dropped his arms. He couldn’t delay the inevitable any longer. “I guess this is it, huh?”
Kelso stepped back and bowed, his demeanor suddenly the very picture of grace and competence. “Indeed my Lord, shall I open the doors?”
Vincen nodded, his stomach churning. Kelso pushed open the doors and stood to one side as Vincen took a step into the ballroom. About a hundred students were graduating that night and all of them except for him and Alba were already inside. The room was filled with at least two hundred additional guests as well, the parents and families of the students – those who could afford the journey to Savaria, at least. The students were easy to pick out of the crowd, as they all wore the Academy’s dress uniform – fancy robes of deep blue trimmed with silver and the academy’s symbol richly embroidered over the left breast. The guests all wore their fanciest as well. The men wore sharp suits of mostly gray with pinstriped trousers and tight-fitting jackets with long tails. Ascots were the latest rage, and it seemed that there was some sort of competition to see who could have the biggest and puffiest.
Never to be outdone by the men, the women wore elaborate dresses, mostly blue to accentuate the Academy’s colors. Hats were taken very seriously and the women seemed to be having a competition of their own. The bigger and more elaborately decorated a hat was, the better. This idea was carried over even more with skirt size, which was seemingly just as important, possibly even more so. Vincen found himself wondering how the women even moved in such massive dresses, much less sat down, which he noticed very few had.
The ballroom was the largest room at the academy, larger even than the assembly hall where most of the school’s regular functions were held. The floor was covered with what appeared to be a single, huge slab of granite with a mosaic set in the exact center of the room. It was of two slightly bent lines running parallel to each other and ending in points like a spike. The two lines were bisected by a third, connecting them to each other. To the untrained eye it looked just like a rune, but it held no power and would not accept a mage’s essence. It was merely a symbol of the relationship twins had; separate, yet connected by an unbreakable bond.
The walls were gilded with elaborate gold inlays that graced the half-pillars set between massive windows that stretched from the floor to the ceiling. Red tapestries bearing the golden phoenix of Albaron hung in the center of each of the four walls. The arched ceiling was a work of art in itself. Every available inch was covered by paintings inspired by everything from ancient myths to recent history. No pillars marred its surface or interfered with the open floor space below; instead, the arches of the ceiling supported the immense weight of the stone roof.
A large staircase graced the far wall, splitting at a landing partway up into two separate stairways leading to opposite corners of a balcony that circled the entire room. A string quartet consisting of academy students was set up in one corner of the balcony. They played a lively traditional country jig while a girl wearing a brightly colored dress danced and twirled about to the delight of those watching. Little balls of light created by her Skill flowed and swirled around her, caught by the motion of her skirt and billowing sleeves, making it seem as if she was dancing in a field of fireflies. Vincen recognized her as one of Alba’s friends from her dance classes. He couldn’t remember her name though.
Vincen stood just inside the doorway, suddenly very self-conscious as nearly every set of eyes in the room turned to him. Even the music and dancing stopped. His heart pounded in his chest as he struggled to remain stone-faced under the scrutiny. He hated being the center of attention and hated having to act like he was better than everyone else even more. As he stood motionless a few of the better-dressed guests bowed toward him. The rest of the room took their cue and followed suit, even the few shades scattered around the room bowed in respect; all except for one couple at the far end of the room.
His parents.
He met his father’s gaze briefly before he released the crowd from their bow with a small nod of his head. The assembly stood up and most of them returned to whatever conversations they had been having before he interrupted them. The music resumed, and the girl whose name he couldn’t remember began singing a peaceful aria. The lights reappeared, this time hanging over her and the quartet like stars in the night sky.
Vincen let out the breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding, careful not to let it turn into a sigh of relief. He took a step forward, allowing Kelso space to close the door behind him, and began making his way through the crowd. His parents would be wanting to see him, and he was eager to see his stepmother again. The thought of meeting his father filled him with a sense of dread, however. He did not fear his father, he had never given him cause for that, but as Vincen had grown older his father’s demeanor had also grown harder. He remembered playing on their estate’s grounds as a child while his father watched on with a proud and happy smile. Now, what little correspondence they had was full of lectures on the duties of a duke and loyalty to the Empire.
The crowds parted for him as he made his way across the floor, guests and students alike stepping aside with a bow as he passed. He always returned the bows with a nod of his head, and he pretended not to notice the resentful glares he received from more than a few of his classmates. The fact that he, Kelso, and Alba - whenever she finally made an appearance - were the only ones not required to wear their uniforms during the ceremony was a clear sign that despite their years of relatively equal treatment at school their status did hold quite a bit of weight with the Academy’s staff. There was also the matter that Vincen and Alba had not been assigned regular mage’s posts like the rest of the students, but were instead being allowed to return to their homes to take up their respective titles. No other student had been afforded the luxury of even a week back home before they were required to report to their assigned positions. The Empire was their family, and that left no room for old attachments.
Vincen understood his classmate’s feelings, though he did not find them entirely justified. He had no more choice over his position than they did, and his fate had been decided before he was even born. Given the choice, he would gladly swap places with any of his classmates. Well, maybe not those who had been assigned to the army. Battle mages did not tend to have long careers. Or lives.
Eventually, he reached the table that had been prepared for his family. His stepmother, Lady Caterina, was there, resplendent in a light blue gown that almost appeared silver if he looked at it just right and complemented her pale olive skin. Her blond hair was tastefully but elaborately braided into a design that must have taken her lady’s maid hours to perfect. The skirt of her gown was flared out, as was consistent with current fashions, but was not so large as many of the other women’s. She had no need to prove her worth with excessive displays of wealth, her presence alone was enough to make all others pale in comparison. Of course, Vincen had to admit that his own opinion may have been a little biased in that regard. Still, there was no denying that one look at Lady Caterina would leave no one in doubt as to her noble bearing.
“Mother,” he said as his heart swelled at the sight of her. She was the only mother he had ever known. His birth mother had died when he was born, along with his twin brother. They said she had held tightly to Vincen until she took her final breath. He wished he could remember that.
“Vincen, darling!” Lady Caterina said, holding out her arms to him. He accepted her embrace and then kissed her once on each cheek. “Let me look at you,” she said, and he stood back to allow her to take him in. “My, how you’ve grown. I hardly recognize the man before me. Where has my little boy gone?”
Vincen stood proudly under her gaze and grinned. “It’s good to see you again, Mother. How have you been?”
“Well enough, darling. Better, now that we’ve got you back. Your father has hardly known what to do with himself these last few years except but to fret over lost time with you.” She glanced over at Prince Andreu. He looked their way and nodded before returning to a discussion with a man Vincen had not noticed before. Vincen looked at his stepmother, the question plain on his face. She smiled softly. “Truly, dear. He has missed you more deeply than you can know.”
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“Sure,” he said, nodding. More like he’s missed the chances to lecture me on duty and honor, he thought.
Lady Caterina must have seen what he was thinking. She had always been good at that. “He just wants to give you every chance to succeed, Vincen. He doesn’t want you to suffer the same fate as Selise’s previous duke. That was an ugly business. And you have indeed missed out on much while studying here instead of at the King’s Academy, as a future duke should have.”
“I like being a mage, Mother,” he said, the tightness in his stomach returning. “It’s what I was born to be.”
“You were born to be my heir,” his father said from behind him. “This mage business is just a distraction and a public relations stunt.”
Vincen jumped slightly and instantly felt the heat rise in his cheeks at the show of weakness. Why was he so jumpy tonight? He turned and bowed slightly to his father. “Hello Father,” he said stiffly as he rose. “It’s good to see you again. It has been too long.”
“Indeed,” his father agreed. “It is good to see you again, my son. Congratulations on your graduation. It truly is an achievement to be proud of.”
“Thank you, Father,” Vincen said, taken aback by the compliment. He knew his father had not approved of his attending the Mage’s Academy, but there had never been any choice in the matter. All twins in the Empire were required to attend, even if their siblings had died before birth, as Vincen’s had.
Lady Caterina caught Vincen’s eyes and smiled softly as if to say, “See, he really does care.” She then looked behind him at Kelso. “And you must be Kelso, dear. Thank you for taking care of my son.”
Kelso bowed deeply. “My Lady, the pleasure is mine.” Lady Catarina smiled and nodded at him. “How is your family, dear?” she asked. “Your mother is such a lovely lady, I would dearly like to visit with her again. I am sorry they could not be here tonight.”
“They are well enough, my Lady,” he replied, betraying no hint of emotion on his face. “Even if the citizens of Marselle were allowed to travel, the costs would have been too prohibitive.” Kelso’s father had been the king of Marselle until Albaron invaded. The assimilation was a peaceful one, but between the empire’s crushing taxes and the Mage’s Academy’s tuition, Kelso’s family had been left practically bankrupt.
“It is an unfortunate state of affairs,” Vincen’s stepmother said with a sigh. “The King must ensure that Albaron’s newest member-nations are fully loyal before allowing them complete freedom. It’s a shame you’re alone on such a night as a result.”
“My family is proud that I am serving Albaron as Marselle’s first official mereologist, my Lady. Such an honor is enough for them.” Lady Caterina smiled. Kelso bowed in return then turned to Prince Andreau. “My Lord Prince,” he said with another bow.
Vincen’s father nodded, his face stern, but not cold, then turned back to Vincen. “Vincen,” he said, gesturing to the man he had been conversing with when they arrived. “I would like you to meet Mister Eloi Codina. He is in charge of our gas harvesting fields at the Lake of Fire.”
Mr. Codina had a slightly distracted look on his face but composed himself quickly as he stepped forward and bowed to Vincen, his hands behind his back. He was dressed as finely as any nobleman present and the Canto family crest was emblazoned on the left breast of his coat, but Vincen noted that he could never be mistaken for a true nobleman. The skin of his face was hard and leathery, the mark of a man who had spent his entire life working outside. “My Lord,” Mr. Codina said. “It is an honor to meet you. Your father has told me much about you.” His voice was not as deep as Vincen had expected and his accent was clearly from Marisette, Alba and Ona’s home province. His voice also had a rough and gravelly tone, like he spent a lot of time yelling at his workers.
Vincen nodded while suppressing an inward sigh. This was supposed to be his night and there he was, already getting introduced to his father’s associates. One of the jokes at the Academy was that the nobility had a habit of turning every gathering into some sort of business meeting, and it seemed that his father was no exception. Mr. Codina stood up, keeping his hands clasped behind his back. “The honor is mine, Mister Codina,” Vincen said dutifully, pushing aside his irritation. “Thank you for looking after our family's interests. I am told our gas profits have never been higher.”
“Indeed, my Lord. Demand only continues to grow as more provinces install streetlights and the upper classes add lamps to their estates. Inventors and mereologists continue to explore new uses for the substance, so I expect demand to continue increasing for the foreseeable future. In fact, your father has just told me that we have been given the King’s blessing to expand our operations even further into the lake.”
That was good news for his family's finances, but he didn’t like the sound of expanding into the lake. “Isn’t that dangerous?” Vincen asked. The Lake of Fire was a place people had feared for centuries and always stayed clear of until it was discovered that the substance that made the water seem to burn could be harvested and controlled. Stories of strange creatures lurking in the steaming waters and explorers leaving the shores never to return still prevailed amongst the people despite recent industrialization in the area.
Mr. Codina shrugged. “It certainly can be, my Lord, the dead or injured workers we need to replace every year are a testament to that. If not handled properly the gas can easily explode, especially with the lake’s fires burning so close; but we are careful, and have many safety systems and runes in place to prevent disaster.”
Lady Catrina took half a step forward. “That is most fascinating, Mister Codina,” she said with a nervous chuckle. “But I’m not sure the topic is entirely appropriate for the occasion.”
“Of course, my Lady,” said Mr. Codina with a nod toward her. “You are correct. Please forgive your humble servant.” He turned his attention back to Vincen. “Congratulations on your graduation, my Lord. It has been far too long since the royal family has been graced with a mage. You will bring much honor to Albaron, I am certain.” He offered a hand which Vincen shook. He was shocked to find the hand covered almost entirely in scar tissue. It felt rough and unnatural and he had to suppress a shudder. Why didn't the man wear gloves?
“Thank you, Mister Codina. It is my honor to serve, for the good of the Empire.”
“For the good of the Empire,” Mr. Codina repeated. His parents and Kelso did the same.
“Mister Codina,” Prince Andreau said. “Allow me to introduce you to Marquess Anton Lequette. His daughter Alba is betrothed to Vincen and I plan on bringing him into the gas business soon, so that I may better focus my attention on… other projects. Vincen, you should come as well.”
They left Kelso and Lady Caterina at the table and his father led them to a set of tables nearby where another couple sat, dressed nearly as finely as Vincen’s parents. At their approach, the couple stood and bowed respectfully. Their servants and retainers bowed even more deeply. Vincen noticed Ona hovering near her parents. They seemed unaware of her presence, and Vincen wondered how she had convinced their retainers not to say anything. At least a few of them were mages, as evidenced by the badges they wore. Ona did not curtsy at their approach, which was fine with him. His father and Mr. Codina couldn’t see her anyway. At least he assumed Mr. Codina couldn’t see her. He did not wear a badge and gave no indication that he was aware of her presence.
Prince Andreau nodded his acknowledgement and the Marquess rose along with his household. “My Lord Prince,” Marquess Lequette said with a smile. “This is truly a fine day, is it not?”
“It is indeed, old friend,” said Prince Andreau. He bowed slightly towards Lady Lequette and kissed her outstretched hand. “Lady Marta. Congratulations on Lady Alba’s graduation. You must be proud of her.”
“We are, my Lord Prince,” she replied. “It is a fine day. Though a sad one, as well.”
Marquess Lequette’s face stiffened slightly and his eyes darted toward his wife, but he didn’t say anything. Vincen noticed Ona’s face fall slightly.
“Indeed, madam,” Prince Andreau responded without missing a beat, though Vincen was sure he noticed the tension. “We all grieve with you. Lady Ona was a fine young woman, and Albaron is lessened without her.”
“Congratulations are due to you as well, Lord Vincen,” Marquess Lequette stepped in with another look at his wife. She looked sharply back at him for a moment, then dutifully stood aside.
Vincen bowed his head slightly. “Thank you, Marquess Lequette. Please accept my congratulations as well. Alba has done your family proud here at the Academy. She composes herself with grace everywhere she goes and is well-loved by all.”
“Thank you, my Lord. I am glad to hear that. I couldn’t be happier that she is promised to such a fine man as yourself.”
Vincen felt the heat rising in his cheeks that came every time his betrothal was brought up. He tried not to look at Ona, he didn’t want to give her away, but he knew she was watching him and could picture the grin on her face. She always laughed at him when he was embarrassed.
“I’m sure you are eager to see your cousin Prince Aarmond again, Lord Vincen?” Marquess Lequette asked, either unaware of or ignoring Vincen’s embarrassment.
“Indeed, I am,” Vincen replied, glad to change the subject. If he’d ever get here, Vincen thought wryly. The prince was already late, and the ceremony could not start until he arrived. The two had spent most of their childhood together, but they rarely saw each other after Aarmond began attending the King’s Academy in Albaron City. Vincen began his own schooling only a year later. The last time they had seen each other was at Crown Prince Domenic’s wedding three years ago.
“Marquess Lequette,” said Prince Andreu. “This is Eloi Codina. He runs the operations at the Lake of Fire.”
Mr. Codina bowed before extending a scarred hand to the Marquess. “It is an honor to meet you, my Lord,” he said as the Marquess shook his hand. Vincen was impressed to note that there was not even a hint of surprise or disgust at the state of Mr. Codina’s hands on Marquess Lequette’s face.
“Mr. Codina,” said Marquess Lequette. “I have heard good things about you. I am pleased that we finally have the chance to meet in person. I trust you are making good use of the sky train now that it is operational?”
Mr. Codina bowed. “Indeed yes, My Lord. It has made the transportation of gas much safer and more efficient. Thank you for allowing it to be built on your land.”
“I’m glad to help the throne any way I can,” the Marquess said and Vincen thought he caught just a hint of bitterness in his voice. “I was pleased the King thought of our province when planning the sky train’s route.”
“Very soon I will be introducing the Marquess to some of the finer points of the business,” Prince Andreu said to Mr. Codina. “Once Vincen is married to Lady Alba I intend to step back and have less of a direct role in the industry. I will depend on the two of you to keep things running smoothly.”
Mr. Codina and the Marquess bowed. “I am a simple man of the land,” the Marquess said. “My family knows grapes and wine. Times are changing, however, and those who do not evolve with them are left behind or destroyed. I am grateful the royal family would trust me with such an important industry.”
The conversation turned to particulars as the Prince and Mr. Codina began discussing logistics and profit margins with the Marquess. Vincen found his attention lagging and he glanced toward Ona, who was still hovering behind her mother. She was looking bored as well and the two of them shared a knowing glance. Lady Lequette noticed him looking her way and motioned him over. Vincen thought about interrupting the conversation to excuse himself properly. None of the men were paying any attention to him though so he quietly stepped aside, worried that he may have accidentally revealed Ona’s presence.
“It is good to see you again, Lord Vincen,” Lady Lequette said after she led them far enough away so as not to be a bother. Ona followed, clearly much more interested in their conversation than in the business of gas harvesting.
“And you as well, Lady Lequette. I meant what I said earlier. Lady Alba truly has done you proud.”
“Yes, yes,” she replied dismissively. “How is Ona doing? You still talk to her, don’t you?”
Vincen was taken aback by the intensity in her voice. She was a beautiful woman, almost as lovely as Vincen’s stepmother, with fine black hair, olive skin, and a petite face. The beauty was lost by the look in her eyes, though. She was searching his face almost frantically. It was all he could do not to look up at Ona who was floating directly behind her mother and looking worried. “Uhmm – yes – yes, I do. Ona is doing well. As well as can be expected I suppose…” he paused, not entirely sure how he should respond. His face was raging hot now, and he was sure he would begin sweating any moment. “Forgive me, madam. I’m not sure I should be the one to discuss this with you. Perhaps Alba would be better suited to this. She should be down soon.”
Her face fell, and it seemed that she shrunk several inches. “Yes. Yes, you’re right my boy. Please forgive a mother. You’re a good lad.” She turned and took her seat at the table, watching her husband talking with Vincen’s father and Mr. Codina with a blank expression on her face.
The older men were still engrossed in their conversation so Vincen decided that it was a good chance to slip away. He made his way through the crowd and found a relatively empty spot near a wall, beneath one of Albaron’s tapestries. He leaned heavily against it with a sigh and tugged at the stiff collar around his neck. Ona silently drifted up beside him.
“She’s been like that all night,” she said. “She’s been asking every mage she can find about me. Father’s furious with her, but he still listens closely when someone tells her anything about me.”
Vincen nodded slowly. “It can't be easy on any parent, even after a few years have passed. Now they’re here for the first time. Where… you know… it happened. I can’t even imagine what they’re going through.”
“I shouldn’t have done this,” Ona said. She looked out over the crowd and sighed. “Alba was right, as always.” She looked at him, silver tears glistening in her eyes. “They’re miserable, Vincen. And it’s all my fault.”
“It’s not your fault, Ona,” Vincen said firmly. “It’s not like you chose to die. You weren’t even doing anything risky. It was a completely random accident. It could have happened to… to anyone…” He trailed off and looked away from her, realizing that there was no comfort in those last words. He silently kicked himself. Why was he always putting his foot in his mouth? Ona sniffed and wiped her eyes. The tears dripped off her hand and disappeared into a sparkling mist. Vincen wondered briefly about the nature of shades. Wind and weather didn’t affect them in the slightest, yet their clothes and hair moved and flowed about them almost naturally, except when they didn’t. He shook his head and refocused on his friend.
“Thanks,” she said, then smiled at him. “You’re pretty bad at this, you know?”
“Yeah,” he forced a smile back, his heart breaking for her. “It’s a good thing you’ve got Alba, huh?”
“Yeah, though after this stunt I’m not sure if she’ll even want to talk to me.”
“She’s your sister. Of course, she will.”
Ona smiled and the two of them watched the crowd in silence for a few minutes. It was nice being alone with Ona. They rarely had the chance, and for a moment it felt like old times again. Back when the two of them were betrothed. Before she died and everything changed. Vincen absently reached for her hand and was momentarily surprised when it didn’t grasp anything. A small gasp came from Ona and he looked over to see that she had drifted away from him slightly and was holding her hand to her chest. She turned away as he looked at her.
You fool! He thought furiously to himself. She can’t touch anything! How could you do that to her?
He opened his mouth to try and stammer out an apology when the main doors to the hall opened. Alba’s attendant, Marie, stood to the side as Alba stepped through, looking a little timid. He wondered if that was how he had looked when he first made his entrance. She was dressed in a conservatively cut gown that was slightly out of fashion. Despite that Vincen felt like she was more beautiful than any other woman there. It was deep blue with a high collar and long sleeves, as opposed to the low necklines and sleeveless cuts of the current fashion. Intricate lacework decorated the bodice and cuffs of the sleeves. The skirts flared out only slightly and cream-colored accents peaked out from a few artfully placed slits. Flowery vines ran around the hem, embroidered in golden thread. It was understated and elegant, and it suited her perfectly. Her velvety black hair was twisted up and around her head and was braided nearly as elaborately as Lady Caterina’s was. A single blue flower was set into it, just behind her left ear.
“Wow…” Vincen said, staring. Ona shot him a harsh glare and then flew out over the crowd to join her sister. Unlike other shades, Ona tried never to pass through people if she could help it. Alba greeted her with a nod and a slightly reproachful look that likely only Vincen and Ona noticed.
Vincen watched as the two made their way through the crowd. It was a little odd to see; Alba looking resplendent in her blue evening gown with Ona beside her, gray and shimmering, still in her school robes and looking exactly like she had the day she died. He couldn't understand why Ona had suddenly gotten mad at him. Was it maybe because he had forgotten himself and tried to hold her hand? He didn’t think that would be enough to make her mad though, she had looked sad more than anything else, but he couldn’t think of what else it could have been. Girls were confusing enough, and he was learning that dead ones were even harder to understand sometimes.
The crowd parted in front of him a little and Kelso came through. “Lady Alba is certainly beautiful this evening, is she not my Lord? Marie has outdone herself this time, I think.”
“Yeah,” Vincen said with a nod, then tore his eyes off the pair of sisters, who were still making their way across the room. “Now,” he said, looking up at the one table that still sat empty. It was the largest table in the room and was set in the place of honor at the front of the hall. “If my dear cousin would ever show up we could finally get this ceremony started.”
End of Chapter Two