Octavia

Sky gapes at us in shock. Mouth opening and closing in comical fashion as his gaze darts between our outfits before settling on me.

"I-wow." He states with raised brows

Pathetic. That was the best compliment he could come up with?

"You both look stunning." He grins. Regaining his footing.

See. I comment amusedly as Stella and I leave the dorm. He just needed a minute to process

We pause to lock my dorm and I grin at the shadows grumbling in the back of my mind. I glance at my right shoulder, seeing Little Shadow and Asmodeus swirl gently against my neck. A cool feeling along my arms has me glancing down to see the other's looping and twirling in one long stretch of shadowy ribbon along my arms.

I smile appreciatively at them. They could always tell when I'm stressed, this was their way of comforting me.

"Hide them away." Stella snaps, eyes wide and face cold. I glance up in shock.

"Stel-" Sky says, stepping towards us. He looks surprised and upset and he's staring at my sister in slight horror.

"Now, Octavia. They have no place at a royal event."

Bitch. Asmodeus hisses, but she's right

I stare my sister down, refusing to let a single emotion show on my face as I read the carefully hidden terror in her eyes.

Hide. I command with such force that the shadows dart and disperse from my body in search of a place to hide. Sky stumbles back a step as the shadow brush past his feet and arms in their search for dark corners and shadowed figures.

Stella and I are still staring at each other. My twin breaks the battle as she nods in appreciation and looks away. With my focus gone from Stella I can feel that detached nothingness creepy in the absence of my companions. I shiver slightly, my skin prickling as if someone is watching me.

Just us, mistress. A horrifically distant voice reaches. We'll follow you and stay in the surrounding shadows.

My stomach clenches, I don't know which shadow that was. Normally I can hear and feel them and instinctively recognise which one they are but now. Now it's as if a blanket has covered my senses.

I look up to see Sky watching me as Stella talks away nervously to him about the upcoming event. He seems to be asking me a question with his gaze. I don't know what though. I stride down the hallway, hearing the other two follow quickly. Maybe he wants to know why the sudden event that takes months to plan, why I listened to Stella, why I'm so cold? So many questions, I don't think I have any answers for him.

Sky strides on my left, damn him and his long legs for easily catching up to me. I sigh and slow down to a more comfortable pace, allowing Stella to catch up properly to walk on Sky's other side. We make our way silently through the halls, each of us lost in thought.

A warning buzz of power flits through me. The shadows.

We reach the entrance of Alfea and Sky drifts back a few paces to walk behind us.

"Good luck." He murmurs

We'll need it. Stella links my arm with hers-

Stella and I link arms as we walk behind Beatrix and Ricki. The couple looked adorable in the summer light as we walked along the beach.

"I want...." Ricki starts with a grin as she glances back at us. "Caramel ice cream."

"I want strawberry ice cream." Beatrix bemoans.

We break into giggles at the girl's dreamy expression.

"Leave me alone." Bea giggles, pushing us away. "I've got a sudden craving for strawberries."

I startle, Stella's tugging at my arm. We've reached the entrance, the royal car stands in front of us like a firing squad. I swallow heavily as we begin to descend the small amount of steps that lead to a gravelled path. The silence behind me is sickening. There's no footsteps, Sky has paused at the top. We're on our own from here on out.

Vespertine stands by the backdoors of the car, he stares blankly at us but I see the slight cruel smile that twists his face when he looks at us. Sadistic bastard. He likes seeing us so umcomfortable.

He grins silently at me as I enter the car, Stella following quickly behind me.

"We're running late." A regal voice reprimands.

I stiffen and turn to face the Queen. Breathe taking is the best way to describe her, not necessarily her ample beauty but the sheer suffocating force of her power. She sits in the plush cream leather seats with all the regality of sitting on a throne, not a single hair of her brown locks is out of place, her blue eyes pierce into me and her gracefully ageing face is set without emotion. The pale blue dress sits in delicate ruffles and the perfect jewels - not too understated but not vulgar - dangle from her ears and neck.

Queen Luna gazes at me harshly, her face stern and disapproving. I feel Stella tense on my left as the car fills with suffocating silence. The car begins to pull away from Alfea and I feel my stomach plummet to the floor. This is it then. Numbness creeps over me, strange, so strange to be without my shadows. I hadn't realised I got so attached to them.

"Dowling said your lessons were going well, Stella." The words sound like they should be a question yet I can't help but feel like they are an accusation.

"My power has been recovering steadily." Stella says tightly. "Dowling knows what she's doing." Stella adds to fill the awkward pause.

Queen Luna hums in mock agreement, laying her palms gently over her crossed knees. I freeze as she turns that cool gaze on me.

"Dowling also said that your light had begun to rehabilitate, impressive for only 2 weeks worth of lessons." The Queen tilts her head in a purely predatory manner. "What of your shadows? She didn't mention them."

I swallow nervously.

"With the progress of my light, Dowling wanted to prioritise lessons to achieve the most progress." A pause, the Queen waits.

"I downplayed the magic as you suggested. I have been learning the bare minimum, enough to gain control of the little shadows she believes I have."

I smile brokenly at her, feeling it wobble as I barely look at my supposed mother.

"That's better than nothing, at least." She muses, "Dowling has no reason to pry into our family business and magic; do not give her a reason to."

More commands and we've been together for no more than 12 minutes.

"As if she hasn't already demanded too much of us," The Queen comments bitterly. "Refusing our guards because of some petty disagreement. How childish of her."

Guards? I look at Stella in confusion but she only glances back at me with a 'you should know this already' look. Know this already? When would guards have been brought up- the first day. Of course. How could I have forgotten? She was talking about having guards in place to keep my powers safe and contained. Dowling must have overruled her. No wonder I didn't realise. The Queen doesn't like admitting mistakes or being denied.

What does Dowling have over her? There must be something. Why else would The Queen listen to her  advice, especially on something so important as the supposed safety of her daughter.

"Has Dowling said anything? Asked any questions I should know about?" The Queen demands, voice sharp but laced with- fear. She's afraid of something. Afraid of whatever Dowling knows or suspects.

I pause, thinking through my answer. At the start, during my first lesson with Dowling and Stella. She asked about the shadows talking to me. The shadows asked me to lie. Do I tell the truth or do I lie? She has power of the Queen which could make her a future ally but Dowling is a threat to the crown. Especially if she's asking questions about something only we in theory should know.

"She asked me during our first lesson if the shadows ever talked to me."

Silence.

"And you didn't think to tell me?"

I look away silently, unable to hold her gaze. I didn't tell you because you're a bitch, that's why. The car remains in silence for a further twenty, with Stella shuffling slightly from time to time. I remain rigid in my seat, too scared and angry to move.

"I have reached out to an old friend for you Stella," Queen Luna begins. "I thought you might like their company."

A predator that knows they have their prey trapped.

"Which friend?" Stella asks hoarsely.

"It's a surprise, sweetheart." She taunts before turning that piercing gaze of hers on me.

"There are some people I would like to introduce you to, Octavia dear." She plasters on a fake caring smile that I was once dumb enough to believe. "I thought this would be a good time to introduce you to the social circles, so you may begin to build a... portfolio of names to use in future."

Cold, calculating. Everything I never want to be yet I find myself drifting further and further into that role. She stares at me expectantly, until I nod in agreement.

"Will it be a fairy dance?"

"No."

I hum in disappointment, I love fairy dances. The pure freedom of it all. I can already see mother pursing her lips at the thought, I hide my grin that forms in response. When midnight comes, the true fun begins and we can dance till the witching hour without any consequences. Of course it's a dangerous event to any non-fairies but that's what makes it so fun.

"C'mon Tavi." Ricki calls, eyes bright as she grins at me from outside the doorway. "Come dance with us."

The rain hammers down around us and I gape at my friends, watching horrified as Bea dances in the rain outside with Stella. Their thin summer dresses are plastered to their skin, highlighting every dip and curve of their body against the misty backdrop of the moonlit forest.

"Are you insane!" I demand with a laugh. Giggling at a soaked Ricki who steps back inside Andreas' cottage to shake her wet hair at me like a dog.

"Positively mad!" She cries.

Lighting cracks outside and I can hear Beatrix gasp in delight as she twirls faster and faster as the storm rages on. Ricki turns to face her girlfriend, watching as Bea's eyes light up with power as she begins to glow. I watch, starstruck as my friend smiles gently at Ricki, her eyes white with endless power yet full of love. My heart clenches at that look, the softness of it all. Ricki giggles and I know she's smiling back.

I sigh and step forward to nudge her back outside, closing the door behind me as I follow her.

"Shall we?" I murmur as I grin at her lovesick expression.

Ricki merely laughs and races forward to twirl Beatrix around in a crushing hug, their bodies melded together in the soft gloomy light. I laugh in a desperate burst as I splash my way through the puddles towards my sister. Stella merely laughs at me, bending over with the force of her joy. I grin back, bumping into her as I slide to a stop.

I grab Stella's hands and spin her in a circle, we both laugh in pure delight as our magic begins to thrum and sing at the beauty of it all. Twirling and twisting together we make our way towards Bea and Ricki, laughing as we break them apart from each other. Ricki's eyes flash purple at me in annoyance before dulling down to a gentle hum.

Gasping in elation I twirl Bea around as my shadows come to life around us, their forms shifting and swirling in the gloom. Silhouettes of great beasts, ancient fairies and soldiers all begin to dance with us. Distantly I hear music begin to drift through the forest, the witching hour must nearly be upon us if they have begun their tune.

Stella cackles in glee as her light bursts from her in ribbons of satin that swirl around my creatures like gentle wind, such soft beauty to contrast with the sharp edge of my shadows. Thunder booms overhead, and I whip around to see Beatrix dancing a waltz with Ricki as electricity cascades over them before swirling into the water around us.

Transfixed, I lift a hand out the touch the water droplets falling heavily from the sky, each one connected by a spark of beatrix's power,

I giggle at the tingle of the power against my palm. Pins and needles spread through my body at the sensation and I began to twirl around on the spot, laughing and shouting with glee the whole time.

It's as if bubbles have filled my chest, pure power and joy coursing through my veins. My head tilts back and I look up at the full moon high in the sky. Its pale light reflects off the dwindling rain drops as the storm settles down into a gentle lull.

"Don't get carried away tonight." Queen Luna commands and I jerk back to the present. "You are the princesses of the Realm. You represent the crown with every move you make."

We've arrived.

"Stella! Stella! Over here"

"Octavia! Princess Stella, look over here"

"Your highness! Queen Luna! Any comment on the recent reports"

"Sweet helios, they're like animals out there." Luna mutters with disdain.

I stare out blankly through the window, gazing at the reports lining the streets. Cameras flashing, shouting voices. We're pinned in from either side of the car as we approach the entrance of the Kástano Hall.

I share a scared glance with Stella, there's a lot of eyes on us. I watch sadly as my sister begins to straighten out her dress and pick off invisible lint. Luna watches her movements with an impassive face but I can see the satisfaction in her eyes. Her perfect pet, molded to her desires, controlled by her niches and rules.

The car came to a stop in front of the red carpet path to the entrance hall. Muffled voices flicker through to us in the car.

"Octavia! Octavia!"

"Stella! Stella! Are you and Sky of Erakylon getting back together?"

Sweet Apollo, do they have nothing better to ask us. The chauffeur steps around to the back and opens the door.

"Look here! Over here!"

"Any comments on the recent poverty bill?"

I swallow nervously and smooth out my dress, watching silently as Queen Luna steps out to loud bursts of camera flashes and shouts.

"Queen Luna!"

"Over here! Are you willing to answer questions?"

"What are you doing about the Witch sightings?

"Are your daughters with you?"

I guess that's our cue. I turn to Stella and grip her hand tightly when I see how pale she's gone. Stel looks at me, her eyes wide and lips trembling.

I squeeze her hand again.

Stel looks down at our hands. Pause, then squeezes back.

My sister takes a steadying breath, straightens her dress and then nods her head at me. We're ready.

I nod back and gently tug at her hand to force her to follow me out of the car. I reluctantly let go of her hand as I step out of the car.

"Octavia! Octavia!"

"Princess, how is life at Alfea?"

"What is your response to the rumours of you finding the dead shepherd?"

"Octavia! Look over here!"

Light blinds me and I fight the urge to flinch away from the cameras. Instead, I force a gentle and serene smile onto my face, willing my eyes to brighten as I feel my sister stand by my side. We pause, looking around at the various cameras.

"Stella! Octavia!"

We listen silently to their calls, smiling politely as we begin to count.

1, count to five.

"Stella! Who was the girl you attacked?"

2, then follow the queen.

"Octavia! Stella! Look over here, look at the camera!"

3, right foot first with measured steps.

"Stella! Are you dating Andreas of Eraklyon's son?"

4, when the queen stops at the top, stop with her

"Octavia! Where did you go on your sabbatical?"

5, always walk behind the Queen, she has more power here

We begin to walk, right, left, right, left. Our steps are measured and controlled. Each movement is mirrored and matched by the other twin, we smile politely at the cameras, nodding in greeting.

My chest tightens as we move. We're so practised and controlled, the perfect little dolls.

We reach the entrance gates and I can't help but marvel at the sheer size of the doors. Elegantly sculpted with columns on either side, gold embellishments and carvings in the pale stone. It's an epitome of Soloria's high society, a beacon of revelry and dancing.

I turn to Stella and grin, maybe we could still have a bit of fun. As we walk through the main entrance gate I gasp at the sight of hundreds of people filling the courtyard.

Dresses full of bright and pastel colours light up the room, each encompassing a regal empowerment. The dress code may be old fashioned but it truly creates a stunning Victorian image, yet the architecture is purely Solarian. And by that I mean it was designed for sun and heat, not the September weather we currently have. Thank Apollo for heating charms.

The walk down the courtyard is silent but I listen, bemused, to the conversation around us. Fairies, specialists, soldiers, business CEOs, all are talking together, whispering and gossiping away as the musicians and artists marvel at the architecture surrounding us. Anyone of note is here, this isn't just foreign dignitaries but artists and musicians as well, anyone Solaria can brag about having is here.

I see a few of them eyes us up. The musicians and artisans and the travelers all of whom still view us as celebrity-like figures, and then the foreign dignitaries. All of whom are recognisable by their various religious, cultural and political symbols, and from the way they eye my sister and I carefully. They know who we are. If only we knew them too.

Coming up to the building's entrance I quickly tug at my shadows, eager to know they're here. The answering pull is unsettlingly small and my stomach churns at the thought. Why couldn't they stay with me? Stella and I walk up the short row of steps, our steps echoing through the surrounding area as we finally reach our awaiting Queen. Queen Luna faces away from us, staring out at the ballroom. Pausing at the top I stare in awe at the grandiose view in front of me. The archway opens out onto a balcony overlooking the ballroom, two staircases trail down from either side of the entrance, each one curling around the corners of the room.

The three of us step down to the balcony.