Mae

Mae wanted to scream with the first step she took into the castle. She'd been here before, of course not the the courts knowledge, but that was none of their business.

The place was just as glamorous as she'd remembered. The walls were covered with intricate wallpapers, crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and velvet carpets covered the floors. 

The inhabitants were an entirely different level of glamour, though. With their beautiful dresses and suits and striking features, she had to remind herself she was walking into a den of the blessed.

Blessed. She could have scoffed. Long lives and powers in exchange for a craving for blood? Disgusting.

She squeezed Ben's arm as she walked beside him, following the rest of the crowd of visitors for the Decennial Festival. There were people from all over, with humans in the minority. Sucking in a breath through her nose, she lifted her chin.

They stopped near a grand ballroom, where tables were set up. She caught sight of the princess, her father the king, and the person she'd been standing with entering from a doorway opposite of where they were coming in.

Mae didn't want to admit how pretty Robin was. She'd always admired the princess from afar. If the rumors were true, she was one of the few good ones lurking in these walls. Confusion struck Mae as she watched the princess gracefully walk across the floor -- why was she the target? Out of all the targets, the princess!

Ben leaned down close to Mae, and whispered against her ear. "We'll be sitting right next to the target." He sighed. "Get as much initial information as you can. Make her trust you."

Mae narrowed her eyes at the chair beside the princess. She thought she was quite the trustworthy person. She hadn't had a problem winning people over, at least never too many problems, so this one should be easy.

Ben stopped in front of their spot, standing behind Mae and her chair. As the other visitors took their spots, the royal party began making their way toward them and their seats.

She held her breath as Robin took her spot beside her, the blessed princess keeping her chin lifted and never meeting her gaze. She was beautiful at this angle, at almost any angle. Even the small birthmark just above her lip was beautiful, a flaw that made her more unique than the porcelain and stone blessed.

Mae forced herself to look away and sucked in a breath. Don't get distracted, what's wrong with you? 

The king spread his arms out and let out a booming laugh. Mae shivered at the guttural sound. "Welcome to the Decennial Festival," he said. "We will celebrate all of our victories, all our alliances, and most of all, our friendships."

Mae wanted to laugh at friendships. The blessed didn't have friends. They had enemies and favors.

He reached forward and raised his glass and took a large gulp of it. Even from a few chairs down, she could still hear his nasty slurp. He sat down the glass and then took his seat. As he was finally sat, the visitors took their seats.

She kept her eyes on her plate for a moment. She wished she could have just been in and out, instead of needing to wait around and gather information. She wasn't bad at her job and she would accept whatever she was given, but having to sit around and smile at these people was torturous itself.

Robin cleared her throat, and Mae met the princess' gaze. She'd never realized how pretty Robin's eyes were. They were a deep brown, like soft mud after a rain. "What is Diamandis like? I am afraid I have never been there."

Mae pursed her lips as she searched for an answer. "It's beautiful, though far north, so it gets quite cold. Nothing like Azure."

Robin nodded and took spoonful of the soup sitting in front of her. "I've always been interested by the cold." The princess leaned back and smirked as she rose a brow. "Do you like the cold?"

Mae smiled. "It's not so bad if you have someone to keep you warm." Her cheeks grew warm and she could have punched herself for saying something so inappropriate. She cleared her throat. "My apologies, your highness, that was inappropriate of me."

Ben chuckled beside her, and she shoved her foot against his. She held back a smile as he sucked in a breath. Just the spot.

Robin waved her hand and shook her head. "Don't apologize," she said. She leaned over, and her voice went soft. "Being in the cold with someone else doesn't sound entirely terrible."

Mae took a sip of her soup and nodded. "Then Diamandis would be perfect."

"Perhaps I'll have to pay you a visit. For political matters, of course. I am sure father would find a reason." The princess averted her gaze as she talked about the king, and her voice caught for a split second.

She wanted to ask the princess more, but she held back her questions. She was here for a job, not for idle chatter, though she did have to make it look like she was into idle chatter. "And Azure? This is the first time I have visited."

Mae lied easily. Every lie was like another breath of fresh air. She could deliver one after the next and not miss a beat. She twirled her spoon and lifted her chin as light bounced off the conclave surface.

"Azure has it's qualities," Robin said quietly.

Mae rose a brow. "Qualities?" She took another sip of her soup and stopped playing with her spoon. She tossed a lock of strawberry hair behind her shoulders. "What qualities? Besides a beautiful princess, of course."

A little bit of flirtation wouldn't hurt anyone -- besides the princess she had to kill, of course. But Mae could have fun while she was set to this terrible task.

Robin cleared her throat and leaned back in her cushioned seat. She seemed troubled as she tried to think of an answer. "We are powerful." As she said it, though, Mae wasn't too sure the princess was proud of that power.

"Runea," Robin said. Mae lifted her brow, already becoming accustomed to the name she was supposed to be using. "Do you believe in fate?"

Mae blinked, unsure where that question came from. "I suppose sometimes I do, yes. Why?"

The princess looked up toward the ceiling. "Because I believe fate may be playing games with us all here."

As she was about to ask the princess what she was talking about, the king cleared his throat. He quickly stood from his seat, and all the visitors stood as well out of respect and custom.

He waved his hand at them all. "Thank you all for coming this evening. Our servants will show you to your rooms. We will have a show for you all tomorrow. Thank you for visiting us."

The king started walking from the hall without another word, and Mae scowled at his back as he walked. She had never seen anyone so entirely rude and entitled. Even if he was king, leaving lunch like this was so rude.

Robin met Mae's gaze one more time before she followed after the rest of the royal court, and as Mae watched the princess walk away, she couldn't help but wonder what she really thought about this kingdom she lived in.