C. Bryant - Broken

“Again,” she pleaded.

A few moments of silence passed before the melody continued. She lay there, completely content, even though the cool night air threatened to disturb her comfort. She took in each gentle note as it echoed across the lake. Somewhere between reality and her dreams, it stopped again. She pulled herself awake.

“Don’t stop,” she mumbled. “Please. . one more.”

The music began again, but this time it faded into the night as she finally gave into sleep.

When Kira woke several hours later, she’d been tucked warmly into her bed. The sun wasn’t up yet, but its predawn light crept across the floor, splashing across the far wall. She remembered Octavion commenting on how beautiful the sunrises were, so she took her covers to the window seat and waited. As the stars faded away and the sky glowed in several shades of amber, she was taken aback. She couldn’t recall ever seeing the hues that shone across the morning sky-their perfect reflection mirrored in the motionless lake below. She sat there until the sun made its appearance and a fine mist settled on the lake-a scene Lydia would have captured perfectly with her camera.

Lost in the memory of her friend, she barely heard a sweet voice say her name. She looked around the room, but no one was there. Was she hearing a memory? She released her body from the blanket cocoon and stepped over to the door. She opened it, but saw no one.

“I must be losing my mind.” She closed the door, but when she turned around to go back to the window, someone had taken her place.

“You are Kira.” A little girl in a white nightgown bounced up and down on the window seat. She flipped her long blonde hair behind her back with a jerk of her head.

Kira smiled. “And you must be Arela.” She crossed the room and sat next to her. “How old are you?”

Arela dropped to her knees, straitened her spine and stuck her tiny pert nose in the air. “I am in my sixth year and I am very smart.” Then she relaxed again and giggled. “My mother says I am. . obstinate. Do you know what that means?”

“I do. It means you are stubborn.”

“Yes, but I am not. I believe she is teasing me. My brothers like to tease me. Do you know my brothers?”

“I do.” Kira got a kick out of her banter. She talked so quickly it was like listening to a cartoon character on fast forward.

“Your hair is pretty. How did you get that scar on your face? You talk funny-did you know that?” Arela leaned closer to Kira’s face. “Your eyes are too dark. Are you going to the festival today?”

She didn’t give Kira a chance to answer any of her questions before jumping off the seat. She ran to the bed, propelled herself up and started bouncing up and down. Pillows flew in all directions. Arela giggled and twirled around as she jumped. Kira feared she would fall, so moved to the bed and grabbed Arela around the waist, pulling her off. Kira lowered Arela’s feet to the ground.

“Arela, will you do Kira a favor and see if Ussay has arrived at the castle yet?” Arela spun around in circles, making the ruffles on her gown fly. When she stopped she lost her balance and stumbled. Kira caught her before she hit the floor.

“I spin too fast.” Arela looked up at Kira with beautiful brown eyes. “I will get Ussay.” And she vanished.

Kira hadn’t expected her to do the usual Royal disappearing act. It took her by complete surprise. She stood there with her hands outstretched as if the little girl were still in them. Before she had a chance to recover, Kira felt Arela about to enter the room. It was the first time Kira had been able to distinguish between Royals. Arela’s sweet spirit surrounded her seconds before her wiggly little body appeared.

“Ussay is coming now. She wanted to race, but she is too fast for me, so. . boosh , I win.” She held up her arms in triumph.

Kira gave her a quick hug. “Thank you, Arela.”

Arela giggled and climbed back on the bed. She stood and gave one little bounce right as Ussay came through the door.

“Arela,” she scolded. “You know better. Get down from Kira’s bed.”

“Yes, Miss Ussay.” Arela’s smile quickly turned to a frown. She slid off the bed and came to stand next to them. “Lady Kira?” She curtsied. “I am sorry for jumping on your bed.”

“Thank you, Arela.”

Then, as quickly as it faded, her spicy personality returned. She skipped over to the door and then turned to look at Ussay. “Can Kira come to the moon festival?”

“I will leave that up to her, Arela-perhaps if she is up to it.” Ussay looked at Kira and lowered her voice. “How is your stomach? Would you like something to eat?”

“I'm actually feeling much better. Octavion's flute playing last night did wonders for my mood and to be perfectly honest, I'm starving.”

Ussay's eyes widened. “Octavion plays the flute?”

“Well, yeah. I mean, I guess it was him. The music came from the garden right after he sent me a note. Who else would it be?”

Arela impatiently cleared her throat. They were obviously not paying enough attention to her.

Ussay scolded her again. “Now run along. Kira needs to dress.”

Arela’s bottom lip pushed out a frown. “A prince would never stoop to play such an instrument. Flutes are for commoners. . and Darkords.” She turned and took a step toward the door, then stopped and spun around with a giddy smile plastered on her pretty little face. “There will be music at the festival. Perhaps your flute player will be there.” She took one more twirl, making her ruffles flip up in the air, and disappeared.

Kira continued watching the place where Arela’s angelic mist melted away. She felt the blood rush from her face as everything in the room seemed to tilt ever so slightly. Ussay grabbed her arm and helped her to the bed, but Kira slid to the floor beside it instead. She pulled her legs up under her chin and wrapped her arms around them.

What if it was a Darkord playing that flute? Or Draego? Or any number of people who could have done her harm? And who put her to bed? She had to be more careful. She'd made enough stupid mistakes in the past, all of them putting herself and her friends in more danger. The last one-trying to keep Shandira from entering the portal to Xantara-could have caused Lydia's death. It was the first time she'd let herself think about her role in that and to take full blame for what happened. A sharp stabbing ache settled in her heart. She pressed her fingertips against the pain and tried to push it away, but it didn't help.

She'd killed her best friend. It was that simple.

“What is it?” Ussay asked.

Kira shook her head. “Nothing. All that spinning must have made me dizzy.”

Ussay put her hand on Kira’s shoulder. “Shall I get you some food before you dress? That may help.”

Kira nodded.

Ussay stood and exited the room, leaving Kira alone with her guilt. But she wasn't really alone. Altaria still lived within her and she could feel her spirit warm her heart and take some of the pain away.

“Al, I'm so sorry. I'd give my life if it meant you and Lydia could be together again. I hope you know that.” Tears threatened to come, but she pushed them away. She was tired of crying, sick of being weak. That part of her died when her mother left and she never wanted to go back-never wanted to be a mouse again.

Kira untangled her gown from around her legs, stood and went to the French doors. She jiggled the handle. Locked. Whoever put her to bed either left through the inside door leading to the hallway or was a Royal and saw the inside of her room. Even if she kept the doors locked from now on, he’d be able to see it in his mind and pop in anytime he wanted.