“You have, at least, not lost it.” He folded his hands and flames ran along his skin. Fire elementals struggled to survive in the cold so it was odd that the triplets even lived in Nex.
Neco approached the fountain and shortly stood before Fate, offering his hand. “Come with me. We still have guests to greet.” Shifting his view to Fortis, he said, “I believe my brother has arrived. He will be looking for his guard.”
Fortis grimaced, furthering Fate’s suspicions about his relationship with King Niteo.
“Looks like we’ll have to reschedule our date,” he said. “I look forward to speaking with you again, Lady Fate.” He stood and bowed a last time. “Happy birthday. I will bring a gift when I find you. I left it with the king. All the more reason to find him, no?”
She nodded to accept his promise and watched him depart. The more time she spent with others, the more she realized how unusual her father behaved. No sooner had she found company than he retrieved her, shooing off Fortis.
Once again, Neco escorted her around the yard like a dog on a leash.
She greeted the nobles and they clapped, praising Neco for having such a beautiful daughter.
After the third greeting, Firmus and Abyssus returned, apologizing.
Neco paid them no mind. He continued leading Fate towards the palace while Abyssus and Firmus straggled after her.
As they moved, her eyes began to study the party scene. The unfamiliar adults scattered across the lawn, each carrying an alcoholic beverage in their hand and chattering mindlessly.
Fate scanned the people in confusion and caught sight of something unexpected. She turned her head slowly to follow the gaze of a startling boy on the opposing side.
White hair swept neatly across his forehead. His mint-colored eyes fixed onto her with equal fascination.
Fate gawked, though she knew it was rude. She meant to call out to him but only whispered, “Who?”
The boy tilted his head and disappeared into the crowd.
Fate wanted to chase after him and ask what family he was from. Never, in all her life, had she encountered a person that looked like him.
Neco continued to draw her farther away from the party. He entered the palace through the back doors and stopped in the main hall.
Lady Fortuna stepped forward, hands pressed against her middle, shoulders and back straight and proper.
In the shadows, the old woman who’d earlier drawn Fortuna away hunched over her wooden cane. Her squinty silver eyes scrutinized Fate in disgust.
Upon feeling the gaze, Fate glanced around to investigate. The guards waited at each doorway, tightly gripping their weapons, but nothing else appeared amiss.
Neco placed his hands on Fate’s shoulders. “Lady Fortuna, I will presume you have met Fate. You must raise her well. I expect that she return with proper training.”
Fortuna’s velvet red lips formed a smile and her eyes gleamed. “If by proper training you mean etiquette, then she will learn just that.”
He tapped his fingers impatiently. “You know precisely what I mean. If she is to be my wife, she must become a suitable queen. She must learn to fulfill the needs of her king.”
Fate jerked back her head to look at her father. Her mouth slowly opened but nothing came out, not even a breath. The conversation sounded strange and distant. Her ears rang as she filled with terror and dismay.
Fortuna’s voice grew unusually terse. “I raise my girls well.”
Neco shook his head slowly and laughed. “Fate may be your girl, but she will certainly be my woman.”
Fate’s skin turned cold. Her shoulders, still in Neco’s grasp, trembled. The lights spun and blurred overhead.
Abyssus lost his bearings. “What? Wife! Your woman?”
Her breathing quickened as her brother’s shouting stabbed at her ears. She scratched her throat in hopes of clawing out the forming lump.
The Lady Fortuna leaned down to her wearing a practiced but beautiful smile. “You’re going to be living with me from now on. It’s nice to formally make your acquaintance. I am Ignis Fortuna, the brothel’s new madam.”
Abyssus choked. “Brothel?” No one answered so he turned to Firmus and shook his arm. “Firmus? Firmus, tell me it’s not true. Fortuna is your sister, right? She wouldn’t.... She’s an Ancient!”
Firmus slowly closed his eyes and shifted his jaw to the side, as if struggling to swallow something distasteful.
Abyssus’ voice wavered more with each passing moment. “Firmus, do something! We have to do something!”
Fortuna draped an arm around Fate. The Madam might’ve been able to calm her but Abyssus sent her emotions spiraling again.
He tugged on her hand to bring her back. “No, don’t take her!”
Fate’s eyes chased the shifting shadows, as the darkness loomed around them, just waiting. She closed her eyes and tried urging them forward, but no matter how she pleaded they refused to rise.
Why won’t they rise? Why won’t they protect us?
Neco waved a hand at Abyssus. “Firmus, deal with that child.”
Firmus gently pulled Abyssus back, lost to the scene unfolding before his eyes.
Fate’s voice quivered and she swallowed hard, attempting to find courage. “Always? You always knew? You always wanted to send me away?”
Neco responded with a glimmer of pride. “I have raised you well. You have always been my little princess—” He leaned over to stroke Fate’s head. “—and someday you will be my queen.”
