Page 63 of Immortal Origins (Chronicles of the Immortal Trials #1)

I t was time.

The day of the Champion’s Ball.

Ambrose woke later than expected, her nerves making it impossible for her to sleep the night before—only finally allowing her some rest when the morning sun’s glow broke out just under the horizon.

Her fingers curled to the spot where Akadian had fallen asleep next to her but grasped nothing but empty space.

She shot up in bed and scanned her room but he was nowhere to be found. Assuming he must have woken earlier, she bathed quickly and ran into the common space they shared to look for him.

She needed him more than any other day. Needed him by her side to give her strength when she felt so small again, but when she checked, the air in the room was dead and still as though no one had touched it recently.

Making her way to his bedchamber, she hoped he was cooking, readying himself for the day, but when she knocked, no one answered.

For the first time since her trial, Akadian wasn’t waiting for her when she woke up. His bed showed no signs of being slept in and his room was dark and empty aside from the kiss of afternoon beginning to seep in through his window.

Where could he possibly be?

A knock on the door woke her from her thoughts and she ran to it, throwing it open and hoping she’d find him on the other side.

When she swung open the wood and iron door, instead of being greeted by his glinting eyes and smile, she stood face-to-face with Ernaline who held an extravagant gown in her hands.

She gave her a soft smile and held up the dress. “Good, you’re awake. This is for you.”

Confused on how she’d found Akadian’s chambers, but nonetheless happy to see her best friend, Ambrose waved her inside.

How did she get here? Ambrose couldn’t stop from thinking. The room was one of Akadian’s best-kept secrets.

One of them.

“How did you find me?” Ambrose eyed the gown in her hands.

“I’ve been immune to the effects of illusion-lily since I was ten years old and accidentally poisoned myself with it.

I’ve been watching you guys come through that false wall for weeks hoping I’d get to talk to you again.

” Ernaline shrugged and laid the gown on the chair closest to them and Ambrose got a good look at it.

Deep red, unassumingly for Eltoria’s colors, with a deep off-the-shoulder plunge neckline and high slits up the sides.

It had gold and silver chains trailing down the sides where the slits opened, like the lacing of a corset.

Paired was a matching gilded sternum plate that was clearly made more for fashion than functionality, as it offered little protection.

But, one detail stuck out among the rest. Attached to the sternum plate were long gold chains that connected to two wrist cuffs and a collar . Designed to look like a servant mark.

“Casimir says you’re supposed to wear this today,” Ernaline said as she recoiled from it.

“He wants me to wear this ?” Ambrose eyed the cage that tried to pass for an accessory.

“Yes.” Ernaline nodded curtly. “He says you’re to arrive in nothing else.”

“Why?” she demanded. The thought of walking around the palace in it was humiliating. The message was clear. It was as though he was standing next to her, whispering, “ So the whole world knows you still belong to us.”

He wanted her to remember she wasn’t truly free. That though her mark had changed, she was still theirs.

“He didn’t say.”

“And if I refuse?” Ambrose asked, disgust for Casimir’s fashion choice all over her face.

“Then I, and your brother will receive the punishment for it.” Ernaline looked at her with defiance. “But if you don’t want to wear it, I’ll accept whatever punishment he decides.”

How dare he! Red seeped into the corners of Ambrose’s vision.

Electricity coursed through her veins as she met her best friend in the eye.

Her channels raged inside of her, pushing against her skin demanding to be released, Magick running through her body as it craved to explode out of her when she thought of Casimir. If he touches them I swear…

“No,” Ambrose huffed, picking up the gown and sternum plate. She’d wanted to wear the one Magnus had gifted her. “It’s fine, I’ll wear it. He won’t touch you.” She took a deep breath to calm her channels before they ripped her apart. “I can promise you that.”

She returned to her bed chamber to change from the gown she’d selected to the new one as Ernaline stepped in behind her.

She pat the bed, motioning for Ambrose to sit and when she did, Ernaline began to run her fingers through her hair the way she used to when they shared a dorm and things had somehow been simpler.

She circled and twisted the white strands into elegant twists, pinning them in spots on her head so that her hair would fall down her back, but out of the way of her eyes.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing this new color,” Ernaline remarked as she admired the white strands that fell between her fingers. “Or seeing your skin so… untouched.”

Blood rushed to Ambrose’s cheeks and she turned her face down. In all honesty, she was starting to get used to the stranger in the mirror but it’d been months since she’d gotten to speak to Ernaline. She must look like an entirely new person to her.

A stranger.

“It did take…” Ambrose flinched. “Getting used to.”

“It’s really pretty,” Ernaline offered. “Though I do miss your red, it was a beautiful shade that you don’t see often. I do like getting to see you without all your scars though. Makes me feel like nothing they did to you could hurt you forever. It’s nice. ”

How wrong she was.

Her scars may be gone but the ghost of them stayed with her every day.

Ambrose lifted her eyes until they landed on the mark around Ernaline’s neck.

The twin to hers before it had changed. In that moment, Ambrose swore she would do whatever it took to remove it.

That she’d free Ernaline no matter what it took.

She’d do it for her, Adym, and anyone else the empire held like property to be used and abused whenever they pleased.

“Thank you,” she said as the words clogged her throat. She took a deep breath as Ernaline stood back to admire her handiwork. For now, her heart felt whole. “I missed you.”

Ernaline grabbed her hands in hers and squeezed. “I really missed you too.”

In an attempt to lighten the mood, Ambrose turned to the abomination of an outfit she’d be wearing for the ball. “You want to help me get this thing on?”

The gown was truly breathtaking.

It hugged her hips and waist perfectly, the neckline dipping to just above her navel while the hem hung just above the floor when she had her shoes on, the back of it trailing a good foot behind her.

Crimson trimmed in gold and silver thread.

She did her best not to think of how Casimir had guessed her measurements so correctly as the gown was obviously custom-made for the occasion.

Worn on its own, it would’ve been her favorite thing she’d ever worn.

But it wasn’t made to be worn on it’s own.

Ernaline helped her cinch the sternum plate on, this one absent of the usual string to secure it in place. Instead, Ernaline pulled out several small golden locks with a matching set of keys. Even the corset was a perfect fit.

Clearly the dress wasn’t the only thing custom-made.

Ernaline clasped the collar around her neck and closed it with one of the gilded locks. Fingers trembling, she did the same and secured the wrist cuffs around her arms, locking them into place.

She slipped the rings of keys into Ambrose’s hand. “Keep these. Casimir said I was to return them to him, but I can tell him that I lost them on the way back. If he’s going to make you wear this thing, then at least you should be the one to hold the keys.”

Ambrose had no words as her heart tugged in her chest.

She held the ring of keys in her palm and tucked it safely into the side of her corset, hidden from prying eyes but close enough to reach. If anyone understood how she was feeling, of course it would be Ernaline. She had no idea how much this small act of kindness meant to Ambrose.

“You’re my best friend in the entire continent, you know that?”

“You’re my sister, you’ve been my sister since the day we met.” Ernaline pulled her into a tight embrace. “You’re no one’s property anymore. You belong to you .”

Ambrose blinked back the tears that stung her eyes and threatened to stream down her face. Words could never express her gratitude to her friend in that moment. “I swear I’ll find a way to do the same for you. If it takes the rest of my life, I’ll find a way to free you. I promise.”

Ernaline pat her cheek, her brown eyes filled with sadness. “How about you focus on actually being alive to live the rest of your life? Then we can figure out the rest, okay?”

Ambrose grinned. Her best friend. The only sister she’d ever know. One of the only people who’d stuck by her side her entire life.

“Deal.”

Ernaline returned her smile. “So, you think you’re ready for today?”

“As ready as I can be.” Ambrose nodded. No going back now. “Although, I wish Akadian was here. I haven’t seen him.”

Ernaline glanced around. “He isn’t here?”

“No, I assumed he must have been called in to greet the other royals. Today being what it is and all.” Ambrose stretched, making sure she had good mobility in the gown. “Have you seen him?”

The beautiful fae shook her head, curls bouncing around her face.

Ernaline had opted for her own up-down hairstyle as well.

Trading in her casual bun for a more elegant look, flowers woven in as they always were.

“No. He wasn’t at breakfast when we served the rest of the royals so I assumed he was still here with you.

The king was actually pretty pissed he didn’t show up.

The other royals started arriving at high moon last night so the king greeted them without him. ”

Something sank from Ambrose’s chest and crashed into her gut. Akadian explicitly told her he always showed up for breakfast to have a united front, and of all days, it definitely wasn’t a good one to suddenly skip. He wouldn’t chance Casimir’s wrath.

Something was wrong.

Seeing the concern on her face, Ernaline quickly said, “I’m sure he’s fine and just off doing something princely. I wouldn’t worry about it, I’m sure he’ll find you as soon as he can. For now, I’ll keep an eye out around the palace and tell him to come find you if I catch him.”

Ambrose gave her a half smile. “I’m sure you’re right.

It’s not just a big day for me, it’s a big day for all of us.

Especially the royals. You said other royals have been showing up since last night?

Maybe he just went to find some of them.

It’s probably nothing.” She desperately wanted to believe those words, but something deep inside her couldn’t quite bring herself to.

She’d have to find him as quickly as she could.

“Exactly.” Ernaline nodded and squeezed her hand. “Princely stuff.”

This was the first time since her trial she’d be in the palace without him by her side and a part of her felt like a piece was missing. A hole in her chest where his place should be. She pushed the worries to the back of her mind. “Have you seen any of the other royals yet?”

Ernaline snorted and let out a short laugh.

“Actually, yes. The king and queen from Nethyr have arrived already. They came in late last night in a carriage the size of the throne room with spikes coming out of the sides, driven by fanged horses made from shadows. Quite the entrance for the guards at the gate coming in the middle of the night like that. It actually gave them a huge spook. Even the stable master didn’t want to touch them, instead he yelled at a few servants to grab the horses and bring them in.

The king and queen came in already drunk and looking as regal as ever.

” She rolled her eyes. “I swear, the only color anyone owns in Nethyr is every shade of black in the kingdoms.”

Ambrose smiled. Nethyr was a kingdom of bounty hunters and assassins. It made sense the only color they wore could allow them as much stealth as possible, but it did seem excessive.

“They do know how to party though, don’t they,” Ambrose remarked, remembering the last Champion’s Ball when the king got so wasted on ale he sloppily hit on every other woman in the palace, while the queen made all the male fighters line up, one by one so she could personally inspect their physical attributes under the guise of—how did she put it? ‘Documentation purposes’.

Ernaline giggled, clearly remembering the same night Ambrose was.

“You would think their marriage is one for political reasons if they hadn’t practically climbed on top of each other during the end of the feast. I’ve never seen the king look so furious as when they asked if he wanted to join them.

I thought he might strike them down right then and there. They certainly are a strange couple.”

Ambrose let a smile escape past her own lips. “I wonder what chaos they’ll get into tonight?”

“More like who they’ll get into tonight.” Ernaline covered her mouth with the back of her hand to hide her grin. Gods, she’d missed talking with her. It felt like old times when they’d get away from prying eyes and tease about the royalty.

Ambrose couldn’t stop the grin that stretched across her own face. She missed gossiping with Ernaline during the events and whispering about the stories the other foreign servants shared with them. It felt so… normal. Something she hadn’t felt in so long. “Who else is here?”

Ernaline dropped down to sit on the edge of the bed.

“So far, just the two of them and one of the queens from Damayaria. I don’t think the other will be joining her, something about an emergency at the school?

I’m not entirely sure. They spoke very hushed about it and the servants have been forbidden from speaking to us about anything concerning it, so I wasn’t able to find out much.

She came to watch for the both of them and brought a caravan of nobles with her.

Aside from that, we’re still waiting on the rest to arrive. ”

Ambrose took a deep breath. Letting the air fill her lungs completely before releasing it. “We should probably get out there then, it’ll be starting soon. I’m sure Casimir will want all the Trial Champions to be dressed and ready to greet them when they get here.”

Ernaline grabbed her skirts in her fist. “You got this.”

“Yeah.” Ambrose nodded, squaring her shoulders. “It’s time.”