Page 32

Amias

They must've ran off, because by the time a group of students walk out of the door, I turn back to nothing. Almost as if they were never there.

I took a deep breath. They escaped. Nobody's panicking. No one saw them.

They're safe.

I debate whether or not I should follow them, but then a beep signals that my ride is here. It will have to wait another day.

I get into the back of the car, and tell the chauffeur to go home. Then I gaze at the people walking on the streets. Anyone who would've seen that dreamscreecher would've had them killed.

The thought makes my blood cold. That's not fair. That dreamscreecher didn't do anything. Not only did they save my life twice, but I've embraced them without even a scratch in their shifted form.

Grandmother's warnings are ingrained into the minds of everyone. The kingdom won't change unless Grandmother does.

It doesn't help that there's already rumors against me if I fight back on those beliefs.

I know there has to be some sort of misunderstanding in the story. Grandmother doesn't just claim things for the sake of it. I can show her the truth.

I grab my phone from my pocket. Hopefully, Clara picks up and we can come up with a plan.

If she even wants to talk to me.

I type her enchantment code, my heart dragging to my stomach. What if she never wants to talk to me again? After all, I called the truth her delusions .

I would deserve any sort of punishment she hands me.

“Hello…” Clara whispers.

My heart skips a beat. She picked up! “Hey Clara. I…” I twist my lips and slump over. “I just wanted to say that everything I said about dreamscreechers was stupid. I was being an idiot and I’m so sorry for everything I said.”

It falls silent from her side. My heart pounds as I wait for her answer.

“I don't think you were being an idiot…” She murmurs.

Is she changing her mind? “But the dreamscreecher I saw… I-”

“I'm not saying you were right, but I can see why you were wrong.” She sighs. “I heard about this thing. You call it a cleansing ceremony. Someone told me it resets your brain.”

“It does.” My nose scrunches at the idea. It's something that should've never existed. “You forget everything about the time when you believed in dreamscreechers. Even memories that aren't about dreamscreechers. It's something people go through when they support dreamscreechers.”

She pauses again. “That makes you a lot more brave than I gave you credit for. How are you supposed to know the truth when that's what's in store for you?”

“My family doesn't believe in that stuff. It was more of a demand from Amarians.” Not even Grandmother would allow it for our family.

“But even then… How is anyone supposed to teach you the truth when everyone who knows forgets it all? You only turned against me when you had evidence, but science is supposed to be reliable, so how can I be mad at you for believing it?”

“I would still understand it if you were. I debated with the professor who gave me that information and he admitted they're only going off assumptions. I should've believed you.”

“No. I apologize for being so harsh and expecting you to change so quickly. I should've been more understanding. You've seen some dreamscreechers do horrible things.” She sighs. “And then you’d get ridiculed for disagreeing with everyone.”

“But your reaction makes sense too.” I mimic her sigh, guilt pushing bile up my throat. “I was trying to convince you of a lie while wanting to kill an innocent species. I can't blame you.” I look down to my tapping feet, forcing them down.

“I guess… we can both apologize and make up?”

A smile tugs at my lips. “Yeah. I'd like that.”

“Okay. Good.”

Her statement is only followed by silence, but it’s more like a moment of relief than awkward tension.

She's been so bold since I've challenged her, and I appreciate it.

Even if she didn't see my side, she didn't hold back for me as the prince.

She was open and honest, and showed me to a new world of truth.

And her empathy. It's incredible how strong it is - for both dreamscreechers and my point of view.

There's something burning in my chest, and I realize my breath is stuck in my throat. Heat spreads to my cheeks.

What's up with me?

“Do you… want to come over and talk about it?”

My heart jumps at the suggestion. It almost hurts. “Huh?”

“Come over? Do you want to come over?”

“Yes!” The answer is immediate and certain. No hesitation.

My cheeks feel like they've been tanning and my heart buries itself in my stomach. Why did I sound like a desperate teenage boy?

She giggles on the other end. “I'll see you in a little bit then.” Nothing in her voice seemed to judge.

“A-ah… yeah I'll see you.” I cringe at my stutter and hang up quickly. What's wrong with me?

Never mind that. It's probably nothing. Just focus on what's at hand.

I pull the phone away from my ear to tell my chauffeur we're changing directions.

We’re gonna change this kingdom. One day everyone will know the truth.

◆◆◆

It's a bit of a waiting game when it comes to the microwave.

I watch the temperature go up for the hot chocolate, the orange letters counting up the degrees. Behind the glass window of the microwave, the fire grows beneath the platform the mug is on but never hits the mug. It's perfectly in control, like Caelestian magic.

I press a button when it says one hundred sixty degrees. The fire is immediately put out.

"Hot chocolate right up!" I announce as I grab the mug out of Clara's microwave. I’m careful not to spill when I give it to Clara who’s waiting on her bed.

She gives a polite nod as she takes it. "Thank you." She murmurs.

My heart quickens as she goes for a sip. "Be careful, it's hot."

She raises a brow before blowing on the hot chocolate and taking a sip. She licks her lips before smiling sweetly at me. "It tastes really good. I've never had it before."

My heart stutters for a moment."Thank you. It's just cocoa, milk and maple syrup." I sit down next to her as she continues to sip her drink. “I’m surprised you’ve never had it. Chocolate is a staple in Lluvia, isn't it?”

Her eyes widen. “Oh, yeah. Of course! My family could never afford it though. It's expensive over there!” She offers a strange tight smile, her cheeks turning pink.

I slowly nod. Why does she seem so stiff and nervous? “Okay… Just asking…”

I scan the room, noting the backpack next I'm one of the walls. Clothes hang out of it and little snack bags peeking through the unzipped top. “Were you going to leave?”

She titters as tightens her hold on her mug. “Ignore that.”

“Was it because of me?” My heart drops. I was really being an ass.

“No!” She puts a hand up defensively. “No. I'm not leaving. Not now at least.” She exhales. “I want to be around you. I wouldn't have invited you otherwise.”

“So you're leaving eventually?”

She gulps more hot chocolate before creasing her brows. "So, about showing Amara the truth…”

Well, I guess we're moving subjects. “Yeah. We'll need something significant enough that can hundred percent prove that they're not evil.”

“How significant do you think?”

“As significant as we can make it.” I nod. “It has to be enough that it can change Grandmother's mind, and the people who follow her. Leave no room for doubt.”

She grins. “You could probably do a lot. You're her grandson after all.”

I sigh. “I'd like to think that.” I can't say for sure, especially after all the rumors.

“If Amara's own prince goes against her publicly, then surely that would be significant enough to change many people's minds. Or at least get them to question. If you were just able to do a speech, it could do a lot.”

My heart digests in my stomach. “I'd be the last person they listen to.”

She snickers. “You feel that way?”

The words back at the lecture echo in my head. I knew there was something wrong with him when they announced he didn't have a soulmate.

They already think there's something wrong with me. This would only solidify their beliefs.

I shake my head of the dread and focus on the subject, pulling out my phone . “There will need to be-”

“You believe that?” She leans in closer, her brows knitted together. “Why would people think that?”

“Because…” Disappointment weighs down my heart.

“Because…?”

I look away from her, trying to get rid of the feelings. She doesn't need to concern herself with such things. “We need a bigger piece of evidence if they're going to believe us. They've all grown up brainwashed. Why would they just believe their prince on a whim?”

She lowers her head, before staring at my feet. “You're tapping your foot.”

I force it down, my face warming up. “And?”

“You're hiding something.” She narrows her eyes. “Say it.”

“I'm not hiding anything.”

She leans in a little closer. “You’re lying. Say it.” She nearly growls at it.

“Why do you want to know so bad?”

“So you are hiding something.” She crosses her arms. “I want to know because I not only care about you, but it will help me better understand our situation. So tell me.”

I hesitate to say anything, but I let out a defeated exhale. She's right. It would help her to know, and it's not like I can hide it now. I already slipped up. “It’s nothing really… but…” I lower my voice to a mutter. “I don't have a soulmate…”

For a moment she gapes at me. “But… you're the grandson of Amara...”

Here comes the assumptions. “Yeah. Still no soulmate.”

“That's…” She looks away and turns back to me with a gasp. “Was that what you were hiding when I wanted to repay you?”

I chuckle. “Well it's not like you could've done anything.”

“So you really want a soulmate?”

“Well… I did, but I'm getting over it.”

“Wait, so what does this have to do with people listening?” Clara squints. “It's not that important, is it?”

The burn of embarrassment in my stomach grows. I don't expect her to understand.“For the grandson of love itself, it is. Grandmother let it slip one day in an interview and insisted it was for the best for me…”

For a moment, I want to sink away and change subjects, figuring she’d think Grandmother was right. But then I look into her eyes. They twinkle with genuine curiosity, free of any judgement.

The awkwardness seems to fade, and it feels like she’s drawing the words out of my mouth.

“But no one listened to the positives. There were conspiracies and rumors going around about how I was too dreamscreecher obsessed to have a soulmate I could really love.

Claiming I'd betray my family just to fuck dreamscreechers.

I'm sure it's not bad to fall in love with a dreamscreecher if you know their human form…

but still… I don't want to be known as the horny narcissistic dictator that hates his own grandmother.”

Clara perks a brow and tilts her head slightly. I continue, “I want to help dreamscreechers, not be their minion and a fetishist. But I don't think wanting to help means I don't deserve a soulmate. ”

Clara remains silent, slowly nodding before leaning in a little closer, laying her head on my shoulder. Warmth races to my cheeks again. This is… unexpected…

And yet… it only feels right.

“The rumors are a load of shit.” She murmurs in a way to make those harsh words sound sweet. “I know you're loyal to your kingdom but there's nothing wrong with pointing out the truth. You would only be doing them a favor.”

“Yeah, but they think… How could the grandson of love not get a soulmate himself?” Almost as if naturally, I lean my head closer to Clara's. Her touch somehow makes it feel like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

It's a gesture of understanding.

“You can find love in other ways,” Clara mutters. “I'm sure some woman out there is waiting for you. You'll find her one day.”

It feels like Estrella's stars beating on me as I lean away from her and look into her eyes. Beautiful amber eyes.

Her eyes widen, her cheeks lightly colored in pink. “Did I say too much?”

“No…” I whisper. “Though I've accepted that I won't find anyone, I appreciate your encouragement.”

She gives a brief, almost saddened smile. “Your apology meant a lot. It's crazy to think no one had listened all of this time… about dreamscreechers and about me, then finally you came through and relieved me.” She glances down, her eyes shining over. “So… thank you for listening.”

My heart flips, and I can't tell if I'm excited that I've helped or disappointed that no one else has.

She's been through so much, but yet, she carries strength.

I admire her courage, and being able to call me out when I deserved it.

I can't imagine people ignoring her when she has fire on her tongue.

“It's nothing really. I should thank you for opening up my eyes.” I smile back at her. “I'd be living the rest of my life in ignorance if you didn't point out the lies.”

She looks back to my phone sitting in my lap. “What were we talking about?”

We get back on the phone, researching and brainstorming ways to help dreamscreechers. None of our ideas seems to stick.

Eventually, fighting sleep gets trickier than before, and I have to force my eyes open. Once Clara starts to snore softly against me, my body warms. A part of me wants to move but another doesn't want to disturb her so I let her sleep on me, hoping she'll wake before long and tell me to go home.

Before it has a chance to happen, tiredness takes over me and I slip into the abyss of sleep.