“Oh dear.” Melody trembled at my side.
I glanced down at her. “What is it?”
“This prison… it’s thrumming with Chaos,” she replied, looking terrified. “Deadly curses and hexes will consume anyone who tries to escape.”
Great. Just when things couldn’t get any worse, we were about to enter the Alcatraz of Atlantis.
Three
Melody
Oh goodness, oh goodness, oh goodness… Weirdest field trip ever, and it was starting to get dangerous. Well, actually, it had been dangerous from the moment Luke and I left the monastery with Finch.
The idea of being trapped in a cell set my anxiety to maximum. I had no knowledge in my arsenal that could unravel so many deadly curses at once, not without risking my own decimation in the process. And despite the lack of control I’d felt lately, over my own body and autonomy, I rather liked this skin I was in.
I cleared my throat. Perhaps a dose of sensible conversation, set aside from this suitor nonsense, would make the princess look upon the rest of us—the supposed minions—with a kinder eye. Davin and Erebus were behaving like wild beasts in rut, and that would make any woman cranky. As one of the few females present, apart from Ryann and sweet, sweet Huntress, I took it upon myself to be the voice of feminine reason.
“Your Highness, may I ask a question?” I asked politely. My father had taught me to be polite, always. That was the Southerner in him, and so far it had served me well.
Kaya looked over her shoulder. “That depends on what you wish to ask.”
“I was wondering if the rumors about Atlantis are true. Are you all descended directly from the Primus Anglicus who escaped persecution to come here?” It felt refreshing to talk about something other than romance. I hoped she might feel the same.
She arched an eyebrow. “Yes, that is true. Our bloodlines are pure.”
I wish you hadn’t said that. “Pure” was such an unsettling word, especially in the sanguine sense, which suggested superiority when, in fact, it just meant a closed gene pool. In all of history, such supposed “purity” had led to illness, increased infant mortality, insanity, and inherited afflictions, such as the hemophilia of the British monarchy in bygone days.
“And how does the monarchy work here, if you don’t mind me asking? Do you inherit the crown? Are you selected by the populace?” I continued, trying to fill some of the gaps in my Atlantean knowledge. Well, there weren’t really gaps—it was more of a complete void.
Kaya smiled. “You are an inquisitive creature, aren’t you?”
“I believe in educating myself, Your Highness. I enjoy learning new things, and as there are no books about your beautiful city, I have to ask questions.”
“The monarchy is inherited by birthright, from the oldest Atlantean bloodlines.” Kaya’s expression relaxed, which pleased me greatly.
“And yours is the oldest?” I prompted, even if I was probably stating the obvious.
She nodded. “It is, and I am the latest of that bloodline.”
“Are you and your family figureheads, or are you also lawmakers?” I noticed the others staring at me, but I ignored them. It paid dividends to learn as much about a culture and society as possible, especially in this case. If we stood any chance of winning the princess’s favor, we had to know as much about her as possible.
It gave me a thrill to be in the presence of a real-life princess. Sheltered for most of my life by my wonderful, loving parents, I’d never had the opportunity to meet anyone this cool before. A warrior princess of epic proportions, able to silence a Child of Chaos and a wretch like Davin with a single word. I would’ve given my collection of encyclopedias for that sort of gravitas. When people looked at me, they saw fluffy and quirky, not powerful. Then again, that was my secret weapon. People underestimated me because of my appearance, which gave me the element of surprise when I finally unleashed my strength.
“We are also lawmakers,” Kaya replied.
“Has that ever caused any friction? I know that in other societies where the monarchy is also the government, there has been unrest. After all, the public doesn’t always know what they might get.” I rambled when I was nervous, and the looming prison made me very nervous. It looked like it had come straight from a Gothic nightmare, and we were about to be locked inside.
Kaya laughed dryly. “You talk a lot.”
“Sorry.” My cheeks warmed like two little furnaces. I’d never been able to control the shade they turned when I was embarrassed, much to my… well, embarrassment.
“It is a valid concern.” Kaya sighed. “We have had less-than-worthy rulers, but my father is fair and just, and I hope to follow in his footsteps. Even so, there are some in the kingdom who would like to see another dynasty on the throne.”
“Can that happen?” I recovered from my temporary blushing spell.
“Not while I am alive,” Kaya said firmly. “And certainly not if I marry and have my own child to continue our legacy.”
“Do you have to be married before you can be coronated?” I asked. If she did, then it stood to reason that she was being forced to choose a husband. If not, then maybe she had more freedom than I anticipated.
“Ease up there, Columbo,” Finch whispered. But how could I, with this source of Atlantean knowledge right in front of me?
Kaya’s mouth twisted up into a grimace. “What do you think?”
“Um… yes?” I gave a nervous smile, though it was nothing to smile about. How awful for her.
“Then you have your answer. Every fifty years, I am offered suitors. I may reject them as I see fit, unless it comes to a point where I must choose because I am to inherit the crown.” Her eyes glinted with annoyance.
Every fifty years… I was certain Kaya had mentioned something about it being fifty years since she’d last seen Erebus. Did that have something to do with the suitor round-up? If she could reject them, I supposed it was nothing but an inconvenience she had to deal with every half century.
“Do men have to marry before they can take the crown?” I kept on even though I had that familiar sense that I ought to be quiet.
Luke shook his head rapidly. “Melody, maybe now’s not the time for questions.” I understood why he was saying it. He feared my chatter might make the princess snap. Most of the time, when he did that, it was prudent. But I had to delve deeper while she was right here in front of us.
Kaya ignored him and gave me a severe look. “Again, what do you think?”
“Um… no?”
“Very astute, Miss… I do not think you gave me your name.” Kaya looked at me expectantly.
“Oh. I’m Melody Winchester.” I waited for the customary, “As in those Winchesters?” but evidently my heritage hadn’t reached these extensive depths, which was actually nice. I’d never liked being preceded by my family’s reputation, as it was certainly not all good.
“Well then, Miss Winchester, are you finished with your interrogation?” Kaya’s features were unreadable, but her emotions weren’t. Irritation, intrigue, and confusion warred inside her. I sensed I was responsible for the irritation, and possibly the intrigue, but the confusion belonged entirely to Erebus. And maybe Davin. He was a very confusing individual, though his motives were fairly simple: go where the power is and ingratiate oneself.