The Emerald-Opal Heir - 9

A Chapter by A.L.

The Warrior

Most innkeepers didn’t take kindly to a group of dirty children begging to use a room, and this one was no different.

Still, snow was starting to fall from the sky in tiny white flakes that soaked into his clothes and hair, leaving him freezing and wet. If their group didn’t get inside before the storm worsened, they wouldn’t even make it to the ball in the first place.

“Please, sir,” Clara pleaded to the swiftly closing door. “We’ll pay for it, I promise.”

The innkeeper scoffed. “Filthy street rats. Go back to where you belong.” He slammed the door but it caught on Clara’s foot. Forrest had to admire the girl’s courage because he was sure the innkeeper wasn’t weaponless.

“Here,” offered Newt, holding out a small pouch of coins. “Take whatever is left, but I expect a nice room.”

“Newt,” Emmeline hissed as the innkeeper held up the bag and shook it, his lips curling up with pleasure at the sound.

Emmeline glared at Newt and Forrest couldn’t blame her. They were low enough on money as it was and they still needed outfits to infiltrate the ball.

“Come in,” the innkeeper decided, pulling the door open wider. His eyes darted over their group as if just now realizing exactly how many of them there were.

“There are ten of us,” Forrest interjected. “And a separate room for the ladies and the gentlemen would be greatly appreciated.” There was no way he was sharing a bed or even a room with any of these girls. As much as he trusted them, it felt like a betrayal to Coral-

Goddesses, the last time he’d been to a hotel was with Coral when they were first on the run from Baelle. Forrest remembered his nights in the fight rings at pubs, earning enough to live off of and risking Coral’s Blessing with every fight. Most of the time they were able to find rooms with two beds, but there was one occasion in particular the Forrest recalled vividly.

He pushed the thought away, not allowing himself to think of Coral.

The innkeeper opened his mouth to protest, but Brooke pushed her way to the front of the group. Her hair and skin were so pale that the snow was barely distinguishable against it.

“I am the long lost princess to the Green Kingdom,” Brooke said, her voice high and regal sounding. “You will allow me and my friends to stay here in two separate rooms or so help me I’ll bring the goddesses down here to destroy you.”

Forrest almost laughed at the pure ridiculousness of the claim, but the innkeeper paled. “Of course, of course. Come right in.”

Seriously? Forrest didn’t complain as they stepped into the hotel, the innkeeper pocketing the money. Brooke looked mighty proud of herself, holding herself tall and proud as the innkeeper scrambled for the keys in his jacket.

Clara and Forrest had reluctantly explained to everyone that Brooke was indeed a child of the green kingdom, but that didn’t mean she was heir to the silver kingdom as well. Both of Beckett’s goddess-given abilities had manifested themselves at the same time, and yet Brooke only appeared to possess one of them. Brooke didn’t seem to mind, however, flaunting the news in everyone’s faces.

“The ladies can stay in the Grasshopper Suite,” the innkeeper decided, handing Emmeline a black key. “The gentlemen can have the Butterfly Suite.” He passed Newt another dark key.

Brooke and Clara snickered and the innkeeper gave them an approving look.

Newt, on the other hand, looked disgusted to be given a butterfly suite. Forrest took the key before Newt could use it to stab the innkeeper.

“Just down that hallway and to the left,” the innkeeper continued. “I’ll expect those keys back by tomorrow at noon or else I’ll dump you all in the snow without so much as a warning.” His eyes said otherwise, though.

“Thank you,” Emmeline muttered, turning towards the hallway that the innkeeper had gestured to. Forrest watched as Newt pointedly bumped into the innkeeper, a scowl plastered on his face.

The Butterfly Suite turned out to be nicer than Forrest was expecting. There were three small cots, and although the mattresses were admittedly lumpy, it was better than sleeping on the floor. There was a tiny bathroom attached, and Forrest was pretty sure the water in the showers would be warm.

“See,” Morgan sighed, collapsing against the bed closest to the window. “Butterflies are nice.”

“It’s not the room name that bothers me,” Newt smirked. He removed the small pouch of coins from his pocket. “It was an act. We’ll see how long it takes him to notice I switched it for a bag of pebbles.”

Forrest chuckled to himself as Newt hid the money away. It reminded him of something Co-

“I’m going to get a shower before all the girls take all the hot water,” he announced.

Anything to distract me. He stepped into the bathroom before Morgan or Newt could object, glad for the sudden silence as he closed the door behind him.

True to his word, Forrest did shower, albeit he didn’t take quite as long as he pretended. It was easy enough to clean off the grime that was constantly accumulating on his skin. His hair took a bit longer, especially since the inn soaps seemed to do more harm than good. The only good thing was that they smelled nice, fresh even. It reminded him of the breeze on the Beach of Lost. It reminded him of-

Forrest forced himself to stand in front of the mirror and point out every scar on his arms and stomach. He forced himself to remember where each one came from. Forced himself to stop thinking about Coral-

He slammed his fists against the counter. If he had been under his Curse, he probably could’ve shattered the countertop and maybe even formed some cracks on the wall. But now he was normal, normal and useless. If he took away those gray streaks in his hair, he could pass as an average boy.

You’re not normal, Coral would’ve told him, along with a kiss. You weren’t meant to live a normal life. That’s why you’re here, with me.

If he was normal, Coral would be alive.

Forrest finished dressing and found himself interrupting a conversation between Morgan and Newt as he barged into the room. Both of them looked at him, their faces expressionless masks.

“We were just discussing how we’re going to have enough money to buy costumes,” Morgan explained quickly. “Newt’s coins won’t be enough for all of us.”

“All we need is a seamstress,” Newt agreed. “One that will help us for a lower cost. We thought since, y’know, Coral wanted to be a seamstress that you might know one in this area who would help us.”

Forrest searched his mind for all of the seamstresses who Coral had apprenticed to.

Only one came to mind in the surrounding area, one that sent nausea to Forrest’s gut. “I may know a place.”

Under other circumstances, the Ibenian town might have been beautiful in the winter. But with a foot of snow to trudge through and holey boots that did nothing to prevent the cold leaking in, Forrest was miserable.

“The shop is just ahead,” he muttered before cursing as another fat lump of snow found its way to his socks.

“You’ve been saying that since we left,” Rae complained, tugging her coat closer to her body. “How do you know the seamstress even still lives here?” The unspoken words of what if we walked here for nothing hung in the air like a threat.

“This time I’m being serious,” Forrest protested, only half sure he was telling the truth.

In truth, the last time he’d walked through this village was nearly four years ago, and even then the scenery was different. He wasn’t sure how he managed to remember where exactly to go and which streets to use.

“Is that it?” Margo asked, pointing to a sign dangling by one chain, a needle and spool of thread depicted on the wood.

Memories prickled at the back of Forrest’s mind. He couldn’t bring himself to speak so he nodded instead.

The others hung back as Forrest made his way up the snow coated stairs. Each step brought him closer to a past he’d hoped to leave behind. His knuckles hung above the door, poised to knock but not daring to touch. He slammed his fist against the door once, fear crawling through his veins.

Footsteps creaked closer and the door opened to reveal a woman with burnt honey colored hair and kind eyes that widened as they took in Forrest.

At first he thought Tess didn’t recognize him as her lips parted but when she pulled him into a tight hug, he knew that wasn’t true. She smelled of sugar, just like her store always did whenever Forrest and Coral visited. The scent brought memories to the surface of his mind. He pushed them back, ignoring the constant peppering of pale blue eyes in his conscience.

“Can’t breathe,” he muttered into the woman’s arms.

Tess released him at once, the wrinkles around her eyes and on her forehead growing deeper. “Where’s Coral?”

If only I got paid every time someone asked me that, Forrest thought.

“Can we come in?” interjected Calli from behind him.

Tess froze at the sound of the girl’s voice and Forrest stepped aside. He’d never seen Tess so speechless until Calli’s own mouth fell open.

Nothing prepared him for what came next.

“Calli?” Tess’s voice was barely above a whisper.

“Mom?” Calli asked in disbelief. Her voice cracked into a raw sob as she ran up the steps and pulled Tess into an even tighter hug. The two embraced and Forrest averted his eyes, feeling as though he was intruding on something personal. “Goddesses, they told me that you were dead.”

Tess snapped backwards. “Who told you that?”

“The sorceresses at the academy,” Calli answered quickly. “But-”

“Come in, come in,” Tess hurried them. “We need to talk.” She beckoned the group inside, not even fazed to find nearly a dozen random kids at her door. Forrest guessed Tess was probably used to that since she was the Sprite Hunters main source of costumes.

The lower floor was the shop and the upstairs was the main part of the house that Forrest had never seen before. Tess led them up the steps, Calli right at her heels.

While the downstairs portion of the house was barely warmer than outside, the upper floor was cozy. Tess tended to the fireplace in the corner of the living room as Forrest and his friends took seats on the couches and the floor, leaving open a single rocking chair for Tess. Calli sat right at its base.

“So,” Tess sighed at last, sinking into her chair. “It seems you all have a lot to tell me, and I have more than enough time. Why don’t you go ahead?”

Forrest and Calli glanced at each other, a silent debate over who should talk first.

Calli finally caved and told her mother (was Forrest ever going to get used to that fact? Probably not) about her time at the school for witches in Ibeni and how her instructors had told her that Tess was dead. Forrest guessed it was a ploy to get Calli to forget her past life and focus entirely on schooling. To be quite honest, Forrest would’ve hated to go to school for sorcery. It seemed like a lot of work and a lot of rules.

When Calli finished her story, Forrest told the short version of his. He explained how he’d met Emmeline and Newt and their plea for help. He skipped most of the boring or dark parts, as Tess simply didn’t need to know. He told her that Coral had been killed but not how, and although he could tell Tess wanted to ask, she kept silent.

Emmeline finished everything off by interrupting Forrest’s conclusion. “That’s why we need your help, ma’m. This is our last chance to end Baelle’s reign before she destroys the goddesses.”

Tess bit her lip, obviously overwhelmed. Forrest couldn’t blame her - he was still getting used to all of the information and the fact that he was a part of this.

He didn’t want to pressure her, but Tess was their only chance at infiltrating this ball.

Tess glanced at Calli, her eyes watering slightly. Her gaze never wavered as she asked, “What do I have to do?”

“It’s just a few costumes,” Calli assured her mother. “That’s it.”

Tess scanned the group gathered before her, probably judging each of them. “I assume a few dresses and nice jackets will work. Maybe a few … other outfits.” One of her eyebrows raised a bit, suggestive.

“Dresses for all of the ladies except Brooke, Clara, and Rae,” Calli answered, pointing to each of them. “They’ll need all black if possible - including masks and gloves. And for the guys, Forrest and Morgan will need jackets. Newt will need the same stuff as the other girls. I know it’s a lot, but I can help-”

Tess cut her off with a wave of her hands. “I will take measurements now and I can fix something for each of you by tomorrow morning if everyone helps out.”
“I can’t sew-” Brooke began, but again, Tess silenced her.

Tess turned to Calli, sucking in a breath. “I want you to be safe, Cal. That’s why I’m doing this. I don’t want any other information, just a promise that you’ll try to stay alive.”

“I promise,” Calli whispered. “I swear it on Ibenily herself.”

Don’t make promises, Forrest wanted to say, reminded of Coral giving up her Blessing because he was hurt.

Tess broke into a smile, and to anyone else it may have seemed like relief but Forrest could sense the worry behind it. He didn’t know Tess well - the only times he talked to her were when Coral used to come for her apprenticeship. Sometimes, Forrest would be used as a model so Coral could practice creating clothes for males. But those scarce moments were enough for Forrest to know that Tess hated this.

Seeing her daughter again, if only to possibly lose her.

“Good,” Tess mumbled at last. “Alright, everyone. We have a long night ahead of us so let’s get started!”

Forrest thought his friends looked radiant. Beside them, he felt like a piece of garbage, discarded on the side of the road to rot for eternity.

“What colors do you think most people will be wearing?” Tess asked when they first got to work picking fabrics.

Forrest thought for a moment, unsure of why Tess was asking him. “Well it’s the Solar Spring ball, so I’d guess a good deal of greens, blues, and golds - but that’s just my thinking. Why does it matter?”

Tess immediately moved away from the golden hues she’d been looking at. “I don’t know what you all have planned, but I assume it’ll be easier if you can spot each other. So I’m looking for purples, maybe some navy, and silver. It’ll fit in but you’ll stand out enough to find each other easily. Clever, no?”

“Clever,” Forrest agreed, taken aback at Tess’s willingness to help and her logical thinking despite the fact that she knew nothing.

Several laborious hours later, Forrest and his friends were decked out for a ball they weren’t officially invited to. It was a learning experience for almost all of them. Sewing, for example, proved more difficult than Forrest ever expected. He caught on quickly, but then Tess pointed out more stitches and embroidery and all sorts of things Forrest hoped never to do again.

At least the outfits were beautiful.

Newt, Clara, Brooke, and Rae - although dressed in all black shirts and trousers, were given a little creative liberty in creating masks. All three of the girls coated their black hats and masks in glitter, much to Newt’s dismay when he was pressured into it.

Then there were Calli, Bethany, and Margo all dressed in silver gowns. Calli’s had so much tulle that Forrest questioned how she could even walk. The silver gems embedded in the fabric glittered under the light, giving her the illusion of the snowfall. Bethany’s gown was longer and thin, clutching her figure whereas Margo’s was shorter and dropped right above her knees. All three of them looked so pretty in their dresses that Forrest couldn’t help but admire them simply because he was their friend. They’d still yet to do their hair or anything and a small part of Forrest couldn’t wait to see it.

Meanwhile, Morgan and Forrest were given navy colored jackets and pants. Forrest thought the fabric was a bit itchy but it was warm and at this point that was all that he cared about. Tess patched up his boots, and although Forrest knew he and Morgan were no match for the ladies, he was still glad to look nice.

Emmeline, on the other hand, was the only one dressed in a deep purple. Tess claimed it was to help her stand out a little more because she was the most important part of this mission, but Forrest wondered if it was Emmeline’s request. The fabric brought out the green in her eyes and the large skirts were home to more knives than Forrest could count. Her bodice and skirts were completely filled with pockets and straps. They could only hope her guards didn’t pay too much attention to what she brought into the ball.

Calli would be creating a potion to shift the facial features of Forrest and Emmeline since they were the only two who Baelle had met before. It at least seemed like all was in place, their plan so multifaceted that Forrest almost had complete faith in it.

With a single night left before the ball, everyone went to bed early except Forrest.

He found himself unable to sleep despite the exhaustion weighing on his every limb. Maybe it was the events of the day and that constant feeling that someone was missing, a piece of his heart split off from the rest. Maybe it was Forrest wanting so badly to see Coral in one of those gorgeous gowns. Forrest didn’t know for sure, but he decided to pray to Dixral, just in case.

Please, Dixral, if you have any mercy left in you, let us succeed tomorrow. I know you can’t control the outcome of our fight, nor can you decide who lives or dies. But please, if someone does die, treat them well. Or better yet, take me instead. Once this ball is over, I will have made my peace with the world. Take me, Dixral. Take me and let it all end here.

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