#aveyard

Why she is crying is even more unbelievable than the tears themself. “This morning we saw a miracle. We watched a red girl fall into the arena like a bolt of lightning, wielding power she should not have.” Elara pauses for theatrics and to wipe away another forced tear.

“The king and I interviewed the girl extensively, trying to discover how she came to be.” I look towards my friend Mare, the fallen red girl, knowing she would have a reaction to this. After all, they did not, in fact, interview her, they ripped open her brain as they did to me 10 minutes later. I cringe at the memory of just a few hours ago and I see Mare have a similar reaction before the Queen speaks again.

“During this interview, we found another impossibility, another red girl; with abilities like ours. Two impossibilities, two sisters.” The silence of the room breaks and people start whispering to each other. About the fallen red girl and her supposed sister. And of course, that sister is me. Myself and Mare aren’t really sisters, but the lie makes our powers seem more realistic than the alternative.

“They are not red, but they are still miracles. My friends, please welcome back to us Lady Mareena Titanos and Lady Koralyne Titanos, daughters of Ethan Titanos. Lost and now found.” The Queen waves us over and we obey, hearing the applause as we get closer.

‘Koralyne Titanos’ is not my name. My name is Kory. Kory Dennings.

The moment before we dive face first into a sea of Silvers, Mare takes my hand in hers and I give a reassuring smile, hoping to calm her nerves a bit. I’m worried for our fake lives to be public but I’ve had more practice at hiding my emotions. Mare, not so much.

I’m glad our guards don't follow us out. I’m enough of a spectacle with the Queens story and the extravagant purple and silver dress they shoved me into. Apparently, in the world of wealth and power, each house has colours; the House of Titanos’ colours are Purple and Silver, hence the semi matching dresses Mare and I are wearing. Along with layers and layers of White paint to hide our natural dark skin. To make us more like a Silver.

The Queen gestures us into some empty seats in the front row of the crowd, I sit down as quickly as I can while still trying to keep up some sort of Silver Mask. The Queenstrial girls watch us probably wondering why we are so important and if we are going to steal the precious Calore Princes from them.

I mean, it is quite fitting. Two “miracle sisters” with two royal brothers, but that's not what's going to happen. Mare is about to pledge herself to Maven, the younger Calore brother. While the heir to the throne, Tiberias Calore The Seventh is going to do the same with a girl named Evangeline Samos who almost killed Mare and the reason we are here.

“Saved from their parents' fate, Lady Mareena and Lady Koralyne were taken from the front and brought to a red village not ten miles from here'' The King now speaks. “Raised by red parents, they worked as red servants. And until this morning they believed they were. Mareena and Koralyne were diamonds in the rough, working in my own palace, the twin daughters of my late friend under my nose.” Mare and I are not twins. I am eight months older than her, not that anyone would notice.

“But no more. To atone for my ignorance, and to repay their father and their house for their great contributions to the kingdom, I would like to take this moment to announce the joining of House Calore and the resurrected House Titanos.” A loud gasp echoes from the girls of the Queenstrial. I was right, they think we are going to steal the Princes from them. I almost roll my eyes. But Mare, on the other hand, looks worried that they are going to murder us or something. I’d like to see them try.

Maven steps forward and some tension in the room deflates. He looks defeated but still regal somehow. “Lady Mareena,” he says. Mare gives me one last shaky look before rising and facing him.

“In the eyes of my royal father and the noble court, I would ask for your hand in marriage. I pledge myself to you, Mareena Titanos. Will you accept?” He recites the words he has been taught probably since birth.

“I pledge myself to you, Maven Calore. I accept.” Mare quivers. I doubt anyone else noticed it but I did. A little perk of being around someone for most of their life.

Maven sits back in his seat and Mare back in hers beside me. Cal, the eventual king, now stands. I feel more eyes on me, expecting him to say my name, pledge himself to me as Maven did to Mare. I’m glad that's never going to happen.

“I am my fathers heir, born to privilege and power and strength. You owe me your allegiance, just as I owe you my life. It is my duty to serve you and my kingdom as best as I can- and beyond.” He pauses his perfected speech. When he does, I take a second to look over at Maven, I don't know why, but I do. I’m usually really good at reading people but I can't read him. He looks emotionless, staring at his brother. It intrigues me. I wonder if I look like that when I’m hiding my emotions.

“I need a queen who will sacrifice just as much as I will, to maintain order, justice and balance.” Another pause, this one for drama, suspense. Keeping everyone on the edges of their seats.