Awakening (Born From Shadows #1)
Chapter Nine

Tatianna gazed at the man before her in shock. The Prince, she was dancing with the Prince. She could hardly believe it.

“It would seem my sister is calling for me,” He said looking over her shoulder, “Till the next time we meet, Storm.”

She didn’t even say goodbye to him, she was still trapped in a daze. She walked back towards Freya who was talking to a few people she didn’t know. She didn’t know many people here unsurprisingly. It just made her feel even more unwelcome. Upon viewing her Freya pulled Tatianna aside.

“You were dancing with the Prince!” Freya shrieked.

“Yes…now I am hungry,” she replied not knowing what to think. Her hunger had painfully returned though since the Prince’s departure.

“Of course, help yourself…just eat slowly,” Freya gestured towards the table filled with a gourmet selection of foods, most of which Tatianna had never seen before. She grabbed a plate and served herself a modicum of food, knowing that if she ate too much she would throw up. Her stomach was not used to eating. all shrivelled up within her. Taking in Freya’s advice she ate at a slow pace.

“So…how was it?” Freya asked.

“What?” she replied confused.

“Dancing with the Prince, and don’t talk with your mouth full,” Freya replied, trying to teach her common etiquette. Then don’t question me if I have food in my mouth, she retorted in her head. Tatianna just shrugged her shoulders; no way was she going to reveal her feelings to a person she just met…or anyone for that matter.

“Fine, it’s fine. Just don’t tell me about the hottest guy in Avalla, in probably all of Haveenté,” Freya said with disappointment. Tatianna put her plate down, knowing that if she ate any more her stomach would start to churn.

“Ok, I have to go to the bathroom. I’ll tell Riley to keep an eye on you and your manners,” Freya said. Tatianna did not offer the blonde girl a goodbye before she left.

As she glanced over the room, all she could think was if only she had all of this. Grew up like Freya, everything served to her at the snap of her fingers. Everything would be different; she would be different.

A presence came up to her side, her eyes flicked over to the older man. It was Freya’s father. He didn’t look at her, as if the mere sight would kill him. “I saw you dancing with the Prince,” Frederick stated. Tatianna did not know how she should respond to his accusations, so she remained mute. “Just remember that no amount of pretty clothes will cover the monster inside. Once he replaces out what you are, he will run and leave you alone like any other piece of trash.” The man then sauntered away, not giving her time to think of a comeback.

She bit the side of her mouth to refrain from running over to him and stabbing him. It would be so facile for her commit the act but it would just prove his point that she was a monster. Maybe he was right? After everything, she had done, especially the things that had nothing to do with survival. The things she had wanted to do. She was a monster, Tatianna realised. She gazed down at her hands, envisioning the blood that covered them. This dance had distracted her, the Prince had distracted her. She felt the sudden need to rip off her beautiful gown, screaming at herself that it wasn’t her. It was just a comely cover for the book that was nothing but a piece of trash with dark secrets.

Her eyes scanned the room looking for any exits, but instead, they met the Prince. He was with a small group of people looking unenthused at their conversation. As if he could feel her stare he looked straight in her direction. Any thoughts of leaving were just thrown from of her mind taking the quickest route out of the many large windows.

The Prince excused himself from the group and started to walk towards her, his pace was slow. He walked like he owned the place even though it was the property of Freya’s family. Despite the vast size of the room, it did not take him long to reach her.

“Hello Storm, you were hungry?” he asked gesturing towards the food table she was standing nearby.

“Yeah,” she replied, despite the fact she knew he knew the answer to his question.

“You should have told me, I would have directed you to the best food. The dishes that are absolutely scrumptious,” the Prince said whilst staring directly into her eyes. She looked away from him, unable to stand the eye contact.

“Well, I figured it all out on my own which dishes I should eat. I don’t need your help,” she said, with an obviously fake tone in her voice.

He gave her a slight smile. “You are very different from all these other Ladies. Tell me why that is?” A question she knew she couldn’t answer. It’s not like she could just tell him she was a monster who was nurtured by the street rats.

“I guess you will never know,” she replied not able to come up with a felicitous lie that would expound her peculiarities.

“Maybe one day you will trust me enough to tell me,” he said wistfully.

“No offence your Highness, but I don’t trust anybody. Trust only gets you killed,” she veraciously answered.

“Sometimes trust is the only reason we survive. No matter how much it hurts you, by placing yourself fully in the hands of someone else, you can be pulled from the darkest of places,” he replied. His gaze stayed fixed upon her.

“It only gets you killed,” she reiterated. She knew this, believed it with all her heart. Humans were selfish, when it comes down to it your closest friends would betray you for their own needs. That’s what she believed, what she knew after living in a world where you survived, not lived.

“Perhaps you are just placing your trust into the hands of the wrong people,” he said in rebuttal.

“No one is the right person. We are all just as selfish as Goblins, except we cover it up better with fancy dances. At least the Goblins are up front about it,” she replied.

The Prince did not make a comment on her negative reaction, as if realising he couldn’t change her mind. At least not tonight. “Do you attend these things often?” he asked changing the topic.

“No,” she replied.

“Shame, I would love to see you again. This conversation has been much more interesting than talking about the latest shoes,” he said. So that was the conversation that was boring him, she realised.

“Sounds boring to me,” she spoke her thoughts.

He chuckled, “indeed it was.” There was a silence between them for a moment as they stared at each other, this time she did not look away. “You know you have truly gorgeous eyes,” he told her. Tatianna immediately turned her head, knowing that he was lying to her. She could not stand liars as hypocritical as that may be.

She felt something against her chin, turning her head back towards him. His hand was warm against her cold skin, she almost leaned into the touch. She went to move his hand surprised she hadn’t revolted against it already, but her actions were halted when they met his eyes again. They were a stunning shade of green, deep, and circling with questions.

“It’s getting late,” he whispered. “Being the Prince is both a blessing and a burden, I must leave but I pray we will meet again.”

“Maybe,” she replied not knowing what else to say. She knew that the odds of them meeting again were not in her favour. By tomorrow this would all feel like a memory to her, worst of all it would feel like someone else’s memories.

The absence of his hand on her cheek was the first thing she felt as he walked away. Then the slight ache in her heart, the want that this could be her life. She woke up to the reality that he is a dream she would never obtain.