NovMo25: Soul Watchers

Damien gestured ahead. “Our first stop will be with one of Harriet’s friends – an elderly couple who grow hops. Their names are Monty and Doreen. I usually stay with them on the way to the capital.”

Adelphina suddenly smiled. “I suppose Harriet’s told them not to give you alcohol under any circumstance?”

Damien blushed, but he laughed anyway. “They sneak some to me anyway,” giving her a wink. “They own a hops farm, after all! But they don’t let me get drunk. Anyway, Harriet has told them we’re traveling on our honeymoon, so just pretend that you like me and ask them questions about their lives, and that will satisfy them. They’ll love telling you all their stories. Just act interested, that’s all. As long as you get them talking about their stories, they won’t pry into yours. In fact, the trouble is getting them to stop talking.”

Adelphina stiffened. “And they’ll give us our own room?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll sleep on the floor,” Damien said with a chuckle, glancing at her face. “You have no reason to distrust me! Just, pretend you like me when we wake up. That’s all I ask. And, if you’re feeling exceptionally generous, maybe offer to rub my sore back in front of them so to keep up appearances. That will help us seem like we’re married, I think.”

“I’ll think about it,” Adelphina said, gritting her teeth. Then she frowned at Damien. “Is there anything I need to know about you, now that we’re pretending to be married?”

Damien cringed. “Harriet told you most of my story, I’m afraid. Other than that, I’m afraid I’m not very interesting.”

Adelphina eyed him strangely. “I doubt that.” She paused. “Your family threw you out because you were a soul watcher?”

Damien suddenly shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t really talk about that,” he said. “I don’t think you’ll need to bring that up with anyone in polite conversation. It doesn’t really matter. Besides, it’s not a very interesting story.”

“I’m interested.” When Damien only winced and looked away, Adelphina pursed her lips. “How old were you when they threw you out?”

“Twelve,” he said. “At least, that’s the age when I started seeing shadows. I always saw radiance, but I thought that was just a normal thing that everyone did. And my eyes are so dark anyway, no one really noticed since they never dilated fully. But when my grandfather died, I saw him sit next to me at the funeral. And when my family saw how dark my eyes had gotten, grandma yelled at me for being cursed and my family threw me out. At first, I thought I was only barred from the funeral, so I went home. But when they came back home, they told me that they never wanted to see me again and that I was dead to them. So, I left.”

Adelphina flinched. “That’s what happened?”

Again, Damien shifted nervously. “Well, that’s not all that happened. My mother made me a sandwich before I left. But yes, essentially. That’s what happened.”

Adelphina shuddered. “Have they ever tried to contact you again?”

“Only once,” Damien admitted. “When I was arrested, the sheriff had me send them a letter for bail, and asked if they would be interested in settling my debts for me. They responded that I wasn’t their son anymore and they did not want me to contact them again. So I didn’t.” He swallowed hard. “I don’t wish them ill,” he said quickly. “I understand. Nobody wants a soul watcher as a son. It’s hard enough to constantly have to disappoint Harriet. I’m glad I don’t have to disappoint them either. I just wish things were different.”

Adelphina bit her lip and thought of her father. “My father sent me away too,” she murmured. “Though, nothing as dramatic as that. He sent me away to the Corvin family, since they were the court soul watchers, and the family was renowned for not falling into shadow. He hoped that I might learn their secrets so I wouldn’t fall into shadow either.”

“That’s kind of him,” Damien said distractedly.

“I was really angry with him at first though,” Adelphina admitted. “I didn’t like that he separated me from my sister. Then, the Corvins were nice, but they didn’t know what to do with me at all, since I wasn’t nearly powerful enough for them to train, yet they had to take care of me nonetheless. If it weren’t for Lucian’s friendship, I might have gone insane.”

Damien glanced at her hand and Adelphina realized that he was looking at her ring. “You are close to Lucian?”

Adelphina nodded.

Damien frowned. “Is he really just a friend?”

Adelphina stared at her ring. “I’m not sure anymore,” she admitted, touching its stone. “Though, I’m not sure of anything anymore.”

“You’ll get your footing soon,” Damien said, watching her kindly. “You’re a clever one. That marriage lie was well done. I completely believed you! And now that you’re cloaked in shadows, you’ll be even more well hidden. Then we’ll find out what’s going on and hopefully restore you to your home safely.”

His tone was gentle and kind and Adelphina smiled in spite of herself. “And then what will you do once I’m restored to my home?’

Damien tried to smile. “What I do best, of course. Disappear into the shadows. That way, I don’t have to disappoint you more than I have to.”

Adelphina’s smile faltered. When her face fell, Damien suddenly flushed, embarrassed.

“There’s one more thing you should know, probably, so it doesn’t startle you,” he muttered, looking away from her. “Sometimes I cry when I sleep.”

Adelphina frowned. “You cry?”

Damien nodded, growing redder, then added, “I’m sorry – I assure you, it’s not intentional! Anyway, if that happens, just kick me so I roll over, and I’ll probably stop. Or, if I don’t stop, you can just wake me up. I don’t care.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Adelphina said gently, nodding to Damien when she realized he was watching her anxiously.

A slow smile crawled onto Damien’s face. “Thanks, Della.”

Nancy laughed. “I wondered! I was afraid Harriet would claim you forever. I am glad you finally escaped” She raised her glass. “To freedom!”

But Damien only laughed. “Freedom? Why, I just got married! I would hardly call that freedom. Besides, I'm not free of Harriet yet! I still have to pay off my debts!”

Nancy suddenly frowned. “She didn’t clear your debts as a wedding present?”

Damien shook his head, then smiled and leaned forward. “Still, that’s okay! Because we thought of an even better way to pay them off.” Then he laughed and pointed to Adelphina. “Behold, the lost princess!”

Adelphina was so surprised, she only stared at him. But Nancy’s eyes widened. “Lost princess? What are you going on about?”

Damien laughed. “See? It’s perfect! Her name is Della. And the princess’s name is Dellina–”

“Adelphina,” Nancy corrected.

Damien snorted and took another drink. “Whatever. The point is, it’s close enough. And look how pretty she is! She’s pretty enough that she can pretend to be the lost princess. All she needs to do is look pretty and maybe curtsy once or twice. Then we’ll get the reward, I’ll pay back Harriet’s debts, and we can all live happily ever after!”

Nancy suddenly looked annoyed. “You can’t be serious. Do you really think that girl can pass off as a princess?”

“Of course she can!” Damien said. He pointed to Adelphina as if she were a dog. “Come on! Do that curtsy thing Harriet showed you now, love.”

Adelphina recognized the lie at once and realized Damien was only testing their new cover story. Still, she couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. She stood up, wondering whether she should try to make a good curtsy or a bad curtsy, decided to make a good one, only to stumble forward when she dipped down. “Maybe when I’m not so tipsy,” she said, hiccuping. “I’m not very good with alcohol.”

Nancy snorted and raised her eyebrow. “And you think you can pass off her as the princess?”

Next on the list:

- Start new chapter! Going to the palace after Adelphina and Damien eat a little cake and regroup.

- PALACE. Things seem... wrong and Adelphina is very wary. Also! First meeting with Lucian.

- Damien is kidnapped.

- Enter: Lucian. Again.

(That's my current thoughts anyway, but EVERYTHING IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.)

Frantically, she wondered what she could do if Lucian were to come in. But before she could think of a plan, a half dozen waiters came in, carrying glasses full of sparkling wine, and began to offer it to the girls.

Adelphina froze.

Again, she thought back at the chaotic ball – the disaster had started with poisoned punch. And, while she had drank reluctantly with Damien for their wedding party with Nancy, she was still nervous about drinking anything in the palace, especially when she had no idea where she stood with the court.

Though, even if she drank it, it would still not be a good idea. After all, what if her eyes turned black with alcohol? Perhaps it was another stupid test!

Still, if she was nervous about drinking, she was the only one. The other girls took the glasses easily and downed them, commenting with each other about the wine. They made such a big fuss that Adelphina drew back, hopeful that she could escape their notice without taking any of the wine. But then, as she leaned back on a wall, a waiter popped up, holding up a silver tray. When he saw her blinking at him, he grinned.

“Your highness,” he said, offering her his tray. “Won’t you take a glass?”

“Thanks,” she said with a weak smile, taking the last glass on the tray. When he looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to drink it, she raised it, as if to offer a toast, then went to sit down next to Actress, only to purposely trip when Actress rose up, grumpy that Adelphina had dared to invade her personal space. The glass splashed all over Adelphina’s dress.

“Whoops,” Adelphina said. “Guess I couldn’t hold my alcohol.”