We all pile into a cab and Melody gives the driver the address,
“I heard about this church from Melissa Strawboat: a lovely young lady I met in the underground,” Melody explains merrily, “She goes here every Sunday. She’s just about your age, Snow, you should talk to her.”
I eye Melody with misgivings; seems she’s still keen on getting me to socialize, “Just remember to call me Raven, no one knows me by Snow here.”
Melody nods, a slightly confused expression crossing her face briefly. I turn to look out the window at the houses passing by and leave Melody and Julian to converse among themselves. I only hope Melody guards her tongue, and it doesn’t just slip out.
For some reason, even though my name is RAVEN Snow, Melody has always chosen to call me by my second name. The one that no longer suits me, not now.
Melissa Strawboat. Strawboat. It does sound familiar. She has to be a noble if Melody met her at the underground; no one else knows about the palace coup. I don’t think she was one of the noble’s children I used to socialize with—and if she's not, it's unlikely I know her.
Nobles used to send their children to the palace to be ‘play mates’ with the royal children. So they could garner respect for their families, and acquire connections within the royal palace itself. Few people were allowed to roam around the palace freely, except for those children who were meant to be the royal prince/princess’s friends. Not that I ever really became friends with any of them. They were all too scared of offending me, so we never played anything properly and everyone always let me win. Let me be the best at everything.
Much too boring for a child.
Because of that I tended to go out of my way to avoid them, instead wreaking havoc around the palace, and befriending the guards. In fact, that’s how I met S.T—Samuel.
“We’re here!” Melody announces, pulling me out of my thoughts.
We are stopped in front of a classically built stone church, complete with stain-glass windows and high steepled roofs. I’ve always found churches such as this so beautiful, and somehow peaceful.
We had an absolutely gorgeous church near the palace that we—the royal family—used to attend regularly. I haven’t been inside a church since then. I wonder if it’ll feel as peaceful now. After everything.
Melody leads the way inside, stopping here and there to greet people and have little airy conversations. I follow dourly along, avoiding all eye contact while still keeping an eye on everyone.
Julian, to my surprise, seems invigorated and cheerful. He joins in on Melody's conversations and actually looks thoroughly pleased to be here. I had assumed that he’d also been dragged along by Melody, or had come along solely to keep an eye on me.
Apparently, I was mistaken. Either that or he’s a better actor than I gave him credit for!
He looks just like the boy from the youth group again. I, on the other hand, feel more like a shadow than ever, standing here silently behind Melody. Simply watching and listening to everything that’s going on around me, without ever touching.
I start slightly as I spot a familiar face in my vicinity. Now I remember where I heard the name Strawboat before. Selene Strawboat was a close friend of my mothers. A quiet, simple, yet immensely wise woman.
I also vaguely remember meeting her daughter once, but we were quite different and never saw each other again. I was wild, energetic and cheerful, while she was shy, quiet and nervous. Probably her first time in the palace.
Melissa was one of those children who tended to fade into the background, through no fault of their own. At least she used to be. She appears to have changed dramatically.
She looks so much like her mother--whom I used to see in the palace often--that there is no mistaking her. The same long golden curls and slim, willowy figure. She seems tall yet the closer you get to her you realise she’s quite petite. She reminds me of a wood elf, so light and delicate looking.
I watch as she makes her way towards us. As she comes closer, I can make out that her large eyes are a remarkable shade of misty violet. If I remember correctly, her mother had astonishingly green eyes; the violet must come from her father, John Strawboat.
I have no memories of him other than a figure in the background, outshined by his wife’s brilliance. I wonder if they are still alive, I can’t see anyone matching Mrs Strawboat anywhere though. If she is still alive, then she’s not here.
Melody notices Melissa’s approach and ends her conversation to embrace her.
“You look lovely, Melissa! So stunning!”
And she does; even if she was wearing a plain, dowdy dress she would still stand out. And now, dressed so elegantly in a long, off-the-shoulder, pale purple dress with baby blue embellishments—she truly shines.
Her and Melody together completely outshine everyone else around us. They look like two sides of the same coin both with long golden curls. Melody the more voluptuous; taller, curvier, with more striking features, Melissa shorter, slimmer, more delicate looking with hip length hair, while Melody’s is around shoulder length.
If Anna were here, she would fit right in.
They both look more like a queen than I ever could. I hide in the shadows while they stand proud and tall in the light. As it should be.
I slide away silently, disappearing into the crowd before Melody can introduce me. She’ll be disappointed I know, but I’ll deal with the consequences later. Right now, I can’t be here.
Even though my appearance has changed, I still look a lot like my mother; and Melissa is one of the few people who might be able to recognise the resemblance.
Her mother spent a lot of time with mine; I simply can’t take the chance that she will recognise me. It isn’t worth the risk.
I catch Julian’s eyes on me as I leave, melting into the surrounding crowd. He doesn’t try to stop me though, or alert Melody. He just watches silently as I go, a strange expression on his face before turning around and joining Melody and Melissa in the spotlight.
From my now safe, hidden, vantage point, I watch as Melody introduces Julian to Melissa, and I can’t help but notice Melissa’s face as she greets him. It lights up and she smiles adoringly up at him. Obviously smitten--another victim of Julian’s looks.
Melody turns around trying to locate me to introduce as well, but when I’m nowhere in sight, her face falls as she realises that I’ve run away. My heart lurches at the sadness in Melody’s face as she vainly searches the area for me.
At the end of the day though, this is all for the best. Once Anna is on the throne—I’ll be gone. The less people I leave behind who care about me, the better. It’s easier this way. If she’s not too close to me, she’ll get over it quicker, painlessly. Because I have no choice, I have to do it. I have to disappear.
I walk away from the crowded entrance and into the actual church building. The inside is just as impressive as the outside—more so even. It’s cladded in some sort of dark wood—oak, maybe—and there are multiple pillars extending all the way to the roof. The majority of the walls and pillars are covered in intricate carvings—most of saints and things related to the bible.
It’s awe-inspiring.
People are starting to make their way inside now, and take their seats. Time for me to go find a nice cosy shadow to hide in for the duration.
I slip through one of the inner-doors that is unlocked, and find myself at the bottom of a spiralling staircase. I crack the door open to see if I have enough time to try another door. But just as I look out, I spot Melody, Julian, and Melissa walk in through the entrance.
I close the door quietly, cursing my luck. If I walk out now, I can just about guarantee that Melody will spot me. I guess I’m going up!
The stairs let out onto a second floor above the main auditorium. It’s more like a mezzanine floor. There is a waist high wooden railing at the edge of the floor, spanning the length of the building, and chairs on stairs at varying heights backed against the outside wall.
This would be where the choir sat in the good olden days when churches still had choirs. I guess this is as good a place as any to sit out the service. It’ll have to be as I can’t see any other doors up here--other than the one I came out off.
Comments (0)
See all