He suddenly spins on his heel to turn and face us, forcing me to skid to a stop before I nearly crash into his chest. “The next two weeks will consist of training, meeting the other contestants, interviews, and the first ball. And every week between each Trial will follow the same routine. An Imperial will be assigned to you for remainder of your stay here, and they will escort you too and from anywhere you need to be until you are acquainted with the castle.”
One of the Imperials standing behind us moves beside Hera, while the other takes his place next to Ace. “Well,” the young Imperial claps his hands in front of him with a sigh, “we will show you your rooms and let you get situated.”
When Hera and Ace have rounded the corner at the end of the hall, I turn to my personal Imperial. “So, you’ll be keeping an eye on me then?”
“Lucky me.” He chuckles and turns, motioning for me to follow. “I’m Lenny, by the way.”
“I never thought I’d say this to an Imperial, but it’s nice to meet you, Lenny.” Clamping my mouth shut before anything else I shouldn’t be saying spews out, I pick up my pace and try to catch up with his long strides.
“Yeah, well, I don’t blame you. Most Imperials can be…” He rubs the back of his neck, searching for the right word.
“Pigs?” I mutter before I can think better of it.
He cuts off his laugh with a quick clearing of his throat. “Yeah, they have me do a lot of the talking around here. I guess I’m not as intimidating.” I swiftly look him up and down, unable to help but agree. His messy red hair combined with the explosion of freckles splattering out from under his mask diminish any hope of looking threatening. He stops in front of a door near the end of a long hallway before pushing it open and gesturing inside.
I bite my tongue to keep from gasping at the sight of the most beautiful room I’ve ever seen, filled with bookcases, a dainty vanity, a writing desk, and…
A bed.
An enormous bed. After sleeping on jagged cobblestone for five years, the thought of getting to sleep on that is overwhelming. I blink in amazement as I finally take a step inside. The carpet is plush beneath my feet, and I spin to see a bathroom peeking out behind a door to the left. I stride towards it, fighting my smile when I see a pristine, porcelain bathtub, sitting atop golden legs.
Hot, running water.
An equally shiny toilet and sink sit on the white, marble floor to complete the set. I slowly step out of the bathroom, still staring at the bedroom before me. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Lenny watching me, amused by my awe. “I hope you find your room to be…satisfactory?”
“Oh, it’ll have to do, I suppose.” I plop onto my bed as I say it, sarcasm dripping from the words.
“Well, I’ll let you get comfortable, seeing that you’ll be spending a lot of time in here,” he says, turning to step out the door.
“What do you mean by that?”
He rubs his hand over the back of his neck with a sigh. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
Lenny was right to tell me to get comfortable.
I’ve been trapped in this room for two days.
It’s become my personal gilded cage, locking me in with luxuries. The guards stationed outside my door don’t deem me important enough to grumble more than a few words about following orders by keeping me confined to my room. So I’ve scoured every inch of the chamber, occupying myself by thumbing through books, soaking in hot baths, devouring delicious meals.
And yet, I’ve never felt more anxious.
The inside of my cheek is sore, the result of incessant biting in an attempt to calm my nerves. And despite sleeping in a soft bed for the first time in years, I’m restless. I haven’t spoken to anyone since my first day here, haven’t even been told what the hell is going on. I’ve been left to pace the padded floor, worrying over who my opponents are and what they can do.
Mind games, that’s what this is.
The king likely finds this comical. Loves the idea of us anxious, restless, and trapped in our rooms until he says otherwise. This is meant to set us on edge, make us antsy.
A knock at the door has me pausing my pacing.
Lenny’s head peeks around the doorframe, a sheepish grin on his face. “So…how are you, Paedyn?”
I blink at him. “How am I? How am I?”
He creeps farther into the room, his next words slow. “Okay, so, I’m getting the feeling that you’re not…great.”
My laugh is bitter. “You could say that. It’s been two days. Where the hell have you been?”
“The king likes to keep the contestants completely isolated for the first couple of days,” he says stiffly. “But, good news, you’ll be having dinner tonight with the other contestants, along with the king and queen.”
I swallow. After forty-eight restless hours, I’m suddenly going to meet the contestants that have plagued my thoughts, and the king who has plagued my nightmares.
“I’ll be back shortly to escort you to dinner,” Lenny says, turning towards the door. “If you need anything, just holler. I won’t be far. Oh,” he glances at me over his shoulder, “and you might want to change before dinner.”
When he’s gone, I slip into the bathroom and fiddle with the various knobs on the tub until hot, steaming water begins pouring out. Within minutes, I’m stripped and soaking in the now foamy water, thanks to the unnecessary amount of soaps and salts I dumped in. I scrub my hair and body vigorously, leaving my skin red and refreshed.
I haven’t felt so clean in years.
My mind wanders to my many worries, the warm water doing little to soothe me. The Trials consume my thoughts, reminding me of the power I lack and the little protection I possess. Not to mention that if the Trials don’t kill me, being discovered as an Ordinary most definitely will.
I soak in the bubbly water until it grows cold like the baths I’m so used to. When I finally muster the strength to force myself out of the tub, I’m shivering as I slip on a silk, green robe.
I make my way back into my room, opening the white doors of the giant wardrobe across from my bed to stare at the dozens of colors and patterns, all hung neatly on a rack. Attire for every type of occasion is casually hanging there, all at my disposal.
Adena would die if she saw this.
I stare blankly at the clothes, then down at my ratty ones lying forgotten on the floor. I haven’t the slightest idea of what is appropriate to wear to this dinner and I would rather not make a fool out of myself before the Trials have even begun.
Remembering that Lenny said to holler if I needed anything, I intend to do just that. I’m sure the Imperial has witnessed several of these meals and will have some idea of what the expected attire is.
I stride to the door and wrench it open, looking down as I tighten the tie of my robe. I do, in fact, holler, “Lenny, what the hell am I supposed to wear—”
And then I look up.
My eyes meet wide, bright green ones. I’ve never seen the man standing before me; I would have remembered. His messy, dirty blond hair looks slightly damp as if he too just got out of the bath. He has simultaneously strong, yet delicate features, with his straight nose and soft lips. His hand is raised, still posed to knock on my door.