Upon entering my chamber, I discovered a box swathed in a luxurious purple silk cover, bound with a ribbon of gleaming gold. A note from Theodore laid beside it. I picked up the note and read his words: “These should fit you quite well.” I furrowed my brows, puzzled by how swiftly this gift had materialized. I’d only just left his office.

  Unwrapping the box, I revealed a pair of delicate ballet shoes. I sighed, took them in hand, and sat down on my bed. As I gazed at them, I slipped off my heels and carefully put them on. Securing the straps around my ankles, I flexed my feet up and down. Standing up, I started to get a feel for them. The fabric was incredibly smooth and gentle against my skin as if the shoes themselves were extending a warm embrace to my feet.

  I began to stretch and practice, making the most of the little time I had. When Jace barged in, I was on the floor, face flushed and perspiring.

  “What in the world are you doing?” she exclaimed, holding a formal gown high above her head.

  “What does it look like?” I retorted, breathless.

  She regarded me with an odd expression before stating, “Oh no, honey, get up and freshen yourself. I am preparing you for tonight.”

  “Must I?” I grumbled.

  “Unless you’d like to disrupt unity, I strongly suggest you comply.”

  I rolled my eyes and rose from the floor, my feet throbbing. I moved to remove the shoes, but she swatted my hands away.

  “Keep them on; you’ll need them for tonight.”

  I closed my eyes briefly before heading to the wash basin to clean up. After an hour of meticulous preparation, I stole a glance in the mirror to assess my appearance. I felt like Cinderella.

  My gown was a tapestry of gold, woven with threads of dreams. The fabric flowed in gentle waves, capturing the light in a thousand shimmering facets. Each fold and pleat seemed to dance with a life of its own as if the very fibers were enchanted.

  The bodice was a masterpiece, sculpted to perfection, tracing the delicate curve of my form. It was adorned with intricate beadwork, golden sequins catching and reflecting the light like a thousand tiny stars. They twinkled and sparkled, casting a celestial glow around me. Delicate lace framed my collarbones, adding a touch of ethereal grace.

  The skirt billowed out in a cascade of golden waves, pooling around my feet like a river of liquid sunlight. It seemed to flow and ebb with every step I took, a testament to the skill Jace had poured into her craft. As I moved, the gown seemed to sigh and breathe, a living, breathing extension of who I was. My hair was swept up in an intricate coiffure, a tiara of diamonds sparkled atop my head like a crown.

  Staring in the mirror, my eyes glittered with a mischievous sparkle, and my lips were painted a shade of red that seemed to match the fiery passion burning within me. As I glided through the ballroom, I left a trail of awed gazes in my wake. The gold gown seemed to command the very essence of luxury, a vision of regal splendor that left no doubt in anyone’s mind - I was the belle of the ball, a living embodiment of how Theodore envisioned me.

  Theodore caught sight of me and with a fellow man at his side, he gestured for him to follow toward me. When they reached me, I smiled at the two of them.

  “This here,” Theodore introduced me, “is Madeline Rimes, my favor for our performance tonight.”

  The man introduced himself, clearly awed by my presence. “I am Napoleon Trotsky.” He gestured to a younger woman about my age, and as soon as she made her way to me, he introduced her, “This is my beloved daughter, Claudine Trotsky.”

  I smiled at her, saying, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Claudine, Napoleon.”

  “The pleasure is mine,” Claudine sweetly replied in her gentle voice. “I imagine a beauty like this has already met my dear Luminous.” She glanced around the ballroom and added, “Where is my fiancé, by the way?”

  I nearly choked on air. Fiancé? This was Claudine, the one Aeromonas had mentioned when Theodore unapologetically informed us of our impending marriages. Oh, my goodness. Either Theodore wanted this polygamous arrangement, or he hadn’t informed Napoleon that Luminous was now betrothed to me instead of Claudine. Did she know?

  My breath shuddered. I didn’t want this drama. I was being thrust into it. I looked over Theodore’s shoulder and noticed Pauline in conversation with Douglas and some other servants. My eyes widened, and I hoped she would feel them on her, but she didn’t. Just as the music began to play, the guests, servants, and favors all started to dance in harmony. I was left in the midst of it all, without a dance partner.

  Then, suddenly, Luminous emerged from the crowd.

  Reaching me, he quickly took my hand and placed his other on the small of my back, drawing me closer. We began to dance, his voice instructing, “Follow my lead.”

  “What if I didn’t want to dance?” I retorted, my tone laced with the sour taste of the news I’d just received.

  “You can thank me later for saving you from the embarrassment.”

  “I don’t need your saving ...”

  He swiftly twirled me around, then, I stopped with my hand on his chest as he said, “I see you are bothered.”

  I furrowed my brows, feeling his hand press into my back again. “And I see you have a fiancée. Claudine.” He smirked, and I continued, “Are you relishing the idea of having two wives? One willing, and the other coerced?”

  He twirled me around again, and this time, my back met his chest as he grabbed my waist, whispering in my ear, “Have you only been paying attention to one side, or are you unwilling to hear the other side of things?”

  I faced him again, this time, eerily close. “I don’t care to know.”

  Once more, he smiled that enigmatic smile, and as the music shifted to a somber symphony, with sudden intensity, he cupped my face in his hands and kissed me deeply, the moment lingering with surprise.

  My eyes widened, and just as I was about to pull away from him, he deftly manipulated something on my skirt and spun me out of it, releasing my hand. In my romantic tutu, I quickly realized that a single spotlight had illuminated the center where I stood, poised and ready. I let out a breath and closed my eyes for a moment before reopening them. The floor was bathed in a soft, ethereal glow, casting long, graceful shadows on the worn wooden surface. My shoes whispered against it as I moved with deliberate precision.

  The haunting strains of the melancholic piano melody fill the air, setting the exact mood for my performance. My body began to sway, my movements fluid and seamless. Every gesture was a story of my past, every step a revelation being told.

  My arms extend, fingers reaching out to an invisible force, as if beckoning my Lord. With each leap and pirouette, I defied gravity, challenging the limitations of my body. My feet barely touched the ground, leaving behind a trail of stardust.

  As the music increased, so did the intensity of my performance. I spun faster and faster, a whirlwind of motion and anger toward this wretched place. My eyes were closed, lost in the dance.

  Suddenly, I froze, suspended in mid-air, as if my body remembered it arched in an impossible position. Time seemed to stand still, allowing the guests to absorb the artistry before them. With a gentle descent, I landed on my toes, a final, breathtaking moment of stillness.

  The music faded, leaving only the echo of its melancholy refrain as a single tear glided down my blush-stained cheek.

  The guest erupted with claps and awe as I caught my breath. Unbelieving what I just did, I ran from the ballroom as the people turned to Theodore to praise him for such entertainment. I clashed my back against the wall as I tried to gasp for air. Tears continued to stream down my cheeks as my finger grazed my lips to the thought of Luminous’s kiss. Was that the cue to start? I thought to myself, panicking within.

  I heard the approaching footsteps and hastily tried to wipe away my tears, assuming it was him, or perhaps Pauline. To my surprise, it was Claudine, her face contorted with anger, followed closely by Aeromonas. As Claudine neared, she drew her hand back and delivered a stinging slap across my cheek.

  “Who do you think you are?” she seethed, her eyes boring into mine. “He is mine!”

  I cradled my cheek, raising my eyebrows as she turned triumphantly and retreated back into the ballroom.

  Aeromonas, wearing a wicked smirk, taunted, “Oh, honey. This ... oh, my goodness …” She chuckled under her breath, “I am going to thoroughly enjoy watching the two of you tear each other apart.” She turned away, her laughter echoing through the hall.

  I clenched my fist, casting one last glance at the ballroom before I fled. I ran until I reached the stairs leading to the roof. I ascended them, my feet struggling to keep up with my pace. I burst through the window, the wind biting at my skin as I caught my breath.

  Standing at the edge of the roof, I paused, the height taking my breath away. I removed the hairpiece from my hair, feeling the strands cascade down my back. I should have taken Luminous’s offer to leave. I should have gone. This wasn’t worth it. My suffering was only escalating. I clenched my fist and screamed as loudly as I could into the wind. “God, please get me out of here!”

  The night after Luminous’s lips met mine in front of everyone, Claudine made the decision to stay. Embracing unity seemed to come naturally to her. Her desires and determination toward him had overshadowed any longing for earthly freedom. According to Douglas, she’d visited this place numerous times with her parents. Each time, she’d leave with a look of pure admiration for him. I also discovered that due to Napolean’s involvement in the drug trade, he and Theodore had struck a deal regarding his daughter’s future. If Luminous and Claudine were to marry, Napolean would agree to work for Theodore.

  “That is all … ,” Douglas said.

  Stupid girl, I thought to myself. She’s never truly experienced all that this place has to offer. Then again, Clyde has, and he’s still around. I sighed, queasiness overwhelming my gut at the thought of a puppy love sacrifice.

  I considered making a sly comment but reminded myself that gossiping wasn’t okay. Instead, I said, “Geez, that’s insane …” I glanced at Douglas and chuckled slightly at the strand of reed swaying in his face as he held a book that made my brain ache. “By the way, what are you reading?”

  “J-just nonsense,” he stammered, closing the book. “You w-wouldn’t be interested.”

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  I leaned in closer and said, “There is a way out, and if you help me, we are going to save the pregnant women.”

  He whipped his head toward me, his eyes widening, and he blurted out a question: “Are you mad, Maddy?”

  “Douglas …”

  “N-no.” He raised his hand before standing up. “T-this will be?.”

  “Saving their lives, and those of their unborn children.”

  “T-T-they will search for them.”

  “They won’t find them.”

  “How do y-y-you know that?”

  “I just do.” I paused, staring at him, then asked, “Do you trust me?”

  He furrowed his eyebrows and rubbed his neck. “You did m-m-make me a favor.”

  “Think about it, then meet me tomorrow on the roof. If anyone asks, Douglas, we spoke about the book of nonsense.” He nodded with a quiet laugh, and I left his side.

  Fear crept over me, but I knew I had to ignore it. I couldn’t let them die. I couldn’t stand by knowing that abortions were going to happen, and the mothers knew nothing about it because they were being deceived.

  Filling my lungs with the garden air, I walked around the bushes and plants, thinking about how I would do it. They were in a secure place, undoubtedly guarded day in and day out by keepers. As I sat down and played with a twig, twirling it around with my fingers, I continued to question God. How will I find them? Did she even take my warning seriously? I mean, if she didn’t take it seriously, then Theodore would have beckoned me by now, right?

  I picked a daisy from the field and remembered the time after school, Abby and I went to the fields. We laid in the thickets, and as I watched her sit up and pluck a daisy from the ground, she turned to me with a big smile on her face, saying, “Do you ever think of the verse about how God clothed the flowers of the field?” She held the daisy to her nose and smelled it, saying, “It’s so reassuring to know that if He can care about a flower so much, adorning it with beauty, think about how much more he cares for us.” She started to pluck the daisies one by one and then placed them into the center of her palm.

  “He loves me not; he loves me so,” she spoke, giggling playfully. She pulled the last one off and said, “He loves me so.” All I could do was smile as I watched her blow them into the wind. She said, “Deuteronomy 31:6: ‘Be courageous and not afraid of them. For the Lord goes with you, He will never leave you nor forsake you.’”

  I wiped my tear off my cheek and started to pluck the daisy petals, repeating Abigail’s steps.

  “He loves me not. He loves me so…” Plucking the last petal out, I whispered under my breath, “He loves me so.” A build-up of water overflowed my vision, and I couldn’t help but to gasp out a cry. “I loved her so.” I pressed my lips together, sniffling as I continued to wipe the tears from my face.

  I placed my hands on the ground and looked toward the sky, exhaling. “He loves me so.” It was quiet except for the distant murmurs. Until I heard a twig snap.

  “So, what? Do you have a boy back where you’re from?”

  Swiftly, I looked in front of me. “Aeromonas.”

  She walked closer to me and strangely, out of nowhere she asked, “Where are you from?”

  What? I thought. What is happening? I cleared my throat and replied, “I am from a state called California.”

  She tilted her head. “Ah, I see. And is it like here?”

  I didn’t know how to answer that question because nothing could be like there. “There are crazy amounts of people, more animals, more plant life. Mountains, waterfalls, amusement parks. There is so much more than just this.”

  “Are there horses, like in the picture books?”

  I blinked repeatedly before I remembered Luminous said they were born here and that this was all they had ever known. I nodded and answered, “Yes, with long, beautifully flowing manes.”

  “Ah, I see.”

  Out of nowhere, within my heart, one would think this visitation was innocent. For once, I was unfathomably surprised that she’d decided to have a pleasant conversation with me instead of slashing out thick regurgitating words or even sometimes physical abuse. My heart had sympathy for her for some reason, just like Luminous. They didn’t choose this; they weren’t in the system. If this was all they’d ever known, how could they be at fault for their actions?

  “And ?” in a soft voice she said, “— this is none of my business, but um, can I know why you were crying?”

  Am I asleep? Did my crying put me to sleep? Is she really trying to have a peaceful conversation with me as if we’ve become friends?

  I shrugged but kept my guard. I answered her, “I am homesick, and I miss my best friend. Well, deceased now.”

  “What happened to her?”

  I hesitated to tell her. I didn’t want to tell her anything because I hadn’t liked her to begin with. What reward would I gain telling her this? She leaned in a little, waiting for my reply.

  “She was murdered.” My tears formed walls of water again. I ducked my head, rubbing my eyes quickly before I said, “It’s hard to talk about.”

  She watched me like an experiment. Then, she got up and started to walk away from me.

  “Is that all you wanted, a chat?”

  She turned her head to me, and replied, “I was coming here to hurt you.”

  “What stopped you?”

  “Your tears.”

  “Why do you hate me so much, Aeromonas?”

  She puckered her lips for a second, turning back around as she answered. “You are not my sister. You never will be. As for my father, you’re his favorite pet. Ever since you’ve arrived, he’s pushed me aside and I … ,” she paused, then said, “hate you for it. Luminous sees you as a plaything, and Claudine, well, let’s just say, she has it out for you ever since my foolish brother kissed you.” There was a dark look in her eyes when she said, “Every day, I will cause you pain. Every day, I will seek to cause you harm.” A thin smile curved over her mouth, and her eyes were full of malice, saying, “Not even Luminous can stop it.”

  “You think I depend on him to save me?”

  “You did at the choosing.”

  “I realized that was a mistake.”

  “If I can’t see your heart on the pedestal, favor. Then I will make you wish for it.”

  I couldn’t help the sarcasm leaving my lips, “Here I thought we were making progress sister-in-law.” Her antagonizing propelled anger in me as I felt my cheeks reddening. “If you’re done with your threats, leave me alone.” I got up and walked away from her, making sure I brushed her shoulder on the way out of the garden.

  I took a deep breath, feeling utterly foolish. It was clear that Aeromonas was there to make me miserable. Thinking more on the subject, I had options: I could tell her father or tell Luminous. I could try to stop her myself or let it happen and just try to get through to her. Something within me told me she wanted to cause pain because she was in pain herself.

  The bell rang, signaling that it was time for dinner. Every servant and favor were checked at the door before we were allowed to enter the dining hall. I took my place, steeling myself for whatever was going to happen next. I could already feel the tension in the air as I began to gather my food.

  Suddenly, I heard Luminous clear his throat.

  I looked up and saw Claudine’s arm, not resting against her body, but rather positioned on his. With a swift movement, he moved her hand away from him. I could tell by the way she quickly put it behind her neck, then moved it to her hair, pulling it back behind her ear, that she was embarrassed. This wasn’t a good sign for me.

  Her cold gaze swiftly moved to mine and she clenched her jaw before looking away to engage in conversation with Aeromonas. The air was growing tense, and my chest tightened. He was avoiding her, for me.

  In normal circumstances, I would have taken that as a compliment. But he didn’t know about the slap she had delivered to my face as she claimed him as hers. He didn’t know that every dismissal from him toward her would cause me suffering in the long run. Why must you make things so much harder for me? I thought to myself as if I was speaking to him as if he could hear me telepathically. Just give her what you both wanted before I was forced here. It’s that simple, Luminous.

  Pain must have painted my features given the look Luminous gave me, as if he could relate. I sighed under my breath, hesitant to eat. Nausea started to set in as my face began to tingle — a clear sign of an impending panic attack. Suddenly, Theodore leaned toward me and placed his hand over mine.

  He said, “Pictures didn’t do you justice the night you performed.”

  I swallowed hard and replied, “I was afraid I’d make a fool of myself, but it was as if my body never forgot the language of it.”

  “I was thoroughly pleased.” He smiled at me, then brought his wine glass to his mouth and took a sip. “Would you do me a favor, Favor?” I nodded as he made his request, “Perform before each choosing.”

  “Doesn’t the choosing start early?”

  “It does, however, I believe it’s best to change things up and make it more enjoyable for the guests.”

  “And that requires me to perform every two weeks?”

  He gave a light laugh before responding, “It will keep you busy.”

  I raised an eyebrow, thinking to myself that it might just make me sick of it, to the point where I never wanted to step into another pair of ballet shoes again. Sharply, I said, “Won’t the guests get tired of seeing the same girl every two weeks?”

  He shook his head once. “That’s why you will have a group underneath you.”

  I moistened my lips and blinked, before I said, “All right, I’ll perform every two weeks.”

  “Thank you, Madeline.” He let out a sigh and said, “Very well, I bid you, my children, a goodnight.”

  “Thank you and goodnight, Master,” they all replied.

  As we all rose to head to our chambers, the stairwells called to me once more. Alone, I strode down the eerie halls while servants and favors retreated into their chambers. I passed an unfamiliar corridor glancing down it for a moment my breathing hastened.

  Two silhouettes caught my eye, one pressed against the other. When Claudine’s voice reached my ears, I quickly pivoted and pressed my back against the outer wall, hoping to remain unnoticed. Why did I care? Why was I eavesdropping? I guess I had to do these things in order to be one step ahead of them.

  “I feel like you don’t even notice me, Luminous, ever since I arrived here, you’ve been distant,” Claudine lamented.

  Luminous replied, “I have been lost in my own thoughts, Claudine. You’ve been gone for over a month. Things have changed.”

  She scoffed under her breath, “Do you have a thing for the favor? Did her performance captivate you, Luminous?”

  He sighed, “This conversation is over.”

  I heard his footsteps start to move away until they stopped abruptly. Claudine rushed toward him before she insisted, “You proposed to me! We made memories here, starstruck, and unforgettable. Now, because of her, you reject me.”

  “Step out of my way,” he demanded.

  “No,” she muttered, “things haven’t changed, you have.” I peered over the entrance to the corridor, witnessing her caressing his face as she pleaded with him to talk to her.

  He removed her hand from his face forcefully before saying, “I don’t want to marry you, Claudine. However, I know someone who does. Why don’t the two of you get married instead?”

  “What are you talking about?” she asked, clearly taken aback.

  Raising my brows in surprise, I watched as he calmly revealed, “Clyde.”

  Stunned by his statement, she stammered, “He’s lying. He’s just jealous of you, Luminous.”

  “Just like you are with her.”

  “She’s a nobody. My father would never leave his daughter here if I wasn’t someone of importance.”

  He gave a light laugh toward her response as if he didn’t care, then said, “You have no idea what you’ve stepped into. However, you will find out.” With nothing left to say, he stepped away from her and continued down the hall.

  Realizing he was coming toward me, I gasped and quickly made my way to the stairwell. It felt like I’d narrowly dodged a bullet. I stood against the wall, preparing to sit on the first step.

  In an unexpected motion, a man swiftly placed his hands on the wall above my shoulders, preventing me from escaping. My heart raced, a mix of surprise and anticipation coursing through me. I jumped and gasped, only to realize it was Luminous. I sighed. “Ugh. Don’t do that.”

  He just looked at me, his gaze intense, and tilted his head as he said, “Do you always eavesdrop, Favor?”

  I glanced around and tried to evade his piercing eyes as I replied, “I was on my way here. Stumbling upon it is different than being nosy.”

  “How much did you hear?”

  I shrugged my shoulders, then looked down. “I’d rather not say.”

  He exhaled, his hand falling to his side, and confusion danced in his eyes as he softly asked, “Why couldn’t you just leave when I gave you a chance.”

  “It’s complicated.”

  “Nothing is simple anymore.”

  As if compelled by some unseen force, I bit my lip and furrowed my brows, the words escaping before I could stop them, “Just marry her, Luminous.”

  “I can’t,” he refused.

  “Everything will go back to being simple if you just follow through with what you’d originally planned.” I knew my words might not be enough to sway him. “I already have Aeromonas up my back, I don’t need her trying to climb, too. If you keep her happy, she will stay away from me.”

  “Where did your selflessness go?” He hesitated, then with a low, mirthless laugh, he mused, “You want me to suffer for the sake of you?”

  “See,” I raised my brows for a moment before adding, “it’s that simple.”

  Without a reply, he held my gaze, and then slowly, almost hesitantly, he raised his hand toward my face. I blinked as his fingertips grazed my cheek. My body seemed to forget how to move as if my feet had lost their purpose. I pursed my lips slightly, a small gasp escaping.

  “You feel it,” his voice, barely above a whisper, drew near, “as much as I do.”

  I couldn’t put a name to the emotions swirling inside me, except for one: fantasize. Quickly, I touched the back of his hand and turned my head away, murmuring, “It’s only you, Luminous.”

  He gently guided me to look at him again, his eyes searching mine. “The night I kissed you was for the performance, but I must admit, after it was done, it sent electricity through me.” I clenched my jaws, struggling to resist his magnetic pull as he confessed, “I have kissed other women before, and none have made my lips feel the way they did when they touched yours.”

  Suddenly, seeming bothered, he admitted, “It is a constant on my mind – I …” The words hung in the air, pregnant with tension, before he succumbed to their pull, his lips meeting mine. I’d intended to resist with every fiber of my being but an inexplicable sensation pulsed through me, drawing me closer. As our lips intertwined, he moved his hand to the back of my neck, intensifying the kiss.

  Just as abruptly, my resistance surged back, overpowering the desire. I gasped, a wave of unfamiliar dizziness washing over me as I pushed him back and turned away from him, my feet finding their purpose as I hastened back to my chamber.

  Slamming the door behind me, I pressed my trembling body against it, breaths coming in ragged bursts. No, no, I thought to myself, that is not my desire. That was temptation. That was him weaving fantasies in my mind. I slid down the door, hands over my head, wrestling with the disorienting reality of it all. God, I am starting to wonder what is really real…