The ballet studio’s mahogany floors and sparkling white walls bathed the room in shining light. The ladies and gentlemen lined up in formation, ready to present themselves before the towering mirrors that stood against the walls.

  I instructed firmly, “Plie, plie, plie,” snapping my fingers with each count, “one, two, three, four, five. Then, an arabesque, plie, and a pirouette.” I shook my head once, saying, “It’s not that difficult, everyone …” Then I resumed the music and reiterated the steps, scrutinizing their movements and adjusting some postures. “There you go, envision yourself as a swan. Emulate its gracefulness in every position —”

  The timer sounded, drawing my attention toward the door. I switched off the music and grabbed my towel and water bottle. “All right, go get dressed, and remember to present yourselves with eloquence. The choosing is coming up, which means it’s our debut. Let’s not keep the master waiting, and most importantly, let’s not bring any embarrassment upon him.”

  The ladies and gentlemen filed out of the door as I wiped the sweat from my neck with the towel. I took a sip of water, then placed the remote atop the stereo.

  Leaving the room, I made my way to my chamber to rejuvenate. Tonight’s gown was a resplendent gold, elegantly sweeping the floor, adorned with a daring slit and delicate short sleeves that formed a flattering V-neck. With care, I released the curls from my hair, allowing them to cascade freely. A quiet rustle emanated from the vanity as I retrieved a dainty floral hairpin. Gently gathering the locks on the right side of my head, near my ear, I delicately secured it in place, adding a touch of ethereal charm.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Pauline’s head shaking, disappointment etched on her features, her disdain barely concealed in an under-the-breath scoff.

  I tightened my expression and turned to her, my voice tinged with exasperation, “What’s your issue? What have I done to you?”

  “Nothing,” she retorted with a nonchalant shrug. “Absolutely freaking nothing.”

  “Then find a corner to sulk in, Pauline. I don’t have the time to cater to your mood today.”

  “Fine, maybe I will. Maybe I’ll even tell Douglas,” she huffed.

  “Seriously, there’s no Douglas. There never has been. You really should let the master know what’s going on.”

  “I can’t believe it,” she spat out, her eyes welling up. “How did this happen to you? To you! You let it in.”

  “You’re the one seeing people who aren’t there! Just like Luminous, you think you know me when you don’t!”

  “He was here,” she insisted, her gaze intense. Her words caught in her throat, her eyes brimming with tears as she said, “And they bur —”

  I raised my hand, pressing my lips together in a bid to quell her fantastical claims. “That’s enough. You refuse to seek help, so I want you out of my chamber, and out of my life. I don’t care where you go, but I need you far away from me.”

  “You want me —” Pauline began, but she halted herself, her fists clenching against her dress. She stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

  A sigh escaped me, my brows furrowing in frustration. She really knows how to push my buttons, I mused inwardly. I almost reached up to massage my temples for a moment of solace, but then thought better of it, not wanting to disrupt my carefully arranged look. Instead, I inhaled deeply and murmured, “You’ve got this, Madaline.”

  With a final assessing glance at my reflection, I headed to the dining hall for dinner.

  Sitting beside the master, I offered a warm smile. “You look splendid tonight, Master.”

  He returned the smile. “You as well, Madaline.”

  I glanced at Luminous who was next to me and sensed an air of brooding around him. Sabrina sat gracefully at his side, while Aeromonas enjoyed eating her meal in Claudine’s spot.

  “I have a request,” I said.

  “Yes,” Theodore replied, taking a bite of his steak.

  “I would like a room of my own.”

  “Ah, is this what Pauline desires, too?” he asked.

  I looked at her, expression neutral. She swallowed hard, then lowered her head with a subdued, “Yes.”

  “We can make arrangements for that,” Theodore decided.

  “Thank you, Master,” I expressed my gratitude before turning my attention back to my meal.

  Luminous chuckled under his breath, his tone dripping with disdain. “What a joke,” he remarked, tossing his napkin onto the table and rising from his seat. He strode over to his father with a determined expression. “You make people forget, do it to me. I’d rather forget everything I know than sit and watch her mouth water over you.”

  “Is that truly what you wish, Luminous? To forget it all?” Theodore inquired, his voice tinged with concern.

  Luminous nodded firmly. “Yes.”

  Setting his fork down, Theodore rose from his seat. Aeromonas laughed scornfully, rolling her eyes. “Ah, stupid brother. Don’t you know we always win?”

  Theodore placed a hand on Luminous’s shoulder, then pressed two fingers to his temple. In a sudden move, he shifted his hands to Luminous’s neck, and slammed him against the table with force.

  A gasp escaped my lips as I was overwhelmed by a vision of Luminous grasping my throat, his hands closing around my neck. Dropping my utensils, I clutched at my throat, struggling to breathe. Oh, my gosh, what is this? I thought, panic rising within me.

  Theodore leaned in close to Luminous, a gentle smile gracing his lips. “My silly son, what is there to forget? She is right here in front of you,” he murmured softly, his words meant only for Luminous’s ears. Whatever he whispered next remained a mystery to me as I watched, but it seemed to have a profound effect on Luminous.

  Releasing his grip on Luminous, Theodore straightened up and announced, “Good night, my children.”

  “Good night, Master,” we replied in unison.

  As the others began to disperse, I caught Pauline’s eye. Her expression spoke volumes, filled with a sadness that mirrored my own. With a heavy heart, she rose from her seat and departed silently.

  Turning my attention to Luminous, I couldn’t hold back the question any longer. “What is it that you’re looking for in me, that makes you so desperate to leave your position, if you don’t have me the way you want me?” I asked, the uncertainty evident in my voice.

  Luminous rose to his feet, shaking off the remnants of his meal from his clothes. “I thought I knew,” he confessed, his tone tinged with regret. “I was wrong.” With those words, he turned to leave, offering a curt, “Good night, Madaline. Our betrothal is over – he got what he wanted.”

  As he walked away, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of confusion mingled with a flicker of hope. He’d finally addressed me by my true name. What had transpired between him and his father? Had the master finally succeeded in restoring his mind? The suddenness of it all left me pondering, and I found myself wishing fervently that he would extend the same grace to Pauline.

  *

  The anticipation hummed in the air, a palpable energy that swept through the audience. Conversations ebbed and flowed, chuckles and throat-clearing punctuating the atmosphere. Then, a hush fell like a spell as we remained poised in our places. With a nod to the keeper, I felt the curtains parting, a rush of breath as they separated.

  A regal lift of my chin marked the beginning, an introduction known as the Assemble. The music unfurled, the violin’s notes weaving a tender embrace. In harmonious synchrony, we flowed from plie to assemble, twirling through pirouettes and striking graceful attitudes. The music surged, the bass and violin in perfect union, as the drums thundered their rhythmic heartbeat.

  A collective gasp seemed to dance on the air as, in a breathless moment, both music and movement halted. The piano’s plaintive melody began, guiding our pirouettes, weaving us in a swan-like ballet. I nestled in the circle, the women a whirlwind of motion around me.

  My breath danced on the edge of exhaustion, waiting for the cascade of women like ribbons toward the floor. Then the music surged, reaching its crescendo, and I burst forth in a lightning-fast arabesque turn. Curled in a graceful arc, I spun, a top gaining speed. Finally, as if in slow motion, I eased into stillness, one leg outstretched, hands cradling my chest.

  Silence gripped the room, a suspended breath, before an explosion of applause erupted. We bowed, smiles illuminating our faces.

  Gasping for breath, I moistened my lips, scanning the crowd. Every face, a canvas of awe, drank in our performance. My gaze found Luminous, his smile a beacon of approval, hands clapping with gusto. Then, Theodore. His nod and smile sent my heart soaring.

  As the curtains drew close, we poured out of the performance room, jubilant, a chorus of elation echoing in the halls.

  We mingled with the audience as one typically would after a performance. I glanced around, my hand resting on my neck, when I felt a touch on my right elbow.

  I turned and saw Theodore. “Master,” I said, offering him a smile as I inquired, “was our performance to your liking?”

  “Mm, indeed.” He placed his hand on my left shoulder and squeezed gently, remarking, “So much so that the audience will be even larger next time.”

  “My goodness,” I said, and looked down briefly, then met his gaze again. “Won’t we grow weary, Master? Every choosing is quite demanding, wouldn’t you say?”

  He furrowed his brows, pondering for a moment before he replied, “Well, the orchestra did such a splendid job tonight. We should allow them their moment of glory, don’t you think?”

  “Thank you,” I said warmly. “My feet owe you.”

  “Ah, I remember, you wanted to speak with me about something important, so meet me in my office tomorrow. Goodnight, daughter. You performed exceptionally well.”

  “Yes, spectacular!” A woman approached, addressing Theodore, wearing a necklace that read ‘angel’.

  I let out a small laugh, and just as I was about to express my gratitude, a previously unfamiliar memory played out before me.

  “Angels! Maddy, don’t you wish you could see one?”

  “Yes, but you know how spirituality is, Abigail,” I said, laughing before continuing, “it is the unseen until you ...”

  “Seek!”

  I gasped, snapping back to reality with wide eyes.

  “Are you all right?” Channing asked, concern evident in his voice. “You suddenly went pale.”

  I swallowed and shook my head vigorously. Meeting his gaze, I replied, “That was strange ... ,” I cleared my throat. “But, yes, I’m fine. All that spinning got to my head.”

  “Would you like a glass of water?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  He gently took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze as I placed my other hand on his chest. He kissed my forehead, and then I left to change.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  As I navigated through the crowd, the sound of my own breath filled my ears. Abigail. Who is she? I rubbed my eyebrow for a moment, letting my hand fall back to my waist as I quickened my pace toward my chamber. Why did her name evoke such strong emotions in me? Who is Abigail?

  I walked into my chamber, and as I was about to get dressed, I heard Luminous’s voice along with Pauline’s. Intrigued, I halted my actions and discreetly made my way into my wardrobe, leaving a slight opening to observe and listen to their conversation.

  “Let it go, Luminous. She is gone,” Pauline’s voice sounded resigned as she settled on my bed. “Our Madeline is gone,” she added, her tone heavy with sorrow. “I can’t even believe I am saying ‘our.’”

  Luminous’s expression turned somber as he replied, “I think I’ve earned to be in that category, considering the two of you schemed a plan against me to make me fall in love with her, just to change my heart to find a way out of this place.”

  “Well, when you put it like that – it seems harsher than it really was,” Pauline retorted.

  “Have I forgiven her for it?” Luminous questioned bitterly. “That is why I’m begging you to pray to Him to get her out of the state she’s in. So, I can tell her how big of an asshole plan that was.”

  “God isn’t a genie, Luminous. He can’t control her decisions. Yes, He is in control, but when it comes to choices, He lets us make them on our own. I’m just trusting His plan, in as much patience as I can have with how she is now,” Pauline reasoned.

  Luminous folded his arms, pacing my room in agitation. “Our betrothal is over. She is my father’s puppet, looking up to Aeromonas, and to make matters worse, she has her eyes on Channing – ugh ...”

  “No,” Pauline interjected, rising to her feet and pointing at him. “I know what you will do. Don’t hurt Chad. He’s innocent in this, he didn’t choose to forget, he was forced.”

  “Just like Madeline,” Luminous added.

  Pauline shook her head. “She chose, she said yes, we both heard it.”

  “After watching Douglas burn when you thought you’d saved his life – anyone would want to forget that reality,” Luminous replied solemnly.

  “She still chose to forget over believing that God could heal her from it!” Pauline exclaimed, frustration evident in her voice. She raised her hands, then slapped them down her sides, adding, “I can still smell his burning flesh in my nose.”

  “What’s done is done – we can’t change the past. I just want her back, Pauline. Fix it,” Luminous pleaded.

  She shook her head, rolling her eyes with an attitude as she replied, “It isn’t that simple.”

  Luminous stepped closer to her, his tone determined. “I will tear this place apart if I have to – I will follow everything from the beginning if I have to, to get her to remember.”

  Raising a brow, Pauline responded, “Like shredding her dress? How well did that work for you?”

  He scratched his jaw, frustration evident in his movements. “If she really doesn’t love me, Pauline, there is nothing I can do to help her – it won’t be that impactful.”

  “I didn’t say she doesn’t really love you. I don’t know how she really feels about you,” Pauline said, her tone softening. She hesitated, placing her hands on her head before continuing, “There is one name I know for sure that could kickstart her remembrance –” Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door. Pauline responded, “Yes.”

  Luminous’s expression shifted to one of jealous irritation. “What do you want?” he demanded.

  Pauline held her hand up toward Luminous, apologizing, “Sorry, Channing, about his behavior. What is it I can do for you?”

  “Has Madaline been through here? The performance made her dizzy, so, I figured I would check here first before I looked elsewhere,” Channing inquired.

  “No, we haven’t seen her,” Pauline replied, “I’m sorry.”

  “All right then,” Channing said before the door closed shut. Luminous then turned to Pauline.

  “I don’t care what it takes. I’m getting her back – do what you have to do,” Luminous declared before leaving.

  Shortly after, Pauline followed suit.

  Emerging from the wardrobe, I quickly got dressed and hurried out of the room. My mind was a whirlwind of confusion; I couldn’t think straight.

  Clearly, what they were discussing was significant, but I struggled to understand its importance. Why did I need to remember? What was so crucial about it?

  I saw Channing amongst the crowd and grabbed his hand. “Sorry it took so long, I was,” I cleared my throat, saying, “figuring some things out.” As if the conversation between Pauline and Luminous never happened, I turned and looked over my shoulder to see Luminous smiling at a servant, who was quite pretty. I didn’t know who she was, yet did I really care? I was glad he was moving on – a part of me, however, didn’t like it.

  Aeromonas introduced me to Channing, saying we came here together and that since my betrothal was over, I should give other people a chance. She said, in her exact words, ‘To taste the lips of another is to forget the former.’ Channing had blonde hair, blue eyes, a long jaw, with a slim but muscular body. He was sweet, but did I see my life here with him? No, he was a servant. However, I intended for that to change.

  I plumped my lips with my teeth, then walked over to Aeromonas. She smiled at me, then grabbed my waist and pulled me closer to her side.

  “What can I do for you?” she asked.

  “Who is Luminous with?” I replied.

  “Oh, that is Stacy. He was an old fling before you got here and stirred the place with your pretty head.”

  “Stacy, Mhm.”

  “Why do you ask? Aren’t you with Channing?”

  “He’s great. Really sweet.” However, I was finding I was too calm with sweet; it wasn’t a rush. The rush I was looking for – when Luminous had tried to win me back.

  “What’s the trouble then?” she asked.

  “There is none, that’s the dilemma.”

  She laughed under her breath. “Do you want me to get Stacy out of the way?”

  Yes, maybe. I hesitated, thinking: would it be right to want someone back who obviously wanted the old version of me? “No,” I said, then I sighed and said, “Yes.” My final answer.

  Aeromonas smiled and said, “She is a servant. Father doesn’t care too much about servants. Those are easy to replace.” She added, “However, I want something in return.”

  “Okay.”

  “I want you to put me back in my daddy’s heart. I want to be the heir of this place.”

  I chuckled, saying, “How am I supposed to do that?”

  “You’ll find a way.” She kissed my cheek, then left me.

  As the night drew to a close and people began to leave, I couldn’t help but look at Luminous one more time. His yearning eyes were on me and Channing, and then he left with the servant. It stirred up conflicting emotions within me. On one hand, I felt a pang of longing for the intense connection we once shared, but on the other hand, I knew that things could never go back to the way they were.

  I turned my attention back to Channing, trying to find comfort in his embrace, but it just wasn’t the same. Despite his kindness and sweetness, there was a void that only Luminous seemed to fill.

  As I reflected on Aeromonas’s proposition, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. The idea of manipulating relationships and using others for personal gain didn’t sit well with me. But then again, in this place where power and influence were everything, maybe it was necessary to play the game to survive. Lost in my thoughts, I knew that the days ahead would bring more challenges and decisions to make. But for now, I tried to focus on the present and navigate the complicated dynamics of this world as best as I could.

  Channing walked me to my room, and we didn’t talk much because for some reason all I could do was think about what he was doing with that servant. Without warning, I grasped Channing’s face and kissed him, hoping every single kiss would be the same, but it wasn’t.

  He pulled back and blushed. “Well, that came out of nowhere.”

  I laughed under my breath, suddenly feeling embarrassed. “I’m sorry.”

  “No, don’t be. It’s exactly what I needed to end the night.” He kissed me one more time before he left.

  I felt my lips, feeling utterly nothing. I slid my tongue over my teeth and disappointingly sighed under my breath. Entering my room, I began to undress, slipping into my nightgown. Making my way to the vanity, I started to brush my hair. As I worked, I heard the door open, and I glanced over to see Pauline entering. She didn’t turn or say anything to me; instead, she settled onto her bed and retrieved a book from her end table, becoming engrossed in its pages.

  I couldn’t help but notice a glimmering ‘H.’ My vision wasn’t the best, and I despised my inability to see things from a distance. I squinted my eyes and discerned a sparkling ‘B’ before she turned on her side, taking the book with her. I bit my lip, absentmindedly running my fingers through my hair, and considering whether I should ask her about the book. I furrowed my brows and rolled my eyes at my own hesitation. No, I kicked her out of my room. She probably resents me for it now, and from what I heard earlier with Luminous, she wouldn’t even try to indulge my curiosity.

  A flicker of guilt struck my heart from the way I’d treated her, and before I knew it, I’d stepped closer to her. When I finally registered what I was doing, I took a step back and then hurried out of the door. I couldn’t be in the same room as her. I huffed under my breath, feeling out of place for the first time in my chamber.

  Maybe Aeromonas would let me stay with her, at least until Pauline left. I furrowed my eyebrows and tiptoed through the eerie hallway. Ever since my night keeper pinned me against the wall, for some reason, she was absent, leaving me without a night keeper. However, I didn’t mind. I enjoyed silence from time to time.

  I crept through the halls, passing several servant doors, and eventually seeing Luminous’s chamber, which wasn’t far from Aeromonas’s.

  Strangely, as if I had X-ray vision through his door, I saw his exposed chest, and that Stacy was kissing his bare chest. He grabbed her hair and leaned in to kiss her lips. I gasped, and my eyes widened as I found myself stepping back into a wall. The vision seized my hesitation toward him, and I realized I didn’t want anyone touching him. I turned my head and noticed a figure to my left in my peripheral vision; it seemed like the warlock, but as soon as I looked at it, it was gone.

  With confidence, I was going to ruin their party. I rushed to his chamber door, and in sudden jealous rage, I flung it open and scanned the room as if he’d cheated on me. My chest was beating like a drum as I looked around and noticed he was at his desk, fully clothed and reading a book.

  My jaw dropped. I ran my hand through my hair, stuttering, “I’m - I’m so sorry.” I grasped the top of my hair and squeezed for a second, utterly confused. “I don’t know what came over me. I was on my way to Aeromonas’s chamber.”

  His stare pierced into my soul, almost as if I was the crazy one. My heart, still beating, exhilarated, I pressed my lips together and said, “Okay, I’ll just retrace my steps.”

  “That would be wise,” he said, unfazed by what just happened.

  I turned around, shuffling my hair to one side as I found myself frowning. Then, as I felt that same presence loom over me like the last time I was in his room, I turned around, feeling offended, and asked, “Why are you with Stacy?”

  He gave a small smile, ignoring my question, and asked, “Why did you charge into my chamber?”

  My palms began to feel clammy as I rubbed them against my gown. My mouth gaped open before I said, “It’s crazy actually. I don’t think you’d believe me if I told you.”

  “Try me,” he said, his voice straightforward and luring.

  I shrugged my shoulder and bit my lip as I looked away from him and slowly admitted, “I saw you with Stacy, almost unclothed. Clearly, you’re alone.”

  “And that bothers you?” He took his feet off his desk and put down the book he was reading.

  Intimidation crawled through my skin as I hesitated to answer.

  He got up, and as if I could hear the cackles of the figure behind me, he moved closer.

  “Yes.” I couldn’t lie to him; I’d barged in here like a freaking maniac.

  “I should have given you what we both wanted, the night you were in my room.”

  My chest was hastening, and I found it extremely hard to breathe. He moved his hand next to me and shut his door. He looked into my eyes and caressed my face as he whispered, “Is this what you want?”

  “No —,” I said, lying, “you rejected me.”

  He grabbed my jawline and kissed my other cheek, the one that wasn’t contaminated by Channing. “Is this what you want?”

  Yes, I thought, I can’t lie to myself.

  With his other hand, he lifted my gown and wiped my lips as he said, “I have eyes everywhere. Don’t ever believe you’re alone.”

  This was what I wanted: excitement. I ran my hands through his hair and kissed him, feeling an intoxication flowing through me as if his presence caused me to be drunk.

  His hand tightened around the nape of my neck, a possessive grip that sent shivers down my spine. With an urgent intensity, he pressed his lips against my skin, leaving behind a mark that would stubbornly linger for days. He pulled back, and I blinked, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

  As I grabbed my neck, he walked away from me. “What did you just do?” I asked, uncomfortable.

  He turned and smiled, saying, “I made my point.”

  “No blemishes ... ,” I murmured, my disbelief evident. Glancing at him, I voiced my suspicion. “Is this some kind of ‘If I can’t have you, then no one can’ scenario? The moment Channing sees this —”

  He observed me, a subtle smirk playing on his lips as I unraveled the potential consequences in my mind. His gaze held a hint of amusement, savoring my unease.

  “Are you afraid?” he inquired.

  Moistening my lips, I embraced the reality of the situation with a sense of defiance. “No, but you should be.”

  His response was measured. “Do you ever wonder why I’m favored, Madeline?”

  He's the son. Then again, Aeromonas was the daughter and she was mistreated. I hesitated, curiosity piqued. “Why?”

  A knowing glint sparkled in his eyes. “You’d like to know, wouldn’t you?”

  I shook my head, asking, “Am I a game to you, Luminous? First, you’re upset because I’m not who I used to be – you want to forget and all it took was a whisper from Theodore to pull you back into whoever you used to be before you knew me.”

  I rushed up to him and said, “You’re confused with who you want to be. Who is it? The old Luminous or the new you who seems like it is too much to handle?”

  In a swift moment, he pointed at my chest, and uttered, “Welcome to your mind, Madeline.”

  I was so confused as I looked into his eyes and pondered on the cryptic aroma around him as my eyes began to droop, I moved away from him.

  “I know what you’re trying to do.” Then, I whispered, “So why are you trying to find the old me?”

  “Some things,” he said, “are more pleasurable when a person truly knows what they are doing and concedes.” His breathing hitched, and he stepped closer to me as his voice echoed in the chaos of my head. “You don’t realize what you’re doing because you’ve forgotten, so why would I want to have you this way now? Why would I want to bother you – when the chase was more pleasurable when you knew Him and wanted no part of me with the exception of trying to ‘save’ me.”

  “Why?” I whispered.

  “You forgot, but you never truly left.” He shook his head, saying, “Where’s the pleasure in that?”

  “So, you want me to remember so you can try to pull me away from Him.”

  “Exactly, this is why I’ve accepted his contract, and he no longer dwells within my father but me.”

  “Who?” I said, “Who dwells within you?”

  “Who do think, Madeline … think really hard as if your life depended on it – because it does.”

  I started to back away from him, but he continued to step forward as he whispered, “You see, I thought that if all your memories came flooding back then you’d remember but then, I realized one name,” he said, “Jesus Christ is your master – Baal Berith is mine.”

  Jesus Christ – Jesus Christ. I widened my eyes and captured Jesus Christ: his breath shuddered as a heavy cross bared upon his back. One foot in front of the other, He walked toward the place where He would take his last breath. His hair clung to his face by the blood that dripped from the crown of thorns pushing into his head.

  Another memory flashed in my mind, and I saw his mouth open from the impact of pain as they drove nails into his hands and feet. I fell to my knees and as I saw them place the cross with him on it into the ground, I heard Jesus Christ say, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

  Luminous knelt beside me and asked, “Are you starting to thirst?”

  As I widened my eyes and stared at the floor, I heard Jesus say, “It is finished.” Then he looked up toward heaven and uttered, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”

  My heart began to shake and the wall that held my forgotten memories came crumbling down.

  As I began to remember, my spirit told me to silence myself. As if I was still ensnared in the mirage of deception from which Jesus had just saved me. To divert Luminous from the truth, I uttered, “I think I want some water ...”