Wielder of the Multi-Crystal

Everyone in the room was dancing, except Salvatore. Salvatore watched the dancers with envy, while he impatiently tapped his foot. He did not worry that Princess Liliana was late, she almost always was. He was just disappointed that he could not be waltzing with everyone else. Though he would never mention it to his brother, Salvatore liked to dance. When the song ended Zeveric glanced at Salvatore and smirked. Salvatore’s brother walked over to him, being trailed by anxious girls, asking repeatedly to dance. Zeveric opened his mouth, most likely to remind Salvatore that they had made a bet that Salvatore would not have a dance partner, with extra coin for a pretty one. “So, Salvatore, I think you-” Zeveric cut off, his mouth dropping, you could fit tea saucers in his pretty eyes, they were so big. 

 Salvatore glanced at the doors and smiled. Lili had finally arrived. Her forest green eyes were looking for Salvatore when she saw Zeveric. Their eyes locked, and Salvatore saw color rising in her pale cheeks. So that is what happens when perfect meets perfect. Salvatore thought, watching with amusement while Liliana curtsied to Zeveric, spreading her green skirts wide. Zeveric’s return bow was a tad stiffer than usual, which made Salvatore incredibly happy. After what felt like years, Liliana finally tore her eyes away from Zeveric’s. “Who was that?” She whispered. She was still on the other side of the room, and that looked like she was talking to herself. How did Salvatore hear that? 

When she finally crossed the long ballroom floor, he politely asked “Would you like to dance?” Liliana lightly took his hand, and they started dancing across the room.  

“Who was that?” She inquired, confirming Salvatore’s suspicions that she had been talking to herself.  

“That was Zeveric. He’s my brother.” He answered, shrugging off the fact that his brother was the most famous person in their school. 

“Your brother is the Zeveric? Why haven’t you told me this?” Liliana demanded. 

“I was waiting for the right moment. Also, you have never asked me about my family before.” He chuckled.  

Liliana sighed, then lightly punched Salvatore lightly in the stomach. They continued dancing, Liliana slowly shaking her head in amusement. The song ended, and to Salvatore’s pleasure, Zeveric came over. “Would you like to dance, my lady?” Zeveric inquired.  

“Of course.” Liliana replied, as dignified as any heir to a throne should be. 

Zeveric took her hand, and the pair of them waltzed around the room. As Liliana’s long brown hair whirled about, the light reflected off her forest green eyes, making them a beautiful emerald green. Liliana dancing with Zeveric left Salvatore without a partner, so he calmly returned to the buffet table on the side of the room. “Salvatore, I see you don’t have a partner. I don’t either after Zeveric ditched me for that ugly witch.” Salvatore turned to see Aryella staring at Liliana with disgust. “Would you like to dance with me?” 

Salvatore did not understand how Zeveric could date her. She was such a spoiled brat! But Salvatore did not want to be rude to the heir to the Fireleman kingdom, as they are close allies with Salvatore’s kingdom, the Skyixia kingdom. Clenching his teeth, Salvatore grudgingly said, “Of course.” 

He took Aryella’s hand, and they started dancing. Suddenly, he noticed something sparkling on Aryella’s finger. “What’s that?” He queried, nodding towards her finger.  

“Oh, that. It is nothing. Just the engagement ring your brother, Prince Zeveric, kindly gave me.” 

“It’s an…an…an… engagement ring?!” Salvatore exclaimed. 

“Yes, yes, that’s what I said.” Aryella said impatiently, “So stop being such a big baby and close your mouth. You’re making people stare.” 

 Aryella rolled her eyes and let out a long sigh. It was clear she was over with that conversation, so Salvatore let it rest for now. But Zeveric was going to hear about this later. No way would he get away with not telling his very own brother he was engaged! Salvatore managed to keep his mouth shut and not pry any further, but it was a challenge. After what seemed like an eternity of tense silence, the music ended. Finally. He thought, while breathing an inner sigh of relief. He turned from Aryella and started walking across the ballroom. He could not believe his brother would betray him like that! Getting engaged without him knowing. Mother and Father probably already know. They must! Zeveric couldn’t get engaged without their permission. Which means everyone in Salvatore's family knows but him. “Salvatore, where are you going? There’s nothing in that direction but walls, paintings, and dancers.”  

Liliana’s voice pulled Salvatore back to reality, and he realized she was right. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he hadn’t realized that he was wandering in a random direction. “Looks like you need some rest, Sal. Come on, let's go get some food.” Liliana led a confused Salvatore over to the buffet table.  

Salvatore slowly relaxed, deciding to not bore Liliana with the details or make her worry about his well-being. When Salvatore fully relaxed, and was about to ask Liliana to dance again, she was the one to tense up. Her green eyes filled with fear, an emotion he rarely saw her experience, and started darting around the room, finally resting on the doors. She grabbed his arm, an pulled him down, under the table. “What are you doing Liliana?” he demanded “This is not like you!”  

“We need to get out of here. We need to get out of here. We need to get out of here.” She started moaning under her breath. Salvatore reached out to touch her shoulder and comfort her, when a sudden surge of energy surged through her hand, and into his arm. The room started fading, and new surroundings started to appear. The last thing Salvatore heard before they were physically in the new position was a loud bang, followed by screams. 

* * *  

The song slowly ended, and Zeveric reluctantly let the mysterious girl walk back over to his brother. He had never danced with someone that graceful. Every step had flowed smoothly into the next, and there was never a mistake. He had never beheld such beauty in a person, and Zeveric soon found himself regretting getting engaged to Aryella, even though she was the heir to a close ally to the Skylixia. The mysterious lady was not an heir to an ally of Skylixia, otherwise he would’ve known her. Someone cleared their throat behind him, and Zeveric whirled around, coming out of his dream-like trance. It was Aryella, “Zeveric, you know it’s impolite to not ask a lady to dance. Especially when she’s your fiancé.” Aryella said snobbily.  I've never thought of Aryella as snobby before. Zeveric pondered. Nothing was the same after dancing with that fairy-like woman. Zeveric stiffly took her hand and led Aryellla onto the grand dance floor.  

CRASH! 

The grand balcony doors crashed open and were smashed by the impact of a powerful blast. Screams echoed across the ballroom, the size of the room multiplying the sound a thousand times over. A tall muscular figure strode in, his eyes burning with cold rage. He scanned the crowd, and his eyes fell on Zeveric. Zeveric gasped as he was jerked from his place in the middle of the floor with Aryella, toward the menacing figure. He was halted in the middle of the air in front of the tall man, and the man pulled out a knife from his coat pocket. “You know who you are.” he said, scanning the crowd of terrified people. “Reveal yourself, or your prince is gone.” He shouted. 

 Zeveric could feel his skin pierce as cold metal got placed across his neck.