Elena's P.O.V.
"Some superhero
Some fairytale bliss
Just something I can turn to," I quietly sang for myself, walking to the main room of the theater with excitement kicking at the back of my heels. "Somebody I can-"
"Elena, dear, is that you?" Francis' voice snapped me out of the invisible performance, his eyes and lips bathing in smiles and surprise. "Your hair!"
I laughed, shaking my head to make the short strands fly. "What do you think? Personally, I love it - my hair is free from split ends, and life has gotten so much easier now."
Let me tell you guys a little story about how I literally annihilated my hair.
In middle school, I always straightened or curled my hair strands to shape it the way I wanted it. After a while of regularly pressuring my hair, burning and twisting it, the torture finally reached an end.
And I had to pay deeply for the consequences.
My hair was completely broken; it was not soft anymore, it was thin, split ends were everywhere and it just looked so miserable and unhealthy. Thanks to Hazel who told me how severe the damage on my locks was, I finally stopped using tools to form my hair in an unnatural way, and instead tried to heal it.
The healing process worked to some degree, but not entirely. I had been dwelling on the thought of whether I should cut my hair or not for a long time. It wasn't before I saw the hair salon in the mall that I finally picked my decision.
Francis chuckled and gently put his hand on my head, guiding it down to the now soft ends. "I think you look beautiful - with short hair or without any hair for that matter." His words summoned a laughter from me, making my heart warm and contented. "But remember, Elena, it is only your opinion that matters the most. As long as you like it, you do not need to hear what others or I have to say about the case."
"Thanks, Frans," I smiled, following him to the piano where he handed me the song sheets I left the last time I was here. "One more thing-" My fingers dug into my leather handbag, pulling out the new, fresh papers with notes tattooed all over it. "-I was wondering if you would like to-"
The monk swiftly took the sheets out of my hands, cutting me off with a small wave. "Say no more."
And that's how we ended up playing Something Just Like This by The Chainsmokers on piano - piano, guys!
***
"Oh, I want something just like this," I finished the last line of the lyrics, listening to the melody continuing living for another minute and bouncing off the walls like a balloon.
Considering that my arm had fully healed, Francis has been teaching me some techniques that can make a song and symphony seem more preeminent and alive. Every lesson I gain knowledge and proficiency - therefore, whenever the monk shares his secrets with me, I listen with an open mind and sharp ears.
Information like this needs to be taken with a great amount of care.
"That was absolutely beautiful, my child - brilliant as always," Francis gleamed and applauded with soft claps, something that made me laugh. Despite the warmth and lightness that the monk filled the air with, there was still something odd in the atmosphere - a small obstacle. It wasn't before Francis took his glasses off and put them back on that I realized that he was the one carrying the weight. "There is something I have been meaning to ask you about, but I cannot seem to find the right time to do so."
My eyebrows furrowed, and due to the serious tone that was knitted in his words, I was almost feeling troubled about his question. "Is everything alright?"
"Oh, yes, of course, do not be afraid, my dear, it is not something to be scared of," he placed his wrinkled hand on my shoulder, squeezing it with a smile. "I am just wondering about. . . well, I am not sure how to put it, but has Prince Ethan mentioned anything. . . special?"
To see him be clumsy with words and almost lose the way down the red thread surprised me - it was something that I would never imagine him doing or even think was possible.
If Francis couldn't find firm words to stand on, then the case must be difficult to reach with the right steps.
However, he had yet to land on the wrong side. "Special?" I repeated, chewing on the word and tasting the oddness that dripped from it. "No, Ethan hasn't said anything-"
"I haven't said anything about what?" Speak of the Devil and he shall appear.
My attention landed on the tall boy, his mahogany brown eyes bathing in curiosity. "Wait, hold on," he squinted his eyes, looking at me with a small smile that grew like the sun peeking over the horizon. "Something has changed."
I smirked, crossing my arms and waiting for him to reveal his answer. "You're quite right there, Your Majesty," my hand traveled to my shoulder-short hair that was naturally twisting itself in curls and waves. "It can be a bit tricky and difficult to see, but I'm sure that you will figure it out."
Ethan chuckled, catching on to the sarcasm, "Oh, I barely noticed it but I see it now; it's your dress, isn't it?" He summoned a smile on my face and a laughter from an amused Francis. "I swear, it's bluer than your other blue dress."
"Wow, your observation skill is outstanding - how did you manage to figure that out so quickly?"
The prince laughed. "You know, when you practice with swords regularly it makes you see and react to things faster," he shrugged and walked towards us. "Oh, by the way, nice hair."
This time, it was my turn to chuckle. "Merci."
After the gleaming warmth had died out, Ethan's attention alternated between Francis and me. "So, what is it that I haven't said anything about? You were saying something-"
"Technically, it was Francis that said something about you." My head turned towards the gleaming monk, his eyes filled with glimmer and hilarity. "He asked me if you had mentioned something special."
There's something fishy in the air now that I have said this out loud.
"Really?" Ethan's brows were dipped in bewilderment, and he was thinking quietly for himself. "Something special? I can't think of any- oh, that."
Wait, what?
"You're kidding me? So, Francis wasn't conspiring some theory about you." My statement was too steady to be a question, and despite the fact that my comment was supposed to tease the old man, it actually affected a nervous Ethan rather than the grinning monk whose smile was shining. "Well, now I'm more than curious. What is this special thing that everyone, except for me, seems to know about?"
The prince scratched his neck and the back of his ear, trying to escape the nervousness that backed him up in a corner. "Well," he breathed out, locking eyes with me, "Elena, would you like to go on a walk with me?"
Francis pushed me forward, gesturing me to follow the tall boy before I could even fish for an answer. With an annoyed and bewildered look aimed at the monk, I nodded, "Sure."
And so we walked out of the theater with our hoods concealing our faces, strolling down the foreign place of the village that Ethan led me to. It wasn't before I saw the stable filled with horses that I could understand his version of a 'walk'.
"When are you going to tell me about this 'special question'?" I made air quotations, looking up to see him shrug. "God, just tell me already!"
"Soon, Ella, but first I need to take you somewhere. I didn't plan to ask you this soon, but I guess a change of plans expedited that." And that was the last thing he said about the case before he turned towards the magnificent animals. "Now, choose. We're renting you a horse."
Renting horses. Is it just me, or does this seem similar to renting cars?
"Well, the black one seems cool," I pointed at the animal that stood by herself in the corner and eating hay.
"Oh, you do not want to ride Nightstar, Miss," a man's voice commented next to us, glancing at our hooded clothing with a perplexed grimace. "She is a troublemaker, always out to cause a strife whenever she can."
I knew that walking around and being dressed up as the freaking Grim Reaper was not a costume that fell in a good taste for most people. Thus, my hood needed to go.
"Nightstar," I chewed on the name, taking the clothing that concealed my face off as I looked into the black eye of the massive animal. "Do you know why she acts the way she does?"
"If I only knew, My Lady. But I can offer you a much kinder horse; Wanda, over here, she is-"
"No, no, I would actually like to have Nightstar," my words were firm and non-arguable, and looking at the older man, I saw the concurrence in his eyes as he sighed. "She seems like she could use some fresh air."
"I'm warning you," he started, pointing at me before he began to dress the horse with a saddle and a rein. "The moment she is out of here, there is no going back. You either let her take the control or you end up with broken bones."
I threw a glance at Ethan who shrugged his shoulders in return, silently challenging me with his boyish grin, "You survived a broken arm, didn't you?"
Never have I ever handed someone money as fast as I did to that man.
And oh, boy, was I stupid to not take his warning seriously.
***
"Goddammit, Elena!"
"Are you going to tell me about the special thing now?" I shouted, holding onto the flying horse that ran as fast as the speed of light. Not only was Nightstar a stunning animal who had a mind of her own, but she was swift and could easily slip through her obstacles in the forest, evading every surrounding that seemed to be in the way of her speed.
I love this horse, but goddammit, it would be nice to have some kind of control.
"Slow down! You're going to get yourself killed!" Ethan shouted, trying to catch up with his snow-colored horse that didn't share the same reflexes as Nightstar. "I will be damned if I let you die before I can even ask you my question."
"Then you should've told me ea- ah!" My comment took an abrupt turn as I had to duck my head to escape being hit by a branch. "Nightstar, I don't have time to be killed today, so I would appreciate it if you could just slow down a bit."
Question time!
Did the beautiful black horse listen to my plea like the animals would do in Disney movies - or did she ignore it just like the man in the stable said she would?
Guess what she did. Come on, take a guess, guys.
She hurtled like a freaking sports car.
"I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die," I mumbled as I clung around the horse's neck for my dear life, closing my eyes as I felt the speed only increasing with every step Nightstar took.
Just as I thought that my end was nearing, the velocity dwindled to a slow pace that made it easy to breathe. Her batteries must have depleted - hallelujah!
Although I was confused about my whereabouts, I did not complain as I was taken to a stunning and fairy-tale-like meadow with water running close by. Trees surrounded the massive, green field like a necklace, flowers were scattered around the place like freckles, and mountains were seen in a clear sight - standing like statues in a great distance.
"Elena!" Ethan slowed down when he finally caught up to us, swiftly getting off his horse and running towards me.
I was already getting off Nightstar when he reached me. "Well, that was one heck of a roller coaster," I commented, breathing heavily and looking at the black animal drinking the diamond-blue water. "God, I think I got a heart attack on the way here."
"I don't know what a roll coast is, but I do know that you're a bit too young to have a heart failure at this age."
A laughter squeezed in between my heavy breaths, leaving me almost half-empty of air. "Roll coast. . ."
Ethan rolled his eyes, ignoring my comment before he whistled for Bryce.
"So," I started, watching the prince take the saddle and rein off his white horse. "Spit it. I almost died because of your secret. You owe me an explanation, mister."
A nervous-sounding chuckle left his smiling lips, and he looked at the two horses knitting their presence in the air before he averted his attention to me. "Well, Ella," he started, walking at a slow and supple pace next to me. "Here is the thing, my parents-"
"The king and queen?"
"The king and queen," he confirmed, glancing at me. "They like to plan, well, you know. . . parties. Balls in particular."
Oh, I see where this is going.
Ethan swallowed, scratching his neck and looking like a chaotic jumble of nervousness. "Almost the entire population of Areadan is going to be there - plus some friends from other kingdoms, and some other people I don't personally know and- God, I'm horrible at this." His fingers squeezed the bridge of his nose, "I don't even know what I'm talking about."
My hand covered the amused smile on my face, subduing the chuckle that filled my throat. "Your parents, the King and Queen of Areadan, are planning a ball. Almost everyone is invited and the majority is going. And you're either giving me a personal invitation," I caught eye-contact with the tall prince that gleamed with relief. "Or you're asking me to join the party planning committee. Whatever it is that you want to ask me, Ethan, I don't bite. I'm not as scary as people think I am."
His Majesty laughed, his body relaxing. "Oh, what a relief!" The chuckle slowly died, and when it was completely out in the world, he looked at me with a warm gleam in his eyes. "So, would you like to go to the ball with me? It would be less boring if you're there." His fingers were nervously knitting themselves together. "But only if you want to, of course."
I bumped into him, "Yes, Ethanie, I would love to join your parents' party."
He gave me a toothy smile, "Perfect."
"Did you really bring me all the way down here just to ask me that?" A raised eyebrow was painted on my face, drawing an image of incredulity. "Were you really that scared of me?"
Ethan laughed, stopping and turning around to watch Nightstar and Bryce go into the water. "Scared? Maybe a little. Nervous? Heck yes - that's why I brought you here," he spread his arms, gesturing to the green meadow. "I know how you like the nature, so, I knew it could open your mind a bit and. . . perhaps go soft on me."
My expressed amusement was drawn all over my face, filling the air with hilarity. "Oh, wow, I knew I was terrifying, but I didn't know I was that intimidating."
"Why else do you think I'm carrying my sword when I'm around you?"
"I thought it was to complete your outfit - I mean, no offense, but without that weapon, you look like a sack of potatoes."
His head shook with a chuckle, taking his brown hood off and laying it on the young grass. "Well, I guess this potato sack will do a better job at being a blanket than a fashional clothing." I quickly mirrored his actions to sit on the rug, facing the water and the horses that seemed to enjoy their freedom.
"I have to admit that this is very cozy," I turned my head to him, feeling the sun kissing my skin. "So, what's on the agenda? Are we just going to sit here and bask in the sun, or do you have any other tricks hidden in your sleeves?"
"Well, I wouldn't really call it tricks but. . ." He pulled out a bag that was filled with blood-red cherries. "Food is magical, so, I guess I do have a couple of tricks left."
"All of this," I motioned my hands to the warm scene, not able to mask my smile. "Just to ask me if I want to go to the ball with you? Wow, Ethan, did you really think that I would bite your head off or something?"
The prince laughed, popping a cherry in his mouth and collecting the stone in his hand. "You never know, especially when it comes down to you." I rolled my eyes in reply, eating the cherries along with him. "But that's not the only reason why I brought you here. I actually just want to get to know you better. You're an interesting person, and I would like to learn more about you - as long as you don't mind."
I ate another cherry, chewing on his words. "Well, let's play a game then," I turned my body to him, crossing my feet in Indian style. "Whenever you ask me a question, I get to ask you something in return. Deal?"
Ethan pulled out a cherry steam that was tied in a knot, "Deal."
I'm not going to lie, that was impressive.
"Okay, let's start with something easy," he rubbed his chin, giving me a wide smile. "Where do you live?"
"You're my stalker, shouldn't you know this?"
"That's not fair - you know where I live, so it will only be impartial if I know where your house is," he ignored my comment, pointing at me with his finger.
"Oh, yeah, because I would never have guessed that the Prince of Areadan is living in a castle."
A warm and genuine chuckle left his smiling lips, "Fine. What's your favorite animal?"
And that's how Ethan and I engaged in one of the longest conversations I have ever had. Not once did we stop talking - we just continuously shared facts and told stories about each other, laughing whenever jokes were thrown into our biographies.
The air was filled with laughter and warmth, and I enjoyed every second of the educational and amusing moment we were living in.
I know that the entire scene is a massive cliché that drips with unoriginal content, but it's a moment of happiness.
A treasure I will keep deep in my soul to the end of Big Bang. It will remind me of the time I was enjoying life.
"What's your favorite color?" Ethan asked, throwing me the last cherry that I caught with both hands.
"Gray."
"Seriously?" He furrowed his eyebrows, almost laughing due to my odd answer. "Why?"
I shrugged my shoulders, eating the red fruit and spitting the stone out. "Because it's a cool and aesthetic color. You know how people don't like gray clouds? Well, I'm the opposite; I love dark clouds and rain - it makes me feel warm and relaxed, and I don't know, it's just so. . . cozy."
Ethan raised his eyebrows, "Well, then, Platon, I will keep that in mind the next time I see gray clouds."
I rolled my eyes, "What about you then, what's your favorite color?"
He looked at the fresh meadow, his brown orbs scanning the entire place before they landed on me. A pause filled the air for a couple of seconds, but the prince was quick to fill the holes in the atmosphere with words. "Green. Because of the apples."
Despite the fact that he was mocking me for my answer, I still couldn't prevent the laugh from slipping out of my lips. "Makes sense."
"My turn," he turned his body towards me, his elbows supporting his upper half. "Do you have any siblings?"
A sad smile was printed on my face as I shook my head, "I'm an only child. What about you?"
"A little brother," he replied, looking at me with a small gleam that slowly thrived. "You have met him, you know."
"What? No, I haven't?" Bewilderment was plastered on my face and words. "Ethan, don't you think that I would have remembered him - especially when it's a family member of yours?"
The prince laughed, rolling around to lay on his back with his hands behind his head. "When you played soccer with some kids, you met a boy named Jordan. Do you remember him?"
My comfortable position took an abrupt turn as my upper body fled into a sitting posture. With widened eyes, I stared at him.
That's why he knew about my passion for soccer! His brother gave me away!
"Jordan is your brother?" Was the first thing I managed to ask when I comprehended the situation. "Your brother? How is that possible, you don't even look alike? I mean, there's the sweet, little and adorable Jordan," I threw the prince a skeptical glance, letting my eyes scan him from head to toe. "And then there's you."
"Oh, wow, thanks for that one."
I gave him an amused smile in response, searching for something in my head to ask in return. "Is it fun to have royal parents? Do they send you to exile whenever you're grounded, or do they just take your crown away?"
"Actually, I have never worn a crown in my entire life," the prince pointed out, his statement packed with surprise. "And to answer your original question; they're just like any other parents, but just with power."
"Don't all parents have power?"
He laughed, "Yeah, I guess so," he shifted to another position where his elbows were supporting his upper body, the firm grip mirroring a structure. "You know, I'm a bit curious about your parents; whenever you say that you're going to be grounded, you always imply that it's your friend or someone else who does it. Don't your parents come home at the end of the day?"
The moment's warmth turned cold, and the joy that swirled around us felt bitter. I knew it was my fault for conducting the conversation to this sensitive theme, but I was too overwhelmed with the quality of knowledge I was gaining by talking to Ethan, that I just forgot the weight I carry.
My head turned away from the prince, my attention altering between the empty meadow and my fiddling hands.
I was trying to fish for an answer, put words in the correct order and find some content to fill them. However, whatever I did and tried to do, I couldn't find the courage nor a reply to send back.
Ethan wasn't stupid, he saw right away the lugubrious air that I was drowning in. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry-"
"No, it's not that," I surprised myself as I didn't feel the dismal light blinding me as it usually did - like that time in the hospital with Dr. Lee. "It's just. . ." It was difficult to put words on it, to find a reply that wouldn't chase the warmth away. "I don't want to ruin the moment. We're having such a great time, and the last thing I want to do is breaking it."
Oh, wow, that statement is legit drowning in cliché. God, I'm such a cringy hipster.
"Elena," he responded in a heartbeat, pulling my attention to him. "Don't you know that a moment can't be ruined just because you decided to not tell a joke? You don't break the time, you expand it," his hands made a motion to illustrate his words. "When you say something that makes a conversation go in an abrupt turn, it only means that you're comfortable around these certain people. Don't be afraid, because I promise you that I won't run away."
A soft silence followed his statement, giving me the chance to take my time to feel the genuineness. "Thanks, Ethan-" So suddenly and so unexpectedly, he scrambled to his feet and ran; being a contrast of his own words. "Hey!"
He was still laughing when he returned, "Sorry, I was intimidated by you."
My head shook in chuckles, "Sure, Your Majesty."
The air felt warm and relaxing again, and a scent of joy swirled around us. It was good to taste the elation, to experience such rejoice - to just live in the moment without any shadows following around.
"Hey, wait, you got something in your hair," he reached out to gently pull the foreign piece out of my strands, his eyes concentrated on the little object.
"Are you sure that you didn't use that as an excuse to feel my new hair?" I raised my eyebrow, giving him a frisky look.
"Aw, look at that," he showed me the bug resting on his finger, ignoring my comment. "It's a ladybug."
I took a hold of Ethan's wrist, pulling it closer to my face to investigate the insect. "No, it's not," I squinted my eyes, decreasing the distance between us. "It's a squash beetle; they look very alike - except for their sizes. Ladybugs are a great deal smaller than these beetles, and-" My maunder ended when I glanced at the prince.
He was just sitting in his spot, standing as still as a statue and just contemplating. Just watching and listening.
"Ethan? You okay there?" I spoke, bringing him back to Earth.
His eyes blinked multiple times before he could function again,"Yes, of course. Sorry about that, I-"
"Do I have something on my face?" My hand let go of his upper arm to investigate the possible dirt on my skin - again.
I've walked around like a kid playing in the mud once, and I'm so not going to do that again.
As quick as the lightning, the prince took a soft hold on my wrist, bringing my hand down. "No, there's nothing there, I promise," an amiable smile reflected in his eyes, the warm orbs accommodating warmth and a glint of drollery. "But now there is!"
Gritty muck was splashed on my face, painting my skin with wet earth. "Ethan!" Upon hearing his name, he laughed from a distance, manifesting the fact that he ran before I could even begin to curse him out. "You're so dead!"
The tables were turned. My feet ran after the prince, determined to carry out my vengeance on him.
Oh, he's in for it.
At that moment, I did not care for anything else than enjoying and living out the fun, to just ignore the world and the ferocity living in it.
My joy was so substantial and bright, so strong that it blinded me from the cold eyes that watched us with malevolent. The orbs were dark and toxic, observing and planning their malicious acts.
"Is that the girl?"
"Aye, captain. That's her."
If I had known what was lurking behind the scenes, I would have been more judicious and rational, and chosen the sound of mind instead of listening to the song of ambiance.