Chapter 10: Eclipse

“The sky is perfectly clear tonight,” Sola observed as she peered into the telescope.

“Yes, I can see that through the glass,” Eclipse replied, gazing up at the transparent library ceiling. Hundreds of shimmering stars lay scattered throughout the sky, each one burning with a unique brilliance. They came together in mysterious patterns and figures, some named and others left nameless. Eclipse loved to marvel over the mystical forces that shaped her world.

As she admired the infinite night sky, a lonely star twinkled in the corner of her eye. She quickly glanced down at the journal in her hand and realized the star wasn’t mapped there.

Eclipse picked up the quill sitting on the small table at her side and dipped it in the deep, black ink. She slid into a chair, and with careful precision, marked the star’s position on the paper.

“So,” Sola started as she continued to stare up, “I heard about your incident at the Ash Court meeting.”

“Your mother told you?” Eclipse asked.

“She did. She was quite surprised. She didn’t expect that from you at all.”

“Are you surprised?”

“No. Not at all, actually,” Sola said with a smirk. “I know you too well, Eclipse. The Ash Court is steaming with injustices. You were bound to say something soon enough, it’s practically in your blood.”

Eclipse smiled at her friend. Sola’s mother, Councilwoman Estelle, had been very close with Eclipse’s own parents even before she and Sola were born. Estelle worked with Eclipse’s father in the Ash Court Council, and Eclipse had never been very fond of her or her husband, Novak Estelle. They seemed to always look down on her with their arrogant, pampered egos. Despite her disapproval of the two, Sola had been best friends with Eclipse for as long as they could remember. Of course Sola would know her better than anyone else in the world.

“At least you aren’t stuck in this miserable Court,” Eclipse said as she opened to a new page in her journal. She dipped the quill in ink again, and started scribbling notes about one of the constellations.

The summer constellations have finally appeared, and it is nearing the end of the Twins’ reign. The season of the Crab will be approaching soon…

“Ah, yes. The benefits of being a Memorizer,” Sola laughed. “My parents were quite disappointed about that. Oh well, they only have themselves to blame. But to be quite honest, the Zephyr Court isn’t much better. They rule over us with an iron fist.”

Eclipse continued writing as she spoke. “You have an amazing Gift, though,” she said. “You can glance at anything, and it’s immediately catalogued in your head. You don’t even need a library.” Eclipse glanced down below at the overflowing bookshelves, the massive possibilities drawing on her.

Sola smirked, her sea-green eyes glimmering. “My head is an entire library of its own.”

“You would make an excellent spy,” Eclipse said casually. “Memorizing secret scrolls of the Courts. You wouldn’t even have to steal them.”

“Are you suggesting treason?” Sola teased. “Unlike you, I use my Gift responsibly.”

Eclipse stopped writing, and slowly closed her book. She looked at her friend pointedly.

“Is that a challenge?” She smiled mischievously. “Because I can show you just how irresponsible I can get.” Suddenly standing up from her seat, she marched towards the staircase, an idea already forming in her mind.

Sola’s face paled with alarm. “How in the stars did you take that as a challenge?” she called as she scrambled from her chair

Eclipse grabbed her hand, and pulled her down the spiral steps of the staircase. The two walked past the tables and chairs, past the crowded bookshelves, and out the massive doors of the library. She tugged her along through the silent hallway. Oddly, there seemed to be no servants bustling around. They were most likely helping Eclipse’s mother prepare for the celebration.

“May I ask where we are going?” Sola inquired nervously, the two of them lifting their ruffled skirts slightly as they walked. Eclipse said nothing in return, still dragging her to the end of the hallway until they reached a small set of downward stairs.

“Careful,” Eclipse finally said, “We can’t let them know we’re here.”

Eclipse slowly stepped onto the wood, desperately trying not to make a sound. A small creak from the step echoed quietly around them, but not loud enough to be heard.

When they reached the door at the bottom of the stairs, Eclipse opened it only slightly and peered in through the narrow crack. Dozens of servants scurried around the kitchen, and sweet smells of every fruit seeped out the door. Some servants attended to the ovens, some to the boiling pots above the flames. Some rolled out dough on the countertops while others mixed all sorts of flavorful fillings. However, Eclipse’s eye focused on one servant in particular, attending to the oven at the far end of the room. She watched as the servant reached into the flaming compartment and cautiously pulled out a tray of pastries.

“To be clear, we aren’t going to murder anyone, correct?” Sola asked behind her, strands of her long, chestnut-colored hair brushing against Eclipse’s shoulder.

“No,” Eclipse replied, her eyes still focused on the servant, who was setting the tray on a nearby table. “At least, I don’t think so. You never know what complications may arise.”

Sola peeked her head through the door just above Eclipse. “The kitchen? I’m sorry but what in the stars are we trying to do, exactly?”

Eclipse continued to ignore her, and watched on as the servant began to walk away from the tray, allowing the pastries to cool as she performed another task.

“Now. Let’s go,” Eclipse suddenly instructed, startling her friend. She carefully opened the door, trying to attract as little attention as possible. Eclipse trode carefully through the kitchen as servants dashed past her with pots, trays, and baskets of fruit piled in their arms. A few almost bumped into them, yet they still didn’t seem to notice their presence.

How much work has Mother given them?

When she neared the end of the room, Eclipse quickly darted to the side, Sola following closely behind, toward the tray she had been eyeing before. She briefly glanced behind her, and saw no servants around this particular oven. Perfect.

She reached for the tray, and swiftly grabbed two pastries off of it, careful not to burn herself. They steamed against her skin, and she instantly shoved one into Sola’s hand.

“You dragged me here to steal desserts?” Sola whispered, bewildered.

“Well, what did you expect? Murder?” Eclipse replied with a smirk. She took a large bite of the pastry in her hand, the hot filling burning her tongue, as she tried to savor the sweet, chocolate taste. She blew on it gently, cooling it only slightly, before taking another bite. She briefly peeked behind the table, and saw a servant approaching quickly from behind.

Grabbing Sola’s arm again, the two of them bolting for the door in front of them. They were lucky the kitchen had a second entrance—there was no way they could go back the way they had come without getting caught.

Eclipse reached for the handle, her hand only inches from grasping it, before the door swung open. Eclipse jumped back, knocking her elbow into Sola. A single servant stood in the doorway, and upon seeing Eclipse, an alarmed expression formed across her face.

“Miss Soleil! You mustn't be in here now. Your mother has requested that we do not let you into the kitchen while preparing dessert samples for the celebration.”

Eclipse immediately opened her mouth. “Oh, couldn’t you make an exception for me? Just this one time? Please let us through,” she said sweetly, her words wrapping around the woman like a serpent, gently coaxing her to agree. The servant’s eyes went blank as she stared hazily out into the air. All her thoughts and emotions were meaningless in the shadow of Persuasion.

“Of course, Miss Soleil,” she replied dully, as though all life had been drained from her body, and all that was left was a walking corpse.

“You never saw us here.”

Sola’s eyes widened with shock, speechless as she followed her friend and slipped out the door. Eclipse struggled to hold in a laugh as the pair hurried up the stairs, and down the quiet hallway. As soon as they reached the end, they ducked into a corner, shadowed and hidden away from anyone who might be passing by.

“And just why couldn’t you tell me what you were up to?” Sola asked, clearly out of breath.

Eclipse shrugged. “Where’s the fun in that? I like to keep people on edge.” She popped the rest of the sweet in her mouth, small crumbs dropping onto her dress. She dismissively dusted them off to the ground—some servant would sweep it up later.

Sola shook her head, taking a bite of her own pastry. “What am I going to do with you, Eclipse?”

“What you’ve always done. Stand by me even through my little antics,” Eclipse said with a smile. “Now, what do you say we go back to the library?”

“Alri—”

“Race you!” Eclipse yelled as she took off down the hallway, hiking her dress up above her shoes. She left Sola there, perplexed, her feet pounding on the carpet beneath her.

✦✦✦

“No, no! That’s the wrong color!” Eclipse’s mother said with exasperation. She leaned back in her seat. “This is unacceptable. We have only days left until the celebration, and we still do not have even the slightest idea of what we will do for decorations!”

Miranda set the sample banners onto the dining room table, each one not enough to please Eclipse’s mother. Eclipse rested her chin in her hand, her mind drifting off. They had been at this for hours, it seemed. Her mother had seen virtually every style of banners and ribbons in possibly the whole kingdom, finding flaws in each and every one. Why Eclipse was even present for this, she didn’t know.

“Eclipse!” her mother said suddenly, startling Eclipse out of her thoughts. “What do you propose we should do?”

Mother wants to hear my opinion? That’s a first. She must be more desperate than I thought.

“Well,” she started, adjusting her posture. She took a look at the banners spread along the table, examining each one. “It is a celebration for the Ash Court, and our Court’s preferred color is red. Perhaps a red theme revolving around symbols of the sun would be best?” She pulled two of the banners forward. “This one has a nice shape, and this pattern looks very flattering. Is it possible to merge the two with a red background?”

Miranda stared at the banners, trying to complete the picture in her head. “Yes, I suppose so.” She slipped the two banners from the table, folding them neatly.

“As for the rest of the decorations,” Eclipse continued, “we can simply follow the same theme. The same color and a similar design can be used.”

Sinistra looked on, thinking deeply. “I suppose that does work,” she finally said. “Thank you, Eclipse.”

“I…erm…you’re welcome, Mother,” Eclipse replied awkwardly. She was clearly taken aback—rarely did her mother seem to appreciate her ideas.

“Now that that’s settled,” her mother said calmly, getting up from her seat, “I must go inspect the ballroom to make sure seating arrangements are in order. Eclipse, would you like to join me?”

Well, that sounded painfully boring. Eclipse quickly devised an excuse. “No thank you, Mother. I have fencing practice to attend to.”

A feeble one, but effective. Eclipse hastened out of the room before her mother could assign her another useless task. She strolled down the hallway, glancing at the delicate vases and lavish paintings as she passed by. Their vibrant colors seemed to add so much more life to the hallway, which was awfully bland with its monotonous grey walls and black polished floor.

An Ash guard walked by, quietly patrolling through the dismal halls of her home. With her father being a Councilman, they were especially prone to intruders and attackers who opposed Jeran Soleil and his political life. Although they were an odd presence, such guards and precautions were necessary. Some of them were stationed on the outside, and others protected the interior. They rarely ever talked to Eclipse, and usually just faded in the background.

Maybe I should practice my fencing. I have nothing better to do anyway.

She continued down the hall, turning at the corner, and headed towards the enormous stone balcony at the back of the house. She liked to have her fencing lessons there, with the cool wind blowing against her face, and the vast mountains of the Terris Court territory visible in the distance. It gave her a sense of clarity as she wielded her sword.

As she approached the door to the balcony, she passed by her father’s study. She reached out for the balcony door, her fingers grasping around the handles, before a sudden voice broke through.

“You don’t know what he’s capable of, Soleil,” the voice said urgently. A deep, muffled voice, yet familiar. It came straight from her father’s study.

“I believe you are overexaggerating,” another voice said, one even more familiar to Eclipse. Was that…Councilman Zervide? “They are just rumors after all.”

Now her interest was piqued. Eclipse quietly released the handles, and instead moved to the side of her father’s doors, pressing her ear to the painted white wood.

“Are they?” the voice said angrily. “I’ve seen it! I’ve seen what it is, what it can do. Not one if you are safe, you hear me? Not one of you!”

“Gentlemen, please!” her father cut in. “Nash, I assure you, even if what you say is true, I’m sure it isn’t as large of a threat as you think.”

Nash? Councilman Nash? What were councilmen doing in her father’s private study?

“No!” There was a heavy thud as someone slammed their fist on a desk. “You don’t understand! He grows more powerful by the minute! Soon enough he’ll take over the entire Ash Court, and then perhaps the rest of the kingdom!”

A long pause. “Well then, what do you expect us to do?” Zervide asked calmly.

“He’s planning something,” Nash said, his voice lowered but still holding a grave tone. “I don’t know what it is, but it will be deadly, I assure you. No one in Ophelia will be safe.”

Her father sighed. “Nash, I’m sure you mean well, but I’m afraid we will not be able to help you unless you tell us exactly what it is you need us to do. You’re accusing a fellow councilman of treason, for stars’ sake!”

Fellow councilman?

“Why don’t you go spew your nonsense to Atheleys or Estelle?” Zervide said coldly.

“I don’t know who to trust. They could very well be working with him,” Nash replied. “Soleil, please, be reasonable. How many will have to die for you to realize the gravity of the situation?”

Another long pause. “If anything does happen, I promise you, we will look into it,” Soleil replied. “For now, we can only be wary of Oberon. I’m afraid that without evidence, we simply cannot act.”

“You want evidence?” Nash snarled. “You will get your evidence! But by then it will be too late. People will die, Soleil. And there will be no stopping him once he’s come to power.”

His footsteps started to get louder and louder as he angrily marched towards the door. Eclipse hastily pulled away, sprinting towards the balcony doors. She quickly ducked outside, pressing against the stone. His footsteps clicked away as Eclipse slumped against the wall, her head spinning.

Councilman Oberon was being accused of treason? And by Councilman Nash? His closest political ally? Eclipse had never been particularly fond of Oberon, what with his arrogant stance and the demeaning way he spoke of the Vacants. Worthless, he had once called them, and Eclipse was ready to strike him where he stood. Always rambling about the superiority of the Ash Court, and how they should be favored among all others. And those eyes…she’ll never forget the way he looked at her when she spoke up. Like she was a pest. A nuisance. Like she and her pathetic words were meaningless. Eclipse could easily believe that he was up to no good.

But what could he possibly be planning?