The Liars (10 page)

“Thank you,
Lady Jade.”

He talked minimally, only giving her instructions to maneuver Julian where she wanted him to go. They rode quietly near the fence of the palace grounds, the fields stretching far and wide.

The silence was complacent. Memory felt at ease, and even warm as the sun rose higher and higher into the sky.

“Elliot,” She started, quickening the pace so she was at his side, “When
was the first time you went horseback riding?”

“Twenty-years ago, L
ady Jade.” He replied softly.

Memory wondered what it would’ve been like if she grew up with horses. Maybe less lonely? “Was it fun?”

“It was the only time I ever rode with my father, Lady Jade.”

“I’ll take that as a yes. If you don’t mind me asking,” She stopped as Julian stomped on the ground but urged him forward, “Where are your parents?”

“In Australia, Lady Jade.”

His tone was always the same. Soft but strong. He certainly was a mystery, and Memory had an insatiable urge to know more about him. To talk to him.

They rode around the East Wing and the back of the Guest Wing. They were approaching the garage, which was a part of the Main Wing, when a row of cars filtered in through the palace gates and rounded around to the garage.

Family members filtered out of the back to greet
Prince Cassian and whoever arrived with him. Memory saw his silver crown shine as he stepped out of the car, dressed impeccably in a suit. Unfamiliar faces followed him, all sporting fancy dresses or tuxedos.

Elliot and Memory trudged forward, the latter reluctantly, and moved closer to the new arrivals. From the crowd, Chrysander w
aved at her and motioned for her to join him. It was the first time he’d even recognized her since the episode with Tourmaline.

“Come on, Elliot.” Memory smiled at him, hoping he’d smile back. She turned back to wave at Chrysander when Tsavorite popped out from behind him
flailing her arms around. Memory giggled but then heard Julian growl. He dashed ahead, and Memory shrieked.

They moved closer and closer to the crowd, and Memory saw
Prince Cassian’s horrified look and Chrysander and Tsavorite shocked ones.

“NO!” Elliot bellowed, the first time she heard him use such a loud voice, and sped up. He maneuvered Irma to the left, to cut Julian off before he hit the newcomers, and as expected Julian skidded to a halt, throwing his hind legs up into the air. Memory torpedoed forward, and Elliot lunged
after her, wrapping his arm around her waist as they tumbled towards the ground. She felt relatively comfortable, but realized Elliot at hit the ground while she remained in his arms, and screeched.

“Elliot! Elliot!” She shook him wildly, and panicked when he didn’t open his eyes. “CALL AN AMBULANCE!”

The crowd dispersed into various directions, but Memory had her eyes trained on Elliot. She grasped his head and with horror saw her fingers covered in blood. He was bleeding profusely, and tears blurred her vision.

Someone led the horses away, who were still whinnying loudly like they were angry. Another grabbed Memory by the arm and dragged her away. It was Chrysander.

“He’ll be fine, let him go.”

“No!” She protested. “It’s my fault, let me–”

“Tsavorite, please help me.”

Her other arm was taken by Tsavorite, and the two wrenched Memory away despite her protests.

She failed to see Prince Cassian off to the side, with his hands outstretched like he was going to carry her.

Chapter 8

“What happened?”

“The horses went wild.”

“I knew it. I told Edward that it was dangerous to keep those animals around here.”

“Tsavorite, they’re gentle. For the most part. It was just a freak accident, it’ll be fine.”

“But if Jade…”

At her name, Memory jolted upwards with a fright. Her eyes flickered back and forth with a crazed look.

“Where’s Elliot?” She didn’t care who answered, she just needed an answer. “I said, where’s Elliot?!” She grabbed a pillow and thrust it forward with a surprising amount of energy.

“You stupid girl!”
Tourmaline screeched.

Her
high pitched voice was hell to her ears. “What were you doing out on the horses?” 

Memory felt point fingernails nail into her throat, and just as blood was about to trickle down her neck, Chrysander roughly pried her away.

“She’s only a child, sister–”

“I am not a child!” Memory climbed out of her bed, hoping her vision would clear by the time she stood up. Unfortunately, she was even clumsier on two feet than she’d been on the bed, and Chrysander picked her up like a feather and dumped her back onto the bed.

“Princess, you are going nowhere. If you are to be well for the ball tonight, you best be in here until the clock strikes seven.”

Memory shrunk back at his seriousness. “Where…is Elliot okay?”

Tsavorite gave Chrysander a worried look.

“He…
should
be fine.”

“No Tsavorite. He won’t be.”

Tsavorite swatted him on the shoulder. “He will and you know it. Simply because you don’t like the boy doesn’t justify your attitude. Besides, he is proper and has manners I haven’t seen from anyone in over a decade, including you.” She quipped, and Chrysander rolled her eyes. “And if you must, he saved the Princess’ life. Quit moping.”

“I agree only because you are older.”  Chrysander replied. He gave Memory a pointed look. “Get. Some. Rest.”

He was gone, and Tourmaline paraded away after him in her tall heels, not even apologizing to Memory.

Tsavorite, Ruby, and Zoisite were the only ones left in the room. When she noticed the latter two, she tried to smile at them but couldn’t manage one.

“The bleeding stopped.” Tsavorite raked her fingers gently through Memory’s hair. “He’s in his room, and the doctor’s are taking good care of him. He took quite a great fall.”

“Yeah.” Memory muttered. “And I’m not even worth it.”

Tsavorite was silent, and Ruby joined her, rocking back and forth on the bed next to Memory.

“Horsey play. Horsey fall?”

“Yes, Ruby. Horsey fall.” Tsavorite patted Ruby on the head, and it struck Memory how motherly she was. And kind. Her eyes were already starting to close from the massage she was getting.

“
Come on, crazy lady. You will be okay.” That was Zoisite, trying to comfort her in her own weird way.

Memory chuckled. “Shut it, twerp. Besides, didn’t I get you in trouble?”

“I hate you. But, I got to run. This time, take me on the horses.”

As she fell into a deep sleep, Memory nodded.

It was cold. Ice cold. She was running, running so far that her arms became wings made of ice, until someone shoved an icicle into her heart. And then she screamed.

Her breathing labored, and she woke up with a sheen of cold sweat on her face. As she took a look at her surroundings, she realized she wasn’t running and she certainly didn’t have wings made of ice.

It was a dream. I’m okay. No one’s going to stab me.

Memory wrapped her arms around herself tightly. It was still midday, and to her surprise, Zoisite was snoring away loudly next to her.

She shook the girl awake, and she screeched.

“Ew, get away get away!”

Memory narrowed her eyes. “You fell asleep on
my
bed.”

“You must have poisoned me. Now I’m infected by the crazy lady!” Zoisite jumped off the bed and rushed towards the doors, screeching. Memory chuckled at her childish antics and rolled onto her side, her arms aching.

She would really hate it if Elliot didn’t get better soon.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Diana, who approached her slowly.

“Why did Lady Zoisite leave your room screaming?”

“I don’t know, Diana.” Memory croaked. “Could I have
some water?”

Water was brought and Diana filled the Jacuzzi in her bathroom with warm water. Memory settled into it, the pain disappearing almost immediately, and went through the routine of getting ready. She and Diana compromised on a light blue silk gown that swished around her legs when she walked.

“Are you feeling okay? You’ve been coughing and sneezing for the past few days.” Diana asked, concerned. Memory nodded.

“
I think I’m okay. What’s this ball for?”

“A welcome party, more like. Now that you have returned, we are slowly introducing you again to the rest of the family and our friends from around the world.”

“Friends?” Memory asked skeptically as she slipped into a pair of flats. “Or more like business acquaintances?”

“Call it what you wish.” Diana held up a pair of earrings and Memory carefully hooked them through her ear. “The Vivistes arrived, and they are tough to please.”

“Hmm?”

“Oh yes, you don’t know.” Laughing, the head maid shoved her into the chair and started to work on her hair. “They’re not officially a part of the Eastcote family. You know of Harold and Crystal?”

Memory thought hard, the names extremely familiar. “Yeah, my great grandparents. They got divorced, didn’t they?”
After Harold discovered the secret tunnels…

“They had one daughter, Olivine. She is the half sister of Ara, his majesty’s father and Queen Beryl’s husband. When Harold divorced Crystal, she and Olivine were kicked out.”

Frowning as Diana pulled her hair into an up do, Memory could only roll her eyes at the antics of Prince Cassian’s ancestors. Kick out your daughter? Really?

“Olivine is dead, but she married a French man named
Jacques and had four children with them. We had no contact with them until a decade ago, when Crystal insisted on compensation for the money she lost.”

Memory blinked. “She’s alive?”

“Yes. You could learn a thing or two about stubbornness from her.” Diana chuckled, pulling the last of Memory’s hair into a tight bun. “To calm her, Queen Beryl promised to marry Chrysander off to Crystal’s grandchild, Topaz. Oh, look at you! Beautiful.”

She looked odd, and her face was almost lopsided as the bun was so tight it nearly pulled up the skin on her forehead. As a result, her eyebrows were skewed, and her eyes were the size of tennis balls. 

“Yeah…uh, let’s leave the bun.” It was too late to listen to Diana’s protest and Memory yanked out the pins holding it in place. The head maid sighed.

“My hard work…”

Memory grinned, loving how her hair cascaded down her back and curled around her face. It made her look messy but in a good way.

“It’s customary to wear up do
s!”

“Not anymore. Thanks, Diana!”

Memory had never been in the ballroom, but in one word, it was grand.

Grand and boring.

On her way to the ballroom, she had passed by the windows which had revealed a train of limos, each carrying snooty guests with too frilly gowns and too expensive tuxedos. It was nauseating.

The party wasn’t like she’d thought it would be. There weren’t any disco lights, or loud dancing, just calm classical music and slow dancing. Most people were occupied with eating since there was a buffet.

She quickly spotted
Prince Cassian at a table, chatting with Chrysander and four others, and turned away before he could spot her. She didn’t want to see him.

Tsavorite was her first choice of company, but she was on the dance floor, twirling away beautifully while her partner, a young man in his twenties, stumbled about. Tourmaline was there too, but Memory gagged when she saw her latch onto
some poor unsuspecting lad’s lips.

The King and Queen were sitting up front, high on their thrones, with a group of probably very high
ly-esteemed people, probably queens and kings from other countries.

That left either Ruby, who had her head dunked under a chocolate fountain, or Zoisite. Memory chose Zoisite.

“Having fun?”

Zoisite, who was sitting on the stairs, scooted away from her. “No.”

“Do you have any friends?” Memory gestured to the dance floor. Some children, maybe a year or two younger than Zoisite, ran around the adult’s legs, laughing loudly.

She wrinkled her nose. “They are babies.”

“You don’t look too much older.” Memory replied, annoyed with her behavior.
Be nice for the money. The money, Memory.

“Then you are blind.” Zoisite puffed up her chest. “I’m almost eleven.”

“Ah.” Memory hesitantly made a move to ruffle her hair but she swatted her hand away. “You’re such a big girl now. But now you can’t run around and play with horses. You have to be like…like Emerald.”

“Then I’m a little girl.” She huffed. “What about you? You’re not like Emerald. You do crazy things. Are you a big girl?”

“Of course not.” Memory cackled. “I hate being boring. It’s so boring.”

Zoisite giggled but stopped when she realized she was giggling. “Whatever.”

“When you feel like talking, I’m here. The biggest baby you’ll ever know.” Memory reached over, quickly patted her beautifully made hair, and dashed away.

Emerald. While she was a coal in a room full of diamonds, she looked exceptionally beautiful today. She was surrounded by a horde of females, all fawning over her dress and shoes, and a group of males. Memory bravely joined them, bowing.

“I see you’ve met my awesome friend here.” Memory grinned at Emerald, who looked dumbfounded. “She’s the coolest person I know, you know.”

One of the men, or boy, since he couldn’t have been older than sixteen, blinked.

“Who are you?”

Memory
curtsied again. “Princess Jade. And you?”

The boy and the others paled. Emerald coughed.

“Come on, bestie, let’s go.” She grabbed Jade roughly by the arm and dragged her to the chocolate fountain where Ruby was on the verge of choking to death by chocolate.

“What are you doing?” Emerald demanded. Memory shrugged.

“Trying to be nice.”

Emerald, confused, huffed. “Whatever you’re doing, don’t. I don’t need it.”

Memory sneered back. “Of course you don’t, not with that face of yours.”

The redhead threw her hair back, laughing. “Oh, as if you’re any better.” She smiled condescendingly and sashayed back to her friends.

Fans, more like it.

“Uh, Ruby.” Memory waved her hand in front of the woman, who was swaying back and forth. “You alright?”

“Choco. Choco good.” She darted for the chocolate fountain and Memory stopped her.

“Oh no, no more. Look, you’re drooling.”

Ruby was covered in splatters of brown, but whoever had dressed her was smart enough to make her gown brown and black plaid. It wasn’t too bad, but Memory still grabbed some tissues and patted her down, while she moved side to side, grinning widely.

“Princess Jade, is it? Do you need any help?”

Memory, still wiping down Ruby, shook her head. “No thanks.” She stood up, turning to the newcomer. “Who are you?”

He looked a bit like Chrysander, with a goatee and dark hair. His dark eyes were different, and mischief swirled in the
depths.

He smiled widely, revealing a set of perfect teeth. “Martin Banks. I believe you met my brother,” He indicated the boy standing next to Emerald, “Frederick Banks.”

Memory tilted her head. “That’s nice…”

“Would you like to dance?”

She shrugged. She had nothing better to do, right?

When she hit the dance floor, it was when she realized she didn’t exactly know how to dance. At all. Dancing was Lulu’s thing. Heck, even Bryan, in his drunken stupor, could dance better than her.

As Martin grabbed her waist, Memory awkwardly
leaned towards him.

“I can’t dance.”

He smiled. “You’ll be fine. Follow my lead.”

The song changed, and Martin
led her around the dance floor. It was the most awkward thing ever, even beating the conversation she’d had with Ruby about her nose.

She was never going to forget
this. Ever.