The Aldean Chronicles: Hidden

"Secretary Davis," He's sitting down at a half-empty table and is scrolling through his phone."I'll tell you what I told the others, I'm not interested in talking and I would appreciate it if I was left alone." He doesn't look up from his screen.

I don't know if it's the adrenaline but I refuse to leave. "My name is Cassandra Flores and I would like to formally meet you."

He looks up at me. "You, Queen Freya told us about you." He looks like he's in his seventies. "Cassandra Flores, take a seat." I take the one on his right. "You're real, she didn't make you up for drama."

I nod. "I feel pretty real, ir." I joke. "So how are you, it's good to meet you."

"Are you any good at magic?" He's not beating around the bush.

"Was terrible till Tristan Oisin started tutoring me."

He nods. "Tristan Oisin, he's a good kid. Good to know he's doing well." He says. "So are you close to your brother and cousin?"

"Surprisingly yes, we're all friends," I inform him. "We get along most of the time."

"What are your plans for the future, are you planning on staying in Aldean or going back to your crusty dimension?" He asks.

"Not sure yet, still trying to figure things out." I give him the answer I've given everybody else.

"What about the pledge, will you be taking it next year?"

"Probably not, it's one thing being a princess. Being a crowned one feels much worse."

He studies me. "I knew who you were the moment I saw you. I've been watching you all night, wouldn't have moved an inch if your aunt hadn't pushed you. Do you want to hear some wise words?"

This will probably not be good for me. "Of course, what wise words do you have to offer?"

"The problem with you is that you're scared of everything, including your destiny." Yep. "You have an opportunity to be the most powerful person in Illyria but you're giving up before you even have a chance. You're shooting yourself before someone else can. You can stay here and be anything you want to be, live a life of exception. Instead, you want to go back to Earth and settle in mediocrity. You're that scared of failure."

Thinking maybe I should have come with Tristan after all. But he's not done yet. "You feel like things will end badly or not work out or you'll fail, and therefore you don't even try."

"I feel personally attacked by that." I laugh shakily and look around for a possible exit.

"Good, then I'm saying the right things. Sebastian told me you're having second thoughts on everything. Like I said before, I think you're just afraid." He picks up his phone from the table and stands up. "I've paid my dues, I'll love to talk to you again when you've made up your mind. Take care." He nods at me before walking to the door, he brushes off anyone who attempts to talk to him in the process.

I don't dwell on his words. It will just make me more depressed.

***

"Do you mind giving me a ride back to school?" I ask Tristan when the party's over. "Kat and Mika are staying an extra night while Grey is spending the night at home. You're kind of my last chance."

He nods. "Sure, but I'm leaving as soon as possible. You might not have time to change out of your dress."

I groan. "Fine, just give me a second to get my things," I tell him. I go to my room and throw the rest of my stuff into the box, I close it and rush back down to the car park. I find his car and deposit the box in the tiny trunk. "Thank you for the ride."

"No problem, at least now you can tell me about your conversations with the guests. I saw you talking to Secretary Davis, what did he say?" He starts the car.

"He told me that I'm scared of my destiny and if I don't get over it, I'll never reach my full potential." I relay. "Or something along that line."

"Like with your magic, you didn't get better till you got over your fear of fire." He says. "I like secretary Davis, he's one of my role models. Even if he is a combatant."

I laugh. "I wouldn't have guessed, he's so old." A loose hair is getting in my face so I tuck it behind my ear "He made me feel bad about wanting to give up."

"He does that, he always expects the best from people. He believes if he can make it, so can you." Tristan says. "Do you know his life story?"

I shake my head. "No, he didn't mention it. He left the party really quickly."

"It's so inspiring, it's all in his autobiography. You should get the book."

I nod. "Okay, are there any book stores around here?"

He chuckles. "You want to go now?"

"Why not, it's not like we're in a rush or anything. Besides, I want to take advantage of this rare opportunity to see the city at night." I make my lips quiver. "Please, please, pretty please."

"Your aunt is going to murder me." He stares at the well lit roads. "But it's just one stop. And I need to get a book for my Geography class, so we'll stop for that."

"Do you really need to get a book for geography class?"

"Do you want to go or not?" He asks. I raise my hands in defense. "What I thought."

I smile, it's about 9 pm and the moon is full. Tristan puts on the radio and a song by a popular Illyrian singer comes on, I sing along quietly. We drive for a while before pulling up in front of a bookstore. I get my purse and go in.

The only people in it are the cashier and two other customers. I ignore the strange looks they give me, I doubt it's every day they see a girl dressed in a designer dress and high heels walk into such a casual place. I'm grateful I removed my jewelry, I wouldn't blame anyone for robbing me if I was still wearing it.

"Have you found the book yet?" Tristan appears behind me.

"Not yet, it's an autobiography so I have to look for that section," I reply slowly to myself. I walk down a few aisles and towards the back, I scour the shelves for the book. I don't know the title so I just keep checking for his name. "Found it," I pull a book from the top shelf. "Tenacity: The Palo Davis Story, sounds fun."

"Good, we can go." I follow him to the cash register and hand the cashier the book.

"Just this please," I give her my black debit card. She looks at it, then up at me, then back down at it. She sighs and runs it through the machine. She packages the book and hands it back to me along with my card. "Thank you."

Tristan is already walking out of the store, I run after him. "And thank you for bringing me here."

He doesn't say anything, he just enters his car. We drive back to school in relative silence, him focusing on the road, me staring out at the pretty night. He parks his car and I get my box out of it.

"Thank you for the ride," I tell him. "And the book."

He leans on his car and sighs. "You're welcome. Good night, Cassie."

I don't move. "Are you alright, you've been tense all night. Still worried about what happened with those old men."

He cracks a small smile at that. "Just really tired, tonight was emotionally draining."

I stand my suitcase and lean on the car beside him. "Tell me about it." I sigh. "If it's any consolation, you made tonight so much more bearable for me."

"Same." He says simply. His fingers brush my hand, the feathery light touch startles me. I bring my hands together and place them in my front. He notices this small movement but doesn't say anything. "Did I mention that you look really pretty tonight?"

I laugh. "Oh really. Who did I remind you of this time?" I tease.

Before I can recover, he leans over and places a small kiss on my lips. He pulls away and stares straight ahead, his back is still on his car. I don't reply, I bring my left hand up and gently brush my lips. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that." He says in a neutral voice.

"I wish you didn't," He looks alarmed. "I've imagined kissing you a lot of times. I just thought the first time would have occurred under... different circumstances."

He nods. "I've imagined kissing you too. I don't know why I did that. I really shouldn't have."

I turn to him. "I thought your feelings towards me were strictly platonic."

He shakes his head. "They're not. I like you. Not a crush, I genuinely like you."

"So my feelings aren't real or genuine?" I ask. "And if you like me why have you left me feeling like an idiot these past two months?" This comes out harsher than I wanted it to.

He winces. "Because it's a bad idea. We're both figuring out ourselves and I don't want us to be dependent on each other. Like Kat and Jamie, you've only known them for a few months. I've known them forever." I roll my eyes. "And also, you just got here. You don't need a boyfriend right now."

"Yes, because only you know what's good for me." I accuse. "I'm too young and stupid to know any better."

"That's not what I meant. You know th..." He stops himself.

"That's what I thought." I get off his car and grab the handle of my box. "Goodnight Tristan." I roll my suitcase away. I get to my room and fall on my bed. I take my shoes off and resist the urge to scream in frustration. I glance at Sara's bed and am glad to find it empty.

I strip off my dress and take a long, hot shower. I wear old shorts and a faded shirt and climb under my covers. Sebastian calls and asks how tonight went. I tell him everything that happened.

"I knew asking Tristan to look after you was a good idea." He says excitedly. "He's a good person, just like Jamie."

I don't comment on that. After talking to him, I call my parents and tell them about my night. My mom asks me to send pictures while my dad asks if I had fun. I send her pictures and she gushes over my dress.

"Oh sweetie, you look so beautiful. I'm tearing up." She says overdramatically, this makes me laugh. "And who's that guy in this picture with you and Grey."

I see the picture she's talking about. "That's Tristan."

"Oh, that's Tristan." She says suggestively. "He's very handsome."

"I'm ending the call now." I threaten and she giggles.

"Just trying to have some fun. Nothing ever happens here."

After the call, I go to sleep. I feel exhausted but proud of myself, I actually made it to the end of the night.