Emily rubbed her hands across gold-embellished designs carved on the mahogany wooden frame of her bed. A music box sitting on the nightstand played sweet baroque melodies. Moonlight beamed through the window, casting clair-obscure shadows in Emily's hotel room. The room smelled of fresh linen, wealth, and fame. A tailor-made carpet with a sun and moon design lay underneath a coffee table. A special edition vintage wine sat atop, surrounded by a bucket of ice and porcelain trays.
"All this because I was chosen?" Emily muttered to herself as she picked up the music box. She smiled at it, her mask glowing in the moonlight. "₮₳₥ł₦₲ ₮ⱧɆ ₵ⱧØ₴Ɇ₦ ₩ł₮Ⱨ ł₦ĐɄⱠ₲Ɇ₦₵Ɇ ฿Ɇ₣ØⱤɆ ₮ⱧɆ ₴₳₵Ɽł₣ł₵Ɇ."
Emily's eyes widened as she dropped the music box; its porcelain ballerina cracked as it slammed into the wooden floorboards.
"Who's there?" Emily blurted out as her eyes darted around the room. "ɎØɄ ₴łⱠⱠɎ."
She closed her eyes and then took a deep breath. "Intrusive thoughts, just intrusive thoughts."
"ⱧØ₩ ⱠØ₦₲ ₳ⱤɆ ɎØɄ ₲Øł₦₲ ₮Ø ₭ɆɆ₱ ₮Ⱨł₴ Ʉ₱?"
"Shut up... shut up."
"ɎØɄ ĐØ₦₮ ₣ł₦Đ ł₮ ØĐĐ ɎØɄⱤ JɄ₴₮ ₲ØØĐ ₳₮ ɆVɆⱤɎ₮Ⱨł₦₲?"
"I said Shut up!" Emily yelled out loud, then covered her mouth and gazed at the door. Her heart raced as she heard a knock come from the door.
"Ummm, everything cool in there?" a female voice echoed from the other side.
"Yeah... yeah, I uh … I was singing … haha," Emily blabbered.
"Wait...is that you, Emily of Leonore?" the female voice replied as the doorknob turned.
Emily forced a smile on her face as she stared at Rachel as she opened her bedroom door. "Rachel?"
"In the flesh, missed me?" Rachel asked as she put a hand on her hip.
Emily rubbed her neck and kicked the music box under the bed. "Hey... I uhhh, what are you doing here?"
Rachel raised an eyebrow; her eyes scanned Emily's room for anything out of place. "This is the hotel I am staying at while I am in Leonore."
"Yeah … same," Emily replied with a thin-lipped smile, avoiding Rachel's gaze.
Rachel raised an eyebrow at her. "Did you pay or use your chosen privilege?"
"I mean... Elijah paid for the room," Emily explained as she pointed out the window.
Rachel tapped her lip. "He could have got the room for free, considering you both are chosen," she explained, then leaned, took a few steps into the room. "You said you're not family... right?"
Emily blinked, then shrugged. "Wait, really?"
Rachel chuckled and shook her head. "Really, but I guess it doesn't matter. Anyway, since you're here, how about you show me some Leonore culture?"
Emily rubbed her neck. "Oh... um, I was just going to call it a night."
"Seems Emily of Leonore is a tad bit shy…. where did all that bravado go that I saw while we fenced?"
Emily's eyes widened. "Shy!? I do not know what you're talking about," she blabbered as she forced a smile on her face as she looked out the window.
"So, are you going to show me around, Leonore, or do I have to ask someone else?" Rachel replied.
Emily bit her lip. "I guess I know some spots, though I don't really have any money."
Rachel shrugged. "That's fine, I will pay if needed, but they usually make everything free."
"I hate how they treat us differently just because of that."
"What do you mean? You're one of a hundred candidates blessed by the ENGINE for a shot at godhood. It's tradition, and besides, we are not like them, so they should treat us accordingly."
Emily shrugged. "I guess, but I don't see myself as chosen."
Rachel smirked. "You should see yourself as the PRIME. Manifest your win, so on and so forth... that's what my papa told me," she explained as she gestured for Emily to follow her.
Emily stopped in the hallway and closed her eyes, then took a deep breath.
"Something's wrong?" Rachel asked as she turned back, raising an eyebrow at Emily.
"I'm manifesting this mask to come off," Emily whispered as she exhaled.
Rachel chuckled. "Not a fan of your mask?"
Emily rolled her eyes, then smirked. "No, and it itches."
"I like it... I think it builds character. I wish I had your color, though."
"Same... everything is better black."
Rachel laughed and rolled her eyes. "Are you sure, or is that your melancholic personality seeping through?"
Emily shrugged. "Probably both if I am being honest," she replied as she followed Rachel out of the hotel.
"ⱠØⱠ ⱧØ₦Ɇ₴₮ ₴ⱧɆ ₴₳Ɏ₴."
"Shut up,"
"What was that?" Rachel asked as mulberry-lit streetlamps glowed like fireflies.
"Oh, nothing... Sometimes I think out loud," Emily mumbled as she rubbed the back of her neck.
"Hmmm, listening to the little voices in your head? I do that sometimes too, when I gotta find what outfit to wear when I have to attend one of my parents' waltz parties."
"Are you nobility or in the army?" Emily asked as he looked at Rachel's militaristic outfit.
Rachel nodded as they stopped at an antique shop. "Both. I actually come from a bloodline that birthed six of the last ten Primes."
Emily forced a thin-lipped smile as she gazed down at the cobblestone road. She ran her hands through her hair as the weight of who she was talking to sank in.
"My full name is Rachel Ailuo Lianza of the Augustine Imperial. My brother, Sylas, is also a fellow chosen. He stayed within the empire's borders for Prime Day. Hopefully, you will never meet him."
"Why do you say that?" Emily asked.
"He is a self-absorbed asshole. Well, my whole family is, if I am being honest."
"That's horrible."
"Yeah, try living with him."
"No, I mean that's a horrible situation to be in."
"What do you mean?" Rachel asked as she turned her head towards Emily.
"You might have to fight your brother."
Rachel chuckled. "Oh, we would actually love that. We've been training since we could walk for this moment. It's tradition, and with both of us chosen, it increases the odds that our bloodline will reclaim the title PRIME."
Emily scratched her ear, forcing a thin-lipped smile on her face.
"₴Ʉ₵Ⱨ ₳ ₱ł₮Ɏ."
"What about you, Emily of Leonore? Weave me a tale of your greatness."
"If I did that, you would be extremely disappointed."
Rachel laughed as they continued walking the streets of Leonore under a starlit sky. "You sell yourself short, Emily of Leonore. You may not see it, but I see it."
"ØⱧ ĐØɆ₴ ₴ⱧɆ?"
"I am just an orphan who scribbles lyrics down in my diary and plays a cello. There is nothing special about me."
Rachel smirked, then gazed at the opera house as they walked up to it. "How about I just show you?"
Emily raised an eyebrow, then looked at the opera house. "By watching an opera?"
Rachel smiled, then grabbed Emily by the hand, escorting her into the opera.
"ØⱧⱧⱧ ł Ⱡł₭Ɇ ₮Ⱨł₴ ₲łⱤⱠ."
"Shut up," Emily whispered, dragging her feet as Rachel pulled her inside.
Emily dragged her feet on the velvet red carpet as Rachel held her hand. Golden-framed posters of famous actresses and singers lined the wall. Cologne, musk, popcorn, and money filled the air as people gossiped. Eyes lingered on Emily and Rachel as they headed towards the main corridor of the opera house.
"More chosen?" the ticket master asked, standing behind a register. "Lady Sarah attracts like moths to a flame."
Rachel's eyes widened as she smiled at Emily. "Wait, you mean Lady Sarah from the city of Tyrial?"
"Who is that?" Emily asked with a raised eyebrow.
"You don't know who Sarah of Tyrial is!?"
Emily shrugged as she stared into Rachel's eyes.
"She likes one of the most famous performers in the world. My brother would be so jealous if he found out he missed an opportunity to see her perform."
"She is also a fellow chosen. Blessed by the ENGINE itself," the ticket master explained with a smile.
Rachel's eyes widened with glee as a smile stretched from ear to ear. "No freaking way! I might fight Sarah of Tyrial herself for godhood. Oh, this day keeps getting better and better!"
"You really enjoy fighting, do you?" Emily muttered, tilting her head at Rachel.
"Two seats, please!" Rachel smiled at the ticket master, ignoring Emily's question. "Do I need to pay?"
The ticket master shook his head. "Not at all... seats are on the house. Please enjoy Lady Sarah's performance."
Rachel squealed as she dragged Emily through the curtains.
"ɎØɄ ₲Ø₮ ₵Ø₥₱Ɇ₮ł₮łØ₦, Ⱨ₳Ⱨ₳"
"Fuck off."
Bright red plush seats sprawled down fleets of stairs that led to the stage. Golden chandeliers hung overhead, casting the venue in a warm hue. Emily noticed several others, chosen in various mask colors, sitting down and pointing at her and Rachel. The air reeked of perfume, lust, alcohol, and lavender. Ether-lit lamps hung over the wooden stage. Their mulberry flame casts vibrant shadows across the production equipment.
Rachel squeezed past several patrons, clearing a path for Emily as they took their seats near the middle of the venue. Emily bit her nails as she glanced around at everyone. She scrunched up as she marveled at everyone's designer outfits and hats. Their conversations seemed alien to her as her leg shook. Her eyes darted towards the stage as Rachel tapped her leg and pointed forward.
All the lights went out as a huge strobe light flickered on above the stage. The crowd erupted as the red curtain pulled back, revealing a middle-aged woman with long, curly, luxurious pink hair. Her chosen mask was almost identical in color to her hair. She wore a brilliant pink dress, speckled with gemstones that glimmered in the light.
"Oh, my PRIME. That's Sarah of Tyrial in the flesh!" Rachel screamed with a grin that stretched from ear to ear. "She plays such a beautiful violin. I have all her records and occasionally play her instrumentals to fall asleep to."
Emily crossed her arms and then rolled her eyes. She closed her eyes, and all she could see was the dreadful color pink.
"Good evening, ladies, and gentlemen, and welcome to the evening of Prime Day!" Sarah screamed in a songbird tone. She smiled at the crowd as they erupted in adoration. Sarah breathed in the jubilee, closing her eyes and doing a twirl, and then bowed. "And as you can tell, I have an opportunity to be your next PRIME!" she declared as she fluttered her designer fan underneath the stage lights.
"₳฿₴ØⱠɄ₮ɆⱠɎ ₦Ø₮."
A baroque music box tune played. Sarah closed her eyes and danced alone on the opera stage. The music added layers of 808s, orchestral pop, hammered dulcimer, and cinematic strings. She then grabbed a violin and played for the crowd as an orchestra, harpsichord, contrabassoon, and piano joined the dynamic melody.
"I see there some fellow chosen in the crowd," Sarah said as she continued to play, gazing up into the crowd as a pump organ drone weaved into the beat. "What better way to celebrate Prime Day than by having some fellow chosen dance on stage with me!"
"Oh, my PRIME... pick us! Pick us!" Rachel screamed as she stood up, waving her hands.
Emily quickly attempted to push Rachel back into her seat as her eyes widened, and she shook her head.
"You two with the black and white masks!" Sarah yelled as she pointed at Rachel and Emily. "Get your butts up here!"
Emily's mouth dropped to the floor as a blank expression formed on her face, while Rachel squealed and then grabbed her hand.
"Why me?"
"Ⱨ₳Ⱨ₳!"
"Fuck my life."
"Ⱨ₳Ⱨ₳ⱧⱧ₳Ⱨ₳Ⱨ₳Ⱨ₳Ⱨ₳Ⱨ₳Ⱨ₳Ⱨ₳ⱧⱧ!"
"Chosen, why don't you tell the audience about yourself?" Sarah said as she escorted Rachel and Emily to the middle of the stage.
"I am Rachel of the Empire of Augustine, and this is Emily of Leonore," Rachel replied as she waved at the crowd.
Emily's expression was blank as dread slithered up her spine. Her hands trembled as she avoided eye contact with the audience.
"So, Rachel and Emily. Shall y'all weave a dance for the crowd as I play my violin?" Sarah asked as she picked up her violin bow.
"Can you just bash my head in instead?" Emily muttered to herself as sweat trickled down her forehead.
"Ⱨ₳Ⱨ₳ⱧⱧ₳Ⱨ₳Ⱨ₳Ⱨ₳Ⱨ₳Ⱨ₳Ⱨ₳Ⱨ₳ⱧⱧ₳₳₳₳Ⱨ₳Ⱨ₳Ⱨ₳Ⱨ₳Ⱨ!"
Rachel clutched Emily's wrist and then twirled her as Sarah played while the orchestra behind her laid down the melody. Emily's mind went blank as she stared into Rachel's chestnut eyes; her confidence forced a smile on Emily's face. She felt her body moving in sync with the tune Sarah was strumming. Rachel was leading the dance with each step, waltzing Emily to a perfect performance by manipulating Emily's otherwise dead weight.
Seismic bass drops that transitioned to violin stabs and crowd choir harmonies captivated the audience as Sarah orchestrated a complex instrumental.
"Such a shy thing you are, Emily of Leonore," Rachel said as she twirled Emily as if she had been waltzing all her life. "You can't be PRIME while being afraid of the spotlight," She insisted as she brought her in close.
Emily did not respond, enthralled by Rachel's confidence. Her mind was blank while her heart thumped in her chest as Rachel kissed her on the lips. Emily's cheeks grew red as the crowd erupted into cheers. A spark lit up in Emily's body that she had never felt before. A warm, overwhelming sensation that she didn't know existed as she let Rachel's soft lips linger on hers.