Page 46 of Heavenly Bodies

Elara looked around, drinking in the emerald of her surroundings as Merissa guided her down a hidden path. Elara had a vague sense that they were at the rear of the sprawling palace. It seemed that every few steps, another trickling fountain poured in a secluded alcove, or an intricate arbour hid within the greenery. When she heard a drift of music and laughter she patted the two goldstone jewelled combs that Merissa had swept half of her hair up with.

‘I’ve never seen this part of the palace,’ Elara said as she peered into the waning dusk and saw what appeared to be a maze of neat hedges forming concentric spirals.

‘Leo’s mother helped design the whole thing.’

‘Close enough to call him Leo, hm?’ she asked.

Merissa blushed, offsetting her mint green dress, which made her look unfairly stunning.

‘We’re quite close,’ she said. ‘After all, I’ve worked with Kalinda for years.’

Elara smiled as they continued past, the scent of dusk-daisies and starflowers permeating the evening air. As she caught a whiff of the powdery-scented silver-white flower, she thought of the bouquets Lukas would pick for her from the palace grounds. How he would sprint away laughing while the gardener chased him with a trowel, beforethrusting the flowers into her hands. Her stomach turned thinking about her old life, and Lukas, and how nothing had turned out as she’d hoped.

‘So, you’ve never courted?’ she asked, banishing him from her mind.

‘Oh, no,’ Merissa said hurriedly. ‘Leo would never look at me that way. And I…well, I don’t have a very lucky streak when it comes to love.’

‘If Leo doesn’t look at you that way, then Leo is blind, Merissa.’

Merissa blushed at that, and as they finally reached a sunken garden, Elara heard the rush of water before she saw it. The waterfall behind the palace cascaded in glittering gold down the length of a cliff face into a churning pool, framing the secluded space. Steam rose from its surface as it swirled, and throngs of people were swimming in the pool, or dangling their feet in the water. More were dancing around a crackling fire, others were sprawled upon the grass, and Elara stopped, mouth agape as a flame-thrower shot fire from his hands in a billowing cascade, whooping and swaying to the music of drums and strings. Elara turned wide-eyed to Merissa, who smiled.

‘Welcome to Leyon’s Feast.’

As they reached the grassy shore by the waterfall, Elara scanned it. Her stomach did a flip, her eyes searching warily for Enzo.

‘Elara!’

Elara turned in surprise to Leo, who grinned as he kissed her hand.

‘Oh my,’ Elara said, ‘has someone had a drink?’

He gave another lazy smile as he kissed Merissa’s hand too. ‘One or two.’ He turned back to Elara. ‘I thought you were “passing” on the feast.’

‘Well, someone convinced me.’ She jerked her head to Merissa.

‘Merissa’s a charmer. Aphrodean through and through.’

Elara laughed as Merissa gave a garbled thanks.

‘We’re sat over here,’ Leo said, and pulled them towards the water’s edge.

We? Elara didn’t like the sound of that. But to her relief, she saw only a woman sat there, with long black braids, her feet in the water.

‘Isra,’ Elara called out.

Isra turned at her name, smiling as she beheld Elara.

‘Well, well,’ she said. ‘It seems you chose a different path after all.’

She held her arms out, and Elara gingerly embraced her. ‘I’m happy you stayed,’ Isra murmured into her ear.

Elara smiled as she settled on the grass beside her.

‘Fancy a drink?’ Isra waved a bottle, and Elara took it eagerly. She’d need more than one to sate the worry of running into Enzo at every turn.

She swore loudly as she took a swig. Leo and Isra scoffed.

‘Isra, what in the Stars’ names is this?’

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