Keelia wiped the tears from her face and slowly walked down the stairs. Dedrick was downstairs, and so were Trilly and Alvis. Delisa had passed her on the stairs. Keelia tried to leave without any of her friends seeing her red eyes, but Dedrick spotted them. “Keelia, are you alright?” He took her hand kindly.

                “I just… wish my parents could be here with me, that’s all,” she answered quietly. Trilly gently pulled her into a hug. “I miss them,” Keelia said. She saw Alvis’s face when she turned to leave. His was tear-stricken too, but she wasn’t sure why. Maybe he was thinking the same thing about his parents that he’d once had.

                She walked back to the Mickinson’s house. It was sunny and warm, and all the snow had melted from the blizzard that occurred a few weeks before. She was one of the only people out. Everybody else was still primping themselves up for the night. She would have at least an hour before they had to ride to the new palace. She opened the red door of her home and entered.

                “Keelia! You look beautiful!” Helbry said as she walked past. She nodded at the compliment, but her eyes remained closed.

                “Helbry,” she asked, “do you think that Johanna will blame my friends and I for what happened?”

                “Why would you think that?” he countered.

                “It’s just that, ever since I’ve come here, there has been something wrong happening all the time,” she said, turning to face her adoptive father.

                “Oh, Keelia! She wouldn’t ever blame you!” Helbry said, pulling her into another hug, and she sank into it. Brinely and Cligan trudged down the stairs from their rooms and looked at Keelia. Cligan hadn’t spoken to Keelia in a long time, and things were still awkward between them.

                On their way to the palace, they bumped into Rachel and her family… Rachel shook her head at Keelia, but Keelia wouldn’t tolerate having to see Rachel tortured in her family. Rachel was wearing a black dress that had diamonds around the middle and her brothers were wearing suits and capes. Rachel’s eyes widened when Keelia stepped closer. “Hey, if you want to bug Mrs. Bare, why don’t you just do it already?” Kation’s voice silenced all the others in the trolley. All the people turned to face Keelia and Kation. Keelia kept her voice smooth when she said, “Hello- kitty.” Kation’s face turned red as Jonathan and Isaac took a step closer to Keelia. A man behind her held a flute in his hands.

                “Sir, is that flute clean?” Keelia asked. The poor man clearly didn’t want to be caught in the crossfire between the two girls.

                “I,” his voice cracked, “I bought it this morning. I haven’t used it yet, do you want it for a moment?” She hastily agreed and the man passed her the brand new flute. Kation had a flute of her own on her and Keelia held hers (well, the poor man’s) to her lips. She played a sharp few notes, grinning when she saw Kation strain back from the notes. It was working. Completely unintentional, but it was working. Alvis sucked in a breath behind her, and she played a slow dark rythm. Kation crouched and held her head.

                “Alright! Make it stop!” Kation groaned. Keelia obediently stopped.

                “Don’t you dare threaten me again, Kation,” Keelia whispered in her ear. Somebody pulled her away and she looked eye to eye with Mrs. Bare.

                “Keelia!” Rachel cried, grabbing her mother’s arm.

                “Mrs. Bare. If you think about forcing your daughter to be part of the Shen Drar, expect a far more painful song next time,” she said quietly to Mrs. Bare. The stern-faced woman let her go, and Keelia, along with her friends, departed and entered the palace. The main hall was where the wedding was happening, and it was the most beautiful, but simple, wedding Keelia had ever attended. Johanna, luckily, only wore a plain white gown with embroidery here and there. Eliza said it was to show that the Queen could humble herself and show the people that she cared more about their ranks than hers. After the wedding, the reception was held in the throne room. The new King and Queen sat in the thrones while all the people filed passed and gave them gifts and told them congratulations. Jililian, Everie, Alvis, Delisa, Rachel, Brinely, and Keelia had all found each other and were sitting together at one of the tables. The Queen’s first announcement would be to start right after the crowning. The crowds hushed as a man stepped forward.

                “Everybody! We are gathered here today to welcome the new King and Queen into the palace,” he paused while the people cheered, “It is my honor to be asked, as the new advisor to the Queen, to crown her as such,” he paused again, allowing all to clap, “I know that you all are eager to hear her first announcement, so I will keep the speech brief. Princess Johanna, I wish that you and your husband will rule for many years and keep the health of your people in mind in all decisions you are to make. Being Queen is not easy, and many sleepless nights are required to serve your nation properly. Prince Hirobie, you are now the husband of Princess Johanna, and you, too, will comfort her in times of sorrow, encourage her during late nights, and moreover, love her when she needs you. People of Nivara, cherish the new royalty and trust them with your lives, for they have sworn to love you and take care of you as their people. To the new King and Queen of Nivara!” A toast was offered and then the crowd went silent once again. The man stepped over to Princess Johanna and placed the beautiful crown on her head. Keelia could see the terror in Johanna’s eyes as the crown was placed and while everybody clapped and cheered. Then her eyes turned dark and rested on Keelia’s table.

                “My first announcement will be this. Keelia Adene Cobell is not from this world,” Keelia’s heart stopped beating. “The day she arrived, she has caused havoc on this city. Recently, her and her friends’ actions have caused the deaths of my parents. Therefore, I have come to the conclusion that Keelia and her friends will be monitored by one of my Guardian soldiers from this day forward,” Queen Johanna said sternly and loudly enough for all ears to hear. Keelia’s heart wasn’t beating, she was sure of this. Three Guardians approached to seize her and her friends to lead them to their new ‘friend’.

                “Guys we have to Break! Come on!” Keelia warned. She held the whistle to her lips and blew it as her friends all grabbed hold of her.