Long May She Reign, page 2
And the rest was history.
“How was your class?”
“Which one? Teaching for intro to I-regret-wanting-to-be-a-doctor or I-wish-I-Professor-Lordian-would-retire?”
Professor Lordian. Also known as Professor whoredian. And more commonly known around certain demographics as, “that one faculty member that needed to be on a watch list.”
“He’s still making your life hell?” Astrid grimaced sympathetically at Dion’s twisted expression.
“The man never stopped! I swear if you aren’t a five—foot-four blonde who walks around in a tiny skirt the man treats you like you are the bane of humanity!”
“I warned you,” Ishani chuckled at her friend’s expense, having experienced the professor longer than anyone as she worked with him as a teacher’s assistant.
Also known as her having to teach some of his classes for him.
“I told you that you can borrow a skirt and a wig anytime you want,” Carter’s statement was completely serious but the blasé way they said it made all of the women in the room burst into laughter.
“Babe,” Dion forced a smile onto his lips, “not helping.”
Carter only shrugged before asking Aishwarya if she wanted anything else to drink causing her to decline and hold up her still half full gin and tonic. Astrid poured her own glass of cider as the conversation turned to her.
“What about you Marie? Are you excited?”
“Ugh! Yes! I cannot wait to be free!” Astrid held her arms in the air in an exaggerated stretch.
Spring could not come fast enough. Astrid, Ishani, Carter, and Dion would be walking across that stage, diplomas in hand, and into the free world. But more recently, the excitement of graduating university had become dread for what was to come after.
“Are you still going to work freelance? Cause I have a friend whose company might be looking for a full-time public relations specialist,” Aishwarya played coy the same way she played chess.
Terribly.
“I like being my own boss thank you very much,” Astrid’s voice was filled with faux annoyance, “anyways I don’t see the point in changing something that’s worked for the last two years. Besides, between translating, the freelance writing, and the art, I am perfectly content.”
Being a freelance worker combined two things that Astrid loved. Being in control and maintaining her identity. She was able to work from anywhere she desired. And selling her art was just a passion project that paid surprisingly well.
“Why are we talking about work on our only night off?! Let’s play something, because I am feeling lucky,” Carter gave an exaggerated dance by rotating their hips in a circle while their hands were in the air.
“Well, you and I have been banned from playing poker, blackjack, and go fish together,” Astrid listen off on her fingers, “I feel like I’m missing one.”
“Because you are,” Ishani laughed as she read off the actual list she had saved on her phone, “chess, checkers, rummy, spin the bottle, charades, monopoly, and bullshit.”
Astrid rolled her eyes at the list, knowing most of the games on it were due to Carter being far too competitive. And maybe because she was physically unable to back down from a challenge.
But mostly because of Carter.
“So, what are we left with,” Aishwarya chimed in from her spot on one of the bar stools in front of the island where she took a small sip from Dion’s offered glass of wine before pulling a face and putting it down.
“No card games then,” Dion became mediator, a job he frequently took over due to his unbiased nature and unparalleled ability to calm any tension.
Just like him…
“Why don’t we just watch a film while we eat? It’s been so long since we’ve just spent time together,” he continued.
No one could argue with that. It had been roughly three months since everyone was able to be in the same room without calls from work or prior engagements.
“I can order pizza?” Astrid left the question open to the entire room and after no objections she headed to her cell phone. She ordered two large pizzas with split toppings.
Plain cheese and veggie on one for she, Carter, and Ishani. And another that had pepperoni and pineapple for Aishwarya and Dion.
In the meantime, everyone gathered in the living room with their drinks and small snacks to simply enjoy each other’s company. Aishwarya was in the middle of a hilarious story about one of her co-workers having to drive to up state New York to treat a house cow when the intercom went off.
“I’ll go grab it,” Astrid slipped out from behind Ishani who had been resting her head the other girl’s arm.
“Do you need help?” Ishani perked up when Astrid moved, silently wishing the brunette would say yes so that they could spend at least a moment alone.
“I think I’ve got it. I’ll be back in a few,” Astrid smiled as she slipped on a pair of sneakers and went out the door, phone, and cash in hand. She had to go down all five floors of her building using the stairs due to the elevator being out of order- like it had been since the day she had moved in.
When she reached the bottom, she was slightly winded because of how fast she went, but nothing a few deep breaths couldn’t fix. She made her way down the hallway that led into the lobby of the building.
“Hi Vincent,” she greeted the security guard as he patrolled through the open lobby.
“Hello ma’am,” his voice held a slight English accent, but it was almost indistinguishable from the low tone he always used.
He had been assigned to the building the day she moved in so she would always have members of the Varunian guard within reach. Especially after she refused her security details and tried to escape them at every opportunity. And changed her number.
Three times.
“I got a call for a delivery,” Astrid moved closer to the front desk to see if the food had been left and the delivery person just happened to forget she needed to pay.
Which happened far more often than one would think.
“Yes ma’am,” Vincent shook his head but pointed a finger over to the small waiting area, where someone was sitting with their back to the princess, “but there’s someone who needed to speak to you.”
“Who exactly?” Astrid began running through the possibilities in her head.
Someone in the inner circle, definitely. They are the only ones who know where I live. Someone high enough for Vincent to not immediately lock down the building. And someone who could be trusted.
“Me,” a female voice answered as she stood from the chair. Holding two already paid for pizza boxes in her hands.
Braided hair that had been cut bluntly to just above the shoulders. Light caramel brown eyes surrounded by full, dark lashes. Standing at five foot seven, with a muscular, but exceptionally graceful body.
“Mara,” Astrid whispered both in excitement and disbelief at the sight of the woman she not only considered a friend, but at one point an elder sister. And despite the excitement and happiness at seeing her for the first time in nearly three years, there was an underlying pit in Astrid’s stomach.
“It is good to see you,” Mara smiled faintly, “mi princesa.”
Astrid knew deep down that her time in America was coming to a sooner than anticipated end.
As was her time with Ishani.
* * *
“Your return to Varune has been requested.”
The two women had moved into the private security office to prevent witnesses from seeing their conversation. Although any who passes by could probably hear everything through the paper-thin walls.
“I have eight more months, Mara,” Astrid snapped, completely outraged by what the older woman was suggesting.
“You knew that the circumstances were subject to change if it was in your best interest,” Mara’s tone remained even and calm.
Mara knew it would take more than an order from the king and queen to get the princess to come home and officially take her rightful place. She was also painfully aware of how creative Astrid could be when it came to pissing off the king. Even when His Majesty was not responsible for this particular visit.
Faint memories of when the princess super glued his desk drawers shut because he forgot about her younger sister’s tea party came to mind.
“I am the one who added the addendum to that stupid clause! Proof must be provided that either party is acting in the best interest of the other,” the princess recited from memory, “and yet I see no proof that me returning eight months early is in my best interest! In fact, I am convinced it would do the opposite!”
“And he still signed the contract,” Astrid articulated every single syllable while trying to prevent her breathing from coming out in short bursts, “you and my mother acted as witnesses!”
“Mi Princesa-” Mara tried to interfere, but Astrid kept rambling, as if unable to stop.
“I knew he would do this! I am honestly surprised he even let me stay in America as long as he did. I still don’t know how mamá convinced him to let me get an apartment, because I know she had something to do with it-”
Mara watched in terrified fascination as the eldest princess of the Varunian royal family paced back and forth across the floor. Her hands moved around in the air, a telltale sign of her annoyance, but what concerned Mara more was Astrid’s breathing.
It had become faster. As though the breath was unable to stay inside her lungs for more than a few seconds.
“Princesa…” Mara tried to move closer, but immediately stopped and retracted her outstretched hand when Astrid flinched backwards with a shout.
“Don’t touch me!”
Astrid, upon realizing what she had just done, began to shake her head in denial as her thoughts began to run wild.
That’s Mara. Mara wouldn’t hurt me. Not knowingly of course. She was just trying to help. Help me. God, someone help me.
“I-I’m sorry,” she whispered as Mara began to reassure her.
“You didn’t mean it. It’s all right.”
“Liar,” Astrid was unable to prevent a sarcastic huff from escaping.
“I gain nothing from lying to you, princesa,” Mara’s reassurance did nothing to ease the anxiety and mistrust filling in Astrid’s veins.
“Then why do you refuse to call me by my name, Mara? I- I can’t- I can’t-,” Astrid reached a shaking hand to her chest and tried to apply pressure the tremors were too severe.
“Princess? Astrid!” Mara ran and caught the girl before she collapsed against the wall.
“I don’t know what to do anymore,” the tears would not stop, “Ophelia is fourteen now and I barely remember what she looks like! I have not spoken to Helena in so long that I don’t think I know what her voice sounds like. And God only knows what Sebastián has been doing.”
Probably causing yet another diplomatic incident now that I think about it.
“I miss home… but I can’t- I don’t know what to do or why I’m even crying right now. I feel so fucking ridiculous.”
“Astrid, first things first, you need to calm down! Once you have calmed down, I can talk to you. But I cannot do anything when you are like this.”
Mara was trying to maintain her composure. Knowing that if she began acting on her emotions, it would only hurt the woman in front of her.
Okay breathe, you know how to breathe, so breathe.
The tears slowed and her heart rate slowly returned to normal. Her breathing evened out and with one large, deep breath, she started talking again.
“I’m sorry,” Astrid apologized as she wiped away the stray tears on her cheeks.
“You are still apologizing for the things that are not your fault and things that you have no control over. But you have never had a reaction like that in the time I have known you. So, what is really going on with you, Astrid?”
Should I tell her? Does she already know? Why does my brain work this way?
“I,” Astrid felt her face fade into an emotionless expression as she stood up from her place on the cool floor, “do not have to explain myself to you. Or to anyone for that matter.”
Her anxiety was still raging inside her as was the annoyance and anger of seeing someone from home, but she refused to show anything outwardly.
I have done this alone for years and this time will not be any different.
“Does that happen often?” Mara would not let Astrid walk away from this issue without at least a conversation. Even if it was one-sided.
“Does that happen often,” Mara repeated, this time slower.
Astrid let out a humorless huff of a laugh before she replied.
“It isn’t anything that I haven’t dealt with before.”
“That didn’t answer my question, Astrid,” Mara gripped.
“No, it didn’t,” the younger woman pressed both palms over her eyes, “but as I recall, you didn’t answer my question either.”
“That was diff-”
“Do not say that lying to me is different than what I am doing to you. Alluding from the truth is still lying, Mara. You taught me that.”
And yet here I am lying to Ishani. Fuck my life I’ve become a hypocrite.
The older woman had no answer.
It had been three years since she had spoken to Astrid, let alone seen her. The princess had always treated Mara as a dear friend, even as a sister. But for some reason Mara couldn’t help but feel that both of them had changed in their time apart.
The once sweet and mischievous eldest princess had become hardened; sharper around the edges with scars littering every part of her body and mind. Her eyes were constantly checking the space around her, as if she were waiting for some unforeseen enemy to appear out of the shadows. And she could barely sit still, looking ready to jump out of skin at a moment’s notice.
“Because you are my princess,” Mara replied evenly despite the weight of Astrid’s gaze on her.
“Once upon a time you would have called me your friend.”
“And I was out of line. But there are more important things to discuss than the issues of the past. We need to talk about this,” Mara thought about grabbing the girl’s arm, but decided that it would only harden Astrid’s resolve to not talk.
“We have talked,” Astrid quickly exited the room before snatching the boxes that Vincent had been watching and gave the man a quick thank you before heading back towards the stairwell.
“I told you what I thought, and you avoided telling me why you’re here as well as destroyed any positive feelings I had held onto for you. Overall, a rather productive conversation, wouldn’t you say?”
Mara stood still for a moment to lower her growing annoyance before heading back after the princess who was currently bounding up the stairs two at a time. They were halfway up when they ran into another person.
A gorgeous person.
Ishani released a sound of surprise at the sudden appearance of Marie, and the unknown person behind her.
“There you are,” the woman released a laugh that was soaked in lightheartedness and relief, “we were about to send out a search party for you. Although Carter was more worried about the pizza.”
Mara noted how Astrid’s shoulders immediately relaxed upon setting her eyes the brown-skinned woman and couldn’t help but make a mental note to look into her.
“Who’s this?” Ishani’s eyes fell onto the woman standing behind Marie. Although she had an unreadable expression on her face, her eyes were sparked with annoyance.
“Shani, this is an old friend of mine who is moving into the building,” Astrid allowed a smile to take over her features as she answered Ishani’s question, “Mara, this Ishani.”
Astrid turned back to face Mara and raised a quick brow as a challenge. To see if Mara was willing to go along with the lie or if she would compromise her princess’s identity. The staring contest felt like time had slowed down, but in reality, it only took moments before Mara made her decision.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ishani,” Mara shifted her accent to sound more like Marie in order to shield her Varunian one.
“You too,” Ishani gave the woman a blinding smile before she grabbed one of the pizza boxes and walked the rest of the way to the apartment with Astrid and Mara.
Ishani was naturally inquisitive but not in an annoying or invasive manner. She wanted to learn about Mara but also respected the woman’s unspoken boundaries.
Once they reached the fifth floor of the building where Astrid’s apartment was, Mara began wracking her brain for an excuse to leave but couldn’t find one in enough time.
“I found her!” Ishani laughed as she walked through the front door. A chorus of cheers filled the air as Astrid held the hand holding the pizza box into the air.
“I also brought a… an old friend,” Astrid chimed.
When Ishani took off her shoes and left them on the small rack to the right of the front door, Mara followed suit, taking in the surroundings that screamed Astrid.
The entire loft was an open concept with a wall of paneled windows to the left and exposed brick walls. A warm dining area was to the right directly across from a modern kitchen. The few solid walls were almost completely covered with paintings that seemed to come from a small painting area in the furthest left corner of the apartment. A large stained-glass panel separated what looked like a bedroom area from the rest of the open room.
Paintings that Astrid had done.
All of the furniture was mismatched and had clearly been used well. And had anyone else arranged the room, it would have been off-putting and tacky. But Astrid had managed to make it look like everything belonged.
The three people who were seated in the rounded chair and velvet sofa also looked very much at home.
“Hello,” Mara greeted, feeling slightly awkward with the three sets of eyes on her.
One of the tallest members of the group stood up and walked over to her with their hand out.
“Hiya doll, I’m Carter,” their glossed lips turned up into a smile, revealing perfectly straight teeth.
