Back to Atlantis

first time. She had light-blond, almost white hair, large, ice blue eyes, and pale skin. Her eyes were similar to David’s right now, emotionless.
The queen’s dress was pale blue, fading to white. She had a crown that resembled a king’s, but made of silver. It was covered in diamonds and looked very heavy. Yasmin understood why Princess Amanda would want to take hers off.
“It’s good to meet you.” Yasmin said, holding out her hand.
She could feel the rest of the court staring at her because she didn’t curtsy, nor address the queen formally.
The queen smiled tightly. “My name is Queen Andrea. We have been awaiting your arrival for quite some time. You could be the key to squashing the rebellion.”
“And stopping the beast?” Yasmin’s voice echoed around the quiet ballroom. People gasped at the mention of the name, looking around afraid.
This time, Queen Andrea frowned. “We don’t mention his name. It’s bad luck. Besides, how would you even know his name? Did my beloved—the word sounded strained—son, David tell you the most top secret matters?”
“It’s hardly top secret if everyone knows. Was I the only one not supposed to know?”
“That doesn’t matter! Who told you! David said he taught you with no problem, and mentioned you are very obedient. This… are you sure you are the mage?”
“Abby Silvertree told me. The second mage, whose magic now resounds inside my body.” Yasmin looked at the queen, matching her hard stare. “She was possessed by the beast for her power, and he tried to kill us. She imprisoned my family but they were able to escape. David had nothing to do with it,” Yasmin said, feeling an urge to protect him.
“There was a second mage?!” The queen’s voice rose two octaves. “She must have been evil, to ally with the rebellion. She is a traitor to the world. Abby Silvertree is better off dead.”
Voices around the ballroom sounded in agreement.
Yasmin looked at David, unbelieving. He had been there. He understood more than anyone what had happened. Yet he was just standing there, letting Abby’s spirt be blamed for a mistake that cost her more than her life?!
I hate them all! She thought suddenly. They are just spoiled brats ruled by an icicle with no real feelings!
‘Yeah! Go Yasmin!’ Said a voice in her head. ‘Make them pay for what they said about me.’
This time Yasmin wasted no time on confusion. “I believe you are mistaken,” she said, keeping her voice even with difficulty. “Abby Silvertree suffered grief, more than all of you put together! Her mother hated her, she didn’t have any real friends, and she suffered a fate worse than death.” She was fighting to keep her voice steady. She wasn’t sure where those words came from, but deep in her heart she knew it was true.
“Yes, yes. All right. She wasn’t all that bad. Now, tomorrow, David will be appointed your official teacher, and you shall have a strict diet. We can’t have our mage getting chubby.”
That’s it! Yasmin thought, exploding. She could only see David, and Queen Andrea’s words echoed in her head: ‘We can’t have OUR mage getting chubby.’ Like she was their pet! From the beginning she had been treated as a tool.
“What is wrong with you?” she shouted at the queen, causing her to step back. “Are you stupid? I am a human being, and I don’t lie. I REFUSE to have David as my teacher, I refuse to let you treat Abby Silvertree as anything less than what she was, and I most certainly refuse to be treated as a TOOL!” She glared at the Queen, breathing heavily.
“Guards!” the queen said with distaste. “Take this mage to her room, and let her come out only when she begs. She would be thrown in the dungeon had we not needed her so much.”
Ten guards came in, carrying swords, and her anger grew. They had swords, did they? Well she did too!
Yasmin reached out, and the mage’s sword appeared in in her hand. She held it in a fighting stance, her eyes nearly glowing with anger.
“You thief!” The queen’s voice rang around the ballroom. “You have stolen a sacred heirloom, the mage’s sword! Give it back under the life of your friends!”
The guards came closer to Miriam and Daniella, circling them with swords. They seemed confused when Yasmin only grinned.
“Honestly!” Miriam’s voice rang around the ballroom. “You could have at least waited for desert before picking a fight with them!”
She looked at the surprised guards. “What? Did you expect me to scream and beg for my life? Besides, Yasmin’s been in such a mood all day, I’ve been waiting for her to explode. I had hoped she would do it in a quiet, secluded area, but of course she had to make a scene.”
Yasmin blushed lightly and felt like laughing. “Sorry!” she called to Miriam. “Next time I scream at the queen, or at royalty in general, I’ll try to be quieter and let you eat in peace.”
“Now that’s more like it!” Miriam got into a fighting stance. “Are these guards going to attack or stand there like idiots?”
“Hey!” shouted one of the guards.
The others attacked Yasmin, Miriam, Daniella, and Jon.
Yasmin parried one guard’s attack with her sword while twisting around and kicking another guard in the gut. She wished she could use magic, but there wasn’t enough room or time to get a spell ready.
Miriam came up next to her and dodged an attack with almost inhuman speed and punched him in the ribs. She grabbed another guard and spun him toward the first, being careful never to do anything permanent.
Daniella looked at the group of guards surrounding her and sighed. “Honestly, Yasmin. You create way too much drama. Can’t you let matters slide?”
“Kind of busy over here!” Yasmin shouted, trying to get enough room to do a scary spell that would make them back away and give her some breathing room. Fighting wasn’t very comfortable in this dress. And smelly guards… eww!
“Fine. Just leave us