Six

A lady is required to take in suppressants that induce Amenorrhea to avoid unnecessary pregnancies as well as suppressants to avoid unnecessary shifting. They must also take state issued supplements for their well-being.

✾

"This is great tea, Amara! I couldn't even tell it was poisoned."

Smirking, I stuck my chin out. This was just my third try and he already couldn't taste the bitterness of Wolfsbane. Compared to the others who’s more or less on their eight try, I was already able to make an unsubtle poison, subtle. It took me a few days to perfect it, but it was so worth it. With my peripheral vision, I glance sideways to check if the other consorts were able to see Plimoth complimenting me.

I don’t know why I feel surprised that they weren't.

Ever since that day they’ve been like this. They were always too busy.

They were too busy fawning over and peeking at what Suzanne was doing. I find myself rolling my eyes, not even bothering to hide the frown making its way to my face. Not that they’d notice me frowning anyway. They’re too busy looking down on me to see me as a major threat.

A few days had already passed since our first lesson and the horrible taste test with poison and yet the other girls are looking at her like she's some sort of master like Plimoth already. Silas stopped attending the lessons, so he also couldn't see that the real poison master had just complimented me. Not that I needed his approval to feel some sense of achievement. I don't.

I make my way back towards my table and sit.

I hate the fact that trying is the best thing I can do.

I need to find something good about me before it's too late. I need to have a certain advantage as well. I can't just be number seven. I won't allow losing again when I'm so close, not this time. Never again. I could feel something clawing in me, way deep inside, itching the back of my throat. My hands started shaking on their own volition. My heart beating faster than it should be.

"Are you alright, Amara?" Katya's voice breaks my train of thought.

Nodding, I force myself to focus on the subject at hand. The competition isn't over yet and I'm still here. There's still no Luna. I can still win. I will win. For the mean time, I just need to try to ace this lesson at least. It’s always been a habit of mine to enjoy little victories and Plimoth’s praise is my shining trophy.

But come to think of it, Suzanne didn't even try for this lesson.

Eleanor didn't try either back at the academe but she was the best.

I almost didn't hear Plimoth when he mentioned something about the history of poison or the ways in which we can poison those who try to kill us. It's always kill or be killed whenever you're a royal consort. He also told us that although we cannot die from Wolfsbane since we were partially immune, we can still be rendered useless if we ingest large amounts. That we are not susceptible to pain.

We would wish to die but we won't.

"Any questions?"

"Is there a cure?" Tarryn asked, tilting her head.

Plimoth shook his head, "Even with our advancement in science, we still haven't found an antidote for Wolfsbane. Not to worry girls, those with Alpha blood will not easily be killed by this poison. Omegas and Betas are the only ones who need to worry, of course, even though I'm a Beta, I'm trained so I wouldn't die from it."

I keep that in mind. After Plimoth’s lecture every one focused again on their own experiments. Leaving me with my wandering eyes practically judging every single one of them. Most of my attention though is focused on the two people beside me.

Katya was looking at Suzanne and how she was making her concoction. I could tell she was trying to grind the petals and mimic what Suzanne was doing but failing to do so. Suzanne was too busy making her own concoction she couldn't see Katya failing miserably. I look at her hard this time, she still hasn't noticed my staring but her failing on such an easy task is enjoyment for me these days.

            Honestly, seeing the other consorts failing is pure enjoyment to me.

Sometimes, I really wonder if she was right and it was all a mistake. That Lady Vita was supposed to choose me but due to the glasses she ended up choosing her instead. I try my best not to dwell on it and just prove it to everyone else that I’m supposed to be here and that I’m bound to win. It’s hard sometimes though, I feel myself doubting my own capabilities whenever I see the rest of them succeed without so much as breaking a sweat.

Katya’s a breath of fresh air though, she’s so bad it makes me feel good about myself.

After three minutes of watching Katya crush and grind her Wolfsbane petals and not being anywhere near done, I sigh. I push her aside and grab her mortar and pestle and do the grinding for her.

"I can do it." she whispered using her consort's voice.

"Stop lying, you obviously can't."

In just a few seconds, the petals have turned into a somewhat watery texture. I smile proudly at my work and grind it harder. Even though it's watery it would still be bitter, and knowing Katya, I should probably grind harder so that the taste would be easier to mix with sugar and for the bitter taste to be gone.

"You're really amazing, Amara," Katya commented, gushing over the texture. "It would have taken me hours before I reach that consistency. I really appreciate you helping me out."

Like she threw cold water at me, I froze.

Right, we were enemies here, why was I helping her?

My gaze drops to the tea that Plimoth just checked and sighed. I was already done, might as well help her. The faster we get this done, the faster we can move on to other lessons. And the faster we do that, the faster the three months will be over. Then I can be crowned as Luna.

Right, this is all for me. I'm not doing this because I want to help her.

"I'm just grinding it."

"Still, you're so much better than I am."

I scoff, "Excelling in grinding doesn't make me a poison master."

They knew I was hinting at Suzanne.

"You don't have to be her to be great, you know."

Tarryn's voice catches me off guard and I flinch. Stopping what I'm doing, I stare at her dumbfounded. She usually doesn't join in conversations that don't affect her but she does now. I look to my side to check on Suzanne but she was still too busy on testing her concoction and mixing flavors. She was really on her own little world when it comes to poison making.

"She's right, Amara, you're great all on your own." Katya added.

I don't know why but when they praise me, I get angry. So I snap.

"If I'm so great, it wouldn't have taken one of us to disappear just so that I could be here in the palace," I grind the petals harder this time, sweat forming on my forehead, the mortar clinking loudly. "If I'm so great, I would be recognized by my name and not by my number."

"He's just teasing you," Holly said joining in our conversation as well. I spare her a glance, rolling my eyes. I grind and crush harder this time, their comments making me angrier by the second. Why are they pushing this topic? Why are they excusing the future Alpha's attitude? "I'm sure he looks at all of us equally."

I chuckle dryly.

"In case you've forgotten, Holly," I drawl her name out of my lips mockingly. "If he looks at all of us equally then we wouldn't be needing to go outside the palace gates for three months. We wouldn't be wasting our time studying poison or weaponry or anything that won't be used once we're appointed as Luna. We're just wasting time."

"You're all here because you were chosen like me, you all have quirks and abilities that surpass those of mine. That's why we have lessons," Suzanne was not quiet anymore, and not once did she take her eyes of what she's making. "So that we can hone those skills and so Luna or not, we can be good contributors to society."

I slowly place Katya's mortar and pestle down and fake a smile. "Unlike you, if we don't win, we will go back to the academe."

She shakes her head, mixing a few petals and sugar in a bowl. "That's not what he plans for us."

"Silas has actual plans for us?" Tarryn asks, her eyes as huge as saucers. It's amazing how Plimoth hasn't heard us now. We must have broken so many rules already. Then again when I think about it, Silas has broken some rules too. What an odd group of consorts we are. "We're not just going to be professors?"

"He said he's going to appoint us into the government."

Katya tilts her head. "But that's a man's job."

This time Mariana shakes her head and pulls Tarryn's sleeves to get her attention. She does things with her hands again and I don't hesitate to show my confusion on my face. Tarryn seems to understand though because she nods. "Just because men are always appointed doesn't mean it's a man's job, Katya."

With all their bickering, they didn't notice Holly slowly approach Plimoth. She places a cup of tea in front of him and Plimoth smiles and drinks it, his face grimacing. I smirk inwardly, Holly's a terrible cook. I remember back at the academe she was never given kitchen duties. Cinco natives were terrible at the kitchen, that's why it's always just me and Tarryn appointed for cooking. Niju natives are master chefs.

"You can't believe everything he says, he's known for having flowery words you know."

Katya's sentence catches all of us off guard. She rarely disagrees, especially towards older consorts, much less with a future Alpha. She pouted, crossing her arms against her chest. "It's true, Eleanor told me so."

It's so weird talking about Eleanor and not knowing whether she's safe somewhere.

However, I must be the only person thinking about this since they all dived into the gossip around Silas. And though we are forbidden to indulge ourselves in unconstrained conversations about people regardless whether the facts presented were true or false, we do it anyway. It just feels different doing things we weren't supposed to be doing in the first place.

"What else did Eleanor tell you?" Suzanne asked, her concoction forgotten on the table.

Even Mariana was listening, and even though Tarryn was trying her hardest not to look so interested, her ears seemed to be twitching every now and then.

"Well, Eleanor told me that when they were kids, Silas used to tease her a lot," Katya said, enjoying our undivided attention. I peer to my side and see that Holly was still talking to Plimoth, probably asking what she could do to make her tea a little better. Goddess knows she needs all the help she could get. "Silas also kept repeating that he didn't want to have this, you know, the consorts. He said he would just probably marry Eleanor and have all this over with."

Something pangs in my gut but I ignore it.

Katya continued her story, "That's why Eleanor was shocked that Silas would continue with this. Not that she expected him to marry her, but Silas would disobey his father every chance he could."

His father. Alpha Irvine Lacroix.

Ever since the Lacroix had planned a perfect coup and execution for Lorenzo, the then Alpha of Cinco, they made it upon themselves to continue being the Alpha of the new Cinco. Not that there were oppositions, the Lacroix family had such charming men that no one dares disagree.

"I mean he was a kid then," Suzanne defended. "He's more mature now, he can make his own choices. Especially those that involve us, we're like members of his court."

We're not members of his court.

I think he may have respect for us as individuals but I doubt even he would stand up against his father. Alpha Irvine is not a force to be reckoned with. From all the stories I heard about him, from what Eleanor told us when she was visiting her mother, and from how strict some rules were being implemented.

I'm sure if asked whether he was like Lorenzo, many would agree.

Holly decides to grace us with her presence this time.

"I got to personally meet Alpha Irvine one time," she mumbled, placing her cup of tea on the table. I lean towards it and resist the urge to hurl, it smelled horrible and looked moss green. Gross. "I don't know if you knew this but one of my aunts was actually chosen as one of his consorts."

I did know this. I doubt the others did.

Like I said, I make it a habit to study about those I'm competing with.

"I visited her by the palace one time," Holly continued. "The palace was stricter then, those without any business there aren't allowed inside. I sneaked in to visit her after I had a fight with Aunt Vita-"

I narrow my eyes. Now that I think about it, aside from phrases of pure adoration every now and then, I rarely see the two of them interact. It's a blessing to have your family members close by back at the academe. I always thought that Holly was just ungrateful.

Holly stops herself and checks if someone noticed her slip of the tongue. I make it a point to keep my face blank. She exhales and continued, "I mean, anyway, I sneaked in and I saw my aunt by the garden. I was about to run to her but I ran into one of the maids instead. The maid dropped a bunch of plates."

I pause.

I pause because I know this story.

I know this story all too well because Eleanor told me about it.

Suddenly, I don't want to hear this story any more.

Stories often lose their magic when you know how sad the ending would be.

Holly notices me. She sees the realization in my eyes and she shakes her head faster now. The other consorts looked confused with how defensive Holly suddenly is. With her eyes on the verge of tears, she says, "I didn't mean it."

"What happened?" Tarryn asked, her brows furrowed in confusion. Mariana much alike.

"My aunt saw me and she all but pulled me to get outside, but not until, I saw Alpha Irvine," Holly released a shaky breath. "He saw the maid. He saw the mess. My aunt was too busy staring and pulling me to the door, I doubt she saw what I saw."

I could picture it all too well in my head.

Eleanor was always a great story teller.

She was always very detailed whenever she tells stories.

That's why the image of Alpha Irvine transforming one of his hands into paws with sharp claws to slice the neck of the maid instantly popped into my mind the moment Holly told it to the others. I never believed it back then, but to have Holly say it. To have her story be just like what Eleanor said was enough to bring a few hairs on the back of my neck to rise.

"I didn't mean it." Holly defended herself again.

I wonder how it must feel like, to know someone died because of you?

"I didn't know the Alpha was...like that." Suzanne looked lost now. She probably lost any sense of defense she had for Silas. We all know that an apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

We were all quiet then.

And that's how Plimoth finds us, no one was approaching him anymore to have him taste different concoctions. We were all just staring at one another, wondering just what would it take for a powerful werewolf to kill us. Were all of us one broken plate away from the grave?

"What's going on?"

Holly was the one who spoke. "Nothing, we were just talking."

"About?"

"The Alpha."

Plimoth frowned. "Oh dear. It was supposed to be a surprise. Who told you?"

A few minutes pass and no one dare speaks.

I sigh knowing I would have to be the brave one.

"Told us what?"

"The Alpha would be visiting. He's to have dinner with us tonight."

Silence filled the four walls of the greenhouse. We were all too spooked to speak and even more so to pretend we were even looking forward to it. The hours pass quickly with the other consorts having their experiments rated. Even Katya asked for her tea to be rated and with my help it was commendable worthy. And by the time Plimoth ordered us to discard of the remaining Wolfsbane petals we have, I sneakily hide one in my pocket.

You never know when I’m going to need it.

Maybe tomorrow.

Doesn’t hurt to have one ready.

After all, it’s kill or be killed in Cinco, right?