Who's Compromised Now?

My eyes snapped open as a calloused hand covered my mouth. A hard-faced male was leering down at me. I realized that he was lying on top of me but when I tried to throw him off, pain stabbed into my right shoulder. My hands were tied, so were my legs.

"Don't struggle. You'll only make me hurt you, Mutt." The male said.

I heard laughter of other males in the room and I grimaced.

Taking a closer look at the male above me, I thought I remembered seeing him leer at me like this at the ball. I couldn't be certain because at the time he had been dressed in the gold and red uniforms of the palace guards. Now, he was wearing plain clothes.

The male's free hand started dragging my night dress up. I swallowed back bile and bit down hard on his hand. He yelped.

Quickly, before he could stifle me again, I said, "I'll give you one chance: Leave now and I'll let you live."

Raucous laughter followed my words, but the male above me did not look amused.

His open palm crashed into my cheek. I felt blood trickle down from my split lip as brilliant lights flashed in my eyes

Dazedly, I became aware of the male tugging at his belt.

A message flashed before my eyes, Activate Skill: Lightning Strike lvl 5?

"Yes." I said in a voice devoid of all emotions.

I angled my palms towards the man above me and a bolt of blinding light shot out of them.

The male screamed as the lightning hit his head. His entire body was engulfed in a second. Soon after, his eyes rolled back and the scent of burning meat filled the room.

Ordinarily, I guessed, that I killing someone would make me feel sick, but right now, I was too angry to care.

The lightning skittered across the dying male's body and over mine. It tickled me but shortly, I smelled burning wood and then my hands and feet came free.

I kicked the male off of me and jumped to my feet. While the three other males in the room stood frozen in shock staring at their leader's smoking remains, I unsheathed my daggers.

Then with a merciless smile, I locked the door.

I had guessed right.

As soon as I had dispatched the last of the four males, I vomited.

When I was done, I tried to figure out what to do about the mess and most importantly the bodies. If they were guards, I would be in trouble for killing them. If anyone found out they were in my bedroom, my reputation would be in shreds. That last one didn't worry me so much but being caught with the corpses of four palace guards, that would be a big problem.

As I watched the dark red blood seeping into the cracks between the once white stones, I felt my stomach roil again.

As I was dry heaving, again, the nob on my bedroom door rattled violently. Then someone started pounding on the door.

Cast an illusion enchantment on the room to make it appear as if nothing had happened, I opened the door.

High Lord Volanti's flushed face greeted me. His movements were sharp and agitated as he caught me by the shoulders.

A feeling of relief swept through me so strongly that my legs became weak. If not for the High Lord supporting me, I would have collapsed.

"Where are they? I'll kill them." He said. His voice was merciless.

I released my illusion and High Lord Volanti's eyes caught sight of the gore immediately. He stiffened.

"I- I didn't know what to do with the bodies. Nothing happened." I said softly.

High Lord Volanti's eyes met and held mine. Then he slowly nodded.

He led me over to the couch in the sitting room. I sat as he closed his eyes for a second. He was communicating telepathically with someone.

When he reopened his eyes, he said, "Glade is on the way. He will take charge of you while I deal with this. Unfortunately, I will have to burn your belongings as well as the bodies, so Glade will take you into town to get new things."

I grimaced. I disliked dress shopping.

Later that afternoon, I was basking in the warm sunshine and evaluating my new system while sipping tea. Above me was a cloudless blue sky and the late summer air was filled with the droning of bees.

The mating event this afternoon was the last partner-less event. At today's event, the participants would mingle casually with one another and see who they wanted to request as future partners. Since the partner request forms for next week had already been turned in, today's event was more or less pointless. However, the tea party in the gardens, today's event, was still mandatory.

I had been sitting at my small table alone since Lord Glade and I returned from the dressmaker's. He seemed angry about something during the carriage ride back to the palace and then simply deposited me at this table without a word before walking off.

I didn't mind.

I needed to see what sort of system I had acquired. Earlier in the day, I had noticed rather annoying periwinkle dots on the left and right sides of my vision. Soon after, I discovered a semi-transparent periwinkle display whenever I looked to my right or left. The displays that appeared depended on which way I was turning my head.

When I looked to my left, the display was as follows:

Kylara Adamare

NOVICE: Level 4

STATS:

Agility: 15

Charisma: 13

Intelligence: 17

Magic: 20

Strength: 10

Wisdom: 10

Stat points to spend: 18

Where would you like to put them?

The question at the bottom had appeared like the rest of the display when I'd first seen it, but now it was bold, all-capitalized, and flashing. Honestly, it seemed as though the system were now yelling at me.

When I turned my head to the right, the display was different. This display showed my skills.

Kylara Adamare

Novice: Level 3

SKILLS:

Slash lvl 2

Lightning Strike lvl 5

Crush lvl 5

Light Shield lvl 2

Freeze lvl 5

Chill lvl 2

Air Scythe lvl 5

Shadowbolt lvl 5

Water Barrier lvl 1

Tangling Vines lvl 1

Additional Skill lines unlock-able with study.

The last line confused me. I would have to ask High Lord Volanti what that meant some other time.

I turned my head back to the left and considered where to allocate my stat points. I had been thinking about this all day but I finally made up my mind. It was better to be a well-rounded individual than a one-trick-pony.

I wanted to put five stats points into each Strength and Wisdom, four points into Charisma, and two points into each Agility and Intelligence. The only problem was I didn't know how to do that and I didn't want to say it aloud.

However as I was thinking this and looking to my left the display changed.

Kylara Adamare

NOVICE: Level 4

STATS:

Agility: 17

Charisma: 16

Intelligence: 19

Magic: 20

Strength: 15

Wisdom: 15

Stat points to spend: 0.

Accept changes?

"Sure." I replied in my mind. I felt a warm breeze ripple through me and then nothing.

Well, actually, the colors in the world seemed to gain vibrancy and depth. The sounds of the insects and the chatter of the other participants was crisper. Even the light scents of the roses were stronger as if more concentrated.

I smiled to myself, amused by my own folly. I didn't know what each Stat did. In order to figure it out, I should have added points to one Stat at a time, and tried to observe changes.

With a sigh, I let such negative thinking go and turned my attention to the reports I had rescued from my rooms.

I had just gotten through two pages, when I felt a hot gaze on my back. Turning around, I saw Kane staring at me as he sat not to far away. His hands were tensed around his teacup and he didn't appear to be listening to the chattering girl beside him.

I was surprised that Rhana was not with him. Rhana, I observed, sitting three beautiful females. He, however, was looking at Kane with a frown. I turned back around and once more focused on my report.

A few minutes later, a happy, light male voice interrupted me.

"Miss Adamare, I must saw I am surprised to see you here." I lifted me gaze and saw Prince Blaize standing beside my table.

"What do you mean, your Highness?" I asked. Inwardly, I was carefully analyzing his words.

Prince Blaize blinked in surprise and rocked back on his heels, "I am referring to your ordeal, this morning. How are you holding up?"

I thought about masking my surprise but instead let it show on my face, "How- How do you know about that?" I didn't think his Highness was referring to the staged fire and cover up.

Prince Blaize smiled sadly, as if pitying me. "Then it is true," he said, "I don't know how to tell you this after what you've been through but- It would be better if you stopped pretending like you're one of us now. I think you should go." As Prince Blaize spoke he affected a sad but stern tone.

"What exactly do you think happened this morning, your Highness?" I asked with wide eyes.

Prince Blaize frowned, "You were assaulted and comprised. All the servants are talking about it. Once the other participants find out, they won't be so kind. You should leave now, or I will talk to High Lord Volanti." The Prince finished by throwing back his shoulders and arrogantly lifting his chin.

I gasped and then laughed taking a sip of my tea, having finally had enough of my pretense.

"Did you not here me?" Prince Blaize demanded.

"Oh yes, I heard you. I am just amused by the position you've decided to put your father in and here I'd heard that the Crown Prince of Viceria was an honorable hero. Slandering innocent females because you don't like them doesn't sound honorable to me."

"Slander? I heard it from the servant myself! You were-"

"I would strongly suggest you keep your voice down!" I said forcefully as I gave Prince Blaize an icy glare. His handsome, innocent face flushed and his upper lip pulled back in a snarl, revealing his long, sharp fangs.

"You dare?" He snapped.

"Of course. If I see a person about to walk off a cliff, I'll stop them. I know you don't feel the same but I do think I should explain the sort of position you are putting your father in." I replied with a polite smile as I took another sip of my tea. Placing the cup back down, I said, "You see, if you allege to High Lord Volanti that I was assaulted and defiled this morning, he will most certainly bring the matter to your father. He will say that you are slandering me while you will say that I've been comprised. Your father will then either have to admit that he is too weak to guarantee the safety of twenty five females, or tell the world that you are a liar."

Prince Blaize's expression soured and I continued, "You may succeed in casting a temporary pale over my reputation but, I believe, yours will be shattered. Now, since you seem so concerned about being an honorable, righteous male, I suspect, that you had mistaken my name with someone else's, isn't that right?"

Prince Blaize's face had twisted some much it looked like he was chewing broken glass. I was a little surprised none of his teeth had broken from the pressure.

"How silly of me." He spat. Then he turned on his heel and began to walk away. I picked up my tea again.

"Prince Blaize, I was unaware that our conversation had concluded." I called over the rim of my teacup.

I heard the crunching of gravel cease as Prince Blaize snarled, "I have nothing further to say to you."

"Oh, well then I suppose I'll just have to tell my Lord about your remarkable ability to speak with dead servants." I said. I smiled as I heard the prince coming back.