A Dance Of Crowns & Thrones | Book I

Chapter 125 | November 14th | The Headmaster's 23rd Birthday Party

Timeline - November 14th | ( 3 Days Later )

For the majority of Allegiant, today was just another normal autumn day.

But for Eko, today was her boyfriend's birthday, and with giddy anticipation, she stood before the mirror in her bedroom. She adorned herself in a form-fitting, silver-corseted dress that left little to the imagination. All set to attend Matthew's birthday party, she had meticulously planned the event with their friends over the past week during his on-and-off-again absences.

Despite the chaos that had engulfed them with frequent attacks on Isadora and back-to-back meetings with the headmasters of their respective academies, November had proven to be an overwhelming month with multiple demands stretching them thin. Eko was determined that everyone, especially her boyfriend, got a break from the pandemonium, making it all the more crucial that the party went off without a hitch.

Madison brought Eko back to reality, "You cannot be seriously going in that?" Her tone criticized her cousin's outfit with further disgust. "Where did you even get the money to buy something like this?"

"I thought we weren't doing the whole negative attitude thing huh?" Eko raised her chin in defiance at her cousin's negativity, looking at her through the mirror. And if you must know it's Versace," she offered. "From their autumn collection last year. My darling boyfriend had brought me this, considering it's his birthday tonight. The same person who is super reluctant at allowing you to stay, and whose party you are choosing not to attend."

"As you know my feelings, why would I bother celebrating his existence?" Madison retorted, settling onto her bed and scrutinizing the absurd dress that Eko had been twirling around in front of the mirror. "I've stopped at you about him, have I not? While I don't condone your relationship, do not ask me to be happy about it either."

Eko clipped in her hair extensions and readjusted her ponytail, causing her newly elongated hair to cascade down to her waist. She then looked back to Madison, noticing the woman's body exhaling as she studied her reflection in the mirror.

"Like we spoke about, Maddy, if you keep going like this, acting the way you are with me, I won't  convince Matthew any longer to let you stay. Toni and Jesse keep hounding me about you, like relentlessly,"  Eko grew snappier. "You nearly got us killed on Creon, and Matthew needed surgery. I told you about his heart, and Jesus, Maddy, you're not even sorry. Look at you, you're not sorry at all!"

"I'm surprised he even had a heart to begin with," Madison replied, meeting her cousin's glare. Eko turned to face her squarely. "His very existence is an abomination."

"Okay, enough with this!" Eko crossed her arms, annoyed. "At the end of the month, pack your shit, and we'll transfer you to Beltac, and I'll see you on the weekends!"

Madison sat up, "that's not funny!"

"I WASN'T FUCKIN' BEING FUNNY THIS TIME EITHER! I'LL DO IT!"

"AND I WILL MAKE SURE YOUR LITTLE BOYFRIEND KNOWS THAT YOU'RE THE ROYAL QUEEN OF THE TWO WORLDS, AND THEN WE'LL SEE HOW WELL YOUR RELATIONSHIP HOLDS UP!"

"You wouldn't dare!" Eko hissed, "you wouldn't do that to me after everything!"

"And that's what I thought as well, but here you are choosing him over me!" Madison got up from the bed, throwing the tablet onto it, meeting her cousin's fierce gaze.

"Your place is on the throne!" Madison barked.

"The more you shove it down my throat, the more I hate!" Eko hissed, "and now, I need you to find somewhere else to go. I-I can't do this."