Electus (Regnum Series Book 1) (2 page)

Mr. Avery is known to bid on Regnumians of Pruden descent due to their superior intellect. Tia often wonders what it is that her father does for Mr. Avery. Unfortunately, all Regnumians are forbidden to confide in anyone their duties to their leaders. It is the only law punishable by public execution.

It is easy for Fera to be so excited at the thought of Tia joining Mr. Avery’s company, because he treats humans with respect. If Fera only knew the pain her father endures working for him, Tia believes she would feel just as mournful of this day as her and her family are.

Tia remembers the nights her father came home and just broke down sobbing. Part of her wants to be hired by Mr. Avery, just to stay in the same place as her loved ones. The other part of her fears that if this man can crack the solid Osborn Trumble, how fast would he be able to crush her?

Tia studies herself in the small mirror from their bathroom. Fera brought her curling iron over to create thick waves in Tia’s hair. She inserts pins, so that most of it falls and hits her shoulders. The front corners are pulled away to reveal Tia’s high cheek bones. Fera also brought red lipstick and applies black mascara to Tia’s lashes, an experiment that turns out to be painful for both parties.

“Are you nervous?” Fera probes, attempting to pluck stray hairs from Tia’s eyebrows.

“Extremely; nothing could prepare me for this day.” In truth, Tia had her whole life to train. It is the emotional part that she is not ready for.

Each Regnumian child is taught, at a young age, how to develop their powers to best serve the human race. Tia was the top of her class. In fact, they called her a case study, because, unlike most Regnumians, she excelled in several areas of magic. For the Electus, her teacher advised she had a pick of the litter, as far as what ability to demonstrate.

Each child is also taught the history of Regnum, how the humans entered their world with an intention for peace. After five years of peace, books advise, the Regnumians rebelled against the humans, using their powers to hurt those who took over their land. As the human population grew, however, the Regnumians became susceptible to their diseases. The war ended with an agreement. In turn for the vaccinations and prevention of disease, the Regnumians would serve capitols and use their magical powers for the good of the nations.

From then on, a mark was placed upon the bodies of each Regnumian, the moment they were born. This mark carries a tracker to detect when magical skills are being used. It is on the back of each Regnumian’s neck in the shape of a plus sign.

“One more thing,” Fera adds as she pulls out her bottle of perfume. “You showered, I know, but sometimes a little extra fragrance helps to woo a man.”

“You know some of the leaders are women,” Tia comments.

“Yes, but Mr. Avery isn’t.”

Tia rolls her eyes. It is as though Fera intends on hooking Tia up with a date, instead of preparing her for the most nerve-racking moment of her life.

After Fera sprits her with her favorite scent, she decides it is best to leave Tia alone to enjoy her own reflection.

For the first time, Tia feels as beautiful as the woman in her dreams.
Maybe the woman really is my mother,
she thinks. From what little Osborn mentioned of her mother, he noted that Tia resembled her side much more than she did his. It was easy to tell, since Tia’s nose is slender, compared to her father’s, and her eyes are not deep set like his.

“You look radiant,” calls a voice from behind her.

She discovers her father standing in the doorway with a trace of sadness in his eyes. Tia knows this day must be just as difficult for him, as it is for her.
Or perhaps it is that I look so much like her.

“I have something else for you,” he mentions in a calm, soothing voice. Tia always loved how comforted she felt when he spoke.

Osborn checks behind him, closing the door. “This has to stay between us, okay?”

Tia nods her head and watches him pull out a necklace. The golden chain glimmers in the light poking through the window. Her eyes follow the reflection of the chain, down to the pendent. Tia is frozen, her eyes fixed on the four swirls that meet in the middle to form a diamond shape hole.

Chapter 2

“It was your mother’s," Osborn whispers. Tia grazes the pendent with her index finger, searching for words. It appears to be exactly as she remembers from her dreams. Tia wonders where her father kept it hidden, all this time. With a small house, there are not a vast amount of hiding spaces. A million questions race through her mind. One query that nagged at her the most for the past eighteen years, comes out.

“What does the symbol mean?"

Osborn is quiet. His face appears grim, as though he is remembering something painful. Finally, his voice cracks, “I'm not sure. She never told me, but I wanted you to have it. I’ve waited a long time to give this to you, Tia. It just never felt right, until now.” Osborn's speech is rough, and he is fighting back tears.

Before he starts to cry, Tia turns around to hug him. His arms are strong, as always. It’s that safe haven, Osborn provides, Tia is going to miss most. They hold each other for a long time, with both of their eyes glowing.

Another thing that separates Regnumians, from humans, is the fact that under extreme emotional distress, their eyes illuminate red hues. Tia’s a soft pink and her father’s a bright red. They release from their embrace and look at each other.

"I see we are both a mess, today,” Tia mumbles, trying to calm herself. The last thing she needs is for the leaders to see her eyes glowing. That is a factor that can highly impact her points.

“I am beyond proud to say you are my daughter. I know your mother would be as well. She was the bravest woman I ever met.”

Tia stares at her father, amazed at his mention of her mother in such a nostalgic manner.

“Did you love her?” she interrogates, as she fidgets with the necklace.

“She is loved,” is all he utters, before he leaves Tia alone in the bathroom, still clasping onto the pendant from her dreams.

All Regnumian candidates need to arrive at the platform, by two, on the first day of the Electus, to be considered for selection. Those candidates that do not arrive on time, are eliminated and sentenced to work at Letum, the land in which all prisoners are retained. Each year the leaders choose a new capitol to hold the Electus. This year they selected Urbi.

Tia’s father and uncle drop her off at the arena by one-thirty. She says her fair wells with hugs and kisses on the cheek. Fera left early to assist in the set up of the stage in the arena, so she already said goodbye before they left. Tia wonders if this is the last time she will see her family. Still holding on to hope, she pushes the thought out of her mind. 

“We’ll be watching you this whole week from home,” her father remarks with a half smile.

“Remember to trip the prettiest one there. It will raise your chances,” her uncle suggests. Tia rolls her eyes.

“I suppose this is it,” she replies with a sigh. “I love you both so much. Thank you for everything.” Without another word, she forces herself to walk toward the doors to the back room, where other candidates await their next step.

In the room she is at, there are fourteen other Regnumian candidates from Vetus. Seven of which are full-blooded Pruden. Three of which are full-blooded Mediocris. Two, who are mixed descent, including Tia, and two others are full-blooded Humilis descent. Most of the candidates Tia does not know. Only two of the Pruden descents were from her neighborhood, Mina and Quade.

Mina was Tia’s first friend. As children, they shared every waking moment together. On weekends they had sleepovers, and each day at school, they swapped foods they didn’t like in their lunches.

It wasn’t until junior high that Mina and Tia grew apart. While Mina dressed up in her mother’s clothes and painted her face with make up, Tia prepared her body for the Electus. She climbed rock walls on the out skirts of her village, sprinted down the trails everyday to a pond, which she used to clean off her sweat with a vigorous swim.

“Hello, Tia,” Mina salutes, as she approaches her. Mina has a plum, silk dress on with high heeled shoes, and her hair is pinned up elegantly in a bun. Her parents spared no expense on her outfit, as always. On her neck, she sports fine jewels that  match her  earrings.

Mina and her sister, for Prudens, live lavishly. Mina’s father ranked high in the Electus when he was eighteen, and Mr. Avery offered him a prestigious position. Unlike most other families from their neighborhood, Mina’s parents fixed up their home and bought their children beautiful gifts on special occasions. This also drew a wedge in their friendship.

“How are you, Mina?” Tia responds, attempting not to gag, as her name leaves her mouth. Mina’s body is curvier than Tia’s, and her skin is a natural carmel color. She always carries her head high, never lacking in confidence.

“Bored. My father made us arrive two hours early to assist Mr. Avery, and now these heels are killing me. You are so lucky, you can’t afford anything but flat hand-me-downs. These are such a bitch.”

Tia imagines what it would be like to bludgeon Mina in the head with one of her high-heeled shoes. “Aww, that’s a shame. Why don’t you just sit and rest your feet or take them off for a while?”

She looks at Tia, as though she suggest that she cut off a limb. “This floor is way too filthy for that,” Mina exclaims. “Who knows what people drag in here on their feet.”

While Mina continues to blather on about parasites, carried in on the bottom of shoes, Quade sneaks up behind Mina and silently mocks her. Tia stifles a laugh, nodding in response to Mina’s inflections.

“Oh! Did you hear about that new head of Novo’s capitol in Elatus? Apparently they had to replace the old leader after they found Mr. Tersus’s body outside of his house.”

Tia’s attention turns back to Mina. “What? When did that happen?”

“Last week, his wife walked out the door to water her Polly Blossom plant. Next thing she knows her husband is lying in the yard with a note reading, ‘Tranquility dies amongst the hearts of the insurgent.'”

“Isn’t that a line from the peace treaty?” Tia poses.

“Yep. So, all of last week, the Elatus Capitol was frantic searching for a new leader,” Mina replies, matter-of-factly.

“Who did they pick?” Quade chimes in, abandoning his mocking of Mina, since he lost Tia’s interest.

“Supposedly, they offered it to a young man named Javan Leporem. Who is, from what rumor has it, the youngest leader Regnum has ever had, and the most eligible bachelor on the East end.” Mina practically salivates on the last sentence.

“Looks like you finally have something to aim for in the Electus, Mina,” Quade retorts. He glances at Tia and smiles.

**********

Quade and Tia became friends two years prior, when she caught him staring at her in the hallway at school. Tia walked past Quade, heading for her locker, at the end of the day. It was the beginning of spring so she grabbed her jacket. He just stood across the hallway, watching her every move. Tia began to feel uncomfortable. She closed her locker and glanced at him. He turned away, quickly, running into a girl, causing her to drop her books.

He apologized, repeatedly, then him and Tia assisted the girl in collecting her fallen belongings. His hand touched Tia’s finger, as they both reached for the same book.

“I’m sorry,” he responded to Tia, who pulled away.

“Thank you, guys,” the girl replied, as Quade handed her the last book. Tia nodded and walked on. Quade caught up with her outside of the school.

“Hey, how about company on the way home?” Quade asked, following her.

“I don’t need promenading, thank you,” she responded, turning her back to him. However, that was not enough to stop Quade.

“Can I help you?” Tia inquired, keeping her steady pace. She knew it was at least three miles to her house, and she figured he gave up already.

“How did you know I was still here?”

“I could hear your breathing a mile away. What is that? Asthma?” she asked, not moving her attention away from the road ahead.

“No, I’m just out of shape and you are really fast,” he exhaled.

“My speed tends to increase when someone I don’t know is trailing me,” she mumbled, feeling nervous.

“Well, you would know me if you had better manners and actually talked to me.” Tia turned around to respond and noticed how fast his chest rose and fell. Her attention quickly turned to how much he might need to train.

“I’m Tia, and you weren’t kidding. You
are
out of shape.”

As he caught his breath, all he could respond was, “Quade.”

“You want help with that, Quade?” Tia pointed to his hand, latched onto his side.

Not long after that, he joined Tia in her daily routine of climbing, running, and swimming. Though she thought he was annoying at first, she soon found comfort in having company during her training.

“Just remember to breathe as you run,” she explained to him on their first day of exercising together.

“I’m trying to,” he retorted after catching his breath. It was a hot afternoon and Tia worked Quade pretty hard. What seemed like a simple jog to her, felt like a marathon to him.

“Well,” she began, “it’s easier to breathe in through your nose and out your mouth. We will take a break and then try rock climbing.”

“Rock climbing?” he questioned, his face, beading with sweat.

“Oh yeah! You need to strengthen your arms, too,” she replied, grabbing his bicep. From the look on his face, Tia can tell, he enjoyed that a little too much.

“If you say so,” he answered with a curled lip. Tia liberated his arm and sprinted.

“Come on, the rock wall is only about two miles,” she called, already ten feet ahead of him.

“Two miles?” he repeated, running after her.

Finally, Tia found a true friend to joke with and share her concerns about the future. He rapidly became another reason for her to stay in Urbi. He was the first person, outside of her family, that she told about the strange dreams she had. Quade was always a patient and loyal listener. She found real comfort in his personality.