Dalia stood quietly by herself next to the refreshment table. In fact, she had been standing there quietly for sometime, This was her first function outside the Nightrealm with people she absolutely did not know. All she hoped was that the ball would end soon and then they would be in the meeting chamber discussing the issues at hand, but the longer she waited, the more doubtful she got of the event’s closure.

  From what she had heard, that was supposed to happen on the arrival of Helus, and Dalia observed he was taking his sweet time.

  Aside from him, she was a crystal goblet filled with Mystia wine held delicately between her pale fingers. Despite the grandeur of the ballroom, she felt out of place, a shadow among stars. If anything here were to remind her she was not like her siblings, it was this ballroom.

  A few hours had passed by the time she started contemplating an exit. By then, young Laura headed toward her with flowing dark hair and sea-green eyes approaching, her gait confident yet graceful. She wore a gown of shimmering azure that seemed to ripple like water with every movement. Dalia at least assumed it to be most polite to make conversation with the young princess.

  “Hello, it’s me again,” Laura said, extending her hand.

  Dalia nodded politely and accepted the greeting.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, was I supposed to bow?” Laura asked, quite flustered throwing her arms around.

  “Don’t be silly; you are my niece; only my subjects bow,” Dalia informed her

  “Well, the Titans aren’t your subjects yet, but they would bow,” Laura debated pointing to each and everyone in sight.

  “Yes...but they are creations, and creations must acknowledge their creators,” Dalia argued

  “Well, I am a creation, should not I acknowledge you?” Laura asked once more, her hands still high in the air.

  “You were in the womb of an Origin, dear... I don’t believe so” Dalia replied.

  “I mean you are closer to us than they are to you,” she assured her

  “If you say so,” Laura responded finally resting her hands back at her side.

  “I do,” The Origin of Night declared

  “Nice to see you again, by the way,” she added, her voice soft but firm.

  Laura smiled warmly.

  “Well, you know, it’s almost unreal to think that I am in the same room as you,” Laura admitted. “I am quite a fan.”

  “I think you have me confused with the wrong Origin,” Dalia replied

  “No, I’ve heard stories of your realm,” Laura explained, “from my mother, of course”

  “Oh yes, your mother, Imaia...She used to be Origin of the Golden River before she left the underworld to marry your father,” Dalia remembered

  “Yes, I hear she then gave the custody of the river to you afterwards,” Laura added

  “Indeed, she did...but I was not sure of how much I needed it...I already ruled one of the largest realms in the underworld,” Dalia replied.

  “My mother says it was because you were an incredible friend and even a greater sister,” Laura explained

  “I see she talks about me a lot,” Dalia realized

  “Yes, plus she thought it was a delightful addition to an already beautiful realm,” Laura added

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  “She thought the Nightrealm was beautiful?” Dalia asked in shock.

  “I think it is too,” Laura blurted. “At least from how my mother has described it to me, though I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing it myself.”

  “I love your sentiment, but I assure you the realm is quite...peculiar,” Dalia said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

  “I and Imara always used to ask our mother to take us, but she would often refuse, saying You rarely tolerated visitors,” Laura admitted

  “You should not feel too offended. I wasn’t open to inviting anyone before a few days ago,” Dalia replied.

  “Is it fine for me to ask why you changed the policy then?” Laura asked.

  “I think I will save it for the meeting if it is fine with you,” Dalia replied cautiously.

  She then took a pause to observe Laura, realizing there was a difference between her now and the girl she had gazed upon at the entrance.

  “Where is your silver trident, by the way? It was quite a marvel.” Dalia asked.

  “Left it in my room. It is beautiful but dreadfully heavy to carry around all evening.” She glanced around the ballroom. “So I guess this counts as both of our first council meeting?”

  “I think it would be even more obvious to those who didn’t dare to follow these meetings that this was my first,” Dalia said, taking a small sip from her goblet.

  “Well, we’re in the same boat then,” Laura confessed.

  “First time for me as well. Father thought it would be... educational.” She leaned in slightly. “Though between us, I think he just didn’t want to deal with Permeus and Darkeus in the same room again.”

  “Forgive me but that sounds more like your mother’s reason,” Dalia replied

  “Wow, you know her well,” Laura replied, making them both chuckle.

  The entire night, Dalia had tried her hardest to avoid any conversation with anyone, yet this one drew a genuine smile from her face.

  “Do they always quarrel so?” Dalia asked curiously

  “Well, according to Father, the meeting usually comprises everyone patting themselves on the back for maintaining cosmic balance, followed by Darkeus and Permeus nearly coming to blows over something trivial.”

  Laura’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she prepared her next statement.

  “Apparently last year, Permeus played a cruel trick on Aerus that led to the near destruction of an Earth city out of a dare with Adelia and Darkeus scowled at him for days after.”

  “This meeting extends past today” Dalia asked

  “This meeting lasts all week, actually,” Laura informed her

  “Do you think they are any pranks this year?” Dalia asked.

  “Well, there is no Adelia, so probably not,” Laura replied

  “My sister has a reputation,” Dalia admitted

  “I should know,” Laura responded. “My mother once told me of how Adelia once changed the entire golden river into milk for a week. To this day, she still abstains from the beverage.”

  Despite herself, Dalia chuckled.

  “I actually remember that,” she gasped for air. “It was ridiculous. "

  After giggling, the Origin smoothed her dress out of fear that she had ruffled it with her frantic laughter.

  “And here I am with dire news.” Dalia began with renewed composure.

  Laura’s expression turned serious. “That’s why you’ve joined the Union?”

  Dalia nodded, realizing she couldn’t keep holding back information from the Dephenai princess.

  “Admittedly, there have been... strange happenings in the Nightrealm, and I need help to sort them out.”

  “Well, I suppose everyone needs help once in a while,” Laura replied. “Even Origins.”

  “Even Origins,” Dalia agreed.

  She gestured toward the ballroom, really drinking in every detail with her eyes in her now more joyous mood.

  “Permeus really knows how to throw a party” she remarked

  “If only he threw it” Laura jibed

  “Am I supposed to laugh at that” Dalia asked

  “Don’t worry about it” Laura assured her, “You will soon gain enough context to make your own”

  “I suppose so,” Dalia replied, “though it is still an impressive party.”

  “Don’t sell yourself short,” Laura said, nudging Dalia in the shoulder

  “Well, I personally can’t imagine the parties thrown in the Nightrealm,” she added

  “We don’t throw any...Not really my style,” Dalia admitted.

  “Well,Then what is your style?” Laura asked.

  “Dark, Red and Quiet,” Dalia said

  “Sounds classy,” Laura said

  “I would really like to see your realm,”she insisted

  “If you wish to, then you must visit sometime...but only if you want to,” Dalia said, surprising even herself with the invitation.

  “I’d be honored,” Laura responded.

  “Though you must promise to visit Dephenai in return. If you think Titania is beautiful, I can’t imagine what you’d think of my father’s realm. The coral spires alone are worth the journey,” the young princess declared.

  “It’s a deal,” Dalia said, raising her glass. “To first-timers.”

  “To first-timers,” Laura echoed, clinking her glass against Dalia’s.

  They drank in companionable silence until Laura spotted Permeus across the room.

  “If you’ll excuse me,” Laura said, “I should greet our host properly.”

  “By all means,” Dalia replied. “And thank you... for the welcome.”

  Laura pointed toward a tall, silver-skinned titan passing by with a tray of delicacies.

  “Try these little pastries; they’re filled with Mystia wine. And Dalia?”

  She smiled once more. “Try to have some fun.”

  With that, Laura glided across the ballroom toward Permeus, leaving Dalia to consider her words.