AllFreeNovel
Share Us
That in itself is a revelation.
Oscar Munro features in the news headlines broadcast at the top of the hour. “Prime Minister Oscar Munro has announced plans to call a snap general election on January the 30th.” The broadcast cuts to his statement, and his cold voice hardens with every line he speaks:
“To the opposition parties: you have criticized the government’s vision of carrying out democracy, you have fought our aims to proceed as a united country, you have threatened to obstruct the legislation we put before Parliament to proceed as a country without a monarchy.
“Our opponents believe that because the government’s majority is so small, we have no mandate to enforce the results of the referendum. If we have to play these political games, then they will be proven wrong. We require a two-thirds majority of the House of Commons. And we will achieve that, no matter how maliciously the opposition parties challenge us and betray millions of hard-working people.
“If our opponents believe the government’s majority is too small, then we will increase it significantly. And that is why my cabinet and I have agreed that the government should call a general election, to be held on January the 30th. We will end this deadlock once and for all.”
“Our country’s a disaster,” Danny notes, deadpan, the moment Oscar Munro stops speaking. He’s weaving straw and branches together into a circle.
It makes me wonder about Rory — did he know this was going to happen? And what about Dr. Moncrieff — is he happy now that his sought-after election has been called?
And then there’s Luke, who’d scoffed at the mere idea of an election ever being held.
This chaos is all because of Luke and his family. It boggles my mind.
Oscar Munro wants to follow the anti-monarchy results of the referendum.
That… feels strange. Especially considering Rory and Luke’s close relationship.
Christmas music begins to play, jingling and happy. I pull my balled-up socks out of the window slit to see, in the darkness, the soft fall of snow. It’s enchanting. Against the midnight blue sky, the flakes look like gentle ghosts. Their descent is calm and unhurried, as though they have all the time in the world to merge into a thick white blizzard.
There’s a frozen stillness to the Lochkelvin grounds, a black depth that feels like an absence rather than darkness. The longer I stare at the shadowy forest, the more convinced I am that I see the orange light of a campfire… but when I blink and glance away, there’s nothing there but the dark.
I forget about it and try on my costume for tomorrow.
All I have to judge it in is the tiny grimy mirror above the sink and Danny’s reaction. The skirt is short with curled ribbons of white silken fabric trailing down my bare thighs. The bra wraps around my breasts and over my shoulder, giving it a Grecian look. Danny went wild with one of the cups, gluing sparkly studs onto it. And then there are the white peacock feathers, which have been turned into an elaborate halo-like headdress. They’ve been arranged into the shape of two wings, with snow-white flowers and glittery leaves at the headband.
All in all, I look like an angel.
A saint.
I’m a vision in pure innocent white, with a dance that’ll be anything but.
When I tell Danny to open his eyes, they widen spectacularly. I have to hold back my grin.
“You look…” He closes and opens his mouth several times, gesturing to my body like it says enough by itself. Part of me is pleased I’ve rendered him utterly speechless. A darker part hopes this effect is universal for every boy in Lochkelvin. Danny averts his eyes, holding a palm up to them. “I have to stop staring, otherwise you’ll give me a heart attack.”
“I haven’t even done my hair and makeup yet,” I tell him, but I’m laughing.
“You don’t need it. Seriously, Jessa, it’s like you fell to Earth or something. You look…radiant.” He peeks at me from between his fingers and then hides his eyes again. “You’re a mother-effing queen.”
I snort. He’s taking it a bit far now.
“Well, you’ve done your job.” I sigh at myself in the mirror. I unfasten the clasps of my headdress and slide them from my hair. A girl with short hair and determination in her eyes stares back at me. “Now I have to do mine.”
