A word of warning: this tells the story of my death. Now, I know just what you’re thinking. “But Lune! How are you telling this story if you’re _dead_?”

Well, I would explain, but I think it’d be better if I just told you the story.

If you were to take a left turn at the beginning of the road, you would end up in the forest. Play your cards right, and you might survive the night. If you find your way out, you’d end up in the meadow. Through the meadow, beyond the valley, lies a wall. Thanks to the wall, the kingdom inside doesn’t know a thing about the world outside. Thanks to the wall, the people inside are safe.

Now, before I go on, I have a word of advice. _Do not take a left turn at the beginning of the road. _Take a right, go straight, whatever, I don’t care. All I know is that if you turn left, your best hope is to die in the forest.

“Atlas, hurry! Come quick!” I yelled as I ran barefoot down the empty castle halls. “ATLAS!”

My voice echoed. I couldn’t help but smile. I loved staying in the castle before the day of the ball, because no one was there except for the servants and the royal family.

I heard my name being echoed through the walls.

“Lune.. Lune.. LUNE!” It was Atlas. I ran towards the sound, and saw him approaching at the end of the hall. I lifted my skirts and ran faster, but just before we collided, I swerved out of the way, causing him to come crashing to the floor.

He got up, but as I stared at him, something looked off.

“Las, your nose is broken!”

He went cross-eyed, trying to look at his nose, but failed.

“You can’t go to the ball with a banged-up face,” I said, looking at him with mock disdain, “The spirits will take one look at your ugly nose and pick you as offering instantly!”

“Who’s fault is that?” He replied accusingly.

We both nearly jumped out of our skins as we heard the advisor calling our names.

“Atlas! Lune! I’ve been looking for you for over an hour, your parents will be so disappointed. What’s this?! A broken nose?! Atlas, you’re nearly sixteen, and still behaving as if you were six!” He said in a huff.

Atlas mumbled angrily, but said nothing.

As we walked back to the dressing rooms, Atlas’s nose began to bleed, making a trail of red drops through the halls.

Staring at the bright contrast of crimson red against pale blue with gold streaks, I was struck with inspiration. Next thing I knew, I was standing in front of my mirror, with the most elegant outfit I had ever seen.

I was wearing a wispy, pale blue blouse, with gold necklaces and bracelets and earrings, dainty chains, and deep red crystals. My skirt was a long, flowy, crimson fabric that trailed on the ground, and on top, a transparent red shawl over it all. My shoes were golden heels, with pale blue diamonds set inside the straps.

As I put my hair up, I reveled in my own beauty. I decided to name this outfit after the inspiration that had struck me: Blood on Marble Floor.

The clock struck eight. _Time for the ball, _I thought.

I sped through the halls to the ballroom, and came just in time for the Announcement of the Youth.

“Present yourself,” I heard the announcer say, “Atlas, son of Selena, Crown Prince and heir to the throne!”

Loud applause followed as Atlas stepped onto the balcony overlooking the ballroom.

“Present yourself, Lune, daughter of Aleksander, niece to the King and cousin to the Crown Prince!”

I stepped through the curtain and onto the balcony. Under the light, my skirt and jewelry shimmered, and I was met by a stunned silence before the whole room erupted in deafening applause.

At this moment, I think a kind of thought that I vowed never to think.

_That’s what being pretty does; everyone loves me._

_ _I instantly shut that thought down, telling myself ‘_that’s wrong, it’s selfish, it’s vain_’

But as I stood next to Atlas, watching the other important Youth being presented, a smaller voice whispered in my head: _but it’s true._

__

__

_ _Now; before I continue, I have something to tell you. From that moment on, things only got worse. Had I not been so stupid and foolish, I would have sensed it. Had I looked around, I would’ve seen the sour looks on the King’s and Queen’s faces.

I came down from the balcony and onto the ballroom floor, and soon became relaxed, enjoying the night, eating fine desserts and dancing whenever I liked the music.

I bumped into a boy, around my age, who looked bewildered and confused. My first thought was that he had a pleasant but foreign smell around him. I pondered for few moments, before finally realizing that he smelled like coconut. I wasn’t used to it because it was extremely expensive to have, and had only smelled it once or twice when passing the Queen.

“What is happening? Why is this ball being held? I’m sorry, I just got here.” He said.

“Oh, dont worry! We hold this ball every year, to please the spirits of the kingdom-” I said, but broke off because the announcer had started speaking. “Oh, just listen to him, he’ll explain!”

“Ladies and gentlemen of our beautiful kingdom! It is almost twelve o’clock, and I have a few things to say.”

“Every year, we hold this glorious ball to appease the spirits that dwell our kingdom. Before this time of peace, there was havoc, until our first king made a deal with the spirits. Every year we would hold a ball, and at the stroke of midnight, one person will be killed as offering. Tonight, someone will die, but for the glorious purpose of peace. Whoever you are, you should be proud.”

“As we do every year, if anyone has a suggestion for an offering, or wish to volunteer, you need simply whisper it into your cup, and the spirits will hear you.”

I looked into the crowd. Everybody was looking at the floor, and not one person lifted their cup to their mouths. _How wonderful to live here, _I thought_, In a place where everyone is too kind to pick anyone to kill, even people they dislike. _

_ _“Very well, thank you. As always, the spirits will give you a message to think about before they choose.”

As the announcer finished speaking, the clock struck twelve.

The room was instantly filled with a cold, red mist. Tall, hooded figures moved through the parting crowd, until all eleven of them had formed a circle in the center of the room. The twelfth and tallest one stood in the middle, and began to speak in a low, hissing voice.

_this year marks twenty _

_ we know your loss_

_ we have taken plenty_

_ _

_ but, even so_

_ we need more_

_ we need Blood on Marble Floor_

The blood drains from my face. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest.

_Present yourself, Lune, __daughter of Aleksander, niece to the King and cousin to the Crown Prince. Present yourself and offer yourself!_