Free In Another Life by Carys Jones

pearl as the staircase. On the ceiling was another detailed painting of a constellation which sparkled brightly. It was magnificent.
     
    “I’ll leave you to get changed,” the man said to Marie, then he turned his gaze upon Orion who stiffened beneath it.
     
    “Will you be alright with her? Can you at least explain some things?”
     
    Orion nodded dumbly and then he was left alone with Marie.
     
    “How can you explain things?” Marie asked him, finally able to pry her eyes away from absorbing the spectacle of the room.
     
    “I thought you were in training?”
     
    “I am,” Orion nodded, shoving his hands deep in to his pockets. “But I was the first to meet you, so we’re kind of joined now.”
     
    “We are?”
     
    “Is that such a bad thing?” Orion asked anxiously, turning away from her to continually scan the room.
     
    “No,” Marie admitted. She felt strangely safe with Orion. “I just don’t understand what’s going on. How can these be my quarters? How does everyone know who I am?”
     
    “First let’s get you in to something more suitable,” Orion ignored her question and headed over to the grand pearl wardrobe. He threw it open and was greeted by a selection of dresses, each an array of bright, vibrant colours.
     
    “Take your pick,” he pointed at the gowns. Marie came and stood by his side and gazed inside.
     
    “I don’t get it,” she mused. “These dresses are multi-coloured. I thought you could only wear one colour, the colour to match your mood.”
     
    “That’s the case for most people, but not for the Princess. You have to shine the brightest, so you wear all the colours of the rainbow.”
     
    Dubiously, Marie reached forward and began to riffle through the gowns. They felt softer than silk upon her fingertips. A part of her desperately wanted to put one on. Then her more logical side kicked in and she turned abruptly away from the dresses and focused on Orion.
     
    “But I’m not a princess.”
     
    “Yes, you are.”
     
    “No, I’m Marie Schneider. I live in London and work for an ad agency. I’m just a normal, average girl, I’m nothing special.”
     
    “You wouldn’t be here if you truly believed that.”
     
    “What?” Marie frowned in confusion.
     
    “Put a dress on, you’ll feel better once you’re in it. I promise.” Orion urged.
     
    Once Marie had settled upon a gown he politely turned away while she discarded her hospital gown and slid in to the full length dress which eerily fit her perfectly. She turned several times, savouring the sensation of having it gather around her. Even though she knew she wasn’t a princess, she certainly felt like one in such an elaborate gown.
     
    “See, all better?” Orion smiled. He then shifted his gaze to the hospital gown which now lay crumpled on the floor.
     
    “We should dispose of this-” he picked it up and held it at arm’s length as though it were contaminated and headed for the door.
     
    “Hey!” Marie was about to object but he’d thrown the flimsy piece of cotton out of the room before she could say anything.
     
    “We don’t need relics here,” he said, bitterness creeping in to his voice. Marie wanted to ask him what he meant but the dress lured her mind away from the train of thought. Instead she ran her hands down the material, savouring how wonderfully soft it felt.
     
    “That looks much better,” Orion said approvingly.
     
    Marie turned several more times before a question caught in her mouth which she had to get out; “that man, the tall man. Who is he?”
     
    “That’s Leo.”
     
    “And he is?”
     
    “The Guardian of Azriel.”
     
    “Oh.”
     
    “You really don’t remember anything, do you?” Orion drew closer to her, concern dimming his glittering eyes.
     
    Marie shook her head.
     
    “I thought as much when I found you. But then I didn’t think it would be up to me to explain everything,” he sighed and lowered himself down on to the bed. Marie