Today was the testing. It was a closed event. My father had shut down his newest casino hotel, allowing only vetted guests and staff. The Council had sent in their own security as well, even though they had unimaginable powers. To any curious Normals walking by, it looked as though a big-time movie was being filmed. Mom had arrived earlier in the day. My sister, my father, and I arrived together. This was significant because it was the first time since I was a teenager we all arrived in the same car at a public venue. My father presented me to the head D Glow testing organizer as Stephen LeBete. It was official: Julien had been Stephen all along. I could sense the stares as we walked through the foyer into the theater. Word got around quickly that I was actually Stephen. Several people I didn’t know came up and introduced themselves to me and told me about their beautiful daughters; I simply told each one trying to gain a partnership for their family that tonight was my mother's night and perhaps we could address the issue another time.
I didn’t know what to expect during the event, but I certainly thought it would be more somber than the Las Vegas–like performance that ensued. Thirteen Council members dressed in black robes ambled onto the stage to strobe lights and electric guitars playing in the orchestra pit. Their faces were not visible, but I could see their twisted, gnarly fingers, many embellished with multiple jeweled rings. The crowd of about 250 people cheered and hollered. Council members rarely made an appearance, so it was a big deal for D Glows to see them in person. It was forbidden, however, to approach them. One could only speak if spoken to, just like some Normal royalty. I jumped to my feet when I saw my father stand and started to cheer. One by one they positioned themselves into a horseshoe shape on the stage. Derek Schlecten, a famous D Glow lawyer turned actor, then walked into the center of the stage and asked the crowd to take their seats. He sparkled in his black bead-and-sequin suit as he began to MC the event. My sister's eyes were wide with excitement—she’d had a crush on Derek ever since he portrayed a murderous warlord in a movie. There was a drum roll and the MC called my mother's name. My mom entered and walked evenly to the drumbeat. She exuded confidence in her deep-red caped dress and gold belted cinched waist. The crowd was now hushed, awaiting the MC's call for her first challenge. The atmosphere was ominous. If she failed, she would have wasted the Council's time and would be killed instantly—probably one of the reasons D Glows didn’t test very often. My mom began by moving the multiple objects on a table at the end of the stage to another table behind the audience. Pots, pans, and even glasses of water floated simultaneously over our heads and delicately landed on a table in the back of the room. The audience oohed and aahed in amazement. The second test was a little more dramatic. Not only could Mom move items telepathically, but she could also create mini force fields. As directed by the Council, Derek aimed an assault rifle at my mom. My heart pounded. I looked over at my father to see his reaction. He looked amused. My stomach jumped into my throat when the gun was fired and I made an audible gasp along with the rest of the audience when the bullets simply dropped to the ground as if they had hit an invisible wall. The crowd clapped and cheered until Derek asked them to calm down for the third test.
The third talent showcased was the power of suggestion. Mom walked up to Derek, waved her hand and stated: “Sleep.” Derek collapsed onto the stage. The nearest Council member walked over to him and put his hand over his head and Derek stood back up. “I was asleep!” he announced excitedly. The room cheered again and then went silent while Derek announced there would be a ten minute break for the Council to deliberate. The Council members retreated backstage while my mom stood in the center of the stage, head low in reverence. Mother obviously had passed the test so the threat of death no longer hung in the air, but the Council still had the right to waive the title if they felt she wasn’t worthy enough to be in Darkness’ presence. No one really knew what exactly qualified as worthy, but it probably took into account the darkness-level of the entire family—at least that's what Alecia surmised while we were in the car driving over. The wait felt like a lifetime. I could see Father literally sitting at the edge of his seat in anticipation. The Council returned one by one to the center of the stage, lining up in a row. Mom turned to face them and hear her fate. As if on cue, all of them raised a purple card in their right hand. Had the cards been red, it would’ve meant that the title was denied. Purple meant my mom passed the test and was officially a D Glow queen. The crowd went wild. Everyone stood up and whooped and hollered. The Council members left the stage, each handing my mom their card on the way out. After collecting them all, she returned to the center of the stage to face the crowd and held up all the cards over her head. I had never seen my father more proud. He actually ran up to the stage and kissed her in front of everyone. My sister and I exchanged looks of half disgust and half surprise. It was probably only so everyone remembered he was with her.
The actual crowning took place the following evening at the same venue. The who's who of the darkness were there, including some rival cartel members. Everyone was on their best behavior. Tonight was not the night for fighting, the Council made that clear. They wielded power given to them by Darkness. No one dared go against their rulings, or a painful death was sure to be upon them.
Ty, decked out in a black three-piece suit and purple silk shirt, came over to my table and congratulated me. “Dude! You are like a prince now.”
“Hey, Ty,” I said shaking his hand. I was glad to see someone I actually didn’t mind talking to. So many schmoozers were out tonight. I wasn’t really a prince, but I certainly was getting a lot more attention. My mom was right—being undercover was pointless now. All rival cartels knew who I was and everything else about me. My mom, who had tried to keep us out of the spotlight in the past, had no choice now.
“Looking gorgeous, Alecia,” Ty said to my sister, who was sitting next to me. Alecia had gone all out with a low-cut red satin dress and her now jet-black hair had been straightened and embellished with gold glitter. I personally thought she looked ridiculous.
“Thanks,” she mumbled, then stood up abruptly and walked away.
“Man!” said Ty, disappointed. “I was hoping I could ask her to dance.”
I smiled. “Good luck, man! I do hope it works out for you so we can be semi-brothers.”
Ty laughed. He knew he didn’t have a chance. “Hey man, you don’t have a drink—want one?”
“Sure,” I said, “but I think there's staff for that.”
Ty sighed. “Looks like they’re not doing a good job, so I’ll go kick some ass.”
“OK,” I said, “but if you happen to see something strong and on the rocks, feel free to bring it to me.”
I was alone at my table now but didn’t mind. I looked at my phone. Skyla had tried to call and had sent a text asking what I was up to. Crap! I had told her I would call her in the morning and forgot. I had the phone on silent, so I didn’t hear it ring. I already felt bad that I couldn’t take her out for her birthday. What was I supposed to do though? Tell her, oh, I’m sorry I can’t take you out this weekend. Remember how you asked me about the testing? Well, my mom is the one who tested for D queen status, and I really should be there for the crowning party. I quickly texted: Have a great birthday! Look forward to having lunch with you tomorrow. I looked around to make sure no one was watching me and turned the phone off. She clearly liked me. She had sent me a selfie with her friend Lorana yesterday, holding a health food bar: Look what we are eating! the caption had read. We had gone to the movies, caught a Broadway show, and had countless dinners. At this point I probably could easily turn her at least one or two points into darkness if I really wanted to. If things keep going this way, she’ll definitely want to scale. I needed to make a decision on what to do soon. Then again, Mom is a queen now, and it was only a matter of time before this got into the Light Glow news.
A tap on my shoulder abruptly ended my thoughts—it was my mother. She looked regal but also intimidating in her iron-wrought crown encrusted with rubies and wine-colored gown that gathered at one side of her waist. I immediately stood up. “Your Royalness,” I said, bowing. It was a half joke. According to the Council, everyone was to now bow and address her as “Your Royalness” or “Queen Esmerelda” at a darkness event—obviously not out in public.
“Oh, please,” said Mother. “Sit down.” Two people I had never seen before walked over and bowed to my mom and congratulated her.
“Thank you. May you thrive in darkness.” She sat down and took a deep breath. “This is exhausting,” she said quietly to me.
Ty came over with a drink in hand. I knew he had gone and gotten me one only because he wanted to stay in my inner circle. He saw my mother and immediately went into a deep bow, unaware that he was tilting the gin and tonic he had brought over and it was spilling on the floor.
“Your Royalness,” he said, now noticing the drink. “Light damn,” he cursed. “I got this for you but I didn’t know Your Royalness would be sitting here.” He enunciated each word trying to sound proper. My mom and I laughed. He looked so panicked that it was rather funny.
“It's fine, Ty,” I said flatly. It really didn’t bother me, but I needed to be careful not to sound reassuring or both he and my mom would think I’d gone soft. I went over to him and pried my spilled drink from Ty's now-firm grasp on the crystal glass. Ty looked at my mother and then at the table and gasped.
“You don’t have a drink either?! What's wrong with these people?” he asked, exasperated. “Would you also like a drink, Your Royalness?”
“Thank you, Ty. Actually, no,” Mother said, sitting up a little straighter. “I would like a moment with my son, though.” Ty nodded and bowed again, understanding he needed to give us some space.
“So?” she asked looking at me.
“So?” I said back. “I am proud of you, Mother.”
“Well, thank you. May you also thrive in darkness.” My mother looked around to make sure no one was listening and quickly asked, “What's going on with you lately?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve been walking around in a daze. You need to snap out of it.”
I took a sip of my drink. “Ah,” I said, stalling. I wasn’t sure if she was also able to read minds now too or not. If she could and I lied to her, she would be pissed. In fact, lying to a queen could mean automatic death. The LeBete staff and family had an hour-long class on what our responsibilities were now that we were tied to a queen, as well as all the new rules. I gulped. Would she actually kill her own son?
She started tapping the table with her long, dark-purple nails impatiently.
“Well,” I started.
“Spit it out,” she demanded.
She probably knew, so why not just say what was going on?
I took a deep breath and blurted out quietly, “I think I actually like the L Glow I told you about. What do I do?”
Mother's hands went up in the air in disbelief.
“That's preposterous, Stephen! How could you say something like that?”
She leaned in closer to me and hissed, “I don’t want to hear that kind of talk out of your mouth ever again…and in a venue like this. Are you trying to ruin your family's reputation?” Her voice was hushed but still shrill enough to get her point across.
I looked down at the blood-red tablecloth and the sparkling display of gold plates, flatware, and water goblets on the table—this was who I was. My mom was a queen. We were a royal D Glow family. I was now filled with regret for telling my mom my true feelings and guilt for even having those feelings.
“You need to stop seeing her right away.”
“But it's her birthday!” I protested. I realized how ridiculous that sounded as soon as it came out of my mouth.
“Break—it—off, Stephen.” My mom stretched each word so I clearly understood she wasn’t joking around.
I nodded. She was right, of course.
“Don’t breathe a word of this conversation to anyone else. I mean it,” she added sternly. She then softened her tone. “This is not the time or place, but there are some things you need to know, Stephen. Whatever you do, don’t—”
We were both startled by the sound of my father's voice.
“Here is my lovely queen!” my father boomed, clearly having had one too many drinks. I never got a chance to hear what my mother was going to say.