Back to Atlantis by Bar Sagi (best book reader txt) 📗

“I have been having prophetic dreams for half a year now,” Yasmin said. “Way before I learned I had magic.”

“That’s not what I meant, child, and you know it!” Master Ashtree scowled. “Have you been having dreams compelling you to join the rebellion?”

“NO!” Yasmin declared, looking straight at the queen, daring her to argue. “Now, can I please be included in the conversation, instead of being a doll? Because while I am curious about my powers, didn’t Gloriana give you an answer? I just need practice.”

“Leave at once, mage.” The queen pointed at the door. “We must discuss this and get back to you about if you can join us.”

Yasmin left, gladly. Was Princess Amanda the only sane one in the family? Because they seemed like royal pains. And all she wanted to do was go home!

She spent lunch in the kitchen, eating part of a chicken and rice until she was full. She still couldn’t shake off the feeling the meeting room gave her: that she was just a doll to them. And Yasmin didn’t know if she could even fight that or not.

As a way to escape, she went to the library, to try to bury her problems in reading. She couldn’t tell her parents about all this. They would tell her to come home, and she couldn’t take that.

And she didn’t want to tell her friends. Even Miriam. Because they wouldn’t be able to help.

Looking at all the books in the beautiful library, Yasmin looked for a fiction one. She didn’t want to read about the royal history of Atlantis now, or even still be here. So fiction was perfect.

“Miss Mage?” A young boy tugged at her sleeve.

He had light brown skin and short brown hair. He wore glasses and had a very serious look in his green eyes. A book was in his hands. “Will you come outside with me for a moment?”

Yasmin frowned, confused. What could this boy want with her? Well, she thought. If he is a book lover, then it is okay.

So she followed him into the corridor. The boy looked around, like he was checking no one was there. Then he wacked her on the arm with his book. Hard.

“Oww!” Yasmin yelped, clutching her arm. “What was that for?”

“That was for my brother, you horrid mage!” the boy said. His green eyes, so serious before, were burning. “You broke his heart!”

“Who…?” Yasmin wondered, but only for a second. The seriousness in his eyes was so similar to David’s, as was the way he held himself, or used to. Like he was carrying the weight of the world.

“You’ve got it wrong, mister!” she said, hurt. “He broke my heart! Not the other way around!” What had David been telling his little brother?

“You told him all those horrid things at the ball!” The boy pointed out, and Yasmin winced. She still felt a bit guilty for that.

“And when I tried to talk about our relationship, he just walked away!” She was so overcome with emotion. “You understand nothing of romances, little boy.”

The boy’s face colored. “I am not a little boy,” he said, icily. “My name is Prince Max and I am the third prince of Atlantis.”

“I don’t care much for royalty,” Yasmin retorted. “And let me tell you this, Max. Your brother won’t even tell me the truth. He won’t even tell me he hates me. He just keeps me in the dark, and all this time he was engaged!”

Max’s face hardened. “The troubles of royalty.”

Yasmin sighed. “Just go away, little boy.” She had no interest in arguing. Max obviously thought being royalty meant you were perfect. Well, not to her. To her it meant a lot of problems that didn’t have answers. And she had no interest in talking to a wall.

“Fine,” Max said, walking away. “But remember, you will be punished!” He turned back and glared at her. It was clear he hated her.

Yasmin ignored him and went back in the library. She only had as much free time as long as the meeting went on.

Around three in the afternoon, Yasmin stretched and looked around. She was hungry. Was the meeting still going on? Well, whatever. She would have a snack.

Just as she was walking out of the library, Yasmin bumped into Gloriana.

“Yasmin!” Gloriana sounded out of breath. “I have been looking for you! The meeting ended a while ago.”

“Okay,” Yasmin said. “But can I have an apple before we begin training?” Her stomach rumbled, ceasing the need for further explanation.

“No.” Gloriana grabbed her hand and dragged her to the courtyard. “From now on, you will also be learning to fight with your sword. It might come in handy. Plus, the more physical training, the better.”

For the next two months, Yasmin trained. She visited her family briefly on Chanukah, and every week on Saturday. She avoided the royal family with a passion. And David ignored her, so she ignored him.

Even though she felt a pang in her heart every time she thought of him, the pangs were getting less frequent. She hoped that meant she was learning to live with all of that.

Chapter 9

A rouge army

It was already February, and even though it was freezing in the courtyard, Yasmin still practiced. She expected snow to fall any day now. The weather had gotten below zero degrees often, and it hailed more often than it rained lately. At least with all the cold, she could snuggle up at night.

Yasmin sighed as she zipped up her thick coat, shivering. She would be surprised if she didn’t catch a cold at this rate. Looking at the frozen grass, she was glad she had brought a pillow to sit on as she meditated.

But she just couldn’t meditate today. As the wind howled through the trees that were just outside the courtyard, Yasmin felt more homesick than usual.

A tear slipped down her cheek. It was so hard. She knew that the kingdom needed a symbol to follow, someone to inspire