The sun was setting on Awakening day; it bathed the manor grounds in a pale purple light of the rising moon. Vampires milled about the grounds, chattering excitedly. It was Awakening day, and everyone was excited.
I sighed as I stared out my large bay window, observing the family members rushing around the grounds, preparing for the transportation of Ares and the family's contribution to the ceremony. Each family contributed in tribute payment, food, and decoration. It was a status game, who could contribute a finer amount. Young girls and boys spoke to each other animatedly on the grounds. I smiled softly. They may awaken today.
I wished I could join in the crowd's excitement, but it filled my stomach with dread. Each passing hour my anxiety worsened, but there was nothing I could do now. We set everything in motion. I placed my hand on the window. All I could do now was wait.
A knock sounded at my door. I opened the door to spot Ravenna, my father's stylist, standing at the door with two girls following behind her. My eyes widened in shock; I wasn't expecting her at my door.
"My lady, they have instructed us to come and ready you for the ceremony." She courtside to me and I blushed, urging her to rise. I opened my door and let them in. I suppose my father had sent them and knowing that it was best to just let her do her job than to stop her.
One girl carried a large clothing bag from a tailor in her arms. She lay the bag out on my bed. Ravenna snapped her fingers to get my attention and gestured toward the chair she had moved to the center of my room from the side. I moved to the seat and sat down. Immediately, she grasped my hair in her hand and yanked my head to the side. I cringed.
"We must do something with this." She said, gesturing to my hair. I scoffed. When she gave me a stern look, I held my hands up in surrender. She turned to the two girls she'd brought with her.
"Girls! We have work to do." She clapped her hands together.
After being poked and prodded and painted, Ravenna finally turned me towards a mirror. I smiled at my reflection. They had lined my eyes in a dark charcoal; they painted my lips ruby red. My hair had been curled elegantly down my back, with a few tendrils pinned up with jewels in it. It was more than I was used to.
"Thank you." I whispered. She smiled and nodded.
"Now! For your dress." She said and walked over to the bag laid out on my bed. I stood to look at what she was doing. She pulled out a formal gown. I gasped. The finest gown I had ever seen. They made it of silk, a deep navy blue. It shimmered as if they sewed the stars into it. It had a gossamer outer layer that floated ethereally around the fabric.
After putting the dress on, I admired my reflection in the full-length mirror in my room. The dress was strapless, with a straight across neckline, and beautiful A-line skirt that lowered itself to the floor. They made it to my measurements, which means my father must have had this ordered for me.
"You are ready, my lady." She said, and curtsied low again at me. I blushed.
"Ravenna, there's no need for the formalities, its just Elysia." I reassured her. She smiled and inclined her head. I knew she wouldn't listen to me.
"The car is waiting." She said, urging me toward the door. I stopped her and propped my leg up on my bed, lifting the skirt to reveal my thigh, and the garter strapped there. I tucked my silver daggers into one on each leg. Then I fixed my skirts and smiled. Ravenna's face glowed with disapproval.
"Now, I'm ready." I said. And stepped out of the room.
As I descended the grand staircase in the central hall, eyes turned to me and stared. I kept my face neutral, fighting the blush that rose to my cheeks. A familiar pair of silver eyes gazed at me from next to the grand iron front doors. His mouth was slightly agape. He looked handsome in his formal tuxedo; I saw the familiar glint of his daggers at his waist. His hair was in his normal messy array, and his pale skin glowed in the torchlight. As I descended the lower steps, he came forward and reached a handout to me.
"My lady." He bowed his head and kissed my hand. I flushed, quickly pulling my hand back. The feeling of his soft lips imprinted on my skin. "You look stunning." Flustered from his attention, I turned my head toward the door.
"Shall we get going?" I reached for the door, to be beaten to it by two of the manor servants. Alec followed me, looking flustered. Alec kept my arm in his grip, guiding me toward the sleek black car that waited out front of the manor. It took a lot of maneuvering to get my skirts into the back of the car. Alec sat in the passenger's seat in the front. The driver slowly pulled out of the driveway.
When we arrived at the Manor that would house the awakening, they crowded the grounds with vampires, standing in groups and mingling. The car pulled up to the curb outside an enormous set of wrought-iron gates. Alec stepped out of the car and came around to my door to open it for me. He reached out a hand to help me stand.
I took his hand and stepped onto the curb, my gaze wandering over the massive grounds, decorated with fairy lights, candles, crystal decorations. Greek statuary of the fates and the Olympian gods stood outside the building. Flowers lined the lawn and decorated the fountains and statues. Vines grew over the stone fountain in the center of the grass.
The women were all dressed in formal gowns. A myriad of colours brightened the crowd. Men wore tuxedos, all handsomely dolled up. I admired the sheer beauty of the vampire race. Descended from the gods, we attain beauty and power.
My gaze darted across all the figures, and over the manner, ever alert. My body was hypertense. I was aware of everyone around me. The scene overwhelmed my senses. I took in a deep breath. I focused on Alec's hand on my arm, grounding me. Something was going to happen tonight.
It appeared as if the family heads were already inside the building, and everyone outside was congregating before going in. Alec and I made our way over to the doors of the building, where guards were posted, speaking with every vampire who entered the building. Alec turned to me with a grim smile.
"Here we go…"