Raziel settled herself in the car and waited for both Jaria and Rani to get in before she ordered the driver to start the car. She thought back at all that happened inside the house and she sighed. Phew. That was close.
Her hands raised to her head as she arranged her tiara and positioned it on her red hair which was tied into a loose bun with few tendrils falling on the side of her face. She has to take May's book from the king today. She knew May would definitely not let go of the topic of her missing book. She was just calm because they were leaving for the palace.
If they return, the whole drama would start from the beginning again and it would be worse than the last.
'That Brute of a king.' she cursed him in her mind. He was the cause of all the stress and drama going on in her home.
"Raziel," Jaria called from beside her and Raziel's heart skipped in shock from the unexpected call of her name.
"W..what."
"There's no need to act as if you don't know where May's book is. Drop the pretense."
"W..what are y...you talking about? I don't know w... what you're saying," Raziel denied.
"Then why are you stuttering? Like I said, drop the pretense and be grateful for once. I saved you from May's wrath."
"Sorry. How do you know I have the book?"
"Oh, that? I actually saw you that night when you were tiptoeing like a cat." *Giggling* "You looked funny that I thought you were going to do something bad," they both giggled and Raziel looked at her sister with grateful eyes.
"Don't do that next time, Raziel. Imagine what May would have done to you if she had found out you were the one who took her book. She would have caused you great pain with just the flick of her fingers," Jaria warned.
"Thank you, Jaria. I imagined that too and that's why I kept quiet. I'll surely return this favor."
"Yeah yeah. I never said it was for free. You'll also help me if I need help. Just remember that you owe me one," her sister informed in a funny tone and they both giggled loudly as the car came into a screech at the parking space of the castle.
......
Stepping into the ballroom, Raziel slightly raised her purple gown with a little touch of white. She stepped in with her family beside her and they all marveled at the beautiful arrangements of the ballroom.
Raziel cringed a bit as she stared around.
The arrangements were beautiful and fit the Halloween party, but...but they were also scary to her. The room was slightly dark and the designs portrayed the meaning of Halloween. The paintings were lewd and dark with skeletons and bones drawn on the walls.
The dressings of the guest were making matters worst. Their clothes were either paintings of ghosts or skeletons. Raziel turned to look at her family and saw they were intrigued and pleased with the ballroom arrangements and the scary dressings of the guest. Their clothes were also like that so she wasn't surprised.
"Rani," she called her maid who was walking beside her.
"Yes, milady?"
"What's that?"
"What?"
"I mean, why call me that?" Raziel asked, frowning at her.
"I thought since we're in a public place, you wouldn't like it if I called you by your name," Rani explained.
"Who knows you're my maid here? I don't mind you calling me by my name at any time and anywhere."
"Ok, I'm sorry, Raziel."
"Apology accepted. Hmm, Rani. Don't you find these arrangements weird?"
"No, I don't. This ballroom is so pretty. I'm really happy that I'm here today. This is my first time attending a royal party and I'm on top of the world right now. Everything here is so beautiful that I'm tempted to worship them," Rani uttered, her statement laced with happiness and jubilation.
"Really? You won't find these arrangements weird? How about the dressings of the other guest? You don't find them scary? Raziel asked as she held Rani's hand and they both walked to the other side of the room.
"No, I don't. I find them entertaining. That's all Halloween is about right? I also have a few of these designs on my gown. You don't have them, why?"
"Oh my God, Rani. Thank goodness yours isn't as scary as theirs."
"Seriously, Raziel? Don't tell me you're scared of these paintings on the walls and the guest's dresses?" Rani mocked as she giggled loudly. Raziel quickly hit her lightly on her arms and whispered.
"Don't say that loudly. Do you want the whole world to know?"
"It's funny. Haha. This party is so lovely. Thank you for bringing me here. Guess what I brought with me?" Rani asked.
"What did you bring? Cake?"
"No, it's not food. I just brought something you forgot to bring. Halloween is for celebrating the dead right?"
"Yes, it is. Now, tell me what you brought?"
Rani dipped her hand into her black diamond purse and brought out a picture. She showed the picture to Raziel and her mouth fell open as her eyes watered.
"Hey, don't think of crying, or else you'll ruin your makeup."
"Oh goodness, Rani. I actually forgot this picture. Thank you so much for bringing it along," Raziel appreciated as she took the picture from Rani's hands and looked at the smiling people on it who held each other tightly.
It was a picture of her aunt and grandmother on Halloween day. This picture was taken years ago when Raziel was still a child.
She ran her hands through the picture and smiled. These two people were one of the closest people in her life. Too bad they had to die before she got to enjoy their love. They were the people who taught her about the goodness and beauty of life.
She had kept the picture on her table, intending to bring it along with her but she forgot. Thank goodness Rani did.