There are twinkling lights shining bright in my face. My eyes focus more to see them hanging all around the room. I look up in the floor length mirror at my reflection. My hair is in a curly and loose chignon with a diamond tiara sitting on top, sparkling in the lights. The dress I am wearing is a tight teal colored number that flares at the bottom kind of like an actual mermaid dress. It is sexy yet elegant at the same time. There is a sudden knock on the door followed by a joyful Charles who walks in seconds later.
"Are you ready," he asks.
"Ready for what exactly?"
"For the ball, of course."
"The ball? Is that why I am dressed like this?"
"Yes miss, and you look very pretty if I do say so myself."
"Thank you."
He wraps my arm in his and leads me out of my room to the grand hall. It is then, that I realize the castle is completely filled with people I do not know as I admire the beautiful decorations in gold and silver all around me. All heads turn to me as I am being escorted by Charles down the grand staircase. We stop at the very bottom as my parents walk over to us.
"Please settle down everyone, I would like to introduce my daughter Celeste Audriana Dragomir," my father proclaims.
"Hello," the crowd bellows back.
My father smiles.
"Let the ball begin."
Everyone gathers in the middle of the floor and starts to waltz to the sudden music playing. My father grabs my hand and leads me to the center of the dance floor. As we begin to dance I catch a movement out of the corner of my eye that looks a lot like a tall brown haired guy.
'That cannot be right, he would not be here right now.'
I shake my head and try to focus back on to what my father is saying.
"We are very pleased you could make it tonight."
"I would not have missed this for anything in the world."
"We do have a surprise for you though."
"A surprise? What is it?"
"Your future husband has finally arrived, but he wishes to meet after the party in private if that is okay?"
'My betrothed is here? Where is he at?'
I try to peek around my father to scan the ballroom.
'What does my betrothed look like? Is he here right now in this room?'
My eyes land on a pair of deep brown eyes for a millisecond and I cannot take the mind games any longer.
'What is going on? Why am I thinking about him right now? I should be enjoying this moment instead of thinking about Alexander. Am I really that into him that I am imagining him being here right now with me?'
I look away from the crowd to focus on my father once more.
'What were we talking about again? Oh yeah, my betrothed is here already.'
"I guess that will have to do for now."
After three more dances with my father, I excuse myself to go see my mother who is standing by the drink table. She wraps her arms around me as soon as I get close enough to her.
"Welcome home," she says.
I look up at her face to notice the tears in her eyes.
"I promise I am not going to leave you guys again, mother."
"I know sweetie, it is just you are so grown up now and it is happening all so fast."
She lets go of me to turn and grab a couple flutes of champagne off the table.
She hands one to me as she smiles.
"Let us toast to being a family again."
I take the glass and clink it with her.
"To being a family again."
Taking a sip, my eyes survey the ballroom once again to observe all the guests who are still dancing and enjoying themselves. Everyone seems to be having a good time dancing except for one person, a dark haired guy who is currently walking up the grand staircase away from the party. My curiosity gets the best of me as I find myself putting my glass on the table and following up the staircase after him.
A silent alarm sets off in my head as I realize I am following a complete stranger around in my house for no good reason. My curiosity slowly becomes anger as I watch the stranger turn and head straight toward my bedroom. I stop in my tracks appalled at the scene.
'What is he doing in my bedroom? He better have a good explanation for this crazy behavior.'
I take a deep breath and follow his motions and head to my room. Quietly I open the door and turn to shut it making sure no one is still in the hall. Squaring my shoulders, I turn to face the intruder who decided it was okay to enter my room without permission whatsoever. It is hard to see who the intruder is as his back is to me. He seems to be contemplating his next move as he continues to stare at the wall.
"So what do you have to say for yourself? This is my home and you do not have permission to just walk around and do whatever you want. So what are you up to?"
The intruder laughs before turning around and forcing my last breath out of my lungs.
"I can assure you that I was invited and mean you no harm."
I catch myself against the door as my legs become light.
"What are you doing here?"
"Well, hello to you too."
"Alexander, this is my room. You should not be here right now. You need to leave."
He walks over then and stops right in front of me with a grin on his face.
"Are you going to make me," he ask laughing silently.
His smooth velvet voice caresses my skin and I find it hard to think with him being so near to me.
"I will if I have to," I say, trying to sound serious.
His hand comes up to caress my cheek as he leans in close to whisper in my ear.
"I do not think you will. I think you do not want to kick me out. You like me being here and being this close to you. Admit it, you like me."
When I find my voice it is but a whisper.
"I do not know what you are talking about."
His other hand comes to grasp my hip as he pulls me against him. Common sense completely flies out of my mind as I focus on his burning touch on my hip and my cheek. He lightly pushes a loose strand of my hair behind my ear as I look up into his deep brown eyes. Before I know what I am doing, I lean my face into his palm and let out a moan as he grasps me tighter against him.
"I know you like me and I know you do not want me to leave. I know you want me Celeste, so just let me stay and be here with you. It would break your heart if I left right now."
'How in the world can one guy have such an effect on me after only knowing him for such a short time? Why do I feel like jelly anytime he is around? How is this possible? He is right about one thing though, I do not want him to leave right now or ever.'
My breathing begins to come faster and faster when he leans in toward me to close the space between us. A sudden knock occurs on the door to break the trance I am currently in.
"Celeste you need to get up and get ready or you will be late for school!"
'What is she talking about?'
A pounding in my head makes my vision blur. I wake up abruptly in my bed and realize it was all just a dream.
'What am I going to do about these dreams? It is hard enough not to think of Alexander while I am at school with him but now I have to try to stop him from appearing in my dreams too? Why do I keep thinking and dreaming of Alexander? Is something wrong with me? I need to just forget about being attracted to him and focus on my responsibilities.'
I get up out of bed and throw on a flannel dress with sandals before my mother can come in to make sure I am up.
"Thanks mom, I will see you later when I get home," I yell, walking through the door to my other home.