The morning came.
Coraline got dressed and laced snow boots instead of light shoes. She used a red ribbon to interlock with a braid intertwined with all of her hair.
She lightly tapped her fingers on black envelopes with red stamps, the last she received before her business went under fire. Impulsively she wanted to take all of the envelopes and expose them to the public.
Her eyes began to burn with irritation. If she did do that, she'd be the one free from their stakes as it would be turned to the intended party.
That's why Sapphire Greens needed to make a public announcement that would wake them up.
People in this underground club included servants, righteous political members, and those who were disturbingly in close relations with the corrupted men and women.
On November twenty-fifth—four days from now, a man will lay down.
He was the youngest son of a noble family, most days he locked himself within his luxurious chambers. Anytime he came out suffering would begin to stir.
The man knew not how to keep his hands to himself, he took advantage of those weaker than him and most importantly he was killing the ones around him. That included his own mother.
His corruption was control and greed.
He had an average statue, but their family had a unique shade of eyes. Coraline tapped the bone near her eye a few times before letting a deep breath out.
"Bijou, you have one flaw."
She pressed her knuckles down on the envelope until her knuckles turned red from the pressure.
The one who will feed Bijou a lethal dose will be one of his 'party' friends.
If everything works the streets will be filled with the news that his eldest brother is getting married. The contract marriage will come in handy for Coraline in more ways than one.
It'll settle the temper of the aunties and will let her emerge with the shadows.
Her rumors will be covered with the news of Bijou's death.
Coraline took a floral hat that was full of offset colors and took the white key to lock her door. Finishing it up with a red spider lily its pedals sprayed out from its bud.
Fighting with the door handle for a few minutes. She had to make sure her memory recognized that her door was indeed locked, and she wasn't crazy.
She took to walking to meet up with Vivianne. If there was one thing someone had to know about her friend—it'd be she never liked being late to things.
Eventually, the two will run into one another because Vivianne will be on her way to get to Coraline's place as early as she can.
"Coraline!"
'There she is," Coraline's eyes perched up to see a hand waving and a woman lunatically jumping amongst a large crowd.
Vivianne's dress never managed to stay clean no matter how new it was.
Small laughs escaped from Coraline; she held her hand to her mouth to hide it as she rushed over to Vivianne's open arms.
If there was truly no one, not one soul in the world who would love her then that would mean her friend was deceased.
"Vivi," a tender tone sweetened Coraline's throat as she etched the side of her head further into her friend's embrace.
People were used to their friendship, the two were inseparable. No one could puncture it, so they walked around them.
"The lady's real sweet Cory," Vivianne pressed the palm of Coraline's hands as she held them.
Vivianne started to brush her fingers through Coraline's hair, it hadn't grown much since she cut it.
There was a lingering feeling of dread on her shoulders but she had to remember the good of the bad.
'It's fine.'
Her smile meant for sponsors to see grew on her. Vivianne was able to notice the difference but she decided to ignore it.
"Whose on kid duty?"
Vivanne swept her brown hair to the side with a smirk, "Jules is."
Coraline looked at her with eyes that pretended to understand, there was too much to know. Everyone in the Sixes family looked like they could play as twins for the most part.
Vivianne clung hard onto Coraline's wrist and started navigating through the crowds.
Coraline started to chew at the skin in her mouth, 'Did Vivianne's back always use to look like this?'
She started to notice the aging of her friend's face, was time really starting to get to them? Vivianne's breath was more haggard now, 'Or was she sick?' Having kids at a young age could be deteriorating her friend's body.
Vivianne's childbirth was no less than traumatizing to watch.
Coraline could only imagine the aches and sickness she'd feel. She hardened her clutch on Vivianne, 'I have to stop thinking like this.'
After a few more of speedwalking and pausing to catch their breath. It wasn't a place you could reach by cart, only by foot could you get there.
They stood outside the weird tavern lookalike. Coraline held onto Vivianne's waist as they contemplated outside.
Vivianne rubbed her friend's back before leaning closer to her, "This is the place I met Howland," she winked at Coraline before pushing her closer to the door.
'Howland and Vivi met...Here?' Howland was a reserved man, there was one instance as a child did Coraline met him before she knew he'd be her best friend's fiancé.
Howland as a boy was very quiet, he didn't have much going for him look-wise either. Though he had midnight blue eyes and hair that reached his jawline.
It was when they were younger, Coraline tried to help him get away from the few boys that picked on him daily for anything new he might've worn that day. Until he yelled back at them.
She stopped dead in her tracks and so did everyone else.
"Quit it you clowns, my father gave this to me."
It was as if that was the first time Howland ever spoke. His voice was deep and rough. He had on a loose pale brown shirt that was untied at his neck.
His pants were similar to a foreigner than a commoner so that's what contributed to him standing out from the bunch.
But who was Coraline to say insulting remarks at him? If anything she and Howland wore the same pair of shoes.
That's when Coraline noticed the toned arms Howland had. From seeing that she walked away not thinking much of the conflict but the fleeting thought, 'He'd win in a brawl.'
Never would Coraline expect to be a third wheel with her friend and the boy she saw many years ago.
"Are you going to open the door or what?" Vivianne's fist rested on her hip as she watched Coraline being lost in thought.
She hesitantly pushed at the wooden door before turning back to Vivianne, "Did you really meet Howland here?"
A booming slap could be heard that came from one of Vivianne's thunderous strikes. Landing on Coraline's back she winced while completely swinging the door open.
"Huh? There's no one here Vivi."
The place was filled with all sorts of assortments.
The couch looked as if it was better dressed than Coraline, the wooden floors were waxed and at the tables—all types of glasses filled it.
Vivianne slid her hand across her friend's shoulder with an unhideable smile, "That's what you think."
Her friend loudly knocked at a wet bar's counter and then rang a bell three times. Vivianne stepped back to stand next to Coraline whispering quickly in her ear, "Call her Mama."
Coraline turned to meet Vivianne's aloof eyes before thinking to herself, 'Mama?'
A booming voice came from below the floor shaking all the glass in the room, "What brings you ladies to this place of mine?"
"That's a-"
Vivianne cut off Coraline, "Mama!" She gave one of her glares at Coraline making her understand the situation.
She pinched her arm and then Coraline instinctively followed Vivianne's lead.
"Hello, Mama?" Coraline felt stupid just saying it but the person looked pleased hearing it.
They shook their hand out towards Coraline and used the other hand to bring Vivianne for a bear hug.
"It's always awkward the first time missy. Think of me as you want but when you call just say Mama, okay?"
Coraline shly opened her mouth, "Do you mind me saying..."
"Not all."
She nodded her head at him, "Thank you, sir."
"And your name is?"
"Coraline, Coraline Hugues."
She stuck her hand out but instead of reciprocating it the man smiled as he reached his arm out to Coraline as well and gave them both a refreshing hug.
He was dressed in vibrant clothes and his hair was twisted together in a multitude of colors, but it still managed to reach the back of his knees.
As the hug ended he took out a silk blue ribbon and tied his hair together in a bun. All the colors came closer together like a cauldron full of different mixes of potions.
To her, it was like a rainbow being wielded and bent to stay in one place and not allowed to escape from the world's view.
Mama looked closely at Coraline, "You need a love doctor's magic don't you girl?"