Blue, green, brown, black… No matter the color of their eyes; they're all on my figure. Or rather, they are gaping and gawking at the red satin and lace that came together to make this mesmerizing queen ball gown a reality.
I can't really blame them. I, myself, was so stunned that I needed a moment to catch my breath when I first saw it upon opening the box that Nathanael had sent me the other night.
The warmth around my cheeks gradually subsides as people's attention begins to revert back to whatever it was on before my entrance to the ballroom. I feel like time is moving again. I can hear… The music playing once more, even though it had never stopped to begin with. I feel the weight of gravity beneath me lessen back to normal.
"It's… Exactly as I expected it to be, honestly. As extravagant and costly. You've never been here either, have you?" my eyes finally hold the chance to gaze upon the place.
I allow them to travel up from the stupefying marble flooring to the massive crystal chandeliers casting light so bright, it spares no corners for darkness to consume. The only thing that's more beautiful than the gorgeous high ceiling design patterns above us, is the highly detailed embroidery pattern on my dress, in my opinion.
I slowly swirl around myself, like a figurine in a music box, just so I can capture it all. The colors, the gigantic mirrors, the huge gold petal ceramic vases all around. I only snap out of my reverie when I realize that Izzy hasn't answered my question yet. In fact, she hasn't said a thing to me. We barely exchanged any words since our visit to Salina's shop, and her mood hasn't improved at all.
She just stands by my side, staring through people.
The more I look at her, the more I believe she is what I've always thought she was, an angel. Unlike me, she opted to have her silky blond hair up, tucked behind a pearly silver, bridal hair pin. The few curly loose ends that escape its hold make it more than perfect. She looks more like a goddess in her silver mermaid dress than a real goddess ever could.
What the hell did that witch say to her when I'd left the two of them alone? I'll kill that witch bitch when I get my hands on her.
Speaking of Salina. She held her end of the deal and has gotten rid of that leech that's been trying to bleed Mary Morgan dry. I am not sure how she did it, but I'll have to find that out after the ball or whenever I get the time to. For the time being I just need to keep my word and deliver the letter she wanted me to give to Avery.
"I'll be around," Izzy addresses me before heading away from me.
"Wait! Where are you going?" I try but she leaves without an answer and disappears among the crowd.
I give up when my eyes lose sight of her. Why is everyone so damn tall in here? How many of these people are human anyways?
I start ambling around the place myself, exploring the visages as I drag the full skirt of my dress over the perfectly immaculate floor. The very first face I recognize in the midst of all of these strangers, is the person that invited me to this ball, Erolina Ferwulf.
She has her hand around a man's arm. A few inches taller than her, he looks like an older replica of Nathanael. I guess I know what his father looks like now. Dressed like royalty, both of them, which is the usual for them, I am sure. Both of them proudly bearing that same brooch of a concertina snake shaped gold stripe.
Behind them stand two people, one on each of their sides. They're donning plain white robes, the only other color on them is the gold from the brooch on their chests. They appear to be closely following Erolina and the man I assume to be her husband, from behind. Only advancing when the wolf shifters do.
One look around the entire place and I immediately register the presence of multiple others dressed in those same white gowns. The difference between them being the shape of the brooch they are marked with. Beside the empty looks in their eyes, they are the only ones who actually look human. So, I am guessing they share the biology of regular humans like me.
They're witches, aren't they? Shadows to high-ranking wolf shifters, like Avery is.
I still can't find Avery, nor can I find Nathanael for that matter. Ava doesn't seem to be here either. I haven't been able to spot any of them yet, at least.
My gaze lands on, what I probably believe to be, the tallest creatures in the mass. A sheet of straight black hair falls to the waist of each of them. Each of them is at least seven feet tall. I can see that they flock together in small groups of eight or nine. The identical long, black robes on them prevent me from seeing it, but I am convinced they have hooves instead of feet. These are kelpies, I am ready to bet on it.
At first glance, this crowd seems like nothing more than an ordinary mêlé for the wealthy to parade around in their silk, fur and gold. Upon closer look however, the invisible lines separating them are clear. They each stick to their kind like their lives depend on it.
I make eye contact with a sublime specimen. The ruby eyes on her siphon my sentience. She… Wants me to cut the distance between us short. I am sure she wants me to; it's written all over her flawless face. Her scarlet red lips drawing the perfect smile on her. Perhaps I could learn her name? I'd like to listen to her voice. Perhaps… Perhaps I can…
"That's a vampire. Steer clear of their kind, and don't make eye contact with them for too long!"
I hear a vaguely familiar voice speak to me. The veil of stupor I have on my mind melts away when I recognize the identity of the man that stands before me, barring the… Vampire from my line of sight.
"Richard Reed! You're a very busy man, indeed," I sneer.
"Why did you come?" he ignores my last statement and asks.
"So, you knew all along about these people, huh?" two can play the same game. I ignore his question as well.
"Rose, I am serious. Why did you come?"
The smirk I have on my face dies down a tad. I haven't heard him call my name like that in years…, "I was invited," I state with a little voice, looking away from him.
"I know you were invited. I asked you why came,"
How long has it been? Since we spoke last, I mean. Nine years. That's how long it has been. And these are the circumstances that bring us together? This is the reason that forces my father to finally talk to me again, after all this time?
"I am not a minor anymore… You don't have to play daddy. I know how much you hated that. We both know it. So, why act like you care?"
No! This ain't it! These aren't the words I wanted to say to him… All these years apart! All these years estranged… But this is all that came out, it seems… I'll just have to accept it.
"Trust me, you'll want to leave this place behind and never look back," he says.
"You too came here tonight because you didn't have a choice? What a coincidence?" I tease.
"They threatened you?"
I am having trouble deciphering his tone. I want to believe that he's concerned for me… That would be the natural conclusion to come to. He's my father after all, right?
That thought alone makes me happy, a lot happier than I believe I deserve to be. I want to believe it so badly, but I am afraid doing so will disappoint him. He's the one that taught me to believe in actions over words, and so far he's done nothing that would lead anyone to believe that he actually cares about me. I am afraid he'll pull the rug under my feet; in a minute he'll reveal the real reason he's asking me to leave, and it'll have nothing to do with him being worried about me.
"An alpha came to my doorstep to invite me instead of wiping my memory. I am sure you've known about them for longer than I have. So, what do you make of that?"
He moves to stand by my side in order to have the same view as mine. He doesn't answer my question, so I discreetly throw a glance his way. Only to see a smile on his face. Again, I'd love to believe it's a proud smile but…
It hurts… It just hurts. I'd forgotten how bad it hurt…