The twins' suite was a whirlwind of fashion and creativity, a sanctuary where style was not just an expression but an art form. Mary-Jack and Mary-Jane, with their twin intuition and shared passion for fashion, were in their element, transforming the room into a makeshift atelier. I stood in the center, a canvas waiting to be painted with the vibrant colors of their creativity.
"Have you decided on whom you're going to take to the beauty pageant as your date?" Mary-Jack's question floated through the air, her voice mingling with the rustle of fabric and the clink of makeup brushes.
"Jack, I haven't decided any of that. I mean, I've been focusing on the outfits. I'll find a date by the end of the day," I replied, my mind more on the strategy to outshine James than on romantic prospects. Crushing his ego was my primary goal.
"You could have taken Harry, but with whatever is happening, I don't think it's a good idea," Mary-Jack mused aloud, her tone laced with concern.
"Jack, that's somebody who is about to be an ex. They can't show up together and then break up. I don't think there's a high chance of them getting back together, after what he's done. No way!"
Mary-Jane shot back, her voice firm, defending me in her own way. Both twins looked at me, expecting some retort, but I had none. The mention of Harry and the maid's scandal still stung too much for words.
"But there's this guy from our school, he goes to Oasis Springs and is a vampire, nobody knows, but I know, he's hot, I think he's a prince," Mary-Jack interjected, her eyes gleaming with the excitement of gossip.
"Jack, you mean Bruce, he was here today, and I saw him and Ivy chatting, and it seemed like they were getting along. I wouldn't be surprised if he asked him to be his date," Mary-Jane revealed, causing a slight frown on Mary-Jack's face.
"Ivy! Am I not your cousin too? Why do you tell Jane everything and then when it comes to me, you let me find out that you're seeing a new guy from Jane?!" Mary-Jack's complaint was half in jest, half in genuine annoyance.
"Jack, that's not the case; you're my favorite. Look, you just designed these two outfits for me, and I'm so grateful. I didn't tell Jane anything; she found out on her own. Besides, you are the best cousins I've ever had," I reassured her, initiating a group hug, kissing both on their cheeks. They were, after all, my only cousins, and their rivalry to be in my good graces was endearing.
"Okay, Jack, you're going to do the honors of inviting Bruce to the beauty pageant tonight as my date," I declared, watching her mood visibly lighten.
"Hey... But I could have done that!" Mary-Jane protested, though her tone was playful, highlighting their sibling rivalry. "Jane, listen, you're going to help me with makeup. I want to look like the ancient gothic vampires, yeah, but make it witchy. People should know who I am, a vampire and a witch," I instructed, setting the stage for my appearance at the pageant.
"Yeah, right, baby. You shall arrive in a gothic outfit, then for the pageant, you will compete in black, show those wolves that vampires are cool!" Mary-Jane agreed, her enthusiasm palpable as she started pulling out makeup that would transform me into a night creature.
"Jack, could you please help take off this dress? I really wanted to wear it to the fashion show; I was going to win in this one," I said, working on the zipper of the gown I had worn to Darker Ville for the Full Moon Fest. The dress, designed by Carla Moretti-Laughton, was a spectacle - Azura, Faerie of the Sacred Grotto, with its whirlpool currents of sparkling sapphire lace, organic pintucked ombre organza petals for the skirt, teal and green paillettes, and filigree armor on the shoulders.
"Jack, when asking Bruce to attend, please ask him to wear something that portrays vampirism. I want to feel his presence during the pageant. The theme color is gothic red and black; I'm also going to show up in a gothic theme, I want us to match," I explained as I selected another outfit to try on, determined to be a showstopper at James's event.
It was the French dress by Samina Max, a lacey white with golden features, a long lacey veil flowing from the shoulder to the floor. Beautiful, iconic, but out of theme for this gothic night. Even my fashionable cousins agreed. "Yeah, this would be irrelevant; you would definitely lose to James if you show up looking like that," Mary-Jane critiqued, her voice firm.
"We have two more dresses to try," she directed my attention to the bed where two more gowns lay in wait. "Hand me this black one," I requested, eyeing a piece from the Vampiowolf collection by Leah Serb. It was a long, back-out style with a veil on the right, exposing the thigh. But it felt too plain, too ordinary for what I had in mind. "This is too plain, maybe good enough for James, not me. Show me the last one," I said, dismissing the gown.
Mary-Jack handed me the Ever Night Gown, and the moment I laid my eyes on it, I knew it was the one. "Yeah, this one is the one. I will take it. What do you think?" I asked, displaying the dress to the twins. The gown was a masterpiece, embodying the dark elegance of the night, with intricate lace and strategic cuts that hinted at my dual heritage. Both nodded in approval, their eyes reflecting the same determination I felt. This pageant wasn't just about beauty; it was about reclaiming my narrative, showcasing my strength, and proving to James and everyone else that I was not just a participant but a force to be reckoned with. With Bruce by my side, matching in theme, we would not just attend the pageant; we would dominate it.
As Mary-Jane began the transformation with her makeup brushes, and Mary-Jack adjusted the fit of the gown, I felt the confidence building within me. Tonight, I would not just compete; I would captivate, turning the beauty pageant into a stage where I could truly shine, both as a descendant of powerful witches and as a proud vampire.