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It was to the sun across her eyelids that woke her the next morning. Or was it the banging on the door? She opened her eyes, and groaned as she got to her knees. She sat on her knees while she surveyed the dried milk on the floor, as well as the glass.
“Coming,” she shouted, stiffly standing up. She yawned as she unlocked the door and opened it.
“Do you know how long-“ It was Jack at the door. He paused in mid sentence as he looked past Elizabeth to the mess on the floor, to her creased clothing, and glass shards in her hair.
“What the hell happened?” He asked suddenly.
“What are you talking about?” She asked, and then looked behind her.
“I must have knocked it over last night.” He looked at her questioningly. “Well I don’t know! I can’t remember…” She said, holding her face with her hand, looking distressed and lost.
“Well, you’d better clean it up and make yourself appropriate for breakfast. Your Grandfather has come. I was sent up because I was on my way to your brother’s room.”
”My grandfather? I didn’t know I had a grandfather…”
“Neither did I, until I was told this morning.”
”But father’s father died when he was traveling, I was told by grandmother,” she said, abandoning the door, and searching for a broom in the closet across the hall from her room.
“Not your father’s father, your mothers.”
Elizabeth dropped a bottle of cleaner as Jack said this, causing it to smash. “My mothers father? But he was murdered seven years before my parents got married! He was murdered, and crucified, then be-headed! My mother told me herself.”
”Look, I don’t make the news, I just report it. Better get yourself dressed up real nice looking, cause he looks like death himself. Oh, and his son Malcolm is here too.”
Elizabeth nearly dropped the second bottle of cleaner when she heard this. If the news was having this kind of effect on her, imagine her mother.
“Thank you, Jack,” Elizabeth said softly, and retreated to her room to clean herself, and well as the floor. When the door was closed behind her, she abandoned the floor, and went to bathe.
After she was clean, she dried her hair by the fire, and then sat at her vanity table she despised so much. She stared at the mirror, making faces at herself until she pushed herself to brush her hair, and apply make-up.
When she had purple lining her eyes and lipstick on, she put on a ballroom dress she had been saving for a special occasion. It was blood red in color, which revealed most of her chest and all of her shoulders. It was held in place with straps, and sticky patches on the sides of her breasts. When she was dressed, she put her hair up on top of her head, letting wisps on hair escape. She then curled them. She put on a pair of black sandals with straps that went up to her knees; she looked at herself in the full-length mirror, and approved of herself. She was ready.
As she left her room, her cousins, also dressed their best, went racing by her with they’re parents behind them. When Uncle Simon and Aunt Delilah walked past her, they did a double take, and complimented her on how beautiful she was looking, and the three of them walked downstairs to greet Elizabeth’s Grandfather and uncle Malcolm.
It was pandemonium as soon as they set foot in the entrance hall. Cousins running everywhere, her father looking stressed, tried to quiet everyone down, and Donovan, Aaron, and Jack stood in a corner, talking to themselves. Her mother was nowhere to be seen, and neither were any of her other aunts or uncles. Grandmother was shrieking about something and pacing around with her cane flailing around her wildly.
Elizabeth whistled loudly, and everyone quieted. Michael thanked her, and pushed everyone into a den. Jack held back and stood next to Elizabeth when Simon and Delilah followed the crowd.
“When I said dress yourself up, I didn’t mean this beautifully,” he teased, offering her his arm. She took it, and they both went down the last few steps together.
“And why are you still here? Haven’t you been loitering here long enough?” She asked, pausing and staring into his eyes, his green, wonderfully mystical eyes, and he stared into hers. Blue as the sea, with gray, poking around the edges. They seemed to twirl if you looked hard enough.
Elizabeth placed her hand on his face, as he leaned in to kiss her. Her eyes instantly closed, and felt like her legs were going to give out from under her, so she leaned into him a bit, waiting for the expected kiss.
”You two!” a rough voice said from the door to the side of the den the mob was in.
They pulled away, and Elizabeth blushed furiously.
An old man, came walking towards them. She could swear he was younger then thirty, but his hair gave him away as an older man in his mid fifties.
“You,” he said pointing at Elizabeth. “Must be Elizabeth.” His face swelled with joy, and he smiled.
“Yes, yes I am,” she said smiling as well, and left Jack on the stairs to give her grandfather a hug.
“It’s so nice to finally be amongst family again,” he said as they parted.
“And I take it this isn’t Donovan,” he said, observing Jack.
“No, this is Jack. Donovan is in the Den.”
”In there, eh?” He said, poking his thumb over his shoulder.
Elizabeth nodded.
“It’s a zoo in there! All of them your father’s nieces and nephews?”
Elizabeth nodded again.
“God almighty! Well, let’s get this over with. Malcolm,” he called out through the door he came out of.
A man with red hair emerged, with a massive amount of freckles spread across his face. He was tall and lanky, and had to bend a bit to fit comfortably under the doorway.
“Yes dad?” He said straightening up.
He wore a green coat over black trousers. His shoes were black as well. On his head he wore a top hat with a green strip running across the center.
Before he could tell Malcolm to go into the den, Ariel came running down the stairs and ushered them into the den.
“Thanks for coming,” she whispered in Jacks ear as everyone in the room applauded.
When they were all seated, Hannah led a few girls in and they served drinks and snacks, and then all sat around and listened to Ariel’s father’s story. When he got to the part about his family being murdered, he paused for a moment and took the hands of his three remaining children.
“There was nothing I could do. I grabbed Malcolm because he was already outside, and we ran as far as we could get. All the while, I could hear your sister’s cries, and your mother trying to defend them. We went back to help, but we were arrested for loitering around a house under siege, and thrown into a jail in Finela. It amazed me how they didn’t recognize us, but to this day, we are thankful.” He gave Malcolm’s hand a pat. “And I’m thankful that I can once again see you Ariel, and you Mateo.”
Ariel smiled. She had tears in her eyes. Michael quickly got up and sent everyone to breakfast.
Donovan, who was sitting with Aaron in a corner, grabbed Jack’s arm on his way out and pulled him along. Jack glanced back at Elizabeth, whom he had been sitting next to, holding her hand as her grandfather told his terrible story. She had been trembling, and it was all the comfort he could give in such a crowded room. When they were all sitting around the tables in the dining hall, Michael announced that they were going to have a celebration that night in the ballroom. He didn’t give a reason, but Elizabeth thought it was because Uncle Malcolm and Grandfather were safe.
When they were all nearly finished their breakfast, Ariel came in with Malcolm and her father. They sat down at the lead table, and spoke some more. A few of Michael’s siblings came up to join the conversations while the rest herded the children out to their rooms to get changed for a day in the snow.
Elizabeth lingered around the main floor of the estate, and found her way to the ballroom where it was already beginning to be decorated. Tables were being put out, as well as chair all along the walls. No doubt father was going to be inviting the leaders from other cities, and their families, and advisors. Not to mention their security guards. She’d have to make an appearance. She always did. And she’d have to smile politely, shake their hands, and receive compliments on how much she’d grown, and how lady-like she was. And then there were the conversations. She’d have to constantly tell herself to relax when one of the leaders were talking to her chest instead of her face. They’d get so drunk, she’d be forced to run for her life as one who was particularly smitten with her, would want to invite her to his room, or wanted a little kiss.
She sighed, and turned to leave when she let out a little gasp of surprise to see someone behind her.
“Sorry to have surprised you,” Jack said softly. “I just wanted to ask if you’d like to come for a walk with me tonight? I know your not very fond of these balls your father throws.”
“Thank you, but I can’t. I have duties to fulfill here, and I will disappoint my parents if I don’t.”
“Well, alright. Maybe some other time then,” Jack said as Elizabeth walked by him, shoulder brushing against his arm. She glanced back as she made her way to the stairs. He followed her silently, leaving a staircase between them.
Elizabeth was interrupted by her mother, who just told her she had to seat the guests, as well as keep them entertained. She would then have to make sure they were comfortable, and had everything they needed. Elizabeth said a simple “yes, mother” and was climbing the stairs faster. Jack had to wait for Ariel to leave the corridor she was in, and then went up the stairs three at a time. When he got to her door, he was out of breath. He caught his breath, and pressed his ear against the door. Poor Elizabeth. She was crying.
“Elizabeth?” Jack called out, knocking on the door.
“Go away,” Elizabeth replied.
Jack slowly opened the door and stuck his head in. She was laying dresses out on her bed, sobbing uncontrollably.
“I said go away,” Elizabeth said again, with annoyance in her voice.
“Tell me what’s wrong,” Jack said, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him.
“It’s nothing, now leave me alone.”
“It’s something if you’re crying.”
“It’s just that I hate these balls. I’m always treated like an object. Those stupid leaders! Always seeing me as some sex toy instead of the daughter of the leader that invited them.”
“Why don’t you just not go?”
“Then I’d break my mothers heart. She wants me to be what she expects me to be. After running away and nearly killing her with grief, if I drop this ball, she’ll be dead.” Elizabeth had managed to ignore the dresses on her bed and climbed in, and slipped under the covers, pulling them over her head.
Jack watched her for a bit, then left.
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