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“The ball was a success, as Elizabeth had been told to say to reporters. Her mother knew Elizabeth’s opinions of the balls Michael threw, and didn’t want to tinge his reputation.
But it was bad, Elizabeth said later to her mother. She had been forced to wear a bodice with an ankle length skirt with a slit up to her thigh, and lots of make-up. She looked more like the city's whore then the daughter of the leader. The reason: to keep the men intrigued. When she complained to her mother, she lost control and threatened to run away again if she was forced to wear such a ridiculous thing ever again. When Elizabeth pointed out that her mother was completely covered and her daughter wasn’t, she released some angry energy and left her mother to stare at the open door with wonder.
It only got worse. Her brother invited all his friends from the city, so there were at least fifteen juvenile delinquents running around, so on her way to her room; of course she got stopped by the mob.
“How much do you charge?” one of them asked, taking out a five-dollar bill with an evil grin.
“She doesn’t take that kind of cash. She prefers coins, cause that’s all she’s worth,” another said.
Elizabeth swore at them and released even more energy, causing the two boys who insulted her to go home with broken limbs.
When she was finally in her room, she took off the fowl clothes and rushed to the bathroom to wash off the horrible make-up. She cried as she washed off the heavy eyeliner and red blush. She then jumped into the tub, filling it with hot water, and began to scrub her skin with the roughest towel she could find. The way they had touched her sickened her. They had all made attempts to grab her chest, and a few pinched her behind. She began to shriek and cry harder with each thought, and then threw the towel out the bathroom door, not caring what it landed or what is broke.
Her mother had a hard life, she knew. But she was having a harder one. Instead of not having a family, her family was forever distancing themselves from her, and treating her like one of the servants. No, like a whore. She rested her elbows on her knees, and her head in her hands.
Anne and Elli made their way into the room later on in the evening to find Elizabeth in a tub of cold water. The contents of the shelves in the bathroom were spilled onto the floor. The floor was slick with oils, soap, and creams. They hurried to get her out and put her in a towel. She struggled a bit, but then dissolved into tears.
“Hush now, Elizabeth. Aunt Ariel won’t be forcing you anymore,” Elli said, wrapping her arms around her. Anne had gone downstairs to bring up a warm drink.
“When you were leaving the ball, your father announced another one for next week. For your birthday,” she added quickly as Elizabeth began struggling to get away from her.
“Me, Anne, and the other girls will help you get ready. We’ll show your parents that beautiful doesn’t mean skin.”
”Thank you Elli,” she said, wrapping her own arms around her, and for the first time she’s ever known Elli, she enjoyed having a cousin who cared for her.
The events of the week between the two balls were quite quiet. No one dared bring up the ball where Elizabeth had been dressed as a whore, nor the broken limbs of Donovan’s classmates and friends.
Elli, Anne, Tamara, and Celeste had taken Elizabeth to one of the dressmakers, and offered to pay for her dress. They had picked out a wonderful turquoise blue in various textures, and poked through the books that littered every available table space until they had the dress they wanted. But, because the dressmaker recognized Elizabeth, offered to make a new one, flattering to Elizabeth’s shape and height.
When they returned to pick up the dress a day before the ball, the dressmaker completely ignored the color and the request of no skin, but they all forgot that he did when they saw Elizabeth in the dress.
When she stepped out, she did a little twirl and laughed. What a beautiful dress! It was sheer purple in color with a low neckline, and the sleeves… there were no sleeves. They were just ruffled up gauzy like fabric going down about five inches. She had long elbow length gloves with a flower pattern with small pearls sewed into the fabric in a swirl design. It narrowed at her waist, and went down to the floor. In a darker color, the dressmaker made the same swirl design all around the hem of the skirt part of the dress, and in the center was a green gem .The dressmaker also brought out a pair of slippers that went with the gown, and made a few last minute adjustments before packing it up and sending them on their way.
The day of the ball was crazy. None of the women could find their daughters, and went searching for them until they stumbled upon Elizabeth’s room. All the girls were in red or green dresses, celebrating Christmas Eve, which also happens to be Elizabeth’s birthday. They chose red and green, because they wanted Elizabeth to stand out. Everyone except for Grace and Toby. They wore purple dresses as well, just to mess up the arrangements, and were in their own room.
When the mothers entered the room, it was to a blast of sweet smelling perfume, shampoo, and the sound of giggling and laughing. Elizabeth was sitting at her vanity table, having Celeste put on her make-up and Tamara fix her hair. Those who were ready helped those who weren’t, and when they were all finally ready, they all stood around Elizabeth. They eagerly pushed her out the door, and followed her down the halls and stairs, each of them grabbing flowers from the flower arrangements and putting them behind their ears. Tamara had an idea, and pulled Elizabeth into an empty room with a bunch of flowers, and put the flowers into the bun she had made out of Elizabeth’s hair, as well as around it.
When they were finally at the ballroom doors, and all went in, leaving Elizabeth. Elizabeth was about to enter when Jack came up beside her. He was wearing a tuxedo, in the traditional black, and once again, offered her his arm. Feeling slightly nervous on making her own entrance, she graciously took his arm and held on tightly. As the door was opening, Jack whispered to her how stunning she looked. The band began a slow song, and Elizabeth took a deep breath, and Jack pulled her in.
Seeing everyone’s smiling faces made her smile, and when the guests began to applaud, it sounded like thunder. She tried to run back to the safety of the shutting door, but Jack held her and encouraged her with silent eyes to keep walking until they got to her parents.
Michael and Ariel were standing with Donovan, and all were beaming. Ariel came over, to hug Elizabeth, and Jack let her go. Elizabeth took the few steps to her mother, and they hugged while the applause died down. Michael made a small speech, welcoming everyone to their Annual Christmas Celebration, and then gave the band the ok to start playing again.
She danced with her father, and her uncles, as well as her grandfather, and then retreated to the chairs on the perimeter of the room. She sat down, crossed a leg over the other, and was ready for a good rest. But Jack came and sat next to her.
She removed her gloves as he settled in beside her, and then turned to face her.
“Happy birthday,” he said smiling.
She smiled. “Thank you. And thank you for coming.”
”How are you doing with all the womanizing men here?” He asked, face going serious.
“Pretty well, actually. They haven’t approached me at all. I believe it’s because I got an escort into the room.”
”Me?”
“Yes,” she replied, and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, again.”
She got up, and disappeared into the crowd forming around the chairs.
She walked out of the ballroom in need of using the restroom when something in the shadows caught her eye. She paused, and glanced around. Believing it was just a mouse, she began walking again when someone grabbed her, and placed a sharp object against her throat.
Jack re-joined Aaron and Donovan after getting a glass of punch. They were all sitting by the door, barely able to hear themselves think over the band, when they head a scream from the hall. They all looked at each other, and ran out.
Moonlight illuminated the entrance hall, and didn’t aid in their search for the person who screamed. Aaron suddenly jumped and pointed to the front door. “There!” He squeaked. “I saw something move over there!”
They stampeded to the door and opened it to see someone all in black dragging a struggling woman down to the road.
“Stop!” Donovan cried out, sending an energy ball at him. It missed him, only singing the sleeve of his jacket. It began to snow as the figure threw the woman onto the back of a horse after putting something around her neck, and binding her wrists. He then climbed on, and rode off.
Donovan immediately ran after him while Jack and Aaron grabbed horses from the stable. He followed the person for many blocks when he turned down a road, and Donovan lost him.
Panting, he stopped, and looked down the road to see nothing. The snow was picking up, causing everything to go white. He crouched down to the road, and was able to pick up a set of horse prints, very fresh. He tore down the street.
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