Kiara scanned herself in the mirror as intensely as her eyes could allow.Her face had worn a slight frown,the type only she noticed. It was a little protest from every now and then. The thoughts she didn't voice.
"The dress is beautiful' her Aunt said to the modiste with a bright smile.
"Its a bit ill-fitting"Kiara muttered.
Aunt Lydia sighed before she spoke"Jaques es un sastre occupado.Intenta all memos parecer agradecido"
Jaques is a busy tailor,Try to at least appear grateful
. She gave her legendary fake smile before she patted her back.
Kiara tried to move herself in the dress but to no avail"Apenas puedo respirar''
I can barely breathe
,She complained.
"Kiara,agradece a last modista,no tenemos todo el dia".
Kiara thank the modiste,we don't have all day
"Thank you Jaques" she said with a solid taste of sarcasm in her tongue and stepped off the pedestal.She forced a smile and walked past them trying fast to reach the changing room before her smile vanished and her tone became more offensive.
Carlotta gave Kiara a sad look before she started helping her change.
"Lydia rather I die in a beautiful tight dress Jaques made than look comfortable and good in something I made."she complained to Carlotta as tried to get it off."Its maddening"
"Jaques does have a reputation,and a nice name too.A proper name for a tailor.Your name literally rhymes with tiara,just focus on being a Princess"
Kiara's eyes narrowed at her lady-in-waiting and watched Carlotta try to suppress her laughter.
"How is that even amusing to you...whose side are you on?"
Carlotta chuckled in the mature and lady-like way that she does.Kiara sighed and sat in front of the mirror to let Carlotta restyle her hair.The hair that got messy just because they tried to remove what Aunt Lydia described as a perfectly fitting dress over her head.Her French twist was in a mess and will require a few minutes of careful hair dressing.Luckily,Carlotta infinite skills swelled in that aspect too.But even the swift workmanship of Carlotta's could prevent her intrusive thoughts from creeping in.For the first time since...her existence,she was invited to 'The Grand Courtier's Ball'. The annual event hosted every elite.The Royal,the Councilmen,the generals,their sons and daughters and every one with a name and a title.All except her,and never in history had someone decided to willingly disgrace themselves by going there uninvited.Except her of course.It had happened five years ago,she had assumed the reason she hadn't gotten her invitation was because there was a mistake not because she was a hybrid. She was a Royal,A Whitman for that matter...One of the highest Orders of the Werewolf Royalty,and was at the right age.Long story short,she was denied entry and labeled the desperate outsider who wanted to force her way into nobility.The name was pretty much her nickname for years.She still never understood how it fade away.She was sure they had forgotten.Carlotta thought she had redeemed herself somehow.This time she was invited but she had this unnerving feeling that it was going to be a deja Vu scenario and she would be denied again.And to make it worse,the humiliation may come to her in a vibrant pink dress that is so tight...it could literally rearrange her internal organs.That would definitely make a good addition to the article.Her aunty happily encourages her to go,Carlotta disapproving looks say the opposite and quite frankly Carlotta was a better advisor.But the decision was hers to make and at the moment she hadn't sent a reply back yet.If her answer isn't given by the next sunrise,her invitation will be canceled.Kiara suddenly noticed herself in the mirror.Her rich jet black hair looked sophisticated.It was swept back and twisted upwards into a sleek vertical roll.Her diamond tiara as perched on top as an elegant Royal finale.She suddenly remembered what Carlotta had said about her name rhyming with Tiara and started to smile to herself.Carlotta cocked her head slightly wondering if it was the hairstyle that made her so happy.
They maintained the easy silence as they headed out the dressing room.Aunt Lydia and Jarques were no where to be found...they exchanged glances before heading out the room only to be startled by the Shadrach,the ex-Royal wizard,who was about to knock on the door.
"The King wants to see you."he said breathlessly.His entire presence in front of them caused an unpleasant stir.He was supposed to be one of the KIng's escort in a 24 hour sermon done before the Grand Courtier's Ball to ensure that the Kingdoms were at complete peace and there will be no bloodshed at such a fabulous event.The 24 hours that is supposed to be on going right now.Kiara rushed to her father's quarters and immediately furrowed her eyebrows when she saw how calm her father looked.
"Bella," he called extending his arms.
"Why aren't you at the Conference?" she asked walking to give him his hug anyway.
"I was there." he said breaking the hug"Did you miss me?'
"Why aren't you there now?"she asked still perplexed
"Kiara...one might think you are not happy to see me home."
"I am always happy to have you here and yes I missed you,it is because of that very care that Im concerned that you are here"
Denzel Whitman became stern quickly"There's trouble,my dear.Reya killed Lilith and then killed herself."
"What?"Kiara whispered as the emotions plagued her chest.Reya was her friend,one of her very few friends.She was the wonderful soul who had opened an institution for rejected hybrids like her years ago.Reya had convinced her to be a partner Lilith was a rebel daughter of a great Vampire general that donated a portion of her inherited towns for the Hybrids Foundation.The whole story made no sense.
"Apparently,her siren side took over and she had no self control,it was really a accident but Lilith"s father has concluded that such was the behaviour of all hybrids and therefore shouldn't be nurtured.He plans to take back the lands his daughter donated and kill the children"Denzel sighed sadly
"And you spoke against it...and so they asked you to leave..."
"Actually.." the King walked majestically to his office desk and sat,leaving Kiara watching him.He heightened the suspense even further as he poured himself a drink and drowned it in one gulp.
Kiara walked over to the desk "Why did you leave then?"
He gave a pained chuckle before he spoke"They wanted me to give up Mount Isabel if I wanted to save the Hybrid Foundation.
"And you refused ?!" Kaira asked ,her voice getting high pitched.
"Don't make it sound like that,Isabel was--'he choked before he resumed in a more solemn tone."your mother was beheaded on that mountain"
"And hundreds of children are going to be beheaded if you don't give up the mountain,it was Vampire territory in the first place."Kiara fought back tears as she spoke.
"Those children are--"
"Dangerous?"Kiara asked.
"Maybe,I don't even know them."Denzel poured himself another glass and braced himself for his daughter's comeback.
"Wow"Kiara gasped and paced around the room"All those children,all those hybrids...those children are me.Me but without a King to protect me.Do you really think this is what my mother would have wanted?Mass murder of children like me."
Denzel shrugged."Kiara I'm not debating this any further."
"Do you really think that I may attack you?"
"If you keep on missing your medication.Yes."
"I missed three days of healing sessions .Its not like I have lost control"
"Yes,but you may lose control and end up like Reya."
Kiara scoffed lightly and rubbed her forehead.
"You're not a child anymore Kiara.."
"I'm not," Kiara repeated,suddenly realizing that Mount Isabel only belonged to her father until she turned eighteen.She wasn't a kid anymore,she was a twenty three year old.And Mount Isabel belonged to her.She regulated her breathing and adjusted her tiara that had fallen an inch or two out of place when she was arguing with her father."Excuse me." she bowed politely and left the room.
Carlotta stood right outside the room with pale eyes.She swallowed ,looking worried"Is everything alright?"
"Yes,Looks like I'm going to the ball after all."
She smiled at Carlotta..making her all the more emails worried.
* * *
"The reply came,she will be attending" Hendrix smiled."She really is a predictable one."
"They are all the same"Adriel said glaring at the flames in the fireplace.
"Cheer up brother,our plan is in motion"
Adriel nodded,still gloomy and uninterested.He searched for his mother in the dimly lit from.She was facing the window,in silent tears.He cleared his throat at realization that the scene was making him happy.
"The timing is perfect." he said before drinking the mix of blood and whiskey."Let the games begin."
