/CHAPTER TWO/
1383 Words
"What kind of dress are you looking for? Something sparkly? Or pastel? Dark and flaunting?" My friend Hazel asked gesturing to the variety of dresses laid before me.
Hazel was a good friend of mine, one that I grew up with and also a vampire like half of the population in our kingdom. She was also attending the ball for the first time and had conveniently accompanied me to shope for the dress while she also looked for one herself.
Unlike me, she was rich. Her father was a trader and a very good person, her mother often treated me with biscuits and warm milk whenever I visited.
"Something nice, simple." In a whisper I added, "And less expensive."
"As expected of you. Show us something in nice shades of green ." She asked lady Samantha who was the owner of the butique. Her plump figure reduced her speed in working as she looked around but her sense of fashion made her the best in town. After some time she came back with a couple dresses in green.
"These are the best one's we have, dears. This one right here is made of silk while this one has a unique neck cut as you can see." Lady Samantha explained excitedly while showing off two completely different dresses. One of them caught my eyes.
It was a smooth slik gown with dark olive green colour and queen anne neck line. Unlike the other poof gowns hung around the store it was a straight one with a singe golden rope stitched around th hip. It had long and flounce sleeve with light gold pattern on the edges.
I fell in love with it.
"This one is perfect! Davina! Go try it!" Hazel pushed me inside the trial room and the the dress at me before I had the chance to say anything.
I stared at the dress in sadness, it was a truly beautiful dress but there was no way it would fit into my budget.
I wore it anyway because Hazel wouldn't let me live if I didn't.
I was impressed the way it glided over my body perfectly and surprisingly it was my size. I exited the room and attacked Hazel's squealing and lady Samantha's happy claps.
"This is the one. We will take this lady Samantha!"
"Sure dear!" Lady Samantha replied just as happily eyeing me from top to bottom, "You can change back and I can pack it for you right away, you don't need any fitting!"
"I'm sorry, I can't buy this dress." I said apologetically, looking down at the beautiful gown and then at the fallen faces of my friend and lady Samantha.
"Oh goodness! Why dear? You look fabulous!"
"I can't cover the cost of it. It's a beautiful dress and I absolutely love it, but it's not for me."
"Nonsense! It's for you and only you!" Hazel stalked ahead and pointed a finger at me in serious warning.
"Lady Samantha, how much does it cost? I will pay."
"No you will not. Father gave me some money to shop and I will buy my dress from it. You don't need to -"
"It's 100 silver coins." Lady Samantha said, our heads whipped in her direction in surprise.
"What? That's -" I started but couldn't find the right words to explain the price. But apparently Hazel did and didn't think before speaking.
"- Very cheap."
I hit her shoulder lightly and gave her a look, anyway, it wasn't a reasonable price. It was very less for such a magnificent gown.
"Don't get ideas, dears. This dress costs 1,000 silver coins but because it's your first ball and you look like a goddess in it I am willing to give it to you for one night on break."
"Break?"
"Yes, for the night of the ball."
"Lady Samantha that's too much, how can we -"
"Thank you so much lady Samantha!"
Me and Hazel said at the same time.
Dress on rental basis? Is that even possible? Apparently it was because lady Samantha was offering it.
Half an hour later we were exiting the store with a two big bag of gowns. Hazel had chosen a blush pink gown that suited her perfectly. Her crystal blue eyes nearly fell out when she saw it hanging on one of the rack.
"Don't try to dress yourself on your own, you will do a horrendous job."
"I can only rely on you for these things." I admitted while smiling cheerfully.
"I will come visit you and we can get ready together, I can't wait for you to burn everyone in that ball with that gown! All eyes will be on you!" Hazel squealed in unconcealed excitement and bounced in her steps as we walked back home.
Father was not home when I returned. Thomas was waiting by the door and when he saw me his childish eyes brighten and he smiled.
"Your father wanted to inform you that he will be late in the evening and not to wait for him." He delivered.
I frowned in worry, "Why? Is he working till late again? That's not healthy for him."
"No no, lady Harrington had some business with him, he has gone to the capital to meet her."
"Didn't she visit this morning?" I asked placing the bag that contained my gown on the chair.
"I don't have the details, but master looked delighted."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, I have to meet up with a few people at the square I will see you later." He nodded and left. I didn't dwell much on the fresh news and rather focused on the chores I usually do.
However, my mind kept circling around what Thomson said, father looked delighted?
There weren't many things that were capable of getting that reaction out of him, what would possibly be so good?
The day ended with me alone in the house. It was a dark night with no stars in the sky, no moon to look at and only ashes in the fire pit. It was cold and disturbing.
The eery calm night was unsettling while sleeping, a series of huffing and puffing and twisting and turning to find a better position to sleep in was troublesome. At last sleep only welcomed me after midnight.
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Father didn't come home until later the next day and like Thomson had said, he looked exceptionally happy.
He had a miniscule smile on his aging face and I dare say a haut to his speaking.
"Davina, did you buy a dress?" He asked as we were having dinner that same evening.
"Yes father, I did."
"Wonderful. You should get a few more after the ball, we will be leaving for your aunt's residents not long after it." He informed, pleasantly taking a sip of the soup and humming in content.
"Aunt Harrington's residents?"
"Yes, she has found a suitor for you and he's brilliant and rich."
My action stopped midway and the spoon in my hand cluttered into the bowl, "S-Suitor? Suitor?"
"Yes, isn't that generous of your aunt? With our status in the village I doubt any good family would be willing to take your hand but she managed to find a rich and handsome young man for you."
"Oh?"
"Did I mention that he is self established and rich?"
I didn't have anything in response to that. He was so happy to marry me off to someone I have never seen or heard of. The only thing that mattered to him was that the young man had abundance money to spend.
I nodded to everything he said and continued to swallow the food with difficulty. I did not like how my life was going ahead.
I wanted time to slow down and give me a pause to catch a breath but it doesn't work that way and I had to do something before time runs out and mocks me in the face for my failure of not gathering my life when I was still capable of it.
I had to take a decision before the spring ball.
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Hey Readers!!
Are you liking the story so far??
It's my first ever Vampire Romance so I'm kind of nervous to disappoint you !
Do let me know what you think!
Lots of Love,
Skylar.
XOXO
- Writer
