The red ballgown with puffy sleeves was a sight to behold, reminiscent of the grandeur and elegance of the kind of dresses you'd see in period dramas, Sam had taken the importation and added her own personal, rich twist. The gown was crafted from rich, deep red fabric that shimmered in the light, catching the eye and commanding attention.
In the midst of her white and almost pristine work/room space, it almost looked like a blood spill on the white marbled floor.
The bodice of the gown was fitted and tailored, accentuating the curves of Caelia's body. It was adorned with nothing, not even the slightest frills.
The sleeves of the gown were part of the real showstopper, puffy and voluminous, with layers of fabric cascading down the arms. The top layer of the sleeves was made of sheer, delicate material, allowing a glimpse of Caelia's skin beneath. The lower layers of the sleeves are made of the same deep red fabric as the rest of the gown, billowing out like a cloud around the arms.
The skirt of the gown was full and flowing, made of layer upon layer of red fabric that swayed with each step that she took.
Caelia was stunned. And in awe. For the first few minutes after Sam had helped her into the dress, she couldn't speak.
"This colour. This is what is called true red."
Sam said as she looked at her work proudly. Everything was perfect. Caelia's dark hair spilling from it braids in deep contrast to the blood red gown, her pale skin perfectly smooth and creamy complementing the redness of the gown.
And the gown itself, one of her greatest masterpiece, something she would have worn herself if she had the body for it. But no, it never fit her, not as much as it did with Caelia.
"This dress. It'll draw all the attention on you."
Caelia smiled uneasily.
"Is that going to be wise though? What if someone finds out I don't belong?! Or take off my mask?"
"Don't worry about any of that. As long as you follow everything that I have told you to do, you would be fine. So don't worry."
Caelia nodded slowly, but her fears were not allayed yet.
"But..."
"No buts!! With this dress, you'll be the subject of attention."
"And haven't you ever dreamt of being special?! Or of being the diamond of the season like those period books you read?"
Caelia smiled fondly at that. It was a lovely thing to imagine.
That for one night she could be someone different. Not herself, not a maid and certainly not some ordinary girl.
It was a night that would be filled with magic. Magic, wonder and adventure. It was the opportunity to be something else. To be Cinderella.
To become a fairytale. Even if it was only for one night and she had to leave before the clock strikes twelve.
"I have. You're right about that."
"So I'll go through the basics. You'll go to the ball late. Late enough to draw a substantial amount of attention. You'll give your card to the doorman and he'll give you a register to mark. You'll find my name, Samantha Dortmund. Mark the register by giving them the family sigil I'm going to give you."
Caelia nodded.
"And then I can go to the ball?"
She asked and Sam nodded.
"Yes you can. It's a masked ball, so nobody would expect you to take off your mask or anything, but you might find some people who are insisting to know who you are. Be as mysterious as ever. Don't give out any information on that."
Samantha's voice sounded stern.
Caelia nodded.
"Okay."
"Don't eat the food or even have a sip of drink, they're all laced with some nonsense. Just stay and dance and don't let anyone draw you away from the ballroom. Stay in the main ballroom."
"This is very important Caelia. You must stay in the ballroom."
She repeated as Caelia nodded her head enthusiastically.
"Your ride will be waiting outside for you at exactly 11:50. Do well to be in the car and back here to change by that time."
Caelia nodded again.
"I will. I will."
"I hope you will remember everything I told you."
"Don't worry I won't forget so easily. They're quite easy rules to follow."
They talked a little more too. And Samantha debated and wondered what to do with Caelia's hair for the ball before letting her leave.
..............
Greta had a distasteful look on her face when she got back. Caelia wondered what her deal was. She didn't want her to go to the ball. But she also didn't know why.
"Did anybody ask for me?"
She asked as she walked inside the kitchen. Greta shook her head as she mindlessly cleaned the countertop.
"Greta. Do you have something to say to me?"
She asked and Greta shrugged.
"You still plan on going to the ball."
Caelia nodded.
"Yes I do. And Sam said she'll pay me this time, she wants me to go in her place. I think it's a win win situation for all involved."
Greta shook her head.
"Well I don't think it's a good idea."
Caelia folded her arms.
"Can you at least tell me why you think it's not?! You've been opposing the idea ever since I mentioned it."
Greta looked away. Then she dropped the napkin and went towards the kitchen door, she looked around then hurried back inside the kitchen.
"I told you I went there once right?"
She said and Caelia nodded.
"Yes. You did."
Greta sighed.
"I saw something I shouldn't have. Something I don't want you to see."
"And what's that?!"
She asked mindlessly and Grey rushed to her side. She held Caelia's hands. Her hands felt cold to the touch.
"You have to swear not to tell anyone."
"I swear."
Caelia quickly replied. Curious and eager to know what was going on.
"Well, Sophia had left the ball very early and she had forgotten her purse. Ms Margaret had come to meet me and sent me there to personally retrieve it. She gave me strict instructions too. She wanted me in and out of there in a minute or else I'd be heavily penalised."
"She showed me the back door entrance and I went in. I was stupid. I didn't listen to her and I stayed longer than I should have. I even had a drink."
"And then what happened?"
Caelia asked as she gulped hard.
"Well, I'll admit the ball was beautiful. It was one of the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. The people, the masks, the dance, it all felt so magical. And then I saw it..."
"What did you see?"
Greta looked horrified, Caelia could see that she must have been deeply traumatised by what she had seen. Which in turn made her very troubled about it.
"Some girl. It looked like she was dancing with a man. But then he bit her neck. Like he was sucking on her. And then another man bit her wrists and licked the blood off it."
Caelia blinked.
Oh Greta must have been hallucinating. She thought as she tried to keep a neutral expression.
"I told Margaret what I saw, then she asked me if I drank anything and I admitted I drank a little. She then told me it was an hallucination."
"Maybe it was an hallucination."
Caelia said carefully. Greta's eyes shot at her.
"I know what I saw! It was not an hallucination."
She replied and Caelia sighed.
"I'm still going. Greta."
She said calmly as she walked out of the kitchen. Nothing was going to deter her.
"I'm sorry but I have to."
..........................
"There you are!"
Damon's voice pulled her out her thoughts. She paused. She had not seen him since dinner yesterday. When he had dismissed her. She thought she would get the opportunity to see him again after that, but he didn't come to her. Or ask if her.
Luckily Margaret had not chastised her about the whole Laurene incident. In fact, she didn't even mention it, which made her very relieved, because she had been frightened that it might become an issue.
"Come with me."
Damon said as he started going up the stairs. Leaving little room for her to protest. Caelia followed him quietly.
They went to his room, where he closed the door gently behind her. Caelia kept her arms tucked at her side and her head down.
"About yesterday..."
She started and he shrugged.
"That's not what I called you here."
He answered as he collapsed on his bed.
He looked relaxed. He looked kind of happy too. She wondered what or who had lifted his mood. And she found herself somewhat curious about what he was always getting to do when he was not in the house.
"Christmas is in three days."
He said and she nodded.
That's right. The ball was in three days. The mansion was awfully quiet now. Her mother and Margaret were out buying some more groceries and the gardeners had been working on the garden all day.
"I think Margaret will give you the day off but I'm not sure. Anyways I might not see you around because of the ball, so I wanted to give you your Christmas present early."
Caelia's eyes widened.
"You got me a present."
Damon smiled.
"Yes. Yes I did."
Her smirked as he turned around and brought out a large box.
"Don't open it until Christmas Day. That's all I ask of you."
He said and she beamed.
"Oh. You didn't have to... I didn't even get you anything..."
She murmured as she looked around.
Damon shrugged.
He stood up from his bed and walked up to her.
Till he was standing right in front of her. So close that she could see the flecks of grey in his ocean blue eyes. She gulped hard, this was the closest he had ever been to her. She was excited and scared all at once, fearful that he might move away from her once he realised how close he was to her.
"There is something... something I want from you..."
His voice was raspy, husky and his eyes were on her lips, Caelia fought the urge to bite her lip, she stayed frozen in one place.
"I've wanted it for a long time... from the moment I saw you."
He murmured.
Her chest began to beat faster. Louder too, so loud and lousy that she could hear it in her ears. Something snapped in Damon.
He saw the vein in her neck pumping blood rapidly, it was the closest he had been to a human woman in two years.
The urge to feed took over him.
And he took a step back.
"You can go. Take the box."
He said quickly.
"What?!"
Caelia murmured, she had broken out of her mini trance and now she was confused as to why he was letting her go so easily.
"Just leave!"
He demanded and she hurriedly left the room, without even taking the box.