The Wrights house was almost empty of all the Wrights.
It was a strange feeling. Caelia thought as she watched out the window as Mr Wright's car zoomed out of the driveway. The only one at home was Damon. And Caelia knew he was fully aware that almost everyone had left the house. Including Ms Margaret and her mother who had to do a little Christmas shopping to stock the pantry.
The Wrights house was almost in full festive swing. They had been pulling out decorations from the basement all week and they were not even halfway done. Apparently a lot went into decorating the Wright mansion. Caelia wasn't so surprised, a mansion so big even with it's own ballroom needed enough time for decorations.
Greta was away in the kitchen clearing the pantry and disposing of food items that had been there longer than six months, making room for the new.
Rachel on the other hand was somewhere in the twins rooms cleaning the mess they had made before they left for their dress fitting with their mother. They were dress shopping for the ball.
Caelia was happy she had been relieved of the burden to clean the twins room since it wasn't her turn. Their rooms were always an absolute mess half of the time. Cleaning it took meticulous care and hours to do, especially when it came to Olivia's room.
Which was why Margaret suggested that it be cleaned every day. In the morning and at noon apparently since it was obvious the twins couldn't take care of their own rooms and bathrooms themselves.
Caelia was still staring outside the window wondering what to do with the free time she had before having to go back to work when Damon snuck up to her.
"You must be excited that the house is finally empty."
Damon said with a smile and Caelia jumped at the sound of his voice. Startled a bit by his presence.
She turned back and found him in, simple sweater and slacks. With a mug in his hands.
"Well, it's a pretty nice feeling."
Caelia said as she nodded and Damon smiled.
"I'm sure it is. Come upstairs. I have a new book to show you "
Caelia shook her head as she hesitated. She didn't want to be alone with Damon. Being alone with him did things to her. To her mind.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea. Margaret and my mother would be here any minute."
She said and Damon shrugged.
"That's not a big deal. You'll just tell them that you're cleaning. Besides, I informed Margaret this morning that you're the only one I want cleaning my room."
Damon said with a glint in his eyes and Caelia's eyes widened.
"Why? Why would you say something like that?"
Damon looked confused. He had thought she would have been more happier to hear the news given how much she loved spending time with his books.
"Because, I want to give you unlimited access to my books and that's the only way I can."
Caelia sighed.
"I don't want her to get suspicious. Or start giving me lectures."
"She won't. Trust me. Now will you come with me or you want to wait till she's back?"
Caelia hesitated for a while as she looked back out the window. Well, it wasn't like she had anything she was doing. A few minutes with Damon wouldn't hurt her.
"Okay. Just a few minutes then I'll be gone."
Damon nodded happily.
"Yes, sure."
Damon pulled out a book from his bookshelf and passed it to Caelia.
"Lisa Taro? I don't know who that is.. "
She said as she examined the book. It covers were hard and black, with the name Lisa Taro. Caelia couldn't tell if it was the name of the book or the author.
"She's a new author. Not very popular. But I love love this book. I think you should read it."
Caelia flipped a few pages of the book, she had no idea what the book was about, because she couldn't even find an obvious title.
"What's it about?"
She asked as she looked up and Damon smirked.
"That's what I'm not telling you. I guess you'll just have to figure it out yourself."
"Ugh! Not even a clue?"
"Nope. My lips are sealed. But trust me Caelia, it's a good story "
Caelia. There was a way her name rolled off his tongue that she liked. She liked the way he said her name. It even made her blush a little.
She glanced around the room and noticed an acoustic red guitar on his bed. She squinted her eyes at it. She didn't know he played any instruments. In fact she didn't think she had ever seen him do anything apart from work on his laptop or read a book or two.
"You play?"
She asked as she stared at it. Damon looked at it and picked it up from the messy covers of his bed.
"I did. Found it somewhere in the attic."
"I didn't think you were the guitar player. "
She murmured and Damon laughed.
"Really? What did you think I'd play?"
She asked and Caelia shrugged. Judging by the huge piano in the Wrights living room, she had always imagined that Damon would be the one playing it.
"The Piano perhaps? Looks like something you'll be into."
"You're right! I do play the piano."
Caelia smiled. Obviously happy that she was right.
"You know me so well."
He said as he took several inches towards her while staring at her beautiful eyes. They were so close to each other that Caelia could feel his hot breath fanning her face. It was the closest they had ever been. She quickly lowered her eyes but Damon was not deterred.
"And yet I know so little about you."
He whispered and Caelia blinked her eyes rapidly.
"What's there to know? I'm nothing but a maid."
She answered sharply remembering her mother's words to her about knowing her place.
"You are way more than that. I also don't care that you're a maid."
"Well you should."
Caelia said as she nervously walked away from Damon.
"I have to go. I just remembered that I have some work to do. Maybe I'll see you around."
She murmured as she hastily walked out of the room. Damon sighed in disappointment, maybe he had been too intense and scared her off.
He had been hoping to spend more time with her and talk but it seemed like every time he tried to know about her or every time he got close enough she pushed him away.
That was how she was with him every time. He wanted more from her, so much more.
...............
"Are you going to the ball?"
Caelia asked Sam while Sam took her measurements. Caelia had left Damon's room and ran into an angry Greta who told her that Sam had called the house. She was excited to see Sam. The last time she saw Sam she had a lot of fun trying out new beautiful dresses and Sam honestly was a very fun person to be with so Caelia didn't mind.
Sam, nodded her head with her measuring tape in her mouth.
"The Wright's ball?"
She asked and Caelia nodded.
"Yes."
She shrugged.
"I was given an invite. I have to attend, it's a status thing... but I'm not sure I want to."
"Hmmmm. The ball. It seems exciting."
Caelia said carefully. Sam nodded, concentrated on scribbling Caelia's measurements in her notepad.
"It can be. The Wrights really know how to throw a party. Although it's always too over the top for me but I suppose it has it's charms."
"You've been to one before?"
She asked and Sam nodded as she placed a piece of fabric on Caelia's skin and smiled.
"Last year. My parents made me go."
"You seem to be asking a lot of questions about the ball. Do you want to go?"
Sam asked and Caelia shrugged.
"Oh no! I could never. What would I be doing there? Besides staff aren't allowed to go so..."
Caelia said as she laughed nervously waving her hand away. Sam studied her with a smile on her face. She knew the look on Caelia's face. She knew she wanted to go to the ball. She just knew it.
"Well, that rule has never stopped anyone before. I remember Rachel sneaking in one time."
Caelia widened her eyes.
"She did?"
Sam nodded.
"Yes. She didn't tell you?"
Sam asked and Caelia shook her head.
"No, she didn't."
Sam shrugged.
"It's okay. Maybe they didn't want you getting any ideas. And it's probably for the best."
Ideas? Caelia thought and laughed. Even if she wanted to go to the ball she knew there was no way she would go. She barely had anything to wear to it.
At least she knew she wouldn't ever be desperate enough to sneak in to watch the action.
Sam continued working, while mulling over her idea before pausing. Her parents were in Cabo, they wouldn't know she didn't go.
"You're awfully quite Caelia. Do you want to go to the ball?"
She chuckled nervously.
"I can't. I can't go."
Sam looked at her with an intrigued expression on her face.
"I just wondered how it'll be like. I read a lot of books, and in the old books there's always a scene where the characters are going to the ball right? And magical things seem to happen to them when they go..."
"I just feel I need a little bit of that... even if it's just pretend."
Sam smiled.
A human at a ball filled with vampires, werewolves, demons, witches and all other wicked things.
What could possibly go wrong?
She thought as she imagined the level of chaos.
"I have an idea."
She murmured and Caelia looked at her expectantly.
"Why don't you go in my place?"