It was a masked ball.
By Ignas, that was just perfect.
It was as if luck was on their side.
However, Belladonna and Alaris weren't attending as guests, that would make things too complicated. They snuck into the castle, disguised as servants. The Royals never really paid them attention.
Glowing hair was a distinct feature for the Royal members of the Houses, that was something Belladonna came to realize. So Alaris had to tuck his hair away in a tightly wrapped scarf, hide his scars with a mixture that dulled them away and added black long beards.
He looked completely different.
Belladonna didn't have to do much. There wasn't really anything distinctive about her to begin with, which she found really surprising now that she was noticing it.
Alaris led the way into the Castle and he reported that they were here for duty.
“I don't think I have seen you around here before,” a guard at the door gate.
“We are extra hands for the ball,” Alaris answered.
Belladonna tried to look as confident as possible, although the fact that she was now powerless made unease rumble in her stomach.
“Extra hands? Hmmm. Let me—”
“There!” Someone yelled from inside. “Get in here and help, you lazy bones! By Ina, they are getting worse!”
With a sigh the guard let them through without further questions. Luck must truly be on their side.
Belladonna could feel the weight of the Channeller shift in her head. A certain dizziness was starting to overwhelm her when the woman who seemed to be in control - the same one that had yelled for them to be allowed in some moments ago, pushed a tray into her hands.
“Don't just stay there! Go, now!”
Belladonna blinked and looked around for Alaris, but she couldn't find him.
Her heart skipped in a beat.
There was no way she could have lost him that easily.
Suddenly, a hand swiped across her face in a swift slap. Her head rang bells at the impact and her breath hit a hitch.
There was so much force behind that hit that Belladonna felt misplaced for a second. Angry rolled in her back of her throat and it took everything in her not to hot the woman back. Although if a fight was to break out just between her and the woman, it was certain that the woman would win.
There seemed to be a big difference between her and the people of this Realm after all, only that the difference wasn't physical.
Compared to them, she was weak.
“Linger longer and I will strip you, wet you and beat you silly! Go!”
A shade of her mother existing in a different Realm.
Perfection.
This way she wouldn't “miss home”.
Her feet fell into steps behind the people leaving what she assumed was the kitchen in a hurry. She could feel the Channeller shift in her mind once again but that was all there was to see.
She could feel but see nothing.
Things were starting to get worse too because she had lost Alaris.
Alone.
She was alone.
The feeling sank in her stomach and as if she wasn't already going through enough, she realized one thing. The servants she was following weren't going in the direction of that ballroom. Instead, they went up the stairs.
Panic coursed through her veins.
By Ignas, no!
Where were they going?
Were they truly going to go and serve wine in there or were they going for something else? Would it be easy for her to sneak away?
Her eyes combed the hallway in a quick observation to estimate her chances of escape, but to her dismay, she realized there were guards at every corner.
Escaping would be hard.
She was alone.
She was stuck.
This was—
Suddenly, she felt one of the servants pull her into a room. The door went shut behind them.
This was it, where they were headed to.
The room was filled with men seated around a table with women on their laps or on the floor by their feet, dressed in very revealing chiffon dresses - they might as well be naked. The men all had glowing hair. Most didn't wear a shirt, instead they were adorned in golden chains, bracelets and rings. Each person had a mask on.
Their laughter rumbled against the walls while the women giggled.
“I’ll report your slacking to the Mistress,” someone mumbled harshly to her.
It was probably the person that had pulled her into the room along with them.
Ah, by Ignas, could she just shut up!
Belladonna didn't care one bit about her and her mistress, what he cared about was finding Alaris, finding that Life Gem and getting out of here, although the more time she spent in this room.
The more it seemed like—
There!
Happiness filled her heart.
There was Alaris at the other side of the room, with a bowl of water in his hands. His eyes were as concealed as possible but she could tell that he was filled with rage. She followed his line of gaze and realized that he was staring at the man seated at the top of the table.
Wait…
That must be the White King, the man who had killed his parents.
This room must be filled with one or two representatives from each House.
Suddenly, Alaris was walking towards the White King who seemed to be busy with his discussion with the man to his left, that anger still in his eyes, his steps determined.
No!
Belladonna balled her fist by her sides as she watched him.
She knew Alaris was spontaneous, filled with vengeance and violence-proned but still…
By Ignas, what was he doing?
He was about to ruin everything!