CHAPTER 31 – SAVING HIS DANCE

The ball was in full swing now, and Jack Frost had brought Althaia to his side, so he would have the first dance. He was unconsciously holding her hand, and she did nothing to stop him.

"Is she the one?" The taller man shrugged, glancing at Rhea who was talking to her hand maiden. "Probably. Let us see who has the first dance."

"Do it now. So, I can make the announcement, and have the first dance." Rhea's hand maiden nodded at her command, just as Hermes mad his way to Jack Frost.

"Hermes, you are here." Hermes nodded and glanced at Althaia, his eyes finally settling on where their hands were linked. "I need to talk to you." Jack first gave him a look. "Let it wait." "It can't wait." "Make sure it does." Hermes sighed and left, going to the back to get a strong drink. His fears were coming to pass One by one. He decided to forget it by occupying his head with thoughts of Rhea. She looked beautiful. Even though she had dressed that way to impress another man. A man who was in love with another woman. He sighed. Two men passed by him, and one accidentally brushed his shoulder. "Sorry, mate." The man was tall, and Hermes nodded him away, before returning to his drink. But something registered in his mind. He turned to look for the men, but they were lost in the crowd. He had seen the tall one before. He was sure he had. He just couldn't place where.

"My lady, please come with me, it is urgent." Althaia looked at the handmaiden who was looking frantic and desperate, and she made to let go of Jack Frost's hand. He turned away from the guest he was with and looked at her. "Where are you going to?" "I think it is urgent, I will be back." He looked at the handmaiden, before releasing her hand. Her hand felt cold, and her fingers lingered for a while before the hand maiden literally dragged her away. Jack Frost's eyes followed her, before he left the guests to his usual spot, at the head of the party, but not really part of the party. He didn't feel too involved when she wasn't there. He wanted her first dance, her last dance, her time, her love, her devotion. He wanted every single thing. 

The hand maiden walked briskly, deeper into the palace halls. Althaia was beginning to get scared, as she didn't know and had never seen this part of the palace before. "Where are we going to?" The hand maiden turned just then and opened a door. "I am sorry." Without warning, she pushed Althaia into the room and locked it. "What..?" Althaia was surprised, before she registered what was happening. "Let me out of here!" She hit the door hard, with her feet and her hands, but nothing. No one was there. The lights suddenly went on, and she turned to an empty room. She could hear laughter from the outside. "Poor girl..." "Rhea... please let me out." There was a pause. "Let me see....No. I cannot do that. Maybe I will allow you witness the first dance with Jack Frost after I announce to everyone that he has chosen me as his bride... And even deflowered me. Then there will be no restraints, and I will be his wife." Althaia banged harder on the door and it only caused Rhea to laugh harder. "Keep trying, lover girl… by the time you get out of there, the deed will already be done." She laughed harder and harder as Althaia’s banging got harder too. Her hands and feet were bruised and bloodied, her back felt like she had been stepped on by an elephant, but she knew she couldn't give up. She hit the door hard, one last hit and the same ball like thing appeared around her, preventing her from hitting the door. "What is this?" She pushed on the door, but instead of coming in contact with hard ice as she did for the past hour, she passed swiftly through the door and fell on her face on the other side of the door. Right at Rhea's feet. Rhea turned, her eyes wide. "How did you?" She screeched and pulled at Althaia who hasn't even recovered from the fall. Althaia managed to get on her feet and pushed her away. She landed on her hand maiden who she had been with there and quickly came after Althaia who was already making her way to the other side, not minding how haggard she looked. Rhea didn't wait for her hand maiden as she ran after her, pulling her by her dress, subsequently tearing it till it was a bit below her knee in a rather disorganized way. Althaia turned and pushed hard at Rhea, making sure would be hard this time, then turned and ran with all her might.

Hermes was weaving his way through the crowd but couldn’t find the two men. He had Placed the face of one, the taller one. That was Zeus' personal messenger, he could remember that much. Had they tracked Althaia? Were they here to take her? Jack Frost was by himself at the foot of the staircase, where he always was, his soldiers around him, and some helpers. He looked a bit distracted searching in the crowd, and Hermes seeing that Althaia wasn’t next to him, knew he was looking out for her. He had to warn him that Olympians were at his ball. It was almost time for the first dance, and everyone knew the first dance belonged to the king, before anyone else was free to take the floor. He always had that dance with Rhea, today, it was going to be Althaia.

Althaia could see the staircase now but couldn’t quite see Jack Frost below it. Rhea was almost catching up, a d Althaia ran harder to get to the staircase. some of the attendees who had seen the haggard woman running wildly gasped, but Jack Frost's attention wasn’t enough for him to notice. Even Hermes saw it. Zeus' messenger did too. Soon enough, the solemn music had stopped playing and all were watching as Althaia made her way to the staircase, just as Rhea caught up with her. Seeing no other option, she desperately reached for her, but instead of Pulling her back as she wanted to, she only succeeded in pushing her further down the staircase. Althaia gasped as she lost her foothold, falling ungracefully and rolling down the staircase, her Forehead coming in contact with the Sharp edges many times. Jack Frost turned just as she reached the last stair. He didn't wait for explanations as he teleported to her side, and made her fall on his body, and wrapped his arm around her.