CHAPTER 32 – MAKEOVER

He held her hands in his. It was all bloodied and he cooled it down with ice. "Leon." His voice was low, and Leon rushed to his side. "Get the healer and bring him to my room." Leon nodded and left. "Soldiers." Three of them came to his side. Gesturing at Rhea whose face was now tear stricken, knowing there was no way out for her now, he said "Take that woman to the dungeons. I will pass judgement on the morrow." They climbed the staircase, and Rhea didn't even attempt to run, but only broke down as they took her away. "Let the ball continue." He said and vanished with Althaia lying unconscious in his arms.

"She is the one." Zeus's messenger nodded. "We will take her as soon as she recovers."

He lay her down on the bed, then sat close to her, holding her hand. His hands were cold, and he knew they would offer solace to her before the healer arrived. He watched her. Her knees downwards were exposed, and he could see the cuts and bruises on them. Her hands too. Her hair was scattered and the pin she had on it earlier was nowhere to be found. The sleeve of her dress was torn, there was a big red bruise on her forehead and the side of her face. He closed his eyes to the sight as he felt his anger boil. "Anyone?" A hand maiden rushed in. "Bring Rhea's personal hand maiden to me right now." The girl nodded and left, and he turned to Althaia. He was sure the girl who had come to get Althaia was Rhea's handmaiden. And he would punish her along with het mistress. He could only imagine what she had gone through. The healer arrived and came to the side of the bed. "Heal her for me." Jack Frost said and left her side, so he would do his work. He touched her feet where the bruises were, a little light came from it and he removed his hand and moved to the next bruise. He continued that way with everything bruise till they were healed, then raised his hand above her, covering her entire body. When he was satisfied, he moved away from her bowing. "It is fine, your majesty. Here is a pill for her. It will further strengthen her." Jack Frost nodded and accepted the pill, then went back to sit next to her, holding her hand. Leon excuse him and went back downstairs, where the ball was in full swing now, as if nothing had happened. This time, he knew nothing would stop Rhea's punishment.

"You did not dance with anyone else, did you?" His head had been buried on his hand and hers, and he hadn't noticed when she woke up. He looked up at her, his eyes clouding. "I did not." He said and moved closer, using his hands to remove her hair from her face. "How do you feel?" "I am fine." He held her hand. "What happened?" She shrugged and told him everything, but for some reason, she omitted the shield. He pulled her to rest on him as he patted her back. "You are so strong. I am sorry." She laughed it off. "I want to have my dance." He nodded. "Take this first." He gave it to her, and she swallowed. "Anyone there?" A hand maiden appeared. "She needs a bath." The girl nodded and came to her side to help her up, but Althaia stood by herself, earning her a smile from Jack Frost. She was about to leave the room when he stopped her. "She will have the bath here " the hand maiden nodded and guided her to the washroom, where she helped her take a bath, then wrapped her in one of Jack Frost's bath robes. She inhaled it as it covered her down to her feet. It smelled like him. When she came out, he helped her to the stool in front of the mirror, where he sat her down and let the hand maidens take over. He sat on the bed, their eyes meeting all through, as he watched her in the mirror. "Which of your dresses are you going to wear?" The hand maiden asked her and before she answered, Jack Frost handed her the box. "Here " she collected it with a bow and took her to Jack Frost's changing room where she helped her into it. It looked exquisite and just like the design of Jack Frost's coat. She blushed at the thought. Jack Frost was standing at the foot of the bed when she came out of the changing room. "You look beautiful." She smiled and ran her hands over the dress. "Thank you." "Come. I will do the rest." He turned to the hand maiden. "I will take it from here. She nodded and mowed, before leaving the room. Holding her by her shoulder, he guided her to the stool, and sat her down. Jewelry, shoes, and a host of other things were already arranged, presumably by other hand maidens. He started with her hair, combing it out to its full length. He then rolled the lowest stands, brought them together to achieve a full volume behind her. He then placed the jewelry on her neck, a simple diamond piece that complimented her neck. Next were her earrings, then her shoes. He then brought in a hand maiden to help with her makeup. "Make it simple." He said to her and she nodded. She worked on her eyes first, using light colors to bring out the blackness of her eyes. She then dusted powder on her face, smoothening it out till it evened, giving her a babyish appearance.

"Your highness." He turned as one of his hand maidens brought in Rhea's personal hand maiden. She was trembling and Jack Frost immediately recognized her. "It was you." She couldn't answer but fell to her knees to beg. "Soldier." A soldier appeared. "Escort her to her mistress, so she can keep her company." Althaia didn't object, and it just made Jack Frost proud. Just the right amount of hardness.