In the shadows

chapter 4

I used the afternoon to get ready for the ball, my maids helping me with my hair and makeup, leaving my makeup as natural as possible. I had decided to dress up as an assassin. As I was finishing up Maxon knocked on the door "come in" I said and he walked in the maids bowing slightly "may I accompany you to the ball?" he said in fake politeness "you may" I said and he held my hand up high. We walked into the hall after them announcing us and walked to our parents.

I was sitting down after dancing to a few songs, holding a a champagne glassand eating a Liquorice stick when the guard from earlier came up to me and asked me to dance, "may I have this dance?" He asked me "sure" I said and we danced around to a few songs "you're officer leger right?" I asked "please, no formalities. just aspen" he said " so call me Melody" I said with a small smile and he nodded. later in the evening one of the guards ran to me and told me to come with him "what's going on?" I asked worried but he didn't answer. finally my answer came when I saw maxon standing with marlee and a guard standing and holding hands "can someone explain whats going on?" I asked getting annoyed "yeah, this member of the selection was caught being intimate with this palace guard" maxon said in an emotionless professional voice "how are you going to deal with it" I asked nervously "they were caught by the media so we'll have to do something" he said "but you're not going to have them executed right?" I said "we'll do our best to stop it from happening" he said looking at me directly "so they'll need to be in the dungeon for tonight" I said and he nodded so I took them down "what happened?" I asked marlee "I'm so sorry Mel I really did try, I just didn't feel anything" she said "I understand. I'm going to be sold off to marriage in a few years, but why weren't you careful?" I asked her and the guard snorted "officer woodwork" he said "sorry we met at an inconvenient time to be introduced" "it is what is it, right?" I asked "it is what it is" he said in a monotone voice and I burst out laughing "sorry it's just..." I said as I opened the door to the dungeon. "I'll come to you tomorrow after your punishment is over" I promised.