Ink and Blood

Chapter 9

"Clara, you have to get ready." Miles complained. Tonight is the ball and we finished going over the last few details.
"But we don't have to leave for another two hours!" I exclaimed. Miles glared at me.
"Yeah, but you are a girl. You take hours to get ready." He had a point. You don't rush a girl's time when she is getting ready for a ball. Finn looked at him. "And how would you know how much time a girl needs?" Miles cleared his throat. "That's not important."

Finn chuckled and looked at me. "You might as well, love. Or he won't stop asking you what kind of shoes you're wearing." I snickered. Miles grinned knowingly. I gave in. "Fine. If you guys leave me in pease, I'll hurry up." I kiss Finn on the cheek and ran to the bathroom. I soaked in the hot tub and relaxed. I haven't taken a bath in days, and it felt so good. Finn stayed on the other side of the door guarding me.

"You know, I'm capable of dressing myself without a bodyguard on the other side of the door." I say. His voice muffled from the thickness of the door. "I know, but one of the boys could enter accidentally. And I also want to see you when you're done." I sigh and got out of the bath then started adding some lipstick that I "borrowed" from a woman who looked like the Joker, I didn't use makeup back home so this was new to me.
I finish brushing my hair and was about to pin it up when Finn spoke.

"Leave your hair down," he paused then added, "please." I smile. "Maybe. As long as you go get ready, I'll leave it down." Wow, Miles was right, it did take a girl two hours to get ready.
"Fine. We'll be waiting at the entrance." He shuffled off and left me to finish. I slip off my robe and into my dress. It was stunning, I made some alternations to make it like me. It was long and flowy with blue and and a flowery neckline that showed my collarbone.
Diamonds wrapped around my waist as the corset was making it hard to breathe.

I look in the mirror and I see another person. She looked different. More confident. I put on Finn's necklace that flashes well with my dress. I heard a knock at the door.
"Clara, are you ready?" Gavin was to escort me downstairs.
"In a minute." I spring over to my hidden spot where I keep the mirror.

"Rufus!" I whispered. The mirror clouded. "Clara, are you okay? Did you find anything?" He kept asking questions.
"Hey, relax. I got everything under control." Mostly. He looked at me close. "Are you dressed up?" I smile.

"Mhm. The ball is tonight and we're going to find a way to fight Silas and save the King." I say excitedly. His eyes widen.
"Oh okay. Clara, there is something you should know." He said slowly. "What is it?"
He sighs.
"Your book that you left behind. It's writing out... as if you're a character in your own story." I stare at him.
"Huh?"

"I mean, the book is as if it's continuing the story with you in it. I've been going through it and couldn't find any unusual character that might be sneaking around in there with you." He says. I didn't know what happened to my book that I was writing the story in. I hesitated.
"Um, did you see all of my... moments?" I hate to know the answer. He smiles as if noticing my embarrassment.
"Sort of, it ends before it really starts. It cuts out before anything happens, like when someone is talking, the page ends. Don't worry, I didn't snoop on you and Finn if that's what you mean. Be careful. He likes you more than you know."

I clear my throat. My face turning a shade of red. "Clara, are you okay?" Gavin said on the other side of the door.
"I have to go. I'll find out more at the ball."

"Okay and Clara, don't do anything stupid." I smile and hid the mirror then made my way to the door. I open it revealing Gavin while he stood back to look a me. His mouth open and he looked shock to see me in something that's not manly.
I chuckle at his speechless self, he extends his arm and I took it. He leads me downstairs where I would tell yet another lie and try to find out who sent me here.