The Devil in the Form of Those That Follow: Calamitous

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

TW: Assult

"...something that would bring you to tears."

"So, are you going?" Tommy asked. He had been trying to convince Lana to go to the ball ever since Beatrix texted her back.

"I guess I am," she told him as she sat beside him on the bed, "The limo is on its way, and I can't really call that off."

He looked up at her for a minute, "I just don't want you to miss out on this."

She placed a hand on his shoulder, "I already went to the first one."

"But for this one you're the guest of honor. That doesn't happen everyday,"

"I guess so.... But is it worth it?"

"Of course it is,"

Lana stared off for a moment. Tommy couldn't read what was in her mind. It looked like sadness, but also confusion and conflict. She kept moving her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

"Can I come in?" Someone was knocking at the door.

"Sure," Lana said, finally speaking.

The door opened, showing Marion standing in the frame, "The lobby called. There's a car waiting for you."

Lana looked at Tommy, "I'll be back."

✥

As Lana arrived at the Palace of Versailles, she went through the same process as last time. Miss Delphine guided her to a changing room and helped her get ready. The dress was, in Lana's opinion, better than the last one. It was a charming shade of light blue, but it was also slightly gray. It was a bit silver. The top half had short ruffled sleeves that paired with the lack of chest-coverage. It also fit like a corset, decorated with white lace and jewels. The bottom was ruffled like the sleeves, each layer being separated by white lace. The outfit became complete when the white gloves and jewelry were added. Her hair was put into an updo, making her neck almost freeze.

Then, the last element to add was the mask. The mask had the same coloring as her dress. It was only a half-mask, so it only covered her eyes and nose. She was lucky it even fit her face. The eyes on it were upturned, like a cat. It stayed on her face by a ribbon that formed a bow on the back of her head.

She went through the same process that her and Tommy had agreed on, then, she was off. This time, though, Miss Delphine led her down a different corridor, not to the outside. Miss Delphine was on the phone the whole time. While she was going fast and far ahead, Lana was still able to pick up some conversation. She kept mentioning being ready and that they were almost there. Lana assumed that they were doing something different since she was the guest of honor.

She was right.

"Stay here until these two gentlemen open the door. Then, walk out," Miss Delphine told Lana as they came to a door. The two men were opposites. One was small and scrawny, while the other towered over everything and could probably take down the palace with one swing. Both of them were intimidating.

As Miss Delphne walked away, her heels clanking, Lana and the men stood awkwardly. The commotion outside was silenced by someone speaking loudly, clearly on a microphone. It seemed to be Ivan, with a slight accent coming out as the voice spoke French.

Just then, the two men went to the handles of the door as music started to play from the orchestra. The doors opened and the bright lighting from the ballroom nearly blinded Lana, but she continued and stepped through into the light. There, she found out she was correct in her guess and saw Ivan, in a mask, with a smirk across his face.