Getting It Together

The Gala Part Two

George Lebent was carefully removed and taken to the small hospital attached to Amelia's house, in hopes of finding something to cure him. Groups had begun to form around the ballroom, the woman anxiously chattering about what was happening while most of the men had left to go find Amelia.

Alejo hugged Jasper close as he fed him a bottle, making noises almost like cooing down at him. A word flashed in his mind "Leech" but he couldn't recall why.

But it felt important.

Florencio watched over Alejo cautiously, making sure to look over at Jory and Klaus occasionally to make sure they were still alright.

Klaus seemed shaken out of his skin, his eyes wide behind his sunglasses, which he had managed to sneak back on during the commotion without Pascal realizing.

Giovonnie sat quietly, Sela's head resting on his lap as Kai shielded him from seeing anything that would make him anxious.

"Is that man going to be okay, dad?" Giovonnie asks, peering up at Pascal.

"Oh, I'm sure he will," Pascal says mock happily. "He just had an upset stomach is all, Gi-Gi."

The door to the large ballroom pushed open and the small servant Jory recognized as Genevieve entered, her legs shaking like a newborn horse's.

He had seen her often, behind Beatrice at the funeral, and robotically obeying beside James at Jason's home, the day Alejo and Logan had-

He couldn't even bear think it.

"Ma'am." The voice was barely a whisper, sounding close to tears.

Beatrice doesn't even notice her, continuing to talk with one of the other women.

"Ma'am, Sir Burr is dead." Genevieve said quietly. "I went up to go take his plate and-"

Potter flickered into the room then, looking around wildly, and relaxing when they noticed the much older Beatrice.

Whatever had happened, they were so not ready to process it...

Genevieve's voice shook, her lip quivering as she swiped at a few tears gathering below her eyes. Tears, not of mourning, but of absolute fear. "I'm sorry."

Pascal's eyes widened in shock and tears silently began to fall down his face. "Oh."

Beatrice reacted a second to slow, turning to stare down at the servant. A long period of time passed where Beatrice stood completely silent, hand clutched to her wine glass.

"Perce is dead?" She finally repeats.

Genevieve began to shake uncontrollably. "Yes, ma'am, I just went up to get his plate, and-

Klaus recognized the sound of Madeline giggling somewhere in the crowd, his heart racing.

That crazy laughing couldn't mean anything good.

"So, you are useless to me?" Beatrice asks, her voice lacking the usual flair and regalness.

Genevieve's eyes widened and she took a small step back. "N-No! Ma'am, there was nothing I could-!"

Beatrice puts a single finger up to her lips and Genevieve goes dead silent.

"Cecily?" Beatrice turns a questioning eye towards the teen, and Kai hurriedly covers Giovonnie's eyes.

Cecily rolls her eyes and shakes her head, and Madeline eagerly steps forward. "You'll find the right one someday, Cece."

"No, please-!" Genevieve screams, turning to run as Madeline grabs her harshly by the arm, pulling her back.