It was now 6 o'clock. Time for the ball. I slipped the gorgeous dress on and all the accessories along with it and pulled my hair over my shoulder nervously. Who knew how this thing was going to go down.
We all gathered in the foyer dressed in our best waiting for Rose to open the portal to the party. "You all look nice. Jack, do you still have the invitation?" Jack nodded and fixed his shamrock tie, "I do." She eyed me up and down, "Raven, stay with Damian or at least another Familiar. Do NOT wander off."
I nodded as everyone positioned to leave. Sebastian held Rose's arm escort style as Jack did the same on her other side. Rose loved to show off her Familiars. Damian held my arm also, but had a tight grip as if he was afraid I was going to run. "You look beautiful, Raven." I smirked, "Thanks. You look lovely as well." He laughed earning a glare from Rose.
"Let's go." Rose commanded. At her word, the door opened. Instead of Limbo, there was a silver ball room filled with twirling people as enchanting music filled the air. The boys escorted Rose into the lit room and a booming voice announced their presence making people clap.
Damian tapped my arm indicating our turn, and we stepped into the large room. As soon as we stepped across the thresh hold, everything stopped. The dancers froze turning to us, and the music stopped making an awkward silence as we stood there. "Master Damian and his Familiar and guest of honor, Raven Mathews."
I looked around at the shocked and angry faces, and noticed steps rising from the dance floor leading up to an elevated platform holding Orion sitting on a throne. He looked down at us and stood walking to the edge of the platform causing everyone to turn and look up at him.
He held out his hands Palm up in a welcoming gesture, "My children! Let whatever hostility you posses disappear! This is a day of peace, not war. Welcome Ms. Mathews.....Mr. Castellan." He nodded at me as everyone began clapping. He took his seat on the black throne, and Damian led me to the dance floor. "That could have definitely been worse. Are you okay?" We waltzed as we spoke, "Yes. Are you?" He paused, "Yes. He is planning something, but I can't figure out why he would go through all this trouble to get to you."
I frowned, "Why would he want me, anyways?" He shook his head, "Because I am forbidden a Familiar. This has happened before, but he never went to this extent to prove a point." I thought about an earlier conversation, "You mean Lucia." We stopped dancing, ""How do you know about Luce?"
"Because she told me." He shook his head, "That's not possible, she's dead." I smiled, "She mentioned that too. She said we were going down the same path that got her and her Familiar killed. She even opened a Gate so I could leave." He grimaced, "Why didn't you leave? You should have, because she was right. We probably won't leave tonight."
This frightened me, I never thought about that. "May I cut in, brother? It's good manners to dance with a guest of honor." We looked at a tall man that seemed to be in his twenties, and his brown hair was tied in a bun that was actually hotter than it sounded. His green eyes were nearly mesmerizing. Most of the sibling's eyes were the same green, just different shades. But this one. This one had gold flecks hidden in the emerald and it was gorgeous.
"Hello, Connor. Nice of you to even show up to one of these gatherings. Did Father actually kidnap you this time?" Connor smiled showing off his perfect teeth, "Actually, no. I was just interested in your latest mishap; and I understand why, seeing this beautiful lady." He nodded at me and I blushed. "Shall we?" I nodded seeing Damian's glare as Connor took my hand.
Connor led us into a waltz as he watched me intently. "Father picked a wonderful dress for you. I like it." I smiled, "Thanks. So, which sibling are you?" He laughed, "You're very forward, it's different than what I'm used to in a Familiar. I am Connor Reeves. My sister is Jessica, though I am the oldest at 219." I was shocked, he was a full two hundred! "Rose has you all beat though." He laughed, "Yes, she does. Though I wouldn't let her hear you say that." I nodded with a smile, "Yeah, she would pitch a fit."
"I apologize, Connor, but it's my turn." This time, it was Trent, and I really wasn't that thrilled about it. Connor bowed to me and I curtsied back before he walked off into a group of people all in black. Trent took my waist and continued the dance, but he didn't look too happy. "I'm getting you out of here before Father tires of this charade."
I looked over at Damian who nodded his approval. "I'm not leaving them. I'm staying." He smiled, "I see what they see in you. You're bravery and courage, but you're leaving and that's the end of it."bi backed away from him and left the dance floor.
As I walked towards the concessions, I bumped into a group of girls with matching green eyes. "Well, the guest of honor. Father must either favor you, or wishes you dead." I frowned, "I think it's both." They giggled amongst each other except for one who I recognized as Hera.
They all said something to each other and dispersed leaving me alone at the table. I took a small cake and nibbles on it waiting for something to happen. And right on cue, Orion stood from his throne, walked to the edge of the platform, and raised a goblet. "To Raven Mathews, our guest of honor." Everyone toasted and clapped, but nothing was really heartfelt.
Damian grabbed my arm, "We're leaving." I shrugged him off, "I'm not leaving! I already told Trent that." He shook his head, "And you should've gone then." He snapped a finger, but nothing happened. "That's odd." He continued to snap his finger, and the more he did the more flustered he became. "Damn it! He's on to us, he has us all trapped."
"Sons! Daughters! Even Familiars! I have gathered you all here for a very important issue. Years ago, Damian Castellan had his Familiar taken from him, and was forbidden another. Now, he has taken on her doppelgänger. Now, I was originally intending on simply killing Ms. Mathews, but I have recently learned of her gift of barricading her mind against others. Her own Master cannot even read her simplest thoughts."
Everyone gasped and awed as Orion continued to his punchline. "I have decided to spare Ms. Mathews, and instead, make her my Familiar instead. she will be very useful to me I find." All sound stopped. "You cannot do this, Father! She is already my Familiar!" Orion glided down the steps from the platform making his black robes drift behind him.
Everyone parted allowing the Grim Reaper easy passage through the crowd and he stopped in front of Damian. His hand shot out faster than I noticed and found that he had Damian suspended in the air by his throat. Orion's whit eyes glinted with anger, "You will hold your tongue, mutt. You have no rights as a Reaper, let alone being my son. I will teach you a lesson by taking the girl you hold so dear."
I watched as the shadows began to grow around his eyes that had also appeared the day he nearly killed Jack and Sebastian. "I accept." Damian froze, and Orion turned his head to look at me with a satisfied smirk. "You are smarter than this dog, girl. I acknowledge that, but I'm still going to- Lucia?!"
I shot around, and sure enough, Lucia was standing behind me and her expression wasn't very happy. "Let them go, Orion." Orion ran his tanned hand through his hair, "But you're dead?!" She nodded, "I still am. Leave them be." Orion's face contorted and turned red, "I do not take orders from you!"
Lucia closed her eyes with a sigh, "Then this is how it has to be." A Gate opened beside her, she grabbed my arm, and yanked me off my feet. Before I knew it, the cold feeling overcame me as the Gate sucked me into its depths tumbling me around like a leaf in the wind.
All I heard was Damian screaming at me to come back. "Raven! No!"
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The picture is Jennifer Connelly. I have chosen her to play Lucia. And I felt like Working Song would've been played at the ball when the Castellans arrived. It just feels right, you know? Anyways, enjoy!
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