Before Time Runs Out

Chapter 13

It was the night of the party at last, and Ethel had been getting ready with Elise's help. Carmelita had gone to a separate bathroom of the house to get ready wanting to surprise her. Neither of them knew what each other's dress looked like, and as Ethel combed through her wet curls, she pondered over what Carmelita would be wearing. She guessed neutral colors or darks, as she tended to stick to that. Elise had oiled her hair and put it into curlers, pinning it up so that it would dry properly. Ethel sat in her robe, Elise sitting across from her painting her nails a deep, luscious wine-red color. Carmelita had gotten a matching lipstick for her also, which Elise had carefully painted onto her lips with a brush, making sure Ethel looked perfect. She had done gold eyeshadow on her eyelids, matching the embroidery on her dress.

"You know that you don't have to help me, Elise, I can do my makeup."

"I know, but my lady instructed me to, so I will."

Ethel remembered what Carmelita had said about contracts, and how Elise had to follow every order Carmelita gave her. She let Elise finish and she checked her hair, it now being dry, and undid the pins and slowly let her curls trail down her back, fluffing them gently with her hands. Elise slowly got out the hairpins she had, doing Ethel's hair half up and half down. She did multiple braids with the front part of Ethel's hair, teasing it beforehand, then braiding them together in the back into a lovely, tucked bun. Elise left the rest of her curls alone, slipping a long silver hairpin into the braided bun that she had done, securing it in place. She helped Ethel up carefully, walking her over to her dress.

It was beautiful. It was a baby blue silk dress, which went out just far enough with the underskirts and petticoat. It was embroidered with golden thread, making the shapes of butterflies trailing up the dress symmetrically on both sides. The waist was cinched with black lace trim, with the bodice of the dress being embroidered with golden thread on the delicate baby blue silk. There were butterflies made from the golden threat stitched on, with a wire figure wrapped in the golden threat to make it seem as though they were real, the wings not connected to the dress. The neckline was bunches of golden chiffon around it, with diamonds stitched into the seam where the neckline of the dress met the chiffon, hiding any stitching. The wings of the butterflies were also embroidered with the same diamonds, with a few stitching of black thread to give the wings more definition. The neckline was off the shoulder and the gold chiffon extended out, creating the illusion of puff sleeves. There was a black satin ribbon sewn on one side of the shoulder, outlining one side of the neckline more than the other. The back was similar to the front, aside from the lifelike butterflies on the front. They were still embroidered on the back of the dress, matching the front, but simply were not as lifelike as the gold thread-wrapped wire ones. The back was open down to where Ethel's shoulder bones began, and in its place, there was an illusion back made from golden chiffon, only extending for a few inches before it returned to the regular silk of the dress. It had a slight train, the back of the dress longer from the front, the sewing giving it an illusion of the silk folding over itself in the back while trailing out slightly across the floor.

Elise helped Ethel slip into the undergarments and petticoats, before carefully slipping on the dress. It had a snug fit but was still comfortable even with a corset on. Carmelita had gotten her shoes custom, the golden color of them matching the details of the dress. They were not high heels and were comfortable on her feet.

"What about jewelry?" Ethel did not have a pair of earrings or a necklace, and Elise gave her a small smile.

"Carmelita is going to give you those. She has some perfume for you also."

Elise led her out of the room, bringing her to the parlor in which she had first met Carmelita. The first night they met, seemed so long ago now. Ethel turned and looked like Carmelita stepped into the room, carrying a small box in her hands. Her dress was black with white embroidering of lily flowers all over it, them pointing downwards in a swooping motion. The shape was of a similar fashion shape-wise to Ethel's. The chiffon neckline of it was not puffed like Ethel's was, but was off the shoulder and laid flat, exposing her collarbones and neck. She had on a natural lipstick; her nails painted a nude color to go with the pinkish nude of the lipstick. She had on diamond stud earrings, with a simple diamond necklace.