Burned at the Cross

Burned at the Cross ~ Ch. 9

        {[Alyssa]}

        I backed up against the headboard like a trapped animal as they came towards me, glaring at them. They didn't seem to enjoy what they were doing either by the looks on their faces. I thought of some spells to get me out of it, but that would only cause a scene. But the outcome seemed better than what it was right now.

        Stupid fittings, why were they so horrid and painful? They grabbed me by the arms and hauled me to a standing position, taking off my rumpled dress and leaving me in my shift. Then they made me spread my arms out to the side. I gritted my teeth as they took the bloody measurements, staying as still as possible for it to be over with sooner.

        The maids were silent, not talking in the presence of a Diviner, such as myself, and it irritated me. Even though the Shifters of this house disliked me, they never voiced their opinions out loud; never spoke for themselves.

        Finally, an hour later, they were done. They left as silently as they came, not a glance in their direction. Only one spoke to her and it was monotone, "The dress will be ready for you around noon."

        I shook my head as the door shut. Why would I need the dress at noon? I don't take forever to get dressed and powdered like the other women in society, I mean, honestly! Who do they take me for? Well, they didn't say that the dress needed to be fitted, so that eased my mind a whole lot more and left me thinking.

        I got dressed and went down to the dining hall where the kitchen was in a hurry to prepare for tonight. Aiden and Eamon were talking rather excitedly, laughing loudly. They seemed exuberant for the upcoming ball, however, I just wanted it over with.

        Balls were nothing more than a place to gossip, flirt, socialize for. You could do that in plain day light without all the trouble of piling your hair up and puffing powder all over your face. It was more of a chore rather than an event.

        "Ah, Alyssa! Good morning, I hope you had a wonderful sleep?" Aiden asked, a smile showing on his lips.

        "Alright." I replied tartly. Walking over there, Eamon glanced at my arm and smiled reassuringly at him.

        "What's got you in a mood?" Aiden said, frowning at me.

        "Things." I quipped.

        "About?"

        I kept my mouth shut and turned to inspect the fruit bowl on the table. The green grapes there caught my attention.

        "Show some respect!" the maid that I had to paralyze the day before hissed at me.

        I paid no attention and plucked a fat grape from the vine and saw just what I expected to see. A thin layer of pale green dust coated the fruit. Poisoning. AnnaMarie, a hard poison to detect and a deadly one at that, even for the Shifters. Glancing down at the fruit bowl, the other fruit were coated as well.

        It was suspected before but now it's been confirmed; someone was trying to hurt the Overlord and the Prince of Shifters.

        {[Eamon]}

        We all watched as Alyssa stared at the green grape in her hand and was baffled when she sniffed it. Father and I watched, intrigued on what she was doing.

        "Did you hear me?" Maria hissed, she had come up before. She seemed better than when I last saw her, frozen in Alyssa spell.

        "Busy." she supplied while inspecting the grape more. "It's been poisoned."