A Touch of Scarlet

35

"Lydia?" A voice comes from behind the bedroom door.
I roll over from under the pillow that I've been sleeping under. I run my fingers through my tussled bed-head and sit up groggily.
"What?" I ask but as soon as the word has left my mouth I can tell it's less of a word and more of a muffled noise.
"Get showered and dressed" Jordan yells through the door,
"Why?" I yell back only clearer this time.
"It's time for us to show you another part of our world",
"Us? Are Nate and Reece back yet?".
"They're coming back tonight and meeting us".
"What about that Asper girl?" I ask,
"From what they've told me Aspen and a few of her circle members with be attending the meal as well".

"Meal?"

"Yes meal. We're meeting at a formal vampire joint"
"There's such a thing as a 'vampire joint'?" I ask in surprise,
"Of course there is! Do you expect us to just eat in our homes alone?".
I lay here for a minute tiredly processing his words,
"you know what, I'm just going to go get ready and we can continue this little chat when I'm done" I explain, I wait for a reply and just when I think he's left I hear an "alright" quietly sound through the door.

Once I know he's gone I grab the pillow and pull it over my head, plunging myself right back into the comfy mattress. I start to doze back off into slumber when a loud pounding at the door causes me to bolt right up.

"What the heck!" I yell, all traces of drowsiness instantly evaporating into thin air.
"Lyd it's 3:56pm! You've slept in enough, we're leaving around 7. Wake up!"
"Fineee" I grumble grouchily.
When I hear his footsteps marching away from the bedroom door I roll myself off of the gloriously-comfy mattress, causing my non-human body to ungracefully topple right off.

"Ouch" I murmur quietly, I stand and walk towards the bathroom while rubbing my now sore arse.

Twenty minutes later I'm out of the shower and am standing in front of the closet wearing nothing but a green & black Slytherin bathrobe.
Oh how I love Harry Potter I think to myself, I'd looked for the black & red Gryffindor one, but they had been all gone by the time I'd gotten to the store last year.

Focus I tell myself, looking into the closet I rifle through the mass amount of clothing items.
"Jordan how fancy is this 'vampire joint'?" I yell once again through the door,
"It's fancier than anything your closet can produce"
"Hey!" I yell back.

"I'm not trying to offend you, but I'm being serious vampires ... especially ancient vampires are very formal",
"So what am I supposed to wear?" I ask confused.
He pauses, "I set one of Valentina's dresses out for you on the bed",
At this I walk into the bedroom from the bathroom and stare dumbfounded at the dress laying in front of me.
"Uh Jordan?" I ask, "yeah?"
"Is Reece going to be okay with me wearing this?"
Jordan thinks for a minute before yelling back, "yeah it's alright".

"Okay" I murmur in response, and return to taking in the sight of the gown before me.

In order to keep the beautiful gown in its exceptionally well groomed condition, I blow-dry my hair, apply a layer of foundation, coral blush and a coat of mascara before slipping into the dress.

As soon as the dress has been completely tied and secured around my upper half I walk towards the full length mirror.
The top half of the gown is a white-lace fitted corset, then from the hip-down the coral fabric flows elegantly around my legs all the way to the ground.

My dark-brown curls spill over my shoulders and fall past my mid-back.
I glance up one more time at my reflection before looking at the clock 6:34 pm.

I tip toe out of the bedroom and make my way to the small kitchen.
I stand on my tip toes and reach up into the cupboard, when I bring my hand back down it contains a box of crackers ... mmmm.
Careful to not get any crumbs on the dress I carefully open the box and pile a handful into my mouth.
Suddenly the kitchen light turns on followed by "your going to spoil your meal Lyd-" Jordan starts but then stops abruptly when I turn to face him

He stands there in a dark grey tux with a pale blue dress shirt underneath, his white-trademark hair is messily-yet nicely jelled.
"You look beautiful" he breathes, I gesture towards him, box of crackers still in hand.

"Chew dwon't clook too baad chorself" I muster through the mouthful of crackers,
"Sorry what was that?" He asks, a light smile gracing his features.

I take a minute to swallow before looking back up at him "I said you don't look to bad yourself there buddy".

"Well thank you" he chimes while continuing to glance at my appearance.

"I haven't dressed up like this in a long time" I state, at this he gives me a pointed look.
"Finee, I've never even seen a dress like this in person" I mumble,
he lets out a short laugh "if I were a human today I'm sure I wouldn't have either".
I glance to the kitchen clock: 6:52.
Jordan follows my gaze to the clock "bout time to go" he states.
I nod in agreement, making my way to the door.
"Oh and Lydia?" he asks, turning back to face me,
"Yeah?".
"Sit in between either me, Reece or Nate and sit across from the third, alright?"
"... Um alright, but why?" I ask in confusion.
He hesitates before reopening his mouth, "I just uh- ancient vampires can be very intense, especially when they're the leader of a very powerful circle. So I just- I just want you to have backup incase you get addressed".

For the first time since Nick, a pang of worry quakes my body ... I hadn't even considered that I'll be meeting a handful of ancient-very powerful vampires within the next two hours.