The Ringmaster's Keeper

Chapter 38: Dramatic

The doors swung in and all the men of the party stood there. Watching me. What a way to start a ball.
I didn't really know what to do so I just said sorry to no one in particular and then rushed back to the ladies room to address my hand. It stung like hell and I needed to get it under some cold water. I shoved my hand under the cool stream leaving the tap and I had instant relief as the throbbing dulled. Lili burst into the room behind me with several other ladies including Autumn and Rachel, and grabbed my hand to observe it.
"Oh honey, this could scar." She said after a second of looking. "Quick, put it back under the water." She said.
"Oh Beth this is horrible." Autumn said at my side peering at the red welt on my palm.
"Rachel, go get some ice packs from a servant." Lili said, and Rachel left. She quickly returned with a small block of ice, and a bandage.
"They had no ice, packs, so this will have to do." She handed Lili the make-shift ice pack and Lili grabbed my hand and put the ice right onto my burn. I winced at the sudden cold and she bandaged it swiftly as if she were a professional nurse.
"There, that should do for now. When it melts, which will be soon, come get me to  re-bandage it." She hugged me then put her arm around my waist and walked with me out of the room. I swayed and felt a little sick as we walked down the hallway back to the ballroom. Lili must've noticed and asked me if I was ok.
"I don't feel too hot." I said honestly. Today's been such a stressful day. A ball wouldn't exactly help.
"Hmm, how about you sit in and watch for a while and see how you feel?" I nodded, even though that sounded like a bad idea. All I wanted to do was rest my head.
She continued walking with me down the hallway, the other ladies trailing behind. When we reached the doors, I instantly found a small table off to the side and sat down. Had these tables been here before? Damn Claudius loves changing this place up, he could at least put some air conditioning in while he's at it, because it was a pretty stuffy room.
All of a sudden I had a fan in my hand. I flinched at its sudden appearance and looked up quickly. Claudius stood across the room in the same damn doorway smiling. And then he was gone.
At least he could be helpful sometimes. I was feeling faint and the ballroom with the music and dancers just made me feel sick looking. I opened the ornate violet fan and started fanning myself. I closed my eyes to rest them, but the chandelier was so brightly lit that there was no point, it was as if it were day. I opened my eyes again and watched everyone dancing stand in lines facing each other, men on one side, women on the other. The light classical music played and everyone took a step forward and bowed/curtsied simultaneously.
They then retreated to their original position and stood there for two beats. The minuet was graceful and it looked fun to dance.
If only I didn't feel so dizzy!
I'd only just noticed that there were many more people in the room now, more than the original number of people dining. A filler crowd of some kind? Or had the room gotten smaller?
That's when I saw Jayden.
I didn't believe my eyes and was stunned, never thinking I'd see his unnaturally handsome face again.
He was sauntering towards me with a beautiful woman on his arm. What was her name again? Molly?
Jayden looked my straight in the eye and smiled a toothy smile. He had sharp fangs.
These damn monsters were filing in to make it a larger ball.
I quickly got up, breaking eye contact with Jayden. I scuttled along the side of the wall, trying to get lost behind the dancers from Jayden's sight, hiding behind my fan.
This monster was chasing me, and I was freaking out. What would he do to me if he got me?
I quickened my pace, my heels competing with the quartet. I was making my towards the French doors that led onto the balconies. Were they there before? This damn building keeps changing. I gripped my fan, trying to calm myself. I stared at the ground, at the square black and white tiles starting to blur as I walked faster. This room seemed endless. I looked up and I'd hardly gained any distance. How wide was this ballroom?!
I was speed walking and I wish I could run with this damned hoop dress on. Although I didn't want to draw too much attention to myself.
Oh, wait, too late!
The little voice in my head said.
I told it to shut up.
Finally I reached the French doors and swung them open. There was no one on the really quite big balcony, but before I could step foot onto it I felt a hand grab my shoulder, pulling me back.
Shit! Jayden's got me!
The little voice chimed in again.
I spun around to see Austin.
Gosh, Austin, bad timing for a talk.
"Are... You all right?" He furrowed his eyebrows as he observed my frantic state.
"Ugh..." I was looking over his shoulder to see if Jayden and Molly were following, but there was no sight of them.
Had they just disappeared?
He followed my eyes to behind him and looked back to me.
"Is everything ok. You look a little... Pale." He said slowly. He put his arm around my waist and led me to a bench on the balcony. There were vines wrapping around the stone bannisters of the balcony and the view was stunning, over looking a lake on a very, very big estate. Austin grabbed my hands and looked me in the eyes. He's always had beautiful eyes.
Pity he doesn't remember you.
The little voice commented. I was getting sick of this voice.
The chilly air gave me goosebumps.
"Is everything ok with you? I mean, like I was watching you just then, and you looked a little frantic. I don't really know how I got here or why I'm here... But I am a counsellor, and I like helping people. I know that's not really a reason for you to trust me, but yeah you know you can talk to me if you like." He gave a half smile. Damn he was comforting. It was as if he hadn't forgotten who I was. Or that he loved me. I felt my eyes start to swell with water. I took my hands from his and opened my fan to start fanning my eyes, hoping he wouldn't notice my sudden wave of nostalgia.
"Thank you, but I'm fine." I said as my tears retreated. He raised his eyebrows knowing that me be fine wasn't actually true, but he let it slide.
"You're hot?" He asked.
I realised I must've looked crazy, getting out my fan even though I'm freezing. I giggled and closed my fan.
"I like your dress." He said, trying to start conversation. I burst out laughing at the irony. If only he knew that the psycho who chose it was the one who also took his memories.
He smiled a confused smile and let out a small laugh.
"What's so funny?" He asked about my outburst still smiling.
"It's just that I hate this dress." It was a beautiful dress, but the fact that Claudius chose it for me made me sick.
"You hate it? Why's that?" His smile faded as he genuinely looked confused. I paused. I didn't know how to explain it without breaking the rules.
"Hmm, well... let's just say I don't like my stylist very much." I looked at the stone pavers as I said it. There was moss growing up through the spaces between tiles and I noticed that the seat we're on was weathered and the tiles looked chipped in some places. I wondered how long this palace had been here...
"That's funny, because I really quite like that dress on you. The colour is very striking." I looked back up at him, tearing my eyes from the paved floor. He's smiling. He's so gorgeous.
This challenge is going to be very hard
"It really goes well with the mask." he said as he pointed to mine.
I remembered the mask and took it off quickly, trying to space myself from anything to do with Claudius.
I didn't even want to know where it was, so I chucked it off the side of the balcony. That was probably a bit dramatic, I thought to myself.
Trying to get space from Claudius might be a lost cause when I'm in his friggin mind.
Austin gave me a funny look and peered over the edge of the balcony at the mask far down on the ground. These balconies were actually quite high up.
"I take it you didn't like the mask either?" He asked and we both burst into laughter.
"No not really." I replied after I'd recovered from his funny remark.
"That was very... Dramatic of you to throw that away like that." He said grinning widely.
Gosh, he probably thinks you're crazy!
This little voice really needs to leave. I giggle.
"I suppose it was."
I look back to the French doors and see Lili rushing towards me.
Oh, Lili, please don't ruin this moment!
She burst through the doors and pretty much sprinted across the balcony until she came to a halt in front of me, trying to catch her breath.
She did a quick curtsy in Austin's direction and turned back to me.
Austin smiled at me, knowing that our conversation was up. He got up and left to go attend the next dance
No, Austin! Don't leave! The little voice said.
For once I agreed with it!
"Beth! This rather handsome man inside has been asking to dance with you. Come check him out." She dragged me off of the bench before I could even say a word and she tugged me back into the stuffy ball room/dining room/ever changing room.
"Here he is." Lili says as she stop suddenly and I nearly fall over from the momentum she's built up. I straightened myself up and looked at the 'rather handsome man'.
Oh dear.
It's Jayden.
"Ugh Lili, I can't, I -" she leant over and whispered in my ear.
"Honey, he's been asking after you all night! One dance won't kill you!" Asking after me all night?!
Before I knew it, she pushed me towards him and the dance started. Shit.
"Hello Bethany." He smiled a very warm smile. A very fake smile.
He wrapped his arm around my waist and held his arm out for the classic ballroom pose.
I didn't want to make a scene but as soon as this dance was over, I was out of here. I tucked my fan in his jacket pocket and grabbed his shoulder (which was higher than I thought) and held his hand with my bandaged hand.
I grabbed it and the burnt throbbing swelled with pain. I'd forgotten all about it until now. I let out a squeal in pain and quickly let go of his hand.
"Beth?" He asked.
"Sorry," I bit my tongue to try and Dull the pain, "the burn hurts, that's all."
"Oh, are you fine to dance then?" The dance had already started so it didn't really matter. I shrugged my shoulders and nodded. "I suppose."
His worried face disappeared and he showed his bright smile again.
"Good." He said with make fake enthusiasm.
He grabbed my burned hand again, and squeezed.
I winced, and he knew.
The sick bastard.
We started waltzing away, and when I say Lili watching, I mouthed 'Ice' to her, gesturing to my hand.
She nodded and left.
The waltz was painfully slow, and I knew that I was going to be in for a long dance.
"So, Bethany," he looked me in the eyes like no one else was in the room.
"How's Austin?"
How did he know Austin?

*Author's Note*
Hey readers,
OK, WHAT?! A NEW CHAPTER?!
Yes, a new chapter. Hope y'all enjoy it!
It's the longest I've written so far so yeah, enjoy! I doubt I'll start updating frequently, but if I do it'll only be weekly.
Feel free to leave a comment and vote (please!).

Thanks eternally to the people who are actually still reading this, it means a lot to me!

-Ed