Hollow

Chapter 4

I tensed up. I glanced at my father with a shocked expression.

" How could you-" I said in a shocked, raspy voice. Father glanced at me with no emotion as I clenched the edge of my skirt with my fist.

" Alexandros-, she won't be a problem right?" The Woman said her eyes raked over my lithe body.

" She won't-" My father said, his cold gaze pinning on me. I clenched my fist quietly. I felt Gabriels warm calloused hands brush over mine comfortingly.

" Evangeline-" Father said coldly. I flinched

" Yes . . father-" I said meekly, feeling myself tremble. Gabriels fingers intertwined with mine warmly.

"Please take Annalise to her chambers . . and do me a favor and give her a few of your skilled handmaidens. You will be fine with sharing a few with your sister?" Father said sharply.
" Yes . . father," I murmured quietly.

"Father- '' Annalise replied. " I am grateful to be allowed to receive sisters esteemed maids-. I am not bothering anyone am i?"

" No you aren't Annalise. Now stop being a bother and follow Lady Evangeline to your chambers-" The Woman said in a sharp tone. Annalise nodded before skipping over to me.
" Hello! I am Annalise. I am grateful and so elated I have received a beautiful sister like you!" She beamed. Looking at the new . . daughter of our house didn't seem to fill me up with dread. At Least the house won't be so gloomy anymore with a new child among our ranks.

I smiled lightly.

-o-

Annalise was quite talkative and she didn't care for formalities. Which would definitely be a problem soon. I had taken a liking to her. She was a beam of ray that had entered her house. Annalise had told me that she has two elder twin brothers. About two years older than me. I didn't quite see that as a problem either, since I've always wanted elder brothers. Weeks drifted by and Annalise had joined me with preparing for the debutante. Since her mother had unfortunately managed to convince my father to let annalise take a part in my debutante since she was of age. I didn't mind though, since a sister of mine was excited to take a part of the ball. Annalise was a ray of sunshine to all the servants in the house and a breath of fresh air to me. Gabriel vistied frequently day and night. I didn't seem to be bothered if she would steal my fiancee, since she thought me and Gabriel were meant to be, she was actually quite ecstatic.

The ball was coming up soon, and I had spent a lot of time practicing how to dance properly. Annalise was quite excited and she was quite fond of the dress we had picked for her. Soon the night before the debutante had approached.

-o-

I sat on my stool as my maids brushed my hair quietly. I was quite exhausted. Annalise had been pestering me about the debutante. And the constant practice with dancing was taking its toll. I had fallen asleep multiple times during the dance lessons. I dismissed the maids before sitting on my bed and wrapping myself in the sheets. The windows were open, the breeze blew into the room making it a bit colder. I saw a flash of black and a smile spread across my lips. I dropped the sheets and wrapped my shawl around me tightly as I walked barefooted to the balcony where Gabriel smiled at me. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he dipped me.

" What brings the young duke over?" I asked quietly.

" Nothing. I just came here to check on my fiancee-", Gabriel grinned.

" Ah, well now that you've checked on me. . you may leave-" I said my cheeks heating up. " I will see you tommorow anyway." My breath hitched as I felt him burrow his nose into the crook of my neck and inhale deeply.