BEAUTY AND THE BEAST [RICKY HORROR]

Chapter 6 - Another Party & The Poison Apple

Dusk's POV

I was woken by my door creaking open, and a cowering maid standing at the foot of my bed; foggily visible through the black chiffon and tulle canopy.

"Lady Dusk, His Majesty has sent me to help you get ready for your excursion today." She said, holding a basket of clothes for me. Two more servants filed quietly into the room, one holding a hat box, and the other holding a shoe box, make up bag, a hair kit, and tiny jewelry box.

They laid the things on my dresser, and I slid out of bed, dragging myself into the enormous bathroom. Not surprising, they'd already drawn a bath for me. I pulled of the silk nightgown, and sank gratefully into the warm water. My room was constantly cold, so this was a nice relief. I got out about twenty minutes later, only because of the quiet knock at the door. I dried off and slipped into a robe.

I refused the corset but accepted the underbra. I was given a pair of black fleece-lined leggings, and soft silk petticoats with weighted hems were slipped down over me. A black dress with fitted full sleeves was helped over my head, and then it seemed like an eternity before it was completely on. I'm guessing it was because of the thirty two buttons up the back. My blue-black hair was dried somehow and then put into a braided updo at the nape of my neck.

My makeup was done like usual, black, elegant, and rather heavy. Expensive riding boots were put on my feet, over comfy black stockings. As usual, I wore my black cross crest necklace out of respect. Black leather gloves with fleece lining were put on my hands, and then a jacket that was black with a raised collar and a slight V neck. The hat was then brought out of it's box, and I grinned slightly. It had a cowl-like veil made from a fine netting, and a few feather ornamentations. The veil came down and covered my shoulders as well as my neck, ears, and hair.

"Here is your crop." The third maid said, and handed me a fine leather riding crop. I was then led out into the grounds, where I was brought to a dark-lacquered stable, filled with elegant, lovely horses. Ricky was standing near the entrance, stroking the nose of a pure white horse with a gracefully curved neck and slender face. He turned and smiled at me, grasping and kissing my hand.

"Surprise." He said, and I smiled.

"So this is it, huh? Where are we going?" I asked shyly, thinking in the back of my mind that he looked exceptionally handsome. If anything, the cloudy, cold, grey sky made his pale skin look bright, black hair framing it nicely. He wore a black tophat, black riding pants, tall black boots, black leather gloves like mine, a black velvet cravat, and an elegant black overcoat that reached his knees. He too carried a black crop.

"I have a gift for you." He said, and led me to the back of the stable. In a roomy box stall, stood a beautiful horse. She was about 16 hands high, moderately tall, but also slender and strong. She was mostly black, but her face was stark white, as were all four ankles/socks. A silver nameplate nailed to her stall read "Ribbon".

"She's all yours." Ricky said, and I whirled around and planted a kiss on his cheek. He blushed and rubbed the back of his neck. I half expected him to say 'Aw shucks.' He led her out of her stall, and she was already tacked up. He handed me her reins, and we walked up the stable aisle. Ricky stopped at another stall, with a nameplate on it that said "Remington". Remington turned out to be the beautiful white horse Ricky was standing by earlier.

He led Remington out of his stall, and we walked out to the mounting block. I think he expected me to use it, but I swung up into the black leather saddle, hooking my left knee around the side-saddle horn. My foot went into a stirrup shorter and on the same side as the other for the foot that was higher up. My other foot went into the normal-length stirrup, and I picked up the reins and held my crop correctly while Ricky climbed onto Remington.