Freedom Series: Chasing Butterflies

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

It had taken them roughly 30 minutes of rigorous preparations to be prepared for the guest that had just begun to arrive. Around, two dozen guest had come through the grand double doors decked out in fancy jewelry, vibrant skin-tight dresses, and no doubt expensive- suits, Italian leather was every. Guest dropped off their long evening coats and greeted each other with brilliant smiles, some even greeting each other in different languages. However all of their grandeur was not what captured her attention, it was the people themselves. They were...

Ethereal...

 That was the only word Nova could find to describe them. Their beauty was unnatural, so much that it made her uncomfortable. She watched as Maddox walked down the short stairs and greeted a few people familiarly, and for the first time, she noticed his angel-like qualities as well. He seemed to blend in so well with them like he truly belonged. She felt overwhelmed, like an outsider and shifted on her feet awkwardly.

She watched as Mr. Torres walked in with a gorgeous black-haired woman on his arm, her blues alight with excitement as she greeted multiple people at once, exchanging hugs, compliments and fancy cheek kisses. The woman's long modern onyx dress, with an off-white flowery pattern wrapping down the arch of her side, stood out against the bright colors of the room and she seemed to revel in it. Her long toned legs peeked through the two long slits in her dress as she strutted through the room at a slow pace, her blood red lips pulled back in a confident grin. 

Maddox suddenly broke away from his group of fancies and speed walked towards the lady. He greeted her with cheek kisses, which she returned eagerly, and pulled her into a hug. He shook Mr. Torres hand, although it looked very stiff, and nodded towards two young people standing behind them. The lady in black suddenly looked up making eye contact with her, as if sensing Nova's eyes on her, and whispered something to Maddox, indicating in her direction. Maddox turned and shook his head at the woman, leading her and Mr. Torres towards, plus the other two young adults, to their seats at one of the tables. Everyone else soon followed, as if by some silent command, and took their respective seats at their table. 

Mrs. Galloway and, presumably Mr. Galloway both stood and welcomed everyone to the event, thanked them for coming, and made certain acknowledgments to different people. During this speech, Maddox walked up the stairs and came to stand next to her. He leaned in close to her and answered her silent question in a whisper.

"That is my mother, Aspen Torres, my stepfather Antonio Torres, and my step brother and sister, Francis and Francesca Torres." He said, bitterness lacing his tone. Mr. and Mrs. Galloway finished their speech by encouraging everyone to get to know the people at their tables and the room once again exploded with delicate laughter, posh talk, the sound of heels and polite banter.

"Do you not get along with your step-family?" She asked, watching as most of the guest flocked towards the Torres once more. Francis and Elizabeth seemed to have a fan club as many of the fancies gathered around them, hanging off of their every word.

She noticed that most of the guest gave Maddox a wide girth, throwing him displeased or sometimes angered glances.

"Why is everyone looking at you like you're a mass murder?" She asked, picking up her violin and fiddling with the strings. Several more people looked on once she asked her question as if they had heard her and were in disbelief that she didn't already know.

"It's probably because Mr. Golden Boy Guest of Honor can do no wrong in the eyes of the great people of Tacoma, Washington, but I called him out at every single chance that I got, and then he removed me from a position that was and still is, mine by birthright." He seethed, turning away from her abruptly.