My dress is long and sewn with blue lace and a corset with off-the-shoulder sleeves. Francine tries her best to pin back the hairs quickly escaping the ridiculously tight up-do she contrived before I walk out into the lavish ballroom.
"Katia...behave like the Princess you are...," she whispers as she sticks the last few pins in.
I give her a smirk and nod to the guards confirming my ready. They open the doors and the trumpets introduce me. I do hate that Francine made me wear these horrendously tall slippers. Doesn't she know I have about one hundred steps between me and the throne?
I make my way slowly to the safety of the royal chair and once I'm there, the music begins to play and my guests grab their partners for the first dance.
After being greeted by several men, I scan the floor. As soon as I spot Arya, I make my way towards her but forgetting how long my dress is and how frighteningly tall my shoes are, the deathly combination brings me tumbling towards the ground. But before I make impact, I'm caught in someone's arms. When I look up, I quickly stand and fix my gown. It's HIM.
"You should be more careful, Princess. Wouldn't want Auroria's heir to the throne all bruised and blue," he jokes.
"I'm perfectly fine, Prince Alexandar. I could have managed," I snark back.
"You look beautiful, Katia. You have really grown out of that ugly duckling stage."
"Is that really supposed to be a compliment...," I roll my eyes at the jestering Prince. Before I allow him think up some witty comeback, I walk away and continue towards Arya with my head held up high. I feel so confident with my quick and fluid exit but I'm secretly praying I don't fall again.
Once I make it to Arya, I let out a sigh of relief.
"So...how'd it go with Prince Gorgeous"? Arya awes.
"Excuse me? More like Prince Arrogant." I spit.
"Oh I think I saw your cheeks flush scarlet, Katia...you can't hide anything from me."
"Uh huh...well you know how I fall head over heels for cocky royalty."
"Oh Katia...you're too stubborn. He's actually really nice if you'd give him a chance."
"We don't need the Embers in Auroria...simple as that." As I continue to list the reasons why I despise Alexandar and his kingdom, my eyes lock with a young man's who is standing against the back wall. His eyes are so cold...they are piercing through me. In seconds, he draws his gaze elsewhere. Who is he I wonder? I'm torn out of my thoughts when a large glass chandelier crashes into the center of the dance floor and a cold wind blows out almost all of the candles in the room.
I hear several people scream and then...laughter echoes throughout the eerie-lit ballroom.
"What is that...?" Arya mumbles.
I stand close to Arya's side as a cloaked figure appears near the fallen chandelier.
The figure exclaims, "Well well...what a wonderful party this is! A shame I wasn't invited..."
