City of Fire

Chapter Thirty-Eight

"Ilona"

This was so stupid...

The thought kept playing over and over inside her head as she walked through the halls. Her dress was a turquoise color, the v-neckline showing off her slender neck and smooth, muscular shoulders. The dress then tapered in at the sides, hugging her figure to fall down in different waves of silk in front of her so that when she walked it nearly looked like the ocean. She'd fidgeted the whole entire time the maids had attended her but she was relieved to find Anne amongst them. She'd done her hair again, braids coming back to show off her face while the rest was loose, coming down in soft waves around her shoulders. Little beads had been woven into them, matching her dress and showing off the color of her dark hair and striking eyes. She'd certainly looked different and was surprised at the awed faces of the maids as they'd stared at her.

Ilona glanced down, silently thanking Anne who'd managed to get her simple, small white heels compared to the monsters the other maids had laid out for her. As she did she glimpsed her stone and reaching up touched it. Heat spread into her fingers and up her arm. She smiled, feeling significantly better. Lowering her arm, which bore a gold bracelet that of a dragon, she steadied herself before the large doors. She was to meet her Guardians here and was informed that they were to enter after being announced. The hall was deserted, but behind the heavy doors she could hear loud, rhythmic music. It seemed to seep into the stones, vibrating and pulsing with life until it made her want to bound about the hall, moving with the splendidly wild notes.

"You look nice." Ilona turned to see Tidus there and stopped short, staring at him. He wore dark leather breeches, his coat a deep red with gold stitching resembling flames upon it. The coat was open, revealing a simple white shirt underneath but a few buttons remained open, allowing her to see his tanned skin and the hint of his tattoo. His hair, instead of standing up in spiky, messy waves, was actually tamed so that it lay softly against his brow. He smiled at her, his cinnamon colored eyes warm and she returned it.

"And don't you look different?" She ran her eyes over him again, staring at him and he shrugged.

"Only took me ten minutes to get ready," at the comment Ilona snorted. Figures, even in Eden guys only took a few seconds to get ready while the girls took hours.

"Typical," she muttered underneath her breath and Tidus cocked a brow at her.

"What was that?" He asked while stepping closer and she caught the hint of cinders and odd spices that made her nose tingle.

"Nothing," her tone was light and teasing but before Tidus could press her another figure appeared in the hall. Adrian strode towards them, his black boots slapping against the stones as he walked. His breeches were white, his shirt a silver while his own coat was white as well. It was stitched with a light blue thread, silver overlying that. It was buttoned up to the top and a blue sash was around his waist. He smiled at her, his blue eyes sharp and beautiful against the white of his outfit. His blonde hair was perfect, sweeping down to the side so that it framed his elegant face. He looked like a prince out of a fairytale and certainly acted like one when he bowed low in front of her, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles.

"My Dominus, you look absolutely exquisite," he breathed as if he couldn't get enough air into her lungs. Ilona flushed slightly, not liking all the attention and pulled her hand out of his.

"Thank you, Adrian, and you look rather handsome yourself," she gave him a small smile, butterflies settling in her stomach as the music momentarily ceased. Her light teal eyes found the imposing doors before coming back to her two Guardians.