And In Your Eyes, I Saw Everything

A Red Braid.

-Vladmir's Point of View-

My good eye stared at the reflective surface of the mirror. The other had been slightly scabbed over and had a white film over it, blinding me permanently. It was pretty upsetting losing my sight, but I knew that I get through it. A Rayne always did. My grandfather didn't have a hand and had a scar over his eye. He lived though, long enough to even see my birth.

I strapped my sword on my hip and glanced at my reflection one last time before heading towards the throne room to report to my mother. It had been days since my injury, but she was proud of how hard I had been working. She knew that I wanted to continue on, but she didn't know why.

"Where are you going today?" She asked me softly as she sat from her spot in the room, her hand gently stroking the arm of my father's chair. It was almost as if she imagined him sitting there, hand where her's moved softly.

"I'm to visit friends in town today," I said and she nodded.

"The dressmaker and the two kids, I presume?" She asked and I nodded.

Days before I had told her about Lucinda and the two kids who had taken a strong liking to me. She thought it was noble of me to help the townspeople and gave me some gold to give to Elliot for his troubles. She knew from experience how it was to raise a child on her own, adding another to the occasion must have a heck of a lot worse.

"Do take Dean with you, please. I know you cannot see properly from one eye and I want you to be safe for the time being," my mother said softly and I nodded, knowing that she was only just worrying about me.

"Yes, Mother," I said bowing before heading out the door and meeting my friend who was already waiting for me as if he had been looking for me before.

"Where are we going?" Dean asked as I walked through the corridors, searching my right side. Though Dean was on my left, I couldn't see him, but I could hear his armor clink as he walked. The sound was sharp like a new blade and it amazed me that I hadn't heard the world like this before.

"Elliot's. I need my gown for the day after tomorrow. I have a masquerade to attend to," I said and I heard Dean stop, but I continued to walk on like nothing had happened.

Though, I knew that Xander didn't want anything to do with me anymore, I just needed to go to this ball. Whether he noticed me or not, it really didn't matter. I wanted to make sure that he chose someone that he was going to be happy with. I needed to know that Xander was going to be happy. Also, I felt the need to see him one more time just in case anything happens between our two families.

"Vlad, you're kidding me," he said and I just turned around and looked at him.

"What makes you say that?" I asked, walking again.

"You're blind because of him. He did that because of that wench Scarlette. What makes you think that she won't come after you at the masquerade? She's unpredictable and might just point you out to everyone," he said, his voice quickly becoming worried.

"I don't think so. She has Xander thinking that she's terrified of me. I saw her in the forest yesterday and I made her fear me. I held a knife to her throat and I cut her pretty little braid off. Never thought I'd see fear so clearly in pretty green eyes," I said, laughing darkly while Dean just stared at me.

"I feel as if I should congratulate you after all the hell she caused while she was here," he said and I gave him a small smile as we stepped into the marketplace, heading towards Elliot's home.

~~~

"Good morning, Vlad, Dean," Elliot said as Dean and I stepped into the shop. I could see the kids sitting on the floor playing with small cloth dolls that I had bought for them last holiday. They loved them very much and I was glad that I could help them.

"Are you done with that dress yet?" I asked, leaning over the counter and Elliot looked up me before nodding and heading towards the back.

A moment later he came back, holding a long black dress with very intricate stitching. It was almost as if Elliot had spent hours on it and when I saw it, my jaw almost dropped. The dress was the most beautiful thing that I had ever seen and he laid it across the counter for me to look at up close.

My fingers ran across the silky material as I noticed that the sleeves had been trimmed a lot shorter than most dresses. I found it very strange, but then it made me think of how I was to impress Xander over Scarlette.

"You know, I got word from the Black dressmaker. I was over there getting material to finish this one and he was working on a scarlet red dress. It had been shortened to the extreme and had no sleeves. Something made me feel like it was for that dance and I changed it for that reason. Too bad it won't be getting any use now..." Elliot said and I shook my head.

"Oh, this will be getting used," I said, stopping him and he just looked up at me, surprised.

"What?"

"He's going to the dance. I don't really agree with it, but it's Vlad's choice. He wants a small chance to earn Xander back," Dean said and a smile rolled across Elliot's lips as he looked at me.

"I hope you have already gotten a mask. I'm sure Xander will know immediately if he sees you. You're not that hard to spot out from a crowd now that you're blind in that eye," Elliot said softly, pointing to my one blind eye.

"Dean's girlfriend was nice enough to lend me one," I said softly and he nodded.

"Good. Now, we have to make plans for that night. Everything has to be laid out perfect, Vlad," Elliot said and I nodded before taking a seat across from him.

Everything has to be perfect...

~~~

-Xander's Point of View-

Girls were already arriving from other kingdoms and it was now forbidden that Scarlette and I be seen together alone while they were here. It would look bad for our image if I had already picked my bride before the dance had even started.

I had noticed that something was different about Scarlette, but before I could even ask her, she had to go attend to my mother's call. I hadn't seen her much since. My mother had her running everywhere, trying to get things ready for her appearance at the dance.

My feet carried me along the path of the forest. I didn't know if Vlad would be at the oak, but I was afraid if he was. I knew that he was going to be angry with me, but then again, I was angry with him. What person in the right mind would threaten a princess? Scarlette was so scared of him also... I just hope that he doesn't show up at the dance. My God, I don't know what I'd do then.

When I arrived at the oak, no one was there. I let out a sigh of relief and I laid against the oak, shutting my eyes and pulling out my dagger, pulling the blade out of its sheath. There was a small amount of crimson on it from where I had hurt Vlad and I had done everything so far to try to get rid of it, but nothing was working. For now, I just left the blade the way it was.

I carved small marks into the bark of the wood when something laying on the ground caught my eye. I looked over and I saw something bright crimson laying on some of the dead leaves around the oak.

Standing on my feet, I walked over to it, only to realize that it was a braid of crimson hair. Ribbons and dying roses were surrounding it and I let out a gasp as I realized that it was Scarlette's hair.

That's what had been different. Her hair was a lot shorter. She had been here in the past few days. She had been here and now her hair was missing... It was almost as if someone had cut it off. My fingers ran over the small braid and I picked it up before shoving it into my pocket.

If Scarlette was so scared of Vladmir, then why did she come back here?

I had a feeling that she had some explaining to do.