CORRUPTED FILE [Lumina Chronicles Past Drafts]

Final Level: Caught Between Ocean And Flame

I wanted to ask Marcellus about Elle and my parents, but as the footman opened the carriage door I knew I was out of time. "Once the ball is over," I glared at Marcellus, "You're telling me everything."

Marcellus smiled, a disgustingly fake expression, "Yes yes, of course."

I smiled politely at the footman, he was the same one I'd met my first two times in Lumina, and allowed him to help me out of the carriage.

"You look lovely, Lady Jacintha." The footman said.

"Thank you," I smiled.

The footman handed me off to the herald, who smiled politely in recognition before announcing my name. "Introducing Lady Jacintha Carlyle!"

I started off down the stairs, scanning the crowd for Cas.

"Introducing Lord Marcellus Villiers!" I glanced over my shoulder and saw Marcellus coming down the stairs behind me. Villiers. Was that his real last name? If so, why wasn't he using an alias? 

"So what is your mission?" I asked him as we both made our way to the ballroom floor. 

"Secret," Marcellus winked, then his eyes raked over the crowd and he caught sight of an exceptionally beautiful girl, who happened to be wearing a gown with an exceptionally plunging neckline. A sly smile split his face. "Excuse me, Jacintha, but I have a new friend to meet." 

I watched as he crossed the room and bowed to the girl, saying something that I was too far away to hear. She blushed, and then the two of them danced off. 

I stood alone, heaving a sigh as I continued my search for the prince. 

"Lady Jacintha!" A familiar voice exclaimed. The prince's eyes glittered, and he grinned from ear to ear as he made his way across the floor to me.

"I missed you, Cas." I said honestly, allowing him to pull me into a hug. My eyes stung and I smiled as I hugged him back. At least Cas still liked me. Even if everyone else in the Shadow Realm had betrayed me and used me, Cas still cared. "Shall we dance?" I offered. 

Casimir nodded, still smiling, and pulled me out onto the floor. We danced for a while, but something seemed off. Cas was normally a good dancer, but by about the fourth time he stepped on my toes I had to stop him. "Cas, what's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing's wrong," he said quickly, but I gave him a look and he blushed scarlet. "Okay, okay, um... let's go sit over there." Casimir led me over to a pair of empty chairs along the wall of the ball room. We sat silently for a moment and Cas stared down at the floor.  

"What is it?" I worried. Was he going to tell me he looked on a map and couldn't find Gallifrey? Was he going to call me out as a liar? Tell the guards to arrest me? Tell me he never wanted to see me again? I hoped not. I didn't think I'd be able to handle losing all of my friends.  

"Nothing's really wrong, I just um... I wanted to ask you something." He looked up at me with wide, worried eyes. "And I want you to answer me truthfully, okay?" 

My heart thudded. Oh no. I nodded, smiling thinly. I didn't trust my voice to speak. 

"Jacintha do you... like me?" He asked.

Oh thank goodness, an easy question. "Of course I like you, Cas, you've become such a good friend." I squeezed his hand. 

He blushed again and shook his head, "No, not like that. I mean... do you think you could ever," He coughed nervously, shifting in his seat. "Ever um... fall in love? With me?"