Summer Changes

Chapter Sixteen The Dance of Changes Part A

 Chapter Sixteen

Dressing for the ball was torture, her grandmom had hired a professional stylist to do her make-up and hair. Although the gown fit perfect as she inspected herself in the mirror the girl starring back at her was unfamiliar, because she was stunning.

Her long hair was swept up and interlaced with silver ribbons accompanied by just the right amount of pearls, while a few strains of loose hair soften her face. Hailey ran her hands along the stressed silver and ivory tones of the material noticing that the dress fit perfectly making her have more cleavage and a smaller waist, accentuating her long graceful arms. Her shoes gave her some height which she liked but as she walked they pinched her toes.

Leah looked gorgeous in her gown of lace umber and ivory as she watched Collin for the first time really see Leah in a whole new light. She smiled silently because she was happy for Leah, if that was her choice.

Once there Hailey gasped at the amount of people who attended from the governor to some exclusive photographers.

She danced with more strangers than she had in her entire life time. An hour later every space seemed filled with excited happy people as they starred hungrily at her and Kylier, whispering behind their gloved hands or trying to shake her hand or touch her in some way. It was getting to be completely stifling between the bodies and the music she just wanted some down time. So she did what she did best Hailey slid between the spaces of people and found a void.          

The voices faded behind her as she sought out the silence that beckoned her onward.

She wondered down a long corridor lined on both sides with portraits of old and young faces alike of Kylier’s family ancestors.

It was beginning to creep her out a little but she kept her eyes straight ahead determined not to let them intimidate her. They were after all dead, right?

 The marble floor clicked out her steps as she looked up at the gilded high ceiling painted she assumed with gold as it shimmered in the soft moon light. This place was not a home but a mansion devoid of anything personal, no wonder Kylier liked her home better.

Hailey stood now within an inner foyer and looking both to her left and right she could walk either way or go through the set of floor to ceiling double oak doors. Decisions, decisions.

It was then that she heard it, the sounds of a piano being played. Hailey stood there captivated in the shadows just listening when the melody washed over her finding a sensitive cord in her heart.

It called out to her hauntingly, drawing her in on a hypnotic pull. Hailey stepped toward the French doors, to swing them silently open, and slipped herself through as quietly as she dared. The view was breath taking for before her was an elaborate large cherry wood music room very dimly lit.

The kind one only had glimpses at in Hollywood magazines, or through the movies, because they just didn=t have these types of rooms anymore.

Stepping further in she felt the sudden magic of the room's pull that ripened her imagination. Closing her eyes she indulged her mind, not only to the soulful music but also to the pure fantasy of it all. 

Taking a deep breath she exhaled walking silently forward within the shadows of the many tall columns lining the outer wall.

The vast marble floor which was bathed in the pale moon light coming through the open elaborate glass doorways positioned on the outer walls under the lower ceiling. 

The song being played was haunting, in it's own way.

Her skin tingled as the soft ocean breeze of a summer night flowed through one of the open French doors running coolly across her skin.