Blazing Shadows

Chapter 3

Lillianna laid out two of the dresses on the bed, and turned around to face her brother. "Which one do you think looks best?"

Julian eyed the dresses, contemplating. Finally, he nodded his head at the white shift dress, "that one looks much better. Besides, you're the only daughter of Lord Ayres. It's expected of you to wear white. It would be...scandalous for you to be dressed in all black."

She grinned at him, unsurprised at his choice, "thanks for the advice, bro."

And with that, she picked up the black one and flounced off, shutting the door in a spluttering Julian's face.

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Julian looked around him, surveying the room. The party was definitely in full swing. Important people from all over the land had gathered together for his nineteenth birthday party; his father had even invited Lord Rosas of Serpens Cauda, but because of the malignant rivalry between the two kings, Lord Rosas had sent his son Prince Nicholas in his stead. He nodded at said prince as he passed by, dressed in the signature all-black of Serpens Cauda, a gorgeous blonde on his arm.

"Hey Julian!"

He glanced up to see another beautiful blonde coming his way. It was Crystal. he felt his heart beat faster; she looked fantastic in a purple gown.

"Crystal," he greeted her, trying to play it cool. He didn't want her already gigantic ego to inflate further.

"Have you seen Lilly? Lord Ayres is getting impatient," she said, scanning the room and hopping from one foot to another.

He felt annoyance wash over him, "No, I haven't seen her. She's probably still getting dressed, you know how she can be."

"Yes, but why's it taking her so long?" she asked, still hopping around.

"Are you sure you don't want to go pee?" he said, irritated. She whirled around, glaring at him, and he hastily back-pedaled, adding, "I'm kidding, I'm kidding."

She resumed her scanning of the room and he took the opportunity to openly stare at her. Her blonde hair was held back together in a bun with a few loose strands framing her face. Her green eyes scoured the room anxiously as she searched for her friend. The purple dress she wore had crystals on the bust and flared from her waist, reaching her ankles.

Just then, he saw a flash of black amidst all the blinding white. Lillianna.

She wore a short, a very short, and tight black dress; it ended mid-thigh. She wore knee-highs black boots and her gleaming silver sword hung from her waist in its sheath. Her black hair hung loose in waves, down to her waist and her blue eyes sparkled with mischief as she grinned at her brother.

Julian groaned, "Dad's gonna kill her."

"Who cares about what your father thinks!? She looks stunning!" and with another squeal, Crystal took off to greet her friend.

He shook his head at her retreating back and downed his glass, praying to God to protect his sister from his father's wrath.

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Lord Ayres was in the middle of a conversation with a noble, when he looked up and saw his daughter. He gasped as he saw her attire - complete black! He had never felt so humiliated and ashamed; to think that his own daughter...

Just then, his daughter looked up from her companion and caught his eye.

Princess Lillianna smirked at her father when she saw him glaring at her; she raised her glass slightly, mockingly, in his direction. She excused herself and disappeared into the thick crowd.

She moved from noble to noble, politely greeting them and making light conversation. She was chatting with the Duke and Duchess of Psi Serpentis, distant cousins of her father, when a movement in her peripheral vision distracted her.

Excusing herself, she turned around fully, just in time to see a young man clad completely in black like her, disappear out of the doors leading to the garden outside. Curious, she followed him. But once outside, she couldn't see any black clad man. The grounds were well-lit and couples dotted the lawn, but no matter how much she searched, she couldn't find him. Shrugging, she decided to take a walk. That way she could keep an eye out for that man. Besides, the party had become suffocating; Lillianna wasn't much of a party person.

Soon, she found herself by hers and Julian's secret spot: the waterfall pool. She sighed as she lied down on the ground on her back. She looked up at the stars that dotted the black canopy, trying to make out constellations and identify them.

"That's the Serpens," the deep, musical voice came out of nowhere, making her jump up, hand on sword.

"Who's there?" she called out, sword drawn.

The moon came out of the clouds at that very moment, illuminating the area. Lillianna saw the man then. Dressed completely in black, he would have been quite striking, if not for the taunting smirk on his face.

His onyx eyes laughed at her as he bowed mockingly, "Lord Nicholas Alexander Rosas at your service, my lady."