By Midnight Blood

Chapter Fourteen: The Nigh Ball

Liridia
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Days had passed and night had come, finally the Nigh Ball had arrived. I had completed seemingly breezy lessons in poisons with Cal and intense training with Nalem, becoming stronger. Everyone was buzzing with excitement and I eagerly watched other people fret over dresses and flowers and hair.

Not.

This whole scenario at first had excited me quite thoroughly, but now it reminded me of home. Of Nohma. The frivolous balls held in the grand castle. The nobles, looking down at everyone like they were filth. I tried not to bare my teeth at the very image.

"This Ball is ridiculous." I announced to Nalem and Sandra who were picking outfits with me in my quarters. There was dresses draped everywhere and ties and jackets and corsets and cuff links. Who knew so much material could ever be made into a few pieces of clothing?

"Oh, come off it Liridia. It's the one thing everybody looks forward to in the year. Everyone is training and we have one day where ladies are left to pick dresses and men to pick suits, everyone to dance and celebrate our time at The Lyre. It's just for fun." Nalem assured me, laying on his stomach on my bed while Sandra emerged from my bathroom in a gown of blue.

"What do you think?" She asked excitedly, spinning around in a cute circle to show off the dress. I flicked my hair from off my shoulder and stood up from the edge of my bed.

"Darling. It's atrocious. I love it." I fiddle with the material of Sandra's dress and she squeals in happiness. Sandra looked very beautiful with her lovely blonde hair curled and her skin powdered lightly and her rosebud lips painted pink. She looked like a princess.

"Oh joy! You do? You think I should go in this?" She continued to ask rapid fire questions that no one had time to answer. Nalem was already dressed in his suit and wrinkling it by laying on his stomach and I wasn't nearly ready with my tunic and pants still my outfit of choice.

"How many weapons can you conceal in it? Does it have pockets?" I asked, reaching into the folds of the soft dress to reveal that it did not have pockets. A waste of time, really.

"It doesn't matter. Violence is left at the door with the Nigh, right Nalem?"

"Exactly. You mustn't worry about pockets, just pick a dress." Nalem urged me with an exasperated sigh. I held my hands up in compliance and made my way to the gold dress and snatched it, making my way to the bathroom and stripping off once inside.

I glanced myself over in the mirror and marked the differences of me now and me when I first arrived. Bulkier, musclier? My eyes aren't sunken in and I can't see my ribs that obviously. My hair is shinier and my eyes are brighter. I looked safer. Like I wasn't starving anymore.

My eyes were soon gleaming with tears and I heard Sandra and Nalem chatting about the Ball. Nalem seemed over the concept of dancing and Sandra sounded quite nervous now, talking quieter. I swiped the tears from my cheeks and pulled the dress up.

I hadn't really worn a dress well... ever. I had worn them to church as a little girl and to my late uncle's wedding but as soon as Pa... I had to sell my dresses to afford food.

I pushed my arms into the long, lacy sleeves and cursed aloud when my arms got stuck and I looked like a demented bird of prey. I nearly ripped my arms out of it when Sandra stepped in.

"Are you- Oh. Do you need help?" Sandra smiled to me, covering her painted mouth daintily with a gloved hand. I slouched in defeat and she stepped her way over to me and straightened out the sleeves for my hands to slot through. I reached behind my back and couldn't grasp the clasps and I threw the soap bar at the mirror in frustration.