The Midnight Ball

4

Note: Iliana
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After the introductions came dinner, in which she was happy to be seated next to Ramonda. She found her smarter and friendlier than she'd thought, albite not as chatty as the others seemed, with the exception of Mariko and Anushka

Suddenly she felt someone looking at her. It was Margarette, her cold eyes scared Ismie, who tried to control her reaction. She must not have succeeded, for Ramonda noticed and looked at the direction of her gaze, but Margarette seemed only bored by then, conversing with her two companions, and not looking at anyone in particular

After dinner they were to rest for a bit, it was their first night, and at midnight, sharp, they were to begin the event

Ismie wondered what awaited them, no one brought the issue into conversation. It was as if they had not wondered, but that wasn't possible

By the end of two fortnights, which Ismie felt was a long time, one of them would disappear forever..

Everyone must be worried, but worriying would not help her prepare, so she endeavoured to remain calm and rest

Close to midnight, loud ringing sounded. And they were dressed and prepared in a frenzy

The again assembled in the grand hall, but only the princesses this time, without the princes

The Pembroughs were all present

Lord Pembrough addressed them, telling them they would be on their own on till sunrise, when they were to return, wished them a good night, and opened a hidden passage, which looked to be a spiral staircase, leading somewhere belowe the castle

On its opening, some of the girls gasped

Ramonda led them downstairs, followed by Margarette, who did not want to be outshined, her posse, followed by Anushka, and the rest of the girls

Ismie breathed deeply, and neared the entrance cautiously. She was surprised to fond she wasn't the only one left, Mariko was still standing there, looking as serene as ever. She didn't look scared the least, yet it seemed she was waiting for Ismie to go before her, so she did

Ismie went down. It felt like the stairs would never end. She was reassured by the belief Mariko was behind her

Yet she didn't see her, and the sound of her slik slippers was muffled, even on the cold hard stone of the stairs

Finally, she reached an opening and saw a pale light and she went through

All the girls were waiting on a pearly shore, except Mariko who entered behind her

There were 12 boats in the distance, each boasting a lantern, and carrying a man

The girls stood there motionless, waiting.. They reminded her of marionettes.. She Shook her head, frowning. They must be controlling themselves. Maybe that was part of a manual she wasn't given, on how to behave during these nights

She observed that when Mariko reached them, she acted the same

So she rsolved to mimic the girls

The boats reached their side of the shore

Each girl was helped into a boat by the man who was steering it

Something bothered her about these men

She kept thinking, and just as they reached the other shore, it struck her, they were all exactly the same, like copies of the same man, and were all emotionless, just like the marionettes she thought the girls resembled