Darkly Devoted (Book 1, 2, 3)

DD Chapter 22 - The Autumn Dance

Chapter 22

ON THE night of the dance, Vivienne awkwardly stared at herself in the mirror. She had done a clumsy job braiding and putting her dark hair up in a bun. Her hair was decorated with a cheap rose clip. Standing there in her wrinkled, store-bought dress that had already begun to show loose threads at the hem, she felt as far from Manna City as could be. Her gown at the masquerade had a collar of exotic feathers, carefully selected and hand-applied by artisans. She had been almost literally sewn into the gown. Not a single seam was out of place. The gown was made with real night-blooming flowers embroidered into it.

This raspberry monstrosity she wore now was baggy in all the wrong places. Vivienne wasn't sure if there even was lining. She just hoped the shoulder straps stayed together long enough to keep her breasts from popping out. As much as she always dreamed of going to the prom with Blake, she never really thought out the logistics of it. She remembered Lady Thorne and her wardrobe of fantastic, otherworldly gowns. Vivienne found herself terribly worried that he would be horribly disappointed in her sad excuse for a prom dress.

When Vivienne came down the stairs, she momentarily wondered if Blake was going to come to their front door. If he did, how would her father react? Was her father even going to recognize him? Would her father forbid her from going? There was no chance of that. Vivienne had ordered Blake to stay far away from her house because she didn't want to end up in the same lot as her parents, as Janun had.

As Vivienne gazed into the living room's darkness, she immediately saw that her worries were unfounded. Her father was passed out on the couch and snoring.

"Dad?" Vivienne asked. "Hey, I'm heading out now."

There was no response. Standing there, in the best finery that Remin could produce, Vivienne couldn't help but feel sad. She wasn't sure what she wanted from him. Maybe she was too caught up in the fantasy of going to a high school dance. What was she expecting? That he was going to show up at the front door and grill Blake about when he was planning to bring his little girl home? It almost made Vivienne laugh to think that could happen.

"Dad, don't stay up," Vivienne whispered. "I'll be safe. I'm with a boy who loves me. If you were ever to speak to him — which you won't, not while Julian is here — I think you'll agree, he's the perfect one for me."

Stepping outside the front door, Vivienne immediately wished she had taken the back way out. On the sidewalk just a couple of houses down were Janun and Julian, locking lips.

"Ugh, YUCK!" Vivienne squealed and covered her eyes. "Really? You have to do that here?"

"Where are we supposed to go?" Janun asked accusingly. "We were thinking about following you guys to your dance. I heard they decorated the meadow with Christmas lights for it."

Vivienne stood there, glaring at her sister, until Janun tugged at Julian's arm. "Who wants to go to a kid's party anyway? Let's go to the mall."

"Cute dress," Julian said with a wink. "But I think that necklace has seen better days."

Janun burst out giggling and punched Julian in the chest. "You're hilarious, Namura. I think that old toy necklace is the only piece of jewelry she owns."

"Can't your new boyfriend afford something better?" Julian teased.

"Why don't we go to the mall, and you can pick out a new necklace for me?" Janun whispered beguilingly, with a flutter of her eyes. "Heck, maybe if I'm feeling generous, I'll even let you borrow it, Vivienne."

"You had better, before her neck turns green from that rusty thing."

"You're supposed to take jewelry off to shower, you poor dweeb," Janun remarked with a roll of her eyes.