Cirice Forge doesn't know who she is. Other than a piece of paper with her name on it, she knows nothing about her time before she was dispersed into the foster system. Now, she bartends at a popular gentleman's club with plenty of ogling and still...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"You look absolutely wonderful, Princess. I'm sure Ivy will be along presently." Ithica commented as Cirice eyed herself in the mirror.
Her dark hair was gathered in a half updo, the rest of her locks falling freely at her back. Her jewelry was no more than a simple pair of earrings and what little bit of makeup she had paled in comparison to what she could find in Boston, regardless, she was excited for the evening.
Cirice had not attended a ball since she was a child. She recalled them being rather boring and only fun when she and her comrades were disobeying the orders of her elders. She was excited and nervous. She wanted to see Alex and her father and longed to see the many people she vaguely remembered from childhood. Yet she worried--would they accept her as warmly as they had when she was a child? All Cirice could do was wonder.
She was pleasantly surprised when a knock sounded on the door. Ithica called to enter and Ivy appeared. Behind her, two Potentials carried a mound of fabric. One of which was Margaery. Cirice smiled.
"I am glad to see you again, Margaery." Cirice acknowledged as they set the fabric onto the bed and Ivy smiled.
"Well, aren't you going to survey my work?" Ivy teased, gesturing to the bed. Cirice beamed and stood coming to her side.
"It's beautiful." she breathed, running her hand over the fabric as Ithica raised her eyebrows.
"Let's not dawdle any longer."
****
Cirice was fairly certain she had never looked better. She ran her hand gently over her bodice, noting the golden leaves and gems that dotted the champagne dress Ivy had constructed. They were rough on her fingers, and every time she touched them she worried they would immediately fall.
The skirt was full, the sleeves off the shoulder and fanning out into what could only be described as wings. Cirice was stunned into silence as the girls finished their work and surveyed her reflection.
"It's almost perfect," Ithica said, starting away. Cirice's brows furrowed in confusion. Surely she was adorned enough as it was.
"Almost?" Cirice scoffed, eyeing her. Ithica returned with a dusty brown box. She placed it on the vanity and clicked the oddly decorated pewter latch open.
"These were your mothers. She insisted you have them before she-" Ithica trailed off into silence as her shaking hands extended the beads to Cirice. She took them gingerly, running her hand over the gold chain and then the white beads of the second necklace.
She donned the first gold chain, and then fumbled with the second, studying the symbol that stood as the pendant. She ran her fingers gingerly over the symbol, noting it's sharp edges.
"This symbol--I've seen it before," she muttered, recalling dreams that had long since disappeared.
"It is a grucifix--a symbol of the Dark Vale. It once belonged to Papa's mother, then it found it's way to your mother." Cirice wondered if Ithica was privy to the information that she was she doubled the chain and pulled on the necklace. Sighing she adjusted her dress in the mirror.
"Now I'm ready." she said. Ithica clicked her tongue.
"One more thing." Ithica went to the box and placed both hands inside. It was deep enough to where they could not see what she was holding. She slowly lifted her hands to reveal a crown.
It was then that Cirice remembered it. She had found it when she was little and almost broke it when she insisted she run up the stairs in it and her curtains she had fashioned into a cape. She remembered the echoing clag it made as it tumbled and alerted her father of her transgression
He had scolded her and insisted she put it away for it's own good and Cirice was glad for it. Ithica walked over and smiled, nodding for her to lower her head. Cirice bowed her head and the crown was secured onto her head. It was heavy, but not uncomfortable.
The gold finish tied in perfectly with her dress. and the different shaped crystals and diamonds glinted in the light. She beamed at them.
"Now, you are ready." Ithica beamed as the girls smiled. In the candlelight, they all looked etherial.
"Come, we must meet with your father. Girls that will be all." Ithica dismissed as she gestured to the door. Cirice took Ivy's hand gratefully and lowered herself from the stool she had been standing on.
"It's perfect, thank you," she said, releasing Ivy's hand and leaving the room. She watched after them, Cirice's blue color disappearing. Ivy smiled as she took in the darkness now void of energies. Suddenly, a small orb appeared, it's fiery orange color comforting to her.
