Night and Day

Chapter 1

I am already dreading the ball Lady Night is throwing tonight. I know that I should be grateful to her and Lord Night for taking me in when I was just a little girl, but being surrounded by people always makes me nervous. I was never shy as a child, but as I've grown up I've had to be more cautious of people finding out about my... disposition.

"Lilith!" I hear Lady Night shriek from downstairs. "If the sun is up, you should be up."

"Y-yes, m'lady." I stutter as I walk downstairs to greet her.

Lady Night is a beautiful woman. She wears a flowing black gown that hides her ankles, and her dyed brown hair is pulled up in a tight bun with a beautiful necklace filled with rhinestones. I'm sure Lord Night gifted it to Lady Night after he came back from his recent business meeting with the chancellor that recently came to our small town.

"How will you ever become a good wife, if you can't even wake up on time?" She scolds. After inspecting me further she adds, "Have you been gaining weight?"

"No, m'lady." I respond with a little fear.

Lady Night says a good wife should always be petite and small, so, even though I am 19, I have always had to go on long diets to make sure I stay small. That isn't the only thing that makes a good wife according to the Nights though. I also know how to cook, clean, sew, and tend to someone who is sick. It isn't always fun to learn all these new things, but I need a place to stay because the Nights' say the world is too scary out there for a young girl like me.

"Go get ready for tonight. I'll send Giselle up to assist you with your corset later." She says before walking away to, no doubt, finish some last minute decorations for her ball tonight.

Once I get back in my room, I sit at my vanity desk. Staring at my reflection I glance over my pale skin, blue eyes, and my jet black hair, and decide to have a little fun to relieve some stress. Feeling a familiar feeling sweep across me, I look in the mirror. I was me, and then I wasn't. I turn my skin blue, then green as a warm up. Then I turn my hand into a sharp blade, and revel in the tingles left behind on the arm before turning it back into my hand. I have loved my ability ever since I knew I had it, but it has been tough to keep a secret. Not even the Nights know about it. I was taken in by them when I was just a little girl, but the only thing I remember about before they took me in was I wasn't supposed to tell anyone about my gift to shift my body to my will. If anyone found out, I know the consequences would be tremendous. The thing that frightened me the most about tonight was that while I can control my powers most of the time, sometimes I can't.

When Giselle has pulled my corset as tight as it can go, I am finally ready for the ball. My dress is a flowing light purple gown with a black corset a little lighter than my hair. Since I am so small, my dress completely covers the small heels Lady Night wants me to wear. They are tall enough to hurt my feet when I walk, but not tall enough to make me much taller even though I am already shorter than everyone else my age that is attending the ball tonight. My hair is down in slight waves, with the sides pulled into a small but tight bun.

I hear my door open as Lady Night walks gracefully into my room and looks me up and down.

With a slight nod she says, " Don't come down until Giselle comes and summons you, I am sure tonight will be the night, we find a suitor for you."

As she leaves I feel a snake of dread slither around in my stomach. I wish I could shift into a bird right now and fly far away, but I have never tried a full body shift before, and I can't let the Nights down.

About an hour after all the guests arrive, and the sounds of a piano echo through the halls, Giselle comes into my room, and tells me Lady Night has summoned me.