Vanessa [A Poor Unfortunate Soul]

25. A Fairy of a Different Kind

"I don't even have the slightest idea" Vanessa exclaimed, when Jane asked her about the fairy ball.

"You could wear anything I suppose" Jane said, shrugging. "So long as you have a mask"

"I don't" she replied, taking a seat.

 The old cabin creaked and somewhat swayed, even though the ship had docked.

"Well that could prove bothersome" Jane said, pouting. "I might have something"

"Wait" Vanessa said, getting up. "I have an idea" Vanessa stood in the middle of the cabin, with her fingers twinging at her middle. Inhaling and exhaling, she concentrated her energy.

"What are you doing?" Jane asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know" Vanessa said, defeated. But she tried again. This time she took an even deeper breath, and purple sparks flew out from her fingertips. 

"What are you doing?" Jane asked again, this time more aggressively.

Within a blink the sparks spewing at Vanessa's fingertips formed into the shape of a mask. Molding and twisting, a material masquerade mask appeared in her palms. The base color was a deep purple, with a black feather bordering the left eye hole and lace as an overlay.

"Watch yourself!" Jane exclaimed, meeting her hands with the mask. "If Jakob should catch you, you'll be fish-meat"

"I already am" Vanessa scoffed, and took a seat.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jane asked.

"Well you saw me" Vanessa said. "Scales and all"

"No" Jane protested and sat next to her friend. "I think there's something more."

"It was a long time ago" Vanessa spoke, her voice cracking. "Or maybe it was a week ago, I don't know anymore."

"Its a boy, isn't?" Jane asked. "Are you in love with someone?"

"No!" Vanessa spoke up. "I'm not. Well, I mean I was once. But never again."

"That bad?" Jane asked, taking Vanessa's hands.

"He told me he'd love me, but when it came down to fact he'd feed me to the sharks." She said, pushing her hair back behind her left ear. "Love is nothing but a window for sadness to creep through. I'm better without it."

"Vanessa" Jane said, softly. "I might not personally know love in my life, but I've seen it bring untold miracles"

"Untold" Vanessa scoffed, wiping her tears. "That's because they've never happened."

"No, I mean" Jane said before getting cut off by the creaking door swinging open.

Jakob stood in the door way, dressed in a red jacket, tight leather pants, a velvet vest and a large hat, with an even larger and obnoxious feather sticking out of it.

"You two ready?" He asked standing straight up, hands on his hips.

"One more moment, if you please" Jane said, getting up.

"Very well" he said, turning and shutting the door behind him.

"Come on, let's go. We'll have a good time." Jane said.

Vanessa cracked a smile.

Her heels clicked on the wooden steps and up to the deck. The whole crew was dressed to the nines, with fancy fabrics, glittering jewels, and elaborate hats of every color.

Jane and Vanessa wore lavender gowns. Jane's ran up almost to her neck, like a turtleneck. A brown belt pulled the fabric closer to her waist, the rest flowed down to her ankles where she wore simple purple flats. She didn't seem to be one for heels.