Court Of Blood And Ivory

♤Lessons♤

Flowers bloom around me as I sit in the grass and soak in the warm rays of sunlight. I turn the fragile page of my book as the story encaptures my mind. "Miss Athena." I look up to see the one and only Alexander walking toward me "Alexander." I say and he smiles kissing me softly. "How are you today my dear." A smile graces my lips. "Perfectly okay now." I tell him and a grin spreads to his full lips.

The weather shifts and things go dark as the wind picks up. "I hope you don't mind, I just need one taste." He says as his teeth elongate and I feel them sink into my throat as I let out a scream.

I shoot out of bed as the bells are being rung. "Athena?" I hear Liliana call out to me with sleep still laced in her voice.

My heart hammers in my chest as my breathing slowly returns to normal. "I'm fine," I tell her as the rays of sun shine through the curtain,"I just had a nightmare." I inform.

Strands of hair slips out of my braids no doubt due to the restlessness of the night. "Would you like to talk about?" She asks me and I look over at her. "Not particularly." I say and she nods standing up and stretching. Her hair is in curlers and her cheeks are slightly flushed.

I slip on a light purple dress above the corsets and petticoats and do a simple updo for my hair. Lilana picks out a light pink dress as her strawberry blonde curls fall around her face. "Shall we go?" She asks as we finish lacing up our shoes. "Please." I tell her. We walk down the steps and I can't help but think about the dream.

It obviously doesn't mean anything. It was just a foolish nightmare. We take our seats in the dining hall and wait until all of the girls are seated.

Breakfast is served as Ms Elena walks in. "Good morning ladies." She says and we all tell her good morning back in chorus.

"Today we will begin our lessons. We will see what you know and what you need to improve on. This Saturday at half past seven the first ball will commence and I would like all of you to be very much improved by that time." She informs and I notice the girls get jittery.

I stay silent and eat my toast, balls were never my cup of tea. I much prefer to stay in solice.

"Once you are finished please meet me in the sitting room." She says before walking out.

The girls chatter amongst themselves as we finish eating. I feel eyes on me and I look up to see Melanie glaring at me with eyes full of hate. What did I do?

She leans over to Lydia Carstroph and whispers in her ear. The both erupt in giggles and stare at me.

I place my utensils down, wipe my mouth and stand as I exit the room fighting the urge to tell those girls what I think. I am the first in the sitting room before Melanie follows in. "Hello my dear Athena." Her tone holds so much sweetness one could get diabetic from it. "Hello Melanie." I reply formally and she frowns. "That Alexander certainly is something different isn't he?" She asks a devious smirk appearing.

"He is indeed." I reply as jealousy runs through me from an unknown source. "You two seemed quite cozy at dinner last night." She taunts as her heels make a soft clicking sound as she sits on the couch opposite of me, her back as straight as a board. "I suppose so." I reply as the sound of heels coming from the other girls reaches my ears.

"I feel its my duty to warn you, Athena, that he is quite the player." She explains. "Thank you for your generous warning Melanie." I say as other girls pile in and take seats on various furniture around the room.

I know better than to believe the gossips of a jealous lady. They are almost always lies.

Silence finally falls between us. I know her type. I dealt with many girls like Melanie back home. I am determined to not let her ruin my season.

Lilana sits beside me her form matching mine. "Are you excited?" She asks me her eyes catching mine. "Not particularly." I reply. "Why not?" She questions.

"I already know most of the things we are to be taught, I am not one for sitting inside when the sun is shining and the sky is blue. Its a waste of a perfectly good day." I say softly folding my hands in my lap as I smile at the thought of being outdoors. "You prefer the outdoors then?" She replies.

"I do indeed, back home we have a meadow behind our house, I used to read out there most of the time." I tell her. "Yet you are so fair" She observes before her eyes widen. "Forgive me, mother always said I never knew how to hold my tongue."

I let out a soft giggle and pat her hand softly. "It's ok Lili. I get that often." I reassure. Her smile returns as her attention is drawn to the girl on her right.

The doors close with a bang as Ms Elena makes her way in. Her eyes are weary as she makes out the chattering girls in the room before they instantly harden and she clears her throat. "You will each get a book." She announces as a dark haired servant gives us each a red binded book about three hundred pages thick.

"However you will not be reading. Lets see how well your posture really is ladies. Form a line and we shall begin." She orders as she waves her hands around. The girls instantly do so.

I get into the long line and hold in a sigh. Here we go.

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~scarletbride30