Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 70: Persistent tensions

As the hour drew near, it was as if the manor had turned into a beacon, vibrating with life, it did. Voices echoed louder through the hallways and became more frequent, the sound of footsteps and hard surfaces bumping rose to the darkening sky as everyone scrambled to put things right for the awaited night.

Comers in and out never ceased as carriages pulled at the entrance one after the other delivering the honorable guests to their destination.

In the entertainers’ dressing room, Arabella faced a mirror that was bigger than her in all of its proportions.

Turning periodically to her sides to ensure the perfection she thought she owed her gracious hosts. Although from time to time, her eyes would lock onto the collar around her neck that held her precious pendant in place.

That piece of fabric had been the only part that survived the fate of Mr Kallum’s dress and came out of it unscathed.

Fortunately, its style and colors fit amazingly with Nerina’s gown.

"Let me see you,"

Katherine’s voice came like a dart to burst the bubble guarding Arabella’s surroundings. All of the sudden, the voices and sounds in the room with her were no longer muffled.

A little jumpy, but responsive nonetheless, Arabella turned towards Katherine who looked even more sublime than her usual.

Dark blue was the vampiress’ color, her dress hugged her forms perfectly and married well with her skin tone, hair and eye shades.

"Such a doll you are!" Katherine gently cupped Arabella’s cheeks, "I’ll never get tired of looking at you. Turn for me, girl," she simpered.

Arabella gave the vampire the swirl she wanted, brushing the air around her as the thin hem of her dress floated freely in the process.

Katherine’s smile dimmed a little, her eyebrows knitting a tad, "I must say, the resemblance between this dress and the one Mr Kallum had explicitly made for you is quite uncanny,"

Not that her face was radiant to begin with, but at those words, Arabella cast her eyes further down, every trace of joy vanishing that very second, "I truly am sorry...," she shook her head, "The Lady has been so generous with me, and I repay her kindness by wasting her efforts,"

"Nonsense!" furious looking, Katherine walked around Arabella to face her, "What happened the other night was not your fault! You do know that, don’t you?" Katherine waited for an answer but when none came, she insisted, "You could have died, for goodness’s sake!"

"Perhaps that would have been for the b-"

Arabella started but Katherine immediately cut her off, "Don’t you dare finish that sentence!"

Finger up, Katherine adopted a stern glare which shook Arabella a little. The young woman’s heart had been racing to no visible end since sunrise.

She’d only gotten a few drops of sleep the entire night before and after more than twelve hours on her feet, her body was operating solely on prayers and a strong sense of duty.

Noting her state, Katherine’s traits softened, "I understand you’re worried, but I promise you, everything will go our way," she nodded, smiling.

"Katherine! We’re off to wait for the Lady. Meet us there," Grace had her arm intertwined with Allegra’s as the two got ready to exit the women’s dressing room, at the end of the line of several other young women. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

"Of course," Katherine chirped their way before they disappeared.

The room grew significantly quieter as the two of them were the last ones standing in it.

"I know we’ve practiced this time and time again, but would you walk me through it once more, please?" with pleading eyes, Arabella finally met Katherine’s gaze, "What am I to do if I am asked to dance in the ballroom. I mean, I can dance, but as you know, my dance practice was cut short after a day from its start," she’d blurted all of those words out almost in one breath.

"Breathe, girl, breathe," Katherine took Arabella’s face in her hands once anew, "I don’t know in what fashion balls are held back in Lustris, but...,"

Arabella had to bite her tongue in order not to launch into unnecessary counts of Lustrisian traditions for balls and ceremonies. There was so much to say about it, so many differences to state, the young woman believed the time was hardly appropriate.

"But as we’ve rehearsed, you and I join Grace and Allegra by the back doors to the ballroom where we are to wait for Lady Persephone. The Lady is to walk us inside and we must simply follow her around as she greets and welcomes her guests," Katherine took a deep breath, "She will introduce the four of us because we are the newest and most recent entertainers on her payroll. You are a special case, but still. Like I promised, you’ll be standing at our center, out of reach," Katherine stopped herself momentarily and looked up at the ceiling before looking back down at Arabella, "Not that anyone would dare approach any of us without the explicit permission of the Lady,"

"And... We are not to speak or separate from the Lady unless given permission," Arabella repeated a part of what’s been taught to her during rehearsal.

"Yes, exactly!" Katherine started, "That is until the beginning of the ceremony is announced, then we, the Lady’s servants are to exit the ballroom and join the rest of the entertainers up on the balcony hanging over the room,"

Arabella merely stared down at the floor. Things sounded simple enough, but she couldn’t get rid of the tension crunching her insides, couldn’t help but feel out of place in the mix. In many ways, she... Was, in fact, out of place.

"Everything will be alright, I promise you. Just stick with me and it’ll be smooth sailing from this moment,"

And that she did. Arabella nodded a few times then trailed behind Katherine, only a few feet separating them while heading for the doors.