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I don't know why it was me that had to die today and not someone, anyone else. Maybe it was randomly pulled out of a hat or maybe I was someone specific chosen by God, maybe It was fate or destiny like so many believe or maybe it was just my time to die. In the end I guess I'm okay with it because in the end the world doesn't matter anymore and I understand how wasted my life was.
I'm Rachel Elizabeth Garrett, My mother was named Elizabeth and my grandmother was named Rachel and my last name comes from my closest family Mathew Garrett he isn't really blood kin but I love him like he is.
Mathew was my fathers best friend as they grew up and he has been with me since I was born- actually he has been a father to me since my real one died ten years ago and my mother died in the childbirth of my baby brother when I was three, and my brother died with her. And so Mathew has been my only family for as long as I can clearly remember.
I was practicing my swordsmanship with Mathew like any other day except today I was stronger which was very unusual considering I'm a short seventeen year old girl and Mathew is a thirty-nine year old man that has a build like that of a massive bear. So when I got the upper hand through strength instead of the usual way (by speed, I'm always faster than him) of course I was triumphant but I was even more worried.
"Are you okay?" I had to ask.
"I'm just tired I guess." he answered nonchalantly. He seemed distracted.
"Ok, umm I'm going to go see if Nick wants to spar for a little while."
Nick is the son of my mother's dearest friend Mrs. Jackson. And Nicolas Jackson is like a brother to me because we grew up together and both of our fathers died in the same war when Nick was nine years old and I was seven. After that Nick had comforted me along with Mathew.
"That's fine just don't tire yourself out we are going to Mrs. Rettergof's masquerade ball tonight so be home in time to clean up and get ready," "Why do I have to g-" I started to protest but was cut off. "the prince and princesses are going to be there so don't start your whining."
"Yes, sir. But what am I going to wear? I don't have any dress that would be suitable for a Mrs. Rettergof ball!" I said a bit sarcastically even though it was true.
Mathew rolled his eyes "Why don't you wear what you are wearing now? It's not like any one will know who you are if you wear a mask. And it is a masquerade ball."
"Mathew you are a genius! But do you think it would be alright? I mean don't you think mother would want me to wear a dress?"
"My dear, you can wear whatever you would like and if you think your mother would want you to wear a dress then I think you should. But if you are not certain then ask Mrs. Jackson she will know what to do."
I groaned "But she will want to make me look like a girl!" Mrs. Jackson is the closest thing to a mother that I have ever had, but I didn't trust her judgment on clothes. Because she likes to wear pretty things and I like to just 'look' at pretty things NOT wear them.
"That is because you are a girl if you haven't noticed. And pretty soon you are going to want to get married and your husband is going to want to be the one that is the hero, and the knight in shining armor. Not you." He gently reprimanded.
I sighed "Okay I will ask Mrs. Jackson but I will not promise that I will not whine my feet hurting from the dreadful shoes she is going to put me in." I said. "I will just have to endure it." He replied teasingly
"Dear God Please save me from this wretched fate!" I prayed aloud, even though I knew my captors would hear me.
One of my captors tugged violently at my hair and laughed "Elizabeth It is not that bad, any way I'm just getting started. I still have to decide exactly how your hair is going to be, pick out a dress for you to wear, decide on a mask for you, pick out which shoes you will wear, and do your makeup!" Said Mrs. Jackson.
I had three of them, captors I mean. One was Mathew he was the one that had dragged me here, and then there was Nick he had helped hold me down until his mother came home from some errands (just because he somehow in his twisted ways enjoyed that I was being tortured.) And then came the worst of all. My Torturer Mrs. Jackson. She had the sweetest face I had ever seen, but looks can be deceiving.
"Just getting started? I have been sitting here for an hour and I am getting a headache from you yanking on my hair!" I heard a snicker from the direction of the door, and I tried to turn my head to glare at Nick but was stopped by Mrs. Jackson holding onto my hair.
"Hold still sweetheart! Nicholas can you please go entertain yourself elsewhere? You are distracting Rachel and I don't want to have to start all over again." She said sweetly yet firmly.
"Yes,'m. See you at the ball tonight Rach." He ducked as a high heeled shoe went flying over his head.
"Ok now that he's gone how are you doing?" Asked Mrs. Jackson.
"I'm ok I guess" Trying not to let my real feelings through.
"come now what's on your mind? I know that face and it doesn't mean that every thing is fine and dandy."
"It's just I'm having terrible nightmares lately. The first one I had Mathew was in the woods and I was by the house watching him and I saw these red eyes following him and I heard him scream but I just stood there. And a couple of nights ago I dreamt Nick went to war and somehow I was there too but I couldn't do any thing to stop the sword from…" I stopped to calm my breathing and my nerves I was getting worked up for nothing.
"Those were the two that reoccur the most of but I have had others and they are all where someone close to me has died or gotten hurt and I could not do anything."
"You are missing your parents. And you are afraid that the same thing will happen to us." Replied Mrs. Jackson sadly stroking my dark brown hair.
"You have you're mother's eyes you know. That beautiful dark brown color, I was always envious of her eyes. And you have your father's curly hair I hadn't noticed before because you always have it in that bun" She said as she ran her fingers though my hair. "I think I am going to leave it down tonight." She decided with a small smile. "You know I always wanted a girl to dress up but I guess it just wasn't in God's plans for me. Oh! I now see that that isn't true! I have you now. Even if you don't enjoy it as much as I do." she said with a smile.
I decided to stop my whining after that. " Thank you, Mrs. Jackson for everything."
"It's my pleasure sweetheart. Okay lets go pick out that dress!"
"Okay." For some reason I was getting excited.
"I have a beautiful green silk dress from a few years ago I think it is your size and It has more lace and beads than you have ever worn but I know you will love it once you are in it!" She said in her excited voice.
After three hours and lots of tugging and pulling, I finally got to look in the mirror and surprisingly I looked like someone else. But it is definitely not me in the mirror. I gave Mrs. Jackson a hug and she said in a soft voice, "now that wasn't so bad was it?"
"No. It was kind of fun." I said with a sheepish smile, I felt embarrassed for acting the way I did earlier.
Hopefully all my "captors" will forgive me.
There was a knock on the bedroom door then. "Come in" Called Mrs. Jackson. And Mathew came in wearing a very handsome suit.
"Is my lady ready?" He asked, looking me over with a satisfied smile.
"Yes." I sighed. For a reason I was not sure of, I was getting nervous. And somehow Mrs. Jackson knew it
"I have one more thing." she said as she walked towards me with a green silk mask. As she was putting it on she whispered in my ear. "Don't be nervous sweetheart no one will know who you are, okay? Just be yourself." And with that Mathew and I left for the ball.
Once we got there everything started to blur. And somehow I ended up at a table with five cute little children with the cutest little masks. "Are you a pwincess?" one of the littlest girls were asking me with wide sincere eyes.
I laughed a little "Oh, no I am not." I decided to humor her "Are you? because you look to beautiful to not be one." The little girl giggled and shook her head. "No. Thank you! You are bootiful too!"
"Why thank you. I tell you what, how about we pretend to be princesses?"
"Ok! but we need a pwince first." She said with a delightful toothless smile.
I was about to respond when a familiar voice interrupted me. "Hello lady's. May I join you?" It was Nick's voice I would know it anywhere. I looked up to see a tall man in a prince's outfit. I couldn't believe it, he had gotten their just in time and wearing the perfect clothes for the job. And I still had not gotten him back for his involvement as one of my captors this afternoon.
"Of course you may Prince Charming! We were just looking for you!" I said with a glint in my eyes.
"Are you a twue pwince?" She asked. I gave him a pointed look and nodded my head while she was looking at him and not me.
"Yes, are you true princesses?" He asked in a deeper voice than usual.
"Yes!" I answered before she could, but when she looked at me with a questioning look I winked at her.
and she giggled again.
"May I take the older princess out for a breath of fresh air?" He asked as he nodded towards the door.
"I would find that charming sir prince. Have fun dear little princess!"
Once we were outside he took me over to the fountain and we watched the stars reflection on the water until I realized that he was not watching the stars but he was looking at me instead. And when I looked up and met his gaze he said in a husky voice, "You look beautiful tonight"
I blushed and I did not know why. but his words meant a lot to me and I hadn't realized that he was very handsome, I hadn't realized how his neatly messy hair was very attracting, or how his dark eyes are mesmerizing. And another thing I hadn't realized was how we were leaning closer and closer and when our lips were about to touch I heard Mathew calling me name breaking us from our sweet reverie.
A/N
TaDa! How is it so far? Good? Bad? Ugly? Beautiful? Please Review and tell me what you think!
Constructive criticism is welcomed! As are suggestions!
Also I'm not really sure where this story is taking place in the imaginary world
but if someone has lots of Imaginary city names I'd appreciate it if you'd share
them with me... Please!
If you don't review (even if it's just a smiley face or a sad face) this author is going to go kablooey!
And you won't get to read the rest of the story. Because I'd be dead. XD