"Not too tight please Elizabeth," gasped Gabrielle as the maid pulled her corset even tighter.
"Sorry ma'am," she replied, loosening it only a little. Grimacing, the girl peered at her reflection in the mirror. Her head was already aching from the multiple pins keeping her hair in place. With a last tug, Elizabeth tied it off and helped her get into her dress. It was made of a pale green silk with elegant pearl buttons up the back and was light- good for running in.
Just then the doorbell rang. There was silence for a few moments before the doors were opened and all of her family's friends and relative's streamed in.
Stood at the top of the polished wooden staircase, Gabrielle kept a keen eye out for her mischievous cousins- Charles and Matthew Fairchild. Particularly scatter-brained at times, the two of them loved to play pranks on her. However, it looked like she was safe for now. Carefully, she descended the stairs and headed to her father's side. He squeezed her hand in way of greeting as he continued his conversation with Cecily and Gabriel Lightwood. He inclined his head towards the basement door.
"The others are in the den, I think," he said quietly. Gabriel looked pleadingly at Gabrielle.
"Please let me see inside- its bugged me for years!" No parents were allowed in the Den. It had evolved from style to style as the children had grown older but that rule was one of its only unchanging things.
"Sorry Gabriel- you know the rules…" she shrugged before heading for the door. She entered, closing the door behind her and turned to face the next. They had developed the double door system after once they found Will half way down the stairs after spotting the rune that Eugenia had used. She reached into her pocket for her stele only to find it empty. Frantically, she searched the ground for its familiar light. Suddenly, a pair of hands grabbed her from behind and, unprepared, she was barely able to move. A rune lit the darkness and she saw a familiar face grinning evilly.