When we got back to the castle, Vivaldi gave me my own room just for sewing. It already had mannequins, a large number of shelves, a planning table, and a number of sewing machines. One wall was completely made of shelves and cubbyholes. I looked through each and found three sharp pairs of sewing scissors, a blade sharpener, five pin cushions, and six measuring tapes.
It was like a miniature sewing paradise.
After looking over the whole room, floor to ceiling, I couldn't thank Vivaldi enough. Her response was a smile and "If you to thank us, then make your dress the most beautiful at the ball. We don't even mind if it turns out better than ours."
I set to work making my dress immediately. I only stopped when Peter came in and almost accidentally stabbed himself with some a pair of scissors. He got a cut from it, which I bandaged, and he claimed it was nothing. It might have been nothing but I had to sew the rip in his pants from the scissors.
"Just go to your room and change into a different pair of pants, then come back and give me those." I said when he wouldn't take them off. He refused to let me stay bended to sew it after I bandaged up his calf. Baka usagi.
"Okay." He said with a light blush on his cheeks. He quickly left and I slapped a hand to my face. He's been like this since, about, three days before I started having my "feminine issues". He blushes at the slightest thing I do, he doesn't like me to be on the ground, he tries to pamper me, and he tries to cuddle nonstop. I wanna smack him, but I can't do that when he's running on his instincts.
"Here." He says after coming back to my sewing room. He hands me his ripped pants.
"Thank you. Now get out before you hurt yourself again." I said in a commanding tone. He might not be a dog, but he needed an alpha female to tell him what to do.
"Yes. I'll see you later, my love." He bowed and left. It made me feel bad, every since I started this he had listened to every order I gave him and sometimes I felt harsh for just letting him do it.
I turned his pants inside out and found red thread that matched before fixing the tear with very small stitches. In less than a minute it was done. I flipped in right side out and You could only tell something was wrong with it if you looked closely.
At that moment Vivaldi opened the door.
"We wished to see your progress." Was what she said. Then she looked at me and saw Peter's pants. "Why do you have a pair of White's pants?"
"I had to sew up a rip on the calf of the left leg. See?" I asked, holding it out to her. She looked it over with a critical eye.
"You did very well, we almost can't see the stitching!" Vivaldi sounded astonished. She must not have had a very good seamstress if this amazes her.
"That's nothing. Look at my dress." I said and pointed to it. It was still a ways away from being complete but it still looked beautiful. It had full sleeves that ended in a point, a sweetheart neckline that would be slightly higher than normal, an empire waist trimmed with an intricate twisting white ribbon, and the skirt was ruffled with ribbons going through it at intervals to cause a slight shimmer effect. It was all trimmed with black lace. All I needed to do was use the silver thread to help with the shimmer and bring everything together. "It's not finished yet."
"This . . . this is amazingly beautiful. Not even when we imagined it did it look this elegant." Her tone and face were struck with awe. It made me feel proud for what I had done. It took about five time changes with no sleep, but it's been worth it to see her look at it with that expression.
"Thank you, Okaa-san." I thought of something. "When is the ball?"
"In five time changes. We should find the appropriate shoes for you as a gift. We are thinking black three inch heels with silver accents, what do you think?"
"Sounds good. Show em to me when you get them so I can fix the dress accordingly." I hope I won't have to alter it too much. That'll be a hassle.
"We agree. We know that it will be even more beautiful when you finish it." She stated, as if she knew it were true. It felt nice to have someone believe in me again. I smiled.
"Thank you for your belief in me." It made me so happy that I could die with peace in my heart. I spoke after a moment. "Say, when are we moving?"
"In about seven or eight time changes." We sat for a bit before she left to make preparations for the ball. It was soothing to be in here. I just needed to fill it with a calming fragrance. Lavender is a nice on, as is cinnamon. I'll decide the next time I go into town.
I make sure that I have five large spools of gleaming silver thread. It might not take that much but it's best to not run out, then I would have to go buy more and I might get the wrong one. That's just a bitch and it wouldn't match at all.
After that I carefully start to do the embroidery. It's tedious and takes large amounts of concentration. But after a while I can ignore the slight ache in my fingers, ache in my feet, the growling in my stomach, and the fact that I haven't had sleep in days . . . probably days.
"Miss Morticia?" I was so startled by the maid that I pricked my finger, deeply. "Ah! I'm sorry! I was just coming to give you some food. I'll put it on this empty bench and be out of your way!"
She ran out like something was chasing her after putting down the tray, my glare probably made her think I was gonna skin her. Whatever, it's best to not be disturbed when doing this.
. . . And my finger is still bleeding. Fucking maid not knocking loud enough, if at all. Crap, it almost got on the dress! I move away before I fuck it up, even if a small spot, and wrap my finger in some bandages from the first aid kit I used on Peter . . . I thought I put it up, hmm. I must not have if it's still in here. Ugh, where was my mind? Oh, yeah. Peter was being a little bitch and not doing what I asked.
. . . Wow. That was a really bitchy thought. I need food and sleep. It's been a while since I was this . . . bitchy? Mean? Moody?
Whatever the thing that I was acting like, I didn't want to be it unless I was talking to Blood or someone else that was a complete bastard.
I examined the food that was brought to me. It didn't look or smell poisoned, and it had carrots as a side dish and some kind of carrot sauce over the meat. Peter had to have made this. I lifted the dessert lid and it was a carrot spice cake. I had strawberry wine to drink though. I don't even want to think about carrots being made into wine, I might die on that day.
It all tasted good, thank God, and the wine soothed my nerves a bit. I can take any liquor poured down my throat, but I get tipsy on wine, and I love it to death.
I decided that it wouldn't be a bad idea to go get some shut eye, since I had time before the ball and I was tired. I walked to my room and locked the door behind me before dropping onto my bed, not changing clothes or taking off my boots.
.0.0.0.
"I see that you're working hard." Nightmare. Been a while since I saw you. "Yep, in the last game if your thoughts are right."
"So you really don't remember." I can live with that. "Been taking your medicine and going to appointments?"
"No! That crap taste like sour feet and hospitals are scary!" He started shivering.
"I never said 'go to the hospital'. I asked have you been going to appointments, those can be in clinics that don't have the fear of death like hospitals do. I should know, my doctor was in a small clinic a hundred miles away from where I lived." It kinda sucked. A lot. "If it makes you feel better, I'll go with you to support you and kick the doctor's ass if he tries anything or makes a rude comment. It's almost time for the move isn't it? I'll go with you then."
"I won't go!" Okay,, you are starting to sound like a child lil' Caterpillar. "I am not!"
"I will drag you there with the help of Gray and hold you there in the most embarrassing way I know." I would do the 'mother hug' if he did not go along willingly. He obviously saw what the hug was from my thoughts and paled before hacking up blood. "That's what you get for arguing with me. I will think this every time you piss me off, so you will agree of it will happen when I meet you."
"That's mean." Nightmare says between coughs.
"I'm not in the mood to be nice. I have issues, you know, and I can't stand the animals and their instincts." I put my face in my hands. "I think I made Boris think that he was a prospective mate for me. Cats' don't even mate for life! I just . . . I just don't think I can deal with a territorial neko and usagi. And Elliot-! I can't deal with a nousagi along with the other two! It's just-! Erg."
"I understand. Sorta. I'm a guy, I can't completely understand your problems, even if I can read your mind!" He said while I gave him a blank stare and a blank mind, it could have easily been seen as "Say you understand again, and I'll skin before handing you to Gray for medicine", or something that meant violence and pain. "You're making me nervous. Are you that angry?"
"No. I'm just moody from all these damn hormones and dealing with animals." I sat in the dream then fell onto my face to try and relieve stress. It didn't work. Whatever.
"I don't think Gray will act this way around you."
"Oh, God. I forgot that he's a lizard. He'll sense it too. Ugh." I rolled over onto my back, staring at the nothing-ness. "Why are . . . you're a caterpillar, could you tell before you read my mind?"
"No." I can see him fidget uncomfortably. "But I really wish you didn't have such . . . urges."
"It happens, I control them, I almost jump any handsome guy or one that smells mouth watering." I sigh. High school was hard. No boyfriends, and every guy wore slightly too much cologne. "It's hard to resist. But, it's easier since I've never done it before. That fear of the 'unknown' and pain kinda make me not want to do it."
Depressing.
"I mean, I'm a twenty-two year old virgin! Almost nobody stays a virgin that long unless they're asexual!" I groan. This sucks. I can't even take off steam because of the damn blood! Ugh.
"Oh, hey, look!" Nightmare said. "I think you're waking up!"
"Wimp."
.0.0.0.
I wake up to an unusual presence in my room, I keep my eyes shut and my breathing even. I can hear them walking toward my closet. Their footsteps are light with a slight tap. They rummage through it before heading toward me.
They stop on the left side of my bed. I crack my eyes. Oh, surprise, it's another assassin and it's a woman. Who points a gun at my head.
I grab her arm and move it up and the gun goes off. She's surprised and struggles but is weak and I accidentally break her wrist, it felt like a fucking twig with skin on it, and I get the gun away from her. I point it at her, she looks terrified but she tried to kill me, and shoot her in the clock. She goes limp and falls to the floor as Peter comes in.
"Where the were you? The first shot happened almost three minutes ago!"
"I was in the maze." I slapped a hand to my face.
"Don't let any maids or servants into this part of the castle. Especially while I'm asleep."
"Yes, dear." He goes to issue the order.
Stupid, obeying animals, and stupid incompetent assassins. If you can't kill me then stop sending them!