Chapter 6

Stretching, Carolyn turned towards Riddick's side of the bed only to discover him already gone. With a confused frown she sat up looking around the room. An insulated carafe and book lay on the table, replacing the tray that had been there last night.

There was hot chocolate in the carafe and a note on the book with orders from Riddick to stay in bed until he returned.

Carolyn knew when he had arrived because she could hear he and Sam yelling at each other as his boots stomped up the stairs towards their room. The door flew open and she watched as he turned back towards the stairs.

"You're a crazy woman!" he shouted before closing the door with a bang, turning to see Carolyn watching him with raised brows.

He flopped down on the bed with a huff.

"Problem?" Carolyn inquired.

"That woman is nuts. Somehow its become my fault that she's had to push back the Gala for a second time."

Carolyn tilted her head giving him a quizzical look.

"Sam and John are throwing a party in your honor. A week from tonight, evidently."

Carolyn's mouth dropped open. "A gala or a party?"

"More like a ball."

"A Ball? Like dinner and dancing?"

"Yes," Riddick replied with a pained look on his face. "Every time a new female convert enters our society there's a celebration. For each and every one of them." He nearly groaned. "The leaders of neighboring towns, along with our Governing Council and their guests are invited for dinner, before we move outside for dancing where you'll be officially introduced to everyone else."

At some point Carolyn had sat back, tapping her fingers on her thigh as she listened. "And at any point do they start bidding on me?"

Riddick sighed. "It's not like that, Carolyn."

"Then make me understand what it is like," she asked somewhat calmer.

He took her hand in his, playing with her fingers before answering. "I know that Sam's already explained that your eyes are changing because of the C24." Carolyn nodded that she had.

"I'm not sure how much of this Sam went over with you, or what you've picked up on since you've been here, but what we've discovered is that this abnormality doesn't affect our children, whether they're born to converts or seconds."

"Seconds?" Carolyn interrupted confused at the term.

"My children, if I had any. For the most part we've gotten away from conversion. Our race has slowly been growing and spreading throughout the galaxy, but we have always valued our women and children, because how else is our race to survive?" Standing, he walked to the door keeping his back to her, "Sam will take you home when you're ready."

"You're not coming?"

"I have some things to take care at the winery. I'll be home late. Don't wait up." The next thing she knew he was gone.

It continued this way for the next week. She would be shuttled by armed guard between Riddick's home and the Grimm's for dress fittings and dinner, and every night she would try to stay awake waiting for Riddick to come in and every morning she woke, never knowing if he had been there or not. There hadn't even been the hope of talking about what had happened between the two of them.

Unsurprisingly, on the day of the party, he appeared as if magic.

He had quietly let himself into the house going upstairs to collect his clothing for the evening before tracking Carolyn down. He already knew that everything she needed for the night was at Sam's. He found her curled up in a chair, facing the back of the house, looking out the window.

"Carolyn."

"Hey," she smiled up at him, causing him to reach out and play with a loose curl. "I was afraid you might be too busy to make it tonight."

"Never." He told her as he inspected her face, taking notice of the darkened circles under her eyes, finding himself upset at the fact that he had put them there. That would hopefully come to an end tonight, though, if all of his and John's careful planning this week panned out. "Ready to go?"

"You're late," Sam hissed at Riddick, as she took Carolyn by the hand guiding her up stairs.

Riddick raised his eyebrow. "Of course I'm late," he replied looking at her like she was insane. "Perhaps you should see to your guest, instead of scolding me," he threw over his shoulder as he sought out John, who would surely be in the study.

Sam growled under her breath, causing Riddick to laugh from his place down the hall. "Come along," Sam said guiding Carolyn up the stairs into a room on the second floor. "I swear that man has never had use for a clock."

Carolyn came to a stop in the middle of the room, right in front of a dress dummy adorned with the most beautiful ball gown she had ever seen in her life. Emerald green with a full sweeping skirt, it moved up into a tight-fitting bodice. At mid sternum the bodice separated, flaring out with off the shoulder cap sleeves. On the neck of the dummy was a choker of diamonds and emeralds.

"Do you like it?" Sam asked.

"Oh!" It's stunning," She whispered as she walked around the dress taking in all the details. The seamstress had been using a mock-up for the fittings.

"You're going to look gorgeous. You're only introduced once. You want to make it memorable," Sam grinned in triumph.

She was standing in front of the full length mirror, trying to decide if she could safely dance, when there was a short knock the on the door and John popped his head in. Carolyn turned to look at him and he let out a slow whistle.

"You look gorgeous."

Her hair was in curls, piled on her head, loose ringlets strategically placed to show off the long column of her neck. The dark green showed off her creamy complexion to perfection.

"Riddick and I are going to have our hands full with you."

Carolyn smiled weakly at him.

"When we walk out those doors, you'll be walking into a brand new life. My circumstances were very much like yours so I understand how frightening it is. The only reassurance I can give you, is that many of the people you'll meet tonight have gone through the same transition.

Carolyn bowed her head and he watched as she released a shaky breath. "Thank you" she said with a smile as she raised her head to meet his eyes.

Holding his arm out for her, Carolyn delicately placed her hand on the inside of his elbow and with a pat to her hand, John escorted her out. "Sam got called away to the kitchen for a moment, but she'll meet us downstairs with Richard."

Carolyn looked up at John. "I have never once, in my adult life, worn anything like this and I'm really not sure how I'm supposed to get from here to there in this," she said pointing between her dress and the bottom of the stairs.

Smiling, John released her. "Try picking up your dress slightly on the sides, just enough to keep from tripping, while I keep a hand on your elbow to save you from landing on your face. Sound good?"

"Is it too late to back out?"

"One C24 injection too late," John replied with a wink. He heard Riddick's chuckle as he made his way down the hall towards them.

Carolyn took a breath and taking John's suggestion, gently picked up a few handfuls of dress on each side as they slowly made their way downstairs. "I can't believe you expect me to dance in this thing." she said looking up at John when a movement caught her eye. Riddick had just turned the corner towards them and had stopped dead in his tracks.

Carolyn sucked in a breath at the sight of him wearing a black suit, cut to show off his assets to perfection.

John smiled to himself as he watched the different emotions flit over the girls face. When they made it to the foot of the stairs, Riddick was there holding her other elbow as she took the last few stairs.

"Thank you, both," she said slightly flustered as she shook the skirts of her dress out, John helping slightly since he knew what she was trying to accomplish.

"I'm so sorry I got held up!' Sam said as she came hurtling around the corner. "Oh Carolyn! You look beautiful!"

"Thank you, I just hope I don't embarrass any of you."

Sam smiled, "Never."

Carolyn moved away to let Sam take her place next to John when she accidentally bumped into Riddick and found herself flustered as his lips brushed against her ear.

"I've got you," he murmured, his hands wrapping around her waist to steady her.

Sam took her arm guiding her back up next to John. "As Council Leader, John will be making the introductions tonight, Richard will be my escort." Sam explained with a lewd wink at Riddick that had John rolling his eyes.

All talk stopped as they entered the enormous dining room. When John stopped at the head of the table taking Carolyn's hand in his, Riddick and Sam took a step back. "My friends, as you know we've gathered you here for the happiest of occasions. We once again have the honor of welcoming a new convert. May I introduce to you Ms. Carolyn Fry."

As a waiter brought a tray of drinks to them and John handed one to her, Carolyn realized that everyone else in the room already had a glass, as waiters went about refilling those that needed it. John raised his glass and as one, everyone responded with "Welcome, Carolyn, May the longer you live, the more beautiful life become!"

Carolyn was overcome with emotion. She nodded her head slightly and raised her glass in return before taking a small sip of the champagne. John handed her off to Riddick at that point and helped Sam to her chair before taking his own. Helping her adjust her dress to sit, Riddick handed her the handkerchief from his pocket. "Thank you," she whispered using the square of cloth to dab at her eyes.

While everyone found her delightfully witty, Carolyn felt like a fish out of water. She took a large sip of her wine when it dawned on her that she was the youngest person at this table and not just by a few years. Riddick reached over, squeezing her knee under the table as he continued to converse with the man seated next to him. Turning her attention back to discreetly pushing the food around on her plate, she missed the unspoken conversation happening between her companion and her hosts, jumping slightly as John tapped his fork against his glass before standing.

"I believe it's time to introduce Carolyn to the rest of her family. Please feel free to either stay here for coffee or join us outside for dancing." John smiled broadly at his guests before moving over to help Sam out of her chair as Riddick did the same for Carolyn.

"Here," she said handing him his handkerchief back.

Riddick let his eyes sweep over her body before taking the cloth and slipping it in his coat pocket. "It'll be right here if you need it."

Placing her champagne glass in her hand, Riddick picked up his own, holding out his arm for Sam before following John and Carolyn to the open French doors.

Carolyn heard a roar go up from the crowd in front of them and hesitated. John gently drug her along as she slowly put on the brakes. Seeing what was happening, Sam let go of Riddick and came up on Carolyn's other side, grasping her elbow with a smile.

The crowd quieted down when John held up his hand. "It's our great pleasure to introduce you to our newest convert, Carolyn Fry!"

Again, as in the dining room, the crowd held up their glasses in her direction.

"Welcome Carolyn! May your cup never be empty and your bed never be cold!"

Unable to help herself, Carolyn burst out laughing at the bawdy toast. She raised her glass in return before draining the glass. The corners of Riddick's eyes crinkled as the crowd went wild.

"I believe I'm your first dance," John said helping her down the stairs to the huge temporary dance floor.

Watching as John maneuvered Carolyn easily around the dance floor, Riddick and Sam joined in. As they danced, others joined them till the dance floor was awash with brightly colored ball gowns. As the song ended, John appeared next to them hoping to steal his wife away for a dance.

"Where's Carolyn?" Sam and Riddick asked in unison.

"I can assure you, that girl's dance card is filled for the rest of the night." John smirked as Riddick's eyebrows drew together. Slowly circling the dance floor, he found her dancing with a leader from a distant town. One that had many, living wives if he wasn't mistaken. Keeping one eye on Carolyn, he fell into an easy conversation, as a few of his men appeared at his side.