HELLO EVERYONE!!!! I missed you all soooo much! Sorry to all my readers that I haven't updated in so long (I lost count after a couple of months ^_^;;)
Anywayz, now I'm back!! I finally have chapter 7 posted!! The next chapter will be out a lot sooner. It's almost done!! So please tune in!
This chapter is sort of slow and boring that's the reason it took so long to write. I actually wrote the end before the beginning so I cant post anything till I write this.
Okay, enough blabbing from me. On with the story….
Chaper 6 – Perparation
By Shirazuki
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Lady Beryl was sitting at the delicate iron-wrought table on the wide balcony of her residence, Thornhope Manor, enjoying her afternoon tea. The skies were an amazing blue and the air was crisp and pleasant. The gentle breeze teased her thick red hair softly and ruffled the beautiful rose garden beneath.
A knock came from the rich oak doors. "Lady Beryl," said the servant as she slipped through, "Lady Rachel is here to see you."
"Rachel?" Beryl said with surprise. Rachel had been introduced to her in court and she took an instant liking to the girl. She was a sycophant, it was obvious, but that was exactly what Beryl wanted, an opportunist to carry out her every whim. The two women actually had a lot in common. Both were beauties with an evil heart.
"Send her in, Mildred," Beryl ordered with a casual wave of her hand.
The young woman bowed, "Yes, milady." She slipped back through the French doors to relay the message.
I wonder what brings Rachel here today, Beryl thought to herself as she sipped her cup of tea. She certainly didn't invite her.
The doors then opened to allow the lady Rachel in. She was dressed in a jade green sundress with a matching hat and sandals. Her hair was pulled up in chignon, carefully twisted, with a few artless strands framing her face.
She smiled a practiced smile when she saw Beryl on the balcony.
"Ah, my dear Lady Beryl. Its always a pleasure to see you!" Rachel exclaimed. She stepped onto the balcony and gazed around. "My, its certainly a wonderful view from up here."
Beryl smiled politely, "Of course Rachel. Please, have a seat," she gestured to a chair opposite of her, "Would you like some tea?"
Rachel smiled back. "Oh, no thank you. I just had luncheon with my mother."
Beryl sat back in her chair. "So, what brings you here today?" she asked.
The girl's dark eyes sparkled. "My lady," she began, "I am aware of your engagement to Prince Darien so I thought it would be best if you heard this…" She trailed off as Beryl's pleasant disposition suddenly turned dangerously calm.
"Go on."
Rachel fidgeted, hesitating for a moment before continuing. "A few days ago, at one of my performances, I saw Prince Darien…"
Beryl looked suspicious, "So? Darien has attended symphonies before."
Rachel leaned forward and whispered, "I saw him there with a woman!"
For a moment, Beryl looked as if the information hadn't affected her. But look closer and you could see the anger in her eyes. The glazed over, turning them into a dark scarlet. Her complexion flushed an unnatural color and her nostrils flared dangerously. She clenched the napkin in her hands until her knuckles turned white. After a period of deathly silence, Beryl finally spoke.
"Who was she?" she asked quietly.
Rachel smirked just a little. "Serena Claymore," she stated smugly.
Beryl turned her face to her, "No one, NO one, touches MY Darien!"
She swung abruptly towards the view below.
"Rachel," she said a moment later in a calm tone, "Tell me all about her…"
Serena sat quietly in the little room. Even though the apartment she and Amy rented was small, it had one very enticing attribute. When the sky was clear and the sun shined brightly, the little room that Serena was now sitting in would be filled with light. There were windows on three sides of the walls, all streaming with the warmth from the sun, basking everything in the golden light.
The room was filled with flowers and little mementos. A picture here, a figurine there, it seemed so inviting.
The walls were a pastel cream. So rich and warm it seemed, that upon sight, Serena felt in love with it. From the windows, she could look down upon the city at night and marvel at its midnight glory. When settled in this little room, she felt reality slip away and everything seemed perfect.
It was obvious to even Amy that this was just the place to settle and that this room belonged to Serena just as canvas belongs to a painter.
Serena had altered the room just a little, a new bookcase in the back and a desk by a window. This was her music room, her very own music room. She loved this place like no other. It was like a haven from the world.
Serena slowly stood up from her chair in the middle of the room. She made her way to the bookshelf in the back and trailed her fingers haphazardly though its contents.
Her fingers stopped on the old worn cover of a nameless book. It had no title but Serena knew what it was. She had studied it for countless nights, practiced it for endless days. It was her mother's songbook. Her compositions.
Serena set the book on the music stand and flipped open to the book-marked page. Her favorite song. She picked up her violin and carefully placed the bow upon it. She drew the bow across the strings slowly and the first note flowed out so clearly. The wonderful masterpiece was indescribable in words. Only could you feel its marvel upon hearing it.
Serena lost herself in the music. She painted a world of dreams with the music from her violin. A world where the stars always shine and the moon always glow. It was a world where dreams come true.
As the last note trailed off, bringing Serena back into reality, she sighed.
"Tomorrow," she said to herself, "everything is depending on tomorrow." She looked down at her violin. Her fingers caressed the smooth finish, polished ever so carefully.
She looked back out the window, "The future is depending on tomorrow."
Mina stood in front of the clotheshorse (A.N: in case you didn't know, a clotheshorse is like a mannequin thing that people use to put clothes on. It is used for storage of when someone is working on the clothes instead of for display like a mannequin.) Her hair was thrown up messily in a ponytail. She had worked day and night on this dress and now, there was still something missing. She couldn't quite place it.
Mina had closed her little boutique shop for a few days to work on this gown. It was for her friend Serena. Lita had brought her in one day and they hit it off instantly so when Mina learned that her new friend needed a gown for her debut performance, she jumped at the opportunity to make her a dress.
The gown was a product of inspiration. When Mina first saw Serena, she thought she had seen an angel. It was not that she was so striking physically. Mina had met fairer ladies. But Serena had such an air to her. Vulnerability, grace, an angel. Mina had already drawn up a sketch of a gown even before she learned that Serena actually needed one.
She circled the gown, scrutinizing it from every perspective. She sighed. "What's missing?" she asked herself. Mina rubbed her temples.
The doorbell rang at the front of the shop (she was in the back room) and Mina padded to the door and pulled it open.
"Serena!" Mina exclaimed, "What are you doing here? You were suppose to come tomorrow to pick up the gown. It's not done yet."
Serena smiled and held up a bag, "I know. I just thought you might want a break. I brought some cookies Lita baked."
Mina laughed, "You guys always know what I need. Come in." She opened the door wider and pulled Serena in.
They walked towards the back room. Mina stopped Serena and said, "Close your eyes."
Serena laughed and obliged.
Mina led her to the back and placed her in front of the gown. "Okay, open your eyes now."
Serena's blue eyes fluttered open. She gasped. Her eyes widened and her hands flew to her throat.
"Oh my goodness. Mina, you are incredible!"
She clenched something at her neck and walked around the gown slowly. Something glinted in the light.
"Oh Mina, this is the most beautiful creation I've ever seen!" Her hands fell to her side.
Mina gasped, her eyes frozen on Serena. She rushed over and leaned in. "Where did you get this Serena?" she asked, pointing to the golden locket that hang around her neck.
Serena blinked in surprise, "It was my mother's."
Mina's eyes flew to meet Serena's. Her face split into a gigantic smile. "This is it! This is what was missing!"
She took it off Serena and draped it around the clotheshorse.
The light shone upon the beautiful gown and all could see that it was finally complete. The star shaped locket offset the gown in the most amazing way. One would have ever thought that such a tiny thing could have made such a difference.
The gown was made of the purest white silk. Its tiny designs where embroidered with golden thread. The gown had a square cut, framed with a golden lace and ribbon. A filmy translucent material that was dotted with creamy pearls covered the skirt. The locket somehow, someway, made the design significant. It sparkled proudly and no one could say that it wasn't beautiful.
Serena turned to Mina and hugged her.
"Thank you." She whispered fiercely. "Thank you."
Okay, so, what do you think? Good? Bad? Please review! Remember, feedback is food for a writer!
