Those of you reading this I just want to say thank you for taking an interest in SHATTER ME and following it. If you have any comments or reactions please feel free to review…for reviews are always accepted. Plus they get me motivated to update quicker! Thank you!
-momo370943
Chapter 7: Gathering Courage
Haven slowly emerged from her hot bath and was wrapped in a long robe.
"Thank you. That will be all." She said softly as one of the maids curtseyed and left.
Haven made her way back into her room and sat down at her vanity. She stared at her reflection in her silver hand mirror and sighed. Within the next two hours she would be the center of utter chaos. The news of the masquerade ball had spread quicker than the black plague itself. Haven dreaded balls more than anything, but a masquerade quickly topped that. If being trapped in a ball room with 300 other vampires wasn't enough, they had to add disguises to the mess. Just then a gentle knock came from the door.
"Enter." Haven answered.
Yet another maid walked into the room.
"I am here to dress you Miss Dashwood." The young girl said shyly.
Haven nodded and pointed to a green dress sprawled out on her bed.
"I was instructed to have you wear this instead…" The maid looked over to the door as two more girls walked in. One had a large box in her hands while the other had smaller one. Both were adorned with intricate silk bows.
"Shall I assume that this is a matter of Mrs. Fiarpriece's doing?" Haven asked the maids.
They all nodded their heads in unison.
"May I steal a glimpse at my ensemble for the afternoon?"
One of the girls removed the larger box's cover and lifted a black and white ball gown.
"Very well." Haven said in a defeated tone.
Derek pulled on his dark red velvet coat that swept over the floor. He adjusted his white blouse and began to put on his various array of rings. Suddenly he heard a knock.
"You may enter." He said as he took a final look at himself in the mirror.
Mary entered slowly.
She stopped in the middle of the room and wiped her blush pink skirts trying to eliminate any sign of wrinkles.
"Yes?" Derek asked impatiently.
Mary took a deep breath and looked at her brother.
"Have you decided what knowledge you are going to illuminate Haven with?" She said as if it pained her to speak.
"Yes, infact I have." Derek ruffled a hand through his hair.
Mary waited patiently as she stared at him.
Derek huffed.
"As little as possible."
Haven's maid finished pinning up her hair and smiled.
"There…breath taking." She said.
A small smile came to Haven's red lips.
"Why the quizzical brow? I hope you are not pondering too much over tonight My Lady." The old woman said as she fixed a stray strand of golden hair and then began to tie Haven's mask.
"No it is not that. I…I fear that there are many family secrets that are yet to be revealed to me; and they may not be as much family related as I had hoped." Haven looked down at her clasped hands.
"Well you mustn't fret a great deal Miss Dashwood; it wastes that pretty face of yours." The maid said as she leaned over Haven's shoulder meeting her gaze in the vanity mirror.
"Please call me Haven. And I don't believe I know your name…"
"Maubella." The maid smiled.
"Maubella." Haven tested the name on her tongue. "A beautiful name."
"Now. Let us get a good look of you." Maubella grabbed Haven's hands and pulled her up from her seat.
Haven slowly turned around and looked at her reflection.
She gasped. It was beautiful; everything was beautiful. Her gown was the purest white with elegant black lace at the bottom, and showing off her slim waist was a black sash. Haven's hair was pulled up into an intricate bun made of curls. But the most ravishing part was her mask. It looked as if it was formed from black wire, its detailed design of tiny swirls and shapes left Haven breathless.
She turned around to face Maubella.
"Thank you." She whispered as she slipped on her black gloves.
Mary and Elizabeth made their way to the staircase. Their parents had already descended and were gossiping amongst their guests. Derek soon joined them; handsome as ever.
"Miss Elizabeth Vanaldra Fiarpriece." The announcer's bold voice echoed throughout the ball room. Silence quickly overcame the crowd as Elizabeth began to descend the grand staircase; her lilac colored train swept over the stairs.
"Miss Maryiette Vriena Fiarpriece and Lord Derek Vasfrim Fiarpriece." Derek held out his arm to his sister. Mary delicately picked up her blush skirts and accepted it. The vampires held their breath as the last of the royal family joined them.
The faint sound of whispering filled the room as Haven reached the stairs. She took a deep breath and continued her journey to the announcer.
"Miss Haven Annel Dashwood." Her name hushed any bit of noise that was prior created.
She gently gripped the wooden railing and drifted down the red carpeted stairs. Each step seemed to last a decade until Haven finally reached the bottom. Though she let out a long held breath the ball room floor did everything but calm her nerves. For gawking at her were hundreds of eyes.
