"Ladies this is not good enough the ball is only tomorrow and you cannot keep dancing at this low level." She pauses looking round at all of us showing how disappointed she was with us. "How will you convince Lord Ivashkov you are the one? Or advertise yourself to all the other royal gentlemen that will be in attendance?" Martha says stopping all of us from dancing around the massive ball room that we were standing in. All practising our dancing for the royal ball. We all now stare at her each of us in shock.

"Zyla, Cressida, Jassiah and Ollysiana you are all regulars at the ball am I correct?" She says asking but knowing her answer already. They nod in response and she sighs again.

"Well how do you do it when you are failing miserably in this class?" She says now shaking her head. She looks round and spots me engaging her eye contact just to mine. "Sydney join me please, you were doing just what I wanted earlier." she says as she places her hand out for me, I go up to her and take it. As she holds me in position for the dance, her arm round my lower back and other hand in mine. Then stops to show the girls the correct position. "This is the way to hold each other" she says briefly then we are gliding round the room together showing the class the dance. It was weird dancing with Martha being that close to a vampire but I'd been the only one to grasp the dance she's been teaching for the last few weeks. Plus vampires were slowly not bothering me as much.

The doors open to the side of us all stopping Martha and I, to see who was causing the interruption. Lord Ivashkov walks In alone and sees all of us ladies, stops and smiles at us.

"Dancing I see, ready for the ball I take it ladies?" He says stopping next to where Martha and I had stopped.

"We are Lord Ivashkov, care to show the ladies how to dance?" Martha says smiling at him.

"Ah perfect, may I have a dance Lady Sydney?" He says and takes me in his arms automatically without an answer. His hand round my waist to lower back and the other grasped in mine. Martha moves back to where the girls were standing and then speaks one last time "Agnes music please." She says towards the orchestral band that were sitting in the room.

I can feel and see all the girls are standing watching us in jealousy, all the sneers and glares going noticed as he spins me round in the dance. Adrian and I were so close our bodies only inches from each other, our breaths going onto each other from being so close. His touch felt so perfect I wished I could dance with him everyday.

He takes my hand and moves away slightly, making me long for that closeness again. He is soon spinning me round and round on my own. As he does the room appears to be just us, I guess class is over. Martha must have taken the girls and left us to it. Just the two of us and the orchestral band playing. I'm back in his arms again but tighter in his embrace the whole thing feeling so right and so perfect, it was almost as if we were meant to be together, that this moment was meant to be ours.

He dips me down and leans down like he's going to kiss me, I hesitate a little bit but wanting it to happen at the same time but as he wraps me up in his arms and brings our face just a few paces away from each other, my heart pounding. I was waiting for him to close the space, ready for him to do it...


"Sydney...Sydney, you've gotta wake up now." Jill says nudging me, waking me up from a sleep I didn't know I was in.

"Huh?" I say groggily being so confused what was going on. I was just with Adrian now I'm on my bed with Jill.

"You fell asleep on us, but its okay. Martha's been going crazy with dance practise this week so we forgive you." She says her hand placed on my leg and her sitting just a few inches from me on my bed.

"I'm sorry Jill." I say sitting up on the bed trying to shake the dream that felt so real.

"What was your dream about?" Jill asks looking ecstatic over it.

"Or who was it about?" Angeline says loudly, who I now notice is sitting on the other end of my bed. I guess it was a slumber party on my bed while I was asleep.

"Nothing, no one. Its nothing just a dream. Why?" I say defensively to them, nothing in that dream made sense. And none of it is to share.

"It was Adrian right?" Angeline says almost jumping up on my bed in excitement.

"Its none of your business. But yeah it kinda was." I say to them though not knowing why I told them that. They both let out a squeal of excitement just as the door to the room opens and Olive comes rushing in.

"Sydney. Dressed. Dining hall. Royal dinner. NOW." She says breathlessly rushing round the draws throwing things on the bed and a dress from the closet randomly chosen without looking nor Jill's approval on it first.

"Wait, what?" Jill says shocked not knowing about it.

"Dragomirs are required to go also, you'd better go." She says directed to Jill but not stopping for a second.

"You're a royal?" I say not having known that fact before.

"Yeah I'm a Dragomir Princess. I'm technically a higher royal than Lord Ivashkov." She says standing up from the bed. A panic rising over her face.

"I'll see you down there Sydney, be prepared though its gonna be filled with Moroi, plus Dhampir all over the room. I gotta go though sorry. Olive finish helping Sydney get ready please. She needs to be down no longer than in fifteen minutes." She says just as she reaches the door and then she leaves in a rush to get herself ready.


As I reach the dining hall, it is just as Jill had said all the Dhampir were lining the walls on both sides, dressed in their uniform. And the tables though had spaces was over filled with royal Moroi that I hadn't seen before. It was terrifying. But I'd now gotten used to being with vampires a whole month in royal court will do that to you if you want it to or not. They are always around everywhere. Being afraid of them all the time gets tiring and becomes irrelevant. Though I'm not wanting a romance with any, I'm happy to be friends with them now.

"Oh I thought you weren't going to make it Sydney. And we weren't aloud to come and get you either." Zyla says as she approaches me and brings me into one of her hugs.

"I didn't know anything about it. Not until Olive one of my Dhampir came rushing in fifteen minutes ago saying they had to get me down here. What's this all about anyway?" I says so confused over the last minute dinner.

"Royals are all here for the ball so Queen Tatiana decided to celebrate that and plan a huge dinner for all of us. Its gorgoues though isn't it?" She says gesturing round the room. It was decorated so beautifully she was right there, but the room held too many people that I feared it wouldn't hold enough of us. But they proabably do these kinds of things a lot here.

We walk over to our seats still in our assisgned places. Well just further down the table this time to cater for all the added royals.

It was so loud everyone fussing and talking over each other. It wasn't until everyone was stopped by royal music that it goes quiet.

The queen walks in being so composed and elegent. She stands at the end of the table just looking over all of her guests and smiles seeing us all. Her people all gathered for her and only her.

"Thank you, for all showing up. As you know it is our Royal Annual Ball tonight. Our Ladies our very entusiastic towards meeting your royal sons and dance with them tonight. However our main reason is for them to impress Lord Ivashkov once more. One lady will be his wife and the others will be marrying your sons." She stands there pausing looking round once more scanning the rows for the many of us around.

"Shall we eat?" She says and takes her seat so gracefully.

Its almost instant as the plates are brought in by non royal moroi all going in different directions to give different people the food.

The second mine is infront of me I have a small panic, its all high calorie foods again. Filled with so much fat and grease within the food that I don't want to eat any of this. As I look round at the moroi near me I see them devaouring their plates enjoying the whole thing. I just sit there unable to eat it.

"Why aren't you eating Sydney?" Zyla says as she looks up from her plate seeing me just looking.

"Not hungry." I say simply not telling her the truth to why I wasn't eating it.

"Well eat some of it then pass it to me I'll swap plates with you." She says then stuffs more food into her mouth. "You can't be spotted by royals with a full plate. They'll go crazy at you. Especially this kind of event." She says still stuffing her face as she says it.

I eat the tiniest amounts eating only the measly salad that was on the plate, though it wasn't enough and held some heavy source over it. Zyla true to her words hands her plate over the second hers was empty and takes mine, almost instantly starts eating it's contents.

"You're gonna hate this Sydney, there's two more courses to go." She says through bites of her food.

"Oh." I just say not having the words to express the discomfort this was bringing me.

"Its okay I've not eaten all day today for this reason, so I have room for all yours too." She says and offers me her biggest smile.

The moroi come and take all the plates just as another moroi came with filled plates with more food.

I use my fork to push the food round the plate and notice Aryana & Veronikah looking at me.

"If you're not eating that can I have some?" Veronikah asks still looking at me and looking hungrily at the plate.

"Help yourself" I say to her and she takes it and puts some on her already full plate. She didn't take it all leaving Zyla to have the rest of it after she ate hers. The whole time I'm just sitting there wishing this part of the evening would be over.

The last course was somehow even worse as it was all sugar. It was a fruit tart that looked lovely but would be so fattening. I could see all 3 staring at me and my plate again so I divided the tart in three and placed some on each of their plates. The look on their faces was amusing all three so shocked someone would turn down this exquisite food. But I couldn't eat that, I didn't have the privilege of being naturally skinny like them.

"Lady Sydney, is this food not up to your standard?" A voice I recognised very well by now says from behind me. The girls all gasp as they hear him in as much shock as I was in. I turn to now face him.

"No the food looks exqiste, I however am just not hungry and these girls seem to be very hungry." I say to him as calmly as I could though knew if anyone else found out like Zyla said I'd be in trouble as this is a royal banquet. "Well don't make a habit of it, we need you very well fed for dancing with me this evening." He says winking at me and going back down the row to the other ladies.

"Oh my gosh, you've just been promised a dance with Lord Ivashkov." Aryana says I could see her trying to hold it all in she was over excited about this.

"You're always the first for everything. I wish he liked me as much as he likes you." Veronikah says and looks almost sad.

"You've had dates through Veronie. I wouldn't worry, I'm sure you're going to have a dance too. All four of us will do." Zyla says a smile so huge over her face.

Some of the Moroi slowly start to part out the room the Dhampirs going with them. Gradually the room just empties and all us ladies are just left there with Martha.

"I hope you all enjoyed that lovely meal. I know I did. Now for a short notice for the ball. You all have just a few hours to get ready, make your way to the make-over room all will be seen. You have your Dhampirs waiting by the dresses and will see you get ready. I expect you to all get hair and make up done first. Once you have completed all in that room, you are to wait in the ladies room until I escort you to the ball room." She says ensuring she has spoken to all of us.

"Right slowly now ladies but you may head off. It will be crowded but be reminded you are ladies and royal guests and all night I expect you to act like that." She says and we all get up to leave.

"I'm so excited are you excited? I already know what dress I'm wearing, I came down earlier today to see and I have the most beautiful pink dress for tonight it is so stunning. I'm going to feel so royal tonight. I hope that I get to have a dance though otherwise this dress will go to waste." Hana says bringing my arms into hers linking us together as we walk together toward the make-over room.

"You'll get a dance, he adores you Hana. Don't forget the other royals to impress also. They can overrule him in who stays and who goes." I say even though I'm aware she knows, but if she doesn't make an impression she won't get to be Lord Ivashkov's wife, any other royal can overrule anything at any time.

"I know and I plan on dancing with as many royals I can. Mingle with them all. I'm a natural don't you worry Sydney. But wait why are you telling me this? You're competing to win his heart also. You shouldn't be helping me." She says her face dropping in confusion.

"I know but if I don't win, I want it to be you that does. You deserve it." Which is the truth, Hana has become my best friend here and even though I don't want to marry him, I know she does and I would be so happy to see her win; to see her chosen as his bride.

As we reach the room it is packed just like the first day we arrived here, the system was working the same you wait for an empty seat, then three Moroi workers will do your hair, your make-up and nail painting. It was so overcrowded so many people busying around the room getting everything done. The only thing I couldn't find was any dresses, they must have been moved somewhere else this time. There was again the photoshoot and the interviewer waiting to talk to us ladies as we finish up getting ready. Though they were both in quieter areas far away from the busy and noisiness that the make-over section contained.

"Were getting official photos with Lord Ivashkov for tomorrow nights broadcast." Ollysiana yells running round each of us girls spreading the gossip. There had been talk during Martha's classes that we hadn't had photos with him yet and that we should have had some by now, so I guess today in our ball gowns they thought would be the best time. Possibly why the dresses were moved so he will get a reaction as he sees us.

"Lady Sydney, would you join us?" I hear to the side of me as I look round I see that Laura was the one who spoke, I remember her as one of the Moroi I had on my first day here.

"Yes sure." I say and see her face light up as though she was expecting me to turn her down.

"Everyone here has said they wanted to do your make-over. It was a fighting battle earlier to see who would get you. Luckily everyone was so busy they didn't notice you entered." Laura says again her voice so over excited. Her smile engrossing her entire face.

"Why were you all fighting over who gets to do my make-up?" I say confused why anyone would ever want to.

"Because you're a favourite ofcourse." She says simply as I sit down in front of the mirror.

"Oh Laura you are incredible you got us Lady Sydney. We are going to be the most popular here." Margaux says almost as excited. "We are so happy to have you again Sydney." She says again.

"What do you have in mind for me then?" I say already knowing they would have come up with something for me.

"Oh beautiful Sydney." Astrid says coming up to the seat looking from behind me. "Simple again right?" She says and I nod to her a smile on my face. "Okay so you're dress is stunning so we want to match your dress color. It is a deep purple color that is fantastic for you. So Margaux nails find a matching color. Laura make-up we want simple but we want some purple to go with the dress." She pauses looking through the mirror her hands in my hair raking through it. "And hair do I have permission to do what I choose?" She says I could see in her face she was thinking of different styles and was moving my hair from one place to another in a matter of seconds.

"Yes I trust you Astrid. I loved everything you three did last time." I say which was true, I'd loved the way they made me look for my first night here and that was just for the first night this was for the royal ball.

They all started working all at the same time which was different and obviously due to the time crunch. I kept expecting crashing between them as Laura and Astrid both were working near my face. But luckily there weren't any.

"I'm rooting for you to win so much Sydney. It would be so refreshing to have a royal Lady that isn't already a royal Moroi." Astrid says then bends close to my ear and says "we have so many of those already, it's about time for a change."

"Yes and you are so naturally beautiful. We've all watched your dates with Lord Ivashkov and you two have grown so close over the month. It seems so obvious that you are the one he should be with." Laura says joining in with her

"Though Lady Cressida and Lady Destiny are also fan favourites." Margaux states but looking at her face she didn't agree they were worth it. "Cressida, is only an option due to Lucian being her uncle and being one of the highest families in the Badica line. And Destiny in a fan favourite purely because she was 13 when she killed her first Strigoi so everyone sees that as a historical moment to be treasured. But all three of us would love you to win. You are perfect and lovely, you have elegance and grace already and Lord Ivashkov would be a fool to chose any other than you." Margaux says stating who other favourites to win were, though neither were who I think deserved Adrian.

"Thank you. All of you. It's wonderful to have your support." I say not knowing the exact words to say. I can't really say to them, 'thanks but I'm not actually interested. I'm here by mistake and now I'm putting up with it because Lord Ivashkov is besotted by me.'

"We supported you from the second we met you. You were already so graceful and so elegant. You seemed perfect to be a royal lady. And then the Instant Lord Ivashkov laid eyes on you it was obvious he saw how perfect you are for him." Laura says again her tone being so over excited. The support was somewhat overwhelming for me. Here were three women who wanted me to win, who wanted me to marry him, who had watched our dates together and saw something more there.

"All done now Sydney." Margaux says being the first to be done.

"Done here also. Astrid?" Laura says putting her things down on the table in front of the mirror.

"Just about...yep done." She says as she places one final pin in my hair.

"Wow." I say looking in the mirror getting a full look at what they'd all done. My hair was done in such an intricate and detailed way, I had no idea how she'd done it but it looked amazing.

"Your dress is in the room next door along with your Dhampirs. They will instruct you on what to do next. Good luck tonight Sydney." Astrid says as I get ready to leave them and continue.


"Right you go in there put this dress on. Then we will put your jewellery on. Then Angeline is going with you for the interviews and photoshoots." Olive says pulling me into a changing station with the dress in another hand the second I walked Into the room. Not stopping for a second to breath between her orders.

I don't say anything to her and just do as she'd said. Putting the dress on quickly but carefully. It was incredible the fabric was soft and elegant; and again it had many details along it, all the way down the dress had patterns. I run my finger over one of them and feel that it was a lily hand stitched into the design of the dress. I look deeper Into the mirror and see the outline I'd just traced. It looked beautiful. The lily's made in a lighter shade of purple but it was only noticeable up close to it.

"Sydney, you done?" Angeline says parading herself into the changing area. The second she enters she stops. "Wow" she says looking at me really strangely.

"What? What? Does it look bad?" I say paranoid that the dress wasn't as nice as I thought it was. Or that I just didn't look good wearing it.

"No no it's beautiful." Angeline says grabbing my hand as she pulls me out of the changing bay.

She keeps pulling me along by my hand until we reach the make-over room again and then stops as we stop in line with the other girls who it seemed were waiting for the interviews.

"Gusteff is doing interviews with you all. It's gonna be broadcast. He'll ask about the ball and probably about Lord Ivashkov." Angeline states running it through like she'd be taught to memories it.

"Okay it should be easy enough." I say thinking to my last few interviews and how simple they normally are.

"Sydney, oh your dress is gorgeous, I knew that would be the perfect color for you." Jill says as she approaches me and Angeline where her own ball gown which was a green color and looked beautiful with her eyes enhancing the color.

"You look gorgeous too Jill." I say to her shocked seeing her dressed like that. It's still a strange thought that she is a royal and never told me. But looking at her right now it was obvious she was, it looked so natural for her to be dressed this way.

"Thanks. So are you prepared for the night?" She gently puts her hand on my arm

"Yeah I should be." I say to her, just I get pushed from behind as I say it, when I turn to see who it is I'm met with stares along with another push.

"Hurry up, some of us want to get to the photoshoot already." Cressida says still trying to push me forward but now only pushing me into Katherine who was in front.

"Maybe you should wait like the rest of us Cress." She said over hearing her and being pushed into.

"Sorry Sydney, Cressida is a royal bitch. Just ignore her you'll be okay." Katherine says turning to me and then giving Cressida a bitchy look.

"Thanks that's what I've been doing the whole time I've been here." I say quietly almost more to myself than to Katherine, she's still behind me but it doesn't stop me saying it. She wouldn't try anything near a royal princess right?

"Sydney. Angeline and I have to go, just follow the line. Interview, single photo, group photo and Lord Ivashkov Photo." She says coming closer to me wanting to talk to just me. "Angeline will be back later she has to get into official Dhampir uniform and I have to go join my sister and the royals. You'll be okay though I promise."

"It's okay I'll be fine, I'll find Hana or Zyla and stay with them. I'll see you at the ball later" I say waving off Jill knowing this must be even more important here than us ladies.

She walks out with Angeline all I could hear as they were leaving was Angeline saying 'but the uniform is so scratchy' which was typical of Angeline to complain about.

"Interview order; let's have the Alchemist, followed by the Royals, then the Dhampirs and then lastly we'll have the regular Moroi. Let's make it quick I have others to speak to." Gusteff says as he looks down the line seeing us all waiting.

"Alchemist bitch, did you not hear? You're first so move so he can interview me next." Cressida says pushing me once more only this was to the side so I'd be out of her way.

My nerves were kicking in again, it's been a while since I felt anxious like this. A month in court, living among vampires, becoming close friends with vampires but a simple interview about Lord Ivashkov and my heart beats crazily. I can't fathom the exact reason it's doing this. Maybe it's my dream coming to mind of Adrian with his arms round me, leaning in to kiss me. I shake my head shaking the image away not something I have time to think of; but there it is playing up in my mind, his touch and his gentle hold around my waist.

"I'm going to ask you one question, you answer then you go got it?" Gusteff says abruptly as I sit down in the seat opposite his.

"Understood." I say shocked how quick he was going with everything.

"You've had 10 dates so far with Lord Ivashkov. This puts you as the leading lady. What do you think the reason behind this is?" He asks looking at me his fangs bared blood still on them, the look on his face showing he was fed up already.

"Lord Ivashkov and I have formed a connection since meeting, so I'd say that its all that the reasoning is. We like spending time with each other in the gardens, getting to know each other better. He's an incredible man and any of the girls here would be lucky to be his lady." I say with only a slight lie, but no truth is to be told or else I'd be gone anyway.

"Thank you, next" he says shooing me out the seat ready for the next girl to come.

"Photo shoot is in the next room Sydney. I moved most of the girls in there already so go join them." Martha says who was standing by the doors as I finished my interview.

As I walk in the photographer was going through the pictures really quickly taking shots of each of us separately rotating it round as girls come and go between interviews and photoshoots. Mine goes quickly also he stands me in the centre tells me to smile and then takes his photos.

"Has everyone had theirs now?" He asks raising his voice round the room over the mass of gossiping that was happening in the room.

"Yes" the room shouts collectively to him making him laugh as we all said it at the same time.

"Good now get in the centre all of you and..." He pauses for a second "well if it isn't his royal highness Lord Ivashkov, you have arrived early sir." He says his smile still placed on his face but he bows before him.

"Thank you." He says a smile of his own gracing his face. "I'll wait and watch the lovely ladies." He says and takes a seat and waits. Watching us all as we move to the centre as we were told.

"Tall ones at the back please and short ones at the front." He says moving us around as he saw fit.

I ended up near the back of the group surrounded by Moroi. He took more photos of us together than when we were separate. He kept rearranging us making different groups and went on for a while until he was happy he covered every group he needed.

"Ladies go take seats. One by one you will get your chance to have a photo with Lord Ivashkov." He says moving a small love seat to the centre of the floor for his photos. Adrian joins him and takes his seat on it waiting for the First Lady to be called out for the photos.

The whole thing flows easily the photographer chose back row to go first asking one girl at a time to go join Lord Ivashkov. They sit next to him and they speak for a few moments and then the photo gets taken, just one for each. That girl goes and the next one comes up.

As it is almost my turn I notice him looking at me a smile showing across his face it was like he was trying to say something to me.

"Your turn Syd." Hana says pushing me up from the seat. Me being to engrossed in his smile to notice.

"You look exceptionally gorgeous today." Adrian says to me as I join him at the centre

"Thanks you're not looking bad yourself." I say back to him and he did look so handsome, he had a tux on ready for the ball.

"Do you like your dress? I designed It just for you. But shhh don't tell the others." He says and gives me his usual smirk being proud of himself for what he'd done.

"What?" I say shock covering my face

"Stand please you two." Which we do "Lord place your arms around her waist." He does as he was told, making the dream that much more real. This is the first time I've ever felt his touch like this to have ever been this close to him.

"I was in our special place earlier. I wish you'd been there today." He says looking down at me as I look at him and the two of us are smiling at each other, holding each other.

"Thank you that was perfect." The photographer says. We both turn to him neither of us remembering what had been happening or even realised he'd taken a photo.

"Next girl up please." He says forcing Adrian and I to part ways from each other. As the photographer finishes all the shoots.


I enter the ball room my palms sweating and my nerves being full volume. I'd been prepared with knowledge on how to dance. Martha had taught us how to talk to everyone here and what etiquette and language to use, but being in close proximity and sharing an intimate dance with strangers all night that was something I wasn't expecting or having been prepared for at all.

It's strange to think that I am standing here right now looking Into a room filled with royal vampires from all over the world, most whom have come specifically to look at me and the other ladies that are here. In preparation that some of us will be married to their sons instead of Lord Ivashkov. But any marriage to any of them Adrian included is not going to happen, it's not right in any situation or in any way I think about it.

"Lady...Sydney" I hear breaking me away from my engrossed daze I was in staring at all the dancing Moroi.

"Yes, sir?" I say though thoroughly confused until I notice that I'm standing in front of a young royal gentleman he's tall with messily styled blonde hair and wearing a really fancy tux. His hand appears in front of me and I just stare at it. He looks at me with a twinkle in his eyes and smiles at me amused at my obliviousness.

"May I request this dance?" He says though we were taught the hand and our names were all to respond to and should have been done right the way.

"Yes you may sir...?"

"Zakiah, Zakiah Szlesky." He responds with and takes my hand in his as we walk into the dance floor, that was filled with many other Moroi and a few of the other girls getting acquainted with the royals.

"So Lady Sydney, the only alchemist and the first to ever run to marry one of us. What made you choose to enter?" He says while we were dancing together. His face showing he was intrigued to know the answer.

"My family, they said it would be a huge honor for us if I entered."

"And what about you? Why did you enter? Not why they wanted you to but why did you do it?" I looked at him confused I'd just told him hadn't i?

"My family wanted me to so I did." I say still confused what he was expecting me to say to him.

"Did you want to? Did you want to marry one of us?" He says rephrasing his question slightly.

I look at him unsure if I should lie or tell the truth, I could lose my place here with either answer I give him. I think it over nothing seeming right at all.

"Not as much as my mom and sister wanted me to." I just say though it was neither a lie nor the truth but a twist on an answer. He nods in acceptance to my answer.

"I personally thought my sister was crazy for wanting to marry him. Don't get me wrong he is a great guy. But..." he pauses looks round the room a bit checking no one was listening to him but me. "But he's had a fair few girls in his time. He's not good at committing to one girl. I personally can't see that marriage is gonna stop that. But Lady Sydney you didn't hear it from me." He says I nod in a confused response. I'd heard he'd been with others, he's told me himself he has had girlfriends in the past but Zakiah was making it sound worse than it should be, as though Adrian isn't exactly what he says he is. Just more confusion over him that I don't need right now.

"There's something different about you Lady Sydney." He says looking right into my eyes as he says it.

"What do you mean? That I'm the only human? Well that's pretty obvious." I say to him almost raising my voice in anger. An anger I didn't realise was there.

"No no no. Besides that. I've been watching your broadcasts and I even requested your file to read about you. You're different to the other girls. You intrigue me and I like that." He says his smirk still on his face and his eyes still twinkling at me.

I don't know how to respond and obviously take too long to think of something as the second I open my mouth thinking of responding he starts speaking again Instead.

"Don't, don't you worry about saying anything. Just let me know now that if things don't work out for you and Lord Ivashkov that you'll give me a chance?" He says looking at me I could see almost pleading in his eyes a hopefulness.

"I...I don't know Zakiah." I say though honestly more options being thrown my way and I don't know how to deal with any of them.

"Just don't forget that I exist okay?" He says just as the song comes to an end.

"Okay, I won't." I say through my confusion. He walks away after the dance leaving me with the girls that were all waiting for a dance. Which was just a small seated area for guests of any type to sit on but was mainly filled with around five of us ladies sitting on it.

"Was my big brother hitting on you?" Zyla says sitting next to me having obviously noticed Zakiah and I dancing together.

"Yes sort of. He asked me to remember him if Lord Ivashkov doesn't marry me." I say recalling what he'd asked of me. The second I say it Zyla's face scrunched up showing she wasn't pleased by that at all.

"I'm sorry Sydney. I'm going to guess you're also the only girl here that he is interested in. I'm sorry you're his target. But don't worry you don't have to marry him. You'll probably be the one that gets Lord Ivashkov. If I don't get him, I'd want it to be you." She says and smiles again.

"I'm going to get myself a dance see you later Sydney." She says smiling then goes off towards a small clump of royal Moroi men who she obviously knew and surprisingly does get offered a dance from one of them.

As the night progressed further I watched everything unfolding many girls getting dances with eligible royal Moroi men. Lord Ivashkov going through dances with several girls though some he simply went up to and gently tapped on the shoulders, whispered into their ears and then they stopped what they were doing and the girls left the ball room alone going into another room. Well that's what I guessed anyway. I'd been given a few more dances though none offered much conversation which I was thankful for. The room slowly held less people as some slowly descended away from the room but all us ladies stayed as were told to.

It was still by far crowded but not quiet as much as it once had been. There was room to breathe now.

I hadn't had my promised dance yet but I knew at some point that he would come and ask me inviting me to the dance floor. Though all I could think was that dream, that closeness we'd shared within it. The touch as he held me as he spun me and as he almost placed his lips on mine. As much as I wanted this and somehow some part of me does, the other part the logical part of me knows that it's wrong, I know I don't want him and that I shouldn't be with him or let him even think I do; but these parts of me are conflicting against each other.

A gentle hand came and touched my shoulder, tapping me lightly and I could feel breath on my neck. I turn my vision but too afraid to move my whole body incase it was a hungry vampire. But luckily as I see from my vision it was Lord Ivashkov who was leaning in getting ready to speak to me.

"I think it's time we dance." He says in my ears, I could feel him smiling as he said it. My heart beat that had sped up way faster than I'd wanted was now slowing down, feeling relaxed that it was only him.

"I thought you'd never ask." I say smiling and turning to take the hand he had now got on offer for me. My thoughts start racing again to the dream, to the dance, the touch, the closeness was it all about to become real?

"I was in our special place earlier." He says repeating what he'd told me at our photoshoot as he guides me into the centre of the dance floor.

"I thought you might show. I'd sent a note through Jill asking you to come." He says his face dropping near the end, it stung inside seeing that it hurt him having me not meet him there.

"She didn't tell me. Though I've been really busy today with all the preparations for this." I say gesturing to the glamorous ball room and all the classes I'd had to take for it.

He wraps his arms round me just like in the dream, this second it feels like I'm in the dream, like it's just the two of us in the room. Dancing in each other's embrace. But it's not we are not alone, we are being watched by many of the Moroi.

"Ah yes Martha grilling you all on how to be ladies. I didn't think of that." He says spinning me round once and bringing me back to his arms.

"I wish I'd had time to go to the gardens today." I say thinking of what Adrian calls 'our special place' he's never taken any other girls there but me, we have all our dates there and our non dates also.

"Let's go now then. If you want to?" He asks while still having his arms round my lower back holding me close in his arms. It was all so real from the dream his closeness and his soft grip on me.

I simply nod and he pulls me away taking me by the hand guiding me through the ball room, through court until we reach the gardens where Dillon was guarding as normal.

The gardens had been decorated to match court and made it stand out even more than normal. The flowers that had been forcibly grown by the earth users were all matched to the color scheme and looked so beautiful. I stop at a small patch and hesitate to sit down. I want to be closer to them and to sit down but I don't want to ruin my dress.

"Here there is a bench just up there." Adrian says guiding me back up from the almost crouch I'd gotten myself in as he noticed I'd tried to sit.

"That dress is far to beautiful to get ruined." He says as he himself sits down. I soon follow and sit next to him.

"Did you mean what you said earlier?" I ask my curiosity now getting ahead of itself.

"About what?" He asks turning my head slightly so I was facing him.

"That you'd designed this dress for me?"

"Yes. Well not on my own with Jill. I wanted your dress to be perfect for tonight and Jill suggested I tell her my ideas. She drew up the incredible sketch and got it made just how I wanted. But it looks incredibly more breath taking and perfect on you than I'd even imagined." He says looking me up and down taking in every aspect of me in his dress.

"It's beautiful, but Adrian you shouldn't have done that. You know we are never going to be together. You shouldn't be doing things like that. If anyone found out what you've done..." I cut myself off knowing nothing I say will even change it, it's done now.

"And I've told you, I can't stop doing these things for you. I'm not giving up, you'll be here until the end and I'm going to do everything I can to persuade you to be with me." He says taking my hands in his and staring Into my eyes. His look was so gentle and calming though I shifted my eyes after a few seconds knowing I can't allow myself to fall further.

He's a creature of evil and you're human. This would never work and it's inhumane to be with them.

"Have you had a good night Sydney?" He asks removing his hold of me now.

"I have it's been tiring but I've enjoyed it. Especially that you took me here into the gardens."

"Shall we go back in now. The ball must be almost done." He says standing himself up and straightening his tux. I copy and re-straighten my dress. He takes the longer walk round the gardens going past the river and the fountain, before walking back the straight path to the doors into court.

The second we enter i see Jill standing there waiting impatiently, looking really antsy.

"Oh Sydney thank goodness, I had no idea where you'd gone." She says doing her usual of grabbing my hands to pull me near to her.

"We went for a walk." I say as Adrian comes to stand at my side.

"I see, well Martha wants a small meeting with you ladies then you're free to go to your room." She says pulling me away from Adrian.

"Goodnight Lord Ivashkov" I say before I fully part away from him keeping the curtesy us ladies are expected to have.

"Goodnight Lady Sydney." He says back to me. Jill then abruptly pulls me further out the way so he was no longer in vision.

As I reach the ladies room I see panic on the other girls faces I run over to Zyla and Hana seeing Cailynn was cuddled up in Hana's arms crying.

"What happened?" I say joining the small huddle around them.

"She's been kicked out along with two other girls. From what we can make out while she was dancing Lord Ivashkov tapped her on the shoulder and whispered to her that her time here was over. And I'm not sure with the other two but my guess is he said the same thing. It's so awful."

"That is so harsh. I saw him tap them on the shoulder and then they left but I never imagined it was that he'd asked them to leave." I say recalling what I saw but now suddenly feeling angry I didn't talk to her when I saw it.

"I'm so happy I got a dance instead of that." Zyla says showing her relief.

"Ladies please gather around." Martha says clomping her way into the room. Walking in hastily, obviously not liking that shes had to do this meeting.

"I want to first off say thank you and congratulations on a wonderful night we have had so much fantastic feedback on you wonderful eligible young ladies." She stops smiles and looks at us all in pride. "Second of all I know that we have had an unexpected event tonight and three of you have been let go. I'm sorry to you ladies. But the rules on this selection lie in Lord Ivashkov's hands and if he no longer wants you as a guest then that is his choice. Please keep in mind though we may still find you a husband, we have many eligible Moroi that you all so graciously met today. So please keep your head held high like ladies do and you will be seen to accordingly." She takes a few steps round the room and then stops and looks at us again.

"Tomorrow we will be having no class and I give you all freedom for a day. But please keep in mind the rules I have told you. You are ladies and you are guests of Queen Tatiana's so please act like it. You're all each being watched my many to see how suited you are for our lord. I expect not to hear of any dramas or bad behaviour while I'm in absence is that clear ladies?"

We all nod to her and gain a simple smile of satisfaction.

"You may all go to bed now I will see you in two days."

And so we part gathering around the girls we are losing until slowly they are gathered with their things and escorted out of the premise. It feels strange seeing them go, with no warning they would be leaving, none of us prepared for anyone to be kicked out of the lottery.

It's like a warning that any given second one of us could be asked to leave. A warning I didn't like, any of us even I could be asked to go. But Martha said we are living here under Queen Tatiana's insistence and that Lord Ivashkov is the one making the rules. If he chooses or the Queen chooses and we are requested to go then we must. It's a new concept we hadn't known of until today.