Chapter 7: Ravaging Storm Pt 1

Henriette PoV:
'As I laid there that night something just didnt seem right and woke me unable to fall back asleep. The clouds were still in their same place as when I fell asleep but the sun was higher hiding behind making it still seem dark out... Lyla was gone from her bed, probably playing or studying. I still had a bad feeling staring out past the fence around the place something seemed different, there were guards around the place. A lot of them...'

"What on earth?" Henriette wondered and opened the window looking around counting them in her head, nearly losing count causing her ears to back a little scared. "So many...And from the Royal Navy?"

Henriette quickly changed out of her night dress into her regular dress and hurried to the top of the steps seeing Lyla and Tabs looking over the enjoying what was going on, servants and guards wondered the place. More decorations were being placed.

"Is the party today?" Henriette wondered and received a nod from tabs and Lyla. "Oh... So what we did before wasnt enough."

Henriette kept watching with the kids till Sanire called out to her.

"Henriette, mind coming down here for a moment?" He called out.

"Yes sir." Henriette walked on down over to him.

"Henriette, I really depending on you this. Can you please just for tonight do things proper?" Sanire asked. "I adore your sense of freedom to who you are, but you know things are quite different then what you've dealt with before. Humor me and impress Kara and everyone."

Henriette had a small sink feeling, ears back, but nodded. "Yes sir. I can try my very best."

"I have my worries Henriette. Majority coming are powerful people especially to the Royal Navy. Your dreams scare me you'll get hurt and captured. So I want you to play safe." Sanire finished. "Regardless our short time we know each other I really consider you like a daughter to our family."

Henriette smiled. "Same for you all. I'll make you all proud."

Later Henriette groaned annoyed. "What was I thinking..."

Henriette looked to the newer dress given to her to wear for the night's party as well her new hairstyle. "Even the hair is a bit ridiculous..."

Kara knocked and walked in. "My you looked very lovely. Figured this look make you like a little better then before."

Henriette's ears backed to her harsh offensive tone, take a quiet deep breath to hold back any anger.

"Let us head down. Hopefully your manners show today, look like a fool never find anyone, with your dream maybe tossed in jail." Kara said and walked down the hall.

Henriette groaned again and grumbled to herself. "Why her...?"

Henriette followed behind her, the two heading down to a large crowd below. Henriette lightly looked around, soon eyes catching someone familiar to the crowd. Not far into the crowd stood Calius, holding a straight posture, his green eyes lighlty narrowed giving a light look to her. She flinched lightly to the stare but calmed realizing his eyes widening, jaw nearly dropping as well did many others.

'Are they talking about me?' Henriette wondered to herself as her ears turned trying to listening to everyone.

They were in sense talking about Lady Kara, but were staring to talk about her like she was some princess. A blush crossed Henriette's face as she gave a nervous gulped and continued to follow behind Kara, walking in same posture. Passing Calius, her eyes lightly twitch, she turned away turning her nose up and continued on.

Calius blinked in confusion as his boss nudged him chuckling. Calius gave a light huff.

As the night continued, on Henriette kept things exactly like Kara wanted but as doing so began to wear herself out.

She let out a sigh and went to sit. "This is becoming too much."

"Life as a princess not good enough?" a familiar oice called to her.

Henriette looked up seeing Calius standing there before her. "Can I help you?"

The music in the mansion began to slow down a little, Calius held out his hand to her causing Henriette to jump.

"If all right, Lady Henriette. Would you care to dance?" Calius asked.

Henriette looked to him confused and rested her hand into his hand. She jumped as there was a loud boom from outside causing the whole place to shake. Calius pulled her close covering her as darkness filled the room with very few flickering of lights from the candles, several blowing out as few the windows bursted open with an intense breeze.

Everything was quiet, too quiet. Soon both their ears perked to a sudden screaming, everyone began to panic. Henriette and Calius made their move to see what happened and looked around as the windows were forced shut and more candles were relit.

Henriette looked around more frantic then Calius. Everything seemed natural, except one thing caught her eye. Secretly she observed everyone just like Allard told her too, things were missing from a lot of guests.

"Where did it all go?" Henriette wondered out loud, she continued to look around and something caught the corner of her eyes causing her to go after it.

Calius saw her movement and tried to grab her, failing he watched her run off. "H-Henriette?"

Henriette quickly run upstairs watching a figure continued and slipped into the library. She glared and went after just as Calius came up.

Upon entering the library she looked around suddenly the door closed, locking Henriette jumped and turned as another sudden lighting bolt strike just outside the window illuminating the library and the figure who stood there a mink soon giving a sudden smirk.

"Quite a lass, aren't ya. I would get away but you as an extra prize be just more treasure to my collection, lass." He spoke roughly he stepped forward looking up, eyes shining a gold.

Henriette stepped back away from him as he stepped closer and closer, she soon backed enough into a bookshelf.

"Come quietly, and you wont get hurt." He said signalling her to come to him.

Henriette growled and ears backed. "Not in your life..."

Henriette her eyes shifted up to a sword mounted on the wall, she used the best of her force against the wall to knock the sword down, catching it she pointed it at the mink before he got too close. "So back off..."

The Mink growled lightly, both jumped as there was banging to the door form Calius.

"Henriette?!" Calius called out in a worried tone, and tried ramming into the door to get it opened.

The mink glared to Henriette, smirking once again and drew his sword. "Pity to not see your beau again."

Henriette's ears backed and growled. "He's nothing like that..."

Distracted by the thought, the mink attacked her, luckily she was able to block and pushing him back making a dash for it nearly tripping.

"This stupid dress..." She groaned as she hid, and quickly tried to get it off, tossing it aside and looked around, as the Mink pointed his sword nearly getting her nose causing her to fall back.

The mink peeked around pulling back his sword, the door busted down. Calius quickly drew his own sword and made the mink stumble back and headed out on the windows.

Calius stopped to the window and looked around seeing he was gone. "Gone... So close."

"Are you all right Hen- riette?" Calius asked and looked around seeing she was gone.