Reviews:

RobRaealltheway: Raven does play a part in Kori getting to the ball but you'll have to wait and figure out how.

Longliveteentitans: The story is set in a medieval time frame.

DeadlyDarkAngel: There is a possibility they can be in love but don't know it.

TheDreamChaser: That sucks. Hope you do well on them.

Krazieneko: No, Richard hasn't seen Raven without her hood off yet.

Ch 10-Getting Ready

Such a stressful time it is. Every household was getting ready for the ball. Well I'll get back on track. Not all girls were excited about the ball, namely Raven. She thought it was a complete waste of time. It wasn't that big of a deal. People were acting like the two princes' were a piece of meat. We'll now take a look at how her temporary family is preparing.

Xxxx

Raven looked out into the hallway from the crack in her door. Helen and Komander were shouting orders at Kori. Raven simply shook her head and closed her door. She moved candles around the room and lit them up. They formed a circle on the floor. She walked over and sat down in the middle. Chanting her incantation she slowly floated in the air. It was peaceful with the exception of the noise outside the room. Raven let her mind block out everything.

A series of hard knocks came to the door. "Raven! Open up," Helen shouted from the other side.

Letting out a sigh Raven floated down and answered the door. "What?"

"You need to get ready for the ball tonight. I'll send Kori in to help."

"That won't be necessary. I'm not going."

"Don't be ridiculous. Of course you're going. You can't stay in your room all the time."

"Of course I can."

"You're going to the ball and that's final."

"I don't have to listen to you. You're not my real mother."

"That may be so, but I did take you in out of the goodness of my heart."

"Right…the goodness out of your heart. Don't think I don't know the real reason you took me in. I'm not stupid."

"Just get ready by tonight."

Xxxx

"Kori! Where's my make-up?" Komander shouted from her room.

"I'm coming!" Kori shouted back running up the stairs with the bag.

"Kori! Have you washed the dishes yet?" Helen shouted.

"Not yet."

"Well…do them now!"

"Yes, stepmother."

Kori gave Komander her make-up and quickly went back downstairs. Honestly, she didn't know what was wrong with them. Ever since she woke up this morning there has been nothing but orders being shouted out throughout the house. It was a miracle that she was even still standing let alone able to hear. She didn't even have time to get ready herself for the ball. Kori had a sneaky feeling that they were doing this on purpose, but quickly diminished the idea. It was wrong of her to think such horrible thoughts about her family. The dishes were a little overflowed since she didn't do them last night. Once they were clean she went about sweeping the floor.

"Kori! Where are my black heels?"

Kori let out a sigh and headed upstairs. When she entered Komander's room it was in worse shape than she saw it last which wasn't that long ago. It was like hurricane had gone through the entire room. Clothes were thrown everywhere and shoes laid all over the place. She had to dig her way through the room just to get by. Not one black shoe was on the ground so Kori went and looked in the closet. The closet seemed to be in worse condition than the room itself. Piles of boxes were piled high from the top to the bottom. She found them farther back in the closet. There were so many clothes and shoes in the closet that it was hard to find anything. Grabbing the shoes she handed them to Komander.

"Kori! Have you mopped the floor?"

Rolling her eyes she went back downstairs. This had to be the worst day ever in her life. This continued for the rest of the day with nonstop orders being thrown around. When night came Kori was beyond tired she wanted nothing else to do but lay down and go to sleep. Helen came down wearing a forest green dress. It was embroidered around the waist and she wore a pendant necklace. A shawl was wrapped around her shoulders and she held a small purse in her hands. Next came Komander wearing a black princess type dress. She wore a black pendant and had a fan with her. She held her head up high and there seemed to be and arrogant aura around her.

"Why…Kori! Why aren't you ready for the ball? Didn't you have time to get ready?" Komander asked with fake surprise. She hid a wicked smile behind her fan. She enjoyed tormenting Kori every chance she got.

Kori had to restrain herself from saying anything bad. "No. Apparently time got away from me," Kori replied sickly sweet.

"What a shame? I know you were looking forward to going."

"Yes, but I'm sure I won't be missing anything important."

"Are you sure? Didn't you have a dress ready?"

"No. So it really doesn't matter."

"Really…you should have told me. I would have let you borrowed one of my old dresses."

"That's quite alright. I'm not troubled by it. I'm sure there will be other balls that I can go to next time."

Komander simply huffed since she didn't get the reaction she was hoping for. There will be other chances for her to get Kori riled up. There was no use in trying to dampen her mood of enjoying the ball and dancing with one of the princes'.

"Well then…I want this whole house clean when I get back," Helen replied. "Where's Raven?"

"I haven't seen her all day," Kori replied.

"Raven ! Get down here now! We're about to leave!" Helen shouted.

Xxxx

Raven was in her room reading a book. It didn't make sense that she was going to this damned ball. It wasn't like she was going to enjoy herself anyways. What was Helen's problem anyways? It was bad enough living with her, but when she started ordering her around Raven wanted nothing else to do but strangle her. Most likely she would stand by the wall and watch everything until it was time to go. Balls were never her thing anyways. The worst thing about it is she would see Richard dancing with a bunch of different girls. For some reason that made her blood boil. This effect he had on her was getting really annoying. And she was positive he didn't have any idea what effect he has on her.

Why was it every time she was alone and not in his presence she thought of him? It even made meditating a bit hard. All this thinking was giving her a headache. She couldn't even concentrate on the book she was reading. All of sudden she could hear Helene's screeching voice through her door. Sighing she marked her book and stood up.

xxxx

Raven slowly came down the stairs. She took her sweet time in doing so. Raven could actually see the annoyed faces of Komander and Helen as she made her way down. This was the only pleasure she got from even going to this thing. She had an evil smile on her face which they couldn't see. She wore a white cloak with the hood up. She didn't look any different than she normally did. This really pissed Helen off even more.

"Raven! Why aren't you ready? You had all day to prepare," Helen said when she saw her. Helen's eyes were ablaze with so much fury. She had to tightly close her lips before saying anything else to calm herself down.

"I am ready," Raven replied simply. She was secretly enjoying the way Helen's face looked right now. It was a bright red with all the fury she had bottled up.

"No you're not. For starters you're not wearing a dress. You look the same as you always do," Helen reprimanded.

"You said I had to go to this stupid ball not dress up," Raven pointed out.

"Ugh! I don't have time for this. Let's just go," Helen said snatching her coat and heading out the door.

Komander snatched her coat also and followed her mother out the door. Raven proceeded to follow then stopped in the doorway.

"Aren't you coming?" Raven asked as she turned her head to Kori.

"Oh! I decided not to go. I'm not feeling well," Kori lied.

Raven looked at her for another minute then left. Kori let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. It seemed like Raven could see right through her lie and knew the truth. Of course that would be ridiculous, but then again Raven was always good at reading people. She didn't understand how that could be though. She went to go close the door but stopped and watched as the carriage pulled away from the curve. Once it was out of sight she closed the door and went about finishing her chores.

Xxxx

Well the plot is thickening isn't it? Next we'll see how the royals are getting ready. I wonder what Raven meant by what she said to Helen.

xxxx

A/N: Finally had time to type this up. Whoever decided to put Statistics and Chemistry finals on the same day is an asshole. I hope every is doing well and thanks again for the encouragements for my exams.