Chapter 10

Cathy POV

1946

"Cathy, shopping now!" I heard being bellowed through my door. Oh, my darling Jane was so evil to me.

I turned to Dem, who was sitting beside me, "Help me," I mouthed to him.

"You are most definitely on your own on this one," he said, laughing at my predicament. It wasn't because of Jane – I loved her evil backside to pieces, but she can't seem to grasp that I am not a girly person – growing up with Emmett had that effect on you.

"I'm still waiting out here," she exclaimed, stamping her feet.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry, I forgot that you can't open doors," I said, sarcastically.

"Yes, but who knows what you and Demetri are up to in there."

I sighed loudly – Jane has this morbid fascination with the idea of Dem and me as a couple, she can't get her head around the fact that I see him only as a brother, "For the past ten years, what have I been trying to drum into your puny head?"

She opened the door, pulling a face, "Yes, I know, you have a brother sister relationship - as if I believe that."

I picked up a show and threw it at her head. She quickly dodged, causing its heel to become wedged in the opposite wall. A pout was forming on her face – I cringed, knowing that I wouldn't be about to hold out for long, "Fine! Fine, you win. I will come shopping with you, but please can we not spend as long there as last time?"

"Whatever," she said, pulling me towards the door. I stopped her and turned to Dem.

"As a result of you not helping me, please will you dance around then room like a monkey until I tell you to stop," I said, innocence dripping from my words like honey. As if on cue, Dem did as he was told. Jane and I burst into simultaneous laughter as we began the journey to my doom.

I still wasn't technically allowed to use my power without Aro's permission but, sometimes, it was for my own good, or I could easily blame it on someone else.

"That was cruel," Jane said, smiling.

"Hark who's talking – you torture people for fun." We both laughed, "Anyway, he deserved it - he wouldn't help me get away from you."

"That hurt," Jane commented, putting her hand on her chest in a dramatic manner.

"You'll survive."

Silence engulfed us as we headed to the shops; luckily, it was cloudy today so we didn't have to wear cloaks, just sunglasses to cover our eyes.

All too soon, I was being pulled into a nearby boutique; all of the walls were covered in clothes. There was hardly any room to breathe. I laughed at the irony in my comment as the assistant walked over.

"Jane, Catherine," she nodded in acknowledgement as she said each of our names, "What are you looking for today?"

"Dresses," Jane said quickly.

"Dresses? What do we need dresses for?" I was genuinely confused; I already have like a million dresses back in my room.

Jane tapped her nose and turned back to Sofia, who was signalling to a rail in the centre, "Thank you."

---

After about two hours of trying on every single dress, we both had one. Jane's was a light pink – tight at the chest before flowing out slightly and trailing on the ground, though with her height it wasn't that hard. It was very simple, yet still elegant. Mine, on the other hand, was rather over the top, yet Jane insisted on it – it had a halter bodice, tight until it reaches my hips, then a large ball gown skirt – in midnight blue. Despite my apprehensions, it is gorgeous, but I still have no idea what it is for.

Just as Jane finished paying, my phone started ringing, I looked at Caller I.D. – Aro. I walked outside to answer it.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Catherine." Uh-oh, I'm in trouble, I'm never called Catherine by Aro unless I'm in trouble.

"Yes, Aro."

"Would you care to tell me why Demetri is dancing like a monkey around your room?"

"I dared him to, master."

"So why won't he stop when I tell him to?"

By this time, Jane had joined me outside and was laughing her head off at me. I kicked her in the shins to shut her up, "Okay, Jane dared me to tell him to or else I was going to have to spend all week shopping with her."

"Well, can you please tell him to stop?" Now I was the one laughing – Jane's glare was a picture.

"Sure, put me on loudspeaker."

"There you go."

"Dem, stop dancing," I shouted, even though I didn't need to.

"You are going to pay for this, Cath," Dem shouted back.

"Stop shouting, both of you – I value my eardrums here," Aro said, "Cathy, Jane, I want you both back her now," and he hung up.

"How dare you blame that on me," Jane screamed.

"What? It was technically your fault."

"I didn't tell you to do anything."

"Let's head back and face his wrath," I said, linking my arm with Jane's.

---

Three hours later and we were in my room, getting ready for whatever was happening tonight. Aro had punished me by letting Jane have free reign of my hair and makeup, whereas Jane has been banned from using her power for fun for a month, without Aro's permission. I had to use my power on her to make sure she doesn't – it was amazing revenge.

"What exactly is going on tonight?" I asked her.

"I may as well tell you – basically, whenever there is a new member of the guard, there are three balls. One after ten years, then after twenty-five, then fifty. This is your tenth year here."

"And after fifty?"

"We just give up on you," she said, laughing.

"Well, that's reassuring," I said, as she started on my hair. My makeup was natural with striking blue eyeliner. Luckily, she hadn't gone that much over the top.

---

Finally, we were done and on our way down to the Great Hall. I was surprisingly nervous – I hate being centre of attention, now I had a whole ball in my honour.

I entered with Jane when Aro introduced me. I was meant to go in by myself but to say I didn't want to would be an understatement. My eyes widened at the amount of people who were lining the walls. I walked up to Aro, who was signalling me over, "You look very nice, Cathy. Now, I'd like to introduce you to some people."

He led me over to a group of people on the right hand wall. First was a man named Eleazar, who, I learnt from Dem, was once a member of the guard, but left to be with his mate, Carmen, who had come with him. One thing that surprised me about them both was their golden eyes – I made a mental note to ask Jane about that later. Next came a sandy-haired vampire named Garrett. Then a pair of vampires; Carlisle, who was with the Volturi before he went to America, with his wife Esme – they too had those golden eyes, I really needed to ask Jane about that before my mind went mad with theories.

"Good evening," was all I could say.

"Carlisle, where are Rosalie and Edward this evening? I haven't seen them yet," Aro said.

"Rose is currently in Africa on her second honeymoon with her new mate. Edward is making good use of an empty house to play music and write."

"Shame."

An awkward silence fell over us; I stood still, praying for someone to rescue me. Eventually, I was saved by Demetri asking me to dance.

"Will you excuse me?" I said, taking Dem's hand.

As we danced, I asked him about the cover that I had just spoken to. "Coven isn't really the right word for the Cullen's; they're more like a family. They eat animals, which is why they have golden eyes and Edward is extremely gifted – he reads minds, Aro is fascinated by his power."

"Oh," I said, "So there's Carlisle, his wife Esme, their son Edward, then Rosalie and the new one."

"Yes, Esmund, I think his name is. I've only heard it from the master's discussions so I could be wrong."

"They are a family, aren't they?" Demetri nodded.

As the song drew to a close, Felix took over, spinning me round and round the dance floor as we both laughed at Jane's glare – the reason, my hair was falling out.

The night slowly grew to a close, so I said goodbye to the guests and headed upstairs with Dem, Jane and Alec. The grin from the night was still plastered on my face as the sun rose the next morning, casting its translucent glow over the surrounding area – I was exceptionally happy.

Morilee (dot) ?C=5&D=84005&P=1 – but in midnight blue = Cathy's dress.