"…Leah, don't! Bella will go crazy if she thinks I'm not treating you professionally." Catching the trail end of Seth's words, Bella paused for just a moment in the open doorway. A clear wink in her direction indicated Leah was already attuned to her presence, but Seth remained oblivious.
"Come on Sethy, what's the worst that could happen?" Leah rested her arms down on his desk, drawing herself closer to his nervous form. Unsure whether she wanted to hear his response, Bella considered alerting her assistant to her presence, but she just wasn't fast enough.
"I could lose my job Lee, and you know how much I love working here." The pleading tone in his voice softened Leah's combative expression, while Bella herself was stunned. Although Seth had relaxed considerably into his role, she'd never thought for a second he actually enjoyed working for her. She was still thinking over what this meant, when she noticed two pairs of very similar eyes looking over in her direction. Internally shaking herself free of her wandering thoughts, Bella stepped forward with her business face on.
"Leah, how are you this morning?" Leah walked towards her and took her outstretched palm, leaving Seth behind to worry whether Bella had overheard his words with Leah.
"So, what do you have for me Leah? How's the writing going?" Bella was pleased when Leah allowed their meeting to remain entirely professional. Not a word was spoken about Alice, Jasper or any amalgamation of their parts. Feeling herself relax into her sanctuary, Bella reveled in world she considered home, until almost as soon as it had begun, the meeting drew to an end.
"So, I think we've got everything. How long do you think it will take to incorporate those changes?" With a new author she would be the one assigning deadlines, but when it came to Leah and her more established authors, the rules were merely guidelines.
"Let me just check my diary." Bella busied herself with checking her own calendar, while Leah flipped through pages filled with multicolored scrawls.
"Okay, it doesn't look too busy for the next month. So, unless my world falls apart I would say a tentative late July. Let's say the twenty eighth?" Bella nodded and made a note for Seth to arrange the appointment and another in her own online diary to check in with Leah ten days prior, just to see if they were running on time.
"Great, well as usual thanks for everything Bella and if all goes to plan I'll see you in a month." As she walked Leah out, Bella was still waiting for the moment her accomplice would turn around and wink obviously in her direction. But it never happened and Bella strode back to her office feeling a warm wash of pleasure to know that her day was working out just fine.
"Bella, Leah asked me to give you this after she'd left." Seth's outstretched hand was attached to a thick creamy envelope. She eyed it suspiciously for a moment, before feeling herself wrap around the silken paper threads.
"Thanks Seth. Can you hold my calls until this afternoon?" Not waiting for an answer, Bella sealed herself away in her office, twirling Leah's parting gift between her fingers.
Her silver letter opener swished effortlessly across the sealed lip of the envelope, revealing a single manila card within. The edges were embossed with intricate silver designs and the slanted script just begged to be traced with the finest touch.
Miss. Isabella Swan
Your driver will arrive promptly at 7:30pm on July 4th, 2009
"And, after all, what is a lie? 'Tis but the truth in a masquerade"
Flipping over the card, Bella was flummoxed to find nothing else written on either the front or back. Tapping her fingers swiftly across the keyboard, she searched for anything that could be of use. But after finding nothing more than the origin of the quote, she sighed loudly and relented just like she'd always known she would.
"Bella, what a lovely surprise!" Bella didn't even know it was possible, but Leah even sounded smug down the phone line.
"Leah would you like to explain who and what this means. I assume it's an invite of sorts."
Leah was clearly doing two things at once, as Bella heard her distantly ask whether they had 'this is red' through the phone line . "Sorry about that B. Anyway, don't you know what this is?…." The question irritated Bella slightly, as she believed she'd already confessed to being clueless. "What you're holding in your hands just so happens to be social dynamite."
Still none the wiser, Bella began to trap her pen in frustration. "Have you seriously never heard of The masquerade ball?" Hearing the indignant tone in Leah's voice, Bella turned again to her online search for answers.
"If you're looking online B, you won't find anything more than wishful thinkers spreading malicious rumors. Look, the ball is a private party held every year on a different holiday. This year just so happens to be July forth and you just so happen to be invited. Now get a pen and write this down…"
Bella's hand glided across a clean sheet of note paper, noting all the while she was writing down an address.
"Okay, now make a note in your diary that you have an appointment at that address, tomorrow at 6pm. And don't try to tell me you're busy, because I already checked over your schedule with Seth."
The pen tapping resumed and Bella was hoping for just a little more information on where this was all heading. "So, what exactly will I be doing there tomorrow night?"
The laughter peeling down the phone was so stereotypically Leah, Bella couldn't help but smile through her frustration. "Well, for one you'll be measured for your costume, if you'd like we can go for dinner afterwards, but I won't have much time."
She considered the offer for just a minute. The week had flown by with barely a thought to her sister and the plot to procure her demise, something she was currently reveling in. "Thanks, but I think I'll pass on dinner." Seeing the clock on her desk click nearer to twelve, she knew that her time was up in regards to this issue. "Leah I have to go, I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
Feeling like she'd just lost a little control over her own existence, Bella snatched up the things she needed for her next appointment and headed for the elevators.
"Seth, I've got my cell. I'll be back at three. Is there anything urgent before I leave?" Tapping her cell against the marble surrounding his private reception area, Seth thumbed frantically through several pieces of paper and she felt her calm resolve return.
"Oh, here it is. Kate from head office called. She's scheduled a meeting with you and Peter for July 20th. I left a list of the reports she wants you to bring in your calendar."
Seeing Seth was done talking, Bella strode out of the office and down to the cars waiting below, thinking all the while about what a meeting with Kate could mean.
The following day and a half passed all too quickly for Bella and before she had time to catch a breath, her cab was pulling to a stop. The dingy little back alley was deserted and desolate, making Bella think twice before opening herself up to the cool evening air. Double checking with the cab driver that he hadn't misheard her, she finally opened the door, brushing out some non-existent creases from her skirt as the cab pulled away.
Turning around on the spot, her eyes squinted in search of the elusive number, 293. Seeing nothing but bare walls and back entrances to various establishments, she began to walk up and down the street. Finally her eyes landed on those three elusive numbers, almost camouflaged against a small black plaque. Whatever this place was, she thought, it certainly wasn't drawing in the crowds.
Now that she was upon them, she could see the double doors were lying slightly agape. So with a little hesitation she pushed against the cold hard steel. As she stepped into the darkness, Bella felt even more uneasy to find only a wide stairway leading to a dimly lit room. Reminding herself that this goose chase was being led by Leah, she threw her nerves aside and strode purposefully down the steps. As her feet descended, the room opened up to show Leah standing on a small wooden stool surrounded by mirrors, wearing nothing but her underwear.
"Bella! I thought you'd never make it. Come and meet Irina." A woman with frail skin and long grey hair turned unsteadily to meet her wide eyed gaze. Bella outstretched her hand politely as she stepped forward, but was shocked when the woman only looked her up and down and turned back to Leah.
"Your friend, she wearing too many clothes." A sharp Russian accent filled the room, and Bella shivered with the thought of undressing down here in the backstreets of god knows where.
"Bella, why don't you go behind that screen and undress, I'll be done in a sec." Bella's head flipped around to look at the screen Leah had indicated, but her feet remained firmly set on the floor.
Seeing her uncertainty, Leah laughed lightly. "Seriously B, Irina won't bite and if you're going to stand out, you'll need a little of her magic."
Even though she wasn't sure about anything she was doing, Bella stepped behind the screen and as each item of clothing was folded neatly on the little wooden chair, she felt more and more uneasy.
"Are you ready B?"
Bella looked down at the dirty mirror behind her; her face was a mask of indifference, hiding the fear she was feeling inside. The underwear she'd worn that day was lacy and black, but the sheerness of the fabric made her feel even more exposed as she turned the corner and took the podium Leah had recently vacated.
Leah didn't seem at all fazed at all by her state of undress as she all walked slowly over to a nearby stool and began to redress.
"So, why exactly am I doing this again?" Bella asked as Irina moved her body this way and that, pinching her with long pointed fingers.
"Seriously B, what were you planning on wearing to the ball?" Bella shrugged her shoulders at Leah's question, but the movement caused the little woman in front of her to tut loudly, so she made a mental note not to do it again.
"I hadn't thought about it, I was probably going to…" But before the words could come out, Leah was already interrupting her.
"Well, right there was your first mistake. It might be alright to not think about what you're wearing when it's casual Friday at the office. But this is the biggest party of the year B, and don't even think about telling me you were about to make mistake number two and just rent something?"
Remembering not to shrug, Bella just cringed, realizing that was exactly what she had planned.
"Seriously B, only the Alice and Rosalie's of this world go to a rental place for this type of event. Just you wait and see."
Bella's eyes flicked unconsciously to Leah, who was now zipping up her knee high boots. "Alice will be there?"
"Jesus Bella, of course she will. She's engaged to a Whitlock which guarantees her an invite and if you think she'd pass up this opportunity, then you have no idea who or what you're dealing with."
Bella's thoughts were locked on what it meant for Alice to be marrying a Whitlock. She wasn't sure how naïve of her it was that Jasper's family name meant absolutely nothing to her. But the important question was, how much did it mean to Alice?
"Do you think she's with him because of his family?" Bella's eyes locked with Leah's, who was suddenly standing just a little more rigidly in place.
"I really don't know B, but Paul has his doubts about her motivations and I have to admit, after what you've told me about the little skank, add that to her friendship with Rosalie and it isn't too far a stretch, is it?"
The words sunk low under Bella's skin and as the Russian's hand ghosted over her body, she lost herself in wondering about the inner workings of her sisters mind.
"Okay, we done. When you want them ready Mrs. Leah?"
Bella all but ran back behind the partition, throwing her clothes back on in a disheveled hurry. She didn't catch the tail end of their conversation, but when Bella finally emerged, it was to see Leah handing over what looked like two sketches to Irina. Intrigued, she stepped a little closer, but she was just a beat too late. Leah took her arm in hers and before she had a chance to ask any of the questions running through her head, she was being whisked upstairs, where a sleek black car was idling just outside the door.
"C'mon, let me give you a lift home."
Without protest, Bella allowed herself to be pushed down inside the car. Conversation within the vehicle was sparse and as the streets and buildings flashed by, Bella tried to process the last half and hour of her life. But that little dingy room now only felt like a vivid dream.
"So, what sort of thing am I wearing?" Hearing Bella's question, Leah was holding a glint in her eye.
"Do you really want to know?"
Thinking about it, she wasn't sure if she did. "Maybe not, but is there a theme, or is it anything goes?"
Leah smirked and talked so effortlessly, that it put a lot of Bella's doubts at ease. "It depends. Of course it's a masked ball, but beyond that anything goes. You'll see everything from bikini's to ball gowns, but it's really all for show. If you like people watching, you'll love it!"
Listening to Leah recount costumes worn from prior years, Bella watched the night whistle by, until finally the streets weren't so unfamiliar.
"Your costume will be hand delivered to you on the fourth. Oh, and a word of warning Bella. You better not even think about putting on a single pound. Irina's good but she's also extremely precise and we don't have time for readjustments."
Bella nodded as the car slowed down outside her building. She was already worrying how she was going to maintain the same weight for over two weeks, if she didn't even know what that weight was.
The very next day she sent Seth out on a shopping errand, and thereafter for nearly three weeks, she weighed herself at the exact same time, every single day. Seeing the numbers fluctuate so minimally gave her something she could control, something to distract herself as time passed by with a slovenly drawl.
Waking up on the morning of the fourth, Bella felt a flutter of anticipation as she rose from her bed. With a brunch appointment set with a potential author, the day had a certain amount of potential attached to it.
Showering and dressing quickly, she donned her usual business attire before stepping out onto the Chicago sidewalks. The little restaurant Seth had booked was only a few blocks from her apartment, so for once she decided to enjoy a little light sunshine.
Arriving early, she procured a little outside table and proceeded to check through any new emails while sipping on a sugary black coffee.
"Are you Bella Swan?" Raising her eyes from her tapping fingers, Bella's gaze swept over a tiny girl, no more than five feet tall, with wispy light blonde hair.
"Yes I am, and you must be Jane?" Smiling nervously, the girl took the seat next to her and proceeded to fidget with her menu.
It took a while to gain her confidence and set her at ease, but once Jane began to feel relaxed, the words began to flow. She was meticulously organized, just like Bella, so when their visions for Jane's book aligned, Bella could just tell it was going to be a wonderful day.
"Morning Bella. Package came for you while you were out. They almost wouldn't let me sign for it. But you know me Bella, anything for you!"
She'd walked back to her apartment with a spring in her step, after arranging a follow up appointment with Jane to sign contracts. But when Eric had halted her in her steps, that little twinge of nerves she'd felt this morning was back.
She managed to laugh along and thank him for his kind efforts on her behalf, but the entire time her eyes were drifting to a large box, sitting so innocently on the shelf behind him. Her fingers twitched with anticipation and as he finally passed the plain white box towards her, she felt strangely pleased with it's weight. Realizing he was watching her closely, Bella threw up her hand in a little wave and turned on the spot, before disappearing from the lobby.
Her apartment door clicked shut behind her and as she carefully laid down the box on her coffee table, she forced her body through to her bedroom to change clothes before she would allow herself a peek. Never before had she dressed so quickly and after throwing on some sweats and wife-beater that had lost it's elasticity, she all but ran back into the living room.
Sitting cross legged on the couch, she pulled the box onto her lap, her fingers tracing the unassuming white cardboard skin. Lifting the lid gently, she felt the resistance it offered and doubled her efforts. Finally, with a little swoosh of air, it was free and as Bella laid the lid to one side, her eyes strained to see beneath the translucent black crepe paper.
Hearing her phone ringing distantly in the other room, she waited patiently for the silence to resume. When it did, her fingertips tenderly lifted the black crepe to find white layers of silk, organza and lace laid within. Anticipation led to confusion as Bella lifted the pieces of her costume from the box, placing them lovingly on the table before her. She didn't understand if this was purely a coincidence, or if somehow, someway, Leah had known.
Brushing her eyes across the delicate fabrics, she knew that even though the majority of her would be exposed, when she allowed them to drape her body, she would feel beautiful.
Running from the living room to the bedroom, she searched through her pockets for her cell phone. Unlocking the screen, she smiled to note it was Leah's call she had missed and as she hit redial, was only forced to listen to two rings before a familiar voice was calling her name.
"Bella, do you love it?" Even though it wasn't her usual way, she couldn't help but gush down the phone about her costume.
"But how did you know?"
Leah simply laughed though, "What? That every girl wants to grow up to be a ballerina? I didn't. I just happened to go to the ballet with Marcus a few months ago and when I thought about you attending the ball, I knew it would be perfect. Why, does it mean something to you?"
The simple coincidence seemed too much for Bella, but it didn't really matter what had brought her here.
"Alice and I used to be obsessed with Swan Lake. Our Mom, Renee, she took us to see it when we must have been tiny and I think it was the only thing all three of us ever wholeheartedly agreed on."
Thinking about those times brought the beautiful costume even closer to perfection in her mind. With Alice forever being in charge, Bella had always been forced to play the part of Prince Siegfried, but tonight, she would be taking the lead.
"Well, then I'm even more proud of myself. I considered going in the slutty direction, but I couldn't think of anything that wouldn't make you look like Alice. So it seems like I made the right choice. Anyway, I have my make-up and hair people arriving in a few hours, so how about you get your ass over here, pack a bag for tonight so you can stay over and join me in a few pre party drinks?"
Bella had been planning on doing her own hair and make-up, but Leah's offer was simply too good to pass up. Ending the call she swept through her apartment, throwing in everything could possibly need in a brown leather overnight bag; the one she had borrowed from Charlie a decade ago.
As she made her way out to the sidewalk, Bella didn't care about the looks that were being thrown her way. She didn't care that her hair was a mess, nor that the cardigan she had thrown over her sweats didn't match in the slightest. All that mattered was the plain white box being grasped possessively between her two hands.
"Can I get you a cab Bella?" Even Eric looked a little taken aback at the mess she was presenting to the world, but when she threw him a beaming smile, he all out stuttered.
"Thanks Eric that would be great." Perhaps he'd never seen her in such a good mood, she thought, as he took just a second too long to start walking her to the curb.
All thoughts of the outside world swept away as she finally made her way north, up through the streets of Chicago. A few times during the cab ride, she'd lifted the lid on the box just a few inches, her eyes trailing over the delicate outline of diamonds, creating heavy glittering feathers on the weightless fabric. She couldn't imagine how it was going to look on her body and suddenly a wave of panic swept over her as she remembered Leah's words about Irina creating this for each and every contour of her body. There would be nowhere to hide, no length of fabric, no ruffle expertly positioned, nothing to keep the entire party from essentially visualizing her naked.
Just as she was beginning to slow her beating heart, they pulled up to the gates of Leah's home.
"Please can you ring through to the house and tell them Bella Swan is here."
It took a few minutes for the gates to peel open and as they made the now familiar trek up Leah's drive, Bella's excitement grew with the sight of each passing tree.
"Miss. Bella!" Bella turned around to look in the direction of the shouting voice, to find Embry throwing a ball back and forth with a man she'd never seen before. She lifted one of her hands to wave at him and as she trailed away into the house a smile drifted to her lips as his little voice reached her ears, telling his friend how she'd called him Mr. Embry on his birthday.
"Miss. Swan. Please follow me." The last time Bella had been here the house had been so full of people, she hadn't had a chance to appreciate the terrifying size of the place. As they finally began to slow down after making several left and right turns, Bella was absolutely certain she would never be able to find her own way out again.
"Bella. Oh my god, you took forever. Here, have you eaten?" Leah was sitting on a cozy looking black leather couch, her laptop tucked neatly into her lap, a table full of food laid out behind her.
"Marcus thought he would be back with some friends from golf, but they got caught up on the course. So feel free to dig in." Waving her hand back over in the direction of the food, Bella couldn't help herself. She'd been too nervous to have anything more than coffee during her morning meeting. But now, with the glorious smells assaulting her senses she felt her stomach growl out its demands.
After filling a plate with all manner of things, she slid in next to Leah, happily enjoying their shared silence as she obeyed her body's desires.
"So, when do I get to know what you're wearing?" Watching Leah while placing another delicious bite of chicken in her mouth, Bella knew from the glint in her eye it wouldn't be anytime soon.
"Now where would the fun be in that! After all it is a masquerade ball, half the point is not knowing who you're talking to."
Thinking of the invitation she'd received, Bella felt a little tingle of panic. "Leah, my invitation said a car would pick me up, but now I'm here. Does that matter?"
Leah didn't brush aside the question as she normally would, instead she pushed aside the laptop and pulled out her cell phone. A quick phone call was made where Leah informed whoever was on the other line of Bella would no longer be needing her car and with a bright smile, the world was back on kilter again.
"I think we might need to settle those nerves a bit don't you?" Bella couldn't help but say yes, after all she'd been an emotional whirlwind all morning. If the day continued on this way, she would be having all out panic attacks by evening.
Following Leah down a corridor or two to the kitchen, she happily accepted a glass of freshly poured champagne.
"Let's go sit in my office, I have a little PB & J news to go over with you."
Taking the first sip of bubbles, Bella concentrated on her breathing, hoping that whatever Leah had planned didn't require her full mental capacity.
"Okay, so it's taken a couple of phone calls and I'm not going to share any details. But I found out some interesting things about the new Mrs. Cullen. If everything goes my way, Jasper is going to be left alone tonight and damn it Bella, if you don't make some serious headway in that beautiful costume of yours, I think we might be in serious trouble. Now I want you to tell me how things went during Embry's party."
Leah's words left Bella with a lot to think about, but pushing aside that thought for a second, she recounted every moment she could remember from a few weeks prior. Hearing the words, she still felt a little lasting achievement. Not only had the threat of Paul being extinguished, but for the first time, she'd felt like Jasper was looking at her without any pre conceived judgments.
"Okay, that's actually brilliant. I didn't think Jasper would ever take Paul's flirtation with you seriously, but you never know with those guys. They've been friends for so long, you don't know what moral guidelines they have going on. Do you think you can continue where you left off?"
Thinking about her last moments with him, Bella wasn't sure. After all he'd been comforting her over something which was an absolute fallacy. It would be hard to recreate that kind of situation or intimacy.
"I don't think we'll have to go back to square one, but I think that's the best I can offer. Do we even know what they're wearing?"
Leah took a sip of her champagne and then tapped her fingernails against the glass. "Hmm, no. That's a good thought, we don't want to waste time trying to figure it out either. Okay, I'll call Jasper."
The words and the flirtation came easily to Leah and Bella hoped spending the day in her presence would help some of that confidence rub off on her.
"Okay, don't laugh. But this is the only way she could get him to go. Jasper is wearing an old Pilot's uniform and Alice is going as an Air Stewardess. Which I can only imagine she's bought from Sluts'r'us!"
Bella laughed loudly at Leah's bitchiness, reveling in having an accomplice in her evil plans.
"Leah. Laurent and Elizabeth are setting up in your sitting room." Leah clapped her hands enthusiastically, before turning around to face the voice in the doorway. "Thanks Sue, oh and would you mind taking this and hanging everything up in my dressing room. It's Bella costume for this evening, so if it needs steaming can you see to it?"
Bella felt like ripping the box back out of Leah's hand and pulling it to her chest, but instead she took another sip of her champagne and berated herself for her own foolishness.
"Come on Bella, I'll introduce you to the gods who are going to make you look like the most beautiful ballerina in the Northern Hemisphere."
Once again, Bella was simply left on her heels as Leah swept through the house to an huge open room on the second floor. A large television took up one wall, but other than a few white couches, the room was mostly bare.
A number of people flitted in and out of the room with tables and chairs, boxes and mirrors. Sitting on one of the couches, Bella was amazed that in a little under ten minutes, the room had essentially been transformed into a salon.
"So ladies, what can we do for you today?"
Leah had taken the seat next to her and while filling two more glasses with champagne, she stopped to give herself and Bella a top up.
"I have a couple of sketches for Bella. She's going as Odette from Swan Lake. Why don't you take a look and see what you think."
Bella tried to pear over the sheets of paper, but her eyes weren't fast enough to catch anything concrete.
"I think I get the idea. How about I get started on your hair Miss. Bella and then Elizabeth can work with you?" He winked over at Leah and as Laurent took her confidently by the hand, she felt herself calm slightly.
"Relax hun, I promise you. You're not even gonna recognize yourself when we're done."
It took three hours, most of which Bella spent happily lounging in a chair speculating on Leah's costume. But nothing other than her soft, romantic makeup and long wavy hair extensions reaching the base of her spine, told her anything. Leah laughed quite loudly at some of her guesses, but each time had shaken her head with glee at remaining undefeated.
"All done ladies. And may I say that you are going to be the Belles of this Ball. No pun intended." Laurent winked in Bella's direction and after three glasses of champagne, the smile came easily to her face.
"Alright, time to get something quick to eat and then it's dress up time"
At Leah's words, Bella looked over at the clock and was shocked to see it read seven o clock. Leah had told her earlier that their driver would arrive at eight thirty. Apparently to stack the arrivals, the first revelers would already be showing up as they spoke.
"Leah, Bella. You both look beautiful." As Marcus swept into the room Bella couldn't help but smile softly under his attention. With a significant age difference between them, he often felt like a kind uncle to her.
"I don't even want to think of all the bachelors who will be hunting for my blood when they see I have not only one, but two escorts for the evening." Leah protested loudly when Marcus drew near to steal a kiss, but she couldn't hide the smile that lit up her eyes to have her husband so near.
"Bella, Leah has refused point blank to tell me what you're wearing. You wouldn't put an old man out of his misery would you?" Bella shook her head in his direction, being careful not to loosen the lovely side bun Laurent had spent a long time perfecting. "Sorry Marcus, but I get the feeling Leah would kill me."
The few bites that Bella could push past the bubble of exhilaration in her throat settled uncomfortably in her stomach. It didn't matter though because as she followed Leah back through to her dressing room, the only thing she wanted right now was to see herself in the mirror, dressed as the Swan Queen.
Standing in front of her costume laid out like perfection, Bella could finally appreciate the extravagant detail of each piece.
The soft white tights that she rolled up her slim calves had a slight shimmer to them, catching the light and the contours of her legs as she twisted and turned.
The leotard which scooped daringly low at the back, had hidden supports in the front and though Bella didn't have a huge amount of cleavage, what was there was lifted to create a wonderful illusion. Fragile spaghetti straps held the fabric up and as the smooth white silk traveled down her torso, so the diamonds began. Tiny illusions of feathers shimmering in the light, increasing with every inch.
The tutu which consisted of the traditional lengths of organza, had an intricately sewn silver lace layer on top. As her eyes trailed up her body in the mirror, Bella's mouth dropped open in delight. Not one avian feather adorned the costume, only those made of diamonds and lace.
"Sue, could you tie up Bella's ballet slippers please?"
Watching as Sue wrapped the white silk up her calves, Bella had wondered if wearing flats would make her feel less sexy. But as Sue smiled brightly in her direction, nothing could be further from the truth. Each step she took was more graceful. A swing that had never really existed, settled into her hips and as she looked at the girl in the mirror she couldn't recognize herself. Bella was speechless.
"You look beautiful." She'd seen Leah approach over her shoulder, but Bella was still shocked by the whispered words in her ear.
Turning to see Leah in her floor length gown, Bella still couldn't figure out who she was meant to be. Something which Leah clearly saw written on her face.
"Don't worry, it's not meant to be obvious. I'm Guinevere and Marcus is going as Lancelot. I thought it apt for this evening." Her eyes twinkled in delight and Bella couldn't help but join in the contagious action.
"Come on, now for the piece de resistance, Laurent needs to fit our masks."
Bella had forgotten all about that and as her eyes swept over her lean glittering form one more time, she wondered what could possibly work with this outfit.
"Sit ladies, well, if you can." Hearing his light laughter, Bella realized it was in fact directed at her. She might not have any difficulty with a couch, but the high chair she'd sat in earlier for her hair and make-up was going to be impossible.
Leah's baroque style beaded mask was the same color as her blood red, middle ages inspired gown. And although it hid her exotic eyes, it did nothing to diminish Leah's beauty.
"Alright Miss Swan. Come stand here." Nervously she padded across to Laurent.
"Close your eyes." She followed his command and shut out the world, listening to the ruffles of Leah's dress as she went in search of Marcus. She felt some soft tugging on her hair and then the softest weight of fabric being laid against her cheeks.
"Alright, take a look."
Bella expected to see something of a similar nature to Leah's, but instead her eyes widened in delight. A thin piece of contoured silver lace had been laid across her cheeks, no more than two inches thick. Her delicate skin was a soft hue against the light color and her dark eyes stood out prominently.
"You look beautiful hun. I hope whoever he is realized what he's got."
But she didn't have a chance to retort. A black cape was laid over her shoulders and without a word, Bella was being led down to the town car sitting patiently in the drive. As she settled down into the cool leather seat, Bella wasn't sure how the night was going to unfold. She just knew nothing was standing in her path tonight.
a/n: Wow, I'm so sorry this wasn't with you last weekend but I had a friend in need and they took precedence I'm afraid.
Anyway this chapter was actually meant to include the ball, but the words just kept coming and coming. If I tell you that I had to cut 3k words just to get this, you might understand. Anyway this Saturday I will be posting the actual ball and I hope this tides you over until then.
Thanks for all the reviews for chapter eleven, every single one made me so unbelievably happy.
