It was the one time of year that Clarisse actually consented to wearing any kind of red. She never liked the color mixed with her red hair but Pascal DiDiaro made her dress every year for the Christmas ball. He always found a way to mix the red in so it flowed naturally. Another change in this dress despite her other gala dresses was the fact that this curved like an elegant evening gown rather than a puffed out lady of the court dress. The man was a genius and knew it well.
The dress was nothing short of gorgeous. This was a bit of a Christmas present to herself as she never saw the gown until the day of the gala. Pascal had been making her dresses for over 25 years so there wasn't ever a fear that he had gotten the measurements wrong. She unzipped the bag and couldn't help but smile. The gown itself was a glimmering silver, from the back where the zipper began stemmed a green and red stripe side by side that ran at a downward angle expanding as is ran through the front, across her midsection and ended at the bottom of the dress in back. Elegant, festive, and sure to make her the center of attention, she loved Christmas.
An hour later her lady's maids left her room after they were certain she looked her best. When he knocked on the door, shivers ran down her spine. She opened the door and felt the shiver increase. Paul was dressed in a black tuxedo with silver tie. He took her hand and kissed it.
"Beautiful." He said and kissed her hand. Her mind of it's own volition went to Joseph. For it didn't matter how wonderful Paul was, her heart simply wouldn't let go of the man that had let her go.
"You look quite distinguished and handsome."
"I was just going for clean."
She laughed as his sense of humor was always refreshing. He held out his arm to her and she took it with a smile. Below them they could hear Brenda Lee singing "Rockin Around the Christmas Tree." Clarisse informed Denny that would announce them, that she was ready but to wait until the song ended. He nodded and stood at the ready.
"You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear voices singin let's be jolly. Deck the halls with bells of holly!" Paul started singing and soon he and Clarisse we singing and dancing in the hallway. She hadn't had so much fun since Christmas two years ago.
"Come here! Stop worrying about security and come here I love this song!" Clarisse said pulling Joseph away from Shades.
"Take it easy you are the Queen if you want they can play Frank Sinatra all night!" He said laughing.
"It's not JUST Sinatra, Joseph. It's Winter Wonderland. It's one of my favorites."
"I thought Bing Crosby's White Christmas was your favorite."
"It is but this is a close second."
"Uh huh right after Jingle Bell Rock, The Little Drummer Boy, Sleigh Ride, The Christmas Song and I think last year's favorite was Rockin Around the Christmas Tree."
She stepped on his foot playfully.
"What do you know of Christmas music?"
"Is that a challenge Ma'am?"
"I think it is."
"Oh I can sing all of them. The question is, can you dance to all of them? And how fast?"
She eyed him with a "What are you up to?" look. He let go of her and walked up to Tony the man in charge of the music festivities. She saw Joseph hand the guy a CD and what looked like money. Suddenly the music stopped and everyone turned toward Tony. Joseph returned looking like the cat that ate the canary.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for the her majesty's solo dance. Everyone please step off the dance floor and focus your attention on her majesty. My Queen, this one's for you."
What began was a gentle orchestra version of Silent Night. She was happy that he had picked a gentle waltz. As she slipped into it, the song changed to The Christmas Song, another minute and Frosty the Snowman. The CD went through a minute of at least 10 different songs, each one faster than the next. She wouldn't be outdone by Joseph, if he wanted her to move, it was going to cost him.
The next to the last song was "The Little Saint Nick" by the Beach Boys and by this time Clarisse had been twisted, turned, dipped, spun, and had shaken every piece of her body. As the song came to a close, he spun her once more until her back was pressed against his chest just in time for "White Christmas" to play. He had made it the last song and ensured the full version to hold her in his arms the longest. She laughed trying to catch her breath.
"Well you lived up to my challenge. Did I live up to yours?" She teased.
"Live up to it? I'm considering changing my workout routine and including you in it. And here I thought you only knew how to waltz. Either way I thought I'd get a little Christmas revenge on you but it was I who was taken by surprise."
She blushed and thought how great a kiss under the mistletoe would be to end a perfect night. Unfortunately she got stuck entertaining some of her guests till nearly 4am and he had gone by then leaving Shades on duty.
"Clarisse are you ready?" Paul's voice suddenly brought her to life. His dimples shined from the corner of his smile.
"Ready."
"Presenting Clarisse Renaldi Queen of Genovia."
She was a vision and he was glad that she felt comfortable with him. After tonight that may not be the case. Paul however, was not a man that feared being alone. He clutched the small black case in his pocket hoping beyond measure that the task he had been sent to do would not fail. After all, how could it fail? He was the one closest to her. He had worked hard to ensure her trust. The rest would be in place. Either way tonight was the night.
Clarisse looked around the room hoping for a glimpse of her granddaughter. She had found it strange that Mia wasn't anywhere to be found all day. Charlotte looked beautiful on the arm of Marcus. But not even Charlotte knew where Mia had gone. She chalked it up to Mia being fashionably late and joined Paul for a dance.
Those eyes usually filled with depth were never more obvious. Cold blooded murder shot through every vein in his body. His eyes locked on his target. If anything went wrong he'd be responsible. It would mean his own death. Silently he waited blending behind the crowd. The evening passed and he watched, waited, burned. It was getting close he knew it. Knew that his partner had taken care of every detail. He hadn't wanted it to happen this way. But in the end he hadn't had a choice, she was in close proximity to too many people. His ears perked up when the song began to play.
"Your Majesty may I have this dance?" Marcus said suddenly stepping up.
His eyes went wide. Something had changed. Something was wrong. This wasn't the plan. He grabbed the walkie talkie.
"Something's up Marcus is dancing with-" He broke off and suddenly he knew. "He's changed his position."
With all his might and force he slammed through the window. She turned to the window shocked to find him there and with such force.
"Clarisse!" He screamed at her.
"Joseph what's wrong?"
The shots fired but before Clarisse could see what was happening, she was slammed to the floor by Paul.
"He's on the balcony!" Joseph screamed into his radio. Paul fired and another three shots fired from the balcony. A thin man fell to his death, blood pooling around him. More shots fired from the stairs, Joe shot him. The ballroom emptied as the spectators rushed to safety. Joseph and Paul ran to the dead man. Suddenly realizing that Clarisse hadn't followed, Joseph whirled around.
"Always have a backup plan, gentlemen." He said with a sneer.
The gun grazed her temple, his hold on her firm.
"Marcus you slime. Or should I call you Ricardo?" Joseph said.
"Clever. Very clever. You nearly ruined my evening. I thought you'd gone off to lick your wounds after diving off that cliff."
"Not as smart as you thought you were. You shouldn't hire a snitch. Especially one that can't drive his own motorcycle. I damn near drove off the cliff, would've been too if it weren't for rock bush." Joseph said trying to seem unaffected by the gun pointed at Clarisse's head.
"Fifteen years I've waited to finish the job my brother started. But I had to wait patiently by when you wouldn't leave her side. Artimus underestimated you and I guess that's why you killed him. But no matter, I got what I came for. And when I'm done taking my pleasure from this peasant that hides behind her crown, I'm going to drown you in her blood." He licked Clarisse's ear and laughed.
Clarisse saw the look in Joseph's eyes. A cold murderous rage spilled from his veins. And then a smile formed on his lips, so evil that it made Clarisse tremble.
"Why are you doing this? I never did anything to your family." Clarisse shouted.
"Oh so innocent are we? You weren't innocent when you murdered my father after he was captured on the north shores. Or does the name Hans Bonarte mean anything to you?"
Clarisse's eyes widened. "No!"
"Your Majesty I'm sorry to intrude on you at this late hour but we have a problem?"
"What is it Joseph?"
"Three rogue pirates were captured off the north shore. They robbed and murdered the Filodane family in Cotton Ridge."
"Why are they here?"
"I'm sorry sir but it appears that one of them claims to know you personally and says you employ him."
"Impossible!" King Rupert said. "I do not hire pirates."
The King and Joseph made their way downstairs. Clarisse waited until they were gone. She then dressed and followed secretly behind.
"Who are you?" the King thundered in his usual booming tone.
"My name is Hans Bonarte, your Majesty."
"And you claim to be in my employ?"
"Uh no Sir. I am in the employ of your Queen."
Clarisse shivered. She HAD hired him. Rupert's ship had sunk off the coast of Finland. A very valuable sword that his father had given him had gone down on that ship. He was miserable at the loss. She met the men in Philigran and they agreed to haul the ship out and recover any valuables upon it. She hadn't known at the time that they were pirates.
"That's absurd! Joseph have Gavin and Edward arrest these men." With that Rupert left the room.
Clarisse waited until the car pulled away from the palace and followed them on horseback. When they arrived at the jailhouse, Gavin moved to get the prisoners out of the car. One of Bonarte's men had a knife and before Gavin realized that he had gotten free of the cuffs, the knife had pierced his side. Before she realized it, Clarisse had pulled out the small handgun Rupert had given her, and fired. Bonarte clutched his chest and fell to his knees, the third guy raced into the night and was never captured. Edward was the only witness to Clarisse's actions. Before she had time to comprehend what she had done, Edward had her back on her horse heading for the palace.
The story said that after Gavin was stabbed, Edward shot and killed two out of three of the pirates. Not one of them ever suspected Clarisse.
"You killed him and for what reason to hide your precious secret? Artimus and I grew up without a father and my mother was never the same. He had a weakness for flesh however and had he not tried to have his way with you, you would've died that night. I saw it all. I was there."
"You might've been clever, Marcus but you were blind to what I knew. And I knew everything. He wouldn't have gotten away with it and neither will you. Remember always have a backup plan." Two massive arms reached quickly around his neck. He couldn't help but release his hold on Clarisse. He fired off two shots as Charlotte dove in front of her. With one swift snap the life drained from his body. Ricardo Bonarte lay dead on the floor.
Clarisse did only what she could do. She ran from the lifeless body into Paul's arms. If Joseph would've felt any smaller, he'd have to be seen with microscope. Paul looked at Joe with a confused look on his face. Obviously not the reaction that either of them expected from her.
"Mia where's Mia?" Clarisse said looking from Paul to Joseph.
"She's with Shades at Dominic's house and quite safe. Your Majesty there is a lot that you need to know but first I need to take care of business." Joseph said.
"Where's Dom?" Paul asked still holding onto the queen.
"I'm here!" He shouted not far from them. "Call an ambulance hurry!"
They all raced over to him kneeling beneath the balcony. At first it appeared that he had been shot, but upon closer examination, a females legs hung across his lap. It was Charlotte.
"Oh my heavens! Charlotte!" The queen cried trying to get to her.
"Angelo get her outta here. Take her to Mia." Joe said to Paul.
"Joseph is she alive?" She said crying.
"Yes, she's been hit in the chest but she's still breathing. Go Clarisse. I'll be there soon."
A normal woman would've fought this wanting to be there to ensure Charlotte was ok. But the grandmother yearned to see her granddaughter and the queen in her took back over.
"You will promise me you'll be there." She said grabbing Joseph firmly by the sleeve.
"I promise." He said nearly sick with the pain on her face.