Chapter three

"Annabel where were you?" Modesta screeched as Annabel came striding into the room.

"I was no where." She smiled.

"Oh. Don't tell father you left the hotel. he'll be even more furious than he already is."

"What are you talking about?" Annabel froze in her spot and looked at her sister.

"He can't find you anywhere. I told him you were looking for him but he won't stay in one place and well I've run outta things to tell him." Modesta spoke quickly as she usually did and finished just as their father came booming through the doors.

"Where the hell have you been? You know tonight is a very important night god damnit now where the hell were you?" Martin roared.

"I was here in the hotel." Annabel smiled, as Martin was less than three feet from the girls.

He was drunk as a sailor returning to harbor and looking for a good time. there was no telling what he'd do.

"Dad perhaps you should take a nap before the dinner. You don't want to look like a drunken pig, now do you?" Modesta asked bravely. Lurching out he grabbed both the girls' wrists and squeezed.

"You're hurting me!" Shouted Annabel.

"Now you listen to me ya little witch," He started at Annabel.

"If I ever catch you outside this hotel without my notice first, you will be in more trouble than you can imagine, and if you go to meet anyone they will pay severely as well." He threatened.

"Let go!" Modesta and Annabel yanked their arms away as Martin left the room scoffing under his breath. Annabel sat on her bad and examined her arm and then looked at Modesta's.

"He yanked you harder." She mumbled.

"No biggie. really." Modesta took her arm back.

"I can't do anything right can I?" Annabel spoke after a moment of silence. Modesta turned to her sister with tears in her eyes.

"NO! That's not true and don't ever say that again!" Modesta scorned.

"Why? It's true."

"No it's not. Annabel where would we be without each other? We're sisters. We are wild spirits." Modesta smiled.

"You're the best sister. and you were my first friend. and you're my best friend. don't forget that all right?" Modesta hugged her sister.

"Ok." Annabel whispered.

Their father sobered just a little by the time the dinner started. It didn't matter anyways. He was just going to get drunk before the night's end.

The girls' were escorted to their seats as everyone danced and mingled. They didn't know anyone among them, but began feeling very discomforted when the elder men who 98% alcohol by now, started giving them nasty glances.

"This is entirely too boring for my taste!" They both heard and looked in the voices direction. Modesta right away watched Annabel's cheeks glow and smile stretch across her lips. She had a beautiful spring aura to her.

"What are you do.doing h-here?" Modesta shot, but then began to stutter as she noticed the gorgeous chap with him.

"Ah yes, we were invited." He answered

"And who invited you?" Annabel smirked.

"Why. you did. Remember? The schedule card?" She smiled wider.

"Come on Beau we don't belong here." The man spoke. Modesta felt her heart flutter.

"Wait am I missing something here?" Modesta squeaked.

"You invited them? Father is going to go hysterical!"

"Mody I didn't invite them intentionally-" Annabel attempted.

"Oh don't you Mody me!! He's a thief and he-" She was cut off by Beau.

"Oh have a little fun!" Laughing he grabbed the man's shoulder.

"Here, Christian, sit." Pushing the man he called Christian into the chair next to her he reached for Annabel's hand as she gratefully accepted.