Chapter 9
Everyday was like this for a month. I felt more and more comfortable with Daren everyday. The glowing or tingling in my stomach grew. I had dresses made because I couldn't fit into the dresses in the closet. Daren and me grew closer by the day. I found myself growing found of him. Then that talk came up again.
"Jazlyn, the first mask is next week. Have you made up your mind?" He asked after just kissing me.
"When is the next mask?" I said pulling away one more time.
"Two weeks after the first one." He replied.
"I will have you answer at the second mask."
"Better than know answer at all I guess."
"Yeah you can say that." Then we started to kiss again.
Everyone was getting ready for the first mask. I had to get sized for a dress. When the dress was finished I looked beautiful in it. It was a strapless blue-silver dress held up by my breasts. The maids put me on a diet so I could not gain any weight before the mask because it was already hard enough to get into.
The mask was tomorrow I was nervous, and yet excited. I knew Portia and Lisa would be there but that would not be a problem. Daren said would make sure they stay away from me. I had to wear a mask anyway. The mask covered my eyes but not the rest of my face. It had beautiful beads on it and it was blue-silver to match my dress. I went to sleep peacefully that night with no horrible visits from Dimitri. The only dream I had was of Edan. It was the same dream with the child. Then it was at the part with Edan laughing when someone woke me up.
It was the maid I gave the Franks to. "Sorry to wake you madam but Prince Daren has sent for me to assist you in getting ready." She said opening the curtains.
"Oh yes. Please no need to apologize. What is your name?" I said stretching out.
"Its Gabrielle. You can call me Gabby if it pleases you." She said politely.
"All right then I assume you know my name. If you don't it's Jazlyn. So how old are you Gabby?" I asked trying to make friends.
"I am seventeen. I've been working at the palace since I was four. Ever since my parents were sold when I was ten I had to take care of myself."
"Oh I am so sorry. I was adopted when I was one. I have never known my parents. I am eighteen."
"I guess we have something in common then."
"Yes we do." I replied. Gabrielle was very pretty. She had long red hair that she pinned up. She was skinny and had a nice tan color. She had small freckles running across her nose. She had magnificent blue eyes that glowed. She was very nice and had a good sense of humor.
She helped me dress and we talked and laughed. She was so great to talk to. Before I knew it the time had come for the mask. She had to leave to help the maids make the entrees. I left the room to see how Daren looked. He was in his room fixing his collar. He turned to me and smiled. He looked so handsome. He was in a white suite out lined in gold. He had metals pinned on and he stood very straight.
"You look very handsome." I said walking over.
"As do you. I have to leave in a couple of minutes to greet the guests. Promise you'll save me a dance." He said turning.
"Promise. Well I'll see you there then." I said leaving the room.
I walked down the marble stairs and to the ballroom. The room was wonderfully decorated. There were blue decorations everywhere. It was magnificent. I walked around a little bit then left to the back of the palace to walk around outside for awhile. I wonder if Annabel will come to the mask? I hope she does. It was colder than I expected outside. The wind was blowing and the tree branches were dying. I sat on a bench and looked at the sun set. The colors were beautiful as they always are. I saw someone walking towards me from a distance. Her blond hair prefect and her nose and face red from the wind.
"Hello Jazlyn." Said Annabel as she got closer.
"Hello. I am glad you came. I have to tell you something." I said wanting her to sit down.
"Yes. I already know about your dream." She said sitting down.
"Good, nothing's going to happen right. I mean what is the miracle?" I said really wanting her to tell me.
"Sorry. I am not allowed to tell you. Don't worry, you will know by the next mask." She said standing up again. "Come the guests have been arriving lets go inside." I followed her inside and gave her coat to the manservant. She was wearing a beautiful dress. It was crimson with black velvet roses embroidered on it. We sat at a table and I put on my mask and looked at the people coming in. I saw Daren a couple of times, but he walked around talking to guests.
"Do you love him?" Said Annabel looking at Daren.
"I don't know. It's confusing. He asked me to marry him. I told him I would let him know by the next mask." I replied after declining a man invitation to dance.
"That does not answer my question. It's simple yes or no?" She repeated.
"No and yes. I don't love him the way I love Edan. But I love him enough to marry him." I said taking a sip of water. I was about to take a sip of wine when Annabel snatched it from my hand. "Why did you do that?" I said looking at her puzzled.
"Its bad for your liver and its bad for humans in general and I told you to take care of yourself. I don't want you getting sick or doing something you'll regret." She said giving it to a waiter.
I sighed and watched the maidens prance across the ballroom with handsome men. I wanted to dance with Daren but he was to busy flirting with the other women. The rest of the night I sat and talked to Annabel. She declined every man who asked her to dance except one. He was handsome, but wasn't exactly human. I could tell her was a vampire by his black eyes and pale skin. He had red slicked back hair. Annabel must have known him because she held him close to her while they danced. Annabel danced the rest of the night with this mysterious man. While I sat in my chair waiting for Daren to ask me for a dance.
Then when I looked at Daren he was talking to my enemy Portia. I wanted to rip her face off and feed it to the wolves. I know Daren knew it was her because he kept on looking over at me and laughing with her. He wanted to make sure I was jealous! He then asked her to dance and of course she accepted. They danced and laughed. I burst into a rage.
Some man asked me to dance. I didn't even look at him to see if I knew him I just said "yes." I stood up and he glided me across the floor. Then he twirled me and I saw what he looked like. He reminded me of the butcher's son William. Except a little skinnier and tall. His blond brown hair was brushed back and his face had gone a little red.
Daren passed by with Portia and gave him an evil looked and I laughed. I asked for his name and gave him mine, his was Adrian. He held me like gentlemen would hold a lady. I was far from being a lady in this matter and I wanted to make Daren jealous. I closed the distance between us. My body ran against his and he was very stiff. I laid my head on his shoulder because of the mood of the song. He arms were on my upper arms and I moved his hands to meet my waist. I whispered in his ear "Don't be so polite. Be comfortable." He didn't loosen up he just sighed and laughed a still laugh.
The song ended and I longed for it to be longer. Daren shot an evil look at me I just smiled and blew him a kiss. "May I ask you to be my partner in another dance Jazlyn?" Adrian said smiling.
"Yes of course" I replied. It was another slow song thank god. This treatment on Daren was going well. He asked Portia for another dance and leaded her in a circle around Adrian and I. Portia was to self-absorbed to realize it was I. I laughed and made and even closer position with Adrian and he didn't seem to mind at all. I was finished with all this revenge nonsense so when the song stopped I told Adrian I had to sit down for awhile and to ask me later. He accepted and floated off somewhere else. I sat down and Annabel followed me.
"I saw you out there. That wasn't very lady-like." She said after laughing.
"Nothing I do is very lady-like. I just did that to get Daren jealous like he is trying to do to me by dancing with Portia. It worked really well too." I said but stopped because Daren came over.
"Good evening. May I ask you for this dance Jazlyn?" He asked politely but giving me a stern look like if I decline he's going to hurt me.
"Yes. Excuse me Annabel." I said following him to the dance floor. I remained a distance away like the way you're supposed to dance but Daren refused to let me do that and pulled me closer. I could feel his hot breath on my neck and feel him kiss my neck softly until he gave me a long kiss there.
I saw Edan and me in his bed kissing passionately. The then the after shock came and I felt his teeth calmed blood from my neck and he whispered "your mine." Then laid down next to me and licked the blood on my neck.
I came into reality with a shock. I gasped for air and felt my neck. It was bleeding. Daren didn't notice he just danced and had his right cheek bone on my left. I backed away but not so far people would notice. I just whispered in his ear "I have to sit down for awhile save me another dance." Then walked towards Annabel who sat talking to the man with red hair. He stood up and walked away.
"What's the matter?" She asked looking at my panic stricken face.
"Come outside hurry!" I demanded grabbing a cloth napkin. I made my way causally outside.
"Okay now what's wrong?" She asked making me stand behind a large pine tree.
"THIS!" I blurted moving my hand away from my bleeding neck. She took the napkin and held it to the marks. "What's happening?"
"Who made these marks and when?" She said plainly but not panicked at all.
"Edan, when we were, showing our appreciation for each other." I said quickly giving her a hint.
"Oh. Good I wanted to make sure it wasn't Dimitri or something. He must have loved you a lot then." She said after a long silence.
"I loved him a lot too." I replied trying to change the subject "So why did that happen?"
"Because that's where Edan's mark is on your neck. So when Daren kissed the mark he was invading Edan's territory. That's why." She said making me come inside. The bleeding stopped so I followed her to our seats.
Everyday was like this for a month. I felt more and more comfortable with Daren everyday. The glowing or tingling in my stomach grew. I had dresses made because I couldn't fit into the dresses in the closet. Daren and me grew closer by the day. I found myself growing found of him. Then that talk came up again.
"Jazlyn, the first mask is next week. Have you made up your mind?" He asked after just kissing me.
"When is the next mask?" I said pulling away one more time.
"Two weeks after the first one." He replied.
"I will have you answer at the second mask."
"Better than know answer at all I guess."
"Yeah you can say that." Then we started to kiss again.
Everyone was getting ready for the first mask. I had to get sized for a dress. When the dress was finished I looked beautiful in it. It was a strapless blue-silver dress held up by my breasts. The maids put me on a diet so I could not gain any weight before the mask because it was already hard enough to get into.
The mask was tomorrow I was nervous, and yet excited. I knew Portia and Lisa would be there but that would not be a problem. Daren said would make sure they stay away from me. I had to wear a mask anyway. The mask covered my eyes but not the rest of my face. It had beautiful beads on it and it was blue-silver to match my dress. I went to sleep peacefully that night with no horrible visits from Dimitri. The only dream I had was of Edan. It was the same dream with the child. Then it was at the part with Edan laughing when someone woke me up.
It was the maid I gave the Franks to. "Sorry to wake you madam but Prince Daren has sent for me to assist you in getting ready." She said opening the curtains.
"Oh yes. Please no need to apologize. What is your name?" I said stretching out.
"Its Gabrielle. You can call me Gabby if it pleases you." She said politely.
"All right then I assume you know my name. If you don't it's Jazlyn. So how old are you Gabby?" I asked trying to make friends.
"I am seventeen. I've been working at the palace since I was four. Ever since my parents were sold when I was ten I had to take care of myself."
"Oh I am so sorry. I was adopted when I was one. I have never known my parents. I am eighteen."
"I guess we have something in common then."
"Yes we do." I replied. Gabrielle was very pretty. She had long red hair that she pinned up. She was skinny and had a nice tan color. She had small freckles running across her nose. She had magnificent blue eyes that glowed. She was very nice and had a good sense of humor.
She helped me dress and we talked and laughed. She was so great to talk to. Before I knew it the time had come for the mask. She had to leave to help the maids make the entrees. I left the room to see how Daren looked. He was in his room fixing his collar. He turned to me and smiled. He looked so handsome. He was in a white suite out lined in gold. He had metals pinned on and he stood very straight.
"You look very handsome." I said walking over.
"As do you. I have to leave in a couple of minutes to greet the guests. Promise you'll save me a dance." He said turning.
"Promise. Well I'll see you there then." I said leaving the room.
I walked down the marble stairs and to the ballroom. The room was wonderfully decorated. There were blue decorations everywhere. It was magnificent. I walked around a little bit then left to the back of the palace to walk around outside for awhile. I wonder if Annabel will come to the mask? I hope she does. It was colder than I expected outside. The wind was blowing and the tree branches were dying. I sat on a bench and looked at the sun set. The colors were beautiful as they always are. I saw someone walking towards me from a distance. Her blond hair prefect and her nose and face red from the wind.
"Hello Jazlyn." Said Annabel as she got closer.
"Hello. I am glad you came. I have to tell you something." I said wanting her to sit down.
"Yes. I already know about your dream." She said sitting down.
"Good, nothing's going to happen right. I mean what is the miracle?" I said really wanting her to tell me.
"Sorry. I am not allowed to tell you. Don't worry, you will know by the next mask." She said standing up again. "Come the guests have been arriving lets go inside." I followed her inside and gave her coat to the manservant. She was wearing a beautiful dress. It was crimson with black velvet roses embroidered on it. We sat at a table and I put on my mask and looked at the people coming in. I saw Daren a couple of times, but he walked around talking to guests.
"Do you love him?" Said Annabel looking at Daren.
"I don't know. It's confusing. He asked me to marry him. I told him I would let him know by the next mask." I replied after declining a man invitation to dance.
"That does not answer my question. It's simple yes or no?" She repeated.
"No and yes. I don't love him the way I love Edan. But I love him enough to marry him." I said taking a sip of water. I was about to take a sip of wine when Annabel snatched it from my hand. "Why did you do that?" I said looking at her puzzled.
"Its bad for your liver and its bad for humans in general and I told you to take care of yourself. I don't want you getting sick or doing something you'll regret." She said giving it to a waiter.
I sighed and watched the maidens prance across the ballroom with handsome men. I wanted to dance with Daren but he was to busy flirting with the other women. The rest of the night I sat and talked to Annabel. She declined every man who asked her to dance except one. He was handsome, but wasn't exactly human. I could tell her was a vampire by his black eyes and pale skin. He had red slicked back hair. Annabel must have known him because she held him close to her while they danced. Annabel danced the rest of the night with this mysterious man. While I sat in my chair waiting for Daren to ask me for a dance.
Then when I looked at Daren he was talking to my enemy Portia. I wanted to rip her face off and feed it to the wolves. I know Daren knew it was her because he kept on looking over at me and laughing with her. He wanted to make sure I was jealous! He then asked her to dance and of course she accepted. They danced and laughed. I burst into a rage.
Some man asked me to dance. I didn't even look at him to see if I knew him I just said "yes." I stood up and he glided me across the floor. Then he twirled me and I saw what he looked like. He reminded me of the butcher's son William. Except a little skinnier and tall. His blond brown hair was brushed back and his face had gone a little red.
Daren passed by with Portia and gave him an evil looked and I laughed. I asked for his name and gave him mine, his was Adrian. He held me like gentlemen would hold a lady. I was far from being a lady in this matter and I wanted to make Daren jealous. I closed the distance between us. My body ran against his and he was very stiff. I laid my head on his shoulder because of the mood of the song. He arms were on my upper arms and I moved his hands to meet my waist. I whispered in his ear "Don't be so polite. Be comfortable." He didn't loosen up he just sighed and laughed a still laugh.
The song ended and I longed for it to be longer. Daren shot an evil look at me I just smiled and blew him a kiss. "May I ask you to be my partner in another dance Jazlyn?" Adrian said smiling.
"Yes of course" I replied. It was another slow song thank god. This treatment on Daren was going well. He asked Portia for another dance and leaded her in a circle around Adrian and I. Portia was to self-absorbed to realize it was I. I laughed and made and even closer position with Adrian and he didn't seem to mind at all. I was finished with all this revenge nonsense so when the song stopped I told Adrian I had to sit down for awhile and to ask me later. He accepted and floated off somewhere else. I sat down and Annabel followed me.
"I saw you out there. That wasn't very lady-like." She said after laughing.
"Nothing I do is very lady-like. I just did that to get Daren jealous like he is trying to do to me by dancing with Portia. It worked really well too." I said but stopped because Daren came over.
"Good evening. May I ask you for this dance Jazlyn?" He asked politely but giving me a stern look like if I decline he's going to hurt me.
"Yes. Excuse me Annabel." I said following him to the dance floor. I remained a distance away like the way you're supposed to dance but Daren refused to let me do that and pulled me closer. I could feel his hot breath on my neck and feel him kiss my neck softly until he gave me a long kiss there.
I saw Edan and me in his bed kissing passionately. The then the after shock came and I felt his teeth calmed blood from my neck and he whispered "your mine." Then laid down next to me and licked the blood on my neck.
I came into reality with a shock. I gasped for air and felt my neck. It was bleeding. Daren didn't notice he just danced and had his right cheek bone on my left. I backed away but not so far people would notice. I just whispered in his ear "I have to sit down for awhile save me another dance." Then walked towards Annabel who sat talking to the man with red hair. He stood up and walked away.
"What's the matter?" She asked looking at my panic stricken face.
"Come outside hurry!" I demanded grabbing a cloth napkin. I made my way causally outside.
"Okay now what's wrong?" She asked making me stand behind a large pine tree.
"THIS!" I blurted moving my hand away from my bleeding neck. She took the napkin and held it to the marks. "What's happening?"
"Who made these marks and when?" She said plainly but not panicked at all.
"Edan, when we were, showing our appreciation for each other." I said quickly giving her a hint.
"Oh. Good I wanted to make sure it wasn't Dimitri or something. He must have loved you a lot then." She said after a long silence.
"I loved him a lot too." I replied trying to change the subject "So why did that happen?"
"Because that's where Edan's mark is on your neck. So when Daren kissed the mark he was invading Edan's territory. That's why." She said making me come inside. The bleeding stopped so I followed her to our seats.