Hey everybody! Sorry this took so long! Enjoy chapter 28!
CASSIDY'S POINT OF VIEW:
I absentmindedly gazed out the balcony window in the Grand Foyer. Winged beasts of the night flew in from all directions towards the palace, landing gracefully at the gates before gliding to the big oak doors. I sighed loudly, pushing thoughts of going to the Masque out of my head. 'You're a servant girl, Cass. You don't belong. Plus…you're not dead.'
I shook my head and tore myself away from the balcony. I closed the windows behind me and gazed around the empty foyer. The tapestries needed to be shaken and the cold monumental statues that guarded the staircase needed to be scrubbed. I made a mental note of that before going up the small staircase to the main hallway. I idly ran my finger down the cold brick walls on the way to the kitchen. As I entered the light of the room, I grimaced at the dust left on my finger from the walls. I also made a mental note to clean the walls, butI just don't want more work today. Getting that stain out of Verona's dress was pure torture.
Thomas sat at the kitchen table cutting ripe red apples. He glanced at me and flashed a small smile before turning back to cutting. I silently took a seat next to him and watched him carefully. The knife slipped below the apple and wound up on the other side, making a small slice fall off. The juice ran down the shiny knife, twinkling in the candlelight. Wow, cutting apples has never been so interesting.
"Cass?" Thomas asked questioningly. I blinked at the apple, as if trying to come back into focus then glanced at Thomas. "Thinking about the Ball?" He asked knowingly. I shook my head, but he gave me a pointed glare and I paused. He smiled when I nodded helplessly. "Then why don't you go?" He asked me as if it were no big deal at all. I snapped my head up and said, "What? I can't go! Dracula would know, the Brides would know, Thomas! The whole party would know! They would sense my heartbeat right when I walked through the door."
"Darling, I assure you, you are not the only mortal that attends these balls." He stated modestly. A curious look came over my face. "Really? Uh…who else?" I asked, suddenly interested. "Well, you know the Wizard from Tibet, the Mangled Monk…"
I shuddered as Thomas named off some of the mortal crazies that Dracula had been associated with. "Anyways, they always show up…well, at least I think they do." I laughed a little at this, but stopped dead when Thomas grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the kitchen. "Excuse me, Thomas, but where are we going?" I asked as he tugged me down the winding paths of the palace in a rush. We flew by many rooms and one of them was mine. "We are getting you ready for the Masque!"
DRACULA'S POINT OF VIEW:
I greeted my guests with respectful bows and nods. To women, I would brush my lips softly against their knuckles, quite disgusted at their cold dead taste. Sometimes, I would imagine kissing Cassidy's little hands. They were so warm and soft from the young blood rushing freely through her perfect veins.
My thoughts scattered when a few men gasped and I curiously turned to the Grand Staircase. Ah, my Brides. Always the Belles of the Ball. Marishka wore quite a revealing golden ball gown that showed off her well-toned stomach. The sleeves dangled lifelessly off her shoulders, her breasts pushed up above modesty, and the skirt slid easily down her legs and past her feet. Her golden locks were in an elegant pile atop her head and her lips were stained a rosy pink. She wore a simple golden mask to conceal her unnaturally yellow orbs.
Verona, however, wore quite the opposite. Her light green dress claimed her abdomen tightly and frayed out at the waist. The beaded designs began at the waist then continued up to her breasts, becoming more elaborate in design. Her black sleek hair lie pleasantly behind her shoulders and her lips were a deep red. They nodded gracefully to the crowd before descending the stairs and gliding to my side. Her mask was silver and had a design of silver beads along the edge.
"My love, the Masque is beautiful." Verona declared. "It will be the best one yet!" Marishka cried happily, clinging to her sister with delight. I merely looked upon the crowd silently and whispered, "Yes."
THOMAS'S POINT OF VIEW:
"How about this one?" I pulled out a red dress from Aleera's closet and held it up to Cassidy. She took one glance at it and turned away. "I can't believe we're doing this. It's…it's so wrong. I can't sneak into the Ball wearing one of Aleera's old dresses. It's cruel." She said sadly. I sighed and dropped my hands to my sides. True, it was kind of creepy and cruel to show up at a Ball wearing a dead woman's dress, but hey, she was also dead before she was dead, too.
"How about blue? Do you like blue?" I asked, placing the red one back into the closet. Cassidy widened her eyes in disbelief and cried, "Did you not just hear a word I said? I refuse to wear one of Aleera's old dresses!" I lowered my gaze to the floor; ashamed I was causing sweet Cassidy grief. But, she wants to go to this Masque and by God; I'm going to make sure she goes! "Wait here." I said before dashing out the door. I heard her calling my name, but I ignored her and ran down the many halls to my bedroom.
I burst through the door and ran to the foot of my bed where an old leather trunk sat. I flipped the lid open and dug under all my extra winter blankets and pillows to the very bottom. I felt the box and smiled. I pulled it out and carefully lifted the lid. My eyes gazed over the contents that the box withheld and a tear escaped my eye. "Yes…yes this will be perfect."
Hermione-Malfoy: Hey girl! I haven't spoken to you in...forever! How've ya been? I've been pretty good. I'm excited about updating...finally, lol! sry there wasn't any of your "precious" Octavian, lol! you silly goose! Let me know what you think of this chapter!
Ephona: Hey thnx for your review! Yes, the party has begun, but it won't get rockin till Cass shows up, lol!
Fox of the Nova: God Bless You! lol! i know, i was so very proud of what Cassidy said to Octavian. tear I'm so proud of her! She's going places! I love your reviews and I can't wait to see what you think of my new chapter!
An Anti-Sheep Cheese Muffin: Hey hey hey! Yup, I thought that it was time to reveal Cassidy's fiesty side...especially when it's directed towards Octavian! Lol! Let me know what you think of this chapter!
Count Kendra: Your reviews are quite amusing! Idk if u've read the last few chapters...idk, i'll ask you at school! lol! I love your reviews man! Oh, I'm gonna Dance and Boogey All Night!
Stephania Bathoria: Awww! Thanx! I'm really really glad you like my story! I'm sorry it took me soooooooooo long to update, hehe! I'm sure i'll have ch 28 up next week...maybe, lol! Keep up reviewing! ;)
The Dragon Sorceress: I know...i love Octavian...and yet...i hate him...lol! Thnx for your review! I'm glad that my story captured your interest!
Lady Kathrin: tsks Where do i begin with you? You stole my butt! (inside if any of u readers r wonderin :)! I love your reviews, but darlin...i kno that Drac's hott!...hehe...i've seen him...but i kno someone even hotter...GERARD! MMM MMM MMM! Quote: I felt it! lol! Anyhoo, i hope you like this chapter...it was all for you ya kno? j/k! let me kno what u think and what we did this weekend...we should do more often! Wink Wink Luv Ya Lots!
Lucky: Thank you so so much for your review! I'm so proud of lil Cassidy for standing up to gay ole Octavian! lol!
Vanity Is My Name: Hey hey hey! I'm glad you liked my last chapter hehe! Let me kno what you think of this one! Sorry it took so long to update! I'm thinkin just a few more chapters and it will be over...unless i do a sequal, hehe!
Gem: Oh, my fav reviewer, hehe! I'm glad you liked the last chapter! This chapter didn't have much goin on but the next will be much better when Cass gets to the Ball...interesting things shall happen! hehe! Omg! If i saw Octavian in my bed i'd be like, "I need a clean change of sheets and some Octavian-Be-Gone Spray!" lol! So, when you get around to killing him, let me kno, lol! I'm glad you updated ur story as well! Keep up with it man!
TranslucentFlame: Yes, Cass is such a problem solver...but the dress did take awhile to get to perfection, hehe! Man, i kno! I would pass out if i found Octavian in my bed! Thanx for your review!
Punk Rock Princess: Thank you so much for your review! Hope you enjoyed this chapter:)
Fortune Zyne: Hey! I was actually thinking about having Octavian trying to rape Cass...who knows...maybe i'll still follow through with it! Thanx for your review:)
Random Gal: I'm so sorry that ur Dad wouldn't let u near the computer! hugs But i have updated! u shall feel better now! lol! Thanx for your reviews! love ya!
Kynnyphph: Doesn't everybody wish to be Cassidy...hehe, i sure do! lol! thnx for your review:)
Countess Ranimara: Omgoodness! Thank you so much for your review! lol, i plan to let drac kick Octavian's ass very very soon:)
Remember: Hey! Omg i love ur story and i'm so glad that your reading mine! hehe! i loved your review! it was awesome! Actually thats what inspired me to write this chapter, lol! i got your review and i was like...well...i'm goin to update! lol, ihope this chapter was ok, becuase nothin much really happend but the next chapter will be much better! Your review brought a big smile to my face..you have no idea, hehe! Let me kno what you think of this chapter!
Almost-Lost-Hope6: Thank you so much for your review! I'm glad you like it! Let me know what you think of this chapter:)
SUNSHINE: Hey! I did like ur idea about long lost relatives! I was going to have like a brother of Cassidy's show up in the sequal if i make one! Keep sending ur ideas! i would love to hear them! Thanx so much for youR fantastic review!
MusikVibe: Hey! Thank you for the review! I kno its taken me really long to update but most likely i'll have the next chapter up next week! Thanx again:)
THANX SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR AWESOME REVIEWS! YOU MAY NOT KNO THIS, BUT YOUR REVIEWS MAKE MY DAY AND KEEP ME WRITING! sorry again for the long wait hehe! Review:)