Chapter Three: Awakened

Despite these feelings, the next few days passed without change or event and numbers were crossed off calendars as the Salamander Ball drew ever closer. The whole town was in uproar, purchasing dresses, and gossiping about who was going to attend and what they would be wearing. Finally the afternoon of the Ball came and Elizabeth was putting on her dress.

'What do you think?' she asked sceptically as Archer turned to look at her.

'Wow!' he replied, an admiring smile across his face, 'You look amazing.'

She sighed, 'It's a shame. Once again my mother has failed her only purpose of making me as unappealing as possible.'

They laughed and Eliza turned to look at herself in the mirror again. The dress was a deep emerald to match her eyes, with a gentle V-shaped neckline, a low back and a sweeping train behind her. She had swept up her hair with a single white lily, a large contrast to her jet curls.

'What necklace are you going to wear?' asked Archer

'I don't know,' Eliza replied, 'I didn't have time to buy one.'

'Elizabeth!' her mother shrieked from downstairs, 'It's time to go; we're going to be late!'

'Oh well, no time now.' Said Archer as he left the room, followed by Eliza.

However, as Eliza reached the bottom of the stairs, she was greeted by her mother's horrified shriek,

'What are you thinking, girl? Where's your jewellery? What will Mr Harkshaw think of you? Quick, go grab it.'

Spluttering useless protests, Elizabeth was driven back up the stairs and left to find something where nothing was. She was desperately searching her draws and shelves for even just the simplest chain when her eye fell on the moon pendant that sat on her bedside table. Driven by an exasperated cry from her mother downstairs, Eliza grabbed the pendant and fastened its slender silver chain round her neck.

'There now, that's better.' Her mother remarked lovingly as her daughter appeared from upstairs, 'Where did you get that, dear?'

'Oh, it's just something I picked up at the market.' Eliza mumbled ignoring Archer's startled gaze.

They made their way to the coach awaiting them outside and climbed in.

'This dress is impossible.' Elizabeth grumbled as she struggled to pile her train on the floor. Archer said nothing. They arrived at the ball with much splendour and presence. The governor's house had truly been transformed. Velvet curtains had been hung and a sumptuous banquet had been laid out. All the surrounding young ladies commented upon the loveliness of Eliza's dress, and all the old ones commented upon the steadily increasing weight of her mother. Embarrassed by this, Eliza grabbed Archer's arm and headed for a deserted corner, while her mother went off to see if Mr Harkshaw was present. However as soon as they were out of earshot, Archer turned to Elizabeth angrily,

'What do you think you're doing, wearing that thing?'

'I couldn't find anything else.' Eliza replied defensively, shocked by the harshness of his words.

'Do you want people to ask questions about it? They will want to know where it came from.'

'Well I'll just tell them the same thing I told my mother then.'

He sighed, 'Alright then. But be careful.'

'What do you think I would do,' she said, a mischievous smile coming to her face, 'tell everyone we're haunted?'

However, distracted by the commotion and colour, they did not notice the soft ebbing glow that the orb now gave of, nor did they hear the subtle sighs that seemed to come from nowhere.