A/N: Here's the next part, as promised… Hope you like it. I changed the method of narration… Be sure to give me your comments. By the way, please pardon me if ever I make mistakes in the details about the characters (like the color of their hair or eyes or something) because it was quite a long since I last wrote and I've kind of forgotten some of the details… hehehe… I would appreciate it if you would inform me of my errors…

Thanks:)

Chapter 8:

The garden was a beautiful sight that night. The theme for the queen's garden masked ball was "fairyland". The servants were made to dress like fairies and elves to blend in. The tables were fashioned to look like huge mushrooms and the dishes were placed in huge leaves or wooden utensils. Wine flowed freely from a fountain made to resemble that of a waterfall. And the guests, each holding or wearing masks or visors resembled fairies in their colorful garbs and gowns.

Amidst the merrymaking and vivacious chatter, heads turned at the entrance of a most beautiful lady. She was dressed in black. On second thought, it's more of a deep shade of blue. Yes, definitely blue, so blue that it looked as if it was spun of the night sky itself. And the white and yellow beads that dotted it only resembled the sparkle of the stars.

The ballroom was hushed to silence as she glided lightly down the gleaming steps of the magnificent stairway. Everyone wondered about the identity of the beautiful guest whose face was half concealed by the visor she wore in front of her eyes.

Even the king who was busy with his food could not help but whisper to the queen that in all his days, he has never seen anyone look so breathtaking. "Why," he commented, "she looks almost unearthly."

This cost him a painful nudge in the elbows from the queen. "Ouch," the king yelped, "I've always wondered if I've married an Amazon woman by mistake. You are all brute strength. I meant it for our son…"

The queen simply scoffed at him but turned to her son, Prince James and said, "You're father's right, you've been busy fidgeting all night. Why don't you enjoy yourself a little and stop worrying. I'm sure that Claire was simply held back by something and will arrive soon. By then, you can introduce us to each other. In the meantime, why don't you ask that newly arrived guest for a dance?"

"I suppose you are right Mother," saying so, the Prince stood up and crossed the room to do as his mother suggested.

Claire nervously took the steps of the stairs. It seemed like an eternity when she finally reached its foot. She was faced with awed expressions all pointed to her and it made the place seem bigger and more intimidating.

Why are they all staring at me?

Slowly she walked away from the center of attention, careful with every tread that she took for fear of committing a faux pas.

As the music ended with a soft whisper of violins, she noticed a figure approaching her.

James! Her heart gave a sudden leap and before she realized what was happening, he was formally bowing with his hand extended to her, "My lady, can I have this dance?"

Claire nodded and placed her hand in his. The music commenced. They took to dancing the waltz in silence.

He's so formal…

And cold... It's as if he doesn't even know me…

Claire remained wordless and the prince, as if sensing the tension in the air, made an attempt for a conversation to break the frosty silence.

"So my lady, may I inquire on my beautiful partner's name?"

Claire felt bubbles of laughter rippling from within. He doesn't recognize me! I'm so transformed, he no longer recognizes me!

"Your Highness," Claire began, smothering a giggle, "I'm surprised you don't recognize me for we are well acquainted."

"Really?" he was surprised his face painted a picture of embarrassment. "I seem to have trouble distinguishing who you are. Pray, tell me your name."

"I'm…" Claire started only to be interrupted by the announcement of a new comer.

"Cinderella," a deep voiced announced and a lady entered, her face, like every guest of the masked ball, concealed by a black shiny mask lines with gold laces and feathers. She was dressed in a blue and green gown that sparkled and glittered as she moved about. It was of an extremely fine and luxurious material and the sapphires and jades and emeralds that lined it looked genuine.

The guests were all gasping and commenting on the splendor of her garb. Claire heard herself gasp with the rest of the guest but for a different reason.

It looks identical to my gown. It's my gown…I can see the burn… My gown…

True enough, there was a carefully and expertly manipulated area on where the damage had been done. It was done in so dexterous a manner that you could not possibly have noticed its existence less you knew what had been of it and paid careful attention.

"Claire," Claire heard the prince whisper and she couldn't help but turn to him as he called her name only to discover that he was referring to the newly arrived persona.

"You must excuse me," he said, "I have to go. Please forgive my rudeness."

With that he turned to leave.

Claire remained rooted to her spot, unable to move in disbelief.

"But I'm Claire…" she heard herself utter silently to the frame of his departing back as he disappeared to the throng of gowns and suits.

Beside the wine fountain, two figures were glaring in at the newcomer, who seems to have captured the prince's attention.

"Mother," a head over layers and layers of laces and frills cried in protestation as she perceived the mysterious stranger. "It's Claire."

Vivian turned to her daughter, "But that's impossible. We have destroyed her gown; she cannot possibly have gone to this ball."

"But Mother, look at her, she's wearing a gown identical to the one we burned."

"Nonsense, they must have obtained it from the same dressmaker, that's all."

Trudy sighed impatiently, she still was not convinced.

"Mother, look!" she caught her breath, "There, at the area where we have done damage – can you see it? - There is a small, almost unnoticeable mark. It is obvious that it has been repaired. It's one and the same gown, Mother."

"Why goodness, it is her. She must have found a means to repair it. I knew it. I should have imprisoned her in the attic instead. Come Trudy; let us settle this with her. Something must be done about her increasing impertinence."

There was a flurry of gowns as two figures fought their way towards the person whom they called Claire.

Bewilderment renders a person in a trance like daze. But one pretty much snaps out of it soon. When Claire finally snapped out of her stupor, questions flooded her puzzled, foggy brain. Picking up her skirt, she advanced towards the enigmatic entity whom the prince betook to be her.

I have a lot of questions for you missy… Like why come in my gown for instance? Can it be that you are trying to impersonate me? Why? And how did you get the gown repaired when the seamstress told me that it was impossible to repair it in such a short while?

It had been difficult to move about the place as the garden was now quite filled with guest, most wearing large, ballooned, frilly apparels. Before she reached her goal, she noticed her stepmother's and stepsister's approaching forms. She halted in her steps.

They must not catch her. She would wait until they were through with their confrontation. Meanwhile, she thought it best to stay in close proximity and observe.

"Claire, remove that mask this instant and come home with us," Vivian spat at the lady in green as she attempted to remove the mask.

"No," the girl resisted.

At this, the prince intervened.

"Please Madam Vivian, control yourself. I forbid you to harass our guest. Trudy, why don't you accompany your mother to a glass of water or wine by the drinking fountain?"

"But…" Trudy stammered.

Amidst their conversation, the king stood up and made an announcement. "And now it is time for the unmasking of our guests. Come on everyone, off with your masks and show your faces that we may know your true identities."

At this the guests began removing their masks exclaiming comments like "I knew it was you!" or "I didn't recognize you at all."

Most of the guests turned in anticipation towards Claire as she stood motionless. She was again in shock as she was faced with the indecision of either removing her mask or fleeing from her spot.

"Ay, she is either surprised or shy," said one bold guest jovially. "Let me help you with your mask as we are all eager to see your face."

Before Claire could protest, her mask was off. Gasps of admiration were heard. Several remarked on how much more beautiful she was without her mask on.

The prince looked up to see the girl he danced with unmasked. What he beheld was not what he expected.

"Claire?" She looks far more striking than usual but it is indeed her.

He turned to the girl, who was still wearing her mask, standing beside him. She was wearing the gown he sent to Claire.

"Who are you?" he said shaking his head.

He directed his gaze back to Claire but she was already picking up her skirts to run.

"Claire! Wait!"

A/N: Well that's all for now. Let me know about your comments. Please review… Tnx!