Chapter 24: THE FIRST NIGHT OF THE BALL: Deception
We arrived back at his mansion at about a quarter until noon, judging by the position of the sun in the sky; the carriage then came to a complete stop, the bastard man got out, he opened my door for me, and I stepped out of the stuffy carriage, and into the warm sunshine, "Thank you," I murmured, trying to sound appreciative, as he once again took my sooty hands in his slimy ones-- I instantly broke free of his grasp, and then he led me to the front door; which instantly opened. They had obviously been expecting us; Boy, am I in for it, I realized, as the woman smiled warmly at me, and I couldn't help but to wonder about what she'd look like without the double-chin; the man ushered me inside, and into the living-room.
The girl was already in there, lazily sitting on the couch-- obviously waiting for us, "Good morning, Miss Beatrice," she greeted me; her nasal voice obviously trying to sound sweet, and full of spring honey.
'Miss Beatrice!' I practically had to restrain myself from laughing; then I turned to face Pig-Woman-- who had been trying to get my attention be performing a few fake-- and very annoying coughs, "Oh, Beatrice!" she gushed (making me wondering if she'd rehearsed), "You poor thing, how could you live? Your face! It's so dirty!" and to my utter annoyance, she pulled out a pink handkerchief from her pocket, and began rubbing it into my face.
"You never cared about my hygiene before," I shot back, pulling away from her, and forgetting my false politeness-- it didn't matter anyways. They were obviously up to something-- otherwise I would have been beaten, "And besides, I left here this way," I finished coldly, and I knew that although she was putting on a nice act, I was now trying her; she refused to take my bait, and fly off of the handle though-- to my disappointment.
"Well, I suppose that I have decided to let bygones be bygones," the girl suddenly piped up from behind me, and I spun around to face her, "What?" I asked, hardly believing the words that were flowing from her ugly mouth, "Well," she started, slowly; surely surprised by my lack of forgiveness or remorse, "I've decided to forgive you for..." she trailed off, fingering the large bruise on her face from my kicking her; she had tried to conceal it by using a heavy amount of that pancake powder shit that they used in silent movies from the twenties-- I snickered, for it had not worked very well; I could see the black and blue spot shining clearly beneath, "For mangling your face?" I finished, attempting to try her patience.
She, like her mother, also refused to take my bait, and merely nodder he ugly head; causing her mousy brown hair to slowly bounce up and down-- so, they had practiced well... But what, exactly, were they aiming at...?
I stared at Jessica, and then her mother, and then her father-- waiting for one to break the uncomfortable silence. The pedophile decided to speak, "And we have decided it best that you attend the ball with us tomorrow," I turned around to face the man in utter shock.
"Why?" I asked, unnerved.
"No questions, my dear child," he replied, anxiously; realizing that I had easily seen through his "clever" ruse.
"Why?" I repeated, becoming vexed-- did they honestly think that they could silence me now-- after what I'd done yesterday...? I'd give them all a shiner if I didn't get my answers...
His face turned red and angry for a moment, and then was glossed over again-- becoming just as pasty as before, "No questions," he repeated.
"We can go as one big happy family," the woman agreed, with false enthusiasm; reminding me of Veronica-- one of the annoying blonde cheerleaders I'd known in high school; I cringed at her peppiness, and backed away from her, as she tried to put a fat hand on my shoulder.
"And what if I don't want to go?" I asked, annoyed with all of them.
"You will go, and you will like it," the girl suddenly spoke up-- although I discovered that her falseness was quickly wearing off-- she obviously wanted something out of this-- but she just wasn't getting it quickly enough. The sight of her sickened me.
I turned. I wasn't going to stay in this house with them-- they were absolutely insane if they thought I would. I turned on my heels, and started towards the door, but the man suddenly lunged in front of it, and the look of his face made me turn around, and head back, "And you are not to leave the house at all. You are to go upstairs to your bedroom, and we shall call you down for supper. Understood?" his voice was demanding, and somewhat frantic-- what were they going to get out of this...?
"Fine," I whispered, deciding it best to obey-- at least for now, and without another word said, I ran upstairs to my bedroom-- the attic, I mean.
I shook my head in disgust at their totally fake change-of heart towards me, lay down, and slept for many hours.
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I didn't bother going downstairs for dinner-- I wasn't hungry, and I was almost positive that whatever they had concocted simply was not edible in any sense.
I stared up at the ceiling until around Midnight, for I knew that if I was quick, I could get out of the mansion, and get out of the forest, and into town in about fifteen minutes-- I was confident that I would not have to face Jacqueline again.
I tiptoed down the stairs, and came to the door that led to the outside, but a low voice hissed, "Don't even think about it," and I realized that the man had been waiting for me trying to escape.
In my panic, I rushed back upstairs, and slammed the door shut-- not caring if I woke the entire household.
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The following evening, I was allowed to bathe-- for the first time in months, and then forced into some itchy dark blue, borderline purple hand-me-down dress that was way too tight on me; I suspected that Jessica had worn it when she was ten. Given hardly any makeup, I looked like a joke, "I'm not going," I said to myself when I caught my reflection in a mirror, "This is ridiculous," I said to myself, for even my hair looked like a mess; I had hardly been able to comb it, as Jessica, or whatever in the fuck her name was had wanted to look 'irresistible,' and had been using the only comb in the entire place all day to brush her short mousy hair.
I felt like voicing out my opinions, but then the thought of their insisting with their sickly-sweet smiles-- I decided that it would be best to rough it out tonight. After all, a couple of hours around about two thousand people wasn't too embarrassing, was it?
As I made to back away from the mirror, Jessica suddenly approached me; obviously making a sad attempt to making conversation, "What's that?" she suddenly asked, pointing to my left arm, and making a sickened face.
I stared at the scar that I had had since I was about six years old, "A scar," I said; having to stop myself from adding "stupid."
"Oh. How'd it happen?"
I shrugged; the same response I had given to everyone who had asked the same stupid question all throughout my school years.
And so, as the sun set, we all piled into the carriage, and slowly drove to the King's palace; I had never been out of the woods, so when we had exited the sprawling forest, I became sort of happy-- as everything was new to me-- even though I was in the worst company imaginable; Perhaps I can escape, while at the palace, I thought, hopefully, as Jessica giggled beside me, and I restrained the urge to slap her, and give her a second bruise.
Oh, and I am sure that you're wondering right now what my "family" was wearing; the girl was wearing some long light-purple gown, which I'm sorry to say would have looked much better on me, and Pig-Woman was wearing some goofy, pouffy, foofy thing that I'd imagine a clown to wear, as it had so many ruffles and collars it made me dizzy; it was something altogether unnecessary and uncalled for. The man was wearing the usual outfit he wore everyday to work; slacks, a light-blue shirt, and a tie. Pig-Woman clutched the gift that they were to give the prince; if you haven't guessed already, I'm pretty sure-- though they had not told me, and I'm sure would deny it, they had just gathered up the 'royal jam' from off of the floor, and had simply put it into a fancier jar, to save both time and money, and as the husband was a cheapskate, he probably would save some dusty, ruined jam off of the floor-- even if it would give anyone who even smelled it food poisoning.
I rolled my eyes at the giggling git, and shifted uncomfortably in my seat; it was getting very stuffy in the carriage because my dress was so very tight-- and the fact that I had been put in the center of the two women, and I was being squashed to death, I felt even more stuffy...
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The great stone-castle grew closer and closer, and the girl, and Pig-Woman kept on poking their ugly heads out of the carriage to get a better look at it; gossiping about the people they hoped to meet, and giggling. They might have been Lucy and Ethel-- had one not been retarded, while the other not morbidly obese.
The carriage came to an abrupt stop, and I was helped out of it. I followed my "family" up the palace steps, and into the sparkling palace itself; forgetting the fact that I could barely breathe, and that my company was there, I realized that it was amazing; it was grand, with diamond chandeliers, and elegant sculptures made of marble and gold, but it wasn't too much-- it wasn't overdone or anything; it was just enough of everything. I smiled, in spit of myself; now forgetting that I looked a joke, as we entered the ballroom; it was large and spacious, with a black-marble floor, and white walls, adorned with portraits of its ancestral Kings and Queens. I gasped a second time when I first caught my firs glimpse of the scene as a whole; women in long flowing gowns, and girls my age-- some even younger, hoping for a glimpse of the prince-- but unlike Jessica, they were sweet and innocent in their actions. Some stood at the long tables laden with foreign foods and wines, while others stood chatting at the Main Entrance that had led into the ballroom, "It's so beautiful," I whispered, speaking for the first time that entire evening, but everyone ignored me-- as per usual, "The prince, Mother! The prince. I just saw him!" Jessica shrieked, clapping her gloved hands in excitement.
Dunce, I thought, The prince would rather marry a rat from the sewers... especially if he is as handsome as they say; I laughed at my own private joke, and seizing my chance, I wandered away from them, I pulled the dress away from my ribs, as they were being crushed, just as the prince entered the ballroom; my heart froze; he was gorgeous; tall, with wide-set shoulders, short, curly black hair, and green eyes; he was the hottest guy I had ever seen; He was a Prince Charming, all right! I couldn't believe I was staring-- but then again, everyone was. It wasn't like I was the only one.
He caught my stare, and offered me a warm, genuine smile; I returned the smile, and blushed a deep magenta color-- and then I remembered my appearance, and the fact that I could no longer breathe... Damn! The dress is too tight! I couldn't fucking breathe, and the prince was walking here and there, shaking hands; sometimes bowing to his more important guests; He's almost here! Fuck! What could I do? Take the dress off... but was I willing to strip down to my bra and underwear in front of everyone? But it was cutting off my oxygen supply; I couldn't stay here all night; it was no good! And in one moment, just as the prince had offered his hand to me, I had fallen to the floor, unable to breathe; made unconscious.
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I woke up some time later in what I supposed to be a spare bedroom in the palace-- usually reserved for traveling courtiers and such, not fainting girls. I was lying in a bed, under some scratchy blankets; a young mad sat in a chair beside me, and only when I had fully come to did I recognize him to be the prince.
"Your Highness," I said, dryly; wishing that the ball had been a dream-- a very bad dream.
"Yes," he chuckled, as if we'd just gone out for an afternoon stroll, "I thought you might have slipped away from us, and gone into heaven-- but, you would not have needed to change at all. You already look like an angel."
I blushed, "Thank you," I replied, and although his comment had been quite corny, underneath the circumstances, it was quite forgivable-- he was actually very sweet, and I had taken a liking to him.
And then, I realized that about ninety percent of my body underneath the sheets was totally naked, "I'm not presentable," I said, trying to sound casually, although I said it in a high-pitched, panicky whisper.
He nodded, "I know. That dress you were wearing tonight... I'd say it was about five sizes too small. It had to be cut off with a pair of kitchen shears. We couldn't even get it off the normal way."
I grimaced; I could have died! Not only was I lying there ten percent dressed, but he had actually seen me as well!
"Don't worry," he whispered, seeing my horrified face, "I did not see that much, after all."
I forced a laugh, and just as I was about to inquire as to how long I'd been knocked out, the door to the bedroom opened, and one of the maids of the palace entered; carrying a lovely ball-gown, "She might like this," she said, gesturing towards me, as if I weren't there, and then handing it to the prince. He took it from her, and presented it to me, as she bustled out of the door, "And what am I to do with this?" I asked, touching the smooth satin that made up the gown, "Put it on, of course," he whispered, dryly.
"Not while you're still here, I'd hope," I whispered, stupidly, still trying to sound casual-- although I wasn't pulling it off very well.
"Don't worry, I can see that you seek privacy-- and I don't blame you at all," he stood up, and made to leave the room, "By the way-- your family... Might I be so bold in saying that you do not look like them at all," he meant this as a compliment, and I smiled.
" 'Family?' " I scoffed, "Sir, if they were my family, I'm afraid I would look like very much like a pig-- and act like one as well."
He stared at me.
"I was rude," I whispered, surprised at what I had just said in front of someone who was practically a mere stranger.
"Pardoned of course in the circumstances," he winked, "they did, of course seem very concerned with your well-being."
"My 'well-being?' " I asked, beginning to laugh, "Now that's unbelievable, and unexpected!"
He chuckled, and left me alone in my room.
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I checked how I looked about fifty times in the golden-framed mirror that hung on the wall, before leaving the room again; the gown was silvery-blue, and it reminded me of the one I had worn throughout all those dreams I had had months ago in the oasis; I thought I looked pretty gorgeous, although I was missing some good jewelry-- though that could be excused.
Taking in a deep breath, and hoping that I would not be noticed-- and further embarrassed, I opened the door, and stepped outside into the hallway, finding that I stood in front of a very long flight of stairs.
I walked down the grand staircase, and to my disappointment, I found that it led directly to the ballroom, so there was no time for me to attempt to make a quiet entrance-- there was no time to prepare, and everyone was already staring at me-- so it would be equally risky to run back into the guest bedroom. As I went down, I heard some say, "It's that girl that fell. Poor thing, I heard she got all excited over meeting his Highness, and…" or "She looks like an angel…" or: my personal favorite, "Look, Mother! It's that loon they say fainted!"
My face instantly reddened; I could not believe my luck-- why did the staircase have to lead directly to all of the people who had seen my gown mishap?
But, thankfully, my descent was soon complete, and I was able to disappear into the crowd of guests; I looked over at the table that held all of the prince's gifts; I found that the jar of jam had been shoved behind some of the grander presents. I saw that my "family" had crowded around the long table, looking sulky and sullen; the girl was crying, because, supposedly, as I learned later, when she had been dancing with some foreign fourth cousin of the prince, she had sweated off all of the pancake powder from her face, and he had left, after having noticed the shining bruise, and it served her right for having been such a skiving, conniving little whore, so when I learned this, I merely shrugged it off. What goes around comes around.
Another number was started up by the orchestra, I noticed that the prince was now dancing with a girl at least twice his age-- I noted that he did not seem too pleased with the awkward pairing, and I laughed to myself, as the clock struck twelve, because I had not realized how long I had been "in the valley of the dead." The prince looked annoyed, yet somewhat mystified-- I wondered if it was because of me; I ducked behind another guest to avoid his stare as he looked into my direction, and when he had finally broke away from the girl, I saw him speaking to someone who appeared to be his father. They were deep in thought.
A hand grasped my shoulder; it was the man-- he had noticed that I had returned to the ballroom,"We're leaving," he whispered; his voice no longer sweet, but cold, and angry. I rolled my eyes, "Not the little kiss ass now, are we?" I asked, and then I felt his grip on my shoulder tighten, "Don't touch me," I hissed, shrugging his hand away. I followed them into the carriage-- his wife and daughter joined us on the way out, and we did not speak at all, and the carriage was filled with macabre silence all the way back to the mansion.
At least they weren't acting sweet anymore.
