A/N: Party time! Well I just got back from a vacation with my grandparents so I have some chapter to upload to this and to my other fic The Mousetrap. Enjoy!
Spring once more. Spring, a season of new life. A time that also heralded Virginia's birthday.
This spring however was to be painted red instead of new greens. This year was terrible for the country, for there was depression in the lasting cities yet to be affected by the plague. There was lack of food, the rivers were tainted with poisoned blood from The Red Death's mad tactics of slaughtering villages and cities, one by one, into massive amounts of slaughter and violence. The capital city fortified it's walls and hundreds from cities, those that remained intact, were fleeing to here. For the entire border of the country was veiled with a wall of death. The ocean cities were already massive stone cities rotting for weeks and months with decaying bodies. The forest edges and beaches were impaled with corpses making a wall. The mountain border in the north to the country of Galrope, which was a conquered country in the Labarverion Empire was completely inaccessible from the mountains and the red, poisoned snow. The hills to the conquered realm of Hidaglo were stained and it became a home for the Decay, the corvine demons that were in fact…nesting over there.
The territories and countries conquered by the empire could not help them. Some smuggling attempts succeeded in sending food through the mountains, but that did little to help. The countries Prospero's legacy had conquered were unaffected by the plague. The Red Death was only affecting the one main country. However, the others under Labaverion's rule were in no position to send in troops and supplies due to he barricade of death.
The world look grim. Slowly but surely The Red Death was closing in for the kill. The Capital as right in the center of the country. All were fleeing towards it for help and security, for the beak doctor's stations were there and the most expensive, elaborate temples were there. It was the beacon for hope for the people that were surrounded by death. Every day, hundreds die horrible bloody deaths.
The city so far was not affected yet by the demon. It was overcrowded with pining refuges, starving and dying of hunger and thirst, depleting supplies. The beautiful forests and countryside were around the city were swarming with homeless people and peasants. Trees were being cut down for firewood. It was being desolated already, before the plague could destroy the beauty first.
The manor house of Virginia's family was left abandoned. Prospero moved them in to one of his palace's homes, for in his estates there were many homes for officials and such.
Tonight however, would be a celebration she would never forget.
She would turn 16 this night and Prospero, ever the lover and selfish brat, would see to it she would be attended to at all times. Her body had turned into a woman's, and she was to be his. Tonight, he knew she was ready and old enough to know what love and affection really meant in their courtship.
There was to be a ball in her honor. Guests and dancers were invited in the garden for the dance and servants were adding the finishing touches to the dance area. Soon the guests would be let in and the food would be done and cooked. The cake was veiled with a thin sheet, presents stacked in boxes and wrappings on a table in the corner. Gas lights and torches were lit and garlands of flowers…all noticeably not red…was strung round a maypole in the center of the garden circle. It was a wide area for all the guests to dance away the night.
The elegant blue house nearby was where Virginia resided with her mother and brother. Her mother was not in, for she was outside in the evening air helping to set the party tables.
Virginia was in her room, gazing at the mirror. A maid in blue was dressing her hair, brushing her golden locks and ornamenting them with blue flowers and pearls. Her hair was left free and long with strings of sky blue pearls in her hair.
Sighing, she watched the hand maid place a small blue hat on her head, tying it round her neck with a thin blue ribbon. Virginia thought she looked a bit…submissive…but perhaps later, she plotted, she could take off the hat and just show off the flowers in her hair. Unfortunately getting rid of the light blue, ruffled, low-cut dress would be harder. At least she was allowed comfortable shoes for dancing.
This style of dress was Prospero's favorite type. Ever since she moved here 6 months ago he 'hinted' she wear blue dresses. Everything was blue, green or gold. She detested these light colors. She preferred the comforts of black, purple, dark midnight blues and her favorite color…red. Try as she might, all her red dresses were hidden or destroyed. Red was now the national color of death. Anyone who wore that color was considered ill favor. But to her, it was of comfort, of some strange attraction…
Attraction it was. The Red Death was murdering in her name. He was going to visit her tonight and kill someone. He wouldn't kill Prospero, for he said to her many times she was part of his plan between herself and Prospero. Would he kill her mother? Her servants? Dare she think…her brother?
"You're as pretty as a robin's egg!" The handmaid exclaimed with a light giggle. Her naturally shrill voice woke Virginia from her morbid thoughts.
She nodded slowly. She was not looking forward to the ball. She was not looking forward to dancing with Victor Prospero, nor was she looking forward to The Red Death making an appearance.
"Well darling, time to go to the ball! Here's your gloves…" The hand maid then with joyful exuberance handed Virginia her white gloves and left the room humming down the hallway.
Silently and with painful memories, she slid on her long gloves, covering the ring on her left hand. The small ruby in the elegant ring, the ring that would never come off for the past 2 years seemed to glow.
Perhaps it feels his presence. I know he is coming. She thought.
She would have to go down to the ball. Victor was there, his whores dismissed for this special occasion. Now that she was older she knew he would have the permission to start touching and groping her in a sexual manner. She knew what he thought of her. He thought of her as the most beautiful lady with the most beautiful body and the most beautiful, plump breasts he couldn't wait to squeeze. He already kissed her fleetingly several times, which she felt a bit fascinated at kissing…but not with him. He was spoiled, wanted everything and loved his little obsessions. He gave her a tour of his zoo of executions, his collection of maddening torture devices and always had strange, bizarre entertainment. She feared what horrifying pleasures would be at the private ball. She was in his palace, and she was going to marry him in two years.
She did not want him. She did not want the power, his lustful attentions, his greed for power and insane tastes. He was mature for being 24 years old, save for his glee in watching grotesque tortures and strange, sick humor. Not to mention his constant need for taking women to bed. But he saved his lustful eye to her. His sweet smile was filled with a hunger. He was not the selfish brat of old. He was a calculating villain. He would give her no regard of what she wanted.
She only wanted The Red Death to stop haunting her.
But it could not be. He was getting close to killing everyone here and would soon, after proud Labarverion destroyed, would take on the other countries. And she was doomed to be his wife.
Would The Red Death be a demanding, lustful creature too? If The Red Death was destroyed, somehow, she would still marry Prospero.
She had no say in anything. A fate rested on her shoulders that no one around her could help her with, because none could listen, none would help, none could possibly help.
He was invincible.
She might as well get this over with.
Slowly, she went through the door and descended the marble steps. The doors were wide open to let in the warm evening air. The guests were coming in to the garden with loud conversation. She frowned, seeing that these guests were snooty officials of Prospero's ilk. They were wearing bouffant clothing and giggling and yelling with cheery, if obnoxious tones. In fact, she noticed that all the monarchy spoke in these tones, plus put too much powder to their faces. She felt stifled in such company. All they ever talked about was money, power, vanity and the latest fashions. Nothing about their hoarding and their people on their own lands dying of death and over work.
She stood ready to face the evils of the government.
Suddenly, everything changed. For there walking in was her own brother!
He looked happy as always. He was smiling warmly and was wearing full regal blue and gold garb. He wore a jacket, fine stocking and breeches and held his blue, gold edged hat warmly. In fact, everyone was wearing blue at the party. The innocent color of blue was truly getting on her nerves now.
"Are you happy, Virginia?" Henry said sweetly.
"No. I'm turning 16, I'm surrounded by the color blue, and I will have to dance with Victor. You know how…" Virginia paused, about to say she was nervous with him. Though she was, she wanted to change herself so that she was in power, not in fear of Prospero. "…awful he is. I hate him."
Henry sighed and held her hand.
"All will be well. I'm sure he isn't that bad, is he?" Her brother said. His face conveyed worry instead of his usual cheerfulness.
"He is! It's terrible being engaged to that…that man! There is nothing worse besides death by the plague." She pleaded with him. "You should know by now how I suffer."
"You do suffer, I know you do. But we cannot change it. We are stuck living here and you to be married, if we are all alive in two years." Gently he squeezed her hand. "You must at least act happy for tonight."
"I will. But I will not truly be happy." She sighed again. With that she turned and went to meet the guests.
The rich nobles there applauded as she walked outside to the garden ball room floor. The monarchs, barons, dukes and counts and their wives all looked upon her, seemingly jealous of her looks but in disdain that such a prince would still be engaged to a woman who brought such bad luck. Not only that, but she was the daughter of the lowly family of Mauchdom!
Still, they were invited by their prince and for state matters, must attend any party he invited them to. And so they came, to dance and boast about their accomplishments and forget that their country was in mortal peril.
Virginia passed the thick of them and was at the trellis gate to the main part of the party. She wanted nothing of the kind to be near them. All they did was boast and talk of vanity and money. The government was completely greedy. And most of all the Prince.
She was startled from her thoughts by Victor himself, as he seemed to swoop down from behind the hedge wall and appeared before her. He wore a fancy blue jacket and a light green cravat, shining dance slippers and his hair was tied in the back with a light blue bow. And his hat was blue and flowery just like hers. His face was powdered and had fancy blue face paint streaks, creating his figure as elegant and blue with hints of greenery. However, his smile and manner was that of an aloof clever bastard.
"Happy birthday, my beloved." He spoke coolly. His smile was making her uneasy.
"Good evening Victor. I see you've made my birthday a rather grand occasion." She slyly said. Her hand was quickly grasped in Victor's.
"Yes, of course. Shouldn't it be? You are soon to be a princess, and you are a beautiful, wonderful lady. You should know by now you are an important player our country's politics." He smirked as he started to lead her in.
"I know this. But as for my personal wishes, I do not wish to be surrounded by your corrupt officials. Or else you're planning that these will be the last times you will be with them? When I marry you things are going to change." Virginia spat back with a smile.
Victor still smiled, but inside cringed. She, going to change everything? She was a wife, a woman! How dare she be so independent and cold to him!
"Clearly, you aren't a child anymore." Victor sweetly purred.
"You just noticed?" Said she, softly.
Victor had no answer for that, but he didn't need to reply, for Virginia's mother came running over brimming with excitement.
"Oh, young love! Well Virginia, how is everything? Everything is as blue as a Robin's egg! I knew you'd like the color!" Dulcinia said in her annoying tone.
"It is wonderful mother." Virginia said with a smile. Her mother seemed to be getting senile through the years, with all the trauma that was happening around her. This was why she thought that her daughter liked the color blue.
"How wonderful! Positively wonderful! Well I'll leave you too alone!" Quickly, she turned towards the guests milling inside and began to converse with them.
She turned to look at Victor's beaming face.
"Shall we dance?" He chuckled.
"Yes." With that, Virginia grudgingly gave him her hand to be led to a waltz.
The waltz was at first silent on the white stone tiles, but soon the small orchestra got the hint and began the music. The guests, if they were not gorging upon punch and appetizers first went to join the couple in the garden dance floor. Soon, as the sun finally set, the birthday ball dance floor was crowded. The loud noise of laughter, music and the babble of voices were creating a strange sort of music.
Virginia getting exhausted dancing with Victor. He was too, but he didn't dare stop. He was waiting for the right moment to cue the chamber ensemble to play a more romantic number, for a romantic kiss…
However, she was in no mood for a kiss. She guessed that was what he was planning on giving her very soon. She glanced at a clock that was in the arms of a statue by the punch bowl, and saw that it was 7:15. They had already dance for an hour!
As he twirled her around, she suddenly remembered something important.
Dancing with Victor, who had left much to be desired, had taken her mind off the fact that The Red Death was coming tonight. As they danced some more, she saw her brother smiling and eating salmon crackers, her mother chatting up a storm with some fat Countesses in pink, and the guests milling about with their snooty ways. The walls were tall hedgerows with blue candles and such. The sky was lit by stars. The silhouettes of the main palace, manor houses, guests homes, stables, and other buildings here in the lands of the royalty were dark and their windows lit by light. Suddenly she felt…cold…and alone…though she was surrounded by a throng of people.
The 30th waltz she danced ended. She felt this dance party was all a dream, though she felt tired. The dance this time…was slow.
She felt like she was being watched. Like there was a strange, dark creature watching her every move. It wasn't Victor, who was smiling with a lustful grin and holding her close by the waist and shoulders. It wasn't the guests, for they were only concerned about themselves. It wasn't her brother or her mother. The strange feeling was making her sweat, her skin tingling as she slightly trembled. There was the feeling that she should be afraid.
They stopped moving. The song had ended. And she was pressed against him, her body against his as he had pulled her in close. She was breathing fast as her body was starting to panic, her head inches away from his as he still smiled. His hand quickly slipped from around her waist to her back and his other hand delicately went into her golden hair.
She stared at him, wondering for a few seconds what he was doing…she felt a strange feeling from his touches, for he never touched her there at all, in such a manner…nor did he ever lean his face in like that.
Nor did he ever passionately, deeply kiss her.
Her ears rang as the crowd began clapping. Her mouth was being numbed and manipulated by Victor. Her head was being pulled in deeper. Her body was being crushed against his chest. She saw his eyes closed, opening occasionally to stare down at her cleavage. She saw her brother's jaw drop. Her mother was giggling happily. Her hands were shaking. Her breathing was getting more rapid.
She saw The Red Death staring from the edge of the garden.
A/N: R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R!!
Shoys.