The End?

Ms. Bell walked into the room, leaving me to close the door behind her. She flicked her glaze at Astra before turning back to me. "What in the world were you thinking?" she began, "or were you simply not thinking. I do not even comprehend how you pulled this off Isabella. Imagine my surprise when hearing that Lady Jacqueline and her hand maid are nowhere to be found just a few hours after reading Lord Leonardo of Talia's letter." I walked back a few paces and found the bed. She was not done speaking, that much I could tell, and one thing you do not do is interrupt a Bell during a rampage. I sat down and waited for the Queen's personal secretary to continue. "And then in the morning I see your friend arrive, and she is adding lies upon lies about where you both had been the previous night. When Queen Evangeline read Lord Leonardo's letter, I intervened and made it that you would be free to go. You owe me an explanation Isabella."

"I … don't know how to explain."

"This is what you are going to do. You are going to pack your things, get into the carriage I have arranged for you, and go home. Is that clear?"

"Yes."

"You are treading in very serious waters Isabella. You could have been jailed for this. The Queen is shuffling many things right now and I convinced her that you were merely a child and that no one was harmed. I am not going to even ask what happened in the west dining room. You just have to leave as quickly as possible."

"Ms. Bell, something is very wrong is going on here," I interjected. Her statement of no one being harmed brought my thoughts back to Princess Marigold. "I saw something and the dining room, someone is targeting the royalty staying here," I said, my words as jumbled as my thoughts. She lifted her hand, just as the Queen had done.

"I will send someone to help you pack." She walked towards the door. "Goodbye Isabella," she said somberly before opening the door and walking into the hall.

******

The manor was void of any sounds when I entered in late afternoon. "Shall I put them here Miss," the footman asked, motioning to the parlor. I nodded and walked away, Astra following me as I swept through the house.

"Are you going to tell me what happened?" she asked.

I sighed. "Queen Evangeline found out that I am not Lady Jacqueline of Talia. She said if I left right away she would not press charges," I explained hurriedly.

"So what happens now?" Her voice was low.

"I don't know Astra. I guess it is over."

"He likes you Bella, I can tell he does. If you just stay with him for a little while longer, I am sure he will ask you to marry him."

"I am not so sure. I mean, look at me, I am not exactly the prime candidate for true love right?" Now she sighed.

"So you are giving up."

"I do not see what else there is to do." I turned to her and wished I hadn't. There were tears welling in her eyes. This sadness did not suit her. "I am tired Astra, let us talk about it later." When I reached my room, I laid on my bed and closed my eyes, content to rest for a little while.

When I awoke, the sun was shining through my flimsy curtain. I stood up and stretched, rejuvenated from my long sleep. Walking into the kitchen, I noticed it was a beautiful day without. Through the back door, I saw Astra sitting near the flower bed, stroking the fur of a dog. She appeared to be speaking to it, and I laughed to myself, hoping it was not a talking animal. I heard the sound of feet overhead.

"Isabella!" my step-mother called. At times I swore she had eyes around the manor. I heard her descending the stairs. "Isabella!" she called again. Now she was walking through the parlor. "There you are." I turned to her, and what a sight she was. My step-mother's hair was done up in curlers, piled high on her head. Her eyes were lined with kohl, making her appear even older, and her cheeks were powdered with rouge. I struggled to hold back a laugh. "Please make the girls something to eat, some grain and fruit perhaps."

"Of course step-mother," I answered, falling back into my routine. She stared at me then, watching as I prepared the grain. "Is there anything else step-mother?"

"I was just thinking that we will have to hire someone once you are gone." I raised my eyebrows in question. "Once the Prince's festivities have passed, you will go live with Lord Cadaver." My jaw dropped and my mood along with it. My step-mother snickered and turned away.

Ugh! I refused to live with that man. I cut the fruit, the knife slamming into the counter. Once I was done I took a deep breath. I probably looked mad. My hair hung in front of my face and I held the knife clutched in a fist. I shook my head, trying to relax, and walked up the stairs to my step-mother's room. Alison and Madison were within and there gowns were stretched out on the bed.

For the rest of the morning I applied their make-up, a very lengthy job. Inwardly, I wondered if Prince Chadwick's ball was a costume party. There were so many feathers, glitter, and sequins. Could they really be wearing all of it?

"I cannot wait to marry," Madison mused to her sister. You will not be finding a suitor in this I wanted to say.

"The ball shall be wonderful, I am sure you will find some foreign dignitary to speak to," Alison answered.

"What do you mean?"

"You do not really think the Prince will be interested in you."

"Of course,"

"Poor sister, you are even madder than I thought." I swallowed a laugh. Poor Prince Chadwick, he did not deserve this, psychopathic girls fighting for his love. I heard a shriek coming from down stairs. That must be the soundtrack of this house.

"Isabellaaaa!" my step-mother hollered.

"Coming!" I put down the rouge I held. "I'll be right back Madison. Don't touch your face." Madison looked startled, nodding like she was noticing me for the first time. I whipped my hands on my dress. It felt surprisingly good to be in my own clothes, and descended the stairs.

"You have a visitor," my step-mother said through her teeth. I walked to the door where Chris stood.

"Hey," he said. "Can I speak to you for a moment?" I closed the door behind me, not turning around to see my step-mother's face. "You were right," he started.

"What?"

"There is something I have been hiding from you. But I cannot tell you yet. Not until tonight." I gave him a bewildered expression. "I will explain. I promise Bella." I nodded slowly and then he kissed me. Taking me into his arms and literally sweeping me off my feet, he pressed his lips to mine. I felt … wonderful. Like everything was in perfect in the world, like being with him made everything right. "You mean so much to me," he whispered in my ear, "I can't explain it."

"You don't have to," I said straightening up. "I feel the same way." He smiled, my smile as I had come to call it, and pushed back a loose strand of my hair. "Meet me tonight."

"At midnight," Chris added.

"I am not going to the ball," I said simply.

"Good, but there is something I most do. At my apartment, you remember where it is right?" he continued once I nodded. "I will explain everything there." He kissed me again, more urgently this time, before bowing with a feigned carefree grin on his face. "Until then my Belle." He stole off then, leaving me at the door with a confused expression on my face. I knocked on the front door once I had collected myself but there was no answer. Sighing, I walked around the house to the back door and re-entered. It would be a long day.

******

Ben cleared his throat and gave me a humorous expression. "Announcing Miss Madison and Alison Ashen," he proclaimed his mouth in a tight smile to keep from laughing. I had finished preparing the beasts, I mean young ladies, several minutes ago and was excited to see my work. Madame descended first. Her hair was curled and she had even more make-up that I had previously mentioned. Her navy blue gown was much too dark for her pallor, making the veins in her arms even more noticeable.

Now Madison's and Alison's gowns were a sight for sore eyes. Madison's gown had a square neck with beading around the collar. The skirt was a crisp eggplant and was so wide that she had to turn sideways to get through the door. Alison's form fitting gown was a mermaid cut. Tonight her tight corset looked particularly uneven. Her gown was the color of vomited oatmeal. With ruffles and feathers around the hem, it was a wonder she could walk. "Beautiful," Ben choked, taking it all in. My step-sisters beamed.

Soon, they were loaded into the carriage, and I mean that literally, it took quite a bit of shoving to get the door to close, and whisked away to the ball. Ben had a job as a cabbie for the evening, so he said his goodbyes soon after. The manor was particularly lonely tonight. Cleaned and polished, and for what, my tired eyes. I sighed and took a seat in the kitchen. I had nothing to do until midnight, when I would meet Chris. Chris, I reminisced smiling. I looked around the silent house, and took a deep breath. I could not come back here. I would not be sold to some horrid man. I was tired, so tired of it all: this house, my step-mother and sisters, even Benjamin's indifference.

A loud knock filled the house. I skulked to the door as the hand pounded against the wood once again. I rolled my eyes and wondered who it could be. My visitor knocked again, making the door shape. "Yes," I said annoyed, pulling the brass handle.

"Hello," a deep male voice called.

"Hello," I repeated my eyes adjusting to the dark night. I had to tilt my head up to grasp the man's face. He was at least twelve feet tall, a runt for the giant world, of medium build with strawberry blond hair and startling gray eyes. "Mitchell?" I asked.

"It is I," Mitchell replied in his booming voice.

"Can we come in Isabella?" a female voice behind him asked.

"Mom?" I questioned. "Yes, of course you can come in." I moved to the side to let Mitchell through. The giant passed through the doorway rather awkwardly and my mother followed behind him. I had not seen the woman in five years. She was quite tall with large dark brown eyes and even darker straight hair.

"Hello Bella," my mother said unsurely. "It is so wonderful to see you."

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"The ball," she answered simply. I gave her a bewildered expression. "I work for Lady Katrina of Haste and her household now. She is in Faylinn for Crown Prince Chadwick's ball, so Mitchell and I had the night off." I nodded. "I did not expect anyone to be here.

"So why did you come?" My mother shrugged her shoulders.

"Why aren't you at the ball?" Mitchell boomed.

"My step-mother forbade it."

"That witch, who am I not surprised. We have to fix this," he started. I shook my head violently, preparing to reject Mitchell's elaborate scheme. To refresh your memory Mitchell is the hairdresser my mother ran off with. He is a flamboyant giant with a love for makeovers. "Belle it is the event of year, you most go. I have everything in my carriage." I sighed and my mother chuckled.

Fact number 8: I was going to the ball after all and my mother and her giant were going to help me get there.

Hi there, I apologize for the long wait and promise a new post by next Sunday, probably sooner. Thanks for sticking by me for 15 CHAPTERS readers!!! Please review and tell me what you thought of this one, yadi yada... Till then, ~Iris Lily~