Thank you for all your feedback. I know some of you want her to be with Elijah, others with Klaus. I originally thought that to Elijah she would be a family, to Klaus something else, but we'll see. And since she's not a human things will be a little more complicated.

Chapter 13

The Ball

I felt distressed. Jane was helping me to get ready for tonight.

"Is everything alright my lady?" she asked.

I smiled at her and nodded. I really liked her. She had always been kind to me and that wasn't something I took for granted. I had done my best to return the favor by making sure that she had been treated well here and she hadn't end up someone's dinner. I knew that she would probably leave soon.

I had noticed there was something between her and one of the servants, George, if I remembered correctly. Jane had talked to me about marriage and having a small place of her own. I was happy for her but I was also sad that she was leaving. I wanted to help her and George to start their live together so I was going to give her some of my jewelry, as a wedding gift. I was hoping that Elijah would like to give them something as well, maybe even a piece of land where they could build their home.

"There", Jane said smiling. "You look absolutely beautiful my lady. I am sure none of the gentlemen in the ball can take their eyes off you."

I really hoped that she was wrong but I smiled and thanked her by touching her hand.

"You are welcome my lady."

I was wearing a creamy gown with a lace neckline and a matching corset. I was also wearing the sapphire necklace Elijah had given to me. I didn't want wear any of the jewelry lord William had given to me since I didn't want to mislead him. Jane had left most of my hair down, there were only two small plaits on the both side of my head. She had joined them together on the back of my head with a small silver comb decorated with pearls.

I walked to the hall trying to look graceful but I certainly didn't feel like it. And of course I had to run into Thomas and Samuel. They were looking at me like some fancy dinner or something. I was surprised that they didn't just drool.

"Lady Annabelle, may I just say how lovely you look tonight", Thomas said.

"Yes, like every night of course", Samuel added.

I smiled trying to look polite.

"May we escort you to the carriage?" Thomas asked.

Did they think that I would get lost on my way there? And I didn't particularly like being close to them, it made me feel uncomfortable. I could have sworn that they always tried to…smell me. Like some fancy dinner.

"That will not be necessary", Elijah said. I was relieved when I saw him.

"My lord", Thomas and Samuel murmured and bowed.

Elijah held out his hand for me and I gladly took it.

"You look beautiful", he said smiling.

I pointed at him wanting to say that he looked very handsome as well wearing a dark brown shirt. Klaus was already waiting for us. He was wearing a black shirt.

"Well", he said staring at me. "Seeing such beauty just warms my…heart."

I smiled at him when he kissed my hand. This should be fun. Fortunately Klaus and Elijah started to talk about politics and some people I didn't know when we got in the carriage. Elijah told Klaus about some noblemen he hadn't met yet but who would be in this ball. I didn't pay much attention to what they were saying.

It took us only an hour to get to Lord William's castle. There were a lot of carriages in a courtyard and the stable boys were running back and forth taking care of the horses. I almost tripped when I got outside but someone took my hand before I fell down. I naturally assumed that it was Elijah but it was Klaus. He was smiling at me.

"Careful now sweetheart."

I smiled and nodded. A servant guided us inside to a huge hall full of people. It seemed that lord William had spared no expense. There were food and drinks, musicians, crystal chandeliers, servants walking around with trays. The herald announced us when we got to a stair head. It felt like everyone was staring at me when I walked down the stairs truly hoping that I wouldn't trip.

I saw Lord William approaching us. He was in his thirties; he had short black hair and dark brown eyes. He had inherited a huge fortune and a title from his late father which made everyone wanting to be his friend. If I had understood correctly he didn't really enjoy these social events very much. He preferred hunting and other outdoor activities.

"Lady Annabelle", he said when he kissed my hand. "Welcome."

I smiled at him as politely as I could. He greeted Elijah and Klaus and they exchanged the usual compliments.

"May I have this dance my lady?" he asked.

He was the host so I couldn't possible decline although I would have wanted to. He held out his hand for me and I took it. He nodded to the musicians and they started to play.

"I am glad that you were able to come tonight my lady", he said when we were dancing.

I smiled at him. What else was I supposed to do?

"To be honest, there is another reason why I invited you and Lord Elijah here", he continued. He looked very serious. "I am planning to ask Lord Elijah for your hand in marriage." He sounded very calm, like he had just said that he was planning to buy a new horse.

"I am sure lord Elijah will approve. You may not be a noblewoman but you are blessed with a beauty I have never seen before in my life. And since I can offer you everything you could possible need, our union will benefit us both."

I was stunned. He was going to ask Elijah's approval, not mine. It simply didn't matter to him. Apparently he really thought that he was just buying a new horse. I was sick of being treated as an object. Ok sure, maybe I wasn't a human and I couldn't speak but that didn't mean that I didn't have thoughts and feelings. I had learned a lot about feelings during the years I had spent in this body. Maybe I couldn't understand everything but I was learning by observing others.

I could identify at least all the strongest feelings from people's behavior. Love, hate, anger, fear, sorrow, joy. Then there were feelings such as jealousy, contempt and bitterness. Those ones I had seen too many times to even remember. I still tried to look polite when Lord William escorted me back to Klaus and Elijah who were talking with some other people.

"Excuse me, Lord Elijah, may I have a word with you?" lord William asked calmly.

"Of course", Elijah replied.

They walked away from the crowd.

"Shall we dance?" Klaus asked smiling.

I nodded tiredly. Sure, why not. I rather danced with him than with Lord William. At least with him I knew what to expect. And he seemed to be sober tonight.

"About last night…" he started. "I want to apologize, I was drunk and… Well, I apologize for my behavior."

I was surprised but I nodded. It was a nice gesture of him…I think. And comparing to me he was a great dancer so it wasn't really unpleasant. Unfortunately he wasn't the only one who wanted to dance with me. I was smiling and nodding so much that my jaw hurt. I suppressed my urge to sigh when another man held out his hand for me.

"Lady Annabelle", he said. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you."

I froze. That voice… I recognized it immediately. I raised my head and saw Sebastian standing in front of me. He looked different, older, and his blond hair was longer, it reached to his shoulders, but it was definitely him. He was smiling at me but there was definitely no warmth in that smile. He bowed and took my hand before I could think of any way to stop him. He led me to the dance floor still smiling.

"After all these years looking for you…and there you are", he said with a light tone. "And I was not sure if I wanted to even come to this ball."

He laughed.

"Luckily I decided to come, would you agree?"

I tried not to shake. He couldn't do anything here when all these people were watching.

"Someone has certainly been naughty", he said lowering his voice. "I do not know how you managed to escape but know this, I have a big family. And now we know exactly where to find you."

He kissed my hand and smiled.

"I will see you again very soon…lady Annabelle."

I watched him walking away. I couldn't move. I saw him talking to a woman who I also recognized immediately. Ravena. Lucian's lover. She looked at me with her black eyes. If a look could kill, I would have been dead. I sometimes wondered what happened to them. I always assumed that without Lucian their little "family" would break up. He was their leader after all. Apparently they had found a new one.

And now they wanted to finish what Lucian had started… No, no, I couldn't go through it again. Not without a fight. I tried to stay calm and started to look for Elijah. I had to get out of here. When I found him I signed to him that I wasn't feeling well and I would like to go home. He looked worried.

"Yes, of course. You look so pale; we must get you to bed."

He said that Klaus would join us later; he had met some of his old friends. I couldn't relax even when we were in the carriage. For the first time in my life I was panicking. The idea of being trapped again… I couldn't take it. I wanted to tell Elijah but what would I say about those people? And about the fact that I had been lying to him from the beginning. He would hate me, I was sure of it. I couldn't bare that. I needed him. But I would have to find a way to solve my problem. I had no idea how to do that.