Skulduggery – Crow

Anton – Bear

Ghastly – Panda

Dexter – Wolf

Saracen – Weasel

Erskine – Snake

Solomon – Raven

Corrival – Pa

Chapter 91

Hair curled and held back a little with a sparkly headband much like a tiara, a gorgeous peach and gold dress and some flat golden shoes, Valkyrie was ready for the night. She was stunning and looked her age, somewhere between a mature teenager and young adult.

The dress was a trumpet style and hugged her body beautifully and had several layers of peachy lace over a golden sheath of a dress. It was simple in that it was just coloured fabric and some pretty lace, but the body hugging top half brought out all the womanly curves and the flow of the bottom had a hint of young and fun in it. The dress zipped up at the side and hugged her perfectly and was absolutely incredible to wear as well as look at.

Tanith helped with her makeup by giving her dark brown and golden eyelids, a dark blush and a shimmery pink for the lip. It was simple but the darker colours made her look a little harsher, a little older, more capable, more womanly, but without ageing her, aided massively by the headband and very slightly padded bra. That's what Tanith said anyway.

Tanith had a deep blue dress with a slit down the side and a low front. It was also simple and showed off her baby bump which growing nicely each and every week. Tanith had phoned her parents earlier to tell them and it was a good job because there was no doubt Tanith was both sexy and pregnant in that dress.

When they asked Panda why he had chosen the styles, he said it was because every other dress he made was dramatic and a lot of them were ballgowns. They would stand out as much more sophisticated looks, and many people had gone for greens, yellows and reds instead of gold, peach or blue, so once more they would stand out from the crowd.

Plus, he had made sure to give them the best materials and best everything else, so they truly would be the stars that night.

"I was going to make you a teal dress, Valkyrie," he explained. "But I thought a lighter colour would blend just enough to be less easy to spot in the crowds by watching eyes than a brighter colour."

She had agreed. The whole reason they wanted this party in the first place was so she could talk to Nadia and if she stuck out too much from the crowd she'd never get her way. Plus, she loved the dress anyway.

She went downstairs to meet the men with Tanith. Crow had gone to collect Raven as a formal date – he'd gotten Raven a small, thin bracelet made of gold as a gift for the man. It was surprisingly masculine in look and Valkyrie expected he'd like it. Crow himself was wearing a tuxedo with a deep blue waistcoat, peachy tie and gold cuffs. In fact, they were all in black tuxes, it was just the waistcoats and accessories that varied.

Wolf had no waistcoat and a peach bow tie left undone, Weasel had a peach waistcoat and no tie, Snake had a deep gold waistcoat with swirls of peach and a matching bow, Bear had gone for a black waistcoat and tie, but the buttons of the waistcoat and fastened suit jacket were gold with a subtle peachy thread, and finally, Panda had a dark golden waistcoat and a blue tie.

All their looks were, of course, similar and they wanted people to notice but Panda had given them each a little twist. Valkyrie actually wore a little pinkie ring with a blue stone in it and Tanith had a rose gold band on her pinkie. They were a real, matching family. Valkyrie grinned at them.

"We look so good," she said.

"Not as good as you," Wolf smiled charmingly. He kissed her hand as if he were her date. "Would you like a drink?"

"Am I allowed wine?"

"Not while the grownups are around," he grinned. She kissed his cheek and they set themselves up for hosting. "Pa is around the corner, we should see him."

Pa was indeed around the corner and had his arms crossed in his fresh looking Elder's robes. "Hi Pa," Valkyrie said.

He unfolded his arms and smiled at her. "My, don't you look beautiful," he said. "Do a spin, then."

She did, Wolf holding her hand like a dance. "Is everything ready?" She asked after she'd been given all the admiration and compliments.

"Yes, yes. Gordon is excited in the back ballroom, the bar is staffed and there are a thousand drinks, the music is set up, all the musicians are here, and the kitchen staff are fully prepped and prepared. We have three spare waiters in case one passes out as well," he said, shaking his head. A previous party of his had several waiters pass out and hurt themselves at the same time and there hadn't been enough staff, so he was being extra careful this time. Rich people problems. "I also made sure to triple check the dining table. It just so happens there are two people here tonight with the last name of Robin, and one of them is a friend of mine. I've asked him to sit away from you if there is a young lady in his seat and explained your mission. He's a romantic, the twit, so you can eat with her."

"Thank you, Pa," she grinned, giving him a small kiss. He smiled slightly at all the endearment, but then sent her to look natural. She had to semi-greet people, which meant follow the others and look pretty and not insult anyone.

It felt as if there was no one arriving until the very second the clock turned six and then a fleet of cars started down the driveway. Staff opened the door regally and Reapers stood security in every which direction.

They saw Sanctuary staff, the Elders, businesspeople and a multitude of foreign Elder's and former soldiers of the war. By the time it was half past, Valkyrie was worn out greeting people and, although it was a strange concept, being complimented. She just refused to move until she could greet one family in particular.

That family arrived at six thirty-two, one of the very last and arriving by a fleet of vehicles all at once. They must have rented the most expensive cars they could, and it certainly showed in how gorgeous they were as they went at a slow speed down Valkyrie's stone driveway.

The staff opened the first car and out came the first lot of family. She knew some of them. There was Nadia's grandmother and head of family, Nadia's grandfather, three great aunts on her grandmother's side, and a great aunt and uncle on her grandfathers. Then there came the actual aunts and uncles, four of them total to go alongside Mr Vinay who was not in that car or the second. There was a striking number of cousins.

"Good evening Mrs Prachi, Mr Farhan," Valkyrie grinned, shaking Nadia's grandparent's hands. "Thank you so much for your gift to my family."

"Not at all," Mr Farhan smiled. He was an old man, looked much older than his wife, but had many lines that spoke of happiness and smiling. Nadia had said he liked to buy gifts for the children of the family and sent them out at all times of the year. He was popular with the kids.

"Yes, Miss Cain, not at all," Mrs Prachi said. She had a little bit of warning in her voice and Valkyrie suspected she'd been warned against her by Mr Vinay. Not unexpected but she had thought the woman would withhold judgement. Then again, she had been a big source of pressure on Nadia to break up with her, so perhaps Valkyrie was being too kind. "Could you tell me where the bathroom is? My grand-niece Eloise is expecting."

Grand-niece Eloise didn't look as if she appreciated that question very much, but Valkyrie just smiled a nice, convincing smile she used to convince people they wouldn't go to prison if they fessed up. "It's just over there by that archway, or there is a sign showing another through the back ballroom. There are a few others with signs also."

Mrs Prachi just nodded regally, looking much like an India Mrs Bracknell in her purple and orange sari dress, gold accessories and sharp eyes. Eloise mouthed the words 'thank you' to her with a blush.

The rest of the family was much quicker to welcome, and much faster. She actually spotted Nadia, but she kept her head right down and didn't look at Valkyrie. Mrs Keena barely looked also, and Mr Vinay didn't shake her hand.

At least they were there. She squeezed Bear's hand.

.*****.

The music picked up softly moments later and she noticed smiles flutter over the guest's faces at the sound. She herself had just spoken to China, a way for her to get right in the middle of a grouping of Nadia's family without looking as if she were actually trying, and China complimented the changes to the house. She also told Valkyrie she spoke to one of Nadia's cousins and that they had indeed been told to keep an eye on both Valkyrie and Nadia, before asking where Crow was and telling her to talk to one group in particular.

That group was of some businessmen and one woman she had money in, as well as some of Nadia's family. A coincidence in terms of the business people, but useful in terms of victims.

"Good evening," she said pleasantly.

"Good evening Miss Cain!" One of the men said jollily. "It's a pleasure to see you once more. We met at a party on your birthday some years ago."

"Yes, you're Mr Boa," she said, remembering the strange pattern of scars on his neck. "It's lovely to see you again."

"You look so well. Oh, I remember last time, she danced the entire night, and I mean the entire night with a young lady and you both smiled the whole time. Will you dance again tonight? It is nice to see the talent in one so young," Mr Boa said, slotting in a vote of confidence to Nadia's extended family oh so well and accidently.

"I think I will. My brothers have all asked for the first dance, so we'll see who gets it," she said and got a small round of laughs.

Thank goodness Mr Boa was good at keeping the conversation going and it wasn't long before the group had grown and split in two. She was careful to get on with one of the women as that was primarily Nadia's family and they joked and spoke about their time in France each, and how much they wanted to travel to different places. It barely took a moment before they were the group to visit as everyone interjected the best and their most favourite places to go. New Zealand was big on the places-to-go list for them all, brought up by adventurous places like the Amazon and forests in Asia.

She was good to get the conversation on places everyone enjoyed to keep her family targets occupied which seemed to work as they laughed and told everyone amazing things about whatever the country and some city or other they insisted everyone needed to visit. She honestly was interested, but at that moment all she did and said was calculating as she attempted to get the conversation to move and flow and seem attentive and positive as a person.

They must have been the biggest and loudest group in the room by the time a light bell was tinkled to silence them. "Dinner is served," an elderly waiter said to the room.

They smiled and everyone made their way to the dining room. It was extended with rented solid wood tables and chairs, flowers, a table runner and a thousand forks, knives, spoons and plates. She took her time moving to the ballroom, spotting Nadia lagging behind with an entourage of younger cousins invited solely for this reason. She gave the family a false sense of security by inviting the cousins.

She went over to them as Nadia's parents went through the door - Wolf tugged the sleeve of a man who she assumed was the other Robin.

"Miss Robin," she said, ignoring the children.

Nadia's face darkened with a blush and the children either ignored them because they hated their duty or stopped with the girls because they likely feared punishment. Nadia wore an Indian style of dress, some name she forgot, that left her midriff bare. She'd got a belly bar while she was gone. She was in a deep purple, much like the colour of her grandmothers' dress, and she shone with all the sequins on the outfit. She could also see the outline of her bottom ribs and how small her legs had gotten, not enough to be cripplingly unhealthy, but enough for Valkyrie to take notice.

She looked behind Valkyrie and was weary. "We can't talk," she whispered.

"But we can sit together," Valkyrie smiled, offering her arm. "We have seats next to each other. Come on, no one will cause a scene tonight."

"My father slapped you last time she spoke," she whispered. There was a small crowd around them she looked into nervously, and the children, not much more than ten, moved on when their stomachs growled.

"I don't care, I just want to eat with you again. We can talk and have a nice time. I promise."

Nadia was certainly nervous, but she smiled at Valkyrie with big eyes, eyes that were just as desperate to take in Valkyrie as Valkyrie's were for Nadia. It was nice having her hold her arm again, and they made their way into the hall silently, sneaking their way along to sit by the Elder's. She pulled out Nadia's seat and she sat with a smile, tucking a lock of hair out her pretty eyes. Next to Nadia was one of her cousins, the American one that had a baby not long ago and had a husband that had been on the wrong side of the war but for the sake of getting Nadia there, he'd been given an invite. The wife didn't seem to mind or notice the strange seating and didn't say a thing.

They were in the clear.

Valkyrie sat herself and gave Nadia another small smile. "You look beautiful tonight by the way."

"So do you," she said. There was a bit more of that old confidence in her voice. "I love the dining table. You should keep it like this every day."

"If we oiled the middle we could pass the food too. You'd be eating and a box of cereal would just fly passed," she grinned, a little giggle passing her lips.

"The carton of milk probably wouldn't stop," Nadia grinned.

"It would go straight into the plate of whoever was at the end."

"If you opened it and had a ramp, it would tip and pour into their bowl," she laughed. Valkyrie joined her and just loved her so much. Without showing it to everyone else, she put her hand over into Nadia's chair and touched her wrist. Slowly, Nadia took her hand in her own and squeezed it tightly. They smiled at each other for a long time, looking into each other's eyes. The moment was broken by the food being served.

They ate with small smiles being shared, avoiding the gazed of others and talking quietly about the little things Nadia had done since she'd been back and how good the food was. They had both chosen sorbet for dessert and shared a little laugh as they were served in synchrony. Out the corner of her eye she saw Mr Vinay glare at her, but she didn't look back. She just looked into Nadia's eyes until Nadia looked away with that little, shy smile and took a small spoonful of dessert into her mouth.

Of course, no one had to get up after the meal immediately, but the cousin did go so they had a bit of privacy. It was just Bear on her other side and who cared what he heard.

"Will you dance with me later?" Valkyrie asked Nadia with a soft smile.

Nadia bit her lip excitedly and jerked her head as if she were about to look at her parents before keeping still and nodding. "Yes. I'd love to dance. We didn't get to dance at school."

"How was the school?" Valkyrie asked.

She shrugged a little and looked down at the little After Eight mint she'd got from the middle of the table and put on her plate. It was strange, because she looked so small, but she ate all three courses of her meal and had two drinks. It made Valkyrie smile because she remembered Nadia's amazing appetite. It was always funny to see her put away more food than Valkyrie who was twice the weight and height of her. "It's not the best," she admitted quietly. "It's got nice people and teachers, but I struggled with the language change for the first two months, then the work just was so fast paced and I'm really bad at reading the language too. I've learnt a lot since then, but it was a bit tough."

"What about the teachers? Or friends?"

She shrugged one shoulder again. "It was fine. The teachers are really smart, they just like to push us. And I've made a few friends."

"Do you have a best friend?"

She glanced at Valkyrie. "Not really. But I always have someone to talk to."

"That's good," she said, taking a small bite of her chocolate. "How have things been at home?"

She hesitated. "What do you mean?"

Valkyrie glanced with her eyes down the table and saw Mr Vinay and Mrs Keena locked in conversation with a businesswoman. "Your dad came to me after Christmas and both of them again a month and a half ago asking for me to talk to you. They were concerned and wanted me to do it."

"Is that why you're talking to me? Is that it?" Nadia whispered, her eyes hurt.

"No," Valkyrie said calmly. "I told your dad to sod off the first time, and when they both came I told them that if you were sick, they should have pulled you before, not asked me since we weren't exactly in contact. But whatever made them come to me before changed. At least, it has for your dad."

She closed her eyes and clenched her fists. "They did that?"

Valkyrie put her hand over Nadia's. "Hey, don't get stressed. I – you know I love you. I actually planned on sending you a letter soon anyway, but then I realised if we had the party here, we could probably talk."

Nadia breathed a little laugh as smiled. "You held this whole Ball to talk to me?"

"Yes," she laughed. "Is that funny?"

"A bit," she smirked. "It's actually the most fun I've had since–" She cut herself off and bit her lip, looking somewhat guilty. "It's just a lot of fun."

Valkyrie smiled and tried not to ask what the look was about. "Do you want to go dance with me now?"

"My dad will probably try and stop us," she said.

"Well, I have a few ideas of how to avoid him. Come on, we aren't in trouble yet," Valkyrie grinned.

"I don't like that 'yet' part," Nadia mumbled, but followed Valkyrie hand in hand into the ballroom. They went to the louder, busier one, most of the guests following them because most of the Dead Men followed her.

There was no one dancing yet, but four groups went up anyway. There was Tanith and Panda, Raven and Crow, Weasel and Wolf, and Valkyrie and Nadia. The band watched them as they got in position and the girls smirked at each other in the pause before the music.

Ooooohhhhh! What do you think? What do you say? Agghh I'm excited, I hope I can get part 2 up tomorrow when all the fun things happen. I am trying to keep up with one a day but it's not always possible, thank you guys for your support and patience. Is there anything you think will/want to happen? I'm always interested. Leave a review or PM me to talk about the story if you like, I love hearing from you :)