School is kicking my ass right now and I have been working overtime. Though, I have a challenge for you lovely people. If you can draw Catherine in her dress, I would love to see it, I have tried my hand at several attempts and they all look awful. If your curious to see what it looks like check out my Tumblr Blog.

-Moon

Catherine laid in bed after another round of rough nightmares. Her skin sticked to the sheets from sweat as she had suffered from a fever. The young Cormac had another lucid dream of her parents past. It seemed the precursor box had lasting effects on her mind. Catherine didn't know what it all meant, but her dreams flooded with horrors of fire and death. Cries of death in a foreign language were fresh on her mind.

Catherine had awoken the next morning curled under her covers. It was the day of the ball which causes her stomach to flip, but everything should work as long as she sticks to her part. Connor had reassured her last night after their nightly meeting they would be fine.

He would be the one to wait for Catherine and James in the woods. They would leave together to go back to the Homestead, Connor would have horses and supplies at the ready.

If it wasn't her mother's death, it was the life of her parents she had lived through the precursor box. Though those memories seem to not have a lasting effect. The dreams seem to be fewer every night, but they were replaced with the haunting images of her mother's death.

Focusing back on the mission, she went through the steps of the party. Connor had done the work of investigating the estate. The information that Connor had gathered for Catherine told her that Edward Shippen had a secret safe. It was located on the upper levels of the house in his study. James was going to slip off to find it, while Catherine provided a distraction.

The party that was taking place was on the property. It would be held in the manor where a couple hundred people would be in attendance.

Templars and their associates all over the colony of Pennsylvania. James had a cover that was known as Jacob Marks. Beforehand, Catherine had a fake name of Cosette Dorian. Gist blew her cover, but they came up with a new plan. Though she felt honor that Charles had given her his surname for undercover. He acted like her adopted father in the last few months and she was touched for that.

She had only known the Master Assassin for a few months, but he had gone as far as to treat her as his own child. He had given her advice and trained her with his steady hand. He even presented her with a hidden blade that was built as a gauntlet for falconry to give easy access for Aries. He even gave her a few books on knowledge and training for birds of prey.

The younger Cormac slid out of bed and pulled on her night robe and went downstairs to have breakfast.

She wasn't even able to enjoy the bite of morning eggs when Martin Andre walked in. He made a ticking noise before Catherine could get the words out 'Good morning.'

"Sloppy looking mess," He referred to her messy curls sitting in a sloppy bun at the top of her head.

Catherine growled, but stuff her eggs into her mouth to stop her from throwing her breakfast at him. She noticed James walk into the dining room, already dressed and ready for the day. He didn't pay any attention to her as he ate.

"I have had the maids run you a bath. A hairdresser will be coming to the house, so you don't have to walk out of the house with that mess."

Catherine gritted her teeth as she picked up her knife to cut her sausage, but instead, she stabbed it in the table. Martin didn't seem to be phased by the woman's actions.

Catherine covered her face in frustration before glanced at James. "James…Can we talk about the other night?"

"About what?" He was short with her even though the revelations of the Templars being in the city came to light.

"I am sorry about the kiss,"

James sighed as he realized what he had done everything wrong. "No, I am sorry." He looked deeply regretful about snapping at her.

Catherine raised an eyebrow. "you are?" she questioned.

"You are your own person, but I have to admit I am being childish. I do care deeply for you, but I am an arse." James admitted with a sigh.

Catherine blinked unsure how to take his apology, "what changed your mind?"

James was hesitant to answer, he had been up for the last few nights after he heard her sobs outside his door. He felt nothing but guilt when he realized what he said to her longest friend. He even felt more guilt after news of her father coming into the city.

The young blacksmith acted like a child out of pure jealousy.

"I need to be sorry. We shouldn't have to worry about stupid relationship issues at this point. Especially since we are on a dangerous task."

Catherine stood up from her chair to go over to her childhood friend who stood up as well. They gave each other a tender hug before Martin André walked into alert Catherine it was time to get ready.

Saying quick goodbye to her friend, she was ushered upstairs to a hot steaming tub that looked relaxing. Though when she stepped in, she was attacked by her maid's brushes and soap. Catherine's body felt raw from the amount that her skin was scrub from the help her maids. Her neck and chest got the worst of the treatment from the soap and scrub. Her hair was washed with a lavender scent like soap. It wasn't the last treatment that it went through.

Catherine's head still pounded from the mess that the hairdresser had put her poor scalp through. Nevertheless, it was in proper fashion. The hairdresser had ticked at her ratty red hair. The man had the audacity to offer to dye her hair since it didn't circle well in higher society. He even suggested that she be better off wearing a wig, but André declined it for her.

The hairdresser took a hot rod to her head to tame her curls. Thankfully, he didn't have much work to do since her hair didn't fight curls. The man had pulled the bouncy curls to the crown of her skull, but it felt as if he was going to rip her hair off her scalp. He took a thin comb and tease the hair on her scalp until it was a poof. The hair process had gotten ugly before it turned lovely. The hairdresser even added wig existing to fill in more length to her hair to add even more curls.

Catherine was able to breathe for just a moment to enjoy a quick lunch. James was sitting across from Catherine giving him time to gawk at Catherine's new hairstyle. It gave the poor girl a sense of embarrassment, but he reassured her that her hair looked lovely.

He didn't need much time to prep as her escort since men weren't held at the same standers as women in regards to fashion. He did show her the masks that would be disgusting their faces. His mask was a simple Guy Foxes mask, something easy and clever. He presented her with a porcelain half face mask with painted cheeks. Black paint lined around the eye holes that fluttered out like a wing.

André had ushered the young woman upstairs to change into her dress. Catherine took a moment to change taking the long complicated process of getting dressed.

She stood in nothing but her chemise. She took a moment to sit on the bed to pull on a pair of long white socks. Pulling the fabric right below her knees to tie them in place with light blue ribbon garters. She took a glance at her boots near the edge of her bed. They were practical for the purpose of tonight, she just hoped no one noticed her feet. She pulled on loose pair trousers over the chemise that went above her knees. The trousers were supposed to help her move in case she had to make a quick escape through the woods.

Mary had helped her to slid into a knee-length petticoat over the chemise. Catherine sucked in her breath prepping for the green stay to tighten around her waist. She waited for the maid to finish before putting the last of the inner layers. The hip-pad felt uncomfortable and requested to go without which Martin understood. She needed to stay focus on her task.

The stomacher was brought to her attention when Mary walked over with the item. It was made of blue fabric with golden vines that decor it. The triangle shaped fabric was pinned to her pushed up bosom. Catherine flinched when Mary pinned the fabric to the green stay. She was expecting a prick in her skin by the needle, but it never came.

Catherine smile sheepish at Mary who only laughed at her mistress. "Don't worry, you look lovely."

"Thank you," Catherine chuckled.

She noted Carolina walk in with the rest of her gown. A petticoat that matched her stomacher.

"I think your Mister will find you lovely," Carolina walked behind her to tie the skirt. "Though the handsome native downstairs might compete for you."

"Connor? He is here?" Catherine flushed at the idea of him seeing her like this.

"Carolina! Don't be so brash." Mary scolded her coworker as she held up the gown for Catherine to slip into and fasten down the side of the stay.

"I apologize if that was bold, miss."

Catherine shook her head no with a chuckle. "It's quite alright."

Hidding any of the green fabric behind the matching simple blue gown. The long sleeves of the gown ended with lace ruffles that covered her wrist. She wouldn't be able to wear her hidden blades under the sleeves, but she was able to hide a small knife up her sleeve.

Mary placed the final touched on the pins of the skirt before she helped Catherine with her makeup. It was simply a white powder that covered her face that hid her freckles and the redness of her skin. Her neck was adorned with a golden necklace and matching earrings.

Catherine stared back in shock at her own reflection. It was not Catherine Cormac who starred back in her reflection. The inner child in her wanted to do a quick spin in front of the mirror. Never before had she worn such a dress. She looked like a woman of rich blood, someone that no one would recognize back home.

Mary smiled, "you look like a princess,"

"Thank you." She smiled at them both. She left the room. It took her some maneuvering to get used to the weight of the heavy fabrics.

Connor was not expecting to see such a directed change in Catherine's look. She looked like royalty. James jaw dropped in awe of the young woman. He was dressed like nobility in the same shade of blue of Catherine's dress.

Martin clapped his hands when he walked into announced the arrival of the carriage. He gave a glanced at the young woman before giving her a smile. Catherine believed that was the first time he smiled at her.

"I will wait outside for you," James sensed that Catherine wanted to talk to her native friend.

Connor peered at Catherine, "you look different,"

"Like a good different, or different, different."

"I honestly prefer you look more natural, but you do look beautiful." Connor scratched the back of his head trying not stare. "You always look well dressed.." He stammered over his own words.

Catherine could practically feel the eye roll James was giving this conversation.

Catherine walked over to her friend before taking his hand giving it a light squeeze. "Thanks," she smiled. She leaned over press her lips against his tan cheek. "I will see you later tonight once we secured the manuscript."

"Yes, I will be waiting for you and James." He blushed at the light kiss, "Are you sure you don't want me to be there?"

"I need you to wait at the meeting spot, so I can pass the book onto you." The young Cormac went to take her to leave, but Connor grabbed Catherine's forearm.

"Please be careful. He may be your father, but he is still dangerous." Connor voiced a word of caution.

"I will. I am his daughter, he is different than your father. He actual cares, so I am hoping I can appeal to his nature."

The track to the emergency meeting spot was not far, maybe a thirty minute run from the Shippen Estate. She had given her robes to Connor, so she could change quickly. Catherine even passed her weapons to Connor, she wasn't able to have any weapon, but her small hidden knife. James had a simple flintlock pistol he could hide it more easily in his clothes.

"Be careful,"

"I will," Catherine smirked before sliding on her mask over her face. "I'll see you after." She walked out of the house with Connor following. James stood by the carriage waiting for Catherine, the driver held open the door for them to climb in.

Connor lingered to watch the two teenagers enter the carriage. He couldn't help but worry that things might go astray.