Continuing Matthew's POV:
I followed Ethan out into the hall and to the door a few feet down. He unlocked the cell and I was shoved in before the door shut dramatically behind me. I had tripped as I landed head down in the floor. I looked up in relief as my sister's scent flooded the room.
"Matthew?" April asked in surprise as she looked down at my face. Her own was a blank space of horror. She looked pale like a ghost hit her. She had been sweating only moments before as if some how it was hot in the room. Which it was as cold as a basement should be. For lack of installation of course. She moved off the bed and helped me to my knees. "Wow... it is you?" She asked in surprise before helping me to sit on the bed with her. "Where are we?" She asked and looked around at her small purgatory.
"I don't know." I lied to her. I felt immediately guilty for lying to her. She had been my sister after all. I usually told her the truth. I was an honest man after all. At least I liked to think of myself as one. "I think we're kidnapped by rogues," I suggested.
"Rogues?" Her voice hit an octave as I knew she was worried. Her eyes looking lost as she stared away in space.
"How did you get here? What do you remember?" I asked her curiously.
"I was taking a bath while sipping on a glass of wine. I don't remember anything after that," she explained. "You? What do you remember?"
"I was chasing Josephine's scent into the woods because she had escaped from the station. I was attacked by rogues. I thought I had died but then I woke up as they were dragging me here," I explained. It was close enough to the truth. She nodded as she took my hands and brought them up to her cheek. She rubbed them gently with her head.
"Brother," she whispered. "I'm so happy you're here with me. I thought I would be alone here. What do you think they want with us?"
"You don't have any ideas?" I asked her as I pulled her to my chest and rocked her in my arms. I looked at the ground as I couldn't bring myself to look at the wall hiding the one way window. I knew behind it would be the rest watching us like a soap opera.
"No clue," she said softly. A small worried whimper breached her throat. "I don't want to die here. What are we going to do? How do we escape from here?"
"I'm not sure..." My voice trailed off as I took in my sister's emotions. They were skyrocketing and effecting my own. She made my body tremble with anxiety. Her feelings were trying to become my own. I had to stop this before it was too late. "I heard a few voices before I got here. A phone call being discussed. Do you recognize the name of Ezekiel?" I asked curiously. I would trick her first into thinking she was in his keep. As long as she believed we were here because of the rogues I could open her up and read her like a book. She yanked away from me as she suddenly brought her nails up and began to chew on them.
"No," she mumbled.
"No?" I asked her. "No you don't remember? No, you don't know? What do you mean by no?"
"I mean... I do know..." she shook her head as she looked to be fighting telling me. "He's the rogue pack's Alpha. I've met him before during the last crowning. I don't know why we're here... Do you think it's because he's behind William's death?" She asked and looked up into my eyes frantically. Ah! She was trying to trick me. There she goes... Weaving me into her web. I have to untangle more lies now. I nodded as if it all was making sense to me. It wasn't. It wasn't connecting. I have to slip her up.
"There's no way he'd deliberately kidnap us. Unless he was behind the alpha's murder. But, that would mean he's also connect to the rogue and Josephine." I balled up my fist to sign anger but I was aggravated as I searched for a way in to her head. I want to know what she'll plan to say next. Where are my loopholes? Think- Think, Matthew.
"That's what I just suggested," she muttered. She had my tongue tied. I couldn't counter her. I didn't know what to respond with.
"There wouldn't be any other reason," I pressed. "Nothing that I could think of. Looks like he will kill us too. Now that he has us." Her eyes widened with surprise as if she didn't think of it before. Yes, there was now a possibility in her head she could die.
"Did you happen to see him before coming here?" She asked frantically. She stood up as she pressed her hands down on my shoulders. "Did you?"
"No. I wouldn't even know what he would look like."
"Surely we could talk rationally with him," she spoke quickly.
"No, I'm sure we will die. That's why we're here. He'll probably kill us both. Something about this feels personal. Maybe William pissed him off without our knowledge."
"I wonder what day it is," April mumbled. She walked up to the door fast and began to bang her fist against the metal. The room was soundproof. Her screaming started to echo across the room as she demanded for them to open the door. Ordering for them to bring her to Ezekiel before she threatened violence. I flinched with irritation as her demands went unnoticed. They would not come. Not when they had a show already. She walked back over to me suddenly. Her eyes landed on my chest and I flinched. Her hands reached over and yanked my shirt up before revealing the wire they placed on my chest moments before. H-how did she know?
"Speak," she ordered me. "Explain what is really going on. Right now!" She must had felt it earlier while touching her head to my chest. It was the only possible explanation.
"I-I-" I wasn't sure what to say to her. I was found out to be a traitor! This was embarrassing. I nervously stared across the room at the mirror. My eyes begging for them to come and help me. She caught on to where I was looking and looked as well. She dropped my body as she walked over to the mirror. I could see her staring intently at herself.
"Are you there? Ezekiel?" She asked dramatically. Her voice was like silver as it melted across the hot fires she was spitting out at the mirror. She was angry now. I could smell the rage radiating off her. "What do you want from me?"
"He wants you to confess," I spat out at her and went towards the door as I hovered close to it. Hoping they would open it and let me out. "You should admit to killing your husband, April. It would make things much easier for us all." She stared back at me. Clever girl with opal eyes. She was appalled as she glanced back in the mirror.
"This is what this is about?" She asked quickly. "I'll have you know I didn't kill him! Not that it matters much to you! It was my daughter, Josephine. She's the murderer."
"There is no proof it was here," I whispered as I trembled. I didn't know how much longer it would take before she took her anger out on me next. Would I end up like my dead brother in law? "It's your word against hers. There is plenty of proof pointing at you."
"Proof? All lies," she told me as she walked towards me. She grabbed my hands. "I hated him, I will admit. I might have even cheated on him. But, I assure you I did not kill my husband. I should have. He was an angry mad man! I did not kill him, brother. You have to believe me." How can I believe her? After trying to frame her own daughter? How could I have been so blind before? My sister is the killer.
"So you admit to cheating on him?" I asked quickly.
"What? I said I might have."
"You did, didn't you?"
"I-I"
"Tell me the truth!"
"I did," she whined and suddenly fell down on her knees. "I cheated on him. I slept with Ezekiel. Don't you see what's happening? I tried to break things off with him but he wouldn't leave me alone. T-Than William found out about the affair. He was so angry with me!"
"You killed him!" I shouted at her and threw her backwards. She fell on her back as she screamed.
"No! Never! I would never kill my own mate!" Her voice was very convincing with the precision she kept up. I have to get her to confess. This is my mission. I walked over her as I knelt down and glared down into her eyes. I wouldn't touch her. She was my sister after all. I would keep my hands off her for now.
"Liar," I hissed through my teeth. "What did you do to him?" I asked as I reached out and gently sat my hand on her chin. "What happened the night of Alpha Cromwell's death?"
"I-I wanted to kill him," she cried out. "I promise I didn't though. We had a fight and it woke up Josephine. We tried to be quiet-"
"Liar," I hissed through my teeth. "I bet you slipped something to your daughter to make her a heavy sleeper that night. You were the only one awake when it happened. You sat everything up. You wanted to kill three birds with one stone. The undeserving husband, the ungrateful daughter, and the side piece you had been sleeping with for well over four years. You slipped something into both their meals that night. A little kill Cromwell's strength while the rest was enough to knock Josephine out cold. You made sure it would happen on the night Juliette snuck out to her usual Friday frat party. You planned it all down to the T, right?"
"W-What? Who told you all that?"
"Did you do it?"
"NO! What kind of active imagination is that?!" She screamed. "Did he tell you to say that?" She looked at the mirror. "You fucker! You're setting me up, aren't you!?"
"Quit acting, sister! We caught you! There are letters he kept. I saw them just a few moments ago. They're all letters of evidence. You were going to use his son as collateral. Incase anything slipped. He was informed to come for an arrange marriage to Josephine. It's all in the letters."
"He forged them!" She insisted. She thrashed under me as I stayed still above. I watched her crawl out from underneath. "Can't you see, brother? You've been brainwashed by him!" That felt familiar. I shook my head as I stood up. No way... was this really happening?
Ethan's POV:
"Go settle this," Camren ordered me directly. He must have decided the interrogation wasn't moving fast enough. Not with Matthew's help. She would only keep denying everything. Camren had little to no patience. He wasn't a waiting man. He liked things to be finished as soon as they were started.
"She's still insisting she's innocent. After clearly being caught?" I heard Ezekiel's surprised remark. I wanted to laugh from him. Like it was some sick joke that I got. She really wasn't going to slip up any further. She'd gaslight her brother as long as she could. I licked my lips in final decision on Camren's side. This would be easy for me. I knew what I had to do to get her attention. Make her realize what kind of situation she was in.
Camren's eyes settled on me suddenly. He had not looked away from the window since the show started. I knew then he was angry with me for being on my phone. I couldn't help it. I liked the temptation it brought me for debating about answering the stupid girl's call and denying her instantly.
I lowered my phone in my hand as I was receiving another call from Nathalie. Another text popping up on screen, call me. I turned the device off. I didn't have time for her. Didn't she get the message from the first few miss calls? It's been this way for a week.
Camren instructed me not to answer her calls. He insisted they'd have to come speak to him directly. He didn't want to see anyone in advance. He was too busy to slip up and meet beforehand with them. He wasn't going to let me off for this. I would be punished later for being on my phone. When we were alone together I would be danger of his tight temper. He glared me down before looking away from me. He didn't have to say anything else.
"As you wish," I said with a bow in his direction.
I stood up slowly and walked out of the room. He wanted me to settle it. One way to settle things fast filtered through my mind in a kaleidoscope of possibilities before I settled on one.
I walked down the hall away from the shouting as I took a minute to pick the lock on an armory room. It was filled with tools we used for torturing as well as weapons. I picked a switch blade up. My mind was raging in red thoughts. I locking the door behind me. I took off towards the interrogation room we were keeping the two in.
I had been trained for this.
I would be fast. I would not think of the consequences. I would be shielded from them by my cousin. My duty was to the crown after all. I figured it was justified. What I would do for him. For the future queen. He was so decided on her.
I nodded towards the guards outside. They swiped a key over an automated system. The door unlatched and I was able to push it open. As soon as I stepped into the room I saw Matthew's back facing me. I wrapped my free arm around his neck. Starting to choke him as I took the switch blade and held it up against his throat.
"Gee," I snarled in a different tone than the one I've used before. I was channeling something knew. "You were taking forever to make the bitch confess. It makes us not need you anymore." I pressed the sharp blade against his skin. I was surprised as it cut. I could smell fresh blood being spilled as Matthew grew tense in my arms. I looked out at his sister. For the love of god, Matt. Don't give away who I am or I will shove this blade into your neck. I would play good cop bad cop with him now. Anything to speed up this process.
April turned on her heels by the sound of a new voice in the room. She no longer stared through the window for me. She had a target to look at now. "Do you work for him?" She growled out. She was speaking to me. "Do you work for that horrid bastard, Ez?" Her nickname for him was Ez. She was talking about Ezekiel. I knew instantly she still believed he was the one keeping her here.
"Confess your sins and your brother will survive," I suggested. I looked over his clear skin being stuck by my blade. He was calmer than I thought he was. He had so much faith he would survive this. Maybe I wasn't being real enough. I looked back at April to see if she was buying it.
"We have your daughter upstairs. The one you love. If you don't want to see her die here as well than you better confess now," I suggested. It would be easy for us to provide proof to her. She widened her eyes as she figured we were in fact talking about Juliette. I suppose it was all connecting in her mind.
"I'm sorry!" She cried out. "Please... Don't hurt her. Let me talk with him personally. We should talk in person," she begged.
"He doesn't want to speak to you... But, you can find him there." I pointed to the one place that should have been clear to her. On the other side of that wall. "Whatever you want to say to him, go right ahead. He can hear every word." Her eyes scanned the room before she went back over to the mirror.
"Listen here," she breathed through her nostrils. "You let them go because this is a fight between us, Ez." I chuckled quietly in Matthew's ear. It was hilarious. It looked like she was talking alone. But, I'm sure they heard her clear on the other side. "Come and face me! Come in here now you bastard!" She screamed out and banged her fist against the glass. "Show yourself!" She was hot and bothered now. Her breathing getting out of hand as she was sweating. Probably trying to control her wolf. She looked like she was on the verge of transforming. I guess Juliette's life being threatened really bothered her. At least she had some inking of love for one of her daughters. Maybe it was the lack of control she was loosing on the entire situation. I pushed the knife against Matthew's skin as a gesture to make him speak to her.
"A-April you were the one that murdered William Cromwell, weren't you?" Matthew asked her as I saw her slowly turn to look at him. Her eyes widening. I could sense it before the words came to me.
'I'm unsatisfied,' Camren's dark thoughts rung in my head. His Alpha powers were giving me thoughts on what to do next. He wanted me to thrash the knife into Matthew's skin and show her what the consequences were to delaying him information. He wanted her to pay for everything. He blamed it all on her. I could feel his anger as it rushed into my blood stream. I didn't hesitate as his thoughts became my own. I slid the knife into the fresh surface beneath and stabbed a few times into Matthew's neck. I pushed him forward and took the knife out. Watching as he fell face down in front of her. He choked as he bled out. His hands were unable to stop the bleeding. She rushed to his side and tried to stop the blood. I walked up to her and kicked her head. Her body falling to the ground as light as a feather. She clutched her head in pain. I stooped over her as I held the knife directly over her ear and pressed down on the soft skin as I threatened to make her loose it.
"Stop your lies," I growled. "This is your last chance."
"JOSEPHINE!!" She shouted at the top of her lungs. I growled as I knew that was the wrong answer. She grabbed the blade and it cut into her delicate skin. "H-hear me out! This is the truth! Josephine stepped in and saved me from her father! I was the one who was supposed to die! She saved me." She began to cry as snot bubbled out of her nose. "I-I'm a monster. I still blame her for her father's death. Even though she saved me from him! She'll never know... She really did kill her father! That's the truth! She was too out of it that night to remember. I tell you this is the truth. It was Josephine... It was all because of her!"
'Leave her and come back to me. I've had enough of her lies,' Alpha Camren instructed. He would leave her alive. I stood up straight. It was her lucky day. I stepped away from her but she reached out and grabbed me by my ankle.
"Did- Did I do good?" She asked as she was crying now. "Did I say what he wanted?" I frowned and kicked her in the face to get her off of me and left the room entirely. Camren must be insane if he left that bitch alive.
Who knows if she said the truth or not?!
I would go back to where he was waiting. My eyes distant from my surroundings as I thought back to how-
I
would
kill
for
Camren
without
hesitation.
So why didn't he ask me to kill her?
Jossie's POV:
We arrived at the apartment complex Nathalie lived at. We had to walk up four flights of stares before I realized we had to walk back down a set. I had forgotten which floor she lived on. The only reason I switched floors was because the fourth didn't ring a bell. The upper levels looked older than the bottom. Like they were slowly remodeling the floors. We knocked on the door when I was sure it was correct. Nathalie opened it up.
"Hey... Jossie, Come on in..." Her eyes landed on Casimir. "You too..." Her eyes met mine again. "I sent Malaya across the hall," she whispered as she opened the door wide for us. I nodded as I entered the apartment first and Casimir was last in. I wouldn't explain to him today that Nathalie had a daughter. If he was curious he could probably find out due to all the evidence surrounding the small apartment. Nathalie locked the door behind us and we found Veronica sitting on the couch. She waved when we entered. I smiled lightly her way before looking back at Nat.
"You said there were some packages?" I asked curiously.
"I put them up in my room. I didn't want Malaya to get in them," she told me before leading me back down the hallway and towards her bedroom. "The packages are from a famous boutique. It's actually from Rabidcrest pack. So I was surprised to find them here. I don't know if you'll recognize the name brand. These are designer clothes- worth a fortune. I keep trying to wrap my head around who could be sending these to you. But then I thought.... What if they're from the king?" She asked me in a low tone. I tensed up as I understood her double meaning. I have yet to admit it to Casimir. I didn't want him to worry. Plus if he knew he might not let me go save my sister from a lifetime of stupidity. "I'm not sure why they ended up at my diner... Well... actually I'm settling on the idea it was Beta Ethan's idea." I felt relaxed at her suggestion. I heard Casimir growling in jealousy as he followed behind us. Another reason to not go. That was not what I needed right now.
I have to go though. It wasn't about me anymore. It was about saving the King. It was about stopping my sister from a huge mistake. I couldn't let anything happen between them. It might drive me crazy... to think they'd be sleeping together without his real consent.
Nathalie walked us into her bedroom and I could hear Vee getting up to come join us. Nathalie's room was just like her personality. A little behind from being a parent. It looked disoriented. From the lack of attention. She had been too busy to clean it. She pulled out boxes from in her closet and sat them on her bed. Vee pushed past to help her. I eyed over what she had already unwrapped to see for herself. When they were all out I began to go through them. These were unreal.
I picked up the dress as the final piece and brought it over to her mirror where I held it up to my body. It would match my hair. It was a Victorian style black dress. With lace to cover my chest and wrap around my neck in a vest- style. It was stylish. I loved it. All the way down to the velvet buttons aligning the chest. I looked back at Casimir. He was going through another box and held up a matching three-piece. It was mono colored with a floral vest. I went back to the patterns on my dress. They were matching. I looked towards Nathalie. She held up two invitations for the ball. She had took them out of a box.
"You'll be needing these," she told me. "They'll be checking for invitations at the entrance. Ours came in this morning. It's funny. I haven't been able to contact that bastard all day- Beta Ethan. Yet... he had the audacity to send two dresses to my address. I'm still trying to wrap my head around how he knew to send one for Vee. I think none of us should go tonight. I think its too weird, Josephine." I'm starting to feel like what she's really trying to suggest is that it was all King Camren's doing. Maybe she was right. It was weird. What if I can't handle having Camren and Casimir in the same room? What if it distracts from my ultimate goal? To think it would all be foiled... Juliette would get her every desire because I lost in this chess match.
"I'm still going. I told you I have to try. You're more then welcome to stay home. In fact I think you should," I told her sternly. I wish Casimir would stay now that I've thought about it. I don't want him finding out I'm also fated to another wolf. I can't let those two meet. Tonight is going to be hard to concur. Maybe I could make them stay.
"Let you face him alone? Are you crazy? I'm coming there with you. Someone has to show you where to go," she teased me lightly. It might be nice to have back up that wasn't fated to be with me as well. I might need her help restraining Casimir if it all falls down like a house of cards.
"You can't talk us into staying home," Vee said quickly. I want them to come. I don't want to go alone. "I want to help too. I sort of owe you. After all we wouldn't be quite in this mess if I had just listened before acting..." She looked towards Casimir with a sorry expression. I know she was trying to make it up to us. Casimir was completely ignoring her as he scrunched up the vest in his hand.
"I think we should back out," Casimir mumbled. Is he catching on? No... I'm paranoid.
"You too?" I asked as I felt betrayal. He looked up immediately at my face. He walked over quickly as he took the dress from me.
"Look at this! It's even in your size!" He showed it to me as he looked worried all of a sudden. "This isn't normal. What is he trying to say by giving these to us? He's inviting us to a barbeque. We're the victims." I frowned and snatched the dress away from him. At least he hasn't caught on... This will be fine. It'll all be fine.
"Those are your own worries lying to you. We don't even know for certain who sent these to us. I just think it's someone in favor of us." I mean for all I know... Zeke could have sent these to us with the help of Edith's help. What a stupid lie. "Nothing is stopping me from going. Like I said... You three don't have to go."
"I do if you're going," Casimir growled out.
"Same," Nathalie said quickly.
"I can't let her go alone," Vee mumbled.
"We've been over this. I'm still going," I told them harshly. "So... who volunteers to help me zip my dress up?" I asked. I knew I had to get a jump on getting this outfit on if I wanted to look somewhat decent for my first masquerade.
Casimir rolled his eyes with slight irritation. My guess was from my stubbornness. No matter how dangerous this was becoming... I still felt obligated to go. Especially since someone went out of the way to provide our outfits for us. I just thought of this as duty to my king.
This was not because I was developing feelings for someone I've never met before.
No. That's not what this is.
I did not feel anything for a king. This was all for a good reason. It isn't for anything else.
"The moment you show up he's going to be looking for you," Casimir growled with irritation. The anxiety of him knowing washed over me in waves.
I tensed up as I at first thought about the slight possibility. What will happen when he discovers I picked Casimir? Will it be an issue tonight? After I come to save him from my sister's potion? I will have to slip away before he discovers I'm there. I don't want that kind of confrontation. I looked towards Nathalie and Vee's faces. They were trying to hold back from talking. They weren't sure how far Casimir was caught up on. He didn't know anything! I didn't want him to know!
"Along with your sister. She'll sense you're there to ruin her plans. He's going to be thinking you're there for other reasons..." He trailed off as he looked desperate to find a way to prevent me from going. This was his last attempt. I honestly should just tie him up here and go without him. If he does anything stupid at the masquerade it could start bigger problems than we already have.
Did he have his own anxiety? This was a masquerade for the king to find a queen. Did he think that Cas would find eyes for me? Or... maybe he just figured my similar scent to my sister would guide us together. After all she would be smelling like me... Which was the scent of his actual fated mate. Not that Casimir knew it.
"Cas..." I trailed off.
"For fucks sake tell him," Vee snapped as she looked at us. "He deserves to know what will happen... Or could happen at the masquerade. Especially since you made the terrible mistake of marking someone you're not fated to."
"What is she talking about?" Casimir asked quickly and growled at her. I growled too. Did she really think I would mark someone I wasn't fated to? I would never do that!
"We are fated," I told her stubbornly. I couldn't explain it to her. She'd think it was impossible. It was impossible. To be fated to two was unspeakable. No one ever heard of it before. I was certain.
"King Camren has made it clear his fated is-" Nathalie motioned towards me. "They've never met. He was only going off her scent."
"What?" Casimir growled. He'll never let me go now.
"I don't believe it," I lied quickly. "He'll see when he meets me," I promised him. "He'll see we are a mated pair and he won't mess with us. I promise." Casimir was growling as he was fighting back the urge to transform. I could see it in his eyes. He didn't take that information too well. I looked at Vee with a glare in my eyes. How the fuck could she do this to me? Now I'll be completely fucked if he doesn't let me go to the masquerade. He was calming down at my words suddenly.
"You don't believe you're fated to him?" Cas asked. He knew it was true. He believed- actually. Since we were fated it would be impossible to his logic. "You aren't. You're fated to me," he said sternly. He was firm now that whatever Vee had said was going to be whipped away from his memories. Maybe it was because of his ego. He'd let me go. "We'll go prevent your sister from drugging him. Than we're going to leave before he ever sees you." I relaxed. He would believe me over anything. He knew my truth at least. He leaned in and gave me a kiss. "You can get dressed," he whispered.
"You can get dressed in my daughter's room," Nathalie suggested to him. She'd kick him out so we could talk alone without him. I could see they were confused and wanted answers from me. How would I explain to them that I knew I had two fated mates and still chose Casimir. Even to them he would still be a candidate for my father's murderer. They wouldn't find out that I was the one that killed him. My mother was dead- she was the only other witness. I could say and do whatever I wanted now. I could free my chains from being my father's killer. I would be my mother's savior if I could explain it right.
Cas would remove himself from the room with the boxes handpicked for him. He couldn't hear us in the other room if we kept our voices low enough. We would. I could tell the girls wanted to hunt the answers out of me.
"What the hell, Jossie," Nat whispered when we heard the door close in the other room. "We both know that Camren singled your scent out as his fated. Who are you trying to fool?"
"Nobody," I said quickly. Just Casimir... and myself. "It might sound surprising... But... I think I'm fated to both of them. I won't know until I meet Camren. I already know for certain Casimir is my fated."
"Did your wolf confirm it?"
"Yes," I hissed low. Jude did leave me with that small knowledge.
"That's impossible. It's never been heard of. Two fated mates," she hissed through her teeth. "Something isn't right about that."
"I think he was confused," I pleaded. "He'll see when he meets me."
"Tonight is going to be too dangerous," Vee grumbled. "I don't like it one bit."
"Stay here," I suggested.
I could tell by the looks they both gave me. They would not leave me alone. They were in it for the very end. They were good friends. Nathalie was a good friend. I hugged her tightly as I felt tears rushing to the surface. I just want to get this over with. I'll go away with Casimir by the end of tonight. This might be the last time we see each other.
"So you couldn't reach Beta Ethan's number?" I asked quietly.
"That bastard has been avoiding my calls all week," Nathalie said sharply. "I even went out and bought a phone and put the same number on it so my name would turn up in his phone. I'm not sure what the fuck they're doing. There's no way he's been that busy. I guess he really didn't want to hear what I had to say. I'll give him an ear full when I see him. Oh!" She grabbed me and pushed me back so we could look each other in the eyes.
"It's about your mother," Vee said quickly.
"Zeke called me before you arrived to give us a heads up. Your mother is alive. Whatever you saw... It wasn't real. She was perfectly healthy and left with Juliette this morning. They were on their way to the masquerade." She looked from Vee to me. I froze up suddenly. My back trembling as I felt my knees buckling. I would have to face her tonight at some point then. It was a good thing they told me now. I would have decided not to go if I had known all week.
"You look so pale," Vee whispered.
"N-no I-... Thank you for telling me," I whispered. "I would have been even more surprised when I saw her tonight at the masquerade."
"It was good of Zeke to call," Vee said quickly. She motioned for us to break it up. "We need to get ready if we're still planning on going." Somehow this was starting to feel like Prom. Something I never attended but watched multiple movies on. I just hoped my prom will not be filled with so much drama. Nathalie's eyes lit with surprise as if she remembered something.
"Happy birthday," she said quickly. "Zeke said your cousin mentioned it." I flinched at her words. I couldn't believe it. I didn't expect it. Vee smiled with delight.
"Happy birthday!"
There was nothing happy about my birthday. Juliette always made me celebrate it a day late. She didn't like sharing it with me. Of course she was a selfish child and my mother assumed I didn't care when I celebrated my birthday. I nodded at my friends.
"Yes... thank you." It would be a short lived birthday celebration. The main star would be Camren. It was his birthday as well. That was the whole point of the masquerade after all. It was all for him really. Maybe I should stay. There is this sudden dread I feel about going. I was always on an unbalanced scale when it came to these decisions. I shouldn't have to make one about saving a man I haven't met before. Why should I care so much? Would Juliette even care about me once she had her spot of power? I turned back towards the mirror as I looked the dress over against my body. It was a good match for me. It complimented my small chest. It even made my body look fuller so I wouldn't be so... tiny. Did... Camren really pick this out for me?