"Eden, no one here is accusing you of anything," Amory said sternly, eying Avalon and Roxie, "You just need to be aware of the heightened consequences for your actions. If you and Kiran did walk down the path to marriage, then your magic would save his. He would benefit from your.... indestructibility." Amory smiled and softened the building tension in the room.
"Oh," Was all I could say though. I had never really had serious thoughts about having sex before marriage. Aunt Syl had ingrained in me the sanctity of waiting until after the vows, but things between Kiran and I had been heated before. Suddenly there was a lot of pressure to not only wait for marriage, but to make sure I was marrying the right person.
"At any rate," Amory continued, "Kiran's birthday celebration is in a few hours, so I assume you will all need to get ready."
"Aw, shoot," Jericho grumbled. "My tux is still at the cleaners, I'll have to run back to the farm."
"Tux?" I sat up straight. "What is the dress code for this shindig?"
"Black tie, of course," Amory replied patiently.
"Black tie?" I whined, sinking back into the recesses of the couch. "What is it with you people? I'm running out of dresses."
"Eden, class and sophistication are to be honored," Amory scolded.
"That's all fine Amory, but you try wearing a silk evening dress in the middle of winter," I wasn't going to give this up easily.
"That is why you have magic, my dear," Amory stood up and walked into the kitchen, ignoring my complaints and reminding me I really didn't have anything to complain about.
"Hey, Jer, can I go back to the farm with you?" Roxie asked familiarly, "I don't have anything nice here."
"You can borrow one of Aunt Syl's dresses." I offered, not liking the idea of Jericho and Roxie riding to the farm together.
"No thanks, I think it would all be too big. I brought my own stuff."
"Ok...." I didn't really know how to reply to her, granted she was the tiniest thing I had ever seen, but I still felt like she was insulting Aunt Syl who had the perfect waist, in my opinion. "Lilly, I'm sorry you don't get to go." I turned to my dear friend, truly upset that she had to be left behind.
"Don't worry about it!" she gushed, "I hate those kinds of things."
"Really? I just don't want you to feel left out," I said sincerely.
"Eden, seriously," she smiled, talking in her shy, whispery way. "I would rather go back to prison, than an elegant affair with Lucan there. But can I help you get ready?"
"Actually, yes!" I replied, loving her laid back attitude. She had changed since joining the Resistance. She was more relaxed, but more confident too. "Will you help me straighten my hair? I don't want to stand out."
"Straightening your hair is not going to help you blend into the crowd." Jericho announced from across the room where he was putting on a coat and scarf.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked, not sure if I should be offended or not.
"It just means that.... It just means that I don't think you're capable of blending in." He smiled roguishly at me, his bright hazel eyes smoldering.
"Get out of here," I grumbled, and then followed Lilly up the stairs, still set on camouflaging myself as best as I could.
I had mixed feelings about going tonight. On the one hand I was excited to be part of Kiran's birthday and celebrate with him; but on the other, bringing all of my friends felt like a set up. I wanted to believe Kiran was just being thoughtful and didn't want me to feel awkward or alone, but there was a part of me screaming that Lucan was running his own surveillance. I thought of Avalon and Jericho and even Roxie, knowing that I would protect them first under any circumstance. Lucan would never touch them as long as I was around to save them.
Chapter Thirty-Five
"Which one do you think?" I held up the two dresses I was deciding between, asking Lilly for advice. One of the dresses was the soft pink gown Kiran had sent as a gift for the Fall Equinox dance in October, which I still hadn't worn. And the other one was a refugee from Aunt Syl's closet, a short black pin-striped number that was strapless and on the provocative side.
"Um, probably the pink one," Lilly said with finality. "Is that the one Kiran gave you?" She walked over, picking up the soft hem and fingering it delicately.
"Yes," I sighed. "And I don't want to be too obvious, especially after that whole.... sex education class down there." I sighed again, and plopped down on Aunt Syl's king-sized bed. "Apparently, I need to do some serious shopping and stock up on ball gowns." I sighed wondering if this was what royal life, one tiring formal event after another, would be like, should I someday be Queen.
"The pink one will be fine. More than fine," Lilly sat down next me, putting a gentle hand on my back. "He's probably the only one who knows about the dress, so if anything it will be.... romantic," she smiled encouragingly and I started to feel a little bit of hope.
"You think?" I asked and she nodded.
I stood up with more confidence and decided she was right. I walked into the bathroom and undressed, changing into the appropriate undergarments and pulling the dress carefully over my head. I stood staring at myself in the mirror.
It felt like I was here a lot lately, in front of the mirror and in some fancy dress. Elegant affairs were beginning to lose their appeal; still, I couldn't help but admire the delicate workmanship of the couture gown.
The soft pink silk shimmered iridescently when the light hit the fabric just so. The skirt was full and long, but pleated, a stark contrast to the softer lines of the top. The designer of this dress was very bold, creating a concept I had never seen before. The neck line plunged to the waist, away from the delicate cap sleeves and covering just enough to maintain the preface of modesty. The back plunged in the same v, meeting the narrow waistline in symmetrical uniformity. The stitching was gold, glinting against the pastel silk, and matched the strappy stilettos Kiran had sent along to complete the look.
Either Kiran had perfect taste, or someone who worked for him did. The dress flattered me in all the right places and met my measurements exactly. My skin tone had faded over the winter months and behind the beauty of the gown I looked more like a porcelain doll, than a rebellious teenager.
Lilly had straightened my long hair and then wrapped it in elaborate lines, folding it over and over again into an artistic and secured up-do. I finished my make up with simple and soft pinks and a little eye liner and mascara. I stared again at myself, feeling self-conscious and unsure.
Walking over to my jewelry box, I pulled out the pendant Kiran had given me in Geneva, deciding that I would truly look like a gift just for him. The black stone was dull, sitting inside the silver setting. I looked at it closely for a minute, trying to find the magic behind the plain rock.
I put the silver chain around my neck and watched the stone flash a myriad of colors before settling on royal blue. The necklace, hanging down on the bare part of my chest, did not match my dress and I found that frustrating. Using a burst of magic and igniting my blood, I changed the stone from royal blue to the pastel pink of the gown.
As soon as the necklace settled on the color I had chosen, the bathroom door slammed shut and a gust of royal blue air whooshed past me, blowing my skirt violently and ruffling my hair.
I screamed at the top of my lungs, not expecting the wind or the slamming door. It took me a moment to calm down and get a hold of myself. My eyes darted around the bathroom, hoping for a source besides my magic. I didn't understand the burst of wind, or the color painting it.
There was no one else in there, I was all alone. The blue air settled around the hem of my skirt, floating in tiny whirlwind circles and spreading out into a cool mist against the tile floor.
"Eden, are you all right?" Lilly knocked on the bathroom door.
"Yes, I'm fine," I willed the wind behind me, hoping it would disappear into Aunt Syl's closet and then eventually blend in with the rest of the normal air.
Lilly opened the door, her mouth falling open just barely at the sight of me. "You look amazing. Like, the best you've ever looked," she gushed.
"Really?" I asked skeptically, my heart still pounding in my chest. "You're sure this is how everyone else will be dressed? I'm not like, way too overdressed?" I still felt self-conscious and afraid of the evening.
"No, no one else will be dressed like that!" she smiled, "But they will wish they were!"
We laughed our way into the hallway and to the staircase. Lilly went to grab her camera from my room and I started my descent down the stairs. Jericho was standing in the middle of the living room, straightening his tie, when I caught his attention; he turned to look at me. A smile played at the corner of his lips and I drew in a quick breath, caught off guard by how handsome he looked. He was wearing a black, double-breasted, tailored suit and his golden brown hair was slicked back, the product making it darker than usual.
"Don't you ever get tired of watching me walk down the stairs for these things?" I asked, playfully, realizing he was always in the living room whenever it was time to leave for these events.
"It's my cross to bear, I suppose," his eyes twinkled and he held out his elbow for me when I found the bottom step. "I thought you were going to try to blend in?"
I glanced down at my dress and swallowed nervously, "Do I look bad?"
"No, oh, no, that's not what I meant," Jericho stuttered nervously, before swinging me around to face him. "You.... you are.... You are making me nervous," he blushed deeply, never taking his eyes off of mine. "You're stunning, really," he smiled and I smiled back.
"Thank you," I whispered.
"Are we ready?" Avalon walked into the living room from the kitchen with Roxie on his arm. Avalon was wearing a deep blue suit without any tie and an unbuttoned jacket; he looked like he belonged in the rat pack. Roxie was the prettiest I had ever seen her, but she still hadn't lost her hard edge in a black halter top ball gown and her hair pulled back into a severe bun at the nape of her neck.
"Yes," I stated simply, allowing Jericho to lead me outside. Amory was driving separately and wouldn't be acknowledging us anyway, so we took Jericho's Jeep downtown and to the Immortal club, Kiran called his office.
Parking was crazy, black sedans and SUV's lined the streets on either side for blocks. I was more thankful for magic than ever, after walking the entire way from our parking spot to the club front door in tall stilettos and freezing cold, icy temperatures.
There was a doorman at the entrance to the club; it was the first time I had ever seen a Titan policing the doorway. Usually, the golden serpentine knockers were enough to identify magic and keep out those who didn't belong.
Avalon gave the Guard our names and he let us pass, eying us skeptically. We walked through the main corridor; the usual source of lighting had been turned off in the hallway and the candelabra lining the walls had been lit to compensate for light.
I couldn't shake the feeling I was walking through a haunted house. I could hear the music through the floor, it sounded like a full orchestra and hauntingly beautiful. I followed Avalon and Jericho down the hallway to another Titan, guarding the door to the stairwell. Avalon gave him our names again and the door was opened.