THE CEREMONY

Jade was walking beside Hazel at an orderly pace, while holding her elbow, so she wouldn't trip over her own long white gown, the train of which was now being held by both Mary and Ann.

Slightly behind her, was Sullivan, wearing a gray dress, the same color as what Mary and Ann were wearing, while Jade was wearing dark blue.

Jade gave Hazel a beautiful white stick with a white ribbon neatly wrapped around it. It was about only an arm's length and was slim enough for Hazel to carry it with one hand, while her other hand was holding up a goblet of red liquid, which she thought was blood at first glance and it made her frown.

But later on, Jade told her it was just red wine.

All the guards along the hallway and all the guests behind them, were staring at Hazel intensely. Very intense, that it made her hunch her shoulders and lower her head, but Jade came and reminded her to not do that, and that she needed to pay attention to the way she carried herself.