THE ROYAL BALL:Part Four

Elizabeth was beyond shocked at Crow's introduction of himself. He was smiling from ear to ear like he was a normal person. He was going to kill Eve with the curse and yet he acted so casually. But if they had Crow on their side as well then maybe they stood a chance against Bezel.

"And I am princess Eve Holt." Eve introduced herself as well.

"Now, who were you talking about earlier?" Crow asked.

"Prince Bezel. He wants to harm Ceaser." Elizabeth lied knowing that Crow would not help them if Eve was the one in danger.

"Lies." Crow said chuckling,"I hope you enjoy the ball to the fullest, princess, because he won't let you live too long."

Elizabeth frowned but then she started smiling.

"Won't you return the favor on Vernon?" she said trying to trap him,"A real gentleman would do so."

"I don't care about being a gentleman. I have always despised the princess so her death won't bother me or Ceaser."

He chuckled again and walked away from them. Elizabeth felt disappointed with him because she thought he was a good man. She watched his retreating figure and thought of ways she could get him to protect Eve so she could at least admire the man she loved.

They day went by quickly and soon the guests started arriving. A lot of people were excited because it wasn't everyday that commoners were invited to balls. They arrived dressed in their best clothes and with as much jewellery they could afford. Eve and Elizabeth had changed their gowns to match the festivity. Elizabeth wore a bright red gown while Eve chose a dark blue dress. They even wore gloves matching their gowns with only pendents around their necks. Most people would say that they looked cheap but they loved the simple look. Elizabeth didn't want to appear desperate by wearing heavy jewelry so the pendent was a good choice. She made a low bun to look a little bit more expensive and cultured like her mother. Eve tied her front hair with a band and made a loose braid while the back hair was left flowing. Elizabeth decorated Eve's hair with some white and blue flowers so she wouldn't look too plain.

The hallways were flooded with servants moving about to help the higher class members to get ready. Eve was sure that in this sea of bodies there was surely an assassin or two. After the assassination of King Solemn and sir Cornelius eleven years ago it was very possible that those people still wanted to leave the throne of Dreg empty.

As the two walked to the grand hall, the ran into Penelope and her twin sister Virginia, both dressed in black, yelling at a maid for not bowing when they were walking by.

"See, the black looks lovely but you just didn't want it." Elizabeth whispered to Eve half covering her face behind a hand fan.

"No one said they don't look like harlots." Eve whispered back.

"We'll argue later. I don't want to spoil my mood any further." Elizabeth said out loud.

Virginia glanced at them and whispered into her sister's ear. Penelope turned around to see Eve and Elizabeth walking by stiffly.

"You look like you stole something with that gait." Virginia commented.

"Zeth is in need of funds after all. Maybe they have stolen." Penelope said.

Eve chose to ignore there taunts but Elizabeth didn't want to let it slide. She glared at the two of them with her hands placed on her hips like she was preparing for a fight. She was about to speak when she spotted Crow coming in their direction. She chose to keep quiet in hopes that he might defend her.

"What is happening here?" he asked in his deep voice.

He swept his eyes on the twins and Eve but let his eyes rest on Elizabeth. Their eyes contact was short lived as he looked away and pushed the twins aside.

"You're blocking the way. If you have no plans of attending the ball like normal people, I'll be forced to label you all as assassins."

The twins gasped at this and shook their heads as if they had already been accused and were defending themselves.

"My apologies, milord. It was the fault of these barbarians here." Virginia said pointing at Eve and Elizabeth.

"Barbarians? In case you haven't looked in the mirror, you seem more fitting for that title because you are dressed like a lady of the night." Crow uttered with disgust.

Virginia was hurt by his words but said nothing and stormed away and her sister followed behind her. Crow scoffed at the two retreating figures and when he noticed that the servants were watching, he gave them a warning stare and they desipated like cockroaches running away from light in the middle of the night. He looked at Elizabeth who was smiling from ear to ear like an infatuated fool. His face showed contempt but his heart was a frenzy. She was smiling for him alone and that thought alone made him warm. She looked like an angel to him standing in the red dress. Her hair was tied into a bun at the base of her head making her look mature and a part of him wanted it to be let down.

"Thank you for your assistance, milord." she said bowing slightly.

"I wasn't assisting you. I was just expressing myself." he said walking away,"The royal family will be in the grand hall very soon so you best be there otherwise I'll chase you away like the insects that you are."

Elizabeth frowned at his last remarked but her frown quickly disappeared when she saw Eve. Eve was staring at Crow's back like she was about to use her ability on him.

"What are you doing?" she asked alarmed.

"Nothing. He was admiring you a while ago so I just got protective." Eve answered smiling at Elizabeth's puzzled face.

"Admiring me?" Elizabeth repeated as her eyes brightened up,"Really?"

Eve nodded making Elizabeth almost jump in celebration. When she calmed down, she straightened out her dress and back like a proper lady and walked gracefully ahead of Eve to the grand hall. When they entered, there was barely any space to maneuver through the crowd.

"I think I see mother over there." Eve said holding onto Elizabeth's hand.

"You really want to stand with your mother?" Elizabeth asked.

Before Eve could answer, a drunk man pushed her making her lose her grip on Elizabeth. She gasped and was about to fall when she was caught by Bezel. He smiled at her as he straightened her but he noticed that in place of her usual shy and fiesty demeanor, her eyes burned with disgust and fear.

"What's the matter, darling? Were you expecting someone else to hold you?" he asked squeezing her hand.

"You're hurting me." she hissed trying to loosen his grip on her.

His grip tightened on her and she grimaced in pain. The room fell silent and they both turned to look at the entrance of the hall. His hold on her suddenly became gentle because Ceaser was looking in their direction. Bezel slid his hand to her waist and pulled her closer possessively while he smiled at the prince. Ceaser's jaw clench and he looked away from them and walked silently to the front of the room with his enterage; Crow and the lycans. They were all dressed in black with their hair cut in the same fashion.

Eve's heart was racing in her chest; he looked far better than she had anticipated. She could tell that he was taller than Bezel at a glance and he was certainly better looking. His black hair was curly like Evirelda and the oil they had used to make it sleep was having no effect. Evirelda was walking next to him like she was a maiden been married off. She wore a bright red gown and long gloves like she was a queen and it suited her. When they reached the podium in front where their seats where, the guests bowed; the commoners deeper than the royals and nobles.

Julius stood from his seat with a wine glass in his hand and a fork in the other to make a toast. He raised the chalice in front of him and those in the crowd with glasses did the same.

"Thank you all for coming to this joyous occasion! Tonight let us forget our worries and our grudges and hate! Let us drink and be merry! To unity!" Julius said smiling.

"To unity!" the crowd shouted back.

They gulped down their wines and beers and the music started. Some of the people who were already drunk started shouting and dancing uncontrollably which disgusted many of the higher class people.

"This is why the rich and the poor don't interact in this manner." A man whispered to his wife close to Eve and Bezel.

His wife scoffed and they went to stand in a corner were other wealthy people stood.