Day of the ball

Elaina opened the door to her room and her shoulders drooped the moment she noticed the mess in her room. She regretted her life actions so much right now. She sighed then went to her bed, dropping her bag that contained what she bought on her bed then brought out her dress

She held her beautiful dress in front of her, she was going to be in it in less than two days. She was so excited, she couldn't wait. After returning the dress to the bag, Elaina lay on her bed with a thump.

Her thoughts traveled back to the shopping district where she had felt that strange feeling. "What was that?" she said aloud. She had thought about it on their way home but she couldn't think of anything.

Well, there was no use thinking about it, pushing the matter to the back of her mind, she sat up and brought the stilettos out of the bag. She placed them on the floor and put her feet in them.

After fixing the straps she stood up and took two steps. It was time to practice her walking so silly accidents won't happen. Mr. Leighton had called her a natural but she didn't think she could last the whole night in them.

With that thought, Elaina walked out of her room to the room opposite hers. She knocked a few times and when Alex came out, she took his hand.

"Come with me," she said before dragging him out of his room.

°°°

Elaina stood at the top of the stairs while Alex stood at the foot.

"Why do I have to do this with you?" he asked with a small frown on his face.

"You're my support, just in case I trip. You don't want to see me rolling down the stairs, do you?" Elaina placed her hand on her waist and asked.

"As hilarious as that would be, I don't want to listen to your whining after," stated Alex. His eyes traveled up and down, taking note of her look before he chuckled, "You look funny," Her shorts and stilettos didn't exactly fit.

"How I look doesn't matter right now, Alex," Elaina rolled her eyes, "Just be ready to catch me," she said, before walking slowly down the stairs.

"How is my walk?" she asked him as she walked down.

"Like a duck," answered Alex.

"Comments like that would just make us spend more time here you know," Elaina stated as she got to the foot of the stairs.

"They say the truth is bitter," he shrugged which earned him a light punch from her.

"You have no joy, Alex," she rolled her eyes.

"Why are you even doing this?" Alex asked as he watched her go up the stairs again.

"To see how long I can last in the shoes. How many times do you need me to say it?" Elaina sighed tiredly. That was the third time she was telling him now.

"I know, but why on the stairs?"

"It'll increase my endurance and who knows we might walk on stairs at the ball. I have to look like a pro,"

"Just go for flat shoes then,"

"Oh, Alex, you can't understand," she shook her head as she walked down the stairs again.

°°°

Elaina practiced day and night -well not exactly- for the ball and soon it was the night of the awaited day.

She stood in front of the mirror unable to recognize herself. Her mom had helped her to style her hair, it was a simple style where her hair was let down with two cute braids at the sides that were used to hold her hair at the back.

Her jewelry wasn't that extravagant too, just a pair of pearl studs and her necklace. A gift from her father. The necklace had been with her since her childhood but it still shone like a brand new one. She played with the red pendant of the necklace and hoped her father would be at the ball.

Elaina picked up the case of her contacts from the table. The contacts were of two different colors, one was a darker shade of brown that looked almost black while the other was light brown. She wore the darker one on her right eye and the lighter on her left and when she was done, the colors were both light brown. Though the right was a bit lighter than the left.

Elaina stared at her eyes in the mirror, doubt ensuing in her heart. She didn't think it was entirely safe to go without her glasses but her mother had chosen them herself so it'll be fine.

After taking one last look at herself and confirming that her hair covered the back of her dress properly, she stepped out of her room.

As she stepped out of her room, Alex also came out of his room in his black suit. He froze for a second when he saw her, she looked amazing.

"You look good," he complimented.

"Thanks. You look good too," she complimented him back. Nothing about him changed, his hair fell on his forehead like always and his dull grey eyes looked the same, but the suit made him look a ton more handsome.

"As expected," Alex stated with a slight brush on his hair.

"I wish I didn't speak," Elaina muttered as they walked through the hallway which made Alex chuckle.

"Anyways wait here," she held his arm when they got to the top of the stairs to stop him from going down.

"Watch me walk down," she told him excitedly before she started walking down the stairs. Alexander just rolled his eyes and he watched her walk down the stairs. Her practice paid off, she looked gorgeous.

"So, how was it?" Elaina asked him with hope in her eyes when she got to the foot of the stairs.

"Good," Alex placed his hands in his pocket and walked down the stairs, "Your practice wasn't a waste of time after all,"

"Hard work pays off, Alex," Elaina said with a triumphant smile. They went to the sitting room and sat down waiting for their mother to come out.

Elaina checked the time on the wall clock. It was five minutes past eleven. The midnight ball would begin by midnight so they still had enough time to get to the venue.

They heard footsteps coming from the hallway and down the stairs and Elaina stared at her mother in awe as she walked down the stairs. She looked like a freaking model!

"You look amazing, Mum," Elaina complimented her when she came to the sitting room. "Mr. Leighton won't be able to take his eyes off you," she giggled.

The thought of him left a bitter taste in her mouth, "Let's just hope he doesn't attend the ball," Mya stated with a frown.

"You guys look amazing," she smiled, "Are we ready to go?" she asked and they both nodded.

"Okay, let's go," she said to them.

They stepped outside to meet a black luxury car parked outside their front porch. "Courtesy of your father," Mya said to them.

The driver standing in front of the car bowed slightly and said,

"Good evening, I am here to drive you to the Quinn castle for the midnight ball. Please," he opened the passenger seat door for them.

Elaina walked to the car and entered inside after Alex. She wasn't that surprised at the car since this wasn't the first time her dad had sent one. He wasn't always around but he made sure that his presence was always felt materially.

°°°

Elaina's excitement increased as they got closer to the castle gates. She couldn't wait to be out and in the crowd.

They soon passed through the giant gates and entered the lovely estate. Tall trees that had been decorated with lights lined the road leading to the castle which they could see from afar. Then the castle finally came into view.

"It's huge," Elaina stated in awe. She was sure the castle was as large as the shopping district. The castle was surrounded by gardens filled with various plants and fountains that gave it a feeling one would liken to heaven.

"Your mask," Alexander reminded Elaina who was busy sightseeing. He had already worn his black mask with intricate gold designs that lined the edges of the mask.

"Oh," she quickly wore her mask and tied it behind her head. Her mask was a black mask that had similar purple patterns with her dress lined on the left side of the mask while the right side had a butterfly wing.

The car soon stopped in front of the open doors of the castle and the passenger doors were opened by the servants who helped Elaina smoothen out her gown after they got down.

"Let's go," Mya said to them and they walked up the stairs leading to the castle.