Unknown company

It was the day of the baby shower. They were throwing a grand party that Anais had no interest in. So, she hid in her room and continued to write in her journal. It had been a long time since she recorded the events.

But eventually the long waited knock came and she had to go down to help her mother. She wore a dark red form-fitting strapless evening gown that complimented her figure and let her hair loose, the long dark waves cascading down her back.

Ana is was not what one would call beautiful. She was exotic at best not that anyone complimented her. The best compliment she got was that she was fashionable.

Her darker skin tone was not favourable by most people. She had blue eyes and black hair and a nose slightly larger than it was preferable.

As she descended the stairs, she noticed her mother instructing the maids and butlers alike, urging them to hurry up. The hallway was still empty but some guests started to fill in.

When the woman saw her eldest daughter coming down, she immediately put the spoiled lady to her task at the front door. By God, the daughters of hers were a useless lot.

That's how Anais found herself burdened with work when she would rather be writing holed in her room or better read a book. As she welcomed the plethora of guests and received their many gifts, she felt a prickling sensation as if she was being watched. Turning around she found that there were a lot of people littering the grand hall and a lot of them were in fact watching her. But she couldn't explain the prickling sensation she felt. She turned back and frowned at the floor. The butlers were ushering the guest inside. And Froote noticed her looking down.

"Young miss, are you doing alright?" He inquired with worry itched all over his whole face.

Anais smothered her frown and looked up with a confused smile.

"Yeah, of course, What is there for me to worry about on such a fine evening" Her eyes flickered from one guest to another.

Froote missing nothing asked again

"Is something the matter?"

"Everything is fine, Froote"

Froote clearly didn't believe her with the doubtful look he was giving her. He knew her too well. But he gave up and went to tend to the guest who was with him with a promise to return again to check on her to see if she was really doing alright. 'Blast it all, Froote'

She looked up to see her half-sister had come down while the second daughter of the household was still nowhere to be found. Probably weeping that she didn't get a baby shower as the second daughter while the 4th member of the family got it as a boy.

Irvine however looked glum. But again Irvine always looked to be so. The ever unflappable Irvine. Well, she could do with a bit of a chore.

"Irvine, over here sister"

Irvine looked suspiciously at Anais but she quietly came over as she was requested. Her feet silently dragged under her night blue gown which complimented her snow white skin. Thick black lashes over a pair of black eyes and short dark hair. Irvine might just be the most beautiful daughter of the rich household.

Anais didn't mind that she was only her half sister. After all, only three people in the world knew that Irvine was not a legitimate daughter of the household. Anais saw her as a whole sister and treated her as so. As in she too got the work of the eldest sister handed to her. So, when Irvine finally reached her, she assigned her the task of handling the guest like one. Irvine with her silent nature merely nodded at whatever she was told to do. She preferred to be invisible. But it was quite hard to be so when one might be the most gorgeous lady around.

Anais meant to slip away to meet her lover but she found an empty table and sat down instead. Only God knows what possessed her mother to host a ball for a baby shower. She saw that Irvine was doing a good enough job. Though she was still awkward with the guest she responded and nodded to everyone courteously. Good, this chore will do her some good if she was going to live this life. She needed adjusting. Froote came to check on her and after reassuring him that she was in fact doing ok, she sent him on his way.

He had asked her if she needed anything. She said no. For some reason, it felt weird to order him around when she knew him since childhood. She ordered a cold drink and a couple of bread and cheese when she spotted a younger butler. Halfway through her eating, a young man took the sit before her.

"Mind if I take some?" He gestured to the leftover bread and cheese as if they were good food and not her half eaten shit.

"No?" Anais lifted an eyebrow and leaned forward to study him but went back to chewing as if the idea of this man wanting to eat the leftovers was ridiculous as if the idea of him tasted bitter. She leaned forward as if to study him but went back to chewing dismissing the man sitting in front of her.

The man ignoring the dismissal took what was left and started to chomp it down.

She just gave him a weird look but didn't say anything besides eating her portion.

She called a passing butler and told the butler to bring some more since the man before her decided to eat out of her plate.

Soft music continued to play as the ballroom filled with people who began to dance while they both continued to eat delightfully. Anais finished first and she watched him eat. She needed blood soon. It has almost been two weeks since she last feed. When the man was done, he wiped his mouth with a napkin and smiled brightly.

"Would you care for a dance?" The man asked. She decided it couldn't hurt

"If you would let me feed on you, sure" He frowned suddenly looking uncomfortable.

"Well, I've already given my blood twice this week. But surely I can find you somebody else?"

'Something about this man was off' Anais thought. Later she will realize what it was but it will be too late.

Even though she agreed to this dance, her mind was on somebody else. She had offered her hand for him to take and as she expected he had grabbed it and led her to the ball.

'The man didn't know how to lead' was her first thought. Forget leading, he didn't know his own feet. They didn't waltz, just slow dancing. Yet the man continued to step on her toes. So, she told him to take her lead. She tried to make small talk as her eyes continued to search for the one, Lucille.

"Sorry I didn't catch your name, sir" Her eyes returned to the guy briefly before glancing away from his blue eyes and stubbled jaw as he looked up from his feet.

'He wasn't from the Grayol' she thought 'Or else he would know how to dance' Everybody knew how to waltz in the Grayol. She wondered where her male lover was.

"Oh well, it's Marcel" 'definitely not high society' Anais was right. 'But then how was he let into the party?'

"Mind if I borrow her?" An all too familiar voice washed over her.