Fading Into Darkness: The Under Series Book 2 (33 page)

The morning of the engagement party arrived. I woke up in Senka's bed alone. He'd been gone all
night with work. I still hadn't asked him what it was he did exactly. But we would have plenty of
time in the future together and I would eventually ask. I left the comfort of Senka's bed and went
back downstairs. The manor was buzzing with activity and servants were rushing everywhere.
As I was walking to my bedroom a brown rat ran in front of me. I stopped and lifted my foot up
instinctively. I looked around and saw Maite. I had forgotten she was staying on this level, her
bedroom was only seven doors down from mine. She drifted towards me as though she was on a
hoverboard. I wanted to ask her about it, but I didn't. I was scared of what she would say. She might
not even have legs under her dress for all I knew, the very thought of it made my skin crawl. She
was such a sight, beautiful yet ugly at the same time.
She stopped in front of me and Sesel disappeared under the edge of her dress.
“Do you know what you are wearing tonight?” she asked.
I hadn't even thought about. Neither had anyone else. Everyone was so busy preparing for tonight,
none of the servants had even spoken to me about what I was wearing. I had no idea.
“I don't know.” I answered.
“Well we'll see what we can do. Follow me.”
I followed behind her watching the edge of her dress as it dragged along the floor, wondering where
Sesel was under all the netting and fabric.
The sewing room was exactly the same, nothing had changed since the last time I'd been in there.
I watched as she picked up fabrics and laid them on the table rolling them out.
“The theme is autumn with lots of browns and golds, glittery leaves and what not. Have you seen
the ballroom?”
“No I haven't been down there. I'll see it tonight.”
“Hmm,” She held up a tape measure and measured me at all different angles.
“I don't think we have time to make a new dress? Maybe we could alter a different one. I have
hundreds in my closet.”
“No I have the perfect dress in mind for you.”
She held up fabrics against my skin muttering words that were not English. I stood like a statue and
let her do as she pleased. That and I was a tiny bit scared of her.
“How did you know all that stuff about me? Before when you'd just arrived, how did you know
anything about me?”
“When one sleeps I can see inside their very soul. Their desires their fears. It's similar to reading an
aura but with more details.”
“So it's your ability to be able to see inside people?”
“
One
of my gifts, yes.” she said arranging the fabrics on the table.
“So why did you decide not to take my memories like Cam wanted?”
“Your destiny is not to forget your past Ruby Summers, it is to live your future.”
I had no idea what she meant, whether it had some hidden meaning behind it or not. But I smiled
politely anyway.
“Thank you.”
“You can thank me later. You can leave now.” she said looking up and down the racks.
“Don't you need my help?” I asked.
“It is not necessary.”
I left Maite alone. I was unsure she would finish the dress by sunset, probably not. Not unless she
had a load of tiny mice and bird friends to help. I browsed my clothing rails and picked out two
dresses just encase. One was a deep purple which I could alter at last minute if necessary and the
other was a nasty brown, I disliked it but it would go with the décor if the ballroom was decked out
in browns and golds. Maybe I could wear it and blend in with the decorations.
Fat chance!
Guests started arriving late afternoon. Voices and laughter filled the hallways. I stayed hidden in the
safety of my bedroom scared to go outside.
There was no dinner planned for tonight as we were going to be eating around 9pm with everyone
else. Apparently parties went on well into the night here. It was 5.30pm and Cam wanted me
downstairs at 6.30pm. I'd had a bath and changed into my underwear with a loose vest on top.
Inside the manor felt warm so I didn't want to get all dressed up yet. There was a knock at my door
and my heart skipped a beat. I knew it was Senka, he said he would drop by after work. He wasn't
coming to the party but he said he would wait upstairs for me. I opened the door just enough so I
could peak out. It was Maite, I felt disappointed on the inside but on the outside my eyes lit up with
excitement. I ushered her inside and she laid the dress on the bed. I stood staring at it awestruck.
It was the most beautiful dress I had ever seen. She had chosen gold for the main colour, with a
gorgeous glittery overlay. The top half had small spaghetti straps that were attached to see through
draping sleeves that reminded me of kimono sleeves. Down the front there was a trail of ivy leaves
that looked real but they were gold instead of green. The dress sprayed out similar to Maite's. It had
a puffy appearance at the bottom but not over the top, it was just the right amount of puffiness with
a trail effect at the back and a gold ribbon tied at the waist to finish it off.
“What do you think? I didn't have very long to do what I originally wanted. I'm not sure.” she said
holding the fabric up.
“Um...what are you talking about? This is amazing. How did you do this in such a short time?”
Her lips curved up at the sides. “I had help.” she said stroking Sesel.
I hadn't seen where she had pulled him from, but he now sat on her palm sniffing the air. The image
of Sesel holding a pair of scissors in his tiny paws cutting fabric popped into my head. But I shook
it away that was just crazy. Rats couldn't use scissors. Could they?
She left me to change and I waited nervously for Senka but the hour passed by without any sign of
him. I stood on my balcony watching strangers as they strolled around the gardens. I felt a wave of
disappointment. I so wanted to see him before I went downstairs. I needed to see him. Tonight was
going to be so scary, I was not looking forward to it. He didn't want to be down there but I really
wanted him with me. I knew we wouldn't be able to hold hands or any other affectionate displays in
public, Cam had made that clear. It was alright when we were alone or not surrounded by a hundred
of Cam's family members. I knew if Senka was down there somewhere I wouldn't feel as nervous
and frightened by all the different strangers wanting to talk to me, I would fell better just knowing
he was around, but he didn't want to go and I understood why. He still wasn't happy about the whole
thing.
There was a loud knock at the door. I rushed over trying to be as careful as possible in my dress. I
opened the door excitedly, expecting to see Senka, but couldn't help the obvious pout I pulled when
I saw it wasn't him.
“Expecting someone else?” Kenzie asked.
“Sorry he said he was coming to see me before the party.”
“Maybe he got caught up with something?”
“Maybe.”
Kenzie was smiling at me waiting for me to notice how nicely he was dressed.
He wore a light blue tuxedo jacket with a black trim and pants. He had opted for a black tie with
skulls on instead of a bow tie.
I noticed his shoes and started laughing. “Only you cold pull that off.” I said looking back down at
his burgundy sneakers with black laces.
“They're the most formal looking shoes I have.” he grinned.
He had ditched his usual cap and his hair was straight missing his normal wave. It looked as though
he had straightened it. He smoothed it down waiting for my approval.
“It's very nice.” I said.
“You look awesome by the way.” he said touching one of the gold ivy leaves on my dress.
“Maite made it for me.”
“Wow! Who knew she doubled as a dressmaker. I wouldn't have guessed she made this. You have
seen the tatty Gothic thing she has hanging off her bones?”
“She has her own style. I think it suits her.”
“Yes if you like that creepy black widow look,” he chuckled. “You ready madame?”
He smiled and held out his arm for me. I linked mine in his and we made our way downstairs. My
dress trailed slightly behind me but not too far, it wasn't enough to trip over. Thankfully.
I had spent most of my time hiding in my bedroom that I had missed all the decorations going up in
the corridors.
The corridors had been decorated with autumn leaves and gold sashes hung from the ceilings. The
lights had been covered to give of a dim glow. It was beautiful and this was only the corridors, I was
interested to see what had been done to the ballroom. People were coming and going from their
rooms, all wearing over the top dresses and formal wear.
I clung to Kenzie.
“Relax. You're making me nervous.” he said.
“Sorry. I can't help it. How many people are downstairs?”
“I stopped counting after three hundred.”
“What!”
“Ruby...breath!”
I took a deep breath as we approached the stairs. I held onto the railing with one hand and lifted my
dress at the front so I wouldn't stand on it.
“Whoa! What are those?” Kenzie asked lifting my dress higher to get a better look.
“Nothing get back up here.” I said smacking his hand away.
“I'm not the only one then.” he said eyeing my hi-tops.
“Look I'm no good in heels and no one will even notice when my dress is down. There was no way
I was descending these stairs in heels. I would have ended up rolling into the ballroom. Plus if I'm
going to be standing for a long lime I want to be comfortable.”
As we approached the open double doors my legs began to shake and my heart felt like it was going
to hammer its way out of my ribcage. Kenzie looked sideways at me.
“What?” I asked.
Cam had told me that death trackers can hear a persons heartbeat. It probably explained the reason
Kenzie was looking at me with so much concern.
“I'm going to be with you the whole time. Wherever you are I will only be a few steps away.” he
said.
I nodded trying to steady my breathing. I could already hear guests walking up behind us.
We stopped at the open doors and I peeked inside. I looked around completely amazed.
“Wow! This is...this is incredible.” I said walking further inside.
The room was decked out the same as the corridors but on a much larger scale. Glittery gold and
white balloons floated around and there was a strange fog covering the floor.
All I wanted to know was how the servants had reached the ceilings to hang the drapes?
Kenzie stood next to me admiring the ballroom.
“You think this is good, you wait until you see the way they deck it out for the winter ball.”
“Where are we going to eat?” I asked wondering where the dinner tables were.
“Well normally they open the side rooms,” he said.
The side rooms he was referring to were the two large empty halls adjoining to the ballroom. I had
always wondered what they were for.
“But tonight we're eating outside.” he added pointing at the side door that led outside.
“What on picnic blankets?” I asked.
He laughed. “No dinner tables.”
“How many are out there?”
“Erm...I'm gonna take a guess and say too many to count.”
As I looked around still taking it all in. Someone leaned over my shoulder and kissed me on the side
of my face without warning. The deep rose scent quickly gave him away.
I looked over my shoulder at Cam. He was grinning at me with his hands shoved in his pockets. He
was dressed in an old fashioned suit jacket with tails. It wasn't grey or black like I expected a suit to
be though. It was gold. He wore a black shirt with a black tie underneath, black trousers and a gold
top hat finished of with gold shoes that sparkled.
Gold shoes?
“Who are you supposed to be
Willy Wonka
or the
Mad Hatter
?” I asked not being able to contain
my laugher, even Kenzie chuckled.
Cam looked down at himself and smoothed his tie down. He looked hurt by my comment and I
suddenly felt guilty for upsetting him.
“It was a joke Cam. You look really nice. Where did you get the shoes? Did you pull them from
your magic hat?” Cam shot me a dead eye look. “Sorry. I couldn't help it.” I said.
“Well you scrub up well.” Cam said admiring my outfit. His eyes started at the bottom of my dress
and slowly made their way up, taking in my every curve.
“Very well.” Kenzie chimed in.
“What do you think?” Cam asked looking around at the ballroom.
“It's great.” I answered.
“The balloons were Kenzie's idea. We don't normally but he thought you'd like it.”
“They look great.” I smiled at Kenzie.
“Do you know where Senka is? He said he would come and see me before the party.” I asked Cam.
Cam shrugged. “I don't keep tabs on my employees. But he finished work at five it that helps.” Cam
said with a hint of a sneer in his voice.
If Senka finished at five then why hadn't he stopped by to see me? I could feel my face drooping
with disappointment. Kenzie hung his arm around my shoulder and lightly pinched my side to
distract me. Cam lightly took my elbow and led me back, I looked down and frowned but still let
him lead me back to the doors.
“Cam,” I whispered as a few guests started spilling through the doors. “Cam,” I said louder.
“Yes,” he said looking back at me.
“I signed the contract. You said as soon as I'd signed it you'd let Jessie go.”
“And I did.”
“What? Wait stop,” I said pulling him back a step. “He's out?” I asked.
“Yes like I said.”
“So where is he?”
“How should I know? I had one of my guys dump him in HP. He's free as per our arrangement. I let
him go as soon as you gave me the contract back.”
“Well is he okay?” Cam shrugged. “Cam I need proof.”
“Can't you just take my word as proof?”
“No. Your word means nothing to me. I still don't know if I can trust you or whether you're still
planning something to do to me behind my back.”
“Ruby, I said I would let him go after you signed it, which is exactly what I did. You can ask
Roman, he's the one I sent down to retrieve him.”
“But I wanted to see him before you sent him back, just to make sure he was okay.”
“Sorry, it's too late now. He's probably long gone. Apparently he was a little grouchy when Roman
dropped him off. Now we have guests to greet and you have to smile and play nice.”
“Not until I know he's okay.”
“What is it with you and fallen? If I grew a pair of wings and cut them off would you fall for me as
well?”
“Cam,” I said louder than necessary.
A few of the guests were looking our way having noticed our heated discussion.
“Look I held up my end of the deal, now it's your turn.” he said in a hushed tone.
I gritted my teeth and let Cam walk me back to the doors. I stood back and watched as unfamiliar
faces walked through all admiring the ballroom in awe.