My violin in the corner of my room called my name in whispers as I took my first stance. "Who gave you permission to enter my room?"
"Come now, Morana. Enough with the seriousness, we're friends." He moved onto his stomach and relaxed.
"You're going to make my bed filthy—" That was a lie, his shoes had no evidence of dirt on it. "Who let you into my room?" I asked again, stepping closer and staring him down.
He huffed and gracefully slid off the bed. "Your maids of course. I am here to make you the most beautiful specimen at the ball. And trust me, someone else I know would have loved to be here more than me. He, however, does not have my gifts." My mind whirled with questions of who this someone else was. A pair of green eyes flashed into my mind.
"Diavelo..."The shadows inside me hummed.
"Enough with the theatrics, Lorian. What are you here for?" I did not trust him, not that my trust came easily anyway.
He sighed and cocked his head to the side. "Spending time with the Apollons has made you a brute. I am here to dress you for the ball. You need to look fit to play the part, I am sure you have received looks from many in this backward land that show they do not think you worthy of anything other than a maiden to bed, less a warrior for that matter.”
I bit my cheek. He was spot on and yet I was stubborn. "I do not require your services. I do not trust you or your kind who’s already stolen from me and deceived me," I spat, going to the closet in the room and throwing it open. Rummaging through the items of clothing that could be worthy to wear to a ball. Lorian looked at the clothes I had thrown on the floor in revulsion.
"I do not account for anything that was stolen by my family, still I do apologise for deceiving you the first time we met. I had been ordered to glamour my aura, however me being what I am—" he touched the tip of his pointed ear, "—does not make me different from the person you met the first time." His voice was gentle and his eyes looked deep into mine. It caused an aching memory to resurface that had me pushing it away in an instant. I remained quiet. "Oh the under gods be damned. These Apollonclothes are hideous and the stitching! A blind blue ape could do a better job than this." He was already stepping around me and that's when I noticed a long zipped bag.
"I don't want your stuff, Lorian," I growled lowly.
"Well at least have a look at it then if you are so certain." He sounded smug and the look increased a tenfold when he saw my reaction to the item. I dropped the clothes from my hand and stilled. My heart skipped a beat and the little girl that had become silent in my mind awoke from her slumber
"That's... that, it can't..." I was incoherent in my words and yet Lorian had a hidden gleam behind his eyes.
"Alluring... isn't it?" he coolly said.Alluring was an understatement.
"You must want me dead. That that type of clothing is forbidden in Apollo," I spat in disgust and turned around, clenching and unclenching my fist, doing my utter best to control my breathing.
"You mean Duvessan? It's practical, stunning, and lethal. Fit for a warrior. The Apollons have copied much from other cultures, I doubt they'd care for the ethnicity of this. Except of course if they would request the same type to be made for them." My heart pounded. "The king would not care for it, from the paintings I've seen, the late queen used to wear clothes like this quite often," he reassured and then continued, "I never thought it would be an issue since you are Duvess—"
"I. Am. Not. Anything," I snapped and took a step forward to him. My shadows hackled inside me in defence and were getting ready to strike. Lorian eyed me in a calculating way, the room temperature dropping a tenfold. Me fighting a demon was not part of today's agenda. I bit the inside of my cheek hard and then sighed. "Let's get the damned thing on." The temperature of the room had gone back to its normal heat wave state and Lorian, the abominable demon, smiled in victory.
"Who taught you to create clothes likethis?"I asked while he got to work. I lifted my rumpled tunic above my head, trying to steady my trembling hands.
"I am well versed in the Duvessan history. It... perked my interest."
I snorted at his statement. "A lot of things seem to perk your interest."
"I swear, you're just like Sirithian," he muttered to himself while holding a pin in his mouth. I didn't show that the name made me curious and neither did I ask who it was.
***
Lorian had debated with the maids on the style of which my hair needed to be. He did not win it unfortunately as the decision was left up to me. "Hair let down or up?" They had looked at me expectantly and I gave them the simplest answer.
"Up and slicked back. I do not need my hair in the way." Lorian had thrown his hands up in frustration and then assessed me once the maids had done exactly what I had asked and more by placing a golden armoured accessory on my head that had a wing on either side. "What do you think?" I asked tensely. Lorian's gaze was proud and satisfied.
"Why don't you look for yourself?" He nudged me toward the mirror stationed by my closet. I let out a shattered breath when I stepped up and looked upon someone that almost seemed unfamiliar. It was gold. A molten silk gold that seemed to glide on my tan skin. The clothing was made in two pieces, the top being tightly woven around my breasts, making my cleavage look scandalous yet the support provided was firm and kept me together. The bottom was a lengthy skirt that flowed behind me, slit twice in the front all the way to my upper thigh. There were swirls of gold sequins that were woven in the pattern ofthe old language. I swallowed as Lorian tipped and swirled my fire blades. Attaching them to my thighs and I scowled when he patted me in light smacks to ensure they were perfectly secured. He raised his arms up in defence and proceeded to tie up the golden laces on my heels that had attachments for my blades. I adjusted the golden ringlets on my arm that jingled with each move. I looked in the mirror once again. The shadows in my mind growled in approval.
Like a walking weapon...
"Like a goddess of war," Lorian affirmed. He gave a slow smirk. "I’ll see you at the ball.”
"Lorian." He stopped before he exited the door. "Thank you," I whispered, and looked at him through my mirror.
He gave a nod and said, "Anytime, Princess." And with a burst of a wind, he was gone. My eyes caught the gleaming case of my violin that seemed to call my name in hushed whispers. I shook my head to get the dark persuasion out of my mind and turned to the door about to leave when ever so slightly, so very lightly, I saw a jewel from my dresser move.
I wasn't alone...
I slipped a pin from my hair and struck with force. A sharp hiss was let out and I almost couldn't believe my eyes. I rushed to the blue-black scales and golden reptilian eyes that looked to me with disapproval. "Rhey!" I half laughed and half sobbed. I gathered him immediately in my arms and he increased his size, making his embrace much heavier. "I could have killed you! What are you doing sneaking around here like a little thief?" The ragnor serpent simply looked at me lovingly, as if he could do no wrong. My chest bubbled with excitement and happiness. Was I dreaming? I quivered and yet remained smiling even though tears threatened to spill. "I almost thought I'd never see you again." The only thing Rhey did was nuzzle his head againstmy neck. I moved him around and began asking an array of questions.
