Chapter Seven

Two weeks after I met Erlking had passed and I had grown accustomed to this strange and horrible world, perhaps it was the fear for my family lives that caused me to tolerate it here and be a good girl. Finally after almost an entire month of being in this world I was finally excited about something.

I was getting ready for my very first party. 'A celebration for me returning back home,' he had put it. And that party that he was holding for me, felt so wrong, and yet I was intrigued to the point I gave up escaping long enough to enjoy. Tricia, my maid who became more of a close friend to me, had told me it was a debut into their society, one where I will be formally named princess and that both Courts and all of their nobles would be attending. The downside of such a party was the small possibility of me getting asked for my hand in marriage. She mentioned that it would be common practice for such an event to happen, but usually, the mother would plan such things but "mine" was gone, it would less likely take place without my fathers, who was Erlking, permission. And for that possibility I was secretly planning an escape if that occasion should arise. But I wasn't sure if I would risk my family's life just for the fact that I didn't want to get married to a complete stranger.

Over the course of time this place was beginning to spark a small amount of admiration in me. Back at home, I was plain and no one besides my family paid me attention, if even that. My father even left us when I was small, because he thought there was something wrong with me, and my step-dad, even though he is a great man, forgets that I even existed. But here, in this place I was royalty and I got the full on princess treatment. And it excited me, to the point I didn't want to escape and I wanted to stay here; but I knew that was wrong, that I didn't belong here. And I knew that it was pointless to escape, I didn't know the way home, I wanted to try to go home if I could. But one single thought seems to float in the back of my mind, if I escaped my family would pay.

But I also feared that the longer I was here, the more likely my family thought I was dead, and what would happen if I showed back up in front of them? I closed my eyes and pushed those thoughts away. Since I stepped into this world so much has changed.

I sat in my undergarments in front of a mirror which was trimmed with gold. Tricia stood behind me as she was combing and curling the baby fine blonde hair. I trusted Tricia with my hair and picking out my dress every day. The dress that Lady Arachne had so kindly prepared me. Lady Arachne was a very odd and terrifying lady, she had the head of a woman and a body of a large black widow spider. She even had eight eight eyes, and even though she was very nice, she creeped me out more than Erlking did. Spiders in general creeped me out, normally I would squish a spider I see but Lady Arachne was too big for that. She and Tricia had a keen eye to fashion, so I trusted them fully with the clothes that I wore. And even though I felt horrible about it Tricia always seemed so happy to pick out the dresses that Lady Arachne had made. A few days back, I watched her snap at another maid who tried to pick a dress out for me, she was so mean to the maid about it that I thought the maid would cry. I even had to send the other maid to the kitchen so Tricia wouldn't make her cry.

"When you meet a King or even a queen," she spoke as she combed my hair, splitting it into another section and curling that part too. Her voice was quiet as usual, she was known for loud words. "Always curtsy to them, for it will bring your father dishonor if you offend them." I scrunch my nose in distaste, I hated that everyone I met referred to that thing as my father when he was not even my father. Nor would he ever be, Tricia ignored that and continued talking. "But a Duke or guard -"

"I know Tricia, don't be curtsying to them for they are below me." I watched her nod in approval, she constantly drilled that in my head in the days leading to this. I sighed, I wished and prayed that this was a bad dream. But the more days dragged on, the more I came to realize that this was reality. "You have told me that so many times that I can't possibly forget it." I sighed again, sometimes she sounded like a broken record.

"That's another thing, Princess," she parted the back of my hair and braided that part up before twisting it into a bun. "Don't sigh, or mumble, or make any side comments. It's unladylike, also if a lord or Unseelie King asks you to dance, don't turn them down simply place it on your dance card and dance with them when their turn comes. Small trivial things such as that could start wars."

"Oh okay." I looked down at my hands, but she soon yanked my head up by my hair and I winced. The rules here were so long and completely dumb. Littlest things can start wars, or cause you to be executed even. This was true hell, but I obeyed because I happened to like being alive and I liked my family living too. Tricia finished with my hair and I stared in the mirror. And although I must say I looked to play the part they gave me, I noticed that each day that passes a part of my face that I once knew begins to disappear, and replace with a new one. "Damn, Tricia, you're so talented." She gave me a small smile.

"Don't flatter me, won't get you nowhere." She pinched my cheek and I laughed. "And one more thing, be careful around the Dragon." She took some curled hair that framed my face and curled them around her fingers some more, obediently they made a tighter curl and fell back into place.

"The Dragon?" I puzzled her as I watched her open the jewelry box that sat on the vanity. She dug through it, picking some matching jewels and then dropping them back down before looking at more.

"He is the most evil King to ever live, the King of Darkness, the Unseelie king as most call him. And the last of the Dragonkind. He cares not for anything. Can careless of who he kills, killing is simply a mere sport to him." Her voiced quiver, as if just talking about him made her so afraid. "Stay clear of him, forgiven the chance he will kill you faster than you can blink. That is if he decides to come tonight."

"O-okay." She stared blankly at the mirror and I shivered, goosebumps formed on my arms. The Unseelie King sounds downright dreadful, and from the way she spoke, it was right and smart to fear him. But I couldn't help but feel sorry for the guy, thinking that maybe he was simply misunderstood. But I didn't want to find out if that was true or not. She looked away from me in the mirror and began to comb through the decorative box again.

"Remember the dance moves that the honorable Sir Easton had taught you." While I have been here, Easton has been my teacher. He taught me things like how to dance, how to hold a fork properly, even though I have been using a fork since I can remember so it was simply an annoying endeavor. It wasn't just that he even taught me to curtsy properly, which is a lot harder than the movies make it out to be. Although it was a quiet event, because he didn't really talk much so I don't know how well I will do and if he did talk he spoke so quietly I almost needed a hearing aid to even hear him. But besides that, I thought he was an excellent teacher.

Another maid walked in, one I didn't recognize, she was shy looking and cradled a baby blue dress in her arms. And in the lighting that beautiful blue dress had bright flicks of silver all over the skirt. "Good choice," Tricia had told the girl, nodding in approval which caused the other girl to blush in embarrassment and I raised my eyebrows. And here I thought she didn't allow others to pick out my dresses."It will bring Princess's eyes out nicely." I had no idea blue brought out blue eyes, but then again I have ever worn fancy dresses or even cared too. My wardrobe back at home only contained t-shirts, jeans, sweats, tank tops, and maybe the occasional nice-ish shirt that my mom had made me buy a few times. Simple clothing and yet comfortable. It really wasn't until I came to the castle that I started wearing dresses, dresses that Tricia had to happen to pick out for me. I mean, wore Easter and Christmas dresses as a child. And even in sixth grade, I wore a pink sundress to the sixth-grade dance, and a few times for the homecoming dance I would wear a dress from my cousin Emily's closet but that was it.

Now that I am here, dresses were all that I wore, and they were fancy dresses. Dresses that look like they came straight out of a Victorian period movie. And not simple and plain dresses either, they were dresses with ruffles and ribbons. Dresses that were so hard to breathe in and if I didn't walk carefully I would trip myself on the hems. Each and every horrible dress was picked by Tricia who was picked by the king-who claims to be my father-to-be, my lady, in waiting. At least I looked pretty in them, but still, they sucked. So now I have three people who watch my every move. Tricia, Easton, and Bemus. I can't ever escape with everyone watching. But I will escape, I have to wait for the right moment and the. I'll go home.

"I don't think I want to go." I sighed. "It just seems too much, honestly I just want to go home." I missed my sisters and Allen, but I really missed my mom and wished she could have seen me like this. She was going to go prom dress shopping with me too. I just don't think I belong here.

"It is an honor." That was all she said, and by the cross look, made sure I stayed quiet. I got dressed in silence, and I was given assistance with the dress by Tricia, and she even gave me matching blue heels to wear. Honestly, the blue was a change of scenery, there is simply too much green around here.

I looked into the floor-length mirror before me, I was no longer there and in my place stood a princess and because of that I couldn't help but smile. The dress flowed out all around me like a waterfall, the long sleeves bellowed out from my arms and had the finest white lace around the hem, and the neckline was a little low for my taste and yet it was still tasteful, it also had the same lace around the neckline. My blonde hair, the dress, and bare minimum makeup made me unworldly. Deep cherry red lipstick darkened my lips, and soft brown gave my eyes definition. I looked different, I actually looked pretty. So pretty and different that I wanted to cry, it was almost like I was getting ready for prom, and it felt wrong to look like this and not have my mom beside me. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from crying. "You look like a true princess now, Princess." Tricia gripped my shoulders and was practically beaming with pride.

"Thanks," I mumbled and gave her a smile, just then a knock came to the door and the other maid that was in the room opened the door.

"Ready?" Bemus beamed as he entered with Easton at his side. The boys were dressed so nice, and so handsome in their formal attire. "Wow, Princess, you look so beautiful!" Bemus exclaimed, his eyes glittered and his cheeks getting red.

"Do I look fine?" I spun, holding up the hem of the skirt a bit and asked Easton, I could feel the heat getting to my cheeks. He nodded in approval, I wished he would talk more. I would love to get to know him more.

"Then let us go." Bemus smiled and I walked with them towards the party. I walked with my hand in the crook of Easton's arm.

****

No one talked to me, no one asked me to dance. They called my name when I had entered the ballroom, I heard whispers of them taunting me and making fun of me but that was it. And it lasted for only a few moments and then it was like I wasn't even here, no one even gave me a simple glance as they walked past me. Bemus was talking with some other guards on the other side of the dance hall, I was thinking he might be drunk even though the guards weren't supposed and Easton, well he was kept busy going through circuits of girls dancing with each and everyone of them. I wasn't completely alone, for a few minutes Tricia had stood by me and talked to me, keeping me company. Simply idle talk as she had looked carefully through the room, searching for someone. But she too, found other people to chat and things to do. Other maids, who had gotten her to slip away with them. And I knew it was childish, but I was holding back tears. A few more minutes and then I will leave.

"So this is Erlking's changeling daughter." A deep voice chuckled, jerked me out of my own thoughts, and startled I let out a little yelp.

"Forgive, but you frightened me, sir." I hunched over slightly, laying my hand over my racing heart.

"And I was hoping you would be ugly as most changelings are." I jerked my head, to look at the man who was talking. I couldn't believe someone would make that comment, especially since he doesn't know me. But this man looked like an angel. God, he was so handsome, unworldly handsome and I had a feeling that he knew it. His white hair was long which was pulled loosely back with a simple black ribbon, possibly to his waist if it was down, and in the lighting, I could catch a hint of silver highlights, he had his hair pulled loosely back and tied with a simple black ribbon. And his eyes, well his eyes were the strangest things I ever have seen. Their irises were golden with flecks of silver in the lighting, and even rimmed the golden irises was a thin line of blood-red coloring that faintly mixed in the gold. And his eyelashes long and white, his eyebrows sharp, thin, and white. And again his skin was crystal clear, smooth, and was so pale that I thought he might be albino. In one sharp breath, I wanted to trace my index finger along the sharp carves on his face and even wanted to touch the long sharp canines that should through his slightly parted lips that were curved into a crooked smile. Oh god, he was so tall, he had to be hands down 6'5" at least. Everything in my head screamed Victorian goth from the clothes he wore. And maybe because he was dressed all in black didn't help with his apparent albinism, and he even had a sword at his side.

His left hand rested casually on his sword halt and I noticed his long pale hands had sharp black fingernails. And his right hand, well, had a black leather glove. Micheal Jackson looks, I snickered in my head. Oh god, he was so unearthly, so beautiful. But yet he had an air about him that made me nervous, like with a snap of his finger he could kill me. "If you haven't caught on," he raised his sharp eyebrow that made my heart stop. "I am king." Dramatically he placed his gloved hand on his chest. My eyes widened and I fell into a weak, clumsy curtsy and he gave a low chuckle again.