Chapter Forty-Three — The Ball

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IN EVANDER

"WHAT THE HECK HAVE YOU DONE!?" Jayden screamed loudly when Dawn did something wrong. "YOU'RE SUCH A PAIN IN THE NECK!" He yelled loudly.

"Why are you shouting at me?" Dawn got annoyed and retorted back. "It's just a button, nothing more." She shrugged her shoulders and slumped back on the passenger's seat.

"Just a button you say?" Jayden lessened his voice as he ran his fingers through his hair. There was anger in his voice. While he was still trying to absorb the shock, a brittle female-like voice resonated in the car. The voice had such sonority and coolness that could entice people.

– "You have activated the savagery mode. Sit back and enjoy yourself."

"What?!" Jayden and Dawn screeched in unison. "Savagery mode?"

Before they could blink, the sports car ignited by itself and raced wildly like never before. Dawn's rash driving wasn't even up to quarter of the savagery mode. The sports car was sprinting so fast that Jayden and Dawn couldn't get an exact imagery of anything that passed by.

– "Your destination please?"

"To the clothing store!" Jayden screamed trying to catch his breath. His tummy churned and his head twirled a squillion times. His breathing was croaky and his tired eyes swirled round.

– "Which clothing store…?"

Jayden didn't wait for the feminine voice to finish asking and he replied so fiercely, "The Lunar Fad Clothing Store!"

– "Sure!" (<^_^>)

That was when the sports car raced so madly like never before. The two teenagers in the car couldn't sit still at all as they were short of breath and went nauseous.

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AT THE CHÂTEAU

Desha's cohorts handed over the iron whips which they had placed in the burning furnace. The whips were fiendishly red and once it comes in contact with the skin, it destroys the skin and that victim will be in very deep anguish. Desha couldn't wait to see Shelbie's distorted skin and her sorrowful voice pleading for mercy and help.

Just as Desha raised the gory whip to flog Shelbie, a silky slender hand pushed Desha away devoid of using much energy. Desha fell down with so much force that it really took her a long time before she recovered herself. Alyse and Bitsy who were at the doorpost were shocked to death when they saw the young girl that pushed their beautiful boss lady. Their mouths that were wide ajar in shock closed back.

"Am I hallucinating?"

"Why does this feel so real?"

The two girls mumbled as their dreamy eyes were feasted on that one girl. She was just a darker version of a usual cheery girl. Her usual waist length ash blonde hair was completely platinum blonde hair with a faint tint of red at the fringes. The hair was now reaching her knees but it was still glossy as always and in good condition too.

Her happy eyes now held deep coldness and nihilism in them. Her pale purple eyes shone darker like never before and it was also bloodshot because of unquenchable anger.

The air surrounding her was very strange as it emitted taciturnity, indifference, quiet confidence, lonesomeness and gravitas. That was enough to draw the attention of Shelbie and Caitlyn as Khloé passed out. Desha's cohorts who were standing there with a hint of shock in their expression couldn't help but marvel.

Alyse and Bitsy's expression ( <(⨀_⨀)>

"Isn't that Jemima?" Shelbie whispered to Caitlyn.

Caitlyn nodded her head with her eyes still wide open in shock.

"Yeah but she is different now. I feel like she's emitting such inimical vibes that scares me to death." Caitlyn whispered back and the duo remained in total silence as they observed the scene.

Jemima who was standing there was a malevolent version of herself. It was as if she was possessed by darkness and even her behavior confirmed so.

She was walking so heavenly but her appearance was the direct antonym.

Desha who already regained herself stood up quickly like a soldier but with a puzzled expression. Wasn't this Jemima bitch supposed to be in coma for a whole three months? Why did she suddenly wake up? For a moment, Desha shuddered when Jemima turned her gaze to her. It was as if she saw an apparition face-to-face.

'Good grief! She isn't that cheery bitch anymore. She looks deadly, more deadly than king cobra itself.' Desha thought as she felt deep quivers flourishing though her spine. Her knees quavered like never before and before she knew it, she was on her knees. Her eyes that emitted authoritarianism now drooped because of fear. Bafflingly, she had never been scared by just a mere gaze from anyone not even her own father. However, she couldn't help but be amazed at the picture of the malevolent version of Jemima in front of her.

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IN THE DREAMLAND

(Jemima's POV)

My mother, Queen Sonja Sonrisa Chroust was hosting a ball because she wanted to make her birthday a very grand one and also debut me to the society. She was beautiful in her puffy sea-green gown that had light pink gems. She was adorned with opals and jadeites and that made her a heavenly pulchritude. Not only that, she was also the center of attraction. Even though she was ageing, she was glowing and younger than her age.

I was fully cladded in a lovely peach double-layered brocade (gown) that was slightly below my knees. The first layer was pastel peach in color and the second layer was ordinarily peach in color. A glistening silver belt embellished with glossy orange bow around the waist and deep pine green lining on each layer.

Around my neck was a gold string with a moon shaped emerald. It was just a simple necklace yet very expensive. Polished accessories and ornaments like tiara, rings, bracelets, earrings and many more were adorned around me and it was very heavy, making my movements clumsy sometimes. Thank God I behaved a bit ladylike with the help of the shots of glares from my governess specially picked by my mother.

"Behave ladylike! Comport yourself and be good!" I could feel a pair of burning eyes on me. Heavens! It was from my governess, Lady Marilyn Jones. A beautiful, gracious and courteous woman from one of the blue-blooded clans. She was quite popular among the societal female circles and she loves public recognition a lot.

She had always tried to curry favor from my family (the royal family), especially my mother who is the queen and that was by snaking her way to be my one and only governess. Her teachings were so strict and she's so foulmouthed and that makes me want to puke each time she scolds me.

The last time I checked, I (Princess Ximena Chroust) am the only daughter of the Queen of Ohreja and that makes me the only princess in Ohreja, soon, the crown princess. And she, Lady Marilyn Jones, the wife of some dumb viscount isn't even up to my expectations.

I rolled my eyes and tried to put up that courteous façade. Unexpectedly, a young lad with fawn eyes and gelled shoulder length hair walked up to me. He was also dressed in noble attires.

'Maybe he is related to a nobleperson.' I thought as the young boy was bowing slightly and kissing my knuckles as a sign of chivalry, he leaned for a dance.

Psychologically face-palming myself, my eyes shut for a second and I thought for half a second and then agreed to his wish.

'My first dance was supposed to be with one of my parent, you idiot!' I glared at the young boy who was dancing gracefully. For a split second, I thought he was the god of dance because his dancing moves and steps were all topnotch and very smooth like honey's touch and I could feel myself melting in his gentle arms instead of resenting him as I used to.