A Fall of Secrets (A Shade of Vampire #15)(16)

Debbie, one of my classmates, broke the silence. “So you’re pimping us out?”

“No!” my mother and I yelled at once, horrified at the thought. “If any of you don’t find this appealing, you don’t have to come. This is only for those who are interested in trying something… new.”

To my relief, Debbie broke out laughing. “I was just pulling your leg, Rose.”

I smiled back weakly. “So? Who wants to attend the ball at noon?”

A chorus of “Yes!” pierced through the morning air as every single woman standing in the square raised their hands. They hadn’t even seen the shifters yet, but I supposed I must have done a good job at describing them…

“Okay,” I said, after the screams had died down. “Then you should all aim to meet me in the clearing outside the Black Heights at eleven-thirty this morning. The ball starts at twelve, but I’d like you to arrive a bit early.”

“Okay!”

I chuckled to myself as everyone dispersed. I climbed back down the ladder.

“Well handled,” my mother said. “Now, I suggest that we go to the venue and see what the witches have done with it.”

My jaw tensed. Although the girls’ reaction had been a major weight off my shoulders, the main obstacle was still to come. We still had to pull off this ball and make sure it all went smoothly. Managing a hall filled with fiery dragons and vulnerable humans was a daunting prospect.

My mother rubbed my back. “Just a few more hours and this will be over.”

Chapter 12: Rose

I was relieved that all the girls arrived on time. Well on time. Two dozen arrived an hour early. My mother and I caught some wandering around the tunnels in search of the hall. We ushered them inside and asked them to wait in the corner until it was time.

The witches had outdone themselves again designing this place. The sacks of grain had been moved elsewhere and the rough floors had been smoothed into the same black marble that the dragons seemed to like. Several crystal chandeliers hung from the cavernous ceiling. A long table of food was already set out along one wall and we’d arranged cushioned seats all around the circumference of the hall. As an added touch, the witches had created a little veranda halfway up the wall and attached a winding set of stairs to it. This was to be the music balcony. The witches had placed a piano there and an assortment of other instruments I knew how to play. I’d also requested that two witches, Shayla and Leyni, stay with me and help keep the music going when I needed to take a break.

I looked at the watch on my mother’s wrist. It wouldn’t be long now.

“Why don’t you go and bring in the others now? They should all be waiting outside.”

“Good idea,” I said. I could do with some fresh air. Although it wasn’t particularly hot in the hall, all of these chambers felt claustrophobic to me. It was as though the dragons’ heat emanated through the bowels of the mountain.

I hurried out of the hall, along the winding tunnels, and emerged in the clearing. Sure enough, all the other girls were waiting for me. They all had looks of excitement and apprehension on their faces. I noted how much care they’d taken in their appearance. Their hair was done up beautifully and they all wore gowns and high-heeled shoes. As I walked toward them, I was again struck by how weird the situation was. Like a fairytale. Cinderella with dragons. All we need now is a pumpkin.

I looked down at my own clothes. I was just wearing pants and a sweatshirt. I would keep myself on top of the balcony anyway, so hopefully my attire wouldn’t offend anyone. Debbie and a few other classmates hurried toward me in the crowd.

“Have they arrived yet?” Debbie asked.

“No,” I replied. “We’re not expecting them before noon.”

I led everyone down the tunnels and back toward the hall. My mother greeted us at the entrance, inviting everyone to take a seat. My classmates wanted to sit and talk with me more, but my nerves wouldn’t allow it. I wasn’t able to sit still. I stood up and wandered over to the buffet. I walked along the assortment of steaming stainless-steel vessels. I called my mother over.

“When it comes time to eat, we’ll have actual tables, right?” I asked. “So it will be like a proper banquet.”

“Don’t worry,” my mother said. “Corrine already thought of that. At around one o’clock, after everyone’s had a chance to introduce themselves, the witches will arrange for a long table and help with the serving.”

“Good.”

I almost leapt out of my skin when there was a thundering knock at the door. The girls began chattering excitedly, but as my mother reached the door, a hushed silence fell about the hall. My mother opened the door to find the first dragon standing behind it. Jeriad. He looked freshly showered and more radiant than ever before. He was dressed in simple yet luxurious clothing—light linen pants and a loosely fitted shirt that exposed a generous amount of his toned chest. As the other dragons began entering after him, they all looked similarly dressed.

I was surprised that the prince hadn’t been the first to enter. But I didn’t stay to watch. I wanted to make it up to the balcony before he arrived so that I wouldn’t have to meet him again.

I scrambled up the stairs and didn’t look back down at the floor again until I’d reached the top. Now that it was noon, the witches were beginning to arrive to help out—Shayla, Leyni, and a couple of other witches, though Corrine wasn’t among them. I guessed that she was finally having a well-deserved sleep.