Emris

After talking with Cerelia for a while I see some of my other friends and we walk over to join them.

Aideen is wearing a beautiful Coral colored gown that goes amazing with her copper red hair which falls in soft waves framing her face. She has two small braids coming from each side of her head connecting in the back and they make a perfect place for her tiara to rest.

Another one of my close friends waiting for us is Alora. Alora is wearing a flowy peach dress. It has a deep neckline with lots of lace and small diamonds that make it shine. Her golden blond hair is tied back in a complicated braid with flowers woven in it. Alora is also very short and all of that gives her a princess fairy-like appearance.

Aideen gasps when she sees me, "Emris you look so beautiful!" She pulls me into a hug

"Cerelia your hair looks so pretty," Alora says with a smile. We all hug each other.

"So Aideen, I hear there's a new guy back at home," Cerelia starts.

I gasp "Really? You didn't tell me that!"

"I never had the chance!"

"His name is Coal," Alora adds

"Is he cute?" Cerelia demands

"Oh, he's dreamy! He is tall with dark hair and eyes, He has light freckles and his voice is like honey,"

"Someone's in love," Alora sings

"Hmm, I wonder who," I joke

"Oh, shut it!" Aideen elbows me and I laugh. I've missed them. They used to visit all the time but we've all been so busy lately.

"So besides Aideen's love life, what have you all been up to lately?" I ask

"Well, Father said I could get another cat."

"Really? What'd you name it?" Aideen asks Alora

"Guess." she smiles

Aideen furrows her brows "Pickles?" we all laugh

"Aideen, where did pickles come from?" Cerelia asks

"I don't know I just said the first thing that came to mind."

"Well, her name is Olive so I guess you were kind of close. What about you Em? Anything new going on?"

"Oh, nothing new really."

"Your birthday's coming up isn't it?"

"Yes, but it's a pain. I want to plan it because I want everything to go right but you know Azia. I just wish she was more involved. I mean I know she doesn't enjoy socializing but it's our birthday and I don't want to have to plan the whole thing alone."

"And I suppose your Mother is too busy?" Cerelia

"Yes. With Father gone, she has twice as much work to do. I feel bad for her having to manage it all on her own but I also look up to her for it."

"I understand that," Alora says putting a hand on my arm. "And how is she doing?"

"She's doing better. I think it helps to have me and Azia around."

"That's good. I'm glad you're all doing better." Aideen says and a waltz starts playing just as a group of princes walks over.

"Would you ladies like to dance?"

"We would love to," Aideen answers for all of us. I take the hand of the nearest prince and we start dancing. My partner has dirty blond hair which is so long that he has to keep flicking his head to shake it out of his eyes which are a deep brown. He is around 6 feet tall with strong arms but not the best dancer. He apologizes repeatedly and I find myself wondering when the waltz will be over. Finally, the dance ends, and Aideen joins me at a small table.

"Where are the others?" I ask her

"Alora in the powder room and Cerelia talking to her dance partner."

"Wait really?" She nods "Who is he?"

"I don't even know, she doesn't either. He's just hot," we both laugh

"That sounds like Cerelia."

"Yeah," she smiles

"Hey guys," A voice says from behind me and I turn around to see who it is

"Joseph!" I smile and hug him. He's a close friend that I haven't seen in what feels like forever. His dark curly hair is a bit longer since the last time I saw him but otherwise, he looks about the same.

"How are you?"

"I'm doing good. Father's keeping me busy but I'm glad I'm involved with everything going on."

"Oh yeah, you guys are stuck in the middle of that war aren't you?" Aideen askes

"Yeah. Both sides wanted us to help them then when we stayed neutral they saw that as an act against them and turned on us."

"Oh my, is everyone alright?" Alora comes up from behind him and lays a hand on his shoulder.

"Yes," He lays a hand over hers and smiles, "It's a lot to handle but both sides are tired. They have been fighting this war for a while,"

"I think we all have," Cerelia joins us now

"Did things not work out with your prince?" Aideen asks

"He's not my prince and no. They didn't."

"What happened?"

"He was too boring. He had no personality."

"That's a shame he was so handsome," Auyrn sighs and Joseph looks away from her with a look I can't quite decipher. But I don't have enough time to really think about it before I see a shadow tuck into one of the doors in the side hallway behind us. Normally I wouldn't think anything of it but I knew who that shadow belonged to and they looked like they didn't want to be followed.

"Was that Merletta?" Aideen asks, she must have seen her too

"Yeah, I think so. I haven't seen her yet tonight."

"Wait where was she?" Alora asks, craning her neck trying to see over everyone's heads. Or even shoulders.

"She was by that side hallway," I point her to it

"Should we go say hi?" Cerelia asks "Or maybe just see what she's up to?"

"Sure. I want to see why she didn't at least say hello to us anyways." Aideen says

"She might have missed us. She could have come from the very back." I offer an explanation

"Maybe. Let's just go say hi or something before we lose her."

"You're making it sound like we're stalking her," I laugh, Aideen just shrugs

"Come on let's go," She takes my hand and pulls me through the crowd will Cerelia, Alora, and Joseph following close behind.

Aideen leads us to the hallways then walks to the door we saw Merletta enter. The hallways is nearly empty – thanks god! – because we get there and open the door just in time to see a giant flock of crows. They're perched on the old marble window sill, the trees outside, the candle holders, and on the ground, And then there's Merletta In the middle of what looks like half a circle with crows perched on her arms. They scatter when she turns. Her dark hair and deep purple dress flies out around her.

Alora gasps and covers her mouth with her hands, while Aideen looks angry. Joseph looks confused and Cerelia... Cerelia just looks disappointed.

"You better be able to explain this," Aideen says. But before Merletta gets a chance to, a breathtaking girl in an emerald green dress walks into the room. She whips her hand up and a giant shadow slams the door shut behind her. She looks beautiful and she looks tired. But most of all my sister looks furious.