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FREE STATES:

Regions of the New World Independent from the Rule of the House of Veridian. Ruled by Independent houses of True Born, Rogue High Borns, or Whole-blood Wizin.

Archives of History

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[SILVER RAYNE WILLIAMS]

FRUSTRATION COURSED through my veins as I whipped around the corridor per Lord Graydon's instructions- excuse me, his orders.

As my future High Lord and as a citizen in his region it was treason to go against a direct order- then tell me, why was I so eager to go against it?

I rolled my eyes at this, then paused in the middle of the hallway when it clicked that I must have truly lost my mind.

To speak to a high lord in the manner I had been showcasing so boldly this evening. To outrightly express my distaste for his race and call him a monster for Pete's sake! TO his face!

I simply couldn't hold it in, in my defense. My anger could be described as a waterfall, it just keeps pouring out with absolutely no way to suck it back in.

It was just so frustrating to think he would even compare his race to ours, that he would think that we were the reason for the Fang war. What did he not get? How could humans not fear the monsters that hunt us?

And yet, despite being fearful of his power, of what he was to me, I was going to go as far as disobeying a direct order- because yeah,—

I was going to disobey a direct order.

There was no way I was letting Vella into a whole Grand Ball filled with dangerous Fang on her own. I loved my mother truly, but there was no one I trusted with Vella's safety but my very self and my father.

I didn't know where her loyalties lay, what could have happened to her the last decade she spent in the arms of the Arc Wolf.

She certainly seemed very much eager to get Hunter and Vella together. I sympathized with what she had to go through when she was taken from us, but as much as it pained me to think about it, perhaps she cared for Hunter more than she cared for me.

Regardless of who she cared for most between the two of us, either way, she had no loyalties to Vella, or reason to be on her side.

I couldn't simply trust her so blindly even as my mother. That thought seemed to be consistent in my mind; she could be brainwashed for all I know.

There was no way she had lived among the fang and still was the mother I remembered, no matter how much it seemed that way, or how much I wanted it to be that way.

She certainly seemed comfortable in the palace now.

Anyway, this wasn't about me. This was for Vella.

Taking out a short breath, I finally stood in front of the room door, throwing a practiced smile on before opening it and walking in.

I was caught off guard at what I saw, staring wide-eyed at Vella, who slightly turned at the sound of the door opening, with mom by her side, my jaw dropping to the floor.

"Silver," She grinned slightly, a whisper of life echoing in her dull eyes.

I blinked a few times trying to let the sight of her sink in.

"What do you think cupcake? Is she ready?" Mom asked, a knowing grin highlighting her face.

"I uh..." my heart rammed within me, my eyes trailing down the beautifully tailored dress, appropriate for a girl her age, the light warm colors complimenting her natural glowing eyes.

Simply put, she looked like a vision of heaven.

It was true Vella needed little to nothing to reach the peak of beauty, and I was truly enamored by how she looked at this moment, but my heart only sank at the sight of it.

They made her look so beautiful as if she were celebrating something so great when in truth, even she quite disliked her supposed mate, and the whole ceremony bound her to a place far away from the only family she had.

The last thing she needed was Hunter's eyes on her all night and an even more reason for him to be as close to her as inhumanely possible. I could foresee an evening she wouldn't particularly enjoy, especially since I wasn't allowed to be present.

From the low glow in her eyes, I could tell she wasn't too comfortable being served up like a pig on a platter. My eyes trailed to Oran who had a flat practiced smile on with a hidden emotion in her eyes, then back to my mother's hopeful gaze.

"She- You look like a princess," I complimented, moving to Vella, examining her dress as she turned round for me, her smile a bit more genuine.

"Thank you," she whispered back, her eyes meeting mine, where an echo of sadness lay hidden beneath her radiant smile.

I tried to not let it affect me as mom spoke, walking closer to the both of us.

"Well of course she does, after tonight, she's practically royalty," she grinned cupping Vella's chin, before passing by, grabbing a clutch that matched her gown.

My mother was also effortlessly beautiful. Her light blue dress grazed the floor with grace and complimented her pale skin.

"I'll just do a light touch-up, and then we should get going darling," she hummed, squeezing my shoulder and walking toward the bathroom.

"I-I'll take my leave too ma-lady," Oran stated, with a short bow, "I have one more dress to deliver," her eyes trailed to Vella, "and you do look very much like a princess."

She offered a heart-warming smile, to which Vella genuinely returned, bowing once more before taking her to leave.

The room descended into silence for a second, my eyes lingering on the closed bathroom door before glancing down at Vella. She played with the hem of her dress, nervously biting her lip.

"Okay Vella," I began pulling her gently toward a seat, "run it by me, what will and won't you do?"

She took a shaky breath out, eyes trailing up to meet mine.

"I'll be polite, short answers. I'll keep to Eden for most of the night," she breathed out, swallowing harshly, "follow etiquette, and not draw too much attention to myself. Just polite nods and thank yous."

I nodded at each answer, feeling slightly more relieved.

"Eden says I don't have to dance with..." she trailed off whispering the name lower, "Hunter- but she taught me the steps just in case."

I took all this in, nodding slowly, "that's right, you do not have to dance with him if you don't want to," I reassured her, "if he does something you do not like, you need to say it, most importantly you need to tell me," I pressed on, "these Fang don't understand human emotions unless they are told. I may not like the boy, but he seems to understand once told."

She nodded at this, pursing her lips, "I-I'll tell him." her eyes flashed to me, begging, her tone low, "Are you sure you can't come?"

"I'm finally ready," Mom sang, walking out of the bathroom, freshly done. A knock resounded from the door seconds later.

"That must be the escorts," she beamed, walking toward the table where I only just noticed two white masks.

She moved toward us, handing Vella a mask. I helped her put it on.

A white wolf.

Mom was a silver fox.

I watched as Mom moved toward the door, whilst I prodded Vella to get up.

"No matter what, I'll be by your side. Remember that," I whispered to her, fixing her mask straighter before walking her off toward mom.

Two Male Fang guards awaited them outside. I handed Vella off to mom with a request.

"Please take care of her."

She offered me a smile, "always, she's one of my own now."

I knew she meant well, but I didn't particularly like that statement, pursing my lips but solemnly nodding, watching as they moved into the hallway, disappearing out of sight.

Closing the door, I leaned against it, letting out a shallow breath of my own. I shut my eyes and counted down from ten.

I knew what I was about to do.

I knew the risks of it and goddamn it, I needed a minute, a second to get my head straight. I was doing this for Vella and Vella only. That's the reason I was even in this place. Hell, if I didn't make an effort to protect her, then what on earth was I even doing here?

My eyes flew open, courage returning to my veins in overflows, gritting my teeth as I launched forward, moving toward the large wardrobe.

As expected, most dresses were Vella's size, and none were as extravagant as Mom's and Vella's dresses.

If I was going to the ball, I needed to look the part.

I rummaged through the wardrobe pulling out the only bag pack I had carried from Lord Arak's mansion.

Pulling out the evening dress mom had gifted us for that dinner to remember, I examined it closely.

Not masquerade ball extravagant, but expensive enough to pass I figured. It's not like I wanted or desired to draw attention, this was the perfect dress for going undercover.

Pulling it out, I quickly fitted in, zipping it up.

My eyes darted around the room, before moving to my secret spot, a sweet spot between the drawer and the bed where I had kept my dad's kit.

Taking it out, I held it up.

"Please have it, please have it," I murmured, placing it on top of the drawer. I spread it open, my eyes trailing over each tube labeled by name, and categories filed.

"Only wolf, Vampire, and Sworn Scents are allowed." I mocked, rolling my eyes at the memory, pausing when a particular label caught my eye.

Scents.

I took the two tubes out, examining the instructions in the lamp light.

One was a Vampire Scent, the other was a Wolf.

Instructions:

Rub around the neck and wrists.
Valid for 4 hours.

My gaze lit up, deciding to settle for a Vampire scent. I had grown up with Vampires, I could copy their mannerisms better than that of a wolfs.

I moved to the mirror carefully examining the colorless solution. It looked like water with a silver flare, to be honest. The smell was-

Good god!

I coughed roughly at the sharp scent, shaking my head rapidly as if that would shake it off. Staring at the solution once more, I was convinced I didn't want that stuff anywhere on my body, however, this was my father's work, and he wouldn't have given it to me unless it worked.

Hopefully.

I mean he was a genius; geniuses rarely ever fail...Right?

Sighing, I took the plunge, rubbing the silver solution around the length of my neck on both sides. I hissed at the contact, surprised at the sting and the light sizzling sound it made.

Grasping my wits about me, and sucking in the pain, I poured and rubbed a little more around each wrist. After a few moments, the pain subsided. I let out a relieved breath, eyes finding themselves in the mirror where my undone face and wolfish curls run wild.

I had to do something about that. Sure, I had a vampire scent now, but my curls could potentially out me.

If I was going to do this, the last person I would want to see me was Lord Graydon. Sighing, I picked at my hair, managing to clip it together in a simple hairdo. I had to do away with my glasses too.

I mean where on earth did vampires who needed glasses to exist?

I moved to my bag, pulling out my pencil case where I kept a pair of contacts. I hated wearing contacts because they made my eyes hurt and I wasn't used to them, but right now I was certainly happy dad forced me to get them. Stepping away from the mirror, I looked at the finished product.

Yeah, nothing too mind-blowing but it was certainly workable. I was finally ready.

After momentarily checking the time, I packed everything up, hiding the kit once more and brushing down my dress.

Peering out the door my heart stormed within me.

It was now or never.

Peering out again, I noticed there were no guards in sight, but I knew that didn't mean they weren't close by. Gathering the rest of my courage, I closed the door behind me, walking down the empty hallways.

I almost had a heart attack when I turned the hall, coming face to face with two Fanged Guards.

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Word Count-2156