As I made my way through the masses, I smiled and waved to anyone that greeted me. Making sure I kept moving. I glanced at the clock. "Damn still too early to leave," I thought as the music picked up again. The steps I was taking quickly muffled by the Harpist, who's playing entranced everyone's attention for a moment. Yet they all quickly went back to their conversations. They were all in business mode. No time to even appreciate a beautiful melody. Though I was the same. Stuck playing a part in an upperclass machine-

"Thomas?"

I turned to my left to see Lady Camila. Finally someone normal, and I didn't mean that in a negative way. She was a short, slender girl about 5'2. Large dark brown eyes and her deep skin tone, that could even make chocolate jealous. Her dark kinky hair was always fighting to stay styled for long periods of time. To be honest if I absolutely HAD to get a girlfriend, she'd be my first pick. Calm, quiet, rational, and her body was also a plus. What I liked most about her was that she wasn't a lovey dovey mess of a girl. A girl who my words didn't double as a brain tranquilizer. She treated me normally. I liked that. Part of me thinks that if I did ask her out she'd reject me. She's more suited for a princes's girlfriend than some random rich dude. Shame really.

"Hello Lady Camila. How are you this evening. I hope your father is doing well," I smiled. "It's a pleasure Thomas. He's doing every well. Thou his sickness still prevented him from attending. It's just my mother and I. Though I will tell him that you wished him well," she smiled back. "I see. That's a real shame. Though if there's anything I can do please don't hesitate to ask," I said happily and she smiled back. "You seem to be in a rush," she asked. True. To her I was usually more talkative. "My mother called for me. She's just up ahead," I informed her. "Oh my goodness I apologize! I didn't mean to interrupt you! Oh dear I'm such a bother," She frantically apologize. I chuckled and said, "you could never be a bother to me." I said sweetly and her face turned slightly red.

"Maybe I was wrong about her having no romantic interest in me. Hm this just got interesting. Though I could have just caught her off guard and she embarrassed easily. I'll find her after I talk with my mother and find out," I thought. "T..Thank you," she said meekly. "The same to you," I replied "Well I should let you go though. I hate to keep your mother waiting," she said quickly. "As you wish," I bowed and continued walking. "Such a sweet girl," I thought as I saw my mother just ahead of me.

I was just about to greet her when I heard behind me. "Thomas my boy. Could I trouble you with a humble request," Our Host smiled placing a hand on my shoulder. I turned and saw him and my father. "I just walked away from them. What now," I though before saying, "Yes Sir, anything. Though I haven't reached my mother yet." "I'll tell her about it," my father smiled. I mentally sighed before turning to the host, whom continued.

"It seems my daughter has run off again. She has to make an appearance for a special announcement. Would you mind retrieving her," he asked. "It would be my pleasure," I replied happily. "Wonderful, She's most likely in the library. Go down the corridor, to the staircase, it's the third door on the east side. Simple," he smiled. "I will go right away," I bowed before leaving. "Damn it," I thought turning away. I could feel the stares from everyone who pretended not to notice. I was only of a select few whom was aloud to enter further into their home. The boy whom people still considered new to this world. The glares of jealousy and the confusion in why I was chosen. The other single men whom wanted nothing more than the heart of the Host's daughter. Whether I like it or not. I just made a lot of new enemies. "Great... as if this wasn't a crap shoot already," I thought trying to keep a happy straight face.

I go towards the large intricately carved wooden doors on the west side of the room. "God if these are their doors I'd hate to see how impractical their silverware is," I thought as I went though the door. I was surprised. The light was low. Everything from the paintings that hung every few feet from the wall to the white marble floor was far more simple. Still expressing an abundance of wealth, yet compared to the parts of the home that was more often seen.... it seemed tone down. The rest of the doors I passed weren't even carved at all. Just simple high quality doors. The vases were copper and the flowers were as common as you'd see in any flower garden. "How strange," I thought too myself before reaching the staircase. I was a little impressed. The stairs crafted of white marble with reinforced glass steps. The staircase was placed in the middle of the room with three other coradors that sprouted off of this room to the rest of the manor. "Getting lost would be a pain in the ass. This girl better be in the library like her father said," I sighed quietly to myself as I climbed the staircase.

I reached the top to see a large foyer with white doors aligning every wall. Everything was even more simple than downstairs. A polished white tiled floor. Pastel blue and white gradient walls with a simple rose gold chandelier. "I don't understand. This man has more money than some small countries. How could his house look so..... poor," I whispered baffled. The noises of the party still echoed through the house.

I walked to the third door on the east side of the room. Yet the door was already slightly open. My hand on the edge of the door ready to swing it forward thou there was enough for me to have a glimpse inside. The room was lightly lit. Most the light seemed coming from the window. Aside from a few dulling lamps. Strange that someone could read in these conditions. From what I could see there were isles and isles of books. There was even a wooden staircase with second floor including a balcony. Thousands if not millions of books, yet only three tables and a love seat by the window.

As I touched the door knob it felt colder than the rest of the house. How is that possible? This family had plenty of money to make sure the house is consistently and equally warm. I hesitated opening the door. Am I intruding too much? Why do I feel so uneasy. Like I'm not aloud in this room. I don't understand why I have to fetch the hosts daughter anyway. Did my father have something to do with this... it wouldn't be the first time he's put me in situations similar to this. Being friendly with the daughter of the host of this party would be a tremendous asset, but I never did care about connections. Thou she is a girl whom anyone would be lucky to marry. You'd be a fool to refuse her.

Not many people get to talk to her let alone meet her. She's a mystery, and for that I want to get this over with as quickly as possible. Thou she's absolutely beautiful I would refuse her. I hope she doesn't take a fancy to me. I hate to have another annoying brat on my case. I knocked before opening the door. "Pardon my intrusion Ms. your Father asked me to fetch you," I smiled slowly entering into the room. the cold air now gripping my clothing. She was standing in front of the large window that was big enough to walk though. Almost taking up a third of the beautiful cream painted walls. She wasn't fazed whatsoever, just kept staring at whatever was outside. Perhaps she didn't hear me correctly or perhaps is was the lightly falling snow. She stayed silent; didn't even bother looking at me. "Ms.?" I asked unsure if she heard me as I took a step forward. "Please get out of my library," she said calmly, still not looking at me. I stopped. "Great another entitled brat. I'm sure once she knows who I am she'll swoon or apologize," I thought boredly before trying again. "My apologies, my name is Thomas James Logi and your Fath-."

"Did I ask," she said under her breath so I stopped. "What the hell is her deal," I thought. "My lady please. I don't wish to bother you, however I can't leave without you," I said sadly. She ignored me again. The silence began creeping out between us. She had the window cracked open yet she didn't look cold. Her breath began to cloud her view and I could tell her skin was being irritated. "How long are you going to stand there staring at me," she sighed. "Well you are extremely beautiful," I chuckled and she rolled her eyes. At this point she was starting to rub me the wrong way. This monotonous bullcrap is irritating. She turned to face me and for a split second I felt my heart speed up. I wasn't lying when I said she was beautiful. Dressed in shades of white and dull light blues, made her just glow. Even her long cascading pale almost white white hair was breath taking.

"Please spare me. You know as well as I do that the only reason you're not in jail is because of your parents," Her words were sharp. Hostile as if ice daggers were pointed at my face. So she did know who I was. The smile on my face was fighting to stay there. Even though her words were ice cold she made my blood boil. What the hell was that! I felt my fists clenching as the noises from the party began to meld together. Like noise itself became irritating. She was slowly chipping away at my persona. My temper was leaking through. The ticking of the grandfather clock was feeling louder than before. Her expression never changed. Just her tone was enough to rattle me.

I wanted to bite my tongue, I wanted to swallow my pride, but I couldn't. With the rolling of her eyes, I snapped. "Listen here princess. The only reason you're here is because your parents have you caged you up like a little bird. You're more of a pet than a daughter! Now get your ass downstairs," I said fuming. "At least this pet doesn't need their parents success," She said glaring at me. I somehow got close to her without a second thought. Her words like venom that kept me in the palm of her hand. "I don't need any of it! I have everything! Looks, Smarts-"

"And your parents mone-"

Everything stopped. Time, noise..... everything. She was no longer was standing. I tensed up. What the fuck did I just do. My rage was instantly extinguished and replaced with terror.

I.... I punched her.

she sat there; hand gently on her cheek. She didn't move. Both of us just stayed there motionless, as if time itself was as shocked as we were. Frozen in our tracks. Her eyes blankly staring forward at me. Did she comprehend what just happened....did I? I had grabbed my fist. Fighting my flight response for domination. As my mind and body had an invisible war, we continued to stare at each other. The snow falling gently behind her. The window was still cracked open letting a chill dance though the room. The grandfather clock's ticking to the sound of my heartbeat. This would be a scene in a picturesque where two people would fall in love, yet she's on the ground and my fist is what put her there.

"You,"

I saw her trying to speak. Her words didn't have the same bite as they did before. She was so gentle. Like falling powdered snow; and a voice that could melt it away. Her lips slowly parted saying in an almost romantic voice, "You....you just hit me." When she spoke her eyes smiled. I was confused I didn't understand what was happening. Why did she look at peace? Why isn't she giving me the reaction I'm use to getting..... why am I not running away. Her parents could put me in jail for life. Not even my parents could make a charge like that go away. I'm at the mercy of her next move. I gulped. The loud noises from the party that echoed through the halls, became muted in my ears. All my focus, all my undivided attention belonged to her. She was calm as she slowly stood up, surprisingly without much effort. Her movements were so delicate. I was frozen in place. I didn't even move to help her. Her cheek printed red from my knuckles. Her fair skin stained red. I'm fucked. She took a few steps towards me, she was very slow and gentle. Gliding across the floor. My mind completely entranced. My ears honed into the clicks of her heels. She stood next to me for a brief second, taking a breath before whispering.

"I've been hit harder."

In a single moment, a single second before she could take a step past me I fell to my knees. My eyes flew open as she stole the air from my lungs. As if payment for what I've done. The corner of her lips slowly rising, as my body was falling. I heard myself gasp. A cramp around my lower ribs, and I became conscious of the lack of air I was inhaling. I almost stopped breathing altogether, like something was constricting my lungs. As if they were held hostage in her delicate hands. Her left hand still balled in a perfect fist, slightly bruised from my body. My solar plexus has been struck. I didn't yell, I didn't fight back. My only concern was getting air into my barely conscious body. My right hand gripping my shirt as my left hand kept me from hitting the floor. The clicking of her heels as she walked away didn't speed up or slow down. She kept the same pace as she did when she began walking. I managed to turn my head to see her. Her cascading hair flowing behind her, it might be the lack of oxygen getting to my brain. Or that I might be delusional, but she still is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life.

That's the fist time I've been put in my place by a girl. First time someone has ever brought me to my knees. This ice dragon in girl's clothing.

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