Sioggard - The Runaway Luna

2.

The ballroom was packed with people dressed up for the party, music filled the unbreathable air, and the guest chatter covered the noises of the night.

Smiling excitedly, despite the proximity of Theor who followed close behind her, like an annoying shadow she couldn't get rid of, Arabella stopped for a moment at the doorway, to take in the excited atmosphere.

But too soon her presence was noticed, eliciting a lot of low whispers that rippled through the hall like a gust of wind, sweeping away her trepidation.

She had forgotten that little inconvenience.

Smiling casually, Arabella pushed her way through the crowd that opened to let her pass, still eyeing her as if she were some kind of sideshow, and walked to the center of the hall.

“Did you send for me, father?” asked loudly and with an indifferent glance, cutting him off with no regard for manners when she had joined him. "Hello." In fact, added Arabella casually, addressing the group with a mere dismissive smile, to apologize for the interruption.

"Arabella." Replied her father, forcing a smile and without failing to give her the look he gave her whenever her behavior caused him embarrassment.

"There was no need to send your hench…future Beta after me." Answered Arabella, correcting herself at the last moment with a hesitation that was not lost on anyone in the circle of invited guests nearby, close enough to eavesdrop on their conversation. "I would have arrived alone, you know, I certainly could not have missed this magnificent ceremony."

"Of course, dear." Nodded her father, forced to improvise to mitigate her coarse manners. "Let me introduce you to our guests." He added in a deliberate attempt to change the subject.

"Why? I know them all.” Replied Arabella, continuing to smile unconcernedly as she nodded to the guests.

"Yes, of course." her father nodded, sadly embarrassed but forced to give her rope so as not to lose face. "Although it's been a while since you last saw each other."

"Couple years I think." Arabella replied as she glanced around the group to choose her victim. "It's rather strange, I thought you would have grown in height all this time Johnny but I'm still taller than you by a few inches." She added aiming at Jonathon Vaughn who gave her a rather resentful look. “Can I call you Johnny right? We're friends after all, aren't we?"

"Yes." Jonathon replied with an effort to sound sincere. "You haven't changed at all."

"Neither do you, really." Stated Arabella, brimming with vivacity for the benefit of the crowd and her father, who was obviously displeased with her. "Would you like to dance?" She cheekily invited him, before the adults suggested it and without waiting for an answer, she gave her father a last smile and then dragged Jonathon onto the dance floor without giving him a chance to protest.

"Slow down, they can't see us anymore..." protested Jonathon as soon as they merged into the crowd. “And don't worry, I have no intention of pleasing my parents.” He added dryly, staring at her intently. "I will not sacrifice my life for your dubious noble blood." Jonathon informed her, making her frown.

And not because she was offended by his words but rather surprised by his decisive attitude, since she remembered that boy had never shown any backbone in the past.

"Really." Arabella limited herself to reply, vaguely amused while trying not to get her feet stepped on.

Not an easy task because Jonathon was a rather bad dancer, stiff and lanky and lacked the slightest sense of rhythm.

"Don't be offended but no one in their right mind could gloss over your…well quirks." Jonathon informed her as he lifted his head to be able to meet her eyes given their height difference, magnified by the heels she was wearing.

“Tell me about it.” Replied Arabella, amused by her dance partner outburst of courage.

“You're not pretty enough, I mean if you were more like your sister maybe…” Jonathon had the audacity to comment, making her laugh heartily.

"Really." Commented Arabella, far from feeling offended, although in fact usually she didn't like being compared to Celestia, but Jonathon's combative attitude thoroughly amused her, repaying her for the annoyance of having her feet stepped on.

"I'm just telling the truth, everyone knows that you're nothing but a source of shame for your family, as if the fact that you're wolf less wasn't enough, your manners and.." replied Jonathon, taking offense at her untimely outburst of mirth.

Arabella immediately stiffened in his arms and had it not been that a shadow suddenly fell over them silencing Jonathon, she would have answered him in kind and consequences be damned.

Because it was one thing to tolerate being told by that bony little boy that she wasn't up to him, SHE, and quite another thing to be insulted.

The fact that an imbecile of his caliber had the audacity to accuse her of her shortcomings annoyed her and not a little, ruining her mood and Arabella found herself quivering angrily but luckily for Jonathon, Ilyan didn't gave her a chance to respond in kind.

"Vaughn." the Silver Horn Alpha commented icily, giving her dance partner a look that made Jonathon shrink. "If you don't want to end up badly, make sure you disappear and don't show up again for the rest of the evening." Ilyan ordered him so threateningly that Jonathon didn't thought twice before vanishing into the crowd.

Arabella had to breathe deeply to calm down and not follow him and thought instead that a breath of fresh air would do her good.

“Isn't it used anymore to salute?”

Suppressing an annoyed frown, Arabella turned away sharply.

“What do you want Ilyan Wayward, a thank you for the trouble?”

"Dance with you." Replied he calmly.

"Find someone else to dance with, I'm not in the mood tonight." refused curtly Arabella then turned her back to him with the intention of reaching the terrace but Ilyan held her back. "Take your hands off me!" ordered him angrily she, oblivious to the crowd around them. "Or I swear I..."

“Will you make me regret it?” asked her imperturbable Ilyan, not at all impressed by her black mood. "I certainly didn't expected you to be grateful, but since when are you so compliant with idiots like that one?" asked then Ilyan, taking her in his arms and forcing her to dance with him.

“What do you want?” muttered Arabella, reluctantly accepting to dance with him because with his massive physique she had no chance of getting rid of Ilyan, unless she screamed in the middle of the ballroom.

“Dancing with a friend.”

“Why, do you have any?” inquired Arabella, huffing.

“Funny, coming from you.”

"At least I haven't spent the last three years pining for someone else's Luna." Retorted Arabella, glaring at him on purpose, trying to get rid of him. "Isadore didn't even liked you." She added suggestively, even though Ilyan had suddenly stiffened and was staring at her with unfriendly eyes and then walked away from him when Ilyan loosened his grip on her arm once the music stopped.

Striving, Arabella pushed her way through the crowd, heading toward the ballroom exit instead of the terrace this time, no longer in the mood to tolerate some more vapid suitor her father had scouted for her.

Jonathon Vaughn and Ilyan Wayward had completely ruined her mood and if she didn't leave soon, she might end up causing some new scandal before the evening was out.

Embarrassing her family even more.

And while she didn't cared at all about staining the noble surname and spotless reputation of the de Lorgnes, Arabella didn't wanted to spend the next few days locked up in her rooms.

Or followed everywhere by Theor Dewood, more than he already followed her.

She was tired of being treated like a prisoner in a cage.

Even if it was for her safety by all accounts.

The truth was that her father was no longer willing to tolerate her tantrums and unable to keep her rebellious nature at bay had Theor after her to try to stop her from embarrassing him any more than she already had.

As if she lived to embitter his existence.

When all Arabella wanted was to be left alone.

"Arabella..Arabella.."

Really perfect, pretending not to have heard them, Arabella continued undaunted to aim for the exit, oblivious to the glances that followed her, accompanied by smiles and low whispers.

For all she cared, they could all rot in hell.

"Arabella!" Celestia squared herself in front of her decisively, with a rather furious look. “Are you trying to embarrass us again?” She hissed angrily, ignoring the dark look Arabella gave her in turn.

"Get out of my way Celestia." Snapped back Arabella, coldly.

“Don't you dare!” replied her sister, refusing to oblige. "You're nineteen now, you're no longer a child, you've grown up and can't run away at the first opportunity when things don't go your way."

“Celestia..”

“You have specific responsibilities and as far as I am concerned I am no longer willing to tolerate your childish ways!”

"Celestia…" Arabella warned, having nearly exhausted her supply of patience but her sister wasn't done yet.

“Don't think that just because dad puts you through everything you can continue to do as you please. I won't let you tarnish our good name again and rest assured that…”

"Celestia, Arabella." interrupted Alina Winifrix, princess of Antilae who joined them in the company of several of her friends.

“It's quite a big yield tonight.” commented Mia Weawer, sister of the Red Moon Beta.

"As to be expected." agreed Yasmin Hollms, princess of the Red Harebell Pack.

“Parties at the Black Moon never disappoint.” Natasha Brestwood, Princess of Almerix was quick to agree.

"You really did a wonderful job tonight too, Celestia." complimented Solange Harcort, Princess of Fenix.

"Undoubtedly." nodded Flor Denbirgh, daughter of the Beta of the Helynsweld Pack.

"It's truly admirable that you are able to manage your numerous commitments, considering that the Black Moon is always crowded with your suitors." praised her, smiling, Yasmin.

"There aren't that many." Replied Celestia, blushing smugly.

"Speaking of suitors.." commented Natasha, turning to stare at her suggestively. “We saw you dance with Jonathon Vaughn earlier.”

"You made quite a nice couple." Added Liliana Houville with veiled malice, giggling insipidly, imitated by Solange and Natasha.

“At least I still have someone to dance with, despite my shortcomings!” retorted Arabella, returning Liliana's scornful smile. "Which certainly can't be said about you judging by the way you go around in the company of your friends." Added she bluntly, making the group fall silent.

Liliana glared at her, probably wanting to throttle her but didn't respond.

Because the girl knew her well and knew that she had no way of winning against her because Arabella didn't feared the consequences of her own actions, unlike her.

"Arabella is right." Alina commented, breaking the silence, in a vague attempt to ease the tension in the group. “Sometimes I have the impression that the boys hesitate to approach us, seeing us together.”

"That's true..." Mia nodded with a forced smile. "It's amazing to think that just a few of us together can discourage their advances."

"With some due exceptions, of course." Flor joked, alluding to a group of boys intent on staring at them admiringly.

"I think Waylen Prestwill is just waiting for the right moment to ask you to dance Celestia, he's been watching you all night with hawk eyes." Commented Yasmin, smiling at her sister.

“He's cute and also seems to be a skilled warrior.” Interjected Mia. “My brother knows him, and he has always spoken highly of Waylen.”

"He's certainly no match for Alpha Seyimour but seems very interested." Natasha observed. “And speaking of Alpha Seyimour, did you see how he and Ilyan Wayward ignored each other all evening?”

"They didn't exchanged a word." Solange nodded with a knowing smile. “It's amazing that they're still at loggerheads after three years.”

"I just don't understand them." Sighed Liliana scornfully. “Isadore was just a spoiled simper and she wasn't even as pretty as Celestia. Everyone wanted her just because she was a Moon princess because otherwise I am sure…” the girl added eagerly but promptly fell silent catching her glance.

"Don't you know that it's good practice to keep quiet if you don't have anything intelligent to say Liliana?" chided her Arabella, furious.

"I just think it's been three years and both Rhys and Ilyan should go on..." answered the girl hesitantly, remembering at the last moment that she and Isadore had been friends, even if only briefly.

“And why should it matter to you?”

"It was just to say.." scoffed Liliana, improvising a smile of circumstances.

"We saw you dance with Alpha Wayward earlier, Arabella." Commented Alina, intervening again to dissipate the tension. “Are you good friends?” she asked, trying to change the subject.

"When I'm in the mood." replied dryly Arabella, before leaving, tired of the empty chatter.

She had thought it would be fun.

After the last long and boring months.

But was wrong.

"Arabella dear..."

"Luna Dorina, Luna Agathe.." Arabella greeted, forcing herself to smile at the address of the two, she couldn't help it since at short distance away she saw her father in the company of other illustrious guests.

"Are you in a hurry dear?" Luna Dorina Varaden asked her, catching her hurry.

"Some friends are waiting for me." lied Isadore who couldn't find another more credible excuse at the moment.

"Then we don't want to keep you dear." Luna Agathe Exterly nodded, allowing her to leave without delay.

Seemingly peevish once she was past the two, Arabella aimed firmly at the door and sighed in relief once she was out of the ballroom.

But her mood didn't improved at all.

Despite the provident silence that greeted her in the foyer.

Because she felt quite fragile all of a sudden and it was a strange, uncomfortable feeling that Arabella didn't remembered feeling ever before.

She felt as if a hole had suddenly opened inside her, sucking her strength out.

But it was only when her vision began to blur that she began to really get scared.

Standing motionless in the dark and silent foyer, Arabella was wondering confused what was happening to her when she saw someone walking towards her.

While behind her someone else was calling her.

Celestia..?

The sound reached her ears muffled and the weakness that had pervaded her had almost won, stealing her breath.

It was all so strange.

“Arabella..”

The tone seemed questioning, and she sensed a hint of perplexity.

It couldn't be Celestia.

"What's wrong with you?"

Recognizing Theor and Rhys Seyimour by his side, Arabella tried to emerge from the state of still stupor she was gripped by, but all of a sudden she realized that she didn't have the strength as the air swirled around her making her feel sick.

“Arabella?” Theor repeated, glaring at her, reaching out to catch her when Arabella felt herself falling.

"Don't touch me..." she ordered but her voice came out weak and tired and then it was as if someone had a heavy dark veil over her, shutting down the world, taking her away from the sounds and colors, stealing her life.