Eternally Dark

chapter 13: shopping

We lay like that for no less than a half hour, just being with each other. Eventually though James got up, and helped me up.

“Come on,” He said, leading me into the front room.

“Where are we going?”

“Dress shopping,” Wow, he’s volunteering to go shopping.

I followed him through the maze of halls and into the room that held the strange black pit that had aided our escape a few days earlier. We walked through, and came out in front of a fancy looking dress shop. We went inside, the doorbell chiming when we opened the door. A beautiful woman who looked to be in her mid to late thirties, walked in from out back. She had long brunette hair that hung loose around her waist, brilliant blue eyes and deep blue tight fitting dress.

“Good afternoon,” She said, walking toward us. “Ah James, nice to see you again. I assume this is the lovely lady you bought that dress for.” She stuck a hand out, which I shook.

“Clara,” James said, happily accepting a hug. “Yes, this is Elizabeth,”

“So what’s the occasion I’ll be dressing you for today?”

“A new arrival to the clan,” Clara’s face lit up even more.

“Oh my,” She said, clasping her hands together in front of her. “Am I dressing this lovely young lady?” I nodded.

Clara had James sit down in a comfy looking chair, that sat at the front of a large open area. She brought me round the shop stopping every few dresses to pull one of the racks. In the end she had four dresses lined up for me to try on. She led me to the dressing room, just behind the chair James was sitting in.

“James, is she human?” Clara hissed, probably thinking I couldn’t hear her. “What the hell James. We don’t screw with them, it's cruel!”

“I’m not screwing with her,” He hissed back,

“Then what?” I didn’t give him time to answer, as I came out of the dressing room.

The first dress I had put on was a beautiful floor length, black princess dress, with a white lace belt and a single shoulder. I did a slow spin in it to show off the dress, but had already decided that I didn’t much like it on me.

The second dress was pink, it sat just above my knees and puffed out. Pink flower embroidery sat along the bottom and on the top half of it. I liked this dress quite a bit and so did James.

Dress number three was a dark blue, it was floor length and had a slit in the side. The back sat low and the short sleeves were purely decorative.

The last dress, a plain tight fitting half length dress, with no shoulders. This dress I decided was my favourite. We bought it along with a matching little black handbag and heels. I felt a bit guilty that I wasn’t paying when Clara gave us the price. It was dark outside now, so obviously we’d been out for hours, but it hadn’t felt like that.

“Elizabeth, is it okay if I have a chat with James?” Clara asked, once we’d finished paying. I smiled and went to sit in one of the many chairs around the store. I focused on letting my hearing increase so that I could hear their hushed conversation.

“James, why are you screwing with this little girl?” Clara asked, sounding almost appalled.

“I’m not,”

“Then please do share. What is it you are doing with the poor girl?”

“Nothing,” James practically growled the words,

“Don’t tell me you’re actually taking her to the ceremony though,” I couldn’t hear a response from James but Clara’s was clear. “Are you delusional? They’ll go for her! You’d be handing her a death sentence!” A knot formed in my stomach, Would they actually try and EAT me?

“No one will lay a hand on her, I’ll make sure of it!”

“I warned you,”

A moment later James appeared in front of me. I stood up, and grabbed onto both his hands. I blinked and we were back in James' apartment. He took the dress, bag and heels from me and laid them on the entrance table. I tapped his shoulder, making him turn around and face me.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you, okay,”

“Okay,” I whispered back. “What time do I need to be ready?”

“Thirty minutes,” He told me, kissed the top of my head and left the room. I picked up the shopping and headed into the bathroom, where I changed into the dress, did my make-up and hair, and put on the heels. I grabbed the purse and slung it over my shoulder. I filled it with my phone, a small wallet and lipstick. It had been twenty-five minutes since I’d gone in.

“James?” I called out, moving through the apartment looking for him. I found him in a spare bedroom, he was standing in front of a mirror doing his tie. When I walked in he quickly finished and flashed over to me. I automatically took a step back. He didn’t seem to mind though.

“You look beautiful,” He whispered to me. Somehow I managed not to blush at that comment.

“You ready?” I asked, straightening his tie.

“Yep, let's go,”

James let me try to find my way to the event room since we were ready early, and somehow we didn’t get lost. When we arrived there were quite a few people already there. Just as it had been at the clan party, the moment I walked in all heads turned in my direction. I tightened my grip on James' arm slightly, making sure I stuck close to him. Those in the room began to furiously whisper to each other; ‘Why has he brought a human?’ ‘You think she knows?’ ‘Caecilia is going to be pissed,’. Though they each became quiet when James shot them glares, only to continue whispering once he looked away. James led me over to Maria who was just about the only one in the room not whispering.

“Hey,” She said, pulling me into a hug. “You look beautiful,” Having Maria recognise me and greet me so nicely set off even more whispering. My hearing focused and increased, sending shots of pain that imitated knives. I closed my eyes and focused to bring down my hearing sensitivity.

“You okay?” James asked, when I reopened my eyes. I nodded in response, giving him a smile. The room fell silent and everyone turned to face away from the doors and to the front of the room, moving into a tightly packed crowd as they did so.

“My Elizabeth please join me,” Caecilia’s voice filled the room. James nodded to me when I looked to him for an okay to go. I approached the crowd, hesitated a moment. Then took a step forward into the sea of people, I pushed through the crowd fighting to get to the front, with each person giving me dirty, disgusted looks. I ignored them all and continued to try and make my way to the front of the room.

“Elizabeth?” She called again. I burst through the front of the crowd and walked up to her. “Ah, there you are,” The room filled with whispers, all of which immediately stopped the moment Caecilia began to talk.

“Thank you all for coming tonight, as you already know we will be welcoming a new addition to our clan. This is Elizabeth,” She gestured to me, and nodded to James who had made his way to the front of the room. He walked forward and stood at my side taking hold of my hand. “She is joining our clan on the account of being James’ mate. Now I understand this is an unusual situation but please, do your best to make her feel-” No! No!