The Wolves of Ossory

2. The Beaulieu Bells

Flashback 5 years ago.

Maeve

I slipped into my velvet green heels, silently thanking the Moon Goddess for the gift she was giving us tonight.

Alma, are you ready? I mind-linked my sister who was spending an impossible amount of time in the bathroom.

NO! I CANNOT APPEAR TO OUR PACK IN THIS GOD AWFUL DRESS MAEVE! I winced at her boisterous response. We had been mindlinking since birth, a perk of being a twin, I suppose, and at times like this I regretted it just a bit. No matter, I strolled to the bathroom and knocked gently on the door after noting it was locked. After hearing a click, I turn the knob and enter to find an absolutely, hands down, gorgeous drama queen standing in front of me. I place my hands on my hips, trying to keep a laugh at bay. There she was, my perfect sister who never had a stray hair, never a pimple, a wrinkle, never a chipped nail even, clutching a lilac-colored dress with all the rage glowing in her eyes.

"I don't see what the problem is, Alma," I sighed.

"THIS is NOT WINE purple. I specifically asked for WINE purple. Oh, I swear when I get my hands on that little seamstress b***h witch she will rue the day, Maeve!" she threw the dress onto the sink, sitting on the toilet with a thud.

I was already dressed in my deep green silk gown, seeing as one of us always needed to be on time and properly ready, but I quickly slipped out of my heels and turned for help with the zipper. "What are you doing, Maeve?" she regretfully sighed.

"You know, I love you, but to be fair, I was with you when you put the order in and you did in fact say pastel lilac was the color you wanted. I was there Al. I tried convincing you otherwise, but you insisted the light color would suit your skin tone, which in no way would it, because let's be honest, your skin hasn't seen the light of day since we were 10 and you would've been washed out," I lightly laughed at her, hearing her move behind me to help me out of this masterpiece of a dress with a beautiful sweetheart silk bodice that let out at the waist just a bit, a tasteful slit up one side. The bodice was beaded with blue-hued pears and I had just about died over the design our local witch Fable had created.

"I resent that comment and will not respond to your incredulous claims," she huffed, getting me unzipped and helping me step out of my dress.

I immediately pulled the lilac one over my head and shimmied into it, admiring myself in the ceiling to floor mirror. It was a more simple style, a bodice lacey with bands falling off the shoulder enough to give it that sultry feel but modest and floating softly around my hips and legs. My hair was pulled up in two elegant French twists, joining in the back to become one long braid reaching my core. My hazel eyes are shown with a golden green glow, my freckles especially prominent against my complexion.

Alma moved to stand beside me, wrapping her arm around my shoulder. Like me, her hair was pulled up into twists but wrapped into an intricate braided twist, her deep blue eyes smiling at me through our reflections.

"Thank you, Maevey. you always seem to be one step ahead of any disaster I may have, and your taste isn't half bad either!" she halfheartedly laughed, stepping away to twirl gracefully, ending in a deep bow.

"If I do say so myself, I believe we must make haste to the ball my sweet Princess! However shall we keep the men at bay, you ask? Tsk tsk, my dear! I will be the upmost royal c**k-block of the night!" she deepened her voice, mimicking a very high society snob and reaching her hand towards me, eyes sparkling.

"Oh my! I shan't bother with any gentleman callers tonight! My eyes belong solely to you, my bosom sister! Nary a wench in sight could outshine you," I responded, mimicking her tone. We broke into fits of laughter. I reached for her matching suede lilac heels and she quickly stopped me.

"We switch shoes tonight. That way, we can still match just a bit," I smiled at her, slipping back into my green heels and her into hers. Arm and arm, we headed toward the large rounded oak door of my room and began strolling towards the ballroom booming with noise and happiness.

"By the way, why did you choose such a modest dress for tonight?" I inquired, shooting her a side glance.

Her face blushed slightly. "Well it behooves you to know that the queen herself had a very salty conversation about modesty with yours truly," she placed a hand over her heart, swinging her head to look at me with a cheeky grin.

I gasped. "Who! You? Immodest? Well, I never!" that earned a swat to the arm. We waited at the doors as we were instructed and the King and Queen emerged behind us, coming from a different hallway.

"Oh my babies! My darlings!" our mother fanned her face to keep the tears away as she rushed towards us, my father following and leaning in to give us each a peck on the cheek. Our mother did the same, placing Almas on her freckle. Suddenly, as if just realizing what Alma was wearing, her face fell into that known look of every mother; disapproval. "Alma May, what on the Goddess's Green Earth are you wearing?!"

"Urhm, Goddess's Green Earth in dress form?" Alma stammered. Our father chuckled, patting her on the shoulder while my mother fumed.

"You look like a queen, my dear," he admired, turning to me then and saying, "Oh! And Maeve! Also very beautiful! I am so blessed you still are my little girl,"

I flushed with embarrassment, cursing Alma through our link. She turned and grinned at me.

"Magnus, it's time for us to join the party, don't you think? The moon will be at its peak soon." the Queen gently prodded him. Magnus straightened up and put on the royal king's aura, all of us slightly shivering at the power.

"Yes, my Queen. Punctual as always," he smiled at her and kissed her temple lovingly. The four of us turned and began along the arch way to the platform where all our guests and pack members could see us. The King raised his hand and silence engulfed the palace.