Book of Curses

Chapter 10.

I sighed to myself, grumbling a bit as I looked at the dress I was now holding in my hands. The more I looked at it, the more I thought it should have a lot more fabric on it, and actually seemed to be missing some in places. I shook my head, ignoring it and thinking I was crazy, and pulling off my clothes. 

I pulled on the dress and nearly ripping it back off just as fast when I saw how it looked on me. There was too much skin showing, way too much. The front was cut into a diamond shape; it barely covered most of my chest. I could see my sides with ease, no matter how hard I tried to hide them by pressing my arms to my sides. It amplified any curves I had, and made my hips flare out. 

The entire back of the dress was bare, a thin strap held the top in place over my chest, and was made almost like a halter-top, at the neck at least. I really didn't know how to react when I looked into the mirror. 

“M-morana.” I tried to call out in a hoarse, squeaky voice. I cleared my throat and then tried to call again. “Morana!” 

A few minutes later, I heard movement in the hallway, and then she appeared. Shutting the door behind her as she came in and looked me over with a blank face at first, I was starting to have a mini panic attack. 

“It’s perfect!” She said smiling brightly, as she clapped her hands together.

I stared at her as if she had totally lost her mind. Perfect? How is this perfect, it was horrible, and it looked like there was clothing missing everywhere? No one should have to wear anything like this, and I made sure she knew that was how I felt about it.

“Perfect?” I screamed at her in pure horror, and then let my voice drop down to a whisper. “I feel naked!” 

“Don’t be absurd, you look sexy.” 

“You’re insane Mora.” 

“Insanity is my best feature; trust me, you look good, the boys will trip over themselves when they see you.”

I let my mouth twist into a grimace as I looked at her, and then slowly let out my own sigh.  “Yeah, ok.” 

“Change back and come out, okay?” 

“Sure.” 

She looked at me, then smiled brightly and left the room. I stayed where I stood for a minute longer, staring at the dress. The longer I wore it, the more it didn't seem so bad, but I was still kind of frightened to be seen out of this house with it on, or what if the strap broke? So many scary thoughts. 

Pushing them all away I slid out of the dress, laid it onto the bed carefully, and picked up my clothes. Pulling them on as fast as I could manage I looked myself over, and then gazed down at my arm. There was a small, pink, irritated looking scar that ran from my wrist up most of my forearm where I had gotten hurt, my own little reminder of why I needed to learn to fight.

I looked in the mirror fast, nodded to my reflection, and then turned around going out to the hallway. I walked down it slowly to the living room where everyone was piled and chatting happily. Tom, Fang, Dolphus, Layre and Nickel were locked in a conversation; Morana was listening and speaking here and there, nodding her head. Talon stood off to the side leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest and eyes tightly shut.

Eyloff was intently listening to the others, there was a grimace on his face, and I noticed every so often his eyes shifted towards Talon. His fingers looked like they were itching to turn into a fist and hit him. Nixon on the other hand, he was… nowhere in sight. 

“Looking for me?” Nixon asked in a whispered voice as he snuck up behind me from the kitchen. I practically jumped, and turned on my heel to face him looking as normal as I could make myself. 

“Just wondered where you went.” I smiled a bit towards him, crossing my arms.

“Looking around,” he shrugged his shoulders a bit, and then I saw a mocking smile slip over his lips. “You sounded mortified backed there.”

“Really?” I asked him, frowning a bit.

“Yeah,” He tilted his head to the side, obviously thinking about something, what I didn't know. “Hey, go with me to the ball tonight, so I can piss off Raven.” 

“Piss him off, why would you want to do that?” I asked him, trying to hold back my laugh. It caused me to end up smiling like an i***t at him. 

“Because, it’s fun, you don’t have to if you don’t want. You can always have him follow you around like a lost puppy, asking you to dance with him all night.” He said to me, raising both his eyebrows for a moment before he smiled.  

“Yeah, I’ll go with you.” I replied to him, wincing from the thought of Raven following me around. Every time I saw him he followed me around, asking me fifty questions, and hitting on me. I'd about had it with that stuff. 

“Good.” 

“Think we should get back in there?” I inclined my head toward the living room.

“Probably, come on.”

We walked back into the room; Morana didn't even give me a moment before she drug me into the conversation. I actually decided to listen too. Her and Tom were talking about going to the ball together tonight, and then asked Dolphus and Nickel about them going. 

Once she got bored with the topic, she started going on and on about the people that would be there tonight. How big it would be, and how thrilled she was to have me and Tom going. Her gaze shifted for a split second and landed on Talon, I had to keep myself from smiling when she bombarded him with question after question.

First it was whether or not he had a date, and then it was if he was excited. After that it was about if he was going to dress up, or if he was going to smile. She was instantly disappointed when he just glared at her, and didn't bother to answer a thing. He didn't nod, shake his head, anything but glare, and then he finally simply said "No.".

“Jeez, you and Fang should go together, you’re both so depressing.” Morana muttered, flailing her arm around before looking away from him. 

“Hey!” Fang instantly yelled, he actually looked upset by what she said. 

“Sorry.” Morana smiled at him, trying to make everything better. As nice as she was at times, she made me think of the fake girls from our High school. Make them like you as much as possible, fake smiles, keep them happy and you'll get whatever in the world you want from them. It sickened me most of the time. 

Talon grunted, yet never once said a word. I looked over at him and I had to actually agree for once, he was depressing. I'd only got him to hold a conversation with me that one time, and yet I was determined to do it again.

He wouldn't budge, no matter what. He, I think, was still mad that he had opened up to me at all. So now he was sulking in his own way, to try and keep it from happening again at all costs. But I was stubborn, so I knew one day he'd have to break, and I'd win. 

“Raine, are you going with anyone?” Morana suddenly asked me, getting my attention. 

“Yes, Nixon.” I replied to her, inclining my head towards Nixon. Suddenly it felt like prom night all over again, that was without all the high schoolers, just replace it with Demons, Half demons, vampires and half vampires. 

Oh and don't forget a Lycan or two. That was one huge thought that I didn't want to have in my head at all. Most of the time people want to forget prom, for most of us it was annoying or horrible. For the rare few, it was great. 

“Really!”  That was when Morana got the scary look in her eyes that made you cringe. Talon looked over at us for a moment, keeping quiet as he eyed us. I couldn't tell what he was thinking, and before I could get too curious Morana started to talk again. “You better look your best Nix, or anyone can take her with the way she’ll look.” 

I just stared at her wide eyed, then looked at Nixon who arched his eyebrow looking from me to her. I just frowned, and then looked back to her as if begging to know why she had to say that to him, or anyone else.

“Speaking of which, it’s nearly time Mora.” Layre suddenly announced, and I was ready to turn around and kill her for it.

I gave her a look that practically read 'Why did you have to even mention it to her?' letting out a loud sigh. This was going to be interesting and frustrating.

“Oh wow,” Morana piped up, and then looked over at the boys, before back to the clock she'd hung up on a wall. “Well get out! We’ll see you there, and you’ll see how stunning I can make Layre and Raine!”

I grimaced over at Tom who just patted my shoulder and followed an extremely silent Talon out of the house. Nixon looked at me, smiled and then whispered. “See you later then.” 

He and the others walked out of the house leaving me to stare at Layre, and then slowly over at Morana. Before I'd even got to Morana, I noticed the fearful expression on Layre's face, and now I was sporting the same look on mine.

****

“Hold still!” Morana hissed at Layre, she was like a demon when she was working on us. It was frightening. “Don’t you know how to brush your hair, honestly Layre, and why do you wear it up like this?” 

“The same reason you hide here looking disgusting?” Layre spat at her before letting out a yelp as Morana yanked more of her hair out of her scalp.

“What, you don’t want people to see how pretty you are either?” 

“I’m hideous; no girl with scars like mine is pretty.” Layre yelled at her, and then gestured to her face and arms. The scars glistened as she moved in the lighting, and I watched them intently. 

I heard Morana laugh, just as she finished brushing out what was left of Layre's long hair. She was prettier with it down like that; I had to admit to that. It was the first time I saw Layre actually look like a girl too, it was strange. 

“Now, get your dress on and wait while I help Raine.” She said strictly to Layre, shoving her a bit to make her move. 

I stood up slowly in the dress; I dreaded wearing it outside of this room. I felt twice as bad as I did earlier in it; I swore if the top fell off I was going to kill Morana myself. Walking over to her I moved in front of the seat to sit down, before I was practically shoved down into the chair. 

I felt the brush on my hair almost right away and started wincing from the pain of it. I felt tears starting to prick at the sides of both of my eyes, and finally decided that if I made it through this, my scalp would never be the same.

I wasn't exactly sure how long I sat there in that chair wincing from the pain while Morana worked the brush on my hair, but I knew when she forced my eyes shut and moved in front of me to start on my makeup. 

Brushing powders against my eyelids, and then telling me to open my eyes again, she'd started brushing more onto my eyelid. When she stood back finally, I got to look at her for once as well. 

She had long glossy waves of hair, bright vibrant green sparkling eyes, and was wearing bright red lipstick. Her dress had a slit down the center of it showing cleavage and her navel before it ended. The dress itself fell to the floor, pooling around her feet.

“Perfect, come here Layre, Raine you can go wait, when I’m done with her we’re leaving.” Morana ordered, shooing me away from her with a quick gesture of her hand. I jumped back as fast as I could, trying to avoid getting in the way and watching as she started to work on Layre. 

She didn't take too long on Layre , she highlighted a few features, traced her eyes with a black liquid that I guess was their substitute for eyeliner. Messed with her hair a bit so that it was framing her face, and then she was done. Layre didn't need much done to her anyway. She had scars along her face, but she was still pretty, nothing could hide that. Especially in the red dress she was wearing, strapless, it had a long slit all the way up to the top of her thigh. 

“Now, we’re good to go, by the way Raine, here.” Morana said to us, holding up a mirror to me and showing me my own reflection.  

She'd done my eyeliner like she did to Layre, and put a deep blue shadow of some sort on my eyes. My lips were red, and my hair hung in loose waves around my shoulders. I didn't know what to do or say; for once I was speechless from happiness. Morana just shrugged, and set the mirror back down once she was sure I was done. “I know you want to thank me, come on.” 

“I swear, if I didn’t have to go to this thing I wouldn’t.” I muttered loud enough for them both to hear, as I walked alongside the two of them towards what I was now just going to call the "Castle"  

“Oh hush, you’ll enjoy it.” Morana smiled

“Sure I will.” 

“Don’t worry Raine, when I ditch this place I’ll say I kidnapped you.” Layre smiled over at me, winking as she did. 

“That, sounds like a plan.” 

“Thought you’d agree.” 

****

We walked past all kinds of different men and women, even some children that were all dressed up. Though some not as nicely as others were, the women were all in their own dresses, some modest and others more exposing than what I was wearing. 

I shook my head as we got closer to the ballroom that I didn't even want to enter, or know what was inside. I saw guards, they were all grouped off into fives, and all had on the same pure black outfit's, as if to try and blend in with everyone else. It wasn't working. 

“Those are the guards that got stuck on duty, also higher ranked than what we are. We’re group fifteen; those are groups, seventeen, sixteen, eighteen, and nineteen.” Layre mentioned to me, pointing to each one. 

I looked over at her, then back at the guards nodding my head thoughtfully as I scanned them.

“We protect those inside the court, they work outside it. I think you met some of them when you first came here; Fang’s under group sixteen, though he's working with us for now. So they had to replace him.” 

“Oh.” 

“And no, he’s not off right now, he’s over there.” She mentioned to me as she pointed over at one of the men that were dressed in black, the only thing that stood out about him was the shock of blonde hair. He was talking to another man, and woman dressed almost identically to him. 

“So where are Nixon and the other’s then?” I asked her, turning and looking from Fang back to her.

“I found them!” Morana announced to us in an almost singsong voice. I cringed. 

“Of course you did, where are they?” Layre sighed; she looked depressed already, not that I could blame her though. Morana grabbed hold of my arm, yanking me behind her so that she could hide me from the others, but made me follow her nonetheless. We made our way towards a group, and I spotted Eyloff almost instantly.

He wasn't dressed up at all, he had a pair of loose pants and a shirt on, his hair was pulled back messily into a loose ponytail at the nape of his neck, and he looked like he was ready to kill the first person who disturbed him. It made me smile.

“Hey Mora.” Tom smiled from ear to ear when he set eyes on her, nearly hopping up to greet her.

“Hey, oh,”  Morana turned around without another thought, pulling me in front of her, and then continued to speak. “You didn’t have to stay back there, you know.” 

“I rather felt I did, I enjoy hiding where no one can see me.” I replied, glaring daggers her way. In my head I was killing her a thousand times over, because just once wasn't enough.

“Whoa, my sister can actually look pretty?” Tom asked sounding truly shocked, my glare turned toward him, and he flinched knowing that was my look of death. 

Without a second thought, I walked up to him, hit him and then crossed my arms over my chest. He started laughing at me almost instantly, he wasn't exactly dressed up, and actually none of the men really were. They were just in clothes that I would consider to be nice clothes. It was really strange to see, especially at an event like this one. 

“Sexy is she not? Even Layre is sexy.” Morana beamed brightly at me, then over to her sister who shared the same glare that I did when standing that close to her.

Layre let out a huff, and rolled her eyes at her sister. “Are you done embarrassing the poor girl, I think she’s had enough, besides you got your wish, they’re staring at her.” 

I felt myself actually twitch a little, then looking over at the others. She was right, Nixon was smiling and staring at me, and Nickel was staring. Dolphus was as well, though to me it was more of a 'You're so pretty!!!' look from him, and Talon… Well he wasn't really paying us any attention at all. 

His eyes were actually held tightly shut, and there was a blank look on his face, he was just sitting there with his arms crossed and his legs stretched out as far as possible. He looked annoyed, yet comfortable; it was so strange to see. 

“Yeah, um, can I just sit down and hide myself somehow?” I asked them all, looking at Layre mainly though. 

“I’d say yes but, you’d jump back up to kill him.” She said to me, then inclined her head at what was behind me, and even grimaced herself.

Raven came rushing over as fast as he possibly could, looking from Morana to Layre then finally me. His eyes stayed on me as he stared for a few minutes then let out a low whistle, and smirked at me. “Man, I thought you looked good when you came over to my house, but now, damn.” 

I could only roll my eyes at him; this was going to be a fun evening if he was involved… not. Nixon came over and looked at his brother with a look that practically said 'Seriously man?', there was a sigh and then he started to talk. “If she came alone you could flirt, but she came with me.”

“Really now?”

“Yes.” I let it come out as a hiss between my clenched teeth as I glared at him. 

“Now why would you want to go and do something like that, with a lame guard who’ll probably just end up dead?” 

“Such a lovely way to talk about your brother.” Layre piped up immediately, arching her eyebrow as she looked over at him. 

“He made his own choices, just like our sister did; he can live with them too. I want nothing to do with family that decides to do this for a living.” He said, gesturing towards the other guards for a moment. “It’s pointless, and you’ll just die faster, why not enjoy the immortality that you have?” 

“Because doing this has a point to it, don’t you have tons of other girls you like to flirt with?” Nixon asked him, locking his own jaw as he eyed his brother. 

“Yeah sure, though this doesn’t mean I can’t still try little brother.” Raven smiled, patting Nixon on the head before he turned and left, almost as fast as he came over here.

“And that doesn’t mean I won't break your neck when we get home.” Nixon muttered just loud enough for me to hear, before he turned around, put an arm around my bare waist and pulled me towards where the others were all seated. He gestured for me to sit down. I didn't have to be asked twice, I sat down quickly.

I looked over at Dolphus for a moment, and realized he was giving me a look that made him look like an angered God. It was the oddest thing I'd ever seen, and I had to blink my eyes a few times to make sure it was real. “Tell me I don’t have to kill a dhampire?” He asked to the both of us.

I quickly shook my head, and in return he nodded his own. Talon moved and caught my attention, making me turn my head quickly and watch as he straightened up and open his eyes to look over at us.

“Let me guess, Raven’s eyeing Raine.” 

“M’hmm.” Morana replied, practically lying on top of my brother, it made me shudder as I looked. Tom was so transfixed on her that he didn't even watch anything that moved around him… it was like he had turned into a zombie, and it wasn't normal. 

“Well then, I guess this won't be such a boring night after all.” Talon announced leaning back against his chair once more, and closing both his eyes though this time he had a smile across his face. 

I looked at Talon for a long moment, and then shook my head slowly, my gaze returning to Morana and Tom once more. I wanted to scream at them to stop, it was bothering me, and I couldn't handle it for much longer at this rate. 

I mean, yeah sure I want Tom to go out, have a girlfriend, be happy and all that. But for Christ's sake, we are in a different universe all here, and I don't want to see what should go on behind closed doors, ever.

“What’s up with Mora?” Nickel asked, leaning towards us a bit so that only we could hear what was said.

“Noticed she’s acting weird too? I thought it was just me.” Layre replied, eyeing Morana and Tom with curiosity. 

“Sure you’re not just jealous?” Nixon asked, a joking tone in his voice that none of us cared to listen to. 

“Completely.”  Layre looked over at Nixon for a long moment with a serious look across her face, then back at Tom and Morana as they both stood up.

“We’ll be back.” Tom announced suddenly, following a giddy Morana quickly as she tugged on his hand, and kept whispering for him to follow. 

“I know she’s usually happy, but since when does she throw herself at men?” I asked aloud to the others near me. “I mean, I’ve only known her a few weeks, but she didn’t seem like that type.”

“That's because she’s not.” Talon was sitting up straight once more, his eyes fixated on the two as they disappeared around a corner. He had a worried look on his face, and it wasn't a good kind of worry either. 

Nixon looked quickly from me to Talon, the two of them locked gazes quickly then nodded. Nixon's lip turned into a thin white line across his face, and then he stood up looking to Layre and Nickel. “I’ll be back in a few minutes; I need to talk with Fang.” He told us, and then looked over at Talon. “Talon’s going to stay here incase….anything happens.” With that as his final word, he took off as quickly as he could, leaving me with the others. When I looked over at them, Talon was looking at Eyloff with a weird look on his face, Dolphus let out a groan that sounded like he wanted to die.

“Can’t you two do your jobs right, hey wolf boy be useful, make sure he’s not getting killed.” Talon snarled at them almost instantly, I could feel the atmosphere turn almost… frightening.

Eyloff let out a loud growl, eyes locked on Talon as he stood up. “He’s fine, this is your region isn’t it, and he’s safe.” 

“No one’s safe anywhere dumbass.” Talon hissed at him.  

“Show’s how well protected you are then.” Eyloff glared at him, matching his venom filled words with his own.

“For f**k’s sake wolf, there’s obviously something wrong as all hell with Morana. Now get off your sulking ass, and go protect him!” 

Eyloff's face changed, flickering for a moment to what almost looked like he was thinking it over. Before he could get mad again, or argue he took off out of the room after Tom, around that same corner that they'd all gone down. 

I stayed silent, listening as they spoke. Amamai, she had the power to change into anyone she wanted. She could be the most gorgeous girl in the region if she wanted, or possess who ever she thought was beautiful enough. Morana was that girl; she just always tried to hide it…

“What are we going to do?” I asked the others suddenly. 

“We’re going to send out the rest of the soldier’s, and keep you where we can see you. As of now, I’m in charge of you.” Talon gave me a look that almost said 'sorry', before looking away and grimacing.

“I’m going to help the wolf, she’s my sister, I want to know what’s going on. Nickel can stay here with you, and you four can keep safe here.” Layre stood up, moving before anyone could protest. With an inhuman ease she went down the hall and vanished around the corner, just like the others had before her. That's when I felt the panic starting.