Kashara shifted between her tired feet that were balancing precariously on high heels. Lintenberg had finally let her go, though he had been very unsatisfied with her performance. There was only half an hour to the ball and Kashara had just finished her makeup and attire. She had been awed by the selection of dresses they had for her.

Even in the Institution, she had not seen such exquisite dresses or such soft material. Then again, she had not gone to any ball in Erth. The dress she was wearing now seemed like it was made from water, for it flowed extremely smoothly against her skin. It was soothing to her, especially after the atrocity they called hair corroding. They had poured this liquid that seemed to eat away at the hair and sting and burn her skin till it sunk in to completely burn away the roots.

Apparently, on Erth the process was even more painful. They told her, this was done by pulling out hair one by one. Kashara couldn't thank herself enough that she had never been chosen for the Groom Ball after all.

A pang went through her as she thought of Erth again. She had no way of getting back now. She had no idea how to even get out of the Casadez, let alone Demitytes. She didn't think any Demitytan was willing to help their only hope for the planet escape.

There was also the problem of her powers being suppressed. She had to find a way to restore them before she could rebel against Fallon. Not doing that would be extremely foolish. She had thought about this while being continuously lectured by Lintenberg on the twelve uses of tea cosies among other things.

She had to cooperate. For now at least, until she found a her powers or someone willing to help her escape. No use getting locked up in the dungeon till then.

She was currently waiting Fallon, who was taking a millennium to get pretty arse down here, she thought in annoyance. She paused and added to herself Not that I think his arse is pretty or whatever. Or any part of him for that matter. Feeling herself thoroughly unconvinced, she harrumphed at herself disgustedly.

Get a hold of yourself Kashara! He practically kidnapped and manhandled you at every opportunity. This is a Demitytan! Erth's archenemy! Stop thinking about doing the hanky panky with him at every chance. Stop getting attracted to him just because he is a little good looking. Feeling a little more confident about her ability to resist Fallon's charm she warned herself once more. A pretty face isn't everything! Fallon is evil. EVIL. Avoid him and focus on your escape.

She finally sighed with satisfaction, having gotten her point across to herself. Fallon won't know what hit him. She thought. I'll be totally indifferent and cold the next time he tries something. Then she had an idea. She could turn his weapon against him. She would make him suspect that he was losing his touch. Kashara thought she could kiss herself.

She decided to do exactly that. She hugged her arms around herself and twirled, making kissing noises. She exclaimed "Oh my god Kashara, You're a genius! No wonder Fallon wants to marry you! Even I would marry you if I could!"

And that was how Fallon found her.

She crashed into a stop, her eyes wide in shock, her arms slack around her hips, her flowing dress twirling with inertia and her jaw dropped in shock. Fallon raised a lazy eyebrow at her, slightly amused and slightly judgemental even.

Kashara glared back at him, challenging his stare, refusing to get flustered by the sexy eyebrow thing, or the way his lean muscles slightly showed through his clothes as he crossed his arms, or the way he casually leaned against the wall.... or the way his eyes travelled over her in her dress.

She gulped. Looks like she had her work cutout for her.

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"I'm afraid same sex marriages are out of bounds in Demitytes." He stated deadpan while they were walking toward the ball.

Kashara didn't know whether he was being serious or joking. She glared at him and settled for whacking his arm. The guard entourage surrounding them looked at her incredulously, some even hostilely. Kashara stiffened at this and offered a weak smile.

"Umm..there was a..a monster mosquito on his arm!" She exclaimed weakly. Fallon gave her an extremely amused grin, one that seemed almost chesire infact. It set off warning bells in Kashara's head. He must have been watching an intergalactic comedy drama with some weird Demitytan device, Kashara thought, because there is no way what I said was funny. However she knew resolutely, that Fallon was laughing at her, for the umpteenth time since Zeus knew when.

Ugh! What in the bollocking bacchius beer bottles was his problem? Kashara thought irately. She huffed to herself and resolved not to speak to him for the rest of the ball. She had a bigger goal for the evening. Kashara had to find a herself a sympathetic or at least an opponent of Fallon who was willing to help her escape this dastardly planet.

Squaring her shoulders she stood next to Fallon, in front of a pair of huge flowing glass doors that were so hazy she couldn't see anything. She reminded herself she had to find a way to escape and ignore the six foot-ish sinful distraction next to her.

The doors fell in a sweeping elliptical shape from the top, with the glass itself appearing to fall the shape of swirls. As the stood before it, the doors began to recede from the center. There now was a gap in between the doors large enough for three people the pass by. Fallon and Kashara began to walk through the doorway, as a page of some sort announced them with gusto.

"His majesty, Prince Fallon Decidus Eagus-Ryk Draches , firstborn of His majesty Decidus Eagus, and descender of the great Firedragon Lord Ryk, from the noble line of Draches and reciever of the holy sceptre of the Drache"

He took a breath then continued "...And his chosen consort, Her Highness Lady Kashara Desankus-Aliithor, descended from the most prestigious  Dryadel Aliithor lineage of Erth and reciever of the Laurel of Apollo from the hands of the high priest of the temple of Theon."

Kashara's mind reeled. She couldn't even dream of being a descendent of the Dryadel Aliithor lineage. Why if she was, she would be of a rank higher the Misori Lanniste or even the Lord Protector himself. Their lineage had died out nearly two hundred years ago, but their fame had been eternal.

As for the Laurel of Apollo, no one had been a powerful enough mage to receive it from the most revered temple on Erth as far as she knew. Even the Lord Protector couldn't get it for all his blackmailing and underhanded manipulation. The temple of Theon was extremely powerful and autonomous.

She couldn't understand why they were announcing these lies. It's not as if anyone on Demitytes knew the significance of any of this. She knew it was idiotic to tell people she was a street rat from Erth, but still this fame increased risk of discovery more than an ambiguous noble's name.

Then again, she thought as she scanned the awed and welcoming faces of many Demitytan nobility staring up at her from the dance floor, Fallon may have made this mission a whole lot easier for me.

Time to act like I have a stick shoved up my ass. Kashara thought as she descended the stairs. The noble and most ancient lineage of the Dryadel Aliithor...... Looks like this might be fun after all ,was her last thought as a bunch of overeager courtiers crowded around her and Fallon and sought to gain her favour.

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Well this is awfully early for me isn't it. Don't worry you are not hallucinating. I was determined to post fast this time round. Plus the fact I finally got my own computer made a big difference. ( I've been typing it on my phone so far).

So updates will be faster from now on. YIPEE !!

If you are wondering why the title seems so familiar ( Yes you harry potter fanatic) Its actually a reference to The noble and most ancient house of the black.  HEHE. I love harry potter references.

So the BALL...... I really tried to include it in this chapter guys. I really really wanted to!! The ball was supposed to actually appear directly after the I see London I see France Chapter. But really there was so much things going on in the story. I couldn't cut out any of it. And this Chapter became too long too. So I'm afraid the ball's going to be the next update. You wouldn't have wanted me to cutout poor Lintenberg now would you?

Especially since he holds a crucial point in the plot. ;). hinthint.

Stay on the edge of your seats guys otherwise you might miss it. This story is in for a rollercoaster ride.

Though the next chapter ought to be hilarious. I'll try my best to be funny guys, but you'll laugh at my bad jokes too right?............ RIGHT? * holds knife over Fallon's neck*

HAHAHA just kidding. Don't worry Fallon's not dying. yet.

Muhahahahahahahahahahaha...

love

inkonparchment