Glowing candlelight reflected off the hanging glass of the chandelier and bounced off the dangling fine jewels in the ballroom. The result was simply enchanting.

Luckily, my ball gown was not as old fashioned and stifling as my jousting dress had been. The soft blue dress had a white embroidered torso. It would have been considered a heart-shape neckline except for the thin sheer fabric that was set higher and extended like a cape over my bare shoulders and down my back. White gloves encased my arms up past my elbows. The blue represented purity, innocence, and serenity. All attributes assigned to a young maiden on the verge of adulthood.

They placed a mixture of cayenne pepper and olive oil on my lips creating a tingling sensation meant to puff out my smackers. Then they dabbed some light pink balm on my lips for color. I winced as they plucked at my eyebrows, then lined my eyes with a shimmering white powder.

I didn't like my hair being pinned up but it was not proper to even do a half updo for this occasion, so the hairdresser and I reached a compromise. She pinned it up in a way that the length of it fell off to one side onto my shoulder. She also managed to curl it in a way that it resembled Rose's natural waves. The only accessory I had to wear were some matching white embroidery pieces and a few pearls.

I hope it stays up; I had thought very satisfied with my reflection when the servants finished fussing over me. I did a twirl, the weighed skirts billowing around me with a fine grace.

I now stood beside Ruby with my hands folded in front of me, just as she did. We were surrounded by Olive, Jade, Carmine and Cerise along with several young and older ladies of the court, all exchanging pleasantries. Engaging in conversation, I had to reluctantly admit my lessons with my stepmother were paying off splendidly. The women fluttered their fans and complimented the dresses, the decorations, the food, the music, and the tranquility of the weather.

I thanked them for their rehearsed words but told them they have the Divinities to thank for the weather. We cannot take praise for that comfort.

They all just began laughing as if I had made a joke. Except nothing I had said was meant to be in jest.

"I had no idea you were the pious sort, Princess Sienna," Lady Penelope, daughter of the Count and Countess of Harklin Valley, commented.

Pious? What does that even mean?

"We were raised on the Faith of the Divine," Ruby said.

"Not at first," Lady Frida Marthawy said, a sneer set on her lips. "In fact, does your sorcerer not still practice the old ways and pay homage to the Blood Mother?"

"Alderias supports all Faiths. My father, your King, does not persecute those with different beliefs," Ruby reminded the Duchess of Opal Falls with grace. "Nazam was given a choice after the Reformation to convert. He declined. Father respects his right to choose so."

"Oh yes, of course. But one cannot help being a bit suspicious. The old ways did encourage such strange worship. One hears so many stories in the countryside. You must forgive an old women's curiosities. I should have known better. Your Highness does have connections to the old ways. Your mother, for instance---"

"Perhaps you should save your bedtime stories for your grandchildren, Lady Marthawy." Ruby's voice held authority befitting her station as usual. There was, however, an unusual distinct coldness stitched in as well at the mention of her mother.

The twins who also shared the same mother as Ruby were not as composed as their older sister in their reactions. Cerise turned away, trying to hide her face of shame behind a fan. Carmine held the duchess in contempt, her eyes hardened.

"In fact, it is getting late into the night," Carmine interjected. "Perhaps you should call your carriage around. Brittle, old bones do not fare well without a full night's rest."

The duchess flushed at such a discourteous dismissal. She swiveled her head back and forth between Carmine and Ruby then for an instant, me. I tucked my head breaking the eye contact, blushing with secondhand embarrassment.

"Indeed. I bid you farewell, Your Majesties." She gave a curtsey and took her leave. I sighed heavily, wishing I could question what that was about, but it was not the time nor place. They moved onto another avenue of discussion.

Ruby, Carmine, Cerise, and Saffron all shared the same mother, Queen Charna, the first wife of our father. Unlike the other past Queens, Queen Charna did not have her portrait up anywhere in the castle. Her name was never spoken above a hushed whisper.

I suspect that she had the raven black hair that all her daughters possessed. And I had to assume she also had the caramel skin tone that Ruby, Carmine and Cerise shared. That is all I knew about the mysterious woman. But now I had this new detail: she was a practitioner of the Blood Faith.

It made sense, in a way. The Divine Faith was much newer and only became the predominant faith of our land during my father's reign. Curiosity wrestled with my focus and I couldn't think of nothing else except having these new questions answered.

But anyone who would answer these questions for me now that I was of age are in Eldair. Perhaps Rose knew. And Saffron would surely know what became of her mother and she wouldn't have much sentimental pause about it given her being just a baby at the time of her demise.

A throat was cleared behind me. Reginald straightened from his low bow then held out his hand. I placed my hand in his, forcing myself to be courtly though I would like nothing better than to brush him off like the annoying mosquito he is.

Ever since I completed my dances with both Father and Prince Jareth, I had purposefully engaged in conversation with ladies for the past hour or two avoiding the direction of my lard of a cousin. He would have no choice but to walk to the ladies when his expected partner did not make herself available. It must have been quite a humbling experience for the man, I thought with a malicious glee.

"Princess Sienna. How lovely you look in the candlelight. Blue is certainly your color."

"Thank you. Purple isn't yours."

Ruby cleared her throat behind me, but my smile only widened as Reginald had to regain composure. His grip tightened on my hand and he pressed his lips to it forcefully.

"And here I thought Rose was the only one with a willful, sour tongue."

"Do not speak ill of my sister when she is not here to defend herself, you snake." I discreetly pressed the toe of my slipper down hard on his feet. His face turned red and morphed into a hateful glare that he quickly hid. Only for a split second did I see it, his true feelings for me.

The ladies tutted behind me restless, their ears absorbing every little detail of this exchange. No doubt my quarrel with my cousin will be common knowledge by the end of the night. But I gave no heed to the gossips. I may have to dance with him... but I had no intention of acting like I liked the guy, not after he dissed a sister of mine so publicly.

"Sienna! Reginald, please accept my apology on my sister's behalf. She is still young. I am sure your intention was not to slander Princess Rose's name." Ruby's voice held a warning. Reginald took his cue gallantly.

"Of course not." He bowed over the hand he still held. "I apologize for how my words came across. We are family, after all, dear Ruby. There is absolutely nothing to forgive. Sienna, let's settle our differences with a dance?"

He did not mean it. He hated me and I hated him. No dance could salvage this. But he said the right words and he seemed to be the mature one, but he was only saving face. All was still as they waited for my response. I wanted the freedom; the freedom to choose who I dance with, the freedom to say no, the freedom to say I like, or in this case, dislike someone regardless of their connections.

But these were the wishes of a child blissfully ignorant of the way things were. I did the right gesture and said the right thing. I heard tuts of approval from the same audience that would condemn those freedoms as we took our place among the other pairs to start the next set.

I could almost see over my cousin's head, his height so close to my own. I was able to look past his shoulder. That is when I spotted Tallis Grey. He stood expressionless by Sir Arthur. I wondered what they were talking about. He did not look like he was having a good time. I wish I could go over and talk to him, but how do I make that appropriate?

Though his stance betrayed his unfamiliarity with these affairs, he would have stood out regardless. Tallis was unfairly handsome in the foreign style of dress. The brown waistcoat had the same tapered ends that the ambassador had worn and was paired with a white cravat around his neck and white knee-high stocks below his trousers. His costume was simpler than the ambassadors had been though, absent of gloves and shiny trimmings. His hair was combed but the curls maintained their rebellious nature.

The dance had already started, and my body floated across the ballroom easily, the steps embedded in my muscle memory, so I was able to be lost in my thoughts. Reginald disturbed what I thought was a silent pact between us to stay quiet.

"You dance well. Perhaps there is hope for you yet."

I scoffed and offered no response. I did not want or nor did I need his breadcrumby flattery.

"Dear cousin, for your own sake, I implore you to wipe that look off your face. I was hoping you would be reasonable. Surely you are aware that I may very well inherit the throne upon your father's death."

"A cow would look better in the crown. Don't get ahead of yourself. Ruby is the rightful heir."

He laughed as if I just said the most hilarious thing. "A woman cannot rule alone. They are prone to emotional outbursts as you yourself are proving, by the way. Your distaste for me blinds you to logic. I hear you cannot even pass your classes so do not dare think of yourself as in anyway qualified to have an opinion on a matter of state. Watch how you address me from this moment on, dear sister."

Embarrassment over my shortcomings gave way to the feeling of shock. "What?"

"You look so pretty, all speechless. A thought to consider when you yourself become a bride. Ruby is reasonable, well-mannered and of impeccable breeding. She will make a wonderful wife and queen. She knows her place and so too shall you in due course."

I tightened my jaw having nothing more to say to him. How could Father even consider him for the throne... or Ruby's hand for that matter?

I looked around for a distraction and found it. Tallis Grey was no longer talking to Sir Arthur, instead he stood by Olive talking to her. Jade was not in sight. I rolled my eyes. Jade most likely shirked her duties and expected Tallis to be held responsible for our clumsy sister. At that moment, Tallis did something strange. He walked a few paces away from Olive, a panic spread over me that he was just walking away from the accident-prone girl. But he stopped and turned back around to face her holding up two fingers.

Olive shook her head in response to whatever Tallis asked. He then began taking steps towards her until his fingers were only inches from her nose. Then the next minute, he smiled and took her hand and kissed it.

A misstep had me stumble over Reginald's foot and he gave a grunt. "Oh, sorry," I offered half-hearted.

"Oh, I am sure you are," he sneered.

When the dance ended, I gave my partner a deep curtsey and fled his side before he could take possession of my arm to escort me. I got to Olive, but Tallis Grey was not there.

"Good evening, Olive." I gave her a slight curtsey, not sure if I really needed to or not. "Where did Tallis go?"

"Oh... I have not the slightest idea. He asked if I will be fine on my own. And I told him I would just stay still until someone came to my side. Then he took his leave."

"What were you two talking about before?"

"He was asking about my clumsiness... then asked me if I could see."

"Of course, you can see."

"Yes. That is what I said. He was a bit strange, but he seems sweet. I can see why you like him."

"I don't like him," I said immediately defensive.

"You do not?"

"I mean, I like him as a friend." My face heated.

"Oh... and that is what I meant, of course."

"Yes. Did you happen to see which way he went?"

"I believe that way." She pointed to the double wide doors that were propped open the midnight air. They led out onto the side terrace and beyond to the gardens and the labyrinth of a maze.

I paused before I went out there to ask if she'll be alright by herself. She gave a dainty nod.

It was a little chilly outside but perhaps only because it was stifling hot indoors with so many bodies. Some other nobles had congregated outside already. They gave me passing nods and I returned them but did not linger, not wanting to be trapped in hour long conversations. My eyes scanned the area but I did not see the inventor.

Disappointment assailed me. Part of me was hoping he would change his mind and ask me to dance even though he assured me earlier that will not happen. A movement in the labyrinth had me stopping before I returned to the ballroom.

It was after dark and the labyrinth was not lit by the light pooling over from the ballroom onto the terrace. No one would venture in there.... but perhaps the antisocial Maruvian would. Everyone seemed engaged enough so I slipped in between the trimmed shrubs before someone could realize the guest of honor was nowhere in sight.

Grass grew between the cobblestones that lined the winding, crisscross paths of the maze. The voices of the gentry became indistinctive hums the further I strayed. The quiet caressed my ears in a relaxing way. After another turn, I was beginning to think the moonlight must have played tricks on me. I didn't see anyone then the pattering of footsteps sounded to my left. The movement of the shrub was too great to be blamed on the non-existent breeze.

"Tallis Grey?"

Silence. Then a shadow darted about in the opening before disappearing in the foliage again.

A feeling of being watched crept its spindly fingers up my neck, sending shivers down my spine. The cold night air that felt refreshing only a moment ago took on a more sinister feel. I should head back to the ball. I gathered up my voluminous skirts and turned back towards the castle. The thought of something being around every corner ready to grab me became a tangible fear as a cold sweat stole my breathe and quickened my pace.

It was not a pair of hands that seized me when I turned a corner. It was vines! They sprung out of the shrubbery wrapping around my waist then my wrists and arms when I tried to pull them off. The vines slithered around the rest of my body, tightening the more I struggled to break free. Fear and Panic, those terrible brothers and spawns of Darkness, stole my breathe. I couldn't even make a sound above a whimper.

"And what do we have here?"

Nazam came into view as if conjured by the shadows. His eyes widened when he saw me. He chanted a tongue twister of alien words that had the vines release me and slink back into the ground.

"Sienna, what are you doing out here? I could have killed you!"

"What do you--- why would you cast such a spell on anyone?" I gasped out words and remembered the duchess's words about the strange worship of the old faith, a faith Nazam still believed in. Blood faith... it just sounded evil.

"A royal ball is the perfect place for thieves and worse," he responded darkly. "Why were you out here? I sensed a presence... was anyone or anything else out here?"

Should tell him? Was there anything to really tell?

My own paranoia aside, there was no sign of anyone actually chasing me. For all I knew, it was a bird hidden in the shrubs that I had spooked. Part of my mind accepted this. But there was still the feeling of being watched... but that was gone now.

"No, just me. I just wanted to get away from all the noise."

The only danger here is you!

"Let me escort you back now, Your Highness. Princesses have no place in the dark."