Stella's Dress ^

Stella

"You're not serious?" I exclaim as I gape at Brandon's grinning face.

"I am dead serious, dearest Stella. Connor flung the bucket over the side and I was covered head to toe in feathers, honey, grease, chicken poo and Apollo knows what else."

I break into giggles, raising a hand to cover my mouth as he chuckles beside me. Brandon's eyes flicker with light as he watches me laugh and I can't help but admire him in the soft ballroom light.

"I believe," Brandon drawls with a grin as couples take to the floor after the interlude. "I bargained three dances with you."

"Oh?" I arch an eyebrow in question, even as I take his offered hand. "And what am I getting in return in this... bargain."

"Decent company and a save from being drowned in tedious work."

I roll my eyes, grinning as the music begins and we start to sway.

"Trapping me in a slow dance." I tease, "How cliche."

Brandon blushes as he glances away from me with a slight huff.

"I thought it was rather charming of me."

Laughter bubbles up before I can stop it, my body shaking with the movement and we glide across the floor, I feel Brandon's gaze on me. I open my eyes, not realising I had closed them, only to find his gaze caught on mine.

Heat fills my cheeks as I look up at Brandon, craning my neck back to accommodate for his height.

"It was." I concede.

My attention turns to the couples around us as we begin to speed up, catching flashes of feathered wings, scaled hands and a glimpse of rich red hair. Helios, I've missed this, the pure freedom of dancing. Not the forced lessons of Royalty but a true ballroom dance, full of so many cultures that there are no rules to the dance.

"What brings you here then, business?" I ask, guilt briefly flickering through me at the thought of my own duties. The realm relies on my family and I to create trade, build relations and covet wealth and prosperity on their behalf, yet here I am flirting away during one of the largest political events of the year.

Brandon winces slightly. "Family."

"Not good, I take it." I offer sympathetically. The music begins to crescendo and we move faster as it builds.

"No, well yes." Brandon's gaze drifts to the crowd before focusing on me. "My uncle is hosting the ball."

I stumble. Brandon's arm quickly tightens around me to keep us steady, his eyes filling with an emotion I can't place.

"Now I feel guilty for not recognising my host."

Brandon, his arms still cradling me tightly, laughs quietly as he looks down at me. "Perhaps, but you've made up for your bad etiquette with your charming company."

My next words are low and sultry, and I don't mind one bit shrugging my duties for the night. "It's not everyday a fairy finds herself in the company of such a kind gentleman, can you blame me for forgetting my etiquette."

Fabric swirls around me as we come to a sudden stop. The sound of clapping echoes silently through the ballroom. Distantly, I register those beginning to leave the ballroom floor as others take their place.

His pupils flare, and his gaze drops to my mouth. "I think, dear Stella," I wait, my heart an uneven beat. "That you and I are going to be good friends."

"I think we will." Though a part of me wanted to retort, friends?

"I'm glad you agree." His breath caressed my mouth.

I'm aware of every inch between us, the distance smaller and smaller, the challenge heightening with each second neither of us moved.

"Do not," he says softly, eyes like molten fire. "Tease me Stella."

"I don't know what you mean." The sheer power of him envelops me, shaking me awake.

"I want to do this right." he purrs, slowly pulling away. "I have no intention of rushing this."

Heat fills my cheeks, my attention solely on Brandon as we glide into the next dance.

I breathe, "And what are your intentions?"

A grin tugs at his face, heat floods me and I go taut and loose all at once. I'm suddenly grateful for the distraction the dance provides, our movements precise and controlled as I delicately twirl till my back is pressed against his front. We hold the position for a second, enough time to look up at him before pulling away again.

"Firstly, I want us to continue dancing. We'll have one or two more dances, spend the rest of the time talking and laughing. Then, I'll walk you to your car, you'll be saddened of course but I'm not that type of guy." I scoff and roll my eyes but don't bother to hide the smile on my face. "I'll hand you my card and promise to wait for your call in the morning."

"And what happens after that?" I tremble, captivated by the stunning male before me.

He hums, "You'll wait a few days, to keep me on my toes, but, you concede and pick up the phone. We'll meet for coffee, maybe see a play or movie, whatever takes our fancy and we take it from there."

"Not dinner?" I breathe.

"Whatever you want."

He looks down at me, eyes soft and smiling gently. Raising an eyebrow as we pull away from each other before being tugged back together, the thrill caused by the music hums through my veins.

"Unless, of course, you don't feel the same way I do?"

An out, because there would always be one with him. The kind smiles, the worried look, how different he is from the aristocrats I usually encounter. This would be my choice, I realise, for all his flirting and dancing if I said no he'd accept it. He'd proven as much throughout the night, through his response to that ghastly businessman I danced with.

"That," I hum. "Sounds like a wonderful plan."

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

I move through the crowds in search of the bathroom clutching my bag that I had previously entrusted to a waiter. As the noise grows louder and the crowd thicker I regret not taking Brandon's offer to escort me there. The ball is still in full swing as the clock strikes 11, yet I can't help but feel as if I have been here for days. Finding the bathroom, I quickly entered and dodge a leaving wraith who was more gossamere silk and air than physical form.

The bathroom has clearly been renovated since the building of the hall but the gold and white themes are still present in the powder room before the bathroom. Plush white velvet stools line the circular room, each one placed at a separate vanity, embellished with gold framing. The hard stone floor has been polished to marble, to the extent that I can see my reflection clearly as I move to the bathroom.

The row of stalls on the right continues the theme, with white walls, bordered with gold, the large mirrors above the sinks to the left are illuminated by hidden lights, each one mounted in a gold frame.

Another display of Solaria's obscene wealth.

I quickly do my business before moving to the sinks, eyeing my flushed face and messy hair. Mother would be disappointed if she saw the state I was in. I quickly grab a paper towel and gently pat my face to get rid of the oily, makeup and sweat before rifling through my clutch bag for my powder and lipstick.

The flush of a toilet briefly catches my attention as I look through the mirror to see a familiar redhead exiting a stall. My breath catches at the sight of Beatrix's lithe form encased in a rich purple gown. Silver beading and stitching mimic the harsh jagged swirls of electricity over the bodice in scrunched up detail, practically covering the entire corset in shimmering thread before drifting down to lone lines of lighting along the silk of her skirts. My eyes snag on her face, on her hair pulled back into a crown cornet woven with dark crystal wire as she smirks in delight at me.

"Your gaze flatters me princess." Beatrix purrs, eyes sparking with mischief.

I straighten. "Wha- what are you-"

"Doing here?" She interrupts, moving forward to stand beside me as she washes her hands.

Shock courses through me at her presence though the fairy merely ignores me entirely in favour of fixing her appearance in the mirror. Those luscious red lips twist and stretch as she applies a fresh coat of wine red lipstick.

"It's simple really." She hums, finally turning to face me as she rubs her lips together, my breath catching in my throat as she grin at me. Her smoky eyes are half lidded as she takes a step closer to brush off invisible lint from my shoulders.

"Rosalind wanted someone to keep an eye on Octavia and carry out some other business for her but sweet Tavi is the priority," I tense in fear, eyes watering in betrayal. "So that meant the Queen wanted me to keep an eye on Octavia."

Beatrix pouts at me, rolling her eyes at my no doubt stupefied expressions.

"Except, dear Stella." She taunts, "It's not Octavia I find living up her new found freedom."

My body trembles as adrenaline begins to flood my body, my power hums to life and I ignore the way it begins to sing as it feels the familiar pull of Beatrix's lightning crackling along my dress and clutch.

"What do you want from me?" I demand shakily.

"What makes you think I want something?" She raises an arched eyebrow in question before rolling her eyes as if she expected me to know better. "I'm your surprise guest Stel, your old friend, your secret guard, your- well." She shifts her weight to one side, scrunching up her face in mock sympathy. "You get the idea don't you? Queen Luna's not the most imaginative with roles and titles."

I raise my chin in an attempt at regaining my composure, doing my best to ignore what she revealed about Rosalind. "Then why have you only just interrupted now."

Beatrix moves to fixing my hair. "I couldn't have you going back out looking like a strumpet now could I." She hums, gently tugging my hair in a way that has me gasping for air. My eyes water in response as embarrassment tugs at my gut. "Oh, don't look so upset, Stel. You and Branson did make a rather attractive couple."

I jerk away from her touch as if she burned me, glaring at the way she frowns as if I'm the one being cruel. As if I'm the one apparently working for Satan herself after all she did to Tavi. Helios, does Tavi even know Beatrix is working for Rosalind?

Beatrix watches me for a moment, taking in the way I tremble like a fawn. She sighs, turning towards the sink to pick up both of our bags before striding into the powder room.

Once Beatrix has left the bathroom I take a shaky breath, turning to brace my hands on the sink counter as I stare into the mirror. I looked defeated, but Beatrix was right. My hair and makeup is more of a mess than I realised and Brandon has me worked up more than I'd like to admit.

Taking a shuddering breath I straighten up, scrubbing at my eyes to hide the hurt tears. When did we change so much? Though it really is my fault, I killed her girlfriend, accident or not, I still killed her. How could I blame Beatrix for not forgiving me? How can I blame her for turning to Rosalind when I was the other option?

The gold and ivory room feels more dark and muted when I enter the powder room, Beatrix is sat at one of the vanities- glaring at the pixie touching up her makeup. Awkward silence fills the air and I shift in irritation, my previous shame and hurt turning quickly to anger. I refuse to look at Beatrix, even as our companion hurries from the room.

"Well that took forever." Beatrix moans.

I glance over slightly, seeing her rise from her perch with one hand wreathed in electricity. My power thrums to life, tugging at its leash with enough force that I gasp. Beatrix's attention darts to me in curiosity, before those calculating eyes dismiss me in favour of swiping the door closed with a wave of cold air.

Jumping slightly at the bang of the closed door I finally give Beatrix my full attention. She gives me an expectant look and points to a chair.

"Well?" She whispered harshly, "I cleared out the room so do your thing and get cleaned up."

Rolling my eyes I snatch my bag from the seat and make my way to the furthest away vanity, quickly pouring out the bag's contents. I eye Beatrix in the mirror as she walks closer, stopping behind me so I can feel the heat of her body against my back.

"Your mother plans to use Octavia as a political tool." I pause at her words, shock taking over me in such a way that I don't stop Bea from taking the brush from my hands. "I assume today's event is for her to build up a portfolio of alliances and important names."

My stomach churns at the thought of my twin once again becoming a pawn in my mother's political games. The sensation of powder being applied to my skin jerks me back to the present. Beatrix looks down at me with an unreadable expression, her face and body is still tight with irritation and anger but her eyes, there's something soft there.

"It was always going to be this way Stella." I swallow thickly and look down. "We always knew this would be the outcome, you're heirs- what were you expecting-"

"Time to grieve." I snap, relishing in her flinch at my tone. "We lost Ricki too, and Octavia lost a lot more before that."

Beatrix's eyes harden as she straightens up, putting the brush down with a resounding thud that merely stokes the fire in my chest. How can she think we don't care?

"She was my whole world, how dare you compare your grief to that." She breathes, body trembling as her eyes begin to glow. "You took everything from me that night."

I gasp, her words like a punch to my gut.

"It was an accident." I implore, begging her to believe me. "I was trying to kill the burned one."

"The burned one?" She laughs brokenly and the air fills with static. "You were aiming straight for her with not a threat in sight."

Beatrix storms forward, lighting cracking at her fingertips. Faster than I can react she grabs me by the throat and pins me to the counter behind. Beatrix glares at me, panting with rage as her free hand clenches on the table behind me. My eyes water, not at the hand that holds my throat, but at the pure grief in her eyes.

"Why." She croaks, eyes desperate as she whispers. "Why did you kill her?"

Her hand is shaking at my throat, her grip so loose that I could easily escape. I don't. I know if she wanted to hurt me she would have, would have flayed the skin from my bones, choked me to death, slit my throat, anything. But she hasn't. She's barely even touched me, the hand on my neck merely holding me in place.

My breaths come in shudders as her gaze darts between my eyes.

"I remember the burned ones running at us." I whisper, " Ricki was cradling you by a tree and I could see Tavi in the distance fighting them off." I swallow nervously, seeing how she hangs onto every word. "One lunged straight for you, so I sent a blade of light towards it but the next thing I knew you were screaming and Ricki had a knife in her chest."

We remain there in silence, both of us reeling at the words. Bea stumbles back, swiping at her face as she takes watery breaths. I slowly straighten up, smoothing out the wrinkles in my dress.

"I'm sorry, Beatrix." I whisper into the silence. "I know it doesn't change what happen-"

"No it fucking doesn't." She rasps, her voice laced with pain and dying anger.

I look to the floor. "We grieved her too, Bea. We're still grieving for her."

The silence stretches longer this time. Long enough that I grab my bag and move to the door, when I reach for the handle Bea's voice whips through the room,

"You smile at that boy the same way I used to smile at her when we first met," My breath catches in my throat. "Why do you get to have that when you took it away from Ricki."

I bolt from the room.

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

"Hey, what took you so long?" Brandon worries, standing quickly to pull out my chair as I reach him at the table. "I was ready to pull together a search party."

I give him a small smile, still reeling from my encounter with Beatrix. "Just ran into an old friend." I rasp, taking my seat beside him. "Got carried away down memory lane."

I pull out my phone to text Octavia but end up dropping it back in my bag once I realise it's dead. No way to warn Tavi of Beatrix's appearance then.

Brandon delicately brushes a lock of hair out my face, his brow furrowed with concern. "Not bad memories I hope."

"Dance with me." I rush, pulling on my happy mask as I look at the musicians who signal they're going to play a faster dance to the crowd. I turn back to face Brandon, eyes pleading as I beg him for a distraction.

He swallows at my look before glancing down and nodding.

"Of course." He grins, eyes lighting up in soft delight. "Always."

I smile softly as we move back to the floor. Conversation flows easy between us, he tells me stories of him and his Eusebeia Connor and all the trouble they get up to. In turn, I tell him about growing up in the royal household. It's nice, being able to make a joke of all those fancy lessons and etiquette training. Time flies and one dance turns into two yet, I can't settle.Not fully. I can see her, Beatrix, in the corner of my eye. Sometimes I see her talking to another guest, others she is watching Tavi and sometimes I see her on the dance floor. She twirls and dances with partner after partner, each time smiling wide. It's forced. My heart breaks at the reminder of her words. Her smiles are all forced now, after what I did to her.

Brandon and I leave the floor, both of us panting in exhaustion as we find a plush velvet bench against a wall for us to slump down on. Our breathless laughs fill the air as we glance at one another. Helios, I'm exhausted. We drift into a peaceful silence, both of us content to people-watch for the time being. Couples continue to move in sync on the dance floor, each movement causing a sea of fabric to shift and sway from the ladies dresses.

I swallow tightly as I see a flash of red hair in the crowd. Beatrix is gliding across the floor with a handsome shifter, her back to me so I can see his sharp grin as stares down at her with lust. One of the Zoúnkla allásson if the strips of tiger fur markings on his neck and exposed arm are anything to go by. My jaw clenches as I watch Beatrix trail a hand up his bare arm, she delicately grazes over the prominent veins and fur before stopping at the edge of his rolled up sleeve.

A fast flip of movement has my stomach lurching as Beatrix is twisted to face my direction. She gives him a sultry look, desire hooding her eyes as she leans up to him. My heart beats faster as I watch her hands trail up from his arms to the back of his neck. The male curls down over her, his forehead resting against hers as she plays with the hair at the nape of his neck.

Beatrix's gaze catches mine and I gasp shallowly at the pure electric power filling her eye. A smirk pulls at her lips as she reaches up to drag the shifter into a passionate kiss. My body trembles with adrenaline, I'm transfixed by her as Beatrix refuses to break my stare in defiance, even as she curls her body against her partner.

"Are you okay?"

I startle, looking over at Brandon who's staring at me curiously but I can see he's too exhausted to push for answers. I steady my breathing and force a smile but it quickly wavers as I glance down at my lap.

"Would you mind terribly if I ended the ball here." I ask, refusing to look at him in fear of his disappointment.

"Hey, hey." he murmurs, gently tugging my chin with his thumb and forefinger till I turn to face him. Worry shines blatantly in his eyes. "I won't lie and say I'm not disappointed to leave your company but you don't need my permission."

He gives me a grin. "You're far too powerful to be asking for permission, let alone mine."

I chuckle and glance into the crowd, catching sight of Beatrix leading the shifter onto one of the balconies.

A/N: Should Stella end up with Beatrix or Brandon?