8. Andrea
8
Andrea
C eleste and I, along with all the decorators, spent most of the day getting things ready. The ball starts in just a short hour and I’m placing the finishing touches in the ballroom before heading to Brielle’s room.
As soon as I walk through the bedroom door, the air leaves my lungs for a second when I behold my best friend of sixteen years before me. Her long chocolate hair is down her back in waves with a beautiful braid draped in the middle. Small gold feathers are placed perfectly throughout the plait.
Her long hair is the only thing covering her exposed back as her sheer black dress is cut into a deep V, stopping dangerously low. Gold feathers flow from the cut, over her curves and down to the hem.
The only reason you can’t see all of Brielle is because of the perfect shade of nude fabric that blends with her skin tone flawlessly covering all of those parts. The sheer fabric the skirt is made of is layered to make such enchanting movement when she walks.
Her new markings on her arms suit her. She tried to explain why they appear but I cringed and shook my head for her to stop. It sounds painful, and I practically felt it as she was explaining.
She turns, and I am met with the same low-cut vee in the front, feather beautifully placed on the bodice and cascading down. Whoever designed this needs my number ASAP.
“You look?—”
“Insane.” Brielle deadpans as she brushes her hands over the front of her dress.
“Insanely fucking gorgeous!” I set my bag down and grab her hands. My hair has been done for hours. A simple updo with a few of my curls hanging loose. This was the last thing I needed to do before going to put on my own dress. “I have one more thing for you.” I reach into my bag and grab the detailed gold mask.
“What is that?” By Brielle’s tone, she already knows the answer to that question.
“I figured you could have a little piece of home as we celebrate your new home. Mardi Gras is just around the corner.” My throat tightens as I finish that sentence. Tears swell in Brielle’s eyes as she takes the mask out of my hands and smiles down at it. She raises it to her face, using the pins to fasten it in her hair.
The mask only covering her nose and around her eyes has the most magnificent black jewels delicately lining the bottom of it, sweeping across her cheeks. Detailed wings flared on each side of her eyes.
“Wow,” I whisper. I have to blink the sting out of my eyes.
“You all are so lucky I love you. I feel ridiculous.” Brielle rolls her eyes as she taps the corner through the mask to stop a tear from falling.
“Now what did I tell you about speaking of yourself that way, angel?” Azra’s voice startles me as he leans against the door frame with his arms crossed against his chest. His luxurious black tux is embroidered with the same gold on Brielle’s feathers. They look like they just stepped out of a dark fairytale.
Brielle’s cheeks turn even more pink under the blush she has on as Azra approaches. I take that as my queue to go and finally put on my dress.
“See you guys soon, don’t mess up her hair Azra!” I yell over my shoulder.
Before the door closes, I hear Azra answer, “No promises.”
Shaking my head, I walk down the hall to my room.
My silver satin dress is easy to put on. When Celeste showed me the crossed details on the front leaving it open in the middle, I was sold. The back of my dress is low-cut and the rest hugs my curves. Flowing slightly with every step I take.
My heart skips a beat when the door to my room creaks open. A familiar pair of hazel eyes meets mine.
“Dammit Zach, knock next time! You almost gave me a heart attack.” Sitting on the edge of my bed with my hand still resting over my racing heart, I reach for my black strappy heels and slip them on.
As I stand, Zach’s hands slide around my waist, dangerously close to my ass. Heat swirls in my middle as I remember the time we had last night after all that wine we drank. As quick as the yearning feeling came, it vanished at the thought of someone walking in.
“We can’t do this here. Not with Brielle so close.” Pushing away from him, I start to pile all of my makeup back in its bag. Just trying to find something for my hands to do so I don’t turn around and run them along Zach’s amazing body.
“Your body is telling me something different, Andrea,” Zach whispers, warming my ear before gently biting it. Goosebumps riddle my skin now, my thighs press together.
Taking a deep breath, I force myself to turn and walk past him.
“We can’t Zach.”
“That’s not what you were saying last night.” He leans against the dresser in my room with a smirk.
“Last night, I had too much to drink, which impaired my common sense to tell me not to sleep with my best friend’s brother while she is down the hall. Brielle could walk in any minute and you could explain to her how you’ve been sleeping with her best friend for the past month.”
“Okay, no problem for me. I don’t know why you want to keep it a secret anyway.” I sense his frustration from across the room. How do I tell him I’m not sure this is as serious as he thinks it is? There are feelings there, yes, but is there a different type of love other than the platonic kind we’ve had for all these years?
I bite the side of my cheek as he nods and walks out of the door. I didn’t have to say anything, the silence was telling enough. Zach stops as we are shoulder to shoulder and I keep my gaze forward, holding my breath for his next words. I would never forgive myself for hurting him.
“You are stunning, Andrea. That’s all I came in here to tell you,” he murmurs before walking out the door and shutting it quietly behind him. My cheeks puff out as I let a long breath blow through my red lips. I wring my hands and straighten my spine. Tonight is for Brielle, I tell myself over and over before plastering on a big smile.
I stop in the full-length mirror and really take in my appearance. I have never looked like this, so elegant, so confident. I smile at my reflection once more before I head to meet Celeste in the ballroom.
The hairs stand on end at the back of my neck as I walk down the hall from my room. I turn quickly and I’m met with an empty hallway. Looking around once more and finding no one, I bunch my dress in my hands and rush down the stairs to the ballroom.
The breath whooshes out of me when I enter the large doors revealing the final decor and creatures of all types gathered in gowns and masquerade masks of all kinds.
A woman in a wispy baby blue dress steps beside me. I only know it’s Celeste from her icy blonde hair cascading in a huge braid down her back and her flawlessly pale skin. Never in a million years, I thought I’d be standing in another realm surrounded by creatures I thought were only in fairytales.
“My brothers never understood human beauty, although quite different from ours, still remarkable in every way.” Her bright smile shines under her silver mask as she hands me the silver mask in her hands.
The mask is different from any other I see, still covering both eyes but one side elongates down one side of my face. Similar to a phantom of the opera mask but far more intricate and revealing.
“Enjoy yourself tonight. Brielle and Azra will be making their entrance shortly,” Celeste mentions before being pulled away by a faerie I remember from the staff catering this ball. Brielle has spent the entire three weeks I have been here teaching me the distinct characteristics of certain species. Pointed ear: Fae. Glowing eyes: Most likely a werewolf. Glistening wet skin: Siren. And the list goes on and on.
Watching Brielle and Azra walk in, arm and arm, was absolutely breathtaking. We have all spent the last hour mingling with the villagers. Everyone has been so kind. Zach has kept close but not too close to be suspicious.
Azra sits on his black throne, luxurious doesn’t even touch the look of it. Brielle has stopped to greet a few smiling faces, Azra’s eyes never leaving his love. They devour her as she gracefully moves toward him. I don’t miss the small push of his hips and the slight spread in his legs. His hand slightly tapping his thigh, signaling Brielle to sit.
My cheeks heat at the intimate gesture and I down my wine. My chest warms at the sight of my best friend happy and in love, but I can’t help the longing I have for something like that, something I have never felt before.
I’ll be needing another drink for sure.
While I’m at the refreshments table getting my fourth glass of wine, a hand gently rest on the small of my back. I turn quickly and my gaze meets Zach’s.
“She is quite the sight, isn’t she? I’ve never seen her in this light before. She’s usually covered in dirt or blood.” He chuckles while staring lovingly at his older sister. Their bond has been as close as it gets since they met.
“She is remarkable. We are lucky to have her.” I nudge him with my elbow and smile. Brielle is like my sister as well. My heart sinks at how similarly I think about Zach, that he is more of a brother to me.
“If I could have everyone’s attention.” Azra’s booming voice echoes around the large ballroom. “Most of you already know this magnificent woman standing before you.” He waves his hand to Brielle standing beside him in front of his throne. “Tonight, we celebrate her prominent, kind, powerful and loving presence here in the Forsaken. It is an honor to know you, angel.” Azra bows to her along with everyone in the room.
I peek up from my bow and see Brielle’s cheeks redden as she cuts her eyes at Azra. I already know by the smile on his face she has told him not to do this.
“Enjoy the evening celebrating my love.” With another wave of his hand, the music begins again from the small ensemble in the corner.
“Can I have this dance?” Zach offers his other hand with a slight bow. My eyes search the surrounding crowd, everyone is dancing and Brielle is nowhere in sight. She must have run off the dais the second she could. “Andrea, we have been friends for years, regardless of our current situation, I would still love to dance with you.” His bright smile melts my heart.
“Okay.” I smile and place my hand in his. He’s right, I have gotten too much in my head about this whole thing. Zach is good, we are good together. Brielle would understand that.
We float between the dancing couples until we find a small opening in the twirling and laughter. I run my finger along Zach’s smooth silver mask that Celeste picked out for him to match mine. It brings out the green in his otherwise brown-dominant eyes. His wavy hair is slicked back in a different style than normal and I think I like it.
“You know, for someone who wants to keep this a secret, you are making it incredibly hard.” He smiles down at me as his hand squeezes mine and the other, resting on the middle of my back, traces invisible circles on my exposed skin.
A faint, uncomfortable, prickle runs through my body. My shoulders draw in slightly remembering this similar feeling in the hallway earlier. I wish I could say I am a stranger to this, but this has been happening for the last few weeks I’ve been here. Like something is lurking in the shadows of every corner I turn.
“We’ll tell her when the time is right.” I clear my throat and pull back to put a little space between us. I can’t see Zach’s eyebrows under his mask but I can tell they are furrowed. I search around for the second time to see if there is a set of eyes on us. A blue set of eyes I often daydream about.
Zach’s jaw ticks as he glares down at me, still swaying to the melody of violins and harps.
“I’ve loved you in secret since I was thirteen years old, Andrea. I don’t want to hide it any longer.” His voice is low, pained even, while he admits something I have known for years. Though I never thought we would have gone as far as we have. My chest tightens as I search for the words to tell him my love for him might be different.
“Zach, I—” He closes his eyes as if he is bracing for impact. The impact of my words. The impact of my rejection. The pit that has formed in my stomach steepens.
“Just forget it,” Zach mumbles, dropping his grip on me, he turns and disappears into the crowd of dancing people without saying another word.
I take a deep breath and contemplate following him but I can’t tell him what he wants to hear. I can’t lie to him. My attraction to him is there but is it strong enough to love him in the way he deserves? To be serious with him?
Tears blur my vision. If I knew there was this chance of him getting hurt, I would have stopped him from kissing me that night all those weeks ago. Why am I like this? Why can’t I love someone? I mean truly be in love with someone.
Are my fears of possibly having the capability to leave everyone just like my real mother left me finally becoming too much to ignore?
All my life I have sucked at relationships. No matter how much I thought I loved the person, something always felt missing. As if there is a hole that no one can fill.
I tap the corner of my eyes through my mask and find myself hurrying to the side glass doors that lead to part of the garden. Fresh air is exactly what I need right now.
I quickly walk to a small sitting area toward the back of the garden. Deep between rose bushes and tall hedges. The weather is always perfect here, never too cold or too warm. It’s nice to breathe something different from thick muggy Louisiana air.
I suck in the flower-scented air around me and my eyes shut at the cool breeze kisses my skin. This is exactly what I needed to freeze out the guilt building in my chest.
“What a treat to find you here, little bird.”