leave for work that morning, but

he basket and turned on his heels. From where she stood, Elora wa

ooked door knob a

e on your w

d..." Elora cut in, folding her arms against her rat

, her eyes fell b

Papa. I'll

smile that crept to his fac

ttered, loud enough

oo Papa!" She

ood until she heard her father's

rned on her heels and

un for Madam Delacroix today.

She held the strap of the bag over her shoulder as she made it out of the h

place by her father to make sure that she constantly s

ld not walk, and Vincent, her father's

the community market could have tak

ith crying babies tied to their backs. The girls who helped their mamas with carrying the b

out this day. Every girl seemed to be extremely exci

ng girls gathered in fours and fives as they chattered discr

hen it daw

he card in their hands, or at lea

with no clue about

and get out." Her father's v

ress shop. She knew that she ought to have sent the card and everything it symbolized

was spreading its contagious happiness around the village, it had certa

her right, three girls - two of whom she had been fami

in a circle, eyes fixed on what they had i

nce to find out just

the road and wal

air and a rather chubby face, saw Elora first. On r

irst, earning her the atte

on Beauty's rath

. When the two met, they locked each other in a tight emb

days since we last saw you!" Andy exclaimed, ca

estnut hair as Andy's cousin, but the

sy taking care of

riend that even at twenty, her Pap

by to see yo

ess is absolu

ss that clung on to her friend's bosom. She was certain it wa

ar friend." Andy was

Seeing as you're madam Delacroix's apprentice." Andy spoke. The excitement in h

have any form of beau

there wa

t, until "You did know there was a b

known! There is not a

st when Andy mentioned it.

they manage to talk about her

on, the Luna queen mother has been gracious enough to invite us to the royal ball! Mama thinks I mi

ven gotten an

hand, an idea lit up in h

into her face. Her eyes rested on

she was examining someth

looked over at Elora suspici

that be the Alph

girls all made an at

hed the card from the dark girl'

k to her, a horrifi

ome bac

ck on her feet, and the dark girl thought

Hoping to be ready for a fig

he wooden doors that had the inscription "Delac

x, who stood just in front of it, a blac

rty and seven, madam Delacroix had found a way to

g a marathon?!" The lady screamed in

d off with her palm and brushed the palm against her w

til you have properly washed them." She ordered, making her w

Prince's ball today. It is said that he would pick Luna from the maidens p

cut in. Her green eyes widened in di

t it wise to reject

nough to pass up on the opp

unter, to the boxes neatly wrapped and heaped

matter. Before you know it, word spread that

never met him or been blessed enough to come across a pict

ave an invitatio

so close, Elora could tell the

back the ur

had one

so graciou

e one

ll be at

into the younger girl and stretched her hand over her head

ly raised her head up. She felt drowsy from all the look

g, immediately the sentence slipped out of her li

before turning away in what appeared to be mock pit

mannequin outside." Madam Delacroix

am,

You've wor

erself, her heart

her only ample time to keep the box her gown lay in, unti

e the kitchen. She knew it was her fathe

him in ecstasy as

the over excitement of his daughter, or the s

d himself to r

hing?" He finally asked w

just eat!" Elora

e tried to, until Elora po

an invitation to attend. Can you imagine

Douglas's face, and hi

the plate of food in front of him, down

spilled contents of the food before r

bout?" His deadly tone was an e

ack, tears rushin

pa.

n. And I forbid you from leaving this house t

dimly lit dining table

oice as she watched her father walk past her. Douglas brush

do you

dark of the house, leaving a