21. Princess Moments

Ihad hoped that while we were getting ready, I would have had the opportunity to speak to Amelia about my fears and worries regarding Jared. Because I knew if there was one person that would be able to give me sound advice, it was her. I only knew half of what she had been through with Lucius, and it sounded just as turbulent, if not more so, than what I had been through with Jared so far. Which meant she would understand where my head was at more than most.

However, the moment it seemed to have turned into a girly pajama party while getting ready, that opportunity had slipped away, passing me by in a blur. And before I knew it, all four of us we"re walking back toward the club where the main party was being held. With my aunt and uncle being the host, my uncle was waiting ready to escort her down the stairs last. His eyes quickly scanned the length of her, making her blush as his eyes started to turn into purple fire.

But then again, this wasn't surprising because my aunt currently looked like some goddess, in her off-the-shoulder ombre dress that started off with the deepest purple at the top. The color then lightened the further down the floaty, soft material the dress was made of. This until ending with the purest of whites, with every spectrum of purple tones in between.

As for my uncle, his suit was mostly all black, apart from the embroidered purple thread at his satin lapels, done in a demask design. One that also mirrored on the vest he wore under his jacket. Or to my British mother, also known as a waistcoat.

It had to be said that they made a beautiful couple, but then, so did the rest of them, because one by one the husbands stepped forward to claim their partners, each looking as dashing as the next. Like Lucius, in his black suit with the hint of the same demask design worn by my uncle, only his was all over his jacket but not the satin lapels. This design was also mirrored on his tie, in crimson red this time, and it was startling in contrast to the black satin. A velvet waistcoat, in the same red, completed the Vampire King's dark, handsome look.

But there seemed to be a theme emerging, because Amelia was also wearing a stunning black and red dress, making me realize that the couples matched. What with her elegant off-one-shoulder style dress, with its full, ballgown skirt that had a slit up one leg and from it, layers of cascading red organza flowed from underneath. A cluster of delicate red roses and crystal beads started at the top of her shoulder and cut across her body in a diagonal, finishing where the slit in her dress started at the top of her thigh. The rest of the material was a thick black velvet, that moved gracefully around her.

Both my uncle and Lucius took the time to acknowledge me, telling me how beautiful I looked, but after first paying their compliments to the stunning women in their lives. And rightly so.

My cousin had playfully tugged at Lucius's lapel and growled,

"Mmm, you look good enough to eat, Vampire."To which he growled back, snapping his fangs and telling her,

"Then I know what drink we can both toast to when midnight comes." At this my uncle cleared his throat and told them both,

"Is it really so hard to remember that we still exist and with it, the knowledge that we too have excellent hearing?"

I chuckled as she muttered to Lucius,

"Next year, Christmas presents are a matching pair of headphones for those two."To which he winked at her, making her parents groan, as well as roll their eyes. The whole scene was adorable, and I was just happy to see that Amelia had finally got her man and was clearly loving life. Despite teasing them, I could also see that her parents were obviously overjoyed for them both.

As for the party, this time it was being held downstairs and not in the VIP area. Which made sense considering they had closed the club to the public to accommodate the large number of people. Most of which, admittedly, I didn"t recognize. Although unsurprisingly, Amelia did. Something I discovered once Lucius, after first telling her how exquisite she looked, escorted her down the stairs to be greeted by so many people, and it was lovely to see.

After that, it was Pip and Adam's time to go next and I had to laugh when seeing her husband's first reaction to her outfit. He looked like he didn't know whether to punish her or drop to his knees and worship her. It was as much of a bonkers dress as it was incredible, despite it most definitely being on the riskier side considering how much skin she had on show.

No wonder her husband looked like he didn't know what to do with her, and I doubted most people ever did. But then, that was one of the best things about Pip. She was utterly unique and if you didn't instantly fall in love with her, then there was something wrong with you. Hence why we had all made a big deal back in Sophia's dressing room, cheering her on and whistling before showering her with compliments the moment she walked out in her crazy dress.

It was a sexy hourglass shaped corset of black satin, with hot pink satin buttons running down the center, which matched the large stiff, pink bow fixed across the chest. The deep sweetheart neckline connected to the long sleeves that each had a fan of pink ruffles at the shoulders. The pink and black theme continued around the corset and past her waist, becoming a body suit everyone could see. The skirt part of her dress was like a cape of pink, connected at the hips of the corset, leaving the front totally exposed. However, at the very least, and no doubt for Adam's sanity, she had a second pink bow attached to part of her corset that covered her lady flower.

Of course, this was what she had called it, adding that she couldn't wait for when her Pookie would make her petals flutter later. But then when my aunt had made a face, she took this for something else and explained,

"I mean my pussy and fanny lips, Toots… jeez, I was trying to be subtle." At this we had all laughed as my aunt told her,

"Yeah, I got that." Making Sophia gesture down Pip's body and say,

"This, however, is anything but subtle. Gorgeous but definitely not subtle."

"Poor Adam is going to pop a blood vessel," my aunt added, making Pip squeal with delight, before saying,

"Yey! Pop rocks, I hope so."

"Pop rocks?" Amelia asked, missing the part where her mom and aunt were shaking their heads behind Pip's back. But it was too late, because she told us,

"I've got the little suckers hidden and at the ready for my boo pop to play find the tongue tinglers." Then she whistled, simultaneously taking two of her fingers and making them go up into the ring she made with the fingers on her other hand, before winking at us both. The sight of our eyes turning wide before looking at each other must have been a comical one because she burst out laughing. Then she stepped up between us and took our cheeks in each hand and gave them a squeeze.

"Oh, my little crumpets, you're all grown up now, so if you ever need a packet, just come find me, I always have extras." Then she gave our cheeks a little tap before hugging us both as a threesome. Christ, she was the weirdest sweetheart alive, and I loved her but there was no way I was asking her for candy ever again… pop rocks especially.

So, after she had put on her over-the-knee PVC pink boots that matched the dress, complete with bows at the top, we had all been ready for the ball. Even Adam, because he was wearing a formal tuxedo and looked handsome. However, it was the hot pink bow tie and pink leather dress shoes that caused us all to smirk. Something Pip went bat shit crazy over, and she literally threw herself at him and started peppering his face with kisses. This meaning that soon his bow tie and shoes weren't the only thing colored pink on him. A fact he didn't seem to mind in the slightest as his face got decorated by her lipstick. But then again, knowing who he was, I doubted anyone would have been stupid enough to make a comment. Or should I say… suicidal enough.

As for Sophia, her husband Zagan stepped up to her, and the heat in his gaze couldn't be masked by his cool persona. His long white hair was tied back, making his albino features all the more striking, with that tattoo down the side of his face standing proud against his pale skin.

Of course, not being left out, he too matched his wife. She wore a stunning black tulle dress, with a full skirt that flared out from the see-through vertical panels running down her torso. The cups at her breasts were solid black, with lines of white pearls framing the panels that followed the natural curves of her body. A thick choker of pearls was added to this, and matched the pearl cuffs sewn into each of the full length, see-through gloves she wore.

Zagan's white suit was matched perfectly, what with his black shirt and white tie, with the lapels of his suit jacket being solid black satin.

As for me, I ran my hands down my dress nervously, now wondering what Jared would think seeing me in it. It was the most exquisite dress I had ever seen, let alone ever could have dreamed of wearing. I felt more like a glittering jewel. The silver corset was totally encrusted by a combination of tiny seed beads, sequins, silver pearls and stunning tear drop crystals. These were all sewn onto panels of illusion material, making it look as if these clusters were stuck to my skin that could be seen underneath. The strapless, sweetheart neckline was where the design was at its fullest so I wasn't flashing everyone my ‘fun bags' as Pip had named them.

As for the skirt, this was layers upon layers of tulle that flowed from my hips, and the V-shape of thicker beads, crystals, and pearls that framed the bottom of the corset. Thick silver ribbon crisscrossed down my spine and was pulled tight enough to keep everything in place.

My hair was Sophia's work of art. Thankfully, she managed to tame my mad curls enough to twist sections of it back from my face, so in the end, it was pinned high with a cascade of curls falling down my back.

In fact, I was so stunned by the time it was done, I gasped in complete shock when I looked at myself in the mirror. I didn't recognize myself like this; I honestly looked and felt like a princess. Of course, tears spang to my eyes the moment everyone else started saying the same, that I looked beautiful and Jared was a lucky man. And my only hope was that he thought so and enough…

That he didn't wantto leave.