Chapter 23

Music started up and others around the room started to mingle into their social groups. Maddie was giggling at something her father had said. Jezzebelle kind of was a little jealous.

She and her sister had to be behind their father, standing at his side setting the example of strong and respected. Even though majority of the families whisper nasty things about her and Anna. They will never tell it to Lazarus face but the girls heard the whispers through out school.

Sometimes she felt frozen in time, standing up on the platform next to her father. Like a doll that sits staring into space wishing for escape. A chuckle went through her mind.

"A doll ma petite. Non more like a predator waiting to strike it's prey." Snickering, Jezzebelle shook her head.

"Oh yeah and you are what? A peacock ready to strut his feathers?"

The King snickered up on his throne causing several people to look up at him including Lazarus. Zephyr noticed and wiped his face clear of any emotion.

"Ha! Careful or you will get caught. That was a close one! Did I do that sorry!" She sent a mental laugh through his mind, pulling a his heart strings.

He snickered through her mind this time, smiling as he taunted her. "Liar ma petite and to clarify, I am a wolf waiting to pounce on my prey." He sent her a mental image of him smiling with all of his fangs out, his eyes aimed straight at her.

She smiled to herself, she did not know what was going on but she was enjoying it. Talking to the King and taunting him was making the time go faster. It was rare in form to see the King like this.

Belle's smile dropped when she noticed Maddie was not dancing she was just looking at the dancers. Her heart felt a little sad for her friend. That was when Belle decided to see if she could comfort her. "Baba do you mind if I go talk to Maddie for a bit?" Her father turned in his seat and nodded his approval. "Baby go ahead, I know she is your friend. I do not mind it not one bit." Belle smiled at her father and dipped her head in his approval. She descended down the stairs and walked around the throng of dancers, she reached her best friend.

"Maddie is everything okay?"

Maddie looked at Jezzebelle with a scowl on her face. "I hate parties. Nobody has asked me to dance with them." Belle followed her gaze which landed on Alexander. Maddie would not take her gaze off of him. Sighing she put a hand on her friends shoulder. "Is it parties you truly hate or the fact that Alex is ignoring you and is hanging out with others." Maddie smiled sadly at her. "I hate how you pick up on those things. He is the only one who seems to want to be interested in me. Nobody else wants to bother with me."

Belle shook her head and thunked her friend on the top of her head. Maddie winced and then rubbed her head where her friend hit her. "Ow what was that for?" Looking straight into her eye's Belle growled. "He is not good for you. Please take my advice. Maddie it is okay to wait for the right man. You do not want to jump into marriage right away. God forbid, I do not want to be stuck with some stuck up male!"

A snicker rolled through her mind as she said that.

"What are you? Bored? Stay out of my head." Maddie sighed and wrapped her arms around her friend's waist. "It is not that Belle. I want a bloodline. A family to call my own. I just feel empty."

Hugging her friend back, she smiled at her. "At least wait till the end of school before you jump that wagon, Ok."

Smiling, Maddie nodded up at Belle. A glass clinked as to get everyone's attention in the room. The dancers stopped moving and the gossiping amongst everyone stopped.

Raphael turned and bowed to the King signally him that the floor was his to command. Zephyr took a deep breath, he could feel his heart beating in his chest. He got up from his throne and made his way down the dais. Taking one more breath, he was going to try and not screw this up.

"Lords and Ladies after centuries of reigning over 800 years of this citadel. After 800 years of solitude with no bloodline to continue the Valliancourt name....."

Jezzebelle really did not like where this was going. Her stomach was in a bunch of knots.

"A certain young lady when she reaches the age of eighteen..." Her heart was racing to the end of the earth, it was causing her to over heat. "Relax my little rose, otherwise you will give yourself grey hairs." Even though he whispered through her mind, it did not help for what was coming. "Is set to marry me." Whispers filled the hall with excitement. People were wondering who it was. Belle looked at Maddie, who in turn was looking at her with confusion.

Lord Thomas walked over to The King and knelt in front of him. Holding up a little ting box. Taking the box from Thomas hand, the King looked right at Jezzebelle. His fingers were rubbing the small box over and over his nerves were really unsettled.

"Jezzebelle could you come to me." He wanted to add please but to him that would sound like he was begging and he never begs. Whispers filled the hall even more. Belle felt like her legs were jelly. She managed to move to the front of everyone and stood in front of the King. Belle curtsied very deeply.

"Your Grace?"

Taking two of his fingers he placed them gently underneath her chin. Bringing her face up to meet his, he brought her out of her bow. "Jezzebelle, I think you knew this was coming. Will you..." Taking a deep breath, he got down on one knee and held up the tiny box. He opened it and presented the present to her. Inside laid a beautiful gold band with a design to look like a bat was taking flight, in the center was a red ruby.

Belle was completely stunned and she looked to her father "Baba did you give him permission to do this?" Her father closed his eyes and then reopened them. He nodded to her silently. She then eyed her little sister who was smiling very big and shaking her head yes. She then looked to her best friend, who was looking at her with displeasure. Confused, she did not know what to say. After a minute of thinking she gave her answer.

"Yes."