Chapter 3.

OLIVIA

Being a Red Sparrow did come with many perks. You were treated as royalty. Black, sleek cars drove up the border of our pack. Gathering outside the shriveled-down church, men dressed in all black stepped out, threw nasty glances around the state of our village, to which their leaders were responsible, before opening the doors. We stood in a crescent moon, dressed in glorious gowns, hand-woven gold stitching around the chest, where in the middle, a brooch held our capes together.

Masks on.

Hair done.

Heels high enough to accentuate our figures, but comfortable enough to dance in.

The girls all had their pick of what to wear. I went with an olive-colored fabric that the seamstress weaved in against the corset underneath. Laced sleeves that covered my arms, leaving only my collarbone and shoulders exposed.

”Olivia,” my mother spoke under her breath when she grabbed my hand just as I was about to follow the others.

A sea of emotions bathed the surface of her blue eyes.

”Don’t let them find out,” she whispered. Her lips trembled; her fingers folded around mine in a choking grip.

”I won’t,”

Regardless of what the night held, I knew for a fact that I was returning home to my mother. Not to mention that love was not something you built on a foundation of secrets. Something of which I had many. Though something told me that love was not what awaited me.

Getting in the car, buckling in, catching the gazes of the drivers as they entered behind the wheel, all that brought me a sense of calm, was that the choice was mine. I didn’t have to choose one of the men, nor did I have to go with the suitor who chose me.

We drove in silence, not allowed to talk until inside the ball. Something about our voices being preserved, but I think they just don’t want to give the illusion of mysticism away.

The closer we got, the more I rubbed my stomach. A nest of wasps buzzed around inside of me, biting off pieces of my flesh.

When the manor came into view, grand and worth more than most packs I knew combined, it made me sick. For a moment, it distracted me from the angst I felt about walking in; now I was just pissed. How were they living like royalty when so many of us were digging for scraps?

The gowns on our bodies, the shoes, the jewelry, had all been paid for by them, for this event alone. That was the money they had, able to splurge on strangers for a one-night extravaganza.

We were led out onto the pathway, organized in a line, before the house chief walked out in a common blue dress, a thin chain around her neck with a silver pendant, wearing a look that could scorn you if you looked at it for too long. With her hair in a tight updo, it was thick but impeccably in place.

”Welcome, girls. I hope you all are aware of what an honor it is to have been chosen for this decade’s Ruby Ball. In a moment, you will be led inside where the suitors have gathered, prepared to shower you in gifts, glamour, and compliments.” Her short heels clicked as she walked down the stairs. ”But make no mistake,” she said, eyeing each of us girls while another set of cars drove up with girls from other packs. Five girls from each pack, that was the rule. ”It is not the gifts you will be marrying, nor the sweet words they tell. It’s the character, the heart, the soul, which will be with you on your hardest days to come. On the best as well. Make sure that it is the man you admire, not the words.”

Everyone was staring at the door, but when the house chief walked down the line, a hand in the air to stop the chauffeurs from opening the doors to the other girls, I looked up.

Our eyes locked. A shiver sparked a cramp in my side, but I refused to look away. She said that we had a say, that we should fall for the person, not the words. It was up to us.

”Thank you,” I mimed. With the slightest bow of her head, she continued down the line, stopping by the fifth girl before leading us inside.

The foyer was grim; it didn’t look like an ounce of warmth had gone into the design of this place. We were led to a pair of double doors, standing idly by as they opened, revealing the lavish gold and eggshell-white on the other side. As though someone had propped the sun into a room, the light burned my eyes for a moment until I could see clearly.

Chatter ceased, and all eyes turned to us. One by one, the males approached with a drink in hand and a smile perfectly practiced on their faces. This was it. The energy shifted remarkably. For a brief moment in this life, we held the power. Not the Lockhearts, not the wealthy or powerful, but us.

Five more girls from another pack walked in. Heels clicked- the only sound louder than the beating of my heart. Another five entered. All of us were silent. Abhorrently aware of the rules: ”You do not speak, not at first. Make eye contact, remain stoic. Show nothing. You are the price, let the mystery unfold in its truest form throughout the night.”

When the doors closed, we were twenty-five girls. Honored guests were gazing in awe, some fanning their flustered faces, others glancing at the males with a hint of lust.

”Ladies and gentlemen, leaders of our lands and honored guests, please remember that the first hour is crucial. Mingle, speak to the one that catches your eye, but remember, at midnight, once you decide on the woman you want to wed, the final choice will be hers.” I looked at the woman talking, recognizing the devil’s glint in Lady Lockheart’s eyes straight away.

Pretending to look over the heads of the males, I was searching for his face. When I didn’t spot him, my shoulders fell, my fingers unclenched, and I let out a breath.