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CHAPTER TWO.

Present day. . .

•T–––M–––V–––P–––L•

Elizabeth looked at her reflection in the mirror — adorning a short yellow dress. She sighed for what seemed like the upteenth time, feeling unsatisfied with her look. 

She felt too exposed with her cleavage showing, and her thighs and legs out on display. She really didn't like the dress Freya had picked for her. Admitted, the dress was hers, but she'd never worn it. It was gifted to her by her mum on her twenty-second birthday — which was just two months ago, and when she received it, she could only smile and lie to her mum that she loved it even though she didn't. 

Her mum was the fashionista, who was prom queen during her high school days, while she was just the hoodie type of girl who cared less about fashion.

"I look really bad, right?" She asked her best friend — Freya, who was sitting on the bed, holding a mirror as she tried to fix her lashes.

They were both at Freya's house already, preparing for the party. 

Shaking her head, Freya dropped the mirror on the bed before she stood and covered the distance between her and her best friend. "You know your mum would be happy to see you in this dress because you look like a princess," Freya told her, and she didn't lie. Elizabeth's mum always wanted her to dress up, party and mingle with other people. 

Earlier when Freya had told Mrs Pott that she and Elizabeth were to attend a party, she had smiled and without hesitating she said; "Of course, she can go. This will be the first time she'll be leaving this house since she came home for summer."

As Freya stared at her best friend, she knew she was probably engaging herself in a mental battle and all she needed to do was to show her support. 

"Are you sure?" Elizabeth asked, dragging her yellow dress down as she looked at her best friend through the mirror at her front. She felt underdressed and if it was up to her, she'd wear a hoodie and a trousers but she knew Freya would disagree and even call her mum. "Don't you think my breast is too out? What about my thighs? Isn't the dress too tight?"

"Calm down, Eli," Freya turned her best friend around, so they were standing face-to-face with each other. "The dress is perfect. Look at me, my whole back is exposed. And believe me, once I've done your makeup, you will turn heads at that party. Literally everyone will be captivated by your beauty, and enthralled with your perfect shape."

Elizabeth smiled. That was one thing she loved about her Freya. Even at her lowest point, Freya always found a way to make her feel on top of the world. 

"You sure?" Elizabeth couldn't help but ask, looking at her friend's baby blue orbs.

"Excuse you--u," Freya scoffed, rolling her eye balls. "Have you seen yourself, Eli? Are you sure you looked into the mirror?" She turned Elizabeth around to face the mirror and they could each see their reflection. "See the beauty looking back at you, those beautiful honey eyes, and the yellow did well to kiss your chocolate complexion. I haven't even done your make-up yet you're looking this beautiful. I bet the guys at the party would drool a ocean at your sight."

Elizabeth didn't say anything in response to her best friend. She only nodded, taking in intervals of deep breaths as she closed her eyes, envisioning how her time at the party would go. Perhaps, she'd make a lot of friends or maybe she'd even meet the one. At the same time, she still felt uncomfortable with her dress — although Freya had told her she didn't look anywhere near bad and rather, she looked enthralling.

"So can I order Lyft now? Well, after I've done your makeup." Opening her eyes, Elizabeth nodded in response to Freya's question.

It took some few minutes for Freya to do Elizabeth makeup and once she'd done that, she ordered a Lyft. In less than ten minutes they were both out of the house, but not without promising Freya's parents that they wouldn't drink too much and if they weren't going to make it home that night, they'd call.

•T–––M–––V–––P–––L•

Music could be heard as the car reached its destination. Elizabeth knew the place they were, it was the downtown side of Svetyland — the beautiful street they were was the Beverly hills in Svetyland, which was inhabited by only the rich and elites, nevertheless, little was known about the occupants of the estate.

Apart from the estate being famous for its rich occupants, Elizabeth knew it was also famous for people mysteriously disappearing. And Elizabeth remembered her mother had warned her to stay clear of that particular street because of everything that had been going on within.  

From the car window Elizabeth watched the people on the well illuminated street; they could be seen moving around the street with bottles of beer and soda in their hand. 

"We've arrived!" Freya sang in a singsong tone, tapping her best friend enthusiastically. "I can't wait to Party!"

"But what are we doing here?" Elizabeth asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Freya! Don't tell me you aren't aware of everything going on here?"

Freya rolled her eyes and placed a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder. "Nothing is going to happen, my new friend assured me of that."

Elizabeth only shook her head. If she'd known that the party Freya was planning on dragging her to was downtown she would have insisted that she wasn't going.

After paying the Lyft driver, they both got down from the car and suddenly, Elizabeth felt cold and tried dragging her gown down. Freya noticed it and placed her hand on her friend's shoulder as a way to reassure her.

"It's just a Party, and I promise I'm going to stick on you like elephant glue throughout." 

Elizabeth nodded, clinging tightly onto her purse, and together she and Freya entered into a really huge and aristocratic mansion where the party was being held.

Metallic music was blowing from the speaker and Freya danced through the crowds, holding on to Elizabeth's hand. As they passed through the crowd, people looked at them eerily, and Elizabeth didn't miss the weird gaze that people looked at them with. It made her wonder if Freya had also noticed it or maybe it was just her.

Getting to the backyard of the house, the music could hardly be heard anymore and fewer people were there, some in the pool and hot tub, while some lounged around with red cups in their hand — probably filled with booze. Everywhere was illuminated making the whole place really beautiful and the light from the moon added more beauty to the backyard.

"Gabriel!" Freya untangled her hand from a dumbfounded Elizabeth who didn't know anyone bearing the name Gabriel.

Placing her gaze on him, Elizabeth studied him. He was about her age, if not a bit older. He was quite tall, probably 6ft, a bit chubby but cute and his red hair stood out of his features.

"I've been expecting you." Gabriel said, moving away from his circle of friends to hug Freya.

Elizabeth stood awkwardly, watching her best friend hug the guy who's name apparently was Gabriel.

"How are you?" Asked Freya as she broke the hug.

"Great, and I'm guessing that's Eli. Your best friend, or am I wrong?" 

Freya nodded and proceeded to introduce the both of them to each other. Elizabeth shook his hand in acknowledgement and said nothing to him while Freya dived into a full blown conversation with him about how which of their colleges was better, and even though Elizabeth had nothing to add to their conversation, she didn't miss how Gabriel kept glancing at her, particularly at her exposed cleavage. Also, he always tried to add her to the conversation.

"So Elizabeth, your college or mine?" He asked with a smile, his eyes roaming her body.

Dragging her gown down, Elizabeth only shrugged in response to him.

"Oh, come-on, it's definitely LU!" Freya exclaimed, picking the college she and Elizabeth attended. "It's way better than that private college of yours."

"Whatever," Gabriel laughed. "Anyways, let me introduce you to my crew."

"I think I am just going to skip."

"Why?" Freya asked.

"I need to find the toilet." Elizabeth lied. She just didn't want to meet with Gabriel friends, especially if they were somewhat similar to him, the gaze and all. 

"Should I come with you?" Freya asked her best friend.

"No, no. Just go with Gabriel. I'll be fine. . . I promise!" 

"If you say, and call me in case anything happens."

Freya left afterwards with Gabriel, leaving Elizabeth all alone. 

Elizabeth moved back into the crowded house, but when she couldn't find comfort within – especially with td weird glances she kept getting – she moved outside to the front yard and it wasn't as crowded as it was when she and Freya first arrived, but that made her glad, she hated to be amongst the crowd.

Holding on to her purse, she sighed. If only Freya had let her stay home she wouldn't have had to be at a party she wasn't welcomed at. 

"Hey!" Elizabeth knew the voice that had called her. It was Gabriel's voice.

She turned back and mustered up a smile at him, wondering where Freya was. As far as she knew they were meant to be together.

"You've gone to the toilet?"

"Ehm, I didn't use it anymore."

"Okay," replied Gabriel as he stood next to Elizabeth who wasn't comfortable with him. His gaze on her body made her think of him as a pervert. "So what are you doing out here?"

"Nothing, just enjoying the night breeze."

Gabriel snorted. "You know, this is my house and I have an AC in my room, I bet it would be stronger than this breeze. So you want to go up to my room?"

"No, I'm okay with the breeze," Elizabeth knew where he was heading to and that made her more uncomfortable so she shifted away from him but he filled in the gap. "Um, I'd like it if you don't come any closer to me."

"Why? I just want to be friends."

"I am not interested, what about Freya?"

"Enjoying the party."

Elizabeth brought out her phone from her purse and checked the time, and she saw she hadn't even spent up to forty minutes at the party. Either way, she had to leave, even if it meant leaving Freya behind.

"Please tell her I'm leaving."

"You can't leave!" Exclaimed Gabriel as he held on to Elizabeth's hands.

"Leave my hand alone!"

"No!" He dragged Elizabeth closer to himself, grabbing her by her butt.

Elizabeth's eyes widened like a saucer. Never in her twenty two years on Earth had she been groped. She shoved Gabriel on his chest and landed a slap across his face.

"What do you think you're doing!" She yelled at him, earning the attention of some people who were lurking around. "How dare you grab me by my butt?"

"And how dare you slap me?" Gabriel growled as he scowled at Elizabeth, while she fell to the Grass as fear clouded her emotions.

Gabriel's eyes had turned from black to yellow in a flash, and she saw two protruding canines which looked more pointed — they were fangs. 

She looked around the front yard and saw people gathering around them, and they all had the same look as Gabriel. She moved back with her butt dragging on the grass as Gabriel moved slowly towards her. Her eyes were already tearing up. 

She wanted what was in front of her to be a nightmare.

It couldn't be real; she thought. Perhaps she was dreaming, but she wasn't when a sharp claw dug into her hand, making her release a loud yelp.

To Be Continued. . .