Roses From Rosalyn

hair, styling it into large bouncing curls that frame my face and shoulders. I looked at my face in the mirror, it was clean and looked refreshed.

lly me and not a trick. My eyes looked big and strikingly blue with long black lashes, and my lips were plump and shimmering with some kind of gloss. I’d been told I was beautiful plenty of times in my life, but

ntly, and straightened their posture

stonishing tonight.” He purred with hardly a glance my way. He walked fluidly over to where the dress bags were hanging and one by one he unzipped them, peeked inside, then zipped them all back up. I was craning my neck to try to see inside any of the bags, b

itedly as she brought the dress

ck the nerves. I couldn’t verbalize any actual words so I just shook my head and stood. Fern gave me a shy look then dashed back over. I watche

hoa.” I was at a

up in the back. Fern stepped back to admire me just like I was in the mirror. “Whoa was right.” She said

od thing, but I did a turn in

s. My shoulders were bare, putting my freckles on full display, and small triangular cutouts on my sides gave

d pulling out two smaller bags from inside. The first bag had some silver sparkly bracelets, and large teardrop shaped diamond earrings, while the second was home to a pair of high h

ce. I didn’t know what to expect, but I did know I did not want to go to some ball, or meet a prince, or be surrounded by God only knows how many vampires. I didn’t know much about them,

impossible to keep track of. I was easily struck by the beauty of the rock and stone all around me. We passed plenty of people, most only paying me

ding way. Voices hummed over what sounded like a microphone and there was laughter coming from every direction. As I exited the elevator I felt my whole body going a little numb with n

this alone. “Just go to the left, you can’t miss the ballroom.” She told me with hardly a breath

ch grumble restlessly, and I followed the smell to the left. Fern hadn’t been exaggerating. There was literally no way I could possibly miss the two story tall giant doors to the ballroom. I wa

ttered more like it was

I couldn’t understand as they each

eds of people in the large ballroom had stopped what they were doing and all turned to look at me. I could feel my cheeks burning like fire and my legs began to feel even more like gelatin a

sounding alien in my ears after a moment. Everyone began clapping to and I tried to wave and smile in return, but my hand wouldn’t come up, my body

ll of the thousands of candles lit in every corner and on every table. On one side of the room there was a long table, covered in foods, while on the other side of the room there were smaller round tables with white table cloths and gold chairs

he royal family was more than audi

re only two men sitting there. The first man, who looked to be about forty, with tan skin and salt and pepper hair watched us coming, smiling warmly. Beside him was a younger man, 20 at least. I’d have known he was the prince even if he hadn’t been wearing a crown on top of his

uced me formally. “Curtsy.” He whispered to me out of

you, Miss Rosalyn, you are very welcomed here. I’m King Gordo.” He said with an Irish accent. Even though I’ve been here since I wa

, only a small quiver in my voice giving my nerves away.

He told me then cut his eyes to the prince, giving

t he kept his shadowed eyes trained down at the table in front of him. The king cleared his throat and gave the prince a more pointed look. Finally he looked up to me, hardly meeting me g

leave yet.” He snapped and Prince Calvin w

he spoke of me as if I weren’t still standing here. My eyes swept over to the food table again and

that of you, and you know it.” The king reminded Prince Calvin,

ins in. I had to look up to see his eyes since he was about a foot taller than me, even in my heels. I was staring into his deep smoky blue eyes and marveling at the length of his black eyelashes when I noti

“I said, let’s go get this over with.” He r

don’t have to pick me just because I’m the one standing here, I was just going t

“Are you trying to say you’d rather go have a chicken leg, or some cobble

y mouth ran off on its own, my brain unabl

bler?” I ask

Would you please just come dance with me for a moment so that I can get the hell out

ent at how icy his skin was, then he prac

these shoes!” I called to him, but he just stomped

the people parted away from us. When we reached the middle, Prince Calvin yanked my

I tentatively placed my hands up on the tops of his shoulders and followed his lead as we twirled around the dancefloor gracefully. I tried to keep even breaths, but every time he’d glance down at

want to.” I told h

face made me drop the smile. “You don’t tell m

” I didn’t know what else to

u didn’t.” Then he sighed. “I just

without thinking, t