The Party

I stood on the top of the stairs and looked down as the applause erupted at my appearance. The thoughts that my father had said he wasn’t done revealing the secrets that my family held against me. I had thought to myself why he wouldn’t just come out and give me all the information that I suspect they had for me. Knowing my father, he held back information so that I wouldn’t be distracted but the information he had given me thus far was distracting. Duchess-in-training? A portal to another world in the Blackwoods? This was a lot to process. Even so I promised my father that I would act like a lady so there I was with a fake smile plastered on my face waving as gracefully as I could. Father leaned in to whisper in my ear, “I know you are thinking about everything I revealed to you but it was necessary to reveal this or you likely would be standing there dumbfounded. The portal plays integral role in tonight’s ceremony as well. The portal to Vellum is an important connection from this world to our native world. You will see.” All I could do was nod; I didn’t want to get into a shouting match with my father when he had asked me to act like a lady. We rarely got into arguments but when we did it was never pretty. My father is very much mellow, the very opposite of my mother.

My father started to lead me down the stairs where a group of people were standing in a row. My father took me to the first person, my eyes widened when I recognized Mr. Jenkins. He smiled then bowed, “Your grace, it has been my honor watching over The Batiste. When you chose me, I was honored then to be personal guard to the house but getting to know Madam Alexandra, I am even more honored. She has been one of my greatest successes.” My father touched Mr. Jenkins on the shoulder to indicate he could rise, “Claude Jeune, I chose you because you were one of the finest knights Vellum had to offer. King Thierry, may his soul rest, knew that our little rose would need the best protection and offered up the finest in his own personal guard. I am sure the new King will appreciate having you back at his side.” Father moved along to another face that looked familiar Mrs. Kemp, “Your grace, I would like to thank you for the honor of protecting The Batiste, while she has been a handful at times, I know that it was only protect herself from these-.” Father stopped what she had to say but chiming in, “I understand what you are trying to Marie Kampe, like Claude, you were also offered by King Thierry and I am grateful for your service in keeping my daughter safe. That said please understand that I do not cut you off to be rude but Alexandra does not yet know everything about herself. I didn’t want her distracted from the task at hand. Please understand.” Mrs. Kemp, or rather Mrs. Kampe, curtsied and then nodded, “Very much understood Your Grace, I stepped out of line.” Father led me down a further progression of Marquis, Counts, Viscounts and Barons. They all came here through the portal where father had carriages waiting to bring them to the manor. One remarked to my father, “It was a lovely ride but it isn’t much like home. I prefer to be in this world as little as possible.” The people of Vellum called this world Terre which, if you think about it, makes sense. Terre was French for Earth; I knew that French class would come in handy. The kids picked on me telling me I wouldn’t be welcomed in France because I was basically a blight on society or some dumb junk like that. Whatever, I wish those dumb kids could see me now. I’m a damn Duchess. Well....sort of.

Father left me to talk to Marquis Maigny about some business with the new king so I skittered off to the area where the punch bowl stood. Being the center of attention was thirsty business. As I stood there with my crystal punch glass in hand I heard a voice in the dark corner of the room, “Look at this lot of peacocks. They’re all here to make sure they get on the future Duchesses nice list. Be aware that most of them are fake.” As I turned, I saw a tall, pale slender man standing there. He had to have been not much older than me. His blonde hair was slicked back and his chartreuse eyes studied me as if he wasn’t sure what to make of me. I cleared my throat, “I am aware that not all of them have the best of intentions for me sir. I have been very guarded against people my entire life.” He narrowed his eyes when he looked at me, “Isn’t it exhausting being the incarcerated swan all of your life? I had heard stories of The Batiste locked away in Terre, not allowed to step foot in Vellum until she became of age. Had you ever wondered why that is?” I didn’t know what to make of this man but he was handsome and you could tell his intent wasn’t to bully but to get me to wonder even more what my father knew that I didn’t. I shrugged, “I never even knew about Vellum until about an hour ago so it never occurred to me to question. My name Alexandra by the way. And you are sir?” He waved his hand as if dismiss what I just said, “Oh my name is Burnett but that isn’t really important. I have to say I have no intention of being fake with you. Should you see me again, know that I am always going to be...what is it the kids say here? Oh, yes, ‘real’ with you. You had a sheltered life here but that is about to change. I believe you will need that type of attitude when you are at LDMU. Also be weary of the one they call Lucien, he’s into withholding information just like our Duke here.” I looked at him skeptically, “What makes you think I can trust you Mr. Mystery pants?” He chuckled, “Mr. Mystery pants?” At that I blushed, “I don’t know I was trying to be more suave and I’m just not that cool I guess.” He reached down to grab my hand, “I must go but I have to say Alexandra Batiste, you are intriguing. I shall see you again.” With that he placed a gentle kiss on the back of my hand and glided away gracefully. As I turned around, I saw father coming towards me, “Who were you speaking with?” I shrugged, “I’m not entirely sure he said his name was Burnett. I believe he alluded to being a student at LDMU.” My father brought his hand to his chin in a gesture that meant he was thinking, “I don’t know if I have ever met a Burnett but then again, we haven’t been to Vellum for 18 years so he must belong to someone. Anyhow, it is time we take a ride out to the portal. Are you ready?” I shrugged again, “I guess but I’m not entirely sure what it is that I need to be ready for.”

At that my father placed my hand in the crook of his elbow and lead me out to a black and gold carriage. The rest of the carriages there were merely blue and gold. “This is a carriage only The Batiste can ride; the rest will follow behind us. Your mother and grandfather will also ride in our carriage. When we get there, there will be an altar that you must lay upon.” “Oh good, I knew I was going to sacrificed in some sort of weird ass cult ritual,” I crossed my arms. My father raised is eyebrow which usually meant his version of shut your cake hole, “First, young lady, we don’t say ‘ass’. It is unbecoming of a woman of noble birth. Second, you need to let me finish so you understand what is going to happen. Let me get you in the carriage first.” With that he took my hand from the crook of elbow, placed it in his left hand and swung his right hand behind himself. I took a step up to the carriage using his hand to steady myself. He swiftly got in behind me, leaving the door open for my mother who followed and grandfather who had helped her in the carriage. In the presence of my mother, I decided it was best not be a smart ass and just listen. It would do me no good to make mother mad right before my cult death, I didn’t want to go out like that. My father cleared his throat as the carriage started to move, “As I was saying, you will lay on the alter. The Pretre will place the ash of the blackwood on your forehead...” Oh I was trying hard not to be a smart ass but I had to, “Cool I’m going to be like a lion in a cartoon or something.” My mom shot me a dirty look. “Sorry, please proceed,” I shrunk into my seat. “He will chant above you and I swear Xan, if you don’t take this seriously when this happens, I will sick Talia on you.” I looked at my mother, she was not amused. “Then he will lead you to the holy grounds and take your right hand and prick it with a needle. Your blood shall be spilled on the ancient volcano rock. If it glows red, you are ready to be accepted into Vellum. If it glows blue, you will be rejected and you will not be allowed to inherit the title Duchess and we will no longer be allowed to call you daughter.” I shot up, “What?! That’s messed up!” My father grabbed my hands, “I understand that you are not familiar with the ways of our world just yet but ceremony amongst us is very important. I will explain this later. You can understand why I ask you to take everything seriously, this could mean your future.” My hands were shaking at the thought of losing my parents and being rejected by a society that finally opened their arms to me. I nodded, “I understand what’s a stake father, I will be focused and take this seriously.”

As we came to a stop, my grandfather was the first to exit the carriage then my mother whom he helped down. “Xan, I will lead you to where you need to go but it is up to you from that point on. Just remember that no matter what happens tonight, we will find a way to take care of you because you will still be loved by me.” My father stepped down to hold out his hand much like he did before. Trembling, I stepped down and placed my hand in his. “Ladies and Gentlemen! Please stand at attention for His Grace, Duke Reginald Batiste and is progeny Miss Alexandra Rose Batiste the presumptive future Duchess of Blackwood!” Presumptive was the key word here, I had to steel myself to get through this night and have no hesitation. The way my father explained it, I had to assume that I had to have no doubt in my heart that I would be the future of this house. I let out a heavy breath through my mouth and perked up into a posture that let father know that I would own this frickin’ ceremony and be the definite future Duchess of Blackwood. When my father saw this, he smiled and looked at ease. He walked me to a place with a black volcanic stone alter that I could swear shimmered gold in the moonlight (full moon, go figure).

Behind the alter was an old wizard looking dude you see in the movies but rather than him wearing a long white robe and holding a wooden staff, he was holding an ancient looking book and wearing a blue robe with green lining. Our house colors. My father placed my hand in the Pretre’s hand, “I present my progeny for candidate of the Duchy of Blackwood and humbly ask that you give her the test.” Father often addressed people by their names for the first time of my meeting them around me. I wonder if this man had a name or if he had not said his name out of respect for the ceremony. I looked up at him and noticed the icy blue eyes, no pupils. Was he blind? “No dear child, I am not blind.” Um, did he read my mind? “Yes, child I did but I can only do so as long as we are touching. I can also see your future, important you are.” It was slightly off putting to have this dude in my head and to see my future. “I understand child but I will be your spiritual guidance in the future and you should get used to me. Understand?” I nodded, “I did not mean to offend you sir.” “It is not a bother to me child but I need to get this ceremony started or you will not have another chance at this for a long while.” I nodded, “Please proceed sir.” At that he turned to the audience, “I will now give the child the test! Please, lie down on the alter.” I laid down on the alter as instructed, “no doubts Xan” I repeated to myself. With that, as father said, the Pretre rubbed ash on my face as he chanted something in what sounded like probably Celtic. I closed my eyes so I could focus on a mental image of my family because I didn’t want to bring that doubt into my mind. The Pretre then grabbed my hand to help me up off of the alter and led me to a stone arch and underneath it was a large volcanic stone which also shimmered in the moonlight but this time it was veins of silver. “I will now conduct the blood test. Please restrain yourselves.”

At that I could hear what sounded like chains being rattled but I didn’t want to turn to the crowd because I was trying to focus on the ceremony. The Pretre held my right hand up to his face where he produced a long golden needle and pricked my finger. I could hear a silent hiss coming from the audience, like steam coming off a pressure cooker. He massaged the finger he pricked a few times to well up the blood and rolled my finger over to allow a single drop to land on the stone. He then took my finger and wrapped it into a green silk handkerchief. I looked down at the stone to await the glow that would tell me my fate. It seemed like eternity that I was waiting for this stupid rock to glow a color. All I could hear was my heart beating, my lungs breathing, the ticking of the hand on someone’s watch in the distance. Had grandfather worn his pocket watch? Tick, tick, thump, thump, breath, breath.... then it started to glow.