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Chapter Sixteen: Part 2

            “Lovely…and some black beading on the dress.”

            “Okay. I think I can hold that alright. We’d better get downstairs. I don’t want them to be waiting on us.”

The limo was outside; Alice could see it was the same one they had taken to Ambrose’s last party.

“You called in another favour I see.”

            Altair grinned. “You know the drill, people. Alice and Shakra in last.”

            Alice climbed in after Shakra and settled onto the leather interior. “You would think I’d be less nervous this time.”

            “You were poisoned last time, so it’s hard to blame you,” Lacy said.

            “I think I need some champagne.”

Altair handed her a glass and Alice sipped it, trying to tell herself she was calm.  They didn’t talk much, save for a quiet murmur between Lacy and Tricia. By the time she finished her champagne they were rolling up the long driveway, and Alice braced herself as they came to a stop. Here we go. Lights, camera, action….

            “Ready?” Altair put his hand on the small of her back as he leaned over to push the door handle.

            “Ready.” Alice climbed out of the limousine and into the shining lights of the front steps of Alexie Ambrose’s mansion.  She had to remind herself to hold onto the glamour as she was assaulted by flashing cameras and shouts of, “Look this way, Ms. Cunningham!”

            Shakra followed closely on her heels as she mounted the steps and waited for the butlers to open the giant double doors.  They swung inwards, letting the light and noise stream out all around her.  The foyer was decorated beautifully, done up to look like a park with lamp posts and fake trees. It was complete with an old fashioned wooden carriage, minus the horses.

            “Wow,” Alice whispered.

           

            “This way,” a flat voice beside Alice’s ear intoned. She jumped, turning to see the butler walking away. They were lead up the same long stair case to the ballroom entrance and the butler rapped the door with his knuckles loudly.  Soundlessly the doors swung open, giving them the full view of the ballroom. 

            It was filled with noise and laughter. Candles burnt on giant oak candelabras around the room and nearly every available space was draped with climbing ivy.  The ladies were all in sweeping gowns and corsets, cooing to one another and casting coy gazes over their lacy fans. The men had top hats and canes. She spotted one fellow trying to impress a group of ladies,   twirling his ivory-tipped walking stick.

            Alice paused for as long as was proper, and then she and Shakra descended the stair case. This time there was no Ambrose sweeping through the crowds towards them, and Alice heaved a sigh of relief.  It was clear that Altair and Gabriel were thinking the same thing, as they both moved quickly to meet the girls in the middle.

            “Should we just walk around and look like we’re having fun?” Alice wondered.

            “Yes. Best case scenario, we just make our presence known and he’s happy with that,” Azura said.

            “Worst case?” Alice looked around nervously, noticing that a good deal of the guests had pale skin and glossy hair.  No doubt many of the ladies’ red lips masked sharp canines, and beneath the gentlemen’s eloquent speech lay a thirst for more than stimulating conversation.