Chapter 8

My mother plugged in the air dryer and started using it on my hair along with the round hairbrush I hated the most, it was quite heave which meant it usually hit my head and it had some parts missing so the hair would get tangled inside it and my lovely mother would simply pulled as hard as she could to get the hair out of it, which not only hurt like hell because I’ve always been sensitive when it came to my hair, but annoyed me because it seemed as if she didn’t care enough to try and not hurt me.

While my mother kept moving around my head with the hair dryer on her hand and the hairbrush sometimes in her mouth and sometimes in her hand, Arden was taking out the three dresses from their black fabric bags and placing them on my bed so I could see them.

-Very well, your hair is now untangled, Arden where did I leave the straightener? – Asked my mother putting the hair dryer down

-Could you please not straighten my hair? – I asked recoiling from her as much as I could without getting up from the chair where I was

-But… Arden had a brilliant idea for a hairstyle that would look beautiful with your dress – said my mother using her “I am your mother; I know everything and you know nothing therefore you should do whatever I tell you to”

-If the hairstyle is supposed to go with the dress, shouldn’t I pick it first then? – I suggested hoping to be heard

-That is such a great idea – said Arden helping me get out of the chair

I smiled at her silently thanking her for stopping my mother and followed her to my bed so I could pick my dress. I had three, very different but still gorgeous dresses in front of me, all three of them were some hue of blue; the first one was a very light blue and had some parts on the back made from a see-through material, the second one was the very classic blue and was quite simple and had long sleeves, the last one was a very deep blue color, had some sparks, some detailing in silver in the skirt – which looked like stars – and had long see-through sleeves. I feel in love with the third one as soon as I saw it, but something told me my mother wouldn’t agree with my decision.

-I want this one – I said grabbing the third one and placing it over my body to pretend as if I were wearing it

-I don´t know Dhalia – said my mother putting her hands together in front of her chest – that blue is too dark, I would suggest maybe the lighter one, that way the streaks of blue in your hair will stand out

-I don’t care if my air stands out or not, I like this dress, it will look like I’m wearing stars and besides the cleavage will make the gift for my suitor stand out – I said staring at the dress in the mirror

-Dhalia…

-Jasmina please remember it is Dhalia’s choosing ceremony – said Arden cutting her off – therefore the choices are all hers, we’re only here to help her get ready

-Fine, so you will use that dress which will not make you look as pretty as the other ones could, if that’s what you want go ahead – said my mother irritated

-That’s exactly what I want, if I remember everything you taught me about the honor of being born a Wards and the choosing ceremony, today is not actually all about myself, it is also about the suitors and specially the one I will choose… I want their gift to stand out over anything else of mine – I said

I might not had been exited or even happy about the whole situation and the choosing ceremony, but I was truly beyond excited over the opportunity I had to pick a beautiful dress and look pretty, I had always enjoyed every opportunity to do so.

-Okay, I will do your makeup, come sit – said Arden pulling me towards the chair where I was before

I sat down and watched Arden digging through a beige bag from where she got out all of her makeup supplies to then place them over a small table they had brought, Arden crouched down over the table looking at all her things and she quickly removes a couple of things throwing them back into the bag.

-I clearly cannot use my foundation on you, your skin is way darker than mine, it would look awful – explained Arden after catching my confused look on her – Jasmina, could you please run to your room and get the foundation and concealer you use? It would probably be a far better match for Dhalia

My mother nodded, seemingly a little annoyed about having to leave me alone with Arden but a few seconds later she exited the room.

Arden and I had been kind of close ever since my brother was killed, one way or another we both had lost an important person and we gravitated to each other in an attempt to cope and grief with that lose. Arden also had never completely agreed with the desperate desire to keep the bloodlines pure, but she didn’t want to fight anyone or start and uprising so she just quietly went with it, actually being grateful and happy over being with Izan, because unlike me and all three of my suitors, they did have romantic feelings towards each other.

However, just because she didn’t want to do anything crazy by herself didn’t mean she wasn’t willing to hear out someone who wasn’t okay with it either, like me, but sadly she was smart enough to not encourage any rebellious actions.

-Here between you and me, I have the right foundation and concealer match for you, I went shopping yesterday and I also hid your mother’s things, she will not find them in a while – said Arden taking out both things the front pocket of her jacket

-Have I told you I love already? – I asked laughing

-You’ve said it, but I wouldn’t mind hearing it more – she said smiling

-I do love you so much Arden – I said hugging her

-I love you too Dhalia

-Okay, I’ll start with the makeup and don’t worry I won’t use and insane amount, I know you’re not fond of the heavy texture – she said opening the foundation – I’ve been meaning to ask you something

-Go ahead – I said closing my eyes to avoid getting any product in them

-Did you say goodbye to that boy you’ve been dating?

-What exactly do you mean by say goodbye?

-I mean if you’ve had the chance to talk to him and end things, I don’t see you staying with him while you’re with someone else, it would be disrespectful to both parties

-I know, and I don’t intend on doing so, I at least owe them some respect … I just don’t know if I’m going to get the chance to talk to him before the ceremony, my parents have been keeping me looked in here since the morning

-I would love to help, but I don’t think I could convince your mother to let you out of sight for even one second, this time is all we’ll get… But I could bring him a letter or pass a message

-I don’t know what would be worse, breaking up with him via you or via text – I said – crap!

-What happened? – Asked Arden scared thinking she had made a mistake with the makeup

-My cellphone doesn’t work anymore; Aldahir and I went to the town to get it fix yesterday but they couldn’t

-Okay, I guess that rules out the possibility of breaking up over text

-Yes… I guess is better, it would have been a little too impersonal, he deserves better than that – I said starting to think about what to write on a letter

-I assume I will be bringing him a letter then

-Yes

Arden nodded and finished up with my makeup, once she did she told me she would step outside for a few minutes and say to whoever was outside the door that I was feeling a little overwhelmed and needed some time alone to breath. I used those to rush and write my letter to Aldahir.

Super cheesy, I know, but I have no other way of talking to you and you deserve nothing but the best from me and everyone else.

I choose you, I guess I actually chose you the day I bit you instead of just letting you die. You’re one of – if not the only – person with whom I can truly by myself, you’ve actually made me happy when I had no reason to be, and you have no ide how badly it hurts me to know that I have done nothing but bring pain to you.

I’m selfish enough to thank you for all our stolen time together, because it made the happiest, even though I know all you could think about was when our relationship would end and you were bracing yourself for the pain that would bring.

It kills me to say this is it, this is how our relationship ends, I owe you and whoever I choose the respect of not being stupid enough to try and share my heart. I am sorry I had to end it like this, I do believe I owe you an in-person conversation and an epic last kiss, I will do my best to steal a few minutes and get you the closure you deserve.

I love you Aldahir Corey, I truly do and all I can do now if hope for another life where we do get to be together.

After I finished writing the letter, I opened the door and gave it to Arden, who put it in her pocket right away and walked into my room again. A few seconds later my mother came back as stressed as ever, but she calmed down when she saw I was ready.

As Arden explained to my mother how she had forgotten about the makeup she had gotten me they helped me get into the dress, as soon as they closed it completely I fell in love with it even more, my mother picked up half my hair up holding it with some silver hairclips and letting a blue strand hand on each side of my face, I put on the silver heals I had chosen, a – very simple – pair of silver hearings and lastly I grabbed the necklace and put it around my neck, making sure to arrange the main stone right in the middle of my chest.

My mother told Arden to guide me outside where I would be escorted by some of our warriors, Arden nodded and put her hand around my waist pulling me in to whisper in my hear.

-Remember you can still choose what you want… You’re choosing the person and you can choose how to live together from today on

I nodded, silently thanking him for her help and kept walking, but I had heard was “you can still choose what you want”.