Chapter 11

**Odette’s point of view: The life changing decision and preparation**s.

After a short pause and a loving glance in my dad’s direction, mom then turned back to me and continued talking.

Sofia: “The three of us will travel with the rest of the council members and their loved ones to a completely different kingdom. There we are going to attend a spectacular ball in the vampire realm, held by the Emperor himself.”

Sofia: “Will be lavish feasts and dancing in a ballroom with beautiful music.”

Sofia: “Everyone will wear the most beautiful gowns and other attire for the ball. It's all the things we have read about in books and imagined in our dreams.”

After mom finished speaking, my dad cleared his throat and took my mom’s hand in his, before looking at me with a soft glint in his eyes.

Charlie: “There will be hundreds of guests that will attend, within all three realms.”

Charlie: “Your mom and I hope it can be an adventure for us as a family and to get the opportunity to meet other creatures and explore new places.”

I specifically noticed, my dad left out the piece of information about the possibility of finding my immortal mate. I understand why my dad didn’t mention it, because he wants to protect me from disappointment, if I don’t meet my second half at the ball that day.

Charlie: “As your mom previously mentioned, the other council members with their households, will also be there. We will not be alone, we will have our friends and family members, together with us.”

Slowly a smile spread across my face and I started to jump up and down, I couldn't keep my excitement hidden anymore.

Odette: “Yes! Finally, we can go on an adventure together. Thank you so much mom and dad, for this wonderful opportunity.”

I then stood up from the couch and walked to my parents and hugged them both very tightly. From all the excitement that filled the air, mom and I got very emotional and shared some happy tears together. While still embracing each other.

Without saying a word, dad just pulled us closer and softly started to pat our backs in a comforting motion.

After standing in that position for a while, mom and I finally calmed down and stopped crying. When a content silence filled the room, dad awkwardly cleared his throat, before stepping back from the embrace.

With something new to look forward to, we said our farewells and I left the cottage with a new found feeling of excitement, that filled my whole being.

Weeks passed by in a flash. The whole village came to life, with fairies hard at work with designing and creating beautiful gowns and other attire for the ball and the day after.

Dad said, after the ball, we would spend the night in guest rooms at the Emperor's castle. After resting for a while in the castle, we will resume our journey back home, during the next day.
We are also making sure everyone not attending the festivities, will be organized and ready for the extra responsibilities, the two days we will be gone.

When we were busy creating our gowns for the ball, I subconsciously took the necklace in my hand and started to trace every inch of it with my fingertips. While I was thinking about Alex, wondering and hoping if he might also be there at the ball…

The day of our exciting journey has finally arrived!

I’m a bit nervous, because this is the first time I will be away from my home, but luckily, I will not go on this journey alone, my parents and some of our friends will be accompanying us.

As I glance in the mirror at my reflection, I'm astonished at the unrecognizable being staring back at me, in the most amazing dress I could ever have dreamed of. I made my dress out of the finest and smoothest materials nature has provided me. My arms are partially covered with fine, sheer, light blue material that forms an open shoulder pattern and disappears under the dark blue woven corset.

The corset ends just above my hips and is embroidered with small, delicate, silver flowers that are carefully sewed on. The bottom of the dress has six layers of different shades of blue and white fabric, that make the dress seem voluminous and airy. The colour of the dress is the same baby blue shades of colour as my eyes.

My mom helped me was and style my hair. Leaving a few curly, face framing tendrils, she then took a little hair on each side of my head and loosely braided it to the back, before looping a beautiful large, hairpin-stick through the braid, to hold it in place. The hairpin was hand crafted by my father, out of white jade crystals.

He found it, in one of the many rivers, flowing through and near the mountain slopes, while he was patrolling the terrain a few years ago, with one of the other council members. The rest of my naturally curly, long hair, softly draped over my shoulders and onto my back.

Day or night, my golden locks and silver locks of hair hanging softly down my back, complements the blue of my eyes and gown beautifully. After styling my hair and putting on my new matching shoes, I take one last glance in the mirror and I’m astonished at what I see. I do not recognise the vision reflecting back at me! I feel and look amazing, now I am ready to go on my big adventure and finally experience a ball for the first time in my life.