Creature and the Maiden ch 15

Creature and the Maiden ch 15.

Happy Halloween everyone! I`m on the way to a big Halloween party! I`m dressing as a vampire with big fangs, white hair and black sexy dress.

Sorry for the delay of the story again!


Even though spring had come, the air was still a bit cold. Laura pulled one of Esther's scarves around her to warm herself and to cover most of the green dress she was wearing. Esther had removed most of the jewelry and the lace to make the dress as plain as possible, but it still held a very high elegance and the green silk was smooth and shiny. She, Esther and Toby and their daughter had just arrived to Mr. Laderoute's big barn where the party was just starting. A violin, flute an ddrums were playing and the sound of laughing and dancing could be heard. Laura gulped as she heard the sounds of people. It had been many years since she last joined a big crowd and she had never, ever been to a party. For the eighth time this, evening she blamed herself being so stupid as to listen to Esther's advice. It sounded alright then but now that she was going in to the party, she was not so sure.

"Esther, I think I'll pass. This was a stupid idea!"

While she turn around and started to walk back to the cottage, "Oh no you don't!" Esther grabbed her by her arms and drug her to the door, "You promised and remember what I said."

"And I wish I hadn't, but alright!" Laura said, giving up by looking into Esther's determined eyes. "15 minutes and no more, then I go!" Laura muttered and walked with heavy steps into the barn.

"Not until you try to dance with one of the beaus, then you can go."

"Thats blackmail and its not far! I don't know how to dance and I will not do it!" Thinking of dancing and being spun on the dance floor by a total stranger, made Laura turn around again and once again be caught by Esther.

"Too late now!" she whispered while they entered the big barn. She was determined to give Laura a small taste of civilization and give her the chance to meet a nice boy to dance with. She was hoping even more that the boy Laura would meet, she would like or Esther was going to have to force the young girl against her will.

The barn was simple but very big. Mr Laderoute had hired the most professional musicians from the city to play. There were a buffet of hot cider, beer, meat pies and cookies, everything looked delicious and the guest enjoyed tasting Mrs. Laderoutes popular apple pies. Men and women shared dances or talked to each other at the corners of the dance floor. The noise of shouting, laughing and the sound of dancing feet were overwhelming and Laura stood there speechless at the door. The new arrivals and the sight of Laura's red hair, made some of the guests turn around and gaze at this exotic creature that has entered the barn. At first they didn't recognize her. Laura's hair was combed and pinned up with a green lace, leaving a few red curls trailing around her shoulders. Her face was clean from dirt and was white as snow with a few freckles on her nose. But the most shocking was the dress she was wearing. Without its pearls and lace it still stood out and not even the ladies of the higher class could ever compete with her. Most of the men couldn't take their eyes of her beauty while the girls in her age were staring jealously at her and started whisper to each other.

"Isn't that witch's granddaughter? Is that Laura? What is she wearing? How did she get that dress? She`s probably…" was all she could hear while she walked past them.

Laura was prepared that everyone would be staring at her hair and the dress like that, but never has she expected these kind of reactions. Never had she felt this awkward in her whole life. She didn't know if she should be flattered or embarrassed. She wished she had her old clothes rather than the dress she was wearing. Before, she believed that perhaps nobody would notice her or make a big deal of it. But now she got it all wrong.

"Good God! Esther this is insane, nobody is dressed like this. I'm feeling like a peacock," she whispered rapidly to Esther.

"Well..." Esther stammered, feeling the same way but she kept on smiling, "It`s already too late, everybody is watching and it would be more embarrassing if we turned away right now. Just put this shawl over it so it's less revealing," she said, placing the scarf quickly over Laura's shoulders.

"It`s not going to help. Not even the upper class Ladies are dressed like this!"

"Why do you have to think that way? I think you look very beautiful." Adrian suddenly appeared and gave one of his warm smiles to Laura. He was properly dressed in a dark blue suit and had his hair washed and cleaned, which was bit different from his usual bloodstained apron and fingers. Very surprised of his appearance, Laura tried gaining the remains of her confidence and tried to stop blushing, "Oh thank you… but I think I need to go back home, I got this dress as a present but I think I need to go and change."

"No, please stay, you look splendid and I would be very honored if you would dance with me."

"I…I don't know how to dance," she whispered.

"Then I will show you, don't worry," he said, holding his hand out to her.

Taking his outstretched hand and entering the dance floor with him, Laura could feel a hundred eyes on her as they danced and she prayed that she could keep her blush down long enough. When Adrian instructed her the first dance steps, which was not as difficult as she thought to be, her worried glance turned into a smile and she felt herself relax in his arms. His hands were warm and he was very patient when Laura stepped on his foot or missed a step. She tried ignoring the stares she was receiving from the guests; knowing the fact that they saw her as an outcast and little bit weird. Their heads were probably spinning because of her appearance. But Adrian's smiling face made her calm and she let herself enjoy the dance. When the song ended, she smiled warmly at him and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thanks for the dance, Adrian.

"No it's me who should thank you Laura. I was hoping if you want to take another…"

"I think need some rest, I`m little bit tired," Laura added quickly. Adrian was a nice man and was very friendly to her, but her feelings for him were mostly in the level of "friendship" and nothing more. She managed to learn how to dance a little and especially with a man and she really enjoyed it. But that would be enough for her on climbing at the social steps for tonight.

Adrian nodded and escorted her to a seat. It didn't take long for one of the girls to notice Adrian was free and ask him to dance. With her blessing, he went back to the dance floor with his new dance partner.

Feeling some sort of relief, she sat down, watching the couples dancing on the floor. Esther and Toby were having a great time, spinning around again and again and not caring if they prodded the other dancers and made fools of themselves. Seeing their happy faces, Laura started to think about John. Deep inside, her heart started to ache; she never thought she could miss him so much.

'What`s he doing right now? I hope he`s alright?'

She wished he could be there beside her and enjoying the party. Dancing, cheering and joking together and not avoiding each other. Well, it was he who was avoiding her, which a little bit irritating…and sad. She wanted him to know that she didn't think him as repulsive or ugly. The kiss he gave on her neck was a little bit of a shock but not terrifying. Damn, she wished he could be here right now so she could talk to him once and for all!

A sound of footsteps and two shadows towering over her broke through her thoughts. Two girls had decided to approach her while she was sitting and Laura recognized one of them as Linda La Auel, one of the snobbiest girls in town and source of all gossip. The other girl that belonged to her "court" was called Jeannie. They glared jealousy at her dress but gave a fake bright smile to Laura.

"Well what have we here, isn't it Miss Galinette? How wonderful to see you, how are you doing?"

Laura raised an eyebrow at Linda's comment and her "lovely" smile. Remembering the last time she saw her, Linda was teasing her about her freckles and how simple her clothes had been. To spray more salt, Linda had boasted around with a new dress in front of her and Linda's "court", telling everybody how her daddy was spoiling her with gifts, sweets and dresses.

"Don't take it seriously Laura, not everyone fits in a nice dress," Linda had said. "It depends on the color! Some people fit perfectly in blue, others yellow and some in red. But if they use another color, they would look entirely ridiculous. And you and with your red hair, the color brown suits splendid on you. Seeing you in pink or yellow would look awful on you. Not to mention silk, ribbons and lace. So my advice to you is to always wear brown, because that's your color and nothing else."

Then everyone laughed and Laura walked away, humiliated and angry. Seeing Linda, acting like they were best friends, made her feel suspicious.

'Whats she up to?'

"I`m fine, thank you very much Linda. How are you?" she replied with a cold voice.

"I`m perfectly well, thank you!" They both gave big smiles and went down and sat on each side of Laura, starting to pick gently at Laura dress.

"Oh my, I have never seen you in such a beautiful dress before. It`s very different from you old one." Linda added sweetly, "It must have cost a fortune."

"I`m sure it did," Laura muttered, wishing Linda and her companion to a very far away land.

"I have been worried for sometime about you, Laura," whispered Linda in a sentimental tone. "Living all by yourself, nobody who can provide for you or give you some protection, but I see now that there is nothing to worry about."

"Whats that suppose to mean?" she asked, feeling Linda's "compassion" getting more and more unpleasant.

"Well, even you don't have a fortune or a family, you have got a quite an attractive look and every girl knows what kind of a weapon it can be if you use it right."

Realizing what Linda was pointing at, Laura stood up from her seat and started to move towards the exit. Her cheeks burned with anger and she wished that she could rip off her dress right then and get rid of it. Linda and her friend followed and stopped her by blocking her way.

"I'm deeply sorry Laura, I didn't mean to offend you or anything."

Laura wasn't a fool. Seeing Linda's malicious pleasure in her eyes and the enjoyment to humiliate Laura in the deepest level, the temptation to give her a hard slap on her face was not far away. Or perhaps taking the bowl of hot cider from the table and pouring it all over her, would be very pleasing.

"If you think I`m some kind of a whore, you're very wrong!" Laura snapped back.

"Oh don't get me wrong! It`s not that I`m jealous of what you're wearing. I quite admire your bravery and how you have finally realized your potential. You're poor but you have beauty, and that's a ticket for climbing on the social ladder, even if will be a few steps for you and a little bit…dirty. But thinking about your poverty and how miserably you're living, perhaps it's the best and the only way?"

Pouring the hot cider over Linda started to sound more and more like a very good idea, including drowning her in it with her own hands.

"I can guarantee you that the only thing I will climb on is into Toby's wagon and get away from here and from you. I may be poor but I would never be someone's whore!"

"But who did you get the dress from then?" Linda asked sweetly. "Everyone is talking about it and it looks very very expensive."

"Well by me of course!"

Laura's heart began pounding in her chest so hard she thought the whole world would be able to hear it. Fighting her body not to run, she managed to turn around slowly to see Pierre's smirking face. Both Linda and Jeannie's mouths dropped open in surprise.

"Good to see you again Laura! My, my!" His blue eyes glinted with amusement while he looked at Laura. He wore a fine, tailored suit, a golden watch and a big ring on his finger. Looking like a snob as always.

"You`re really the queen at the ball, just as I`m the king!" As if that wasn't enough, he took Laura's hand and kissed it. Feeling his lips on her fingers, woke Laura up from her shock and she took her hand back from his gross lips.

"Good Evening, Mr. Rochester," she said as calmly as she could. It was a long time since she has last seen him but his eyes still made her skin crawl. She never thought that it could be Pierre to be the messenger. After that stormy night, she hadn't seen him for a while and the only thing she heard was that he was out of town on a small vacation.

"I told the tailor to make something that's fit for a redhead and from what I can see he really made a good choice. You look absolutely amazing. I`m glad you`re wearing it." Linda and her friends' eyes looked like to poop out any second from their holes. Jealousy and anger showed in Linda's clutching at her fan while starring back and forth at Laura and Pierre. But then she changed her face quickly and gave a lovably smile at Pierre.

"Oh it's just you who gave her this dress, how generous of you. I must say it's very kind of you to give her some clothes, thinking of her position, the only dress she has is her old brown one."

"Yes of course, she deserves to be dressed like a lady and show which rank she really belongs to. Don't you think so …Miss Dubios?"

The feeling that her brain had turned into ice when he pronounce her real last name, made Laura take several steps back from him."How the devil did he get it?." Linda looked more confused than ever at Pierre's last words. "Miss Dubios? Don't you mean Miss Galinette?"

Laura gulped when she saw his amused look in his eyes, it frightened her.

"How did you…"

Without asking her permission he suddenly swept her up into the dance floor, holding her closer than what was proper and started to spin. He leaned close, his breath were tickling her ear, giving her goose bumps.

"You are an exceptional dancer Miss Dubios," he whispered making her shiver. "I got a little bit jealous while you were dancing with Adrian. But he is just a butcher boy. I hope you will never dance with him again."

"Who I dance with is none of your business, and enough of this play! How the hell do you my last name?!" Laura snapped, trying to realize herself but Pierre held her tightly, forcing her to dance. Looking around desperately after Toby or Esther, she found them far away, eating pies and sharing a loud conversation with some people and Adrian was nowhere to be seen.

"I have my connections and a bigmouthed doctor. Let me tell you that I was very surprised to hear that you father was very rich and you lived a very comfortable life before you moved here."

"Then you have also heard he went bankrupt and left me nothing, so for your own sake you better give up right now," Laura said, trying hard to control her angry voice.

"Oh it's not the money my dear." He replied while he tried to kiss her, but Laura moved her head far away from him to avoid his lips. "Even though you don't have any money, you still have your name and that's enough to move into the higher ranks and become a real lady again. All you have to do is to throw yourself into my mercy and I will help you."

"If that's what you think I will do, then you`re totally wrong! And do you know why? Because you`re nothing more than a bastard, creep and a pervert who thinks of nothing other than your own looks and money."

"Don't be such a bitch, Laura. You accepted my dress and half of the guests already believe you`re with me. You heard what Linda said! They think you have become some kind of a mistress."

"You're lying you jerk!"

"You have to be really careful about what you say or do Laura, or else Mr. Crottington may know it." With hard look in his eyes, he gave her a hard pinch on her left ribs with his fingers.

"Mr. Crottington?" she whispered. The ice feeling in her brain moved down to her stomach.

"Yes, Mr. Crottington. It would be terrible if he heard what a miserable life you`re living. But he doesn't need to know if you just…"

Laura hissed and suddenly she moved her head towards Pierre, giving him a hard hit on his head with her forehead, making him loose his grip so she could free herself and back away. After giving him a hard hit with her heel on his foot, she ran fast as she could out of the barn, heading towards the road.

The only thoughts in her mind were the past minutes of anger and terror of Linda's wickedness, Pierre's offensive proposal and his threat by informing Mr. Crottnington where she was. Thinking to meet him again was… she couldn't think of it. Her stomach started to hurt and tears were starting to develop in her eyes.

'Damn him, damn them all!' She shouted.

How could she be such a fool to go to this party, wearing this dress and perhaps make some new friends? How stupid was she to wear something that didn't belong to her class and after what Linda has said; it made her feel like a…slut. What if Pierre was right about the guests? Did they really think that she accepted his gift as a testimony for being his mistress? That she was his mistress and was giving her body to him? Thinking of it made her feel sick to her stomach again.

Blinded by the dark and her tears, she didn't see for seemingly out of nowhere, a dark coach came straight directly down the road and was coming towards her. Thinking it to be one of the townspeople heading home, she paid no attention to it, until long arms reached down and lifted her up from the road and pulled her in into the coach. Trying to scream, a hand wrapped over her mouth and covered her sounds. Laura tried to twist violently away from her captor, but she got nowhere for the arms that held her were very strong. The coach was dark and she saw almost nothing.

Suddenly she noticed there was someone sitting front of her and by the small lighting from the moon, she saw glimpses of Pierre's smirking face looking at her.