FOREVER KNIGHTS: #5 Subjugation of Beasts

“You mean like warm to the touch?” Anna gave her a befuddled look.

“Yes!” Nora shrugged. “It’s odd, I suppose. But out in the rain today he stood close and I was warm next to him. I could hardly feel the wind…He loaned me his cloak.”

“What about Worthington?” Anna’s face changed to worry.

“He’s a nasty creature.”

“He is awful.” Mera crossed her arms.

“We’d be the failures of the day to not go witness Vandelhein’s criticisms.” Anna changed the subject. Perking Meralee up at the idea of watching Vandelhein suffer.

“Now that may be entertaining.”

An hour later Nora stood surrounded by layers of dress, staring at her ceiling. “I’ve never seen so many ruffles! How did I let you talk me into this?” She grumbled.

Before Nora could work up a reason she couldn’t go, Anna had the dress on her.

“It’s too late.” Mera said dryly, reading Nora’s thoughts.

“You’re not making fun of me all night.” She pointed a finger at Meralee.

“You know I only make fun of you because Anna here has no sense of humor.” She gestured.

Anna nodded vaguely, focused on tying the back of Nora’s gown…Against its will. “Perhaps my estimates of your shape were slightly askew.” She commented.

“Indeed.” Nora eyed herself in the mirror.

Impossibly form-fitting and made of sapphire satin its ruffled sleeves molded arcs over her shoulders. A blue-gray fabric was designed to come up her back and drape over her shoulders to cinch at her waist with a silver broach. An overskirt draped in more ruffled trim. It went to mid-thigh over another smooth layer of gray blue.

“It’s beautiful!” Anna proclaimed.

“It’s hideous.” Meralee said in her flat tone. “Where’d you get that Anna? Looks like something my grandma would embroider.” Meralee gave it a baleful look. Adding, “How many ruffles are there on that thing?”

“Not helping.” Anna muttered. “Wait until you see mine! You’ll both have to help me into it, since I didn’t bring my maid.”

Anna went back to cinching the laces on Nora’s dress.

“You do know we’re friends, right?” Nora asked as she gasped for air.

Anna finished the laces with a triumphant sound.

The fabric hissed. Objecting to the tight lacings.

“I don’t think it’s supposed to do that.” Mera grimaced.

Nora tugged the material trying to make enough room to inhale.

“Her hair needs some work.” Mera gestured.

Nora pursed her lips and scowled up at Mera.

“Something up.” Anna murmured. “With silver pins.”

Once done, Anna grabbed Nora’s vial of vanilla oil and doused Nora with enough, all three of them choked on the cloying scent.

Mera’s lips twitched as she watched in the mirror from a safe distance.

Nora eyed the darker girl’s reflection. “Laugh. Go ahead. Next time it’s you, Miss.”

Mera frowned. Though tall and curvaceous Mera had the personality of a pit viper, as Anna liked to describe. Which usually made Mera smile fondly.

Anna climbed into a flamboyant red dress. Skirts jutting around her hips and the bodice cut daringly low.

“Are you sure you want to go out in this?” Mera fluffed a ridiculously poufy sleeve.

They headed out to Mera’s brown chaise. Nora glimpsed the full, fat moon. Heart speeding slightly as she saw Mera studying it too. They exchanged a long look.

“It’ll be alright.” Mera reassured.

“Every bad thing I remember has been under a Full Moon.” She gnawed her cheek.

“I know.” Mera said under her breath. “Your mother being taken away, your dad’s crash and your dad striking Nicholas. I recall...But there’s nothing to fear tonight.” Mera caught her hand and gave it a squeeze before climbing up into the driver’s seat.

“Oh, no Meralee Carter! Do not drive yourself! It’s so unseemly.” Anna whined.

“We sent your footman home. Besides, it relaxes me.” Mera frowned. “Are you getting in or not?”

Anna groaned and climbed in.

Nora moved to follow and Mera whispered to her. “It’ll be fine.” There was enough conviction, Nora almost believed her.

Anna adjusted her dress around her and poked her head out the door.

“Your dress is consuming the seat.” Nora complained with a half-smile.

“There are two.” Anna gestured to the other, invitingly.

Nora inhaled sharply as they arrived at Worthington Manse. “You didn’t tell me!”

“I did. A fortnight ago.” Anna caught Nora’s hand and drug her out of the carriage. “Ignore him. We’re here to have fun! To see your Lord Black unless you now wish me to have him?” She shot Nora a hopeful look over her shoulder.

Nora tilted her head at the redhead.

“No?” She deflated. “Fine. Then I shall find another. But you’re not stealing that one! Ladies Honor.”

Meralee growled at the term as she climbed down from the driver’s seat.

Nora barely made it in the door before Worthington cornered her. “I should’ve let the twins come.” She muttered to her friends. “I didn’t consider this while Anna laced me into this dress.”

“Bad luck it seems.” Mera whispered back. “I didn’t realize it was here either.” She said apologetically. “Do you think she even really told us?”

“It is possible.” Nora admitted.

“If he touches you, I’m going to make a scene.”

“Please, don’t.” Nora pleaded. “I’ll be the center of that scene too.”

“I make no promises…”