Chapter 3: The Ball.
The carriage finally pulled in front of the magnificent Palace of Aremeia Kingdom. Words had it that the palace was the most impressive building on the entire planet. The palace was said to be an ancient building that existed for over five hundred years.
The girls climbed out of the carriage amidst pushing and tugging. The eagerness of being invited to such a place got them all riled up with impatience, some forced their way through the carriage door and ended up wincing when the metal restraints around their thighs tightened painfully.
Eve hissed and she grabbed Maddy's wrist, calmly protecting her from getting bumped into. She hugged her slightly and whispered, "no rush". Maddy smiled and nodded in response. After everyone had gotten out, the two girls also climbed down and joins the others in a single line. As slaves, being treated differently could not be avoided.
"Stop!" A werewolf guard barked at them when they reached the gates. A few of the girls shivered and stepped back.
Madame Gertrude stepped out and eyes the guard, she pulled out the invite sent to her and gave it to the guard. When he saw the personal stamp of the king on it, he gave it back and his eyes scanned the group.
One cannot miss the disdain that clouded his orbs as he looked at the girls and their protruding Madame. His lips curled up to form a sneer, judging by their dressing, they are slaves, after all, he thought. Then he snapped his fingers and voiced irritatingly, "You are permitted to go in, and do not cause any trouble!"
Madame Gertrude thanked the guard profusely and led the girls into the gates. Eve paused and tilted her head, her eyes fell on the werewolf guard and she glared icicles at him. Maddy tugged at her sleeve and urged them to go in quickly.
Eve pouted and kicked an imaginary pebble with her poor pointy shoe. She looked her friend in the eyes and snorted. Maddy was definitely not afraid if a fight broke out between them and the haughty werewolf guard but, she feared that they would lose to the number if others joined in the fight so it was better to suffer injustice in silence. They only had themselves to blame for being slaves, the lowest class in the kingdom. In fact, they had no class.
Amidst dragging and walking, Maddy and Eve finally reached the ballroom, madame Gertrude allowed the girls to be separated that one night because she was sure there was no way any of them could escape especially with the extra weight of their skirts and under her watchful eyes.
"Goodness, gracious! It is beautiful indeed!" Maddy exclaimed with a sweet smile playing on her lips, she raised her head and looked around while tugging Eve gently.
Eve's eyes lazily flickered around the room and she breathed out a dull, "uh, uh".
Her eyes darted back and forth, she suppressed a yawn. She should have been sleeping by now or eating some late-night snacks if it were not for the tiring ball. Now, she had to stand in the poor tight shoes and with the weight of her skirts dragging her movement down. She gritted her teeth and regretted ever agreeing to come in the first place.
"Everything about the wealthy seems so great and honorable, pity, we are mere slaves. Don't you think so, dear Eve?" Maddy voiced as she looked around.
Her eyes glittered in awe to see the ladies of her age were clad in rich fine linen, beautifully designed petticoats, and fashionably styled hairdo. The piece of jewelry each of them wore glimmered under the crystal lamps. She watched them maneuver among the young rich men of their kind, their movements and actions were of grace, elegance, and prestige. However, she did not seem to be jealous of them.
Eve nodded absentmindedly, she only seemed to see Maddy's lips moving constantly but she could not pick up any words the latter have spoken. Unlike Maddy, her interest was far away from the wealth or prestige of the high class. Even watching them in the enormous hall hurt her eyes. It felt so tiring. A lazy person like her just wanted to find a place to seat. She did not wish to listen to the slow tortuous music nor did she want to watch their tango of the wolves.
"Maddy, say no more!" Eve muttered after a while of Maddy speaking nonstop. Maddy furrowed her brows and quit talking immediately. Knowing Eve's temper well, Maddy knew that the latter was irked already by the crowd.
"Annoying," Eve hissed and turned her eyes, she almost missed Maddy's exclamation that followed.
"Oh, dear!" Maddy whispered and rolled her eyes. She grabbed Eve's hand and comforted her.
Without asking, Maddy could tell what was wrong with Eve that got her to be so irritated. If not the constant awkward glances that were thrown in their direction. In the room where all women are beautifully dressed, they appeared so out of place, and aside from that, people could tell from their scent what they really were.
Unlike the sharp scent of a full-bred werewolf, Eve and Maddy, just like other girls from the slave house who had attended the ball had a dull scent. Even the lowest-ranking Omega wolf eyed them with ridicule because they immediately recognized them to be the wolfless breed.
At the age of five, it was said that the moon goddess would spell out a blessing on every werewolf and bless them with their companion self, a wolf which was a partner and the same as the person. As a werewolf, your wolf makes you who you are, be it power or prestige.
Werewolves had existed amongst other creatures since the existence of the world. They were powerful and brutal, winning their territories by claws and blood. However, over the last centuries, new generations were born but ten out of hundreds of the children became wolfless. It was not a curse but these children just missed the blessing of the goddess and failed to receive a wolf companion.
Eve, Maddy, and most of the slaves belong to the wolfless breed. They were considered the weakest and the lowest class in the kingdom. In fact, they had no class at all. It was even worse when the high class generated a demeaning nickname for them. They were called, "The humans".
"Eve, quite thinking!" Maddy called suddenly causing Eve to pull out of her momentary daze. She blinked, her eyes flickered across the room and she realized they were still at the ball. She felt Maddy's incessant tapping on her hand and she raised her head.
"Look, Aaron!" Maddy yelled out softly.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone