“Dinner,” Luren, the elf Vepar called out as he rushed past, herding all the girls.
I pouted my ruby lips at the mirror and strolled out, struggling to remain steady on such high heels.
“Ella, you look gorgeous tonight.” Luren joined me. “Just watch the other girls tonight because this dress will take everyone’s breath away.”
I looked over to his brilliant smile. “Why do all these beautiful clothes resemble the ones we have on Earth? It’s like I am back home but on steroids.”
“Our scientists have been studying your planet for centuries, along with the culture and history and fashion. Some of the elements it seems have slipped into our world. Some Vepar embrace it, while others resist and stick to the old ways.”
He smirked and nodded. “Now, let’s move fast, you don’t want to be late.”
We moved through the corridor and stepped into a lift. Seconds later the doors slid open, and we walked out into a ballroom. We no longer were in the plain rooms they were keeping us in. This clearly was where all the opulence was.
Floors of marble, floor to wall windows, and golden pillars lined the walls along with mahogany framed paintings of the galaxy. They reminded me of the ones in Cherry’s home. My life had changed so much since we were friends. The last I saw her was in the streets when I begged her for help and she refused to lift a finger. I’d come a long way to realize the only reason I was her friend was fear. I didn’t want to be alone, so I excused her using me. But those times felt like a lifetime away.
I walked into the grand room with at least six chandeliers dripping in crystals. To the right lay a dressed table with gold cutlery and goblets and so many flowers of every possible color. There were even balloons in the corners. Things didn’t quite match in this room, looking like a mash of various styles.
Everyone was gathered on one side of the room, chatting. I scanned the small crowd and found no sign of the men.
I spotted Giny and strolled over to her. She no longer wore her black dress, but was in a golden, strapless dress, straight and body hugging.
“You look gorgeous,” I mentioned to her.
She turned and shrugged. “Couldn’t let you be the only one to steal the limelight.” She broke into a laugh, while the two women she spoke to earlier sneered my way and walked away.
“What up with them?” I asked, swallowing hard as I noticed everyone’s eyes on me.
Giny shrugged, but avoided looking at me. “What would you like to drink?” She walked off before I could respond.
I tried to smile when all I wanted was to run out of there. I shouldn’t have worn this dress, and hated how everyone glared at me, judged me. Except I had to remind myself this was a competition to them, and despite their jealousy, I also knew my three Vepar wanted me over them.
Luren was at my side, taking my elbow and guiding me to the table. He wore a steel gray outfit with a red crevet. “Do you like the room?”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Derrial insisted we dress it up to resemble a human party.”
I turned to him, unable to stop smiling so widely. “Really? It looks gorgeous. I’ve never been to a ball this fancy before, but always wanted to.”
His smile brightened my evening and he walked me to a seat at the table, others joining too. He pulled the chair out and I sat down, but before he left, he leaned down and whispered, “Don’t drink or eat anything one of the other contestants give you.”
He pulled back and broke into laughter with someone else, all fake of course.
Giny sat down next to me and set down a flute glass with blue bubbly inside. “We call it, Shooting Star.”
“Thank you.”
“Try it.”
I swallowed hard. “Maybe a bit later. I can’t drink on an empty stomach without it going straight to my head.”
She studied me with a strange look. “Not sure what that means, but okay.” Wth her own drink in hand, she sipped the blue beverage.
Everyone else joined us at the table, most chatting to each other, and I felt left out. I fiddled with the golden cutlery with tiny engravings at the end of the dual sun emblem. I sat tense amid bubbly conversation and smiles, my gaze kept shifting to the door. Listening to the conversations, everyone was fake, complimenting each other, but you could see in their eyes, they tossed daggers at their enemy. The first round of food came out, and still no sign of my Vepar. A jelly-like sausage was placed in front of me, the color of a cucumber. Was this a sea cucumber...or a slug? Did they even have those here?
Everyone around me cut into their dish, slurping the pieces into their mouth, and I gagged. I poked mine with a fork and it wobbled.
“Our food isn't good enough for you?” Zeni blurted out, grabbing everyone’s attention and turning it towards me.