After Essos, I look for Cat in the crowd, and when I see her, I smile. She’s dressed in a simple black high-low gown and bright pink heels. Around her throat is the emerald necklace again, and simple pearl studs adorn her ears. I’ve always admired her sense of style; she’s able to take something simple and make it her own.I turn my attention back to Essos when he starts speaking.
“Now that Miss Hale has decided to join us, perhaps we should have our chat,” Essos says, finally ripping his gaze from me to look at everyone else.
I make my way to stand beside Cat, Tiffany, and Zara.The girls wear a variety of dresses, from simple tea length to full ballgowns and slinky barely-there numbers. White-gloved servers circulate the room bearing silver trays full of champagne glasses. One with bronze skin and sandy-blond hair offers me a glass, and I have to fight the urge to down it all in one go. I take it with a smile and a demure nod of appreciation. The man oozes boyish charm with a mischievous smile and a wink. The waiter looks like he would be better suited for riding his surfboard on the beaches of California. I’m not complaining; he is yet another beautiful fringe benefit to being here.
“Four of you will be leaving us tonight,” Essos continues. “Those of you who are leaving already know this. It is no great secret that this is about finding someone whom I have a connection with, and I’m sad to say those leaving do not feel that connection.” If someone were to ask me, he doesn’t look all that sad. He looks like a man who’s had part of a burden lifted. I suppose when it comes to getting to know twenty—or rather sixteen—different women, every little bit counts. “There will be a chance for goodbyes later. I want to make sure all involved have the best sendoff.” He pauses to take a sip from his own glass. His tuxedo gives him a classic, romantic air, and I’m a little surprised that it doesn’t have tails. I can envision Essos playing the piano while I sit beside him, my head resting on his shoulder.
“After dinner, we shall practice dancing, but not the dancing you are used to. During the ball, you will be required to entertain my guests. You will have to exhibit grace under pressure as you dance and mingle with the highest-ranked members of my society, as you will be required to do when you are queen. This is one thing that will be expected of my partner at the end of the Calling.
“To assist you tonight, some friends of mine have come to see how much help you will need to learn our dances. These gentlemen have filled this role for numerous Callings before. You will each have a partner available to you during your dance practices for the duration. I will also dance with each of you during the evenings, giving us a chance to get to know each other. The gentlemen will join us after dinner. So, if you ladies will please lead the way…” Essos gestures toward the dining room, and we all file in.
It’s the same room but tonight has a more intimate feel, with candles lit in the sconces and on the center of the table. They seem to have replaced the long table we sat at yesterday with a smaller one that seats us closer together. I appreciate that touch.
Dinner is more relaxed this evening. Those who are leaving drop the bomb during the appetizers. Their reasons vary, from wanting to move on to see family to one girl admitting that Essos is simply not her type. There are a lot of tears shared over the news, and while none of the four are anyone I knew very well, I’m still surprised by the wave of sadness I feel. They were sorority sisters and were tied by those bonds. It's like the last vestiges of normal are being left behind as each one leaves.
Tonight, Cat is seated next to Essos. We will be rotating for each meal so that we all get a chance to talk with him.
It’s impossible to look at the two of them and not see how regal she looks beside him, her blond locks curled, framing her face. She leans closer to him to tell him something, and he closes the distance to hear her better, their laughter inciting more than a few jealous glances. I imagine her as the Queen of the Underworld, ruling by his side, and a small pang settles into my chest. I hate myself a little bit for it.
I’m seated at the opposite end of the table, the farthest point from my lifeline. Directly across from me are Tiffany and Zara, who are having their own conversation. The same waiter from earlier offers me bread. I manage to catch his eye as he moves about the table, which earns another smirk and a wink. No one else gets the same attention from him, and my curiosity is piqued. Beside me, Anna is talking about her interview today with Essos.
“So, he’s telling me that he’s the King of the Underworld. And I’m all, ‘But what does thatmean?’And he’s all, ‘That means that I have to herald souls from their old lives to their afterlives.’ And then I say, ‘So, like, everyone gets to go to the Afterlife?’ and then he asks if I can keep a secret, and I totally nod, and then he just tells me that he can’t tell me that yet.” She’s talking to anyone that will listen, and I’m one of those people, though I’m trying to pretend I’m not as I butter my roll.
During dinner, Sybil announces that we will be split into groups of four for the remainder of the process. I hold my breath, waiting for them to announce who I’m grouped with, and I let go of the breath I’m holding when my name is called with Cat’s. Also in our quad are Zara and Tiffany. Being grouped with the people I know best here makes me breathe easier, even though Zara and I haven’t always seen eye to eye.Of all the people I would want to be with, those are the three I would pick for myself.
We each smile at each other, but when I meet Tiffany’s eyes, her smile doesn’t quite reach them. I make a mental note to check in on her after tonight to see how she’s coping. She’s radiant in a simple strapless yellow gown that complements her ebony skin. She kept her look simple while the rest of us tripped over ourselves to try and stand out.
Tonight, Zara chose a show-stopping red dress with a deep slit and a low neckline. She’s always boldly and unapologetically herself. I know she’ll have no problem with the dance portion of the night, given her training as a dancer. I, on the other hand, will have to find a way to become a wallflower and hope that Essos doesn’t seek me out. It’s not that I’m against dancing or anything, but I am tragically uncoordinated, which makes me tragically bad at it.
Unlike breakfast, we’re all served the same meal with some differences for vegetarians or vegans. Part of the meal is a pesto pasta, which I’m careful not to get on my dress, knowing that oil-streaked fabric is not the look I’m going for. Madison stops her waiter mid-serve to alert him to her nut allergy. Sybil swiftly moves in to let her and everyone else know that we no longer have any allergies to fear.
It’s bizarre to think of the things we once worried about and now don’t have to. Madison’s delighted reaction to trying something with pine nuts in it makes us all laugh, helping to ease a layer of tension in the room. As a special treat, for dessert Essos brings out macarons for her to try, and I think I might see her shed a tear for how much she enjoys them. I loved them in life and eye the colorful cookies jealously, making a note to ask for some for myself. Watching Essos, I believe he enjoys telling Madison about all the new foods she’ll get to experience that she couldn’t previously. His excitement over this might be more than Madison’s own, and it’s infectious.
After dinner, we are led back into the ballroom, where 16 gentlemen in a line wait in full tuxes, hands folded behind their backs. I feel like I’m on my very own episode ofThe Bachelorette. I glance at each of them as I move down the row. Recognition dawns on me as I look at their faces. At one point or another, these men have been flitting around the house as waiters. I’ve seen two of them talking to Sybil, including a tall, dark-skinned man who was at the pool yesterday and a short white guy who wears his long brown hair in a ponytail at the nape of his neck.
One of them is the sandy-blond waiter with the champagne glass and bread. He manages to catch my eye and gives me another bold wink while Sybil announces who our partners will be. When my name is called, I step forward at the same time as my waiter. He gives me a small bow as all the men before him have done for their partners. I wait for him to approach me and then take his offered hand, and he leads me off to one side while the pairings are completed.
As the rest of the names are called, he leans in close to my ear. “I’m Finn.”
I smile, looking up at him. “Sybil said that. Did you enjoy eavesdropping as you passed around the bread?”
He grins like a cat that caught the canary. “You’re going to be a tough nut to crack, aren’t you?” He lifts our joined hands in invitation as the music begins.
I start to fully face him, but think better of it, instead moving to the nearest wall out of the way of everyone. “I don’t think so. I would rather not dance.”
His golden eyes twinkle at my refusal.“I don’t think you have a choice. I won’t step on your feet, I promise,” he says sweetly.
I look past him at the dance floor, where everyone is trying to get to know their new partners.“It’s notmyfeet I’m worried about,” I mutter, but I let him lead me onto the floor.
He holds me a little closer than seems necessary.
“Shouldn’t we get to know each other better before starting to dance? This is awkward.” I press.
“Nope. Dancing will help us become friendlier because of how intimate it can be. How have you been adjusting?” he asks, trying very hard to hide a wince as I step on his toes.
“Ah, you know, what’s not to love? Fine clothes, food; it’s practically a vacation. Intimate? You sound like you’re here to score someone for yourself.” I step on his foot again and mutter an apology.
“Hardly. Trust me, it’s not a vacation for much longer. Sybil will be breaking you down in no time. In fact, they are the reason most people leave.” He pulls me tighter against him to avoid a rogue dancer behind me. I look up at his face, so very near to mine.