48: The Ball

Cora’s POV

The past week had gone by in an unusually quick manner, it was almost like it went by in a flash despite how much I dreaded it. The week had been filled with crazy chores in preparation, occasional glares from Leila and having Levi avoid me even though he was meant to be preparing me as Kai’s dare to the ball.

But the day of the ball had finally come and what I felt more than the hesitation and annoyance of being Kai’s date was an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia as I heard the instruments bring played to signal the start of the ball and the arrival of guests.

I relived the memories of how I’d hear similar instruments being played while my parents were alive and I’d stay holed up in my room in hopes that I’d be exempted from their irrelevant festivities but my mother always arrived at the last minute and forced into a dress and unto the dance floor.

Just as I laid back in bed to drown in those reflective memories, my door was pushed open and Nina walked in with a box under