Chapter Thirty

"Better lock it in your pocket, taking this one to the grave."

The next days, flew by. In between taking care of Sebastian, planning the wedding with my mother, and getting fitted for two different dresses, I found no time to just spend speaking with Sebastian. He recieved both the notes, I had given him. But the dream I had a few nights ago, had me shaking still. I stood as Annie dressed me in my dress for the ball. It was long, pale pink dress, that made me feel like a princess. I touched the fabric, it was silk, with small beads inbed in it. I could see my wedding dress hanging beside me. I gulped, hoping tonight would be the night to end it all.

I waited as Annie pulled part of my hair back, leaving the rest to fall around me. "Annie, may I have a moment to myself?"

"Yes." She left shutting the door behind her. I stood up fast, opening the dresser drawer expsoing two daggers. I slid one in my stockings, and the other in my corset. I adjusted till you couldn't see either of them, and checked to make sure the necklace still hung on my neck. I looked in the mirror one more time, before leaving my room. I looked across the way, and saw Sebastian standing dressed up, leaning his body weight on a cane.

"I am glad ot see you finally up and moving around." I smiled at him, and he laughed, holding his side.

"I am glad too, I was tired of staring at those four walls." He clicked his cane against the ground, walking toward me, "Now if I only didn't need this." I saw his sword sitting on his hip, and I realized it was really going to happen to night. "Yes, I will have it, in case things become ugly..."

"I am prepared as well." I smiled, and turned to the stairs, "Do you need help?"

"No, your mother should be down there waiting for us." I nodded, and began down the stairs, watching him closely, and moving toward him everytime he looked like he may fall. He just shook his head, and I kept walking.

My mother stood, wearing a red dress, and holding a black cape in her arms. "Ah, we are going to be late, if you do not hurry." She scowled at me. Mr. Moore stood by the carriage waiting. "Hurry." She threw my cape at me, and I tied it around my neck. The chill outside, bit at my nose, and it reminded me fo the night I had returned home. I sat myself beside my mother, and we were off. I could feel the cold steel against my leg, and I moved it, trying to keep the cold away. My mother watched me out of the corner of her eye, as if I was acting oddly.

I looked away, and out the window. Sebastian and my mother spoke about the plans to rebuild the trading company, and how Mr. Madison was feeling. Though he wasn't coming out tonight Rose and Darius were to support Lucas memory. I smiled to myself, thinking of how Rose would react if she knew what Serena had done. And it was amazing, how words traveled fast, as my mother reveled that Serena's family had planned to send her away, but she would be there tonight. But all of high society knew she had been having an affair with some man, who was betrothed. I smiled, holding back my giggles. Acting as if it still hurt to her, that Henry had done such things to me. When we arrived to the party, I could see people as far as the eye could see. I took a gulp of breathe, hoping Henry wouldn't find me till later. But I was out of luck.

He stood waiting, right next to where our carriage had stopped. "Camille," he offered his hand, and helped me down, "I hope all is well, it's been a few days."

"Yes, just been busy getting ready for this, along with getting ready for the wedding... Oh and caring for Mr. Lowry, since he was injurged in the fire."

"I heard about that, I hope Mr. Madison is fine..."

Before I could speak, my mother answered. "He is doing quite well, and we will rebuild." She smiled, patting me on the back, "Mr. Lowry, would you like to escort me in. I would like to find my daughter-in-law."

"I am glad to hear you will rebuild." He hissed between his teeth, offering his arm to me. I smiled taking it.

"I am to, we will not let this small thing take us down." I held my head up high, following Sebastian and my mother, and Mr. Moore following close behind us.

"But, you will though." He smiled, and pulled me closer. "Because you will not continue after we are wed... who knows what will become of you." He whispered just loud enogh for me to hear, but no one else. I took another deep breathe of air as we moved through the crowd. The music was loud, and rang in my ears, Henry held my waist dragging me through the crowd. I looked around, and saw Serena, drinking a glass of wine, and glaring over it. People behind her, whispered. Rose stood next to Darius, with a long sleeve dress on. She looked unhappy, and I knew why. Darius raised his glass to Henry, and I stood there, the prize that had been won. I looked, searching for Sebastian's face. But couldn't find it. But before I knew it, I was being spun around. Henry held my waist, and moved me across the floor.

"I am very unhappy, that Mr. Lowry choose to save Mr. Madison... I was hoping that would be another signal to you, that you were in for a new life..." He shook his head, hissing.

"But Mr. Madison, has nothing to do with this, anymore. I have what you want." I mummbled.

"The ring of the sea, yes, I know you do. But to do away with you now.. That would bring suspision to me. And I don't want that. I need to keep my lifestyle the way it is." He grinned, whispering into my ear, "I thought though, your mother would ask for my help to rebuild. But Mr. Lowry, and Mr. Madison agreed to enter back in the buisness with your mother. So that plan was ruined as well." He was gripping me tighter, causing pain to radiate my waist, "So what do I do know?"

"Kill me?" i mummbled.

"No." He hissed, dipping me backwards, and yanking me back up, "I cannot do that." He shook his head, "But I can take out Mr. Lowry."

I tried to jump back, but he grabbed ahold of me tighter. "NO!"

"Shhh." He hissed in my ear, "You will draw attention to us."

"You will leave Mr. Lowry out of this, I will give you anything you want." I mummbled, angry and scared.

"I know you will, but will he?"

"What do you want from him?" I was holding back sobs, "Money? I can give that to you... His share? You will have mine once we are wed."

"I want you."

"What do you mean?" I was astonished by him.

"He has you in a way, one I cannot have. Which makes me want it more." He smiled.

"You mean, love you. Love you, a monster who is willing to kill innocent people to get ahead."

"You are so lucky we are not alone, or you would be paying for that little statement!" He hissed into my ear, and I finally pushed away.

"I need air."

I made my way through the crowd, searching for Sebastian. Many people grabbed my hand, saying sorry for my loss, or congragulations on the wedding. I smiled, saying thank you to all. Feeling Henry's eyes following me with every move I made. I finally found Sebastian, but his face told me it was good that I had. He looked over at me, motioning me to stop. But before I could do another thing, someone had my arm. I spun, ready to grab the dagger, to only meet Rose's eyes.

"Camille," She hugged me tightly, and I wrapped my arms around her, glad to feel the familar embrace.

"I am so sorry, for your loss, Rose." She smiled at me.

"I am so sorry, for your upcoming wedding." She looked into my eyes, moving a piece of hair. "I wish I had never wed into that family. Even if they are just cousins, I know what Serena and Henry had done, and I know Henry is much like Darius..." She shook her head, keeping her voice low. "I hope you can get out of it."

"I do to, Rose. And I hope you can." She smiled at me, and looked down.

"He may be different, if we were away from his family. He has moments where I forget, that he's a terrible man." She mummbled, "But then I get a rude reminder." She indicated her arms, and I touched them softly.

"It will be better, soon." I smiled, squeezing her hand, "But I must go find my mother, I will speak with you soon, Rose."

"Soon, Camille." She disappered into the crowd, and Sebastian was in front of me.

"Run. Run upstairs." I looked at him, he was out of breathe.

"Why?"

"They are here, and they are not leaving without you or the ring, Camille." He touched my face, not caring who saw. "Go, please."

"What about you?"

'I will be fine!"

"I am not leaving you." He was pushing me away, and I clung to his arm.

"Camille, please."

"No! I cannot do this without you." I was almost hysterically crying.

"Remember, you are safe. Till my last breathe." He stroked my cheek, whiping a tear away. "Now go!"

I finally let go, making my way through the crowd. I pushed, and hurried through, looking for the nearest door, but took the stairs instead. As I reached the top of the stairs, I looked back, and watched as men entered from every doorway. A fire rang, and screams filled the room. I couldn't hear what they said, but I could see Henry making his way toward me. I picked my skirts up hurrying into the hall. Not sure where I was going, I found a hallway. I turned into it, and could hear footsteps behind me. I pushed a door open, shutting it behind me. There was a small latch, that I knew Henry could break if he tried. I locked it anyway, backing up. I had my hand on the dagger ready to attack.

"You think a lock will keep me out?" It was his hissing voice on the other side.

"No... but it buys me time!" I rose my voice, echoing back at him.

"Well, we are going to come to an understanding tonight, my dear." He hissed again, banging his body into the door.

I jumped, grabbing my thigh, and finding the handle. "Now.. one last try." I heard him jump, throwing his entire body into the door, it budge. Leaving a small gap. He stuck his fingers in pulling, I watched the latch giving to his weight, and the door flung open. He stood holding his sword in one hand, and his other bleeding from the wood.

He walked toward me, and I was pushed up against the bedframe.

"Now... let's see what kind of arrangment we can come to." He smiled, pushing my hair away with his sword, exposing my neck. He dragged the blade across it, and looked into my eyes, "Because after tonight, who knows who will survive. Maybe Mr. Lowry won't be a problem anymore... who knows maybe you won't be either." He hissed, leaning forward. His bloody hand had ahold of my neck, and I felt my hand loosing the grip from the dagger as he lifted me into the air.