Beauty And The Beast ? Episode 9 – 10 by Ebunoluwa Ademide

Beauty And The Beast ?

Story by: Authoress Ademide.

? Episode 9 ?
Theme: The Ball ? and The Ring ?

?Cassidy’s POV ?

After the conversation about myself,we looked into one or two books which revealed alot of things about Vampires before coming out of the library. Kira believe that I can change the Emperor’s heart if I am willing to take the risk.

“Are you leaving already?” I asked.

“No..no.. not yet. I have to prepare dinner for you so the Emperor won’t rip out my heart.”

I Chuckled. “He can’t rip out your heart.”

“Why do you say so?”

“You’re mated to his kind…the mate of his personal bodyguard.” I reminded her.

Kira smiled. “I hope he thinks the same way. Please go ahead to the living area and watch TV while I get busy in the kitchen.”

I would have loved to help her out in the kitchen but I was tired. I have never talked this much in my life like I did today! I strode towards the living area where I met Samson and Lawson still standing defensively at the entrance.

“Don’t you guys get tired of standing like this for so long?” I mimicked their stance.

“It’s our job to protect you.” Lawson answered.

“You guys Should take a break..I can take care of myself.” I grabbed the remote before sitting on one of the big couches. My eyes flickered to the large black box on the transparent glass table. It wasn’t there before.

“What’s this?” I asked them.

“The Emperor ordered someone to bring it in.” Samson replied.

“Why?”

“It’s for you Empress.” Lawson added.

I crouched closer to the table and opened up the box to find a beautiful lace fabric in it,a small sized red box and a note. I took out the clothe and examined it. It was a beautiful green knee length gown. But why did he buy me a new dress when I have more than enough in the closet? I haven’t even tried out any of them but here is another one to the list of clothing!

I opened up the note to read it. “Empress Caden present the ring as your engagement ring to him.” It reads.

My heartbeat hard against my chest after reading. I eyed the small box before picking it up. I gasped in shock when I found a diamond ring in it. What ring? Engagement ring?

“Who the hell is getting married?” I asked no one in particular.

“A ball will take place in seven days time where the Emperor will introduce you as his mate.” Lawson answered.

“So why is there a ring?” I asked.

“It’s your engagement ring to the Emperor. You’re getting married soon.”

I couldn’t stop the tears that dropped from my eyes. “No..no..this can’t be happening!” I said shakily.

How come am getting engaged soon? What the sudden marriage? Shouldn’t I be given sometime to settle down in this world? I haven’t been here for two week but a week!

It breaks my heart to realize that I would never get what I want in this life! I have always dreamt of the day my prince charming would asked me to marry him on his knees and a ring in his hands! That’s every girls dreams! But I should have figured it that the Emperor would never stoop so low to proposing to a human!

No! No! No! I am not ready to marry the Emperor! I can’t marry a man who doesn’t love me! Marriage is a scared things that involves the union of two hearts in love! I don’t want to end up like my mom.

“I need to talk to the Emperor.” I blurted out.

“The Emperor is in a meeting with Alphas from other packs. He won’t be able to attend to you.” Samson responded.

I stood up and wemt closer to them. “I don’t care if he’s in a meeting! I demand to see the Emperor now!” They blocked my pathway to the door.

“I need to see him! He needs to know that I am not ready for marriage!” I shouted in frustration.

My bodyguards didn’t let me get to the door. “Empress with due respect you have to step back. The Emperor ordered us to not let you out of the suites.” Lawson said with a hard expression.

I gasped out. “So I don’t have the freedom to move around. Don’t tell me I’m stucked in this fucking suites till God knows when!” I screamed,my panic rising each minute.

“We’re only obeying the Emperor’s orders.” Samson said.

“Damn his orders!” I hit Samson’s chest but he didn’t flinch.

“Empress?” Kira called out.

I became so wild that I couldn’t control my tears,fury and anger towards the guards.

“Get the hell out of here!” I pushed Lawson this time.

“Empress that’s enough..” Kira tried to calm me.

I went back to the table and picked up the whole items. “Tell the Emperor that I don’t want his stupid ring! And you tell him that he doesn’t own my life!” I threw the whole items at them before storming off to the room.

“Empress! Empress! You need to calm down.” Kira followed me into the room.

“Don’t tell me to calm down!” Kira jumped in fear when I shouted at her.

She looked down quickly. “I’m sorry Empress.” She apologized.

Suddenly I felt guilty for raising my voice at Kira. I ran my hands over my face. I shouldnt have yelled at her! It was wrong of me to take out my anger on her. She wasn’t to be blamed for everything happening to me.

I tried to calm down before speaking up again. “I am sorry for yelling at you.”

“No, it’s alright.” She muttered.

“No,it was wrong of me to raise my voice at you after I asked you to be free with me.” I said sincerely.

She looked at me. “I understand how you feel..” she said.

“This isn’t how I expect my life to turn out.” I broke down on the bed in tears. “Why the engagement ring when he hasn’t even taken a step to knowing me.”

I felt Kira touch my shoulder blades. “The Emperor is a tough cookie who doesn’t care about anyone feelings. He makes decisions on his will without considering others views. So don’t expect him to fulfil your girl’s fantasy of going down on his knees with a ring in his hands. Remember his hatred towards humans. As a matter of fact,I feel him acting nice towards you would look like he has betrayed his loved one who died in the war.”

“No..I..I also can’t do this…I..I am not ready for marriage!” I cried out.

“But sooner or later you have to embrace this new life and prepare for what fate has in store for you.” I shook my head. Fate is a bitch! Damn Destiny for bringing me here!

Kira did a great job at consoling me with a warm hug and words of encouragement until I calm down.

“Let me get you water..” I stopped her when she was about leaving.

“Please stay with me..” I muttered.

“I’m not going anywhere,I just want to get water.” She smiled.

I nodded. “Okay..” I whispered before she motioned out of the room.

---

Finally,the Grand Ball day meant to introduce me as the Emperess was here! And prior to this day, I have met few people in this Imperial. Royal Dance teacher who taught me how to dance like an Empress since I would be having a dance with the Emperor. Royal Instructor who lectured me on how to behave like an Empress,how to sit with my shoulders high, when to talk at meeting whenever I go out with the Emperor. A long note of do’s and dont’s of an Empress.

I haven’t set my eyes on Caden since our first meeting. Lawson said he was too busy tending to the imperial affairs. But I wasn’t going to buy it that the Emperor was too caught up with work to be able to visit me in his own suite. Kira made it clear that the Emperor had never missed sleeping in his suite..so why now?! My instinct kept telling me that the Emperor was avoiding me because he didn’t expect his mate to be a human.

I didn’t let that bother me because I had a good companion in the person of Kira! She has been a good friend to me. She’s doing a good job at making sure that I was comfortable and never feel alone. She assured me that everything would be fine someday.

Kira already showed me around the imperial too. The sight of the garden caught my attention. It was beautiful! Kira said it had been the late Empress favorite spot in the imperial.

I bumped into Mikel once on our way to the garden. He commented that I looked good and hoped to see me at the Grand Ball. To be honest,I had been scared. Something about him gives me great fear. I had to stop my daily routine of visiting the garden because I was afraid of seeing Mikel again.

Last night Kira slept at the suite with me so she could help me relax by reading me books. I was extremely nervous about this ball.

At 1:00pm Kira came in with a woman who looked human.

“Empress meet Miranda.” Kira introduced.

“I am Cassidy Moore.” I smiled.

“The Emperor assigned me to prepare you for the ball.” Miranda said as she sat me down on the chair infront of the large dressing mirror. She was one of the fortunate humans to be employed by the Emperor.

“This is going to take time but I’ll try to be fast so we won’t be late for the ball.”

“Yeah..it starts by 6..” Kira added.

“Let’s get to work!” Miranda clapped.

She started with applying lotions to my hair. “When was the last time you visited the salon?” Miranda asked.

“I can’t remember..maybe two years…”

“That’s long.”

“All I do is wash it and brush it.”

“We’ll have to straighten it.” Miranda worked her hands into my scalp gently and I enjoyed the feeling. I Chuckled.

“Are you okay?” Kira asked.

“Yes..but it tickles me..” We laughed.

Miranda did a great job at styling my hair into a nice bun. The pins holding it up hurts but come on! Beauty is pain! I have to look good as an Empress!

The make up took longer than expected. My ass burned against the chair as if it was on fire. I could feel the numbness.
Miranda let me open my eyes. I was surprised at the face staring back at me in the mirror.

“What do you think?” Miranda asked.

“I don’t think this is me!” I gasped. “Damn! I look good!”

“You’re Beautiful! I am sure the Emperor won’t take his eyes off you at the ball!” Miranda commented. “Let’s get you dressed up.” She helped me up from the chair.

“No.. I’d like to eat something before wearing the dress.” I was extremely tried but I managed to stand up to relief my numb ass. Blood really needs to flow into it.

“Oh! Lemme bring you lunch, Empress!”. Kira raced out of the room while Miranda began to pack up her make-up kit.

“Thank you Miranda!” I said.

“I’m only doing my duty Empress.” She smiled.

The time was already 5:00pm! I can’t believe we spent so much time on styling my hair and makeup. If I become the Empress then I will have to get used to this act of spending hours on chair just to look good at a meeting with the Emperor.

Oh God! Help me tonight! I am really nervous about the ball because I would be meeting powerful vampires tonight! I looked down at the ring on my finger. I had slipped it on myself few days ago.

So I am really getting engaged to the Emperor! Well I have no choice,this is what fate has for me and I have to prepare for whatever is ahead.

Beauty ? And The Beast ?
? Episode 10 ?
Theme: The Human Empress ?

?Cassidy’s POV ?

My eyes widened as Kira pulled me to the large mirror after putting on the crimson dress Caden sent to me yesterday. My heart skipped beat as I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I have never been dressed in the nicest brand of clothing or even had a make up on my face.

“You’re beautiful,My Empress.” Kira commented with a bow,earning a chuckle from me.

“Please don’t bow to me..” I tuned away from the mirror to the bed.

All of a sudden,my hands became sweaty as nervousness claimed me when a knock came on the door. I knew it was time to leave for the ball.

“The Emperor awaits his mate’s presence at the Grand Ball hall.” I heard either Lawson or Samson say behind the door. It was hard to tell who it was since their voices sound alike.

“Oh! we’ll be out soon.” Kira replied.

“I am..scared..” I muttered.

“Relax.. everything will be fine.”

“No doubt..those vampires won’t like me. I’ll constantly remind them of the human who betrayed the late Emperor.”

“That’s what they think about us..don’t worry..about them. You just need to earn their respect and win the Emperor’s trust too.”

I nodded in agreement before letting out a sigh of relief.

“You really look beautiful…you know..” Kira said as she helped me slip on the stilletto heels. “Ready for tonight?!” She added.

I smiled as usual before heading out of the room. My guards were already waiting to accompany me to the Grand Ball.

I thanked kira,bidding her goodbye as we head out of the suites,closing the door behind her softly.

“I’ll see you tomorrow Empress. Enjoy the night.” She waved.

I wished Kira could be by my side throughout the ball but her presence wasn’t needed in the hall. And I understand that she needed to have a good rest from work.

I let out a deep breathe before we walked into the large room filled with way too many people in it. A few people caught my scent,their stares creating a pit in my stomach and some scoffed and shunned their eyes when they caught the merino of me being human.

My heartbeat accelerated as we got closer to where the Emperor stood tall among the others he was discussing with.

“Emperor?” Lawson called him.

“Oh Lawson!” He said in a deep voice before his gaze fell on me. What did the Royal instructor say about meeting new people as an Empress?

“The Empress is here!” Samson added. And I could still feel the Emperor’s eyes on me as I stepped forward

“We’ll take our leave now..”

“Oh! You’ve done a great job. You can take the rest of the night off.” He said.

“Enjoy your night Empress.” They both bowed before walking away.

“Oh! So…this is your mate?” A tiny feminine voice said.

“Oh Yes Marissa.” He replied.

Finally I looked to meet the beautiful silver eyes still trained on me.

“Meet my mate, Cassidy Moore.” He came to stand beside me as he did the introduction.

“Meet my uncle Anthony..and his wife Marissa.” he said. I managed to put a good smile on my face as Caden introduced his uncle to me.

“It’s nice to meet you.” I said.

“You have a beautiful mate.” Uncle Anthony commented but his next words had head spinning in circles.

“But.. I must admit that I wished she wasn’t human.” He added.

I froze on my spot Immediately Caden snaked his hand around my waist,pulling me closer and gently to his side. I felt my heart skipped a beat when our gaze met.

“I will still count myself lucky to have a mate again.” He said with a serious face.

“Remember what happened to the last mate…you lost her to the war created by her kind!” Anthony pointed out with a grin.

I knew someone would blame me for what happened hundreds of years ago.

“Yes..but I won’t permit you to speak Ill of my mate.” His words sounded like a threat. I was happy he didn’t let them talk bad at me.

“Okay..okay..” Anthony raised his hands in surrender. “I wish you best of luck on this journey.” He touched Caden’s shoulder. “But you have my support on whatever decision you make as long as it is a good one.” He faked a smile at me.

“I’ll see you around Anthony and Marissa.” Caden said.

His hands left my waist as soon as they left us alone. Caden moved away quickly as if I had burned him and I didn’t know what to say to him.

“Let me introduce you to some people who have been really anxious to meet you before it’s time for my speech.”

I nodded,hoping he would walk ahead and I would follow behind but once again he curved his elbow and waited for me to slip my arm into his. I did as expected before he led me to some group of Vampires.

I met with many alphas and men of higher titles until it was time for his speech. Caden left me and moved to the podium. He clicked a spoon on a glass to gain people’s attention.

“Good to have you in my Imperial tonight!” He started off. “Alphas,Men of Higher Titles, Nobels and Royal bloodlines.” He continued his speech by telling a tale of how hard he had worked to keep the imperial in place.

“You look beautiful tonight.” I froze when someone sniffed my neck from behind. I knew who it was from his voice. Mikel!

“One would never know you have such beauty My lady.” He chuckled.

I moved away from him,trying to listen to Caden’s tale about this Imperial.

“Come on,I won’t bite you since you belong to the Emperor. But know that you owe me for bringing you into this good life.”

I looked up at the golden eyes admiring my body lustfully.

“And you can always come back to me if the Emperor doesn’t show you too much affection like you expect him to.” He smirked.

Mikel was such a fool to think that I would stoop so low and come begging him for love if the Emperor chooses to not love me.

“I present to you the Emperor of Wright Imperial – Cassidy Moore.” I waited for Caden to step down from the podium so he could walk me up to the dancefloor.

They all clapped as we got ready to the Royal dance. Oh my God,I pray I don’t miss a step while dancing with him. Relax! Relax! Relax! Cassy..you can do it! I encouraged myself.

Caden led me to the dancefloor,many jealous eyes upon me from female Vampires probably those who has been wanting to be the Emperor’s mate and some hateful look from male vampires as Caden took a hold of my waist and one hand. I met his Beautiful silver gaze laying my free hand upon his shoulder. The Royal instructor has taught me the ball dance for days before I learnt to do it the right way with Kira acting as the Emperor. But the feeling was so different now,my heartbeat rapidly as I kept staring into his eyes.

The music began,a smile forming on my face as he took the first step. One more look into his eyes and my heart skipped a beat, butterflies forming in my belly. Damn Destiny for bringing a man so completely captivating and mysterious and sexy into my existence. I had been bored all my life. I knew I had been missing excitement in my life. And I could imagine how my life was going to get with my mission of earning the vampires respect and winning the Emperor’s trust.

Caden held me closer to his body. I looked around at all the people,many Vampires danced with either their mates or those with higer titles. I was glad that I haven’t tripped off or missed a step since the dance kicked off. I was been careful to avoid embarrassment. I have never been a fan of people staring at my every move. I bet a couple of people here are seeing how my fingers would move.

I could feel Caden examining my body in the dress,how his planning for my attire tonight has made me feel spoiled in my life,all the money and time that went into this outfit was worth it.

“You did excellent.” Caden commented when the notes ended. He was referring to the dance as I shook my head.

Everyone clapped as Caden stepped away from me. “Thank you for honoring our invitation.”

I waved my hand in the air the same way Queen Elizabeth would do with a smile on my face. The Royal instructor told me that! Thank Goodness I didn’t have to say a word to the vampires here,just responses during introduction.

“Enjoy the rest of the night.” He added.

Oh my God! It’s not ending anytime soon. People surrounded the tables filled with delicacies while some went ahead to grab more drinks.

“Would you like to have a drink or food?” Caden asked.

No! I think I have had enough drinks tonight! And I could feel my ankles begging to be released from this heels. All I want right now is to sleep in bed but that’s Impossible! I have to be around till the end of the ball.

“Ahn..erm..I think I need to use the toilet. ” I answered.

Well that seems like the perfect excuse to get out of here for a while. I wanted to be free..like be alone for some minutes.

“Okay.. I’ll take you -“

“No..no..I can find my way out.” I objected.

Caden shook his head,his hand coming down to hold mine. “Come with me..”

Oh I forgot! He’s an Emperor who doesn’t care about other people’s opinion. He always want to have his way!

We moved but Caden stopped abruptly at the sight of a woman standing in front of us. Her deep Auburn hair was held back to reveal a beautiful body dressed in a golden dress that sweeps the floor snd makes her look stunning.

“Emperor Caden..” she drank from the glass in her hand.

“Let’s talk later.” He said authoritatively.

“You haven’t introduced me to your mate.” She said.

“I just introduced her to everyone before the dance.”

“Hi..dear Cassidy…” She greeted.

“I am Ava,a very close friend to the Emperor..”

Why did she have to emphasize the close friend in her words? I didn’t miss the seductive looks she kept throwing at Caden. I think I get it now..she might be his girlfriend…or a bedfriend. I was uncomfortable around her.

I slipped my hand out of Caden’s. “Nice to meet you Ava.” I faked a smile,her eyes examing and sizing me up.

“I’ll go ahead now..” I walked away before Caden could object. Whatever Ava wanted to prove to me was very clear to me.

A group of Noble passed bye,their eyes trained up on me,judging me as I walked out of the hall at a close run.

I breathed heavily as I walked down the silent hall not really having a destination in my mind. I just wanted to breathe in fresh air and then think of a plan to earn the Emperor’s trust. That’s the goal!

I found myself in the garden, inhaling the freshness of roses in my nostrils,liking the feeling of Coldness on my skin. I thought back at everything that has happened since I got here. And I was mostly thankful that I wasn’t declared as a pet to Mikel.

I hummed a tone, picking up a rose but then all of a sudden an ideal struck my mind. I haven’t set my eyes on Felicia and Sophia since I started staying at the Emperor’s suites. The human cell wasn’t far to the Grand hall but wasn’t linked to the suites on the other end. What if I go ahead to check on them? Food! I should bring food along too! But where do I get food? If only I could reach the suite on time,pick out some stuffs and then head to the human cell. I reasoned internally.

Yes! This is a good idea but a great risk! What if I get caught by the Emperor? What if someone sees me? Then I really have to be careful and make things fast before the Emperor notices my absence in the hall.

I hurried back to the hallways,heading straight to the suites avoiding being seen by anyone. Perhaps if the Emperor sees me right now, I’ll tell that I was exhausted and needed to rest. Most of the vampires were busy around but few guards were on patrol.

I punched in the password to the suites and entered quietly. I slipped off my heels and rushed into the kitchen. I packed the leftovers in the fridge into a plastic plates,a bottle of water and two apples. I dropped the items into a nylon before racing to my room to grab a slippers on. Then I set out to find my way back to the human cell.

*******************************************************

Beauty ? And The Beast
#OpraDre

Lemme start by singing a song to Cassidy!
Egungun be careful na express you dey go..motor go jam you but don’t say I didn’t tell you! ?
You’re going to the human cell with food..hmmmm! ?

Lemme reserve my comment! But please don’t reserve yours o! I beg you o! ? Una comment dey always ginger me to write more! ?
I love you!❣️