Soona

(Hi. Soona hasnt really told me what she wants her online name to be. I just chose a name from one of her previous stories. When she does tell me, I will edit it and change it. This is her section.)

 (For those of you who dont know, this is the SECOND part. Go down and read the part called “Kanaye” first.)

The Duchess sniffed and waved her hand carelessly as Tayla reached for the box. “Really. I don’t see why you parents bother so, what with their traveling. It’s so hard to keep up with…” she trailed off as Tayla opened the box and drew out the dress.

“Oh, it’s marvelous”, Tayla breathed, Her features were schooled into a look of innocent amazement and only the gleam in her eye gave away her amusement at the Duchess’ stunned and enraged expression.

Emrea took that as her cue. “They wrote to me, saying that they had heard about the decision to take Tayla to court and, since Her Grace was so kind as to make all the arrangements, the only thing they could do was provide her with a gown. I believe they stopped in Paeridys and bought her one.”

The Duchess gave Tayla a smile that a less observant person would have called kind. “How sweet of them”, she purred. “However I’ve already had you made such a lovely dress. I’d hate to see all those fitting and hard work go to waste. A pity their gift didn’t arrive before I paid the seamstresses. We simply couldn’t waste all that money.”

Tayla laid her parents gift carefully back in the back and addressed her grandmother. “But Madam. You said yourself; it’s an absolutely lovely dress at the height of fashion. You should be able to sell it again for most of its original worth.”

*Absolutely nothing* she thought to herself. “I’ll go get it from my room. It may be a tad wrinkled but I was in such a hurry to make sure it was put away safely.” Tayla stood, magically sent the box and its precious contents to her closet, and swept out of the room. She continued to talk as she walked, her voice amplified so that the Duchess, as well as every other living being in the mansion could hear her.

  “After all, I simply couldn’t wear your dress when my parents had to take such time and effort to get me one. Plus, I hear from them so rarely.”

She made it to her room and barely had time to remove the amplifying spell before bursting into laughter. That was how Emrea found her, a full 20 minutes later. Tayla was stretched out on her bed, using her pillows to try and muffle great peals of mirth.

“I’m sorry. I was looking for Lady Tayla. I’ll come back once this howling banshee leaves.”

“That was priceless, absolutely priceless. I wish I had a camera! Her face! Oh Emrea, you are a genius.”

“I have often thought so myself, but even I don’t get your Grandmother. She yelled at me for 10 minutes on how I should check packages by her but as soon as I left she starting going on about how thoughtful it was of your parents and how they couldn’t have picked a dress more lovely for you.”

“Wouldn’t she just love to control me like that. Screening my mail. Stab you in the back. Everyone’s like that in Court.”

Tayla rolled herself onto her elbows to sulk about the indisputable fact that she’d have to brave that dend of vipers. Her maid simply sighed, rolled her eyes, and set the hideous swath of fabric laughingly called a dress outside the room for the other servants to pick up.

“Oh, your mother also sent word that she’s willing to foot the bill for all of your accessories in case the Duchess tries to use that route to embarrass you. She sent a list of the best jewelers in the capital for you to try before the Duchess steers you toward the gaudy paste jewel shops.”

That perked Tayla up a little. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Em.” She glanced at Emrea as she held up an Escaslan green dress. Tayla blinked for a moment than glanced at the clock and tore off the bed.

“Shoot! I’m going to be late again! We were supposed to meet at the Turning Owl by, oh gosh, 6:00. I only have half an hour.”

“No, wouldn’t want to miss any of the last moments with your friends in another wild scheme. Shouldn’t you go ask the Duchess’ permission?” Emrea teased.

Tayla merely snarled and grabbed the dress.

 

~*~*~*~*~

Thats it for the second installment. Hoping to get the third installment up soon.

Thanks, Kanaye

Kanaye

((I will be putting whose part of the story it is as the title. I started the story so its my part now and thus, I named it “Kanaye”.))

 

Tayla had it. She stormed into her room, threw the hideous dress she held on the floor, and proceeded to stomp on it.

 

*There* she thought as she flopped on her bed. *That will show the old hag.*

 

It was Tayla’s 16^th birthday and, instead of having a party with her friends, The Duchess Vromel, aka Tayla’s grandmother, insisted she be presented at court.

 

The past week Tayla had been poked, prodded and stabbed by a number of seamstresses. She had put up with it thinking she would at least get a beautiful and daring dress out of it.

 

When she saw the brownish green dress with its ridiculous ruffles and gaudy, fake jewels everywhere, she lost it.

 

As she continued to fume, a tentative knock came at her door.

 

“Tayla, sweetie? May I come in?”

 

Tayla didn’t say anything, just flicked her hand at the door, opening it.

 

Emrea, Tayla’s personal maid, walked in and saw the dress laying on the floor. Tayla stared at an abstract painting hanging on her wall as Emrea picked up the dress and hung it by the full-length mirror.

 

“It’s hideous.” Tayla complained when Emrea sat on the bed. She turned towards her maid. “Isn’t it absolutely disgusting?”

 

Emrea nodded and walked over to Tayla’s closet. “I suspected The Duchess would try something like this so I wired your parents and they sent me the funds to get you this.”

 

She pulled out a dress from the closet and held it up for her charge to see.

 

Tayla’s mouth dropped and she practically leapt off the bed to grab the hanger. The gown was a deep purple with a sheer lace over skirt in light blue. She fell in love with it instantly had Emrea help her put it on.

 

The bodice was fashionably low without being daring and had tiny purple beads sewn on in a beautiful, stylish pattern. The skirt was full and the sheer lace also had bead work.

 

“Its gorgeous.” Tayla breathed as Emrea took a handful of her blonde hair and started trying different styles.

 

Tayla batted her maid’s hand away as she thought of something. “Em, you know The Duchess will never let me wear this.”

 

Emrea smiled. “I’ve got that all figured out. In a few minutes you will go down stair and act like your normal rebellious self.”

 

“That won’t be a problem.” Tayla interrupted.

 

“Tayla, let me finish.” Her maid admonished.

 

“Sorry, Em.”

 

“You’re going to go downstairs and act normally, maybe a bit angry if you can manage. In about a ½ hour or so, I’m going to bring you a birthday gift from your parents. You will open it in front of your grandmother and act surprised. Now, lets get you out of this.”

 

Tayla smiled and waited until she was in her day dress again before hugging Emrea. “Em you are the absolute best.” Emrea smiled back.

 

“Remember to act normal.”  She whispered when they reached the bottom of the stairs.

 

Tayla nodded and put on her best pout before walking into the parlor where The Duchess waited.

 

The parlor was big with a fireplace, two loveseats, four armchairs and a long coffee table. The room’s theme was gold, brown, and maroon and The Duchess blended right in with a high necked, gold and maroon gown. The only thing that stood out was her white hair, pulled into a severe bun.

 

On the coffee table was a gold plated serving tray and an entire tea set. When the Duchess saw Tayla, she nodded at her while waving a ringed hand at the tea set. The tea pot rose on its own and poured tea into one of the empty tea cups.

Tayla rolled her eyes and muttered “Showoff” and sat on the loveseat across from her grandmother.

 

“Tayla, darling. I’m so glad you came to your senses. That dress was designed with you in mind. You will look stunning in it.”

 

Tayla made a face at the falsely sweet voice and flicked her own hand at the tea set. The sugar tongs plucked three sugar cubes from their bowl and dropped them into her tea while the creamer poured cream into it.

 

The Duchess narrowed her eyes but smiled sweetly. “I’m so glad your magic is improving what with your father ignoring his own abilities.”

 

“Yes, Ma’am. I practice day and night to be as good as you.” Tayla smiled just a sweetly.

 

“It’s a bit bright in here, don’t you think?” Tayla asked before waving her hand at one of the sconces on the wall and snuffing out the candle.

 

“No, I think it was perfect.” The Duchess waved her hand at the dark sconce and the candle relit.

 

“Well, now, that’s not right.” The candle snuffed out.

 

“Now, why don’t you tell me why you dislike the dress so much? I think it suits you perfectly.” The candle relit.

 

They went back and forth like this until Emrea knocked on the lounge door. Deciding to let The Duchess win this time, Tayla left it lit. *May as well, let her get an excellent view of my new dress.*

 

Trying not to smile, Tayla called. “Yes, Emrea? What is it?” She gestured the maid to enter.

 

Emrea walked in carrying a large white box. “This was just dropped off. I think its from your parents.”

 

 

 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

This concludes my part of the story. I will post #2’s soon.

 

 

 

 

 

Introuction

We are two people in the Young Adult Writers Group and we are doing a collaborative story.

I will be making differnt posts for where each of us started. We are going in circles, I started the story then #2 continued, then she gave it to me. Today I will give it to her.

We meet the first Wednesday of every month at 5pm - 6pm.