Free creepy hollow 05 - a faerie's revenge by rachel morgan Page A

walked in here together and admired the splendid decor and laughed at the outrageous costumes and danced until our feet hurt.
    He is Draven , I remind myself. Draven. Not Chase.
    I push aside my silly dreams and step into the ballroom. The decor enchantments have transformed the room into a jungle. Instead of walls, I see moss-covered trees and giant ferns and vines draped from one side of the room to the other. Mist creates a subtle haziness near the ceiling, adding to the mood along with the floating lanterns emanating yellow-green light. Musicians on a raised platform on one side of the room keep the music going, and the dance floor is already packed with couples spinning about.
    People are dressed like creatures from all parts of the world, both human and fae. I run my hands self-consciously over my dress, hoping I look at least a little bit like a mermaid. That was the plan, but since I didn’t put much thought into it prior to this afternoon, it wasn’t exactly a detailed plan. My dress is a shimmering aquamarine color with a faint pattern of scales covering it, but the mermaid theme doesn’t extend much further than that. I tried to create a fishtail shape at the bottom of the dress, but it ended up being so tight I couldn’t move my legs. I also tried to create shoes that appeared to be made of water, but that proved to be far too complex as well. So in the end my dress is a simple style and my shoes are plain silver heels. I pulled my hair over my shoulder and braided it with blue-green ribbons. By that point I’d run out of time to construct a mask, so I finished off my blue eye makeup with some tiny crystals on my lashes and blue, green and purple sequins around my eyes and at the top of my cheekbones.
    I look around for someone I recognize. Gemma told me she’d be late, so I don’t expect to see her here yet. Saskia is nearby, loudly showing off her new jewelry to a group of her friends. Whatever the jewelry is, I’m not close enough to see it. I get a good look at her outfit, though: a gorgeous red dress that shimmers like fiery coals, and a pair of leathery webbed wings. I think she’s meant to be a dragon.
    I continue to look around, then twist my hands together as I start to feel awkward. I wonder if I should wait outside the ballroom, but then the current dance ends and Perry waltzes off the dance floor toward me. He looks ridiculous with butterfly wings protruding from his back and a mask the shape of a butterfly covering half his face. It’s definitely him, though—I can tell from his height and the green in his hair and, well, the fact that he looks absurd and proud of it. He does a twirl and a bow before reaching me, and I can’t help laughing as he straightens, takes my hand, and kisses it. “You’re making fun of this whole dress-up thing, aren’t you,” I say.
    “Never,” he exclaims. “What makes you think that?”
    “I wonder.” I reach up and flick his mask. “And were you dancing by yourself, or did I happen to miss your partner?”
    “I was practicing,” he says, “for when the perfect partner comes along.”
    “I see. Well, your outfit is extraordinary. I think you should win a prize for it.”
    “Thank you.” Perry does another bow. “And may I say that you make a lovely fish, Calla.”
    Indignant, I place my hands on my hips. “I’m not a fish. I’m a mermaid.”
    “Oh, sorry, of course. My bad.” Perry laughs, but his smile falters as he focuses on something over my shoulder. “Is that Gemma?”
    I turn and see a girl with a delicate silver filigreed mask covering the top part of her face. Her white feathered dress and the feather hair piece pinned into her dark hair make me think of a swan. The overall effect is stunning. “Yes, that is Gemma. And that—” my eyes move to the handsome guy on her arm “—is Mr. Perfect. Your competition.”
    “That’s … whatever …” Perry splutters, but he pulls off his butterfly mask and stands a little