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"Then Eva is not the woman we are looking for, and we have no choice but to keep searching," Alex summarized, somewhat disappointed. Edward nodded curtly.
"We'll just have to shimmy through the lineage of women in Scripture," Chris said, patting him encouragingly on the shoulder. "We'll get there."
"Yes, but not until tomorrow," Alex drove at him desperately. He ran out of the training room with one last look in my direction. He was right. Tomorrow, armed only with a tusk, I would have to enter the gladiator ring to fight a lion. I wish I knew the enemy better.
CHAPTER 30
Ican’t wear this, Aza!” With wide eyes, I stared at my naked back. Like marble, the white skin stood out next to the dark blue of the silk. For years, I had been used to being literally enveloped by high-necked clothing that didn’t show an inch of skin. It hadn’t been that way before, of course, but those days were far in the past, and I associated them with another Myrina. With the free, daredevil Myrina, who was afraid of nothing.
But now I was afraid! Of wearing that dress, of going to the gala, of meeting the Knights of the Seals, of facing an uncertain future.
So many things could happen tonight, and most ended in disaster.
“You have no choice,” Aza reminded me firmly, tugging at the folds of my skirt one last time. If I had believed that this evening dress was a dream when we unpacked it from the box, I now knew irrefutably that it was far more than that. It was an apparition on my body. It fit me like a glove and emphasized my femininity. Never in my life had I felt so much like a woman. The long sleeves and the high collar studded with sparkling stones looked elegant, whereas the deep neckline at the backwas absolutely sexy. This dress seemed tailor-made for me, and the embroidery interwoven with diamond-like stones made any jewelry unnecessary.
Only my chain with the moon pendant lay coolly and soothingly hidden between my breasts. At the back of my neck, the piece of jewelry was not noticeable under my complicated updo, with hair partly loose down to my shoulders. Aspasia's weapon I had tied around my thigh with a piece of pantyhose. Hopefully, I could grasp it without any problems at the decisive moment.
Sighing, I looked in the mirror one last time, wishing I could rejoice at the sight, without worry, without fear. Aza came to me smiling and put her arm around me.
“Everything will be fine,” she tried to reassure me. “Most certainly. With this dress, it will be a wonderful evening. Enjoy it. You’re beautiful.”
“That’s just the problem. It’s exactly the opposite of what my instincts tell me to do.” I took one deep breath. Panic was the last thing I needed right now.
“By the way, there was something else hiding between the paper in the box,” Aza suddenly remembered, and she ran back to my bed where the big box was lying. The next moment, two delicate, silver-colored stilettos dangled from her fingers.
“Oh no, not that too,” I groaned, though my heart did a little skip at the sight of them. These shoes would complete the outfit perfectly, but it had been a long time since I had worn such high heels. They were also forbidden, as was actually everything I wore tonight.
Aza knelt on the floor and helped me into the silver high heels. Running was definitely out of the question with these. Was that why they had given them to me for today’s gala? To prevent me from somehow defending myself or running away?
When my friend was finished, she stepped back and looked at me. Tears shimmered in her eyes.
“It’s just perfect!” she whispered, “Just add a tiara to your hair, and you’d be a princess.” Confused, I eyed my reflection. She was right. The missing crown was the only thing that distinguished me from the earlier images of members of the royal family. That and the pride in their eyes they all carried from birth.
But why should this sparkle not also rest in my gaze? Because I was a woman? At least, that's what the Brotherhood tried to convince us. But even as such, I was a human being. Strong, indomitable, and ready to fight for my freedom. Much had been taken from me in the past, but these qualities still rested in me despite all this. They were slightly damaged here and there but had survived.
It may be time to discard Myrina Johnson and instead bring forth Myrina, the Amazon Queen. That woman who self-determinedly chose her partners, went to war for her people and faced men in battle without fear.
Aza's eyes widened! She stared at me in amazement, and I saw it in the mirror, too. A gleam in my eyes that had not been there before but which made the green in them shine more richly and brilliantly than ever. Was it that royal pride the many portraits in history books reflected?
"You'll be fine," she whispered encouragingly. "Tonight at the gala, I mean, of course," she added hastily, turning away and packing the box.
I have to be fine, I thought with one last look at my appearance. My first task was to face the horrified faces of my family.
A little later, I walked down the stairs into the entrance hall on somewhat unsteady legs. Everyone was already waiting for me there. My dad, Chris, Rick, and Jordy, with Anne, whovisibly couldn't stand each other's presence. Although they were standing right next to each other for this masquerade, their posture was repellent.
All the men, except Chris, wore dark blue suits; my sister-in-law, on the other hand, was wearing the typical black dress of those times. Suddenly, everyone's eyes darted in my direction.
"There you are, at last, Myrina. What took you so long?" My father sighed impatiently, checking the clock next to the elevator. "We'll be late if we don't hurry now."
As quickly as my stilettos allowed me, I descended the last steps and stood directly under the chandelier's light. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the little stones of my dress sparkling.
"You look pretty," Chris smiled at me. He wore his best priestly robe, which he kept only for special occasions. Rick stepped up beside him. He was once again chewing on something edible.
"Don't tell me it took you so long to put on that fumble, sis," I heard from between his smacking.
"Fumble? Well, this beautiful evening gown is anything but a fumble!" I returned indignantly and turned once in a circle before the two. Perhaps they hadn't noticed the deep back neckline of the dress yet.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know what's so different about this dress than your many other gowns," Rick grumbled and walked smack-dab over to Jordy, who had moved a bit away from his wife. The latter stood there a little lost. She had never been nice to me, yet I felt a little sorry for her.
