Silver blood

I was standing on my room's balcony, the wind tugging at my hair, and I wondered what it would feel like to be as free as that breeze. The scent of blooming jasmine wafted up to me, reminiscent of my childhood, when I would dance around the garden, imagining I was a butterfly drifting without a care in the world.

I longed to roam the world with invisible wings spread wide, touching places I'd only ever seen in my dreams.

Knock. Knock.

"Miss, are you ready?" a voice called from the other side of the door. "Ma'am is asking for you. The guests are waiting. Please open up."

The door creaked open.

I hope she won't be embarrassed by me this time, I thought.

"You look absolutely fabulous, Miss," the maid said, studying me with a critical eye.

"Please, just call me Ivy, Mrs. Duskess. You know I really don't like all that formal stuff," I replied with a small grin. "I'm just a girl like everyone else, you know? The only bummer is that I have to live by this rulebook."

"That's certainly not what's expected from a girl who owns half of the state," the maid muttered under her breath.

She adjusted the last strand of my hair.

"Now your hair is fixed, Miss. You're ready to meet the guests."

"It doesn't matter. I like my hair open," I said, loosening a strand that refused to stay in place.

The maid sighed, but there was something in her eyes-a flicker of worry, or was it fear?-that made me wonder what, exactly, waited for me on the other side of that hallway.

I walked down the stairs with my two bodyguards following closely behind me.

"Mrs. Duskess, who do I have to greet first?" I asked.

"Miss, Ma'am will explain everything from here. I have to serve the guests."

"No, wait, please."

"I'm sorry, Miss."

Before I could say anything else, she walked away.

I sighed and continued toward the guests.

"Ivy! Come here, my darling daughter."

I looked toward my mother, who was standing with an elegantly dressed couple.

"Come here. I want you to meet Mr. and Mrs. Miller. They own the Moroccan Boutique in Mexico. They are very old friends of your father."

The couple smiled at me.

"Hello, Ivy. It's lovely to finally meet you," Mrs. Miller said.

Mr. Miller chuckled.

"That's true, honey. Your father and I used to go to the same school until fifth grade."

My mother smiled.

"They've specifically come here to meet you."

I smiled politely.

"It's very nice to meet you both."

Mr. and Mrs. Miller exchanged a brief glance before looking back at me.

I couldn't help but wonder why they seemed so interested in meeting me.

After all, we'd never met before.

I was hovering around with a glass of fresh juice when Marcus approached me.

"Hey, ex-girlfriend."

I replied with a smile, "Hey, ex-boyfriend."

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Well, I am here because I am madly in love with you, my lady," Marcus said.

We both laughed.

Marcus added, "I am here because my dad wanted me to come with him for further discussion on the project we're working on."

"Oh, I see. That secret mountain project?" I asked.

"Secret? Who told you that?" Marcus asked.

"Mom was talking about it with Dad. He said that you guys haven't introduced it yet, so it's a secret," I replied.

"Oh, so I see. Oh yeah, that's the project we're going to discuss today."

"I'll be back in five minutes," I said.

I walked towards the table where all the food was laid out, casually glancing over everything.

Then I spotted the chocolates.

My eyes immediately lit up.

Chocolate was my favorite, and almost every guest seemed to have one. I reached toward the table, looking for the best one, when something caught my attention through the window.

A flash.

Something was shining outside.

I froze.

My hand remained suspended above the table.

What was that?

I slowly turned towards the window, trying to see it again.

Nothing.

Just the dark yard outside.

I narrowed my eyes.

Maybe I had imagined it.

But curiosity got the better of me.

I quickly went back inside the hall, where everyone was still busy talking and laughing. I walked straight towards Mom.

"Mom, can I go back to my room?"

She looked at me suspiciously.

"Why?"

For a second, I panicked.

"I... I think I need a touch-up," I said quickly. "I'm going to get a touch-up."

Mom stared at me for a moment.

Then, without saying anything, she simply gestured for me to go.

I didn't waste another second.

I turned around and walked away.

The moment I was out of everyone's sight, I hurried up the stairs.

My footsteps echoed through the hallway.

I glanced behind me.

No one.

I kept going.

Once I reached my room, I quickly shut the door behind me and locked it.

I went straight to the balcony.

From there, I looked down into the yard, searching for that strange flash I'd seen earlier.

Nothing.

I scanned the garden.

The trees.

The pathways.

The shadows between them.

Nothing.

"What was that?" I whispered.

I continued looking, but whatever had caught my attention was gone.

Then I noticed something else.

The bodyguards were nowhere around.

I looked towards the hallway.

Still no one.

A strange thought crossed my mind.

This is my chance.

It was a party. Everyone was distracted. With so many guests around, no one would notice me missing immediately.

My heart started beating faster.

I knew I probably shouldn't do this.

But the opportunity was too tempting.

I quickly grabbed my sandals and a few things from my room-my lipbalm, emergency shoes, and my sketch book.

Obviously, I didn't want my hair to get dirty.

I grabbed my bag and checked inside.

My daddy's credit card was there was in my wallet.

Perfect.

I took one last look around my room.

Then I quietly opened the door.

I stepped into the hallway.

Empty.

I held my breath and listened.

From downstairs, I could still hear the faint sounds of laughter and conversation.

Everyone was occupied.

I carefully made my way towards the emergency exit.

My hand reached for the door handle.

I paused.

For some reason, I suddenly had the feeling that someone was watching me.

I looked back.

Nothing.

I shook my head.

Stop being paranoid, Ivy.

I turned the handle.

The door opened with a faint creak.

I slipped through and quickly pulled it shut behind me.

And just like that, I was outside.

Free.

At least, that's what I thought.