The Broken Ones

Chapter 15:3 -The Ball

-Are you ready?
-Not really. Can't we do this another day?
-You mean a day when the ball isn't held and all of the brokens aren't gathered at the one and same place?
-Exactly.
-Coward.
Soi sighed.
-I suppose I am.
Soi and Nibbles stood on the first footstep on the stair leading up to the hall where the broken’s ball was held. There was no turning back. Soi took a deep breath.
-Fine, let's get this done.
Step by step they climbed the stairs until they reached the top then Soi had to stop to take another deep breath. Nebelius Silver took the lead and Soi followed a few steps behind him, his hand rested on the blue scabbard not only to look the part as Nibbles’ guard but because he felt safer. Although there was no way he could kill anyone with a sword when among thousands of brokens, but he felt all the same safe. It was with these false feelings Soi took his last deep breath and followed mr Silver into the awaiting danger.
Soi's new clothes didn't really make him stand out but knowing he was wanted made him uncomfortable. But as they treaded into the ballroom Soi soon realised he was hardly visible, mainly because he was in a room full of brokens and because Nibbles was standing beside him, looking far more spectacular than Soi ever could.
Dressed in purple, crimson and gold and with his usual black top hat Nebelius Silver draw all the eyes to him. Had it been Soi he would have backed out the same way he entered but Nibbles simply smiled and twinkled cheeky with his one eye. Although relieved that it wasn’t Soi causing the attention he still felt that Nibbles had dressed a bit too provokingly.
“Nibbles, could it really be good to be in the eyes of everybody?”
They had practiced this in advance as Soi, a non-broken and a guard, weren’t supposed to talk to Nibbles, a broken. That, if anything ever could astonish a broken, would surprise the brokens. Soi had learned a lot more about the brokens than he ever thought he would when he first was told of their existence. Their pride was a great deal more obvious than of a non-broken. That they had even created the term non-broken to distinguish themselves was evidence of their pride. So to fit into the world of the brokens Nibbles and Soi had decided to keep the level of conversation between the two down to a minimum. If there were anything Soi needed to know he would address Nibbles by thoughts and directly ask what he wanted to know and Nibbles would whisper back the answer. At least that was the idea.
Nibbles smiled down to Soi and winked his eye.
-Nervous much, he said without moving his lips and Soi snorted.
They moved across the ballroom and Soi kept a careful watch over everyone they passed but no one seemed to notice him although Nibbles got more than his share of dazzled looks. Nibbles wasn’t the only one escorted by a guard. Soi could clearly distinguish the guards from the brokens. They weren’t as extravagance dressed as their masters. Every broken in the ballroom had really made an effort to stand out and Soi thought it similar to the windows of Nibbles’ sweet shop or perhaps the meadows surrounding the city. Of course, Nibbles had been right, Beroal was really the best place for the ball. No one in the ballroom was wearing white, it was like a silent protest against the Academy.
A broken followed by a guard passed Soi and Nibbles. Suddenly Soi met the guard’s eyes and Soi quickly looked the other way. He took a deep breath to calm himself. It couldn’t be, could it?
-What? Nibbles asked with a raised eyebrow.
-Did you see that? That man definitely had red eyes! He’s a monster, isn’t he? Soi didn’t really know what to think, his mind was completely blank.
-As we suspected, the place is full of monsters pretending to be guards or brokens.
-As “we” suspected? You never shared those suspicions with me! Soi felt the irritation of being withheld information win over the fear of being surrounded of monsters.
-Oh, didn’t I? Oh well, I probably thought you would run the other way if I told you there would be monsters at the ball. I actually thought the ball alone would make you run, Nibbles said while grinning wide.
-If anything, it was the velvet clothes that made me skeptic, Soi answered wryly.
Nibbles hardly got to laugh before they were surprised yet again. Walking towards them was Sassa. Neither Soi nor Nibbles had seen her since they camped together by the lake. Her black hair hung loose and she wore a long black dress showing all of her curves. As she came closer she put on a wide sassy smile and flung her hair to one side.
-Nibbles, Sassa nodded.
-Sassy, Nibbles nodded back. –Where’s your guard?
-He held me back so I left him… in a pool of blood. I see you have taken over Ana’s guard, did she agree to this?
-She got tired of him as well and gave him to me.
-I see. So, you have the flute with you? Sassa smiled and looked Soi in the eyes.
-Yes, of course, Nibbles answered and bowed his head a bit deeper this time.
-Well, I’m glad that’s done then, Sassa said with a bored voice and then smiled again. -So, what do you think of my dress?
She spun around to let them see her dress. It had an open back and Soi gasped in surprise. Her back had three ugly scars from her right shoulder crossing her back and ending at her left hip. Sassa turned back and watched Soi’s shock with a sassy smile.
-So sweet, you’re shocked, she said and put her head to the side. –I’ll scratch your back, if you scratch mine.
She gave Soi a peck on the cheek before she swayed away. Soi immediately turned to Nibbles.
-She knew about the flute.
-Yes, not really surprising.
-Nibbles!
-What? He said innocent and then his face turned serious. -That’s him.
Soi knew immediately who Nibbles was talking about.
At the end of the hall several brokens had gathered in a wide half circle and in the middle stood a man dressed in white and with three gaping jacks across his face, barely touching his right eye.
Jack.
For a moment Soi saw Ard’s damaged face before him and he shuddered. Had Ard already seen this in his vision? Probably. Had he seen Nibbles and Soi’s plan carried out successfully or turn into a disaster? Soi really wished Ard was with him as well as Jagger and Haz. If there would be a fight those were the people to have by your side. What could a mere guard and a twisted broken do?
-Thanks for the confidence, Nibbles breathed into Soi’s ear and Soi jumped high.
-So? Nibbles asked and nodded in Jack’s direction.
-He doesn’t seem so powerful.
Nibbles raised one eyebrow skeptically.
-I mean… his injury is similar to Ard’s but he’s not blind as far as I can see, Soi rephrased himself.
-No, you’re right, he’s not blind and his injury don’t make him powerful in comparison to…, Nibbles looked at the brokens around him to find a just comparison, …me.
Nibbles smiled and winked his eye playfully before he turned serious again.
-But look again, he’s far scarier than you first apprehend.
Soi directed his eyes to Jack again and this time he saw it. Between Jack and the rest of the brokens there was a discreet yet respectful distance and it oozed with fear. The brokens in the half circle all smiled and laughed at Jack’s jokes and replied eagerly but their eyes winked nervously among themselves.
It was something about Jack’s appearance that was terrifying. Soi observed Jack closely. From this distance Soi could not clearly see the colour of Jack’s eyes but if he had to guess they would be light. Jack had a tall body and hay coloured hair. On the whole he was fairly handsome if it weren’t for his vicious grin and the three scars covering his face. What Soi found most scary was that Jack seemed familiar. Where had he seen Jack before?
-Yes, Soi where could you possibly have met Jack before?
Soi didn’t need to answer as he was interrupted by Jack himself.
-Ah, the star of tonight, Jack reached out his arm and pointed at the ballroom entrance.
Everyone’s eyes were directed to the entrance and a mumble quickly spread across the guests.
And then Soi saw her.
Ana wore a snow white dress, around her tiny neck hung a golden necklace and holding her left arm Sam, dressed in red, walked close to her. Soi’s first thought was how old she looked even though she was the same Ana as before. He hadn’t seen her for a week at least. Although Soi wasn’t disguised Ana didn’t see him. She didn’t see anybody. She had a tired yet determined expression. Soi’s heart twitched. What difficulties had she been through? Ana walked towards Jack and her limping was worse than ever before.
-Don’t worry, she’s faking it so she won’t have to dance later on, Nibbles whispered to Soi.

To be continued...
By J.L.Frick