Chapter 23

Hello lovelies! I am sorry for the long wait. I don't really know if I could finish this before the due date for Watty's but I am going to try. I thank every each one of you fro your kind support and I apologize for the grammar mistakes and errors. I did not check this. Ignore them and...try not to be angry? *smiles sheepishly*

Once again, thank you so much.

P.S: Dedicated to the lovely littleLo for her amazing stories. I read every one of them, like really, every one of them...and I can't wait for the new chapter on Freeing Ebony :)

*******************************

"Blake will be here soon, Kate." Elektra informed the small girl and she smiled when she mentioned his name.

The daycare was closed and as usual, Elektra and Kate were the only ones left. It was almost dark outside and she was beginning to wonder if tonight was going to be as silent as it has been three days ago.

It seems as if any activities of the monsters have stopped. This was worse than the time that there were no zombies coming out from their graves. It was as if no monsters came out at all. The forest was eerily quiet and Elektra and her companions have returned to their houses earlier than expected. She was not sure she would go out patrolling again tonight, since there was nothing for her to do. However, she still couldn't find Vlad and Magnus and she found it a lost case.

She was terrified that she would meet them during the second full moon. She needed to find them before anything happens at all but their tracks always were wiped out and carried with the wind. She couldn't find them, nor Henry or Angela.

Fortunately, since Alfred came back, things had been easier for her. Alfred volunteered to search for Vlad and Magnus and his team of Elves were already searching the whole town last night. All she needed to do now was to wait for the news.

Her eyes wondered around the daycare and found it clean enough. Readjusting her glasses, she went to the counter to take her things before joining Kate at the bench near the door.

"So, how's your brother doing? I haven't seen him in a while."

His name brought out a smile on her face and she could not help but to think of the late phone calls they had these few nights. Blake had to go to San Francisco for a business meeting three days ago and she had not seen him since the night they were attacked at the cottage. Blake had been really busy with the family business and he missed school for it. She has missed him so much and felt extremely guilty since their last meeting was not really delighting.

She wanted to apologize to him but she had not seen him in schools and Owen, his bodyguard was the one to pick up Kate from school. She finally was able to apologize when he called her four days ago, in the middle of the night, right after she killed zombies in the graveyard. She returned home to find few missed calls from him.

Being her curious self, she called him. He told her that it did not matter as she was having a hard time and he completely understood. His words and actions had been nothing but sweet and courteous that it got her falling in love with him all over again.

Blake was finally returning home today and she could not wait to see him for she has missed him. Moreover, the school's ball was coming soon and she could not contain her excitement on going with him, as friends of course.

"Blake's fine. He said he brought back lots of chocolates from San Francisco." Kate replied with a wide smile on her face.

Before she could reply, the doorbell chimed and the door flung open.

Came in that handsome man wearing a black sweater and dark blue jeans. His eyes twinkling with happiness and his lips curved up into a smile. Hopelessly, Elektra found her breath taken away again.

"Hey." He greeted as a squealing Kate jumped to him, hugging him tightly.

"I missed you too, Kate." He chuckled, patting her head gently. "Your chocolates are in the car. Go get them before Owen finish them off."

Kate giggled before running out the door, yelling at Owen who was in the car probably devouring the chocolates.

Elektra found herself getting lost in Blake's steady gaze on her, the silence hanging thickly around them.

Getting nervous all of the sudden, she started to speak but her words died down when she felt herself wrapped by two strong arms and her cheek resting on his chest.

She felt her cheeks getting warm and found herself burying her face into his chest, trying to hide her face.

"You're blushing." She heard him chuckle.

How the hell did he know?

"Shut up." She replied, punching him on his chest gently.

His musical laughter filled her ears and she found herself smiling. She was glad he was home.

"I missed you, bestie." She looked at him as he released her.

He touched her cheek gently and smiled. "I missed you tons."

"How was San Francisco?"

Blake sighed as his shoulder slumped. "Tiring. I just want to go back home and curl up in bed watching Pride and Prejudice with and eat pizza you."

Chuckling at his statement, her hand found its way to his stubble jaw, caressing it while her eyes locked on his. "Really, Pride and Prejudice?"

"You love that movie." He grinned cheekily. "Besides, Elizabeth is feisty and I love watching how awkward Darcy got whenever Elizabeth's around."

They found themselves chuckling again before falling silent, taking in each other's presence. Minutes later, they were in front of her house, dropping her off. Before she entered her home, his hand on grabbing hers stopped her. Turning around, she found him staring at her intently.

"The ball's coming up soon." He pointed out shyly, his cheeks coloured slightly.

Smiling, she nodded in acknowledgement. "I know."

Elektra eyed him and saw the nervousness in his eyes. Was he having second thoughts on going with her?

Running a hand through his black hair, he looked at her apologetically. "Please forgive me for this."

Her face fell and her heart sunk hearing his word. He was having second thoughts. Putting on a fake smile, she lifted her head to meet his eyes. "It's okay, Blake. I understand."

"You do?" He asked, looking surprised at her understanding.

"Yeah, I mean I get that you wouldn't want to go...with me." She said while she tried to keep a straight face.

She saw his face fell as soon as she said those words. He shook his head, laughing humourlessly. "You really can be an idiot sometimes." She heard him mutter.

"I wanted to go with you, Ela...I wouldn't want to with anyone else." He spoke with determination in his eyes. His voice sounded so sincere she had no choice but to believe him.

Smiling as he tightened his hand in hers, he replied her, "I wanted to tell you that I couldn't pick you up to the ball. There's something that I need to do."

"Oh." She replied, realizing how idiotic she must look now.

"Yeah...I still want to go with you. We'll meet each other at the ball, okay? I'll find you."

"Sure...but it's a mask ball. How are you going to know it's me?"

She looked at him curiously to find him smiling with his eyes fixing on hers. "I'll know it's you."

Confused, she stared at him. "How?"

"I'll know. Just trust me."

Smiling in defeat, she nodded. "Fine...but we need a code word."

"Code word?" He frowned.

"Yeah, to know if that guy in the mask is you and I'm me." She replied.

"And what would that code word be, Ela? He asked, his eyes twinkling in amusement.

"Pizza."

"Pizza?" He chuckled.

Elektra laughed and nodded. "Yup, Pizza." They both loved Pizza and thought it would be a fine code word for both of them.

Smiling at her, he gave her a nod, agreeing to her code word. "Alrighty then. Pizza it is."

*************************

Placing her books in her locker, Elektra listened to her friend who was overly excited about the ball that was held tonight. She couldn't blame her. The whole school was excited since it was a masked ball. It was like a fairy tale thing. To be honest, she was excited as well, especially at the fact that Blake was her date. Well, kind of.

"Oh Ela, this is just plain wonderful...and Owen's taking me tonight." Chelsea sighed.

Elektra turn her head to her friend, looking at her with quizzical brows. "Owen's is taking you?"

"Yeah." Chelsea smiled.

"Wow, that's amazing." Elektra smiled, feeling happy for her friend. "How come you didn't tell me?"

Chelsea gave her an apologetic look as she explained. " You've been pretty busy with everything's going around. I didn't want to fill you with unimportant things. Sorry."

Guilt started to fill Elektra as she came to realize she became very ignorant to her friend. Chelsea had been there for her the whole time and she did not contribute any time for her at all. She was a horrible friend.

"Oh, Chels. I am so sorry. I was so caught up in my work that I became such an ignorant and horrible friend. We did not even hang out as much as we did and I barely know what's going on in your life nowadays. You deserve much better." Elektra said with her head hung low.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and she lifted her head to find Chelsea smiling at her. "Hey, I get it, okay? It wasn't as if you were doing it on purpose. You just had so much in your plate. I'm just a normal teenage girl who had to go through school and stuff. You had to fight monster, go through school and those evil witches in your house. It's a lot and I understand that."

"But I neglected you and you had been there for me. It's not fair."

"Ela, it's alright. I promise...and I forgive you. We could hang out again as soon as this Magnus guy disappears from your life. I'll always be your friend in the mean time and I support you in whatever you're doing."

Elektra smiled at her before hugging her friend tightly. How grateful she was to have such a great friend who stuck with her though everything. She was lucky and blessed to have her friends by her side.

Rubbing her back gently before she let her arms fall, Chelsea pulled back with a smile on her face. "Now, tell me, how does your dress look like?"

Oh, crap.

Almost as if Chelsea read her mind, her friend gasped and looked at her bewilderedly. "You forgot, didn't you?"

"I'm in trouble, aren't I?" She asked as she smiled sheepishly.

Groaning as she rolled her eyes, Chelsea shook her head. "Leave it to you to forget the dress."

"Ela."

They both turn to the voice that chimed into their conversation. Angela stood there with a bright smile on her face as she waved at them.

"What's up with the faces?"

Feeling the need to explain her friend, Chelsea replied, "Ela, here forgot her ball dress."

"Leave it to Elektra Potter to forget her dress." Angela chuckled, which made Elektra glare at her.

"Yeah, I said the same thing to her." Chelsea smiled teasingly at her friend.

"That's not the point. The point here is that I don't have a dress."

"Well, it's your lucky day, Elektra Potter. Like a faithful Merlin descendant I am, I have just the thing for you. Just meet me at the lair after you finish your work."

*****************

It was seven in the evening. Elektra sat on the chair in her lair, all washed up and drunk with nervousness as she waited for Angela. She wondered what her dress might look like. Would it be pretty? Would Blake like it?

"I'm here." Angela sang, interrupting her thoughts. Her eyes search for the dress but Angela had the dress with a black cover on.

Standing up from her seat, she met her halfway. "Ange, really, thanks for doing this."

Angela smiled brightly at her. "You are most welcome, Elektra. Now, be prepared to be amaze...because this beauty is going to knock your socks off."

Elektra stood there patiently as Angela lie the dress down on the wide table in the middle of the room. She could feel nervousness playing in her like guitar strings as Angela unzipped the cover.

As her eyes met the dress, her breath hitched and her hand came up, covering her mouth. She could not believe what she saw.

The dress was beautiful. It was a long cocktail dress with a modest round neck, A-lines jewel cap sleeves and the dress reached until her ankles. The fabric was soft and comfortable that she had no doubt she was not going to complain on wearing it. It was just appropriate, just her style.

What shocked her the most was the colour of the dress. The colour of dark blue, as if it was the bluest of the dark sky flowed from the top or her dress to the near end of it, the dark blue change slowly to dark fiery red. It was as if the colour red had slowly caressed the end of the dress. Usually the blue and red do not mix but she had no idea how the designer of this dress managed to make it happen. It looked amazing. It was like the sky is on fire.

"Oh, Angela. This is amazing. How in the world did you get this?" She asked with her eyes still glued to the amazing dress in front of her.

Angela smiled, lifting the dress next to Elektra. "A sorceress never reveals her secrets." She chuckled.

"Angela, seriously...this is the most amazing dress that I have seen. It must cost so much. How did you get it, really? And in such notice. It's freaking magic."

Turning her head to her, she lifted an eyebrow. "You did not use magic, did you?"

Giving her a bewildered look, she shook her head. "Magic can do a lot, honey...but making dress isn't one of them."

"A friend of hers is a fashion designer." Henry's voice chimed in.

They both turn to see Henry leaning against the glass tube, looking at them with amusement.

"You were spying on me." Angela glared at him.

"I did not. I simply heard your conversation." He said nonchalantly as he made his way towards them.

Ignoring Angela's glare, he smiled brightly at Elektra. "It's beautiful, Ela. I have no doubt you would look absolutely amazing. Blake never knew what's going to hit him."

In the next seconds, Elektra found herself being pushed into the closet with the dress in her hand. She put on the dress carefully, not wanting to spoil the dress. She heard Angela calling her to come out excitedly. Breathing out in nervousness, she looked down at her dress before bracing herself as she walked out of the closet.

The first thing she received as she got out from the closet was a huge gasp from Angela. Her hand was covering her mouth as she stared at her. Henry, at her side, was doing the same, looking at her with his eyes wide open and gleaming in awe.

"It's not that bad, right?" She chuckled, breaking the silence in the air.

Henry, whose eyes still on her, smiled. "You look absolutely stunning, little one."

"Blake's going to go crazy seeing you." Angela said.

Elektra was sure that her face was bright red now from all the compliments. She looked great in that dress, they told and she had no other choice but to believe them She just hoped that Blake would like it and she wouldn't look like the celebrity that wore bad dress on the red carpet.

She heard Henry chuckled and she lifted her head to find him walking towards her. "You look lovely, Ela." He smiled widely and she could see the sincerity in his eyes.

"Thanks. I just hope I get through this ball and none of my stepsisters would do anything to ruin it." She said.

Henry said nothing. He just stared at her with a smile on his face, looking at every part of her. Feeling a little bit uncomfortable with his staring, she gave him an awkward look. "What?" she asked, rubbing her neck shyly.

"Nothing." Henry shook his head. "I just found you really stunning...and that I found myself remembering the first time I met you and how you grew up. My little Ela is not so little anymore." He said. His eyes were filled with emotions that Ela found herself swallowing a lump in her throat.

Grabbing his hand, she held it tightly, caressing his knuckles with her thumb. "I'm still your little Ela." She said.

Staring at their hands together before looking back into her eyes, he smiled at her. "My little extraordinary Ela." He said softly before placing a kiss on her forehead.

"I have a gift for you." Henry spoke, as he pulled away. Frowning in confusion, she turned to find Angela standing near them holding a pair of beautiful glass slippers.

She faced Henry with a surprised look on her face, which made Henry's smile widened.

"Look, before you say anything, I just wanted to tell you that they are very comfortable." He said teasingly.

Angela handed to her carefully and she examined the glass slippers. They were actually made of glass, to her surprise. They were also flats, which she was grateful for. She hated high heels and never would wear them. Chelsea did ask her to try before and it ended up horribly. High heels and her were just never meant to be.

"Put it on." Henry said. "It's really comfortable, I promise you."

With a hesitant look on the slippers, she placed them on and took a few steps forward. To Henry's word, it was comfortable and not painful as she thought it was.

Sensing her face showing her feelings, she found Henry smiling happily with his arms folded together. "Told you it was comfortable." He said.

Ela grinned at him as she tiptoed and kissed him on his cheek. "Thank you, Henry. I appreciate this." She said gratefully before turning to Angela with an appreciative look. "Ange, really, thank you."

Angela smiled and waved it off. "It's fine. It's what I do." She said before glancing at her watch. "If...you don't go now, you'll be even more late." She said before rushing to her side.

Elektra said her goodbye to Henry as Angela pulled her away, taking her into the car and headed of to the ball.

*********

thanks again, everyone. Vote if you want to and think that this story deserves it...and comment if you want to chat...or stuff. Thank you.

I love you guys.