The Secret Weapon (12 page)

Malie met him in the hallway on her way to Coraset’s room, and she had a woman with her. Malie asked
him, “Is she up, Xavier?”

“She’s up and not in the best of moods,” he confirmed.

“Would you be under the same circumstances?”

“Just get her ready for tonight. She has to be chosen, or this plan is dead in the water.”

Malie and the woman continued to Coraset’s door. After a knock, they entered into the loft not even waiting for an answer. Coraset rolled her eyes upon seeing Malie and the woman. She figured it was someone new to piss her off even more.

“Coraset, this is Parion
Middleton,” Malie introduced. “She is here to prepare you for this evening’s ball.”

Parion was in her late
fifties. She had jet black shoulder length hair, and her face was heavily made up. Her blue eyes were marked with thick eyeliner, and her lipstick was bright red. She was shorter than Malie but taller than Coraset.

She sauntered over to the bed, and she stared at Coraset taking in her facial features and size. The woman commanded, “Stand.”

Coraset cut her eyes at Malie who was still standing behind the sofa.

Parion remarked smartly,
“Lets not begin this day on the basis of rudeness.”

Malie smiled at Coraset, and without saying a word,
Coraset did as she was told.

“Thank you,” Parion remarked as she stepped closer. She touched her chin, moved her head side to side. She moved Coraset’s arm making her twist from one side to the other.

“You’re right, Malie. She’s quite beautiful, almost frighteningly too thin, but Chancellor Erato will not choose her. She’s too old. He wants women under thirty.”

“But she does look like she’s in her
twenties. Don’t you agree?” Malie asked as she approached the women.

“Yes, I do agree. She does look younger.”

“I can make the necessary changes in the database to reflect she’s under the age requirement. I just need for you to make sure she doesn’t get passed up at the ball.”

Coraset crossed her arm and sat back down in disgust.

“I’ll bring in my team. We don’t have much time.”

“
What team?” Coraset asked as she stood back up.

Malie
quickly added, “It’s a beauty team, not an assault team.”

As soon as
Parion opened the door, ten people burst in. They were all carrying thick briefcases, linens, a hairdryer chair, or other contraptions Coraset never seen before.

A rectangular table with a white cushion top was unfolded, and two
other large briefcases were opened up. Coraset went over to peak at what was inside, and she was instantly pulled away to sit in a chair. Her hair was pulled from its rubber band restraint, and fingers dashed through her hair and scalp.

For the next three hours, Coraset was the center of attention for ten different people. One person did her hair. Another picked at her face
destroying every pimple he could find. After that was done, a woman did her makeup. Two people waxed her legs. The other five people took out and hung numerous formal dresses on portable racks.

Parion was watchful and very direct in what she wanted Coraset to look like. Twice the hairdresser had to redo the hair because it didn’t fit Coraset’s features. She tried on countless dresses until Parion settled on a gorgeous black mermaid
style dress that was lined with diamonds across the sweetheart bodice.

By the time
Coraset was completely dressed and ready to go it was late in the afternoon, and she was irritated and exhausted from all the poking, pulling, and prodding.

Parion circled
her with pride, like she created Coraset herself. She straightened the diamond necklace, and lightly tucked a loose piece of hair behind her ear. She checked the make-up to make sure it was flawless. No streak lines, no lipstick on the teeth, and no running mascara. As a finishing touch, Parion handed Coraset a silver clutch and nodded with satisfaction. Malie was amazed. She saw a completely different woman.

A
full length body mirror was rolled in front of Coraset so she could see herself. She was absolutely stunned. She’d never seen herself so dressed up before. She was afraid to move, afraid to breathe.

“What do you think?” Parion asked Coraset with pride.

She couldn’t form a single word, but her silence spoke volumes.

“Mm-hmm,” Parion remarked with a nod.
“I know.”

Coraset turned to see the back. She smoothed her hands against the sides, and
she looked at Parion. Despite the reason for dressing up, she loved the way she looked.

“Thank you,” Coraset remarked, truly meaning it.

“You’re welcome, my dear. Well,” Parion clapped her hands together, and her team began cleaning up and preparing to leave. “I wish you luck, Coraset.”

She only smiled.

The beauty team started filing out one by one, taking everything they came in with, and Parion was the last to leave. Malie looked at Coraset impressed with her finished look.

“I have to go get ready myself. I’ll be back to get you within the hour.”

Coraset sat down on the sofa being careful not to slouch or step on the back hem of the dress. She was uncomfortable, but she didn’t want to mess up herself. Sometimes Coraset stood and paced just to practice walking. Other times she simply stood.

Eventually, Malie showed up. She had on a one shoulder red silk dress that stopped at her knees. Her blonde hair was swept around to her bare shoulder in cascading waves.

“Are you ready, Coraset?”

“I supposed so.”

Coraset walked carefully, making sure she kicked out the front part of her dress. They met Brochudo in the foyer who whistled his approval. He opened the front door for the ladies, and he continued his gentleman gestures by opening the back doors to the car.

They rode in silence as Brochudo sped
through old L.A. to the outer gate of the Utura Region. As soon as they entered, the royal palace with its majestic glimmering domes, towers, and beautiful Greek Doric temples began to appear in the distance. The closer they got, the more nervous she became.

Usually,
Coraset was a cool person. Nothing bothered her too much, but the enormity of the situation was getting to her. She felt her face warming up, and she began sweating on her back and shoulders. She shifted in her seat, pulled and adjusted her dress trying to find some kind of comfort.

“What’s wrong with you?” Malie asked as she looked at her strangely.

“Nothing,” Coraset quickly answered.

They reached the northern gate to enter the
Erato Government Center, and Coraset took in a deep breath. The royal palace loomed higher in front of them set within its own set of walls. Brochudo got into a long line of limousines and cars as they waited to be checked at the palace gate.

Coraset readied herself.
She wondered if she would be able to pull it off. She wasn’t so sure.

“Scan your forefinger,” a brunette
commanded from behind a table.

Coraset
placed her finger on a square fingerprint machine. It beeped an agreeable jingle.

“State your name,” the
brunette remarked after she read the name on the screen.

“Coraset Prescott,” she answered as she looked around at th
e entrance hall.

Bureaucrats were dressed in their finest attire from majestic headdresses of f
eathers and sequenced appliques, flowing gowns and suits, to equally expensive heels and leather shoes. People stood in lines awaiting their turns for their identifications to be confirmed so they may enter the great hall of the first Doric temple.

A
black woman name Sekai came from behind the brunette signifying for Coraset to follow her. Coraset took one last glance back at Malie, who had a subtle smirk on her face, before rounding the table to follow the woman.

Sekai
led Coraset into the elaborate decorated great hall that expanded as far back as half a football field. Marble columns stood on both sides of the room, equal in diameter and length apart. Erato red banners with gold tassels trim hung high near the ceilings and draped in the middle with streamers flowing gently. Erato’s national flag hung in the distant wall stretching from ceiling to floor behind the Chancellor’s chair. Tables were dressed in the best of ivory linen tablecloths and elegant flower bouquets. The floral centerpieces spread over their bases creating a stunning show of natural color in the midst of fine china and silverware. The center floor was cleared, shining from being waxed, with expertly detailed images of cherubs, falling petals, and linear curves and decorative flares.

Coraset barely had a chance to take in the opulence before she was taken to a side room, where other women waited. She surmised they were
all in the bid to be in the harem, as well. There were nearly a hundred women in different sizes, heights, and ethnicity. Most were in groups whispering and giggling. There were others that stood alone, lost in their thoughts. Perhaps they were afraid, nervous, or guarded about their decision.

Without a
doubt in Coraset’s mind, she did not want to be there. She’d never been the type of person to be second hand choice to any man. She had to be first and foremost, or there was no relationship. Just standing in the room made Coraset angry inside. She couldn’t understand why any woman would fight for a man or wait on one that wouldn’t do the same for her? Why be with a man where on any given day you’re not even considered because other women demand his attention. She settled near the window in the short span of the rectangular room. No one noticed her.

Sekai
left the room, and before long the door came open with another young woman stepping inside. She had a baby face with soft blue eyes, tiny lips, and a small nose. Her hair was alive with uncontrollable blonde curls that had a tiger lily hidden within it. The blue dress she wore was ill fitted, and she fussed to keep the spaghetti straps on her shoulders. When she turned to walk, the young woman slid on her heels and hit the floor. Laughter erupted in the room, and the young woman had to pick herself up off the floor with heated red cheeks. Coraset wanted to help her, but she didn’t want to draw attention to herself. The girl stumbled to the nearest corner, and she cried into her handkerchief she’d pulled out of her small purse. Coraset stole a glance at her from the corner of her eye, feeling pity for her. Why was that young woman even there? Who was she anyway?

Sekai came back inside
and announced above the women’s combined voices, “Ladies, thank you for coming to the Chancellor Ball. So there are no misunderstandings, you are here to be in the Chancellor’s harem. If you do not wish to be here, now is the time to leave.”

Coraset quickly looked over to the sobbing girl. She was sniffing and wiping at her face, but she didn’t leave.

“Alright everyone, I want ten girls to line up side by side, and I want everyone to line up behind them. Try to get the lines as even as possible. Move ladies, there is no need for discussion. There is a lot to be done. We don’t have a lot of time for chitchat.” Sekai spoke with authority as she moved the full length of the room.

Four more women
entered dressed in grey suits just like Sekai, and they stood facing the girls. The short bleach blonde was named Jorda. The second was a Japanese woman called Hanako. Lacey was the third woman who had short blonde hair, and the fourth woman name Reyna was a native Puerto Rican.

All five women brought out square devices. Each one took two lines each, and they
went to the front of the closest line holding the box and begun giving each girl instructions on what to do.

Coraset was
near the end of the line not too far behind the sobbing woman, whose name was Katarin. She was still crying. Coraset couldn’t stand it. She tapped on a woman in front of her named Aisling, but the woman acted like she didn’t feel anything. Coraset was trying to keep her patience and not be rude. She tapped Aisling again, but this time a little harder. Aisling twisted around with a pissed off glare. She didn’t give Coraset a chance to say anything, and she faced forward quickly once more.

With a deep frustration, Coraset
stepped out of the line and went for Katarin almost knocking Aisling over. Aisling quickly swung at Coraset, but Coraset blocked her arm. The quickness of Coraset’s reaction shocked both women. The attention of everyone close by was drawn. She gripped Aisling’s arm tightly, making the red head pull and wince in pain.

Coraset
threatened, “Move up before I put you on the floor.”

Aisling
huffed, snatched away, and stepped forward. She covered her right arm that was sore and red. Coraset noticed Katarin’s dress was ripped showing her knobby knees and skinny legs.

She
turned Katarin to face her and took out a handkerchief from her clutch. She dabbed at her eyes, wiping away the smudged mascara. Coraset peeped from behind the woman to see where Sekai was and asked softly, “What’s your name?”