"I can't believe grandfather is making us go to this!" Seraphina shook her head in dismay.

"Oh Sera, lighten up a little, it could be better than you think." Persephany told her as she watched the night sky through the window of their horse-drawn carriage.

Persephany's and Seraphina's hair was pulled up, curled, and fitted with glittering jewels. They wore gowns of blue and purple silk, with black capes draping over that.

The carriage finally came to a hault at Darion's mansion which was full of noise, people, and food. The girls stepped out of their carriage and walked up to the door. They gave each other confident looks before handing the butler their invitation and walking into the party.

* * *

"Isekheul, so good to see you again! How was your trip to the Americas?" Darion greeted the long, blondish-brown haired man.

This young man was one of Darion's most trusted business partners from Europe, along with Isekheul's brothers, and friend.

"It was fine, dear friend. What a ravishing party this is!" He said to Darion.

"Thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoy it. Now come into my office for a chat."

Isekheul turned around to see his two younger blonde haired brothers coming up to him. They all followed Darion into his office.

Old pictures and books covered the walls. Darion turned to see all three of them standing there, awaiting his conversation.

"Good evening, Tavorian and Zacarius. First my matters concern the welfare of the Crecelius plantation. It is owned by Nathaniel Crecelius, who, might I add, is rather old of age. It is to my best concern that I believe we should have that plantation."

"What's stopping you from taking it?" Isekheul asked.

Tavorian added, "You mean you should have it."

"Yes, yes, of course but I need your help. The grand daughters of Nathaniel are what's stopping me. They will not let Nathaniel hand over the plantation, even if it means they become rich." Darion explained.

"It sounds like an acceptable offer to me." Isekheul replied.

"Yes, but you don't know these girls. They will not give up on pushing me away."

"Well, it's their home." Tavorian added.

"So what do you want us to do?" Zacarius asked impatiently

"Well, I was just going to ask Isekheul, but since you all are here as well, I was wondering if maybe you all could talk some sense into them." Darion said hopefully.

"We don't even know these girls." Isekheul said.

"Yes, I was getting to that. They're at the party tonight. I'll introduce you to them, but will you help me?" Darion pleaded.

"Well, I'm not much of a smooth talker, that's Tavorian's specialty, but I'll try." He replied.

"we'll try." Zacarius added with a grin.

* * *

The girls walked through swarms of people to finally find a place to sit. They both sat on one of the numerous cushioned chairs around the mansion. An orchestra played in the background, filling their ears with sweet music.

"I'm going to get something to eat. Do you want anything?' Seraphina asked Persephany.

She shook her head in reply. Seraphina trotted off towards the mounds of food piled on the long white tables. Persephany looked around the room at every individual all dressed up in their gowns and over coats. Her eyes swam through the people until she met the icy-blue gaze of a boy her age. Her heart got caught in her throat.

"This can't be," she whispered , trying to swallow back her fear. The boy grinned the same and peered at her just like he had in her dream. Immediately, Persephany broke the gaze as she turned to look at her cousin. Seraphina was drinking a glass of wine as the mystery boy from her dream walked towards her. Persephany couldn't breath as she remembered what had happened last night. She watched as Seraphina smiled and talked somewhat flirtatiously with this boy.

Persephany had to do something. She stood up, but before she could take a step, someone called her name.

"Persephany!" Darion exclaimed, taking her hand to kiss it.

She allowed him, but her eyes kept glancing over at her cousin and that boy. Something was not right there. That was when she noticed that Darion was standing next to two other young men who looked anxious to meet her. Persephany couldn't keep her eyes off of Seraphina though.

"Persephany, my dear, this is Isekheul and Zacarius Hanson. They came in from England today." Darion introduced them.

"Oh, yes, hello. Nice to meet you and welcome to the Americas." Persephany said, still getting side tracked.

"Persephany?" Darion looked at her suspiciously. She finally took her eyes away to look at Darion.

"Hmm?"

"What are you looking at?" He asked her.

Isekheul and Zacarius stared at her, awaiting her answer.

"Oh, uh . . ." she looked back over their shoulders to see that Seraphina and the boy were gone!

"You'll have to excuse me," she told them, pushing past Darion to get through. Frantically, she searched all around for her missing cousin. Panic began to set in as she decided to look in the back of the house, towards the kitchen and the guest bedrooms. She searched the kitchen only to leave unsuccessful. She ran down the hall and looked into every open room, her gown flowing behind her as she rushed past one room and into another. Finally, she reached a closed door.

Persephany gulped hard as her fingers clenched the doorknob. She pulled open the door with a jerk and there stood Seraphina with the boy. Her dark-haired cousin smiled and turned to Persephany. The boy just looked at her curiously.

"Persephany!" Seraphina gleamed with delight. "Meet Tavorian! Tavorian, this is Persephany, my cousin."

"How very nice to make your aquaintance." Tavorian smiled, his face pale and his silvery blue eyes sparkling. Persephany reluctantly shook his hand, but didn't cut him any slack to her suspicious thoughts.

"What are you doing in here?"

"Don't fret, my little pretty. I was merely having a private conversation with your cousin." Tavorian gushed, his handsome lips curling into another smile.

Persephany frowned and grimaced at him for calling her Darion's nickname he gave them.

"What is it?" He asked, noticing her actions.

"What did you just call me?"

"Persephany, Tavorian and I-", Seraphina started but he cut her off.

"I called you my little pretty. Are you offended?"

"No, that's just what Darion calls us." She replied.

"Well, where do you think he got that from?" Tavorian grinned again. "Or shall I say whom?"

Persephany was so confused by this guy's personality. She couldn't figure out what he was about.

"Who are you?"

Tavorian just kind of laughed a little bit. "I'm a very good friend of Darion, I guess you could say, and brother to Isekheul and Zacarius Hanson." He replied, his voice deep and rhythmic.

He may have been mysterious and maybe even dangerous but Persephany was very intrigued none-the-less, and she could see that her cousin had taken a strong liking to him as well.

* * *

"I wonder where she ran off to?" Zacarius said to Isekheul and Darion, his blonde hair starting to fall a little bit out of his ponytail. "And where is Tavorian?" Darion added, skimming the people in the crowd.

"Should we go find them?" Isekheul asked, thinking about them suspiciously.

"I suppose that would be wise." Darion agreed. "You take the parlor, Isekheul;

Zacarius, you look upstairs and I'll check the kitchen."

"All right, oh, and Darion, please call me 'Ike' . . .you know how I prefer to be called that." He smiled before walking away.

Darion nodded, "Sure thing, old friend."

With that, they split apart to search for Persephany, Tavorian, and Seraphina.

* * *

"So what were you guys talking about?" Persephany asked them.

"Well, as silly as this seems, marriage actually." Tavorian grinned another one of his luscious grins.

"Marriage?!? What?" Persephany exclaimed.

Seraphina giggled. "No silly, not to each other, to his brothers Isekheul and Zacarius."

"What? I don't understand?"She replied, still confused.

Tavorian looked at her and began to explain, "Well, Isekheul and Darion, as you may already know, are very good friends and long time business partners. The main reason Darion called us here was to help convince you two to give up your property."

"We would never!" Persephany interrupted.

"Shhh! I know. That's why I'm here."

"So what does marriage have to do with this?" She asked, getting a little frustrated at the situation.

"Well, my brothers don't have wives yet and I am willing to bet that you two would make perfect wives for them," Tavorion told the girls.

"But, how does that help us?" Seraphina spoke up, looking up at him longingly.

"You see, I said that you would make them happy, meaning they would probably be thrilled to take your hand in marriage. If they were happy, and especially if you all were the reason they were, I'd bet you they'd forget all about the situation with Darion, or at least not go along with it anymore."

They remained silent. "Look, I will make a deal with you. You two get my brothers to ask for your hand in marriage, and I'll get Darion to stop hassling you about your property." Tavorian said as he leaned against the wall with a smile. His dark clothes draped over him like a cape. An oil lamp cascaded eerie shadows across his face.

Persephany thought a minute. It sounded like a good trade, but she wasn't sure about it.

"Come on, 'Sephany! It would work! I mean, we don't have to like, really love them, and they'll be gone most of the time on business trips anyway."

Seraphina tried to convince her cousin.

"Well, I suppose we could possibly give it a try. But are you sure there's nothing else in the bargain you're not telling us about?" Persephany insisted.

"I'm positively sure. You do this for me, I'll do that for you." Tavorian said, smiling as the deal was settled.