The Price of Beauty: Part Two

      Although we hadn't much, my mother had gotten us each one really beautiful gown for parties to last us the Season. I had coveted Vivi's, for hers was a deep violet which just set off the color of our fur. Mine was a sweet soft white which also looked lovely, but didn't have the drama of the violet.

      Of course, Vivi had insisted I wear her gown to the party tonight, wearing her second best so I would shine brighter. Little did she know that with my new golden fur, the deep violet served to make me shine like the sun. I was almost painfully beautiful, even to myself.

      The crowd around Vivi vanished, as everyone swarmed to meet whom they presumed to be the new pet in town. "Who are you!?" Celia said shrilly, excitement narrowing her Kougra eyes.

      "Why, you know me," I said with a tinkling laugh, "I am Vira!"

      The crowd drew back, gasping again. "No!" I heard several pets say.

      "Sister?" Vivi said quietly from the back. The crowd parted to let her through. "My Sister Vira?"

      "Yes," I said, smiling proudly. "Yes, it is I!"

      She studied my face. Her eyes drifted down to the gown. She frowned a little. Her eyes lifted back up and bored straight into mine. "It... it is you," she said softly, uncertainly.

      "Of course! Don't you know me, my own sister?" I said, laughing a littler nervously.

      "I do," she said softly, her eyes shadowed. "It is you."

      The crowd heaved a sigh of relief and began pushing forward. Vivi was pushed to the back. My heart thrilled just a little. Vivi, pushed out of the way for ME! I didn't see where she went, but I didn't care. I was the belle of the ball that evening.

      Every dance, pets were clamoring for me to be part of their group. I danced and laughed and felt lighter than ever before. I didn't miss a step. When I grew tired and sat, refreshments of every sort were not only offered, but the givers begged me to try the treat they procured. I had never been treated this way.

      Elissae, the elegant Blumaroo that ran the sewing circle, came and sat by me. "Vira," she said, smiling, "I never realized what a little gem you are! Why, no one can get enough of you tonight! Where have you been hiding all this time?"

      I thought of the time she had asked me where Vivi was and I had said she was getting ready, but I was all set to go. Elissae had given me a once over, head to toe, and told me that this particular gathering was not one to which the members were allowed to bring guests. Guests was said with such poison, I knew that other guests may indeed be invited, but not myself.

      "Oh, I'm not sure," I said, laughing a little. "Why, I've already had a dozen invitations to tea, so I"m afraid I might be too busy."

      Elissae looked shocked. No one turned down an invitation to the Sewing Circle! "Of course," she said demurely, barely concealing her desperation to have the most popular pet there join her little club. "Nevertheless, we will gladly keep a seat open for you just in case other plans fall through."

      "Thank you, darling," I answered, trying to be kind at the last. I thought of what Vivi would say. "I'm sure I will be able to make it!"

      Elissae brightened. "That would be lovely! Oh thank you!"

      "Oh no, thank you," I answered, still trying to channel Vivi, "I am honored you would invite me!"

      Elissae smiled and hugged me. No one but Vivi had ever hugged me. "The honor is all on this side!"

      As soon as Elissae got up, Selia sat down. "My," she started. "Your dress is so beautiful!"

      "Thank you," I said, trying to keep the anger out of my voice. "Vivi lent it to me. Yours becomes you so well. I wish I could have seen it sooner."

      The barb hit home. Selia flinched. "It's just that, my mom only said Vivi could come over."

      I thought of how Vivi would handle the situation. "Of course, I understand!" I said, forcing myself to smile.

      "You do?" Selia said, sitting upright and clasping my paw. "Oh Vira, I will BEG her to let you come next time!"

      "That is so kind of you, Selia!" I answered, smiling for real this time. Wow, people really do treat you better when you are more beautiful, I thought happily.

      I danced and swirled the night away in a blur of color, smiles, and laughter. Never had I been more happy. I hardly moved, the music and fun moved me and I simply gave in.

      As the clock struck midnight, Vivi appeared at my side. I realized with a pang that I hadn't seen her all night. She was usually at the height of the revelry, and yet, she had sat on the sidelines all this night. "Vira," she said softly, "We really should be getting home."

      "Awwwwwww..." the pets all seemed to say in unison. I blushed- was I really that loved for my beauty already?

      "I'll see you guys tomorrow!" I said happily. Everyone smiled and laughed. It was amazing.

      Selia came forward and grabbed my paw. "You will come see me tomorrow won't you? My mother is sure to hear about how lovely you are and wish for you to be an example to me! Please say you will come!"

      Vivi looked at me expectantly. "Yes..." I said, hesitating just a little, "yes, I will come to see you tomorrow."

      Selia clapped her hands. "Oh thank you! I'm so excited!"

      Vivi prodded me so I would respond, "Oh, I'm excited too!" I gushed. "I can hardly wait!"

      Vivi took my paw gently, but she did not smile. "Come, sister, let's go."

      -------------------------------------

      On the way home, Vivi was very quiet. It was unnatural.

      "Did you have a good time?" I ventured softly.

      "I don't understand," she answered.

      "What?"

      "You... you're changed, Vira."

      "Oh!" I said and laughed. "That. Yes, well. I made a deal with this mirror thing-"

      "Mirror thing!?" she exclaimed, stopping in her tracks.

      "Well, there was a mirror, but I made a deal with the voice you know and-"

      "You made a deal with a VOICE!?" she nearly shouted in anger.

      "You won't even let me tell you how it happened!" I said, hurt that she kept cutting me off.

      We stood in silence for a few moments. "I'm waiting," she answered, a deadly anger in her voice that I had never heard before.

      "A voice has been talking to me in my head for some time. I thought... I thought maybe I was going crazy. It told me that it could make me beautiful."

      "You were already beautiful," she said, her voice laced with disappointment.

      "And you're interrupting," I answered saucily.

      She nodded and gestured for me to go on. "Well, today I finally answered. I told it that I would like to be beautiful. A mirror showed up, and I saw my reflection like this. I told the voice I wanted to stay like this. And now I am!"

      "Something does not come for nothing," Vivi said, her voice low. "What was the Price of this miracle?"

      "Oh, that," I said, feeling my insides crawl a little. "It... it said that I would pay the Price later."

      "You don't even know what it IS!?" Vivi screamed at me. I had never seen her like that, eyes red and neck bulging. "What if this voice asks for something too precious to pay!? What will you do THEN?"

      "You are just JEALOUS!" I shouted back, my fear of just what she described becoming a heated anger, "YOU always have all the attention. You didn't like it when I was the one who was adored! YOU SAT ALLL NIGHT BY YOURSELF! You can't STAND that I am MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN YOU!"

      Vivi's eyes went wide and round. She stepped back and folded her hands in front of her. Her head drooped towards the ground, covering her eyes in shadows. "You do not know me at all, sister. I only hope the Price isn't too high to pay."

      She disappeared into the forest. "FINE!" I yelled, "You get yourself hurt in there! Don't come crying to me!"

      But as I turned towards home, my heart was unsettled. I couldn't deny the truth of her words. What would my Price be? I pulled the mirror out of my pocket and saw my reflection in the moonlight. I looked like a soft wisp of a lovely dream. I didn't care the Price. I would pay it when the time came.

To be continued...