The wind swept past her hair and the waves unforgivingly slapped her face, as she lay bleeding, bleeding gold on the jagged black rocks...

"Belle! Bella! Maria Antionette Clementina Isabella!"

Belle jerked violently as she felt the cold water hit her face.

"Wh-what happened?" she asked as Nettie passed her a handkerchief to wipe her face, her pale face full of worry.

"You blacked out again. Thank god we're in the Ladies' room. Can you imagine if it had happened outside?"

Belle went blank for a moment.

Outside?

Of course.

Outside. The men in their evening best. The women in beautiful dresses made from material from exotic countries from all over the world, and draped in jewels stolen from them too. The delicate laughter, the polite chatter, the never ending dancing.

The ball.