Amber light filled the expansive glass paneled ballroom with windows looking to the darkened expanse outside. Candles were dispersed on tables and holders throughout and upon an elaborate spidering chandelier alike. A large open space in the center remained open for dancing, which was currently occupied by others in boisterous conversation, while a small quintet of white coated string musicians stood to the side, plucking a soft melody in the background. There was even a man painting the scene with a canvas far to the back, to memorialize the event. Up high, a red draped balcony stood over the room, empty for the time being.

  “Exquisite,” Grace uttered with a long and haughty grasp on the entirety of the word, “is it not?”

  Tyler looked to me again, unsure if he should talk or not.

  I noticed my jaw was displaced largely with awe, and moved it back accordingly. “It’ll do,” I said, mimicking her tone.

  Grace scoffed under her breath and turned back to Tyler to speak, just as the quintet stirred up something special.

  The music swelled and those on the dance floor began partnering up, readying their feet for some excitement.

  “May I have this dance?” She offered her hand to Tyler, slyly looking at me, as if trying to rile me up by stealing the man I was with.

  “Take him,” I offered, “the masquerade beckons it.”

  A tinge of rage pinged in her twitched eye as she snatched his hand and stormed off to the dance floor, unable to win decisively in such a silly battle.

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  I watched on as the two started to traipse across the floor, with others joining in. An uneasy feeling crept up my spine, before a warm hand fell upon it. Turning, I found a handsome man, in a suit, sporting a mask with wolf fur and detailing.

  “Care to dance?” Isaac said, brandishing a grin.

  I couldn’t help but let a thin smile cross my own lips. “How’d you get in?” I held out my hand for him to take.

  He gracefully took it, planting a kiss with ease. “We have a way with the night.”

  “Another non answer. You seem to be full of them,” I responded, letting him lead me to the floor.

  “Perhaps the moment does not call for it,” he shot back, turning to me, pressing his body up against mine.

  “Where did my brooding man go? What have you done with him?” I joked, though slightly serious.

  “I have my tendencies. Not without reason, of course.”

  “I challenge you, is what you’re saying.” I returned, swaying with him.

  “You indeed...” he stalled momentarily, “bring forth thoughts and feelings that reside elsewhere in the heart and mind.”

  “Can you for once just speak like a regular human,” I shook my head with a smirk.

  “I’m not...a regular human.” He added with a wink.

  “This whole act doesn’t get you out of an apology.”

  “That is assuredly something we owe each other.”

  I shirked my head downward, recalling that I was a little wild at points, and did put others in danger. I nodded slightly. “Perchance,” I said mockingly, with a hint of seriousness following up, “you are right.”

  He smiled and followed the rest of the crowd dancing. “Have you ever done this one before?”

  “I don’t even know what this one is...I’m following you.” I laughed.

  “Well,” he said, “you always finish with something special of your own, a flourish if you will.”

  Suddenly, Isaac dipped me deep, holding my leg out with his other hand, his nails grazing my knee and thigh ever so slightly, sparking something in me. He leaned over me, eclipsing the light from the chandelier, my lips pressed in waiting.

  CLING CLING!

  The clanking of glass broke the moment and the quintet, turning our attention upward to the balcony, as Isaac rose me safely back up.

  Winston stood above us in a coat with lapels and buttons, like that of the British cavalier, hundreds of years ago. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he announced. “The time is nigh! Your lord and savior has arrived!”