Unmasked

Chapter 11

-unedited & unreviewed-

Chapter 11:

It was as if we hadn't left at all. The music was still the same and everyone seemed to be more alive than ever.

"We're getting closer!" one woman we passed by exclaimed. She was surrounded by only women in the hallway the lead back to the ballroom, they were a fairly young crowd and she seemed to be the oldest.

As we passed by, I heard him laugh lightly beside me.

I wondered what he found funny. I held his arm as he guided me back, knowing his ways around this castle only made me wonder more things about him.

We finally make to the outer border of people dancing and he bows, then offers his hand.

I blush once again and smile, then take his hand.

His smiles and pulls me closer, places his hands at my waist and I place mine at his shoulders- my heart begins to race- then we begin to dance.

A couple of moments into the dancing, I realized how stiff i've been, careful with my hands and my feet and I feel myself begin to panic.

"It's okay," he whispers in my ear, at the same time his right hand take mine and he gives me another kind smile.

At that I feel myself slowly relax into his touch and my breath begins to steady, but I still catch myself looking down to our feet, afraid of stepping on him.

"Its improper to look at the ground while you're dancing," he teased, then spun me as the music tempo began to speed up.

When I was facing him again, he held a finger from his left hand to my chin reassuring I don't look down and instead looked into his green eyes.

Again I feel my face go warm (at this point I'm greatful for a mask) and smiled unintentionally at him.

"This is the part where you say I have pretty eyes," I said to him.

He chuckled, then replied, "you have beautiful eyes."

"Thank you....so do you," I responded lamely. It took me everything not to let go of him and hide my face.

He laughed again but this time he looked down and if it weren't for his mask, I could've sworn that this time he was the one blushing.

"I really do enjoy your company." He looked back up at me, as if to see what I would respond to it.

Instead of responding with another compliment, I respond with a question, "What's your name?"

He seemed to hesitate.

"It's okay if you don't tell me, but can you give me a hint?"

"Does it have a meaning?" I whispered back to him. At that he suddenly stopped and leaned away to look into my eyes, he wasn't smiling anymore.

After a long while he answered, "yes,"

I was afraid I offended him in some way but before I could ask him anything more, I saw her.

Or should I say them.

In a pink dress. Even though she was wearing a mask, I knew it was Elisabeth and right next to her was Alexandra and my mother.

Everything hit me, I'm not a guest, I have a curfew, and I'm a slave.

I realized that being with this man actually made me forget all of that, and now I've lost track of time an- oh! The time!

"Is something troubling you?" I hear his gentle voice ask but I ignored it as I look up and around, looking for anything that can give the time.

'hopefully I still have time," I hoped to myself and when I finally found a clock, my prayers weren't answered. I only had about fifteen minutes left until I have to leave in order for mother not to find out, in order for-