Masked Emotions // Dream6d

Chapter 3

Warning: Mention of death

There was someone in the window.

Vincent couldn't move his body, couldn't form words, couldn't even feel the breath in his body. The stranger seemed to stare right back, but the servant couldn't really tell. The man wore a white mask with a little smiley face. His hair was a dirty blonde, and the wind caught on the black cloak he was wearing, causing it to flow around him.

The man stared for what felt like ages, Vincent unmoving the entire time. Finally, he climbed into the building and took a step towards the servant. Vincent backed up until he was pressed against the wall, willing his legs to let him run. The stranger kept coming until he was right in front of Vincent.

The man raised a hand and caused the shorter male to flinch. Slowly, he moved his mask up until his mouth was visible. " How?" The man asked, his voice deep and it sent a shiver up Vincent's spine.

" How what?" Vincent whispered back. The man's mouth twitched.

" How are you awake," he answered. Vincent let out a gasp as the man grabbed his collar with one hand, his grip strong. " Why aren't you asleep?"

" I don't understand," the servant said. The man's head tilted down and his mouth pulled into a small smirk.

" Well, A6D," he said. " You've made a big mistake stumbling across me."

The man shoved him away and walked back over to the window. He jumped up onto the windowsill again. He turned around to face Vincent, smiling in a way that set the servant's nerves on edge. " You're going to regret ever laying eyes on me."

With that, Vincent watched in horror as the man jumped out of the window. He ran over, searching for the man's body on the ground, but he was gone. The young man stumbled back, his breathing ragged as if he had just run a thousand miles.

He turned on his heel and proceeded down the hall, shock never leaving his face. He searched for someone, anyone, who could tell him what to do now. He was originally heading back to the kitchen to look for Darryl, but when he heard a loud crash in the opposite direction, he bolted that way. Normally, servants were supposed to avoid the royals. But Vincent had a feeling this was a different situation.

He followed the sound until he nearly ran right into the royal dining room. The majority of people in the room were asleep at the table, but the head of the table was what drew Vincent's attention. The same man from before held a sword to someone's throat.

The servant squinted, trying to figure out from afar who the stranger had at the tip of his blade. He slapped a hand over his mouth at the sight of the crown. The intruder had the king's life at his mercy. Vincent looked around for anyone who could wake up and stop him, but even the guards were passed out.

     " How long are you going to hide there, A6D," the man called, setting off goosebumps on Vincent's skin.

     " How did you know I was here?" He said, stepping into the room.

     " If you couldn't tell," the stranger started, gesturing to the table of knocked-out royals. " The rest of the company in this place is deathly silent."

     " But I was certain I was quiet-!" Vincent responded.

     The man's smile was visible, as his mask had ridden up a little. " I can hear you even when you don't make a noise. I can hear your breath, I can hear your heart, I can hear the air around you."

     Vincent sucked in a breath, becoming deathly aware of how loud he was without even realizing. The masked intruder grinned wider, " I'm just kidding, I heard you running."

     " Oh, um-," Vincent stuttered out, forgetting that his steps would echo in an empty hall. The stranger's smile fell and he looked back at the king, raising his sword.

     " You seem a nice fellow, I'd say you should redirect your eyes, but you wouldn't listen," he said. The servant could tell by the seriousness in his stance that he was about to swing.

     Vincent wasn't aware he was moving until he was suddenly next to the stranger. " Stop!" He shouted, also unconsciously. The man's eyes, or masked face, to face the smaller male. Vincent stammered for words, " You can't kill the king!"

     " Of course I can, watch me," the man countered. Vincent was visibly flustered. He reached out and grabbed the man's arm. " What do you want!"

     " I want you to leave!" He responded, fairly loudly. The man's mouth twitched. " Please?"

     " Do you know who I am?" The intruder asked, lowering his sword and taking a menacing step closer. Vincent shook his head, his legs shaking. " I have one job right now, sir. I only need to end one person's life right now. Don't make it two!"

     When Vincent didn't say anything, but didn't move either, he spoke again, " Why do you stand by the king? I've heard he kills servants like you for fun. Do you feel empathy for someone known as a tyrant?"

     " No..." Vincent trailed off, trying to think of a reason he would help. All of a sudden, a guard let out a groan, and a royal lady shifted in her seat. The man reached out, grabbing the servant's collar and pulling him close.

     " Disappear before they wake up, or you'll be blamed for this whole mess. Tell no one of what you saw. I was never here," he said, before shoving Vincent away. He walked over to an open window, and looked back over his shoulder at the young man. " You're cute, don't make me cut off that sharp tongue of yours."

     With that, he jumped out a window for the second time that day.

     Vincent noticed the King flexing his hand, waking up as his company was. He weighed his choices, and finally decided.

     He glanced over at the window, remembering the stranger's words, and fled the scene.