Avarice Manor

In another life, Lilith was sure that she would have been a Princess. The way she practically glowed once she put on her ballgown made all sorts of fantasies start running through her head. It was ombre purple and had flowers and jewels at the bottom by the hem. The dress was flowy and light and had thin straps over her shoulders and across her back.

With a small crown adorned with tiny purple gems, her long brown hair was braided down her back and there were a few flowers sticking out of the braid and on the crown of her head. Lilith wore minimal makeup and the entire outfit was topped off with a pair of silver heels.

Checking her phone, she saw that it was nearly six, meaning that she was almost going to be late. And so, she grabbed her letter of invitation and left home. From all of her years of experience, she knew better than to take her phone. Or anything that can get lost in the madness. Besides, Lilith would be attending a ball of the nineteenth century, there were no phones back then.

Every year, around fall, there was a ball held in the famous Avarice Manor. Once owned by Lucan Avarice, a Prince who died about two hundred years ago. He was known to throw the most extravagant balls and so in order to keep the tradition alive and give people a chance to experience how society back then spent their time, the manor was opened to the outside for tours, and balls were held in it.

There were only a limited amount spots and the events lasted for three days, so if people wanted to attend then they needed to be quick to buy the tickets as soon as they dropped. A formal letter would be sent in the mail and that would be the invitation that let them into the manor. Lilith tried to go as many years as she could. Since she was a history major, things like this were right up her alley.

It was not uncommon to see people walking around in their dresses as the hour approached and so as she left her apartment complex she did get a few glances but nothing crazy. She was rather proud of her appearance this year. For one night a year, she could feel like she was in another world. Like she was Princess attending a ball. So of course, she would do extensive research so that she would fit the role perfectly. Maybe her dress was not one hundred percent historically accurate but no one really cared. It was all about fancy music, people, and food.

As she drove to her destination, she listened to the radio.

"-and surprisingly, this night is actually the highly anticipated sighting of the Silver Moon. Astronomers still do not have any concrete research that can state what exactly makes the moon look silver or how it affects the earth in any way but it still is a sight to see. Makes for such a pretty view, especially on a night like this. I hope all tonight's partiers will take a few minutes to look up at the sky tonight."

Lilith glanced to her right and looked at the moon out of the window. It didn't take much effort to spot the moon. Aside from it being silver, it was also freakishly larger than usual. It was like every time there was a Silver Moon, the moon decided to move closer to the earth so that it can be viewed better.

As a history student, she had studied the way the ancient civilizations used astrology but there was never anything much about the Silver Moon that could be used seriously. Most of the writings claimed that the moon was evil or cursed or a goddess, but nothing too helpful. And no proof.