Caelia was in awe. The ball was beautiful. It was everything she had ever dreamed of and even more. The ballroom was grand and even though she had seen and cleaned it at least three or four times before and didn't register how beautiful it was, this time, she was truly in awe of its magnificence. With it's high ceilings and intricate moulding that was illuminated by the soft glow of crystal chandeliers hanging above. The ballroom was bathed in a golden light that danced off the polished marble floors and the ornate mirrors that lined the walls.
The sound of the orchestra filled the room, a sweet melody from some composer she was sure she would never be able to guess that wafted through the air, inviting guests to the dance floor. Dancers twirled and spun, their movements graceful and fluid, the fabric of their elaborate costumes billowing out in the breeze.
The room was a vivid sea filled with colours and textures, with guests adorned in ornate ball gowns, dapper suits, and tuxedos, all masked in mystery. The women wore elegant dresses of different colours and fabrics. Silk, satin, chiffon, everything imaginable, adorned with the most glamorous of jewels too. The masks themselves were works of art, each one unique and beautiful, ranging from the simplest of designs to the most intricate and ornate.
As she walked in she could feel the weight of their gaze on her, many and many more people stopped to stare as she made her way into the sea of people. Some of them started whispering and she knew that they were probably wondering who she was.
Caelia should have been scared, she should have been frightened, but the mask gave her confidence unlike any she had before and she had shrugged off the timid girl persona along with her maid clothes.
The moment she stepped into the beautiful red ballgown she had started seeing herself as someone else. Someone different from the ordinary. Someone like them.
She planned to follow Samantha's instructions so she kept her distance from the crowd, playing the aloof gorgeous woman.
Her eyes scanned the crowd for familiar faces and the first two she saw were that of Olivia and Sophia, even with their flimsy tiny masks, she could tell that it was them.
Olivia in a silvery powder blue dress with a high bodice and a low cut neckline. She held a silver fan in her hand and fanned herself endlessly as she stared right at Caelia.
She had also stopped to look when Caelia came in and with the look on her face Caelia could tell that she was not happy with her presence. In fact, she looked a little furious.
Sophia on the other hand picked a demure black gown. Silk and simple and it somehow reminded her of curtain drapes. She looked very uninterested, despite the beauty, pomp and pageantry that was around.
Mrs Carolyn was in front of the orchestra, with a glass of wine in her hand and her head tilted as she talked to a man in a red hat.
Caelia wondered if she had seen her. She probably didn't. The thought of her seeing her unnerved her a bit. Caelia somehow felt the woman was the only one who would see through the facade, even if it was hard to tell that it was her under the clothes and the makeup.
Damon.
Where was Damon? She asked herself as she looked around again.
Was he even coming?!
He was apparently. More people started murmuring and Caelia followed their voices and looked up like everyone else was doing.
There he was, at the top of the spiral staircase with a mask on his face. Even with the mask, Caelia knew it was Damon from the distance.
As he started to come down the stairs, all eyes turned to him, they stared at him, rooted to the spot, almost as if they were spellbound.
Caelia wondered how he had that kind of effect on them, her included. She gulped hard and thought about her next line of action.
Sam had told her not to interact with the Wrights, especially Damon, so they would never know, but she couldn't resist the temptation.
How could she?!
Besides, she was in a disguise, she had fake contacts on, her eyes were a plain unnatural gray thanks to the contacts that were in them, he would never know it was her.
Caelia made her way to the centre of the ballroom, eager to catch Damon's attention, she walked gracefully, twisting and twirling through the crowd of people like she was in some sort of dance and it didn't take long for Damon to notice the woman in the blazing red dress weaving through the crowd and towards the front.
Caelia smirked when she noticed that she had caught his attention, she abruptly stopped and looked right at him, he was halfway down the stairs now, he knew where she was, his eyes were on her, he would find her.
His piercing blue eyes seemed to look right through her, but in a way that was both alluring and comforting. He moved with an easy grace, his every step confident and his cape blowing gloriously behind him. As he approached, Caelia couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and admiration.
He was interrupted the minute he got to the last step. Laurene was hard to miss, even with the peacock mask on her head. Her outfit was tacky, there was something about lace and frills on a grown woman like her that just looked out of place, the maroon coloured dress also seemed to wash out her skin colour. Caelia didn't know what Damon said to her but she hurried away from his sight as soon as he told her.
Caelia looked away, pretending to be more interested in the couple behind her than Damon making his way towards her.
When he finally stopped in front of her, she could smell him first, the scent of his cologne, inviting and alluring, along with something else she couldn't quite guess what it was.
"You, are breathtaking."
He gestured and she turned slowly, her eyebrows raised.
"I should think so."
She answered.
Damon's smile came easily, he was staring at her, taking her all in.
"I must be honest, I don't know who you are..."
Caelia shrugged.
"That's okay. It is a masked ball after all."
Damon tried to catch a whiff of her scent, but he could smell nothing, no human on her fortunately, but also, no distinguishable scent linked to a sort of supernatural. It wasn't unusual, either she had disguised her scent deliberately or he just couldn't smell it on her yet. Some vampires could do that, hide their scent so it would never be easy to detect.
"Well.. I know it is, that's why it's expected to see a familiar face."
"But you, you're like a breath of fresh air. You're different."
Caelia smiled demurely.
"I'm only in town for the ball."
She knew she wasn't supposed to lie but she did it anyways.
"You have family here?"
He asked and she nodded slightly. That was technically true. She did have family there.
"And you? You are Damon."
She said and he nodded.
"That's correct."
"Lovely ball."
She commented as she looked around and he sighed.
"It is."
"So, aren't you going to tell me your name?"
He asked her and Caelia shook her head.
"Oh that would be too easy. Where's the fun in that?!"
She answered and Damon chuckled.
"What must I do to earn your name then?"
Caelia looked around the room, people around them were preparing for the first dance. Oh she could already imagine twisting and twirling on the dance floor. She had taken free classical dances one time in college and she prayed she could at least remember some of the moves. She hoped it was a simple waltz, that was all she knew.
"Would you like a dance?"
Damon asked with one of his hands outstretched.
"I'd like that very much."
Caelia answered as she took his hand gingerly.
Damon slowly edged her to the middle of the ballroom, where a small space had been cleared and people were taking their partners to the dance floor.
The energy in the room intensified and the music started slow but strong, the ballroom is dimly lit, with the warm glow of chandeliers casting soft shadows across the polished marbled floor. The sound of a waltz filled the air, even though there was at least almost half a dozen couples in the space ready to dance, Caelia felt like it was just her and Damon.
Their eyes locked in a gaze of intense passion, he extended his hand to her and she took it with a coy smile. Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint as she locked onto Damon's gaze, even with the mask on his face, it didn't dim or hide away the intensity of his blue eyes. As they began to dance, their bodies move together in perfect harmony, gliding across the dance floor with effortless ease.
Caelia felt at ease on the dance floor with him, it felt natural as they moved together, all the anxiety leaving her body as she followed his lead.
"You are quite the dancer."
Damon whispered in her ear, his hot breath fanned her neck slightly. She smiled demurely, giving nothing away.
"Will you tell me your name now?"
He persisted.
"We're not done with the dance."
She answered and Damon shrugged.
"As you know, there is still a lot that will happen tonight. I don't want to miss your name before the real party begins."
Real party?!
What did he mean by that.
Their movements were seductive and passionate, each step a subtle invitation to come closer. Their bodies pressed together, hips swaying in perfect rhythm as they spun and twirled across the room. They moved with a passion that was both enticing and alluring, drawing in everyone around them with their magnetic energy. Several people had stopped to look at them.
"I would like to know why it's so important to have my name."
She murmured and he sighed.
"Because, I'm in need of a bride."