HELENA'S POV
THE MASKED BALL
It was a ferocious night, the air felt tight and even with the windows wide open, I fought to breathe as I layered my red lipstick in front of my dress mirror, I stood straight to catch my appearance. I had a chosen a black dress as dark as the midnight sky to capture the essence of the occasion, a corset snagging my waist together and even depriving me of more air to inhale and in a way my lungs felt suffocated but I managed to keep it together. My hands wore dark gloves and beautiful jewelry glistening in the darkness.
Then, there was my mask, a cat eye mask that matched my dress and I took it up to wear it on my face when I felt a presence behind me, taking the mask strings from behind me to tie it behind my head. His fingers brushed mine in the process, and I shivered even with the tightness in the room and I wondered if he could see the fat goose bumps already developing on my exposed skin.
His hands rested on my shoulder "You look – beautiful" I caught his gaze in the mirror, as he whispered in my ears dressed in a black suit that mirrored mine, taking me back to the night in the ladies room and he bent me over to spank me like a little child.
I heard him grunt as he took a wisp of my perfume, then his hands grabbed my waist with his nails digging through the fabric, a kiss hovered above my neck and I turned around, taking in the full darkness of his gaze.
"What are you doing?"
"You know what I'll really like to do?" he asked me, his voice sounding like a whisper but loud enough that it filled my ears.
"Humor me"
"Ditching the ball, bending you over this table and I don't care if it breaks"
My breath hitched, the reality of it roaming in my head and the temptation clawing at my chest. "No" I placed my hands on his chest and pushing him back a bit, then I met his gaze one more time
"We're going to be late" I said, pushing past him but he caught my wrist.
"Helena" he called, something else bleeding into his voice that I couldn't place
I turned one more time, ready to look at him even though it will burn in my chest but I ignored his blinding gaze and tried to fix my attention on his forehead, that way I wouldn't be forced to look into his eyes.
"You have to choose, me or her" I started, his eyes remained the same but I noticed the ticking of his jaw as his grip tightened on my hand "I'll make it fun for you, you have until twelve midnight to find me" we both glanced at the ticking clock on the wall, and it was a little past 9pm and I smiled.
"That leaves you about three hours to make up your mind, I'll be at the bell tower waiting for you" I turned to leave but his voice stopped me again.
"And if I don't come?"
"Then I'll know your answer" and with that I walked out of the room, and just before I left he put on his mask – it was black with a dark red slash cutting across it.
***
The air was still charged even when I stepped into the ball, but more electric than I imagined. . I paused at the entrance, adjusting my mask and scanning the crowd. There had been a red carpet but thankfully I was gracefully late enough to have missed it, I didn't think I could bear cameras flashing in my face for the ball magazine. Dante was somewhere behind me, but I had made sure to slip in well ahead of him. I needed space, room to breathe from his haunting aura-and more importantly, I needed to give him space to think about what he truly wanted. I couldn't help the way I was beginning to feel, but at the same time I didn't want a repeat of history.
My gown flowed around me, trailing behind me like I was floating. The ballroom was breathtaking-crystal chandeliers casting soft, warm light over the crowd, laughter and soft chatter blending with the soft music in the background.
As I moved deeper into the crowd, I found Vivianna immediately, it wasn't hard to notice her, she already told me she was going to stand out, so I wasn't surprised to find her dressed in a stunning white gown, Her mask, adorned with delicate feathers and sparkling gems, made her glow even more under the chandelier lights.
"You're blinding me with all your whiteness" I echoed at her and she giggled, taking in my appearance.
"Aren't we just a matching pair of sisters? I'm dressed like an angel and you're an exact opposite" she said, taking two glasses of champagne off the waiters tray and handing one to me and I took a long sip.
"Where's Paulo?"
"Oh you know him – " she started and I didn't know him, I didn't know a thing about him but if she insisted who was I to judge "He doesn't like anything glitz and glamour and I told him I was going to attend with or without him"
"And - ?"
"Bore a grimace for two days, but he's fine now" she said, then she eyes me suspiciously "I don't see Dante anywhere around you, trouble?"
"Well, we'll found out soon" I took another sip while she pulled me to the dance floor, the music thumping in her veins but I was distracted, and no matter how many glasses of champagne I knocked back one after the door, my eyes secretly searched for him, his dark brooding figure and a mask that looked like he had blood splashes across his face.
It was quarter to twelve on the clock when I pulled away from Vivianna, and slipped through the throng of people, heading outside to the hot air that caused beads of sweat to line across my forehead. The bell tower was just across the hall for the masked ball, led by a winding stony staircase that had green moss growing on them. I placed my hands on the wall to steady my wobbling feet and I was nearly out of breath when I reached the top, and the air felt cooler.
I leaned across the wall, my eyes fixed out the window and my heart beating loudly behind my chest, my fingers quivered and anxiety pooled in my lower belly, just until I heard footsteps echoing behind me but I didn't want to turn to acknowledge his presence.
He chose me!
The words repeated themselves in my head and I had to force myself to stay focused. Then he reached me, he smelled different and I was too intoxicated to care.
"Took you long enough" I whispered.
Then he turned me around, and before I could say another word or even properly settle my gaze on him, he pressed his lips to mine.
He felt different, he tasted different.
I shot my eyes open, allowing my eyes to adjust in the darkness and standing right there behind him was –Dante, with anger covering his eyes and his hands balled to a fist.
I froze immediately.
If Dante was standing there, with eyes that could kill then who the hell was I kissing?