Masked Intrigue at the Midnight Soirée.

The sound of a sudden heavy thud made Lucinda stir awake. Her brows furrowed. What was that sound? She slowly raise from her table top where she apparently fell asleep. A parchment was stuck to the side of her face. She pulled it away and groggily looked at it. It was a drawing of a dress. She must have fallen asleep working on her recent project. She pushed her elbow on the table only to yelp in pain as she was stabbed by multiple of needles in a small cloth covered foam. She pushed the prickly mess to the side and looked around the room to study the rows of dresses of her newest creations.

She was just putting on the finishing touches of her most recent dress and must have fallen asleep on her desk.

She stretched. Her body felt a little sore and she think she just heard her bone crack. Another resounding thud made her peel one eyes open; her arms stretched over her head. It came from above. What in heavens name was her little boy up to this time around. It was only things that pertain to him that caused a ruckus.

She closed the door gently behind her and walked down the lit hallway yawning and stretching her body.

On the process or rounding a corner a small body bumped into her. It was her son Theodore. He looked dashing in his miniature get up and black shoes finely polished.

"Good evening mama" Theodore beamed up at her.

"Evening my little joy ball... what's all that ruckus". He looked to the side avoiding her gaze, and burying his shoe on the floor, something he did while nervous.

"Theo-" it wasn't yet his bed time so she won't be hard on him.

"It's your surprise mama" he interrupted pulling her fingers and leading her to her bedroom.

As soon as they reached the door Theodore stopped and turned to his mother, hands at his side and looking so charmingly adorable " Mama dress up and come out looking pretty ok. I'll be downstairs". He said ushering her inside her room. Before she could ask any more questions the door clicked shut.

Oh? Ok .

As she turn around she was greeted by three maids in the room. She raised an eyebrow at them and they bowed in greetings not saying anything. A secret date again? Well then.

She held off her chuckle and moved to sit infront of the vanity mirror.

Lucinda slowly walked through the faintly lit hallway. Her son hasn't come to pick her up like he usually do in all the former surprises. That was strange. She carefully adjust the half mask her son prepared along with her dress. She wondered just what they would be doing this time around.

A sudden chatter of sounds reached her ears as she drew closer to the ground floor.

Rounding the final dark corner it became clearer to her and as she ran her finger tips through the railings and stood at what she came to know as a fate she couldn't escape. Lucinda had no doubt this was the biggest suprise from her son yet. Like a mask glove slipping on like second nature, she became the epitome of what the world know her as—a cold dark mask.

•••

"Frederick do tell, am i not in the appropriate attaire". Lord Silas questioned the man beside him, popping a piece of appetizer from the array of different food arrange on the serving table.

"You are my lord" came Frederick clipped answer.

"Then why do these people stare" he waved a hand dismissively around their surrounding. Frederick turned to glance at the people around the hall. More than half of the nobles present attending this ball all had their attention glued to the men next to the serving table, one of them helping himself out to some treats.

The gaze of the other guests were too drawn to the two men standing abreast. Their presence quite but simply dominated the room. Though their face shielded by a mask like them all, their demure carried grace and an air of superiority around them that commanded attention. The men unconsciously held on to their companion tighter, afraid if their grasp was loose the women in their arms will simply disappear. The men were a contrast to each other, one with finely styled raven dark hair and the other with long silver-white strands tied properly to hang loosely on his shoulder; yet they fit properly, no one presence over lapping the other like they understood their roles.

"Perhaps they haven't seen...a man of your caliber" he stated pointedly turning back to his master.

"Is that so. But our attaire is simply no different from theirs". The adviser eyes slowly dragged up his master. Though the colour of their attaire was no different from half of the men present there was no denying the fabric and style of their clothes spoke more than the others in the room; himself in white and his master in black.

Instead of answering he changed the topic "would it be wise to eat the food they offer".

"Why yes. How can i simply pass on the delicacies they have to offer" he called back to his companion popping another treat into his mouth.

"I understand my lord, but.." he stepped closer to whisper under his breath.

".. what if it may be poisoned sire".

"Relax fedrick" he stated in a deep chuckle. "... not everyone is out to get me" Frederick doubted that.

"But you shouldn't take risks milord" he insisted, turning to him.

"Besides, stop being uptight or you might miss out the fun of the party".

"I doubt that milord" he stood straighter adjusting his single spectacle.

"Also. You still haven't told me what we are doing here". He stared side ways at his master who called a passing maid to take a glass of wine off her tray. At his master thanks, the girl face turned red and he simple wanted to roll his eyes as the simpleton.

"Patience. Soon enough old friend". Lord Silas twirled the glass in his hands watching as the red liquid slush around in the cup , he took a wift and a sip sighing. Dear brethren, why was he here? Frederick mused in his heart.

Suddenly the music tone changed and all heads in the room turned in one direction.

"Now the star of the show is here" his master muttered under the rim of the glass. He followed his master gaze to see a woman at the top of the grand stairs. His eyebrow involuntarily raised, Followed by his master words.

"Remember what i told you" and Lord Silas gulped down the whole glass, his adam apple bobbing along, a side of his lips tipping up.

"Yes milord" Fredrick sighed deeply.