Red eyes

Both the girls stepped onto the overlooking balcony that had semi-circular stairs only on one side, to descend onto the ballroom floor. The gigantic room was shining golden. Mrs Thatcher had truly excelled with renovating the mansion. It looked nothing less than a castle right now with decorations adorning it.

The eyes of the people gathered shifted up to the girls that were descending the white stairs, holding onto the curved golden railing. Prudence discreetly moved behind Abiona, as she did not want to be noticed.

Abiona had a gentle smile on her face as she spotted many persons who she knew. As soon as the ladies got to the last stair, Prudence dashed away from the crowd, which was sure to be attracted around Abiona, and found a corner for herself. A lone pillar at one corner did the job and her eyes trailed through the gathering, curious to see whether she could distinguish the people who were a part of the mafia. Everyone almost looked the same.

"Lady Prudence?" She heard a young man's voice beside her and controlled the urge to just run away. Prudence composed herself and turned to see the fellow grinning at her presence. "You look gorgeous today" Without asking for it, he took her hand and kissed the back of it.

She awkwardly pulled it back to her side and bowed gently. "Master Gorge, I wasn't expecting to run into you here"

Her words carried a little rudeness that went unnoticed by the young man. George was the son of one of the few remaining Lords and Lady in Dewrest after the fall of the empire. The land, once a kingdom, was now under government supervision, with Abiona's father being the first elected governor here.

Prudence faced away from Gorge, but he brought her attention back. "I was looking for you at the horse farm, but you had taken your leave early today"

She met his eyes and the pampered youthful face. "Yes, had you some work with me?" Prudence was looking around to find at least one face she knew of, so could get rid of this man. Abiona was busy greeting the guest and her father was yet to make his appearance. Prudence just needed one chance to slip away from this boy.

Gorge shook his head, leaning on the pillar to seem appealing to the Lady, which he was miserably failing at "I wished for you to come as my date for this dining. But you are here now. We can enjoy the party as partners" He brought his elbow forward for her to take.

Prudence couldn't believe the words this boy was saying. Gorge Edler was that extremely pampered brat who used to come around the horse farm with his younger sister. This man was spoon-fed since childhood and liked to believe he would always get his way with the world. He was in an illusion that the way he liked Prudence; she liked him back. But for Prudence, he was nothing but a person whose sister she had to provide the clean, groomed horse for.

"Evening everyone," Mr Harris Thatcher said with a glass of drink held in hand, standing halfway down the stairs. Prudence let out a sigh of relief. Just the right time and she would slip away from Gorge.

Everyone turned to see the new governor address the crowd and so did Gorge, "Mister Thatcher looks neat today, doesn't he, Lady Prudence"

She nodded with a weak smile and then looked ahead. Her eyes rolled with distaste when her back faced Gorge again.

"Thank you for your presence, Ladies and Gentlemen. I am immensely pleased..." Abiona's father continued his greetings, but Prudence had her attention elsewhere, searching for another hiding place. She saw Gorge from the corner of her eyes and he was busy listening to the new governor with twinkling eyes.

A server came around with drinks for toast, and Gorge picked up two glasses, handing one to Prudence. She took it with a polite smile, "Thank you"

Gorge offered a big smile as if he had done some great novel work, "My pleasure, Lady Prudence"

Her eyes trailed back to Mr Thatcher, waiting for him to end the speech and a brief commotion to take over. The seconds weighed heavily on her. She did not want to spend any time around Gorge and give people the wrong impression and gossip which he might start around childishly. After an agonizing few minutes, the new governor ended his speech and raised the glass in the air, "Please enjoy the night" everyone followed close, raising their drinks.

Taking the advantage of the moment, Prudence slipped out of the place, finding some other less crowded area, away from Gorge. She doubted Abiona would come to her rescue today, and she had seemed to be lost somewhere.

The music played softly, and the chatters filled the air. Mr Thatcher descended the stairs, joined by his wife, and they began the dance in the centre of the ballroom. There was still some time for the serving to take place as this was a dining party, people were awaiting to stay back for dinner. But it was too soon for that. Before it all, there would be dance and socialising.

While almost everyone had joined the dance floor, Prudence hesitated to leave her place. She might have tried, but with Gorge lurking around, there was no way she would take her chances.

While the people enjoyed the party and the fake laughter of the Ladies echoing around mildly, a man stood near the window. His fingers gently gripped the neck of his wineglass, but his red eyes fixed at one place in the crowded room. A strand of his black hair fell on his forehead and he did not bother to correct it.

Another man with lightly curled brown hair joined his side. "Are you going to join the ball?"

The man with red eyes snickered before turning to the man who had asked him the question, "I will, in some time. You seemed to be having a gala time Drakos, found yourself a new prey?"

The brown-haired man, Drakos, waved his hand innocently. "The night is still young. Also, it is tough to refuse when a beautiful lady asks for a dance. Like a fly deliberately flying into the spider's web," Drakos kept his empty glass on passing by tray and took another drink, "Though I will admit, the crowd of humans is making me very thirsty"

The red eyes were back at where they were staring before, gaze fixated on the girl. He had noticed her when the girl had run past him previously, frantically finding for herself a secluded place, heart thudding in her chest. She was running from a man, a child in his eyes, who was still looking for her.

Many who were busy chattering missed her nervousness, but not the red eyes. Taking another sip from his drink, he let his eyes thoroughly observe the red-haired girl.

Unlike most Girls present in the room, she had her hair down, no fancy hat, just a tiny hairpin that shone with the light. Her waves gently ran over the back of her soft pink gown, which did a good job of bringing out her petite figure.

There were many girls with gowns that displayed their shoulders, but hers had a white netted lace showing just a glimpse of her fair whitish skin and bringing out her beautiful face as the design went up till her neck. She clearly did not fit into this crowd. There was a gentleness that she radiated, yet her features looked matured as he observed her occasionally passing smile at few people.

He saw her silently run her tongue over her pink lips before biting the lower lip with worry, and it had his red eyes narrow for a moment.

"Did someone catch your eyes, Vincent?" Drakos asked when he did not receive a response to his previous statement, trying to follow where the other man's red eyes were fixated.

The man gulped down his remaining drink, fixing his black hair. "It is funny how humans go nervous on insignificant details about their life. Not understanding their such feeble emotions only invites the predator for his feasting." He stood up straight, handing his drink to Drakos, and straightened his coat's sleeve.

Drakos had understood the meaning of his words, but couldn't exactly pinpoint what prey had the other man's eyes caught hold of. "They certainly love to try their fragile luck," he said as he observed a lavish girl approach them.

Dressed in red and sophisticated jewels, screaming to get attention. She bowed to the two gentlemen before asking, "Hello, I am Lady Amanda. I believe we haven't met before"

Her eyes were taking in the beautiful features of the men. She was well aware of what their red eyes meant, but the beauty they held was too irresistible.

One of them had brown hair while the other had black hair and darker red eyes. He was dressed more lavishly with his Ascot tie held by a golden pin with diamond fitted in the middle, with rings trimming his long fingers. It was hard not to distinguish him from others.

His sharp eyes met hers for a split second and it made her blush, but he turned to Drakos. "I am guessing the Lady would love to have a dance with you." Without bothering to introduce himself or bow, he said, "if you will excuse me" and walked away, leaving the Lady disappointed.

Drakos watched him go and sighed faintly. Lady Amanda was now looking at the brown-haired man with hopes for him to save her face, and when he extended his arm ahead, she smiled with relief.

It was a pity, she thought, to have missed the other attractive man as her eyes watched his back with a little yearning.