A Party To Remember - Part 2

Ophelia POV:

"It's me, Ophelia," with a glass of sparkling wine in hand, I slipped beside Ray while the others finally left him alone for a moment.

"What?" Visibly confused, Ray looked me up and down. "How did you–"

"A disguise, my red hair catches too much attention, and don't act up, I'm here on your mother's orders to keep you safe," already knowing what he could ask, I cleared it up in as few words as I could.

Leaning against the wall, I glanced across the main hall where numerous kids of VIPs chattered each other up. Trying to stay inconspicuous, I forced a smile and began talking to Ray as though I was just another one of these kids.

"Alcohol, heavy music, and all was somewhat expected, but…" Turning my head to Ray again, I brought my glass closer to his and gave it a light clank. "Drugs? Never thought a straight-laced kid would be into those things as much."

Scoffing with a hint of embarrassment he rolled his eyes and looked away. For a moment he stared at nothing in the other direction before turning back to answer.

"Mother set this up, I don't even know most of these people," he said with a distant look in his eyes.

'A diplomatic meeting then? As expected of the master of surveillance, she wants her eyes on the next generation of corporate workers.' Taking a light sip of the wine a bitter taste seeped into my tongue. 

"Damn it, this tastes like crap," I mumbled out loud.

"It does," Ray replied, his eyes now focused on the front.

Trying to blend into the surroundings, my eyes wandered around assessing everyone's faces while my body remained stagnant. Thankfully, Ray didn't seem too into the party and remained by my side for the moment.

"I like your red hair more to be honest," he said. But trying to focus on the group of people rushing up the spiraling staircase, I didn't answer. "Dark hair doesn't suit you as much."

"How old are you again, Ray?" I asked, pretending to be engaged in the conversation.

In the time it took him to answer, my eyes followed a group of girls climbing up with a pair of young men. It was suspicious, but I wasn't their parent to stop them from making stupid mistakes.

"I'm nineteen, I thought you knew?" Ray answered with a subtle frown.

He almost seemed offended by the question so I decided to clear things up a bit.

"I knew, I was just trying to remind you of your age," to my reply his confusion only grew more.

"That doesn't make any sense, obviously I know how old I am." Now as I looked at him, he was properly pissed at me for the first time.

"You don't have to compliment me so often is what I mean, I may look it Ray, but I'm much older tha–"

'Fuck!' Before I could even finish what I wanted to say, a menacing cold gripped my heart. Something was wrong, and my intuition was screaming at me to figure it out. As I looked around, it felt like time itself had taken a pause. Thanks to my heightened senses in the suspension of time, I noticed a young girl dressed in a rather revealing silver one-piece making her way towards us. 'The same smell–the smell of the ocean.'

I could smell it on her, the smell of the same sea I'd been thrown into not too long ago.

"Hey there," as she spoke, time regained its rhythm.

"H-hi…" Ray replied, his eyes wandering about with skittish angst.

"Thanks for inviting me," shifting her attention to me, a smirk climbed up her cherry lips. "Who's this? Your girlfriend?"

"What?! N–"

Locking arms with Ray, I pulled him closer. Surprised by my action, he looked up at me with widened eyes. 

"That's right," faking a laugh, I extended my other hand for a handshake. "I'm Cassiopia, what's your name? I don't think we've met before."

Returning a smile, the woman shook my hand. It only took a touch, but I already knew who she was–or rather, what she was. With our eyes locked together in recognition, the both of us nodded at each other before letting go.

'One of the Enforcer's undead soldiers, and from the very group that dumped me in the ocean as a reprimand from Enforcer one.' Even though I had no clue why she would be here, the best I could do was comply unless Ray's life got in danger.

"I'm Janice Evangelia, my father's a commander at the western monster front," making up a lie, she turned her attention back to Ray. Courteously lifting her skirt, she gave me a gentle bow. "Sorry for disturbing you, I'll leave you two lovebirds alone."

Giggling to herself she left us alone. As expected, the encounter left Ray quite confused, but confusion was probably better than telling him the truth. The rest of the party went as expected, with spoiled kids acting spoiled and nothing out of the ordinary happening again. However, one thing that struck me as odd was the fact that everybody who approached Ray was only looking to form a transactional bond.

"None of them were your friends, were they?" As the night grew deeper and the only ones left were me and him, I took a seat across from him at the dining. I'd tried not to confront him about the matter, but his silence as he sat there without a word for hours had grown to concern me. "Your mom invited them only so you can network with them."

Lying his head against the table, he seemed tired. Not a word has left his mouth for hours, only the occasional yawns and sighs. There was no way I could understand what was going through his head, but I couldn't simply watch him mope on his birthday.

Moving out of the chair, I walked over to him.

"Here, get up," extending my hand, I urged him to get up. "It's supposed to be the other way around, but who cares? Now, wanna dance?"

Had it been anyone else, my heart would've busted the moment I uttered those words. But since it was him–someone I had grown to relate with a bit, I just couldn't help offering. Even now, Ray only lifted his head to look at me but didn't answer.

"As your superior," closing my eyes, I morph my face and hair to return to normal. "That's an order."

Seeing me transform in front of him, a look of shock washed over Ray's face, but before he could speak a word, I pulled him out of the chair and locked us in a close hug. With a light blush gracing his cheeks, his eyes were locked with mine.

"Your hand," taking his right hand, I moved it onto my hip. Then placing his other hand on my shoulder, I grabbed him on the same spot.

"I-I–don't–"

"Shush," planting a finger on his lips, I shut him up. "Don't ruin it, Ray. This is my first time dancing with someone."

Although he couldn't speak with my finger on him, the surprise in his eyes was quite apparent. Brushing past the awkwardness, I grabbed his shoulder once again and began moving to the silent night's rhythm. Our moves barely matched, and our feet crushed each other often, but even so, by the time the light dimmed out completely, the room was filled with spirited laughs.

That night, I felt like a child experiencing an innocent bit of joy I never thought possible. But even more so, I felt less like a machine and as alive as my abashed dance partner.