The Ball

Sin leaned in closer, his voice dropped to like some kind of conspiratorial whisper. "Alright, look, she performs in a secret bar hidden in the heart of the city. But it's not just any bar—it's cloaked in magic. Only those with golden tickets can see it, let alone enter."

Karyan's interest piqued despite himself. "Golden tickets? Where does one find those?"

Sin's red eyes gleamed again. "Well, they're given to a select few. The city's elite, the rich, the powerful—they all have them. You can't just buy one. But you could... borrow one."

"Borrow?" Karyan echoed skeptically.

"Steal," Sin clarified with a grin. "But it's not as bad as it sounds. Think of it as temporarily acquiring it for the greater good. You're greater good."

"And how am I supposed to find these elite with the tickets?"

Sin twirled a strand of something invisible in the air. "Tonight, there's a masquerade ball at the mayor's mansion. It's a gathering of the city's crème de la crème. You'll definitely find golden tickets there."

"A ball? And how do you expect me to get in?" Karyan asked, his arms still crossed.

"You're resourceful. I'm sure you'll come up with something," Sin said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"What would one look like, the one that carries the ticket?"

Sin shrugged. "You're clever. You will know. And besides, you don't have to keep the ticket. Just get in, see the dancer, and leave. No harm done."

Karyan weighed his options. "No pacts, no deals, no favors?"

Sin held up his hands in a gesture of innocence. "None of that. Just a free piece of advice from your favorite demon."

Karyan let out a sigh. "Alright. I'll think about it."

"That's all I'm asking," Sin said, a satisfied smile spread across his face. "Good luck. I'll be watching."

With that, Sin vanished into thin air, leaving Karyan alone by the fountain. 

Karyan knew the risks, but the thought of seeing the dancer compelled him. He would have to be careful, blend in, and avoid any unnecessary attention.

As the day wore on, Karyan spent his time observing the mansion from a distance, noting the guards and the flow of guests.

 He needed a costume for the ball, something that would help him blend in.

He wandered through the market once more, this time with purpose. 

After haggling with a vendor, he acquired a mask and a cloak that would suffice for the masquerade. 

As the sun began to set, Karyan made his way towards the mansion, "don't come out, Sera."

Infiltrating the ball would be the easy part; the hard part would be getting out with a golden ticket. 

He had to be swift, silent, and most of all, lucky. 

The thought of the secret bar and the dancer filled his mind, driving him forward.

Karyan slipped through the shadows, his new guise concealed his identity as he joined the throng of masked

Karyan approached the entrance of the mansion, slowly. 

He noticed a side door slightly ajar, likely used by the staff. 

With a quick glance around to ensure no one was watching, he slipped through the gap and found himself in a dimly lit corridor.

"Hey! Who are you?" A man shouted when he spotted Karyan.

"Shit, and here goes my plan without killing anyonr tonight…" he let out a long sigh and moved towards the man.

"He-hey, what are you doing?" His voice trembled. 

"No witnesses," he said and placed his hands on the man's shoulders. 

"He-h-" 

Karyan twisted his neck and the man's eyes rolled up, white.

"Fuck…" he moved away from the body and then followed the muffled sounds of music and laughter until he reached the main hall, blending into the sea of masked guests.

As he maneuvered through the crowd, carefully almost like a snake, he accidentally bumped into a woman wearing a striking green serpent mask.

 Her faded blue eyes gazed at him through the mask's slits, and her light pink hair spilled out from beneath it. 

Her dress was dark and puffy, adorned with intricate patterns, complete with long sleeves that added to her mysterious look.

"Forgive me," Karyan offered, his voice steady despite the rush of adrenaline.

The woman tilted her head, studying him. "You're not from here, are you?" she asked, her voice was gentle, calm and soothing, almost as beautiful as Barbara's.

The accent gave him away.

"Yes, I'm from afar," Karyan admitted, seeing no harm in acknowledging the obvious.

She smiled beneath her mask, a little intrigue was seen in her eyes. "I love your voice. Are you, by chance, a demon? I've never seen anyone with green hair before."

Karyan chuckled, playing along. "No demon, just a man with a taste for unusual dyes," he said, striving to sound charming.

The woman seemed delighted by his response and gestured for him to follow her into the mansion's grand hall. "Come, let's find a quieter spot. Would you like something to drink?"

"No, thank you," Karyan declined politely, noting the slight trembling in her hand as she offered. 

It was odd, the way her confidence wavered so subtly.

Karyan scanned the room, searching for a likely candidate who might possess one of the golden tickets. 

But the woman's presence was persistent, her curiosity about him didn't go anywhere. 

As she spoke with him, Karyan noticed her eyes darting around the room, her gaze sharp and searching. 

She seemed nervous, even annoyed at times, as if she too were on the lookout for something—or someone.

"What brings you here tonight?" Karyan asked, attempting to learn more about her and perhaps divert her attention.

"I could ask you the same," she replied, her tone light but her eyes still scanning the crowd. "But I'm looking for... a lost possession. You could say I'm on a treasure hunt."

"Sounds intriguing. Maybe I could help you find what you're looking for?"

She considered him for a moment, the corners of her lips curling into a faint smile. "Perhaps. But first, tell me more about yourself. Where are you from? What's your story?"

Karyan had to think quickly. "I'm a traveler. I wander from city to city, learning about different cultures, seeing the wonders of the world. Tonight, I'm just a guest, drawn to the allure of this grand event."

Her gaze softened somewhat, and she nodded slowly. "A traveler, I see. That's quite the adventurous life."

Karyan could tell she was still holding back, her anxious glances betrayed her calmness. He decided to ask for more, "what treasure are you exactly looking for?"

"Something important, it's time for his deat-, It's time to give him his appointment card." 

"Appointment card, and what does it look like?" 

The woman's lip frowned, "am I pretty?" She asked out of nowhere. 

"Karyan…" Sera whispered. 

'I know…'

"Not really, not to me at least." 

"Good," she raised her tone, "I have another place to attend, so you have a nice evening," and just like that, she simply walked away. 

"Did you see that? Her eyes?" Sera whispered.

"Her eyes changed colour, yes…"