I don't own Dragon's bait or the song Cantarella. Hope you readers enjoy!

Purple eyes and Cantarella

Chapter 1: Purple eyes man

He was different from the other men.

It wasn't because of his looks…okay maybe it was also his looks, but the way he pay no heed to the girls and ladies as they try to gain his attention. The way he silently studies everyone as they chatted about, dancing with a partner, and flirting around in the giant ballroom was interesting. When he grows tired of watching them he would look at the rich paintings or the decorate ceiling above his head. He was, again, interesting to look at.

His looks also fitted him. He wore a tux like any other men around here, but he wore a purple tie that was somewhat loose that match his mask. His long blonde hair that reaches his waist was tied up to a low ponytail and his front large bangs were messy down. A totally different person from the other men- they had only brown, black, grayish-white, and red hair with normal eye color—and yet why was no one questioning about him or notice anything about that (his eyes the most the color of purple). Is that why the woman and girls a-like was flirting around in an embarrassing way next to him?

Then how come she wasn't really affected by it? Maybe it was because she wasn't the type to fall down on her knees and beg for a man's affection all because of his looks.

She wondered at times if he knew that she was looking at him. Sometimes they would make eye contact, staring at each other across the floor. Exotic purple eyes bored into hazel eyes. Exotic indeed was the word to describe his eyes.

"Miss Alys? Miss Alys!"

Alys felt rough hands shaking her right shoulder back and forth snapping her out of trace. Looking away from the mysterious man she try her best not look annoyed or disappointed. He found me already, Alys thought dryly. "Hello Atherton," She said politely, managing a little fake smile to a thirty-eight years old man.

Atherton glares at her with his cold pale brown eyes. "If I remember correctly Miss Alys I told you to refer me as Sir Atherton," He said coldly. Straightly up—he was much taller than her—he fix up his bloody red mask that had a black and red feather attach to it on one side leaning down over his ear.

And I want you to refer me as Alys, but it seems like we're both not going to get what we want, Alys thought bitterly. It took all of her willpower not to roll her eyes at Sir Atherton. But, she sighs inwardly, he is my…fiancé so she had to obey him unless he was to…say...die all of an sudden. Casting a peek at the exotic eyes man Alys saw him studying her and Atherton together. Gritting her teeth she accepted –unwilling—the offer of Atherton's outstretch elbow by linking her own elbow and follow him to the dance floor. Great, now Sir purple eyes man thinks I like only very old men—around my father's age. She frowned at herself. But he's not around my age ever and besides since when did I like him myself?

Another peek, Alys pause and gave out a soft gasp without meaning to. Exotic purple eyes man was gone! His spot empty without him. Casting frantic glances around her she couldn't find him anywhere. Where did he go? Alys question herself when she felt a sharp tug on her elbow.

Feeling Sir Atherton coming closer to her, she felt his hot breath on her neck and could smell the scent of red wine mix with the heavy use of manly shampoo that made her nose tingle in an unpleasant way. "Miss Alys, something wrong?" The thirty-eight years old man whisper harshly.

She just wanted to snap and make a rude comment to him before she remembers her place and swallow the words down. Smiling sweetly she turn around to look at her fiancé. "No Sir Atherton, nothing is wrong at all. Just looking outside—looks like a pleasant evening don't you think?" The first part was a lie that flowed easily out of her tongue. The other half was basically true. Looking for the blonde hair man everywhere she saw a few glimpse of outside. The sun was barely about to set down the sparkling ocean making the scene look magically.

"Hmmm, well now let's get going Miss Alys. Your father and mother want to see us dance." He led her away to the middle of the dance floor. Are you sure it's not because you want other men to see that you're dancing with a rich daughter and make them jealous? You sure do love money if I remember correctly. It was true, few days ago Alys had went to Atherton to see if he would take her to the St. Tody's-by-the-mountain for a festival that was going to happen but he had declined saying how it would waste his money. He didn't need to spend money on her—she had her own money—he just needed to take her since she was just fifteen years and couldn't go alone on should a long hold back her snorted, a greedily man he is.

Just letting the music flow into her she started to dance. Closing her eyes she felt herself twirl in the greedily man's hands. It was a short dance but to her it felt longer as in years dancing in the arms of Atherton. When the music finishes (she was glad it was) give a small bow to her fiancé, and was about to open her mouth saying she was tired and would like to rest her feet for a little while until someone else spoke up behind the pale brown eyes man. "Excuse me Sir, would the lady like to dance with me now?" The voice was smooth and calm, unfamiliar to Alys' ears yet at the same time familiar from long time ago.

Alys and her fiancé over behind him to see… Exotic eyes man! Alys shouted in her mind, her mouth opening slightly ajar. Without thinking she hurries reply to him, "Of course Sir."

Two pair of eyes stares at her and she felt uncomfortable by it. "If my fiancé allows it…of course…"

Atherton raised one eyebrow at her, thinking of his answer and seeing no harm in it agree to it, "Fine Miss Alys you may dance with this Sir. I'll be with your parents once you finish your dance." Turning to face the blonde hair man he said firmly, "As you had heard I am Miss Alys' fiancé so do control yourself." With that said he left.

Holding out his hand to me Alys gladly accept it. He whispers underneath his breath, "Control myself? Heh foolish old man." She didn't hear it through from a new music being played.

"I didn't get your name." She said out loud for him to hear over the music and the laughter from the chatting crowd.

His face expression didn't change, "I never gave it."

She instantly started hating him, this unnamed man. "Okay then, May I ask for your name…Sir?" She snarls out.

"You may."

She waited for a few minutes as they dance around the middle, no one looking at them, until she realized what he had said. Letting out a sigh she changes her question, "What is your name Sir? It can't be just Sir only nor do you prefer Purple Eye Man?" A short pause. "My name is…Alys. You may—Stretch that, I mean you CAN— call me just Alys."

He tilts his head; thinking was clear in his eyes but for what Alys didn't know. "I'll give my name after this dance is over Alys. First," He looks over her head (He was a head taller than her) before looking down at her eyes again, "Do you love your…fiancé?"

She frowns at the word fiancé then shook her head a bit feeling her long light brown hair flinging around her back. Looking down at her black and golden dress flow side to side as she twirl around she then felt this mysterious man grab hold of her arm and waist again. It sends down pleasant shivers in her skin despite the gloves and the dress she was wearing. The warmth was flowing through his fingertips, through her protected clothes, and to her cold skin.

Gosh how long is this song? Alys thought, wanting no more than to escape this Masquerade dance and head to her room where she can be alone and think. Her heart was beating within just by seeing this man up close to her, face to face. She didn't even know if she likes him or hated him!

"If you want, I—or we can get rid of him, together." His words stun her that she pauses on her dancing step but he kept her dancing in his arms.

Finally she whisper out, "W-what? What did you say?"

"I can help you kill him but for a price- of course." He stated so calmly still wearing a calm expression as if nothing is wrong in killing a man for him.

Alys just wanted to say out loud in an angry tone of why did she had to listen to this or what kind of sick joke this was, but found she was curious of how he can kill Atherton for her. The price was probably money that she can easily pay. Besides it would get rid of a man she didn't love or didn't wanted to do with…after the wedding and when the night comes. She holds in her shiver on that thought. "Deal. What is your price? Does 2,000 dollars sound good to you Purple Eyes Man?" She smiles on his nickname she had given him.

She thought she saw a hint of amusement before it flickers away in his eyes. "The price is that you will be my wife Alys." Her smile and heart drop on those words. There was a sudden cold breeze and she realizes that he had leaded them outside on the balcony without her knowing. It was night-time already and the crickets were playing their melody hided in the bushes and the grass. The sound of water rushing in and out on the beach was distinct that sounded like a background talking compare to the loud music and other noises coming from inside.

Pulling away from him the mysterious man let her go but still watch her backing away slowly. "What do you mean I have to be your wife after you kill Atherton?" Her voice trembling, she did her best controlling her volume from rising.

He tilt his head once more before consider answering, "We promise each other that once we come of age we will marry each other. And that I'm in need of a wife within five days before I am to take my father's throne also." She didn't really know what to say after he finish talking, she did had a few nasty words through but didn't know if he was insane or what. The music ended already and Alys remember what this mysterious man had said to her.

"What is your name, Sir?" Alys said to him again.

"Selendrile, Prince Selendrile." A prince? A prince who happens to want to kill a man that she was marrying just so he can marry her himself?

She narrowed her eyes. "Okay, Prince Selendrile, how do you plan to kill Atherton then?"

Finally he let out a small smile before reaching his pocket and pulling out a tiny vial of a dark liquid. "If I remember correctly I said that we can kill him together with this special liquid." He rose up one finger on his spare hand, silencing me from saying anything, "This special liquid is called Cantarella. It's a deep poison that can kill a person if used rightly on the ingredients, and can be used to put someone to sleep for four hours or shorter or longer depending on the amount of ingredients you use. You're going to make your fiancé drink this all after I slip some of this liquid in his tea or whatever he will be drinking."

Should be easy in enough to do that, making Atherton drink that liquid. "Tonight," She questions him, "Or some other time do we do this?" She wave her left hand over to the tiny vial. Hopeful you say some other day so I can think of a way NOT to marry you either!

Selendrile put away the vial back in his inside pocket. "I'll come to you tomorrow night. Leave your window unlock. Now before your fiancé finds out your missing I suggest that you go back to him for now." He slip into the shadows and went back inside.

"Leave my window unlock?" She whispers, unbelieving of what I just heard. "What happens if I leave it lock Purple Eyes Man?" Alys snorted, touching my now burning forehead. Maybe I should go get a drink and retire to my room now than stay at this ball. Yes, that will be nice. Her feet were getting tired from all the dancing she had done before. Giving out a sigh she grabs a handful of her dress, picking up her dress a bit, and went inside going the opposite way that Selendrile had went. She didn't bother looking for him now.

A Waiter walks by carrying a tray of drinks the hue of golden-brown and Alys grab one off, taking it with her. Seeing her fiancé talking to her parents, all sitting down on a few spare tables on a side of the ballroom, Alys went toward them not caring that she wasn't smiling and taking small sips of a drink that was slowly dulling up her mind and taste buds. Good, she thought. She didn't want to think over of what had just happen.

"Ah, Miss Alys we were just talking about you my dear." Atherton greeted her, rising up to his feet and pulling out a chair for her to sit down. She just wanted to have a giggle fit. He was just being super polite to her because they were in front of her parents. He came over and give her a peek on her burning cheeks (Not from his closeness, but for the now heated up room). The thirty-eight years old man motion her to sit down but she wave him off.

"I'm a bit tired Atherton and I just came over to bide you all goodnight. So goodnight!" She gave out a smile and left. Atherton had given out a thin smile when she had called him Atherton then Sir Atherton and her parents were disprove that their daughter was getting drunk. She was long out of ear shot to hear her parents calling her back there.

1-1

Alys had finally made it inside her room with her third glass of wine in her hands. Being so drunk that she didn't close her door completely behind her. A giggle escapes her lips, "And their faces were so funny to look at!" Another giggle at her own statement before she frowned, "Why is it so damn hot in here?"

Putting down the half-way done drink on the table near her bed she looks around as if she couldn't remember her own room. Seeing the closet cabinet near her own private restroom she smile and said to herself, "Silly me, how could I forget?" Stumbling to her closet cabinet she force it open, almost falling down but lucky she didn't, and look at all her expensive dresses. Pulling out one of her nightdresses she tosses it on her bed.

Almost ripping off her dress in her drunken state she was finally out of that dress and was remind that she was wearing a mask when she saw herself in the long mirror. She took it off and toss somewhere in her room. Putting on the nightdress now she grabs her drink and took a sip. Sitting down on her comfortable bed she wonder if she should open her window to let the cold air in or maybe to see a dragon in the night sky. Oh, how she was fascinated with dragons when she was younger child that she wanted to transform into one. Closing her eyes she felt her lips curling into a smile at those memories.

"Don't forget to take off your shoes Alys."

She flinches and drops her glass on the rugged floor. Pouting at her loss of her drink she look up, narrowing her eyes, to see Selendrile leaning against her door way with his calm expression on his face. Against her weaken will; she started laughing covering her mouth and fall off her bed. Tears were at the edge of her eyes and she felt her body being picked up off the floor a few minutes after. Wiping off her tears Alys try catching her breath again.

Feeling her smooth bed underneath her she look up to see purple eyes staring back at her own. "Did you know that you have exotic eyes, Purple Eyes Man?"

"Yes, you told me before long ago and it's Selendrile. If you want to be called Alys then I prefer that you call me Selendrile in return."

She let out a childish giggle. "Okay, fair in enough!"

He started pulling the blanket over her as her eyes were dripping heavily down. She thought she felt him kiss her forehead but she couldn't tell and heard him say, "Goodnight Alys." Closing her eyes she fell into a deep sleep.

So this story is not going to be a one-shot story anymore! This story will probably be around 3 to 5 chapters (not sure yet). Sorry if this didn't seem completely like Selendrile or Alys themselves to you guys. ^^'

Review if you want or not.

~GreenFantasy64