She could hear her heals echoing down the hallway. The dress she wore swished silently with her as she let her fingers glide softly against the wall. A song softly played in the distance as well as in her head. The time would come soon for her to face them and she was not yet sure if she was up to such a task. Holding back her fear she let her hand drop to her side.

Turning the corner she saw the doormen staring ahead ready to do their simple and deliberate task. With a click of their heals they turned towards the doors opening them widely and bowing their powdered wigged heads as they stood beside the now open oak doors. Hundreds of heads turned towards her as she walked down one step at a time. She could see no face to her liking and the rock in her stomach became heavier.

"May I have this dance?" a purple and black masked man asked.

"Of course" she whispered as he took her hand.

He took her to the center of the room. The band began to play and he bowed so she curtsied. They were at a respectable distance and showed the same amount of talent. More couples slowly began to join them. Different colored dresses and faces flashed by her eyes. The music stopped and so did they. Her heart was fluttering from the exercise.

"Thank you for the dance milady"

"It was a pleasure"

She then looked for a good place against the wall. Her duty was done and now she could keep beat with her fingers against the wall as she watched the blossoms of love bloom before her eyes. A man holding a tray of wine walked by and she took a glass, the red liquid would ease her aching throat.

"I did not know it was proper for such beautiful ladies to stand alone."

The wine was ready to come back up from the warm comfort of her stomach. Slowly dropping her hand after she made sure no liquid escaped her mouth she turned to the confident man.

"I am not alone"

"It was only meant to be a compliment milady there is no need for defense." His eyes twinkled behind a face of green and white.

"Well thank you for the compliment, but it was misplaced good sir. Now if you would please excuse me I would-"

"I could not bear to excuse such an angel" he cut in.

She could not help it she laughed at him.

"Do not be fooled by the wings good sir, even demons have wings"

"But they do not have the aura of goodness and halo you do"

"I do not remember putting on a halo sir"

"Would you wish me to make you one?"

"No, I believe that I can survive without one"

"It would make you even lovelier though"

"I thought I was beautiful"

He paused and looked at her calculating his next words.

"You are heavenly. Simple and content with everything that could make any man fall-"

"I do not see any men falling"

"They are too afraid"

She laughed again.

"Oh are they?"

"Terrified, can you not smell it?"

"I do not believe I can"

"Well it is in their eyes can you not see it?"

"No, I can not"

"Well as we dance watch their veiled eyes"

"We are going to dance?"

"Yes, I need to relax. You talk too much."

With that he took her hand and brought her to the edge of the floor. They joined the dance without any formalities. He whispered her encouraging words and when the music stopped he moved her around the unmoving couples. It was going to be four more songs before he brought her back to her sanctuary.

"Are you relaxed now good sir?"

"Of course Angel, but now I am thirsty"

With those words he walked away. She smiled softly and watched him walk away before leaning back against the wall. Once again she kept beat to the music with her fingers. She told herself it did not matter if he returned, but kept her eyes alert for him anyway.

"Your wine Angel" he said putting a glass of white wine in front of her.

Smiling she accepted it.

"Thank you good sir"

"Let us go out to the gardens. Mars is stunning tonight."

"What of Venus?"

"It is not yet her time."

Smiling at him she let him lead her outside. Once outside he led her to a corner where eyes could not pry and let his arm go around her shoulders to keep her warm. His other arm extended up towards the heavens to show her the foreign planet. The red star stood out and burned her to the core.

"Let us toast" he said

"To what are we to toast?"

Smiling he moved to stand before her his eyes twinkling.

"To Angels, good sirs, and Mars"

Laughing she raised her glass to his.

"To Angels, good sirs, and Mars"

With that they both downed their flutes of white wine. He looked down at her while she looked back up at Mars. The planet began to blur as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

"I-" he put a finger to her lips.

"Sleep well Angel"