Saturday night arrived with a flourish. All day long Melody and Lys spent the time making last minute preparations and adjustments. Hair, makeup, nails, and accessories were perfected and soon enough it was five-fifteen.
Standing together looking in the mirror, Melody and Lys stared at their reflections.
"Oh, Lys you look stunning," Melody whispered.
Lys gave her a quick hug. "So do you Mel." She adjusted Melody's crystal necklace when the doorbell rang. "And that would be Corin!" Lys grinned at Melody and wiggled her eyebrows. Melody laughed and said, "Would you stop! C'mon, let's go downstairs."
Descending the stairs did make her feel like a princess, she couldn't deny that. Plus the look on Corin's normally passive face was priceless. Inwardly her nerves were shaking. She couldn't help feeling that something bad was going to happen tonight. Nevertheless, she was determined to have a good time with her friends.
The next fifteen minutes flew by in a flurry of poses and pictures and soon they were on their way. Corin was driving with Melody in the passenger seat and Lys in the back. Melody leaned her head against the window looking up at the big almost full moon. In just two days the Mystiks will do their weird moon gathering thing again, she thought sullenly. She prayed she wouldn't be picked tonight.
"You ok Mel?" Corin glanced over at her looking slightly concerned.
"Oh she's fine. She's just got the jitters about showing up tonight with a daaate," sang Lys. Melody could feel herself blush and Corin looked fixedly at the road. Thankfully, no answer was required for they had arrived at the school. It was all lit up with the sound of music pouring out from the entrance. Corin parked and they stepped out into the warm summer air. The sun was just beginning to sink, casting golden rays over everything. The three of them donned their masks and walked up the steps to the doors.
Once inside, they checked in and headed for the ballroom. At once they got swept up in the joyous atmosphere of the room. It was decorated all in lights and white lanterns hung from the ceiling. Black and white streamers floated down and graced the columns. The décor mixed with the multitude of colorful dancers made a beautiful picturesque look. It certainly took Melody's breath away.
Sadly, her happiness was short-lived because a high pitched snooty voice said, "Well look who's here!" Spinning around, Melody and Lys found themselves face to face with Ivy Brooks and her two back-up girls. Ivy Brooks. Ick.
"You two look like you found those sad little dresses in the dumpster. Where did you get them? From a yard sale?" She laughed a cackling laugh and her two minions laughed too. Lys and Melody glanced at each other.
"Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed it," Lys scoffed.
Ivy bristled and with a flip of her blond hair she sneered, "That insult is staler than your breath." Her minions laughed. "Let's get out of here. No point in wasting time with these losers."
She swished away and disappeared in the crowd.
"Ugh, being around her makes my skin crawl!" Melody shivered. Lys nodded. "I know what you mean," she replied.
Melody looked over at Corin who was staring down at his shoes. She took pity on him and took his arm. He looked up in surprise. "C'mon, let's go find a table." She smiled up at him and Lys raised her eyebrows at her.
After they had claimed a small shadowy table in the corner, Lys pulled them onto the dance floor. Melody thought she was the craziest dancer she'd ever known. She grabbed Melody's and Corin's hands and spun them around in a dizzy circle. Laughing, they broke apart when the song ended. Melody and Corin grinned at each other. Lys looked back and forth between them and winked. Then, the lights dimmed and the music slowed. One of Melody's favorite slow songs came on. Awkwardly she and Corin just stood there until Lys sighed dramatically.
"You guys are so lame!" She exclaimed as she shoved the two together. She made sure as they awkwardly started to dance before prancing off to find a partner of her own. Melody cleared her throat and looked somewhere over to the right and Corin looked down somewhere to the left. A few minutes into the song Melody finally spoke. "Well. This is…fun."
"Oh, yeah." Corin looked a bit queasy.
"Are you alright? You look a bit…jumpy." Melody looked up and their eyes locked, brown on brown. Corin broke first.
"Yeah, no I'm ok. Just…worried that one of us is going to be chosen tonight."
Melody relaxed. That was all. "Oh. Me too. I'd hate for it to be any of us. Do you know what they do to people who defy them? Because I heard-"
Her words were cut off by a sharp tap from the stage. The head Proxy of the Mystiks, Roxane, stood at the microphone. She rapped it again until all faces in the crowd turned towards her. Lys came back to Melody and Corin in the crowd.
"Fellow students. Welcome to the Green Mountain High annual Masquerade. Hopefully everyone is enjoying themselves."
Few people in the crowd answered her. Many glared, showing obvious hatred for her fellow Mystiks. Melody noted the rest of the Mystiks seated on the raised dais behind Roxane. They all wore identical silver robes and masks seemingly made out of moonlight. In the center, on a throne-like chair was the Mistress Selene, leader of this particular Mystik society. The rumors about her were not kind. Melody studied her while Roxane spoke. The Mistress was dressed in silver flowing robes like the rest of them but her face was covered with a heavy lace veil. As Melody stared, she had the sinking feeling that The Mistress was looking at her.
"…for providing the necessary accommodations. Principal Rikeline." Roxane respectfully dipped her head towards the principal who paled and nodded. She looked up and surveyed the crowd. "The time has come for the Mystiks to choose yet another to join our ranks."
A shiver seemed to spread through the crowd. Nervous twitter and glances rippled through the ballroom. The lights seemed to dim. The air seemed to still. Melody found it hard to breathe.
Roxane continued. "As you all very well know, the Mystiks choose a maximum of three new members each Masquerade." She paused for effect. "This year, we will be choosing one."
Whispers. Rumors. Nervous shifting. Don't be me, don't be me! Melody thought.
"And now, our esteemed leader Mistress Selene will choose our new member. My lady." Roxane dipped her head respectfully.
Mistress Selene stood and a hush fell over the ballroom. She stepped forward and lifted the veil. The entire student body gasped.
She was beautiful. She was magnificent. She was perfect. Her auburn hair fell in perfect curls down to her waist. Her heart shaped face was adorned with perfect silver-gray eyes and rosebud lips. Her ivory skin was flawless and her smile…
Her smile. It was cold as ice. Melody shivered and looked at the ground. When she dared to glance back at the Mistress, their eyes locked. Then, Mistress Selene smiled. At her.
"It is my pleasure to announce the next member of the Mystiks." The pause seemed to stretch on forever, soaking up time. The students tensed hoping they wouldn't be the one.
"Melody Cresta. Welcome to the Mystiks," Mistress Selene said in her honeyed voice.
Silence. Melody couldn't move. She couldn't think; couldn't feel. She was dimly aware of Lys and Corin looking at her in shock and horror. Her heartbeat was thundering in her ears. No, no, no this couldn't be happening. Anything but this! Her legs threatened to collapse. Corin's touch brought her back to reality. Hand on her arm she looked at him. His eyes said what words could not express. Silently, he helped her to the stage. They stopped at the bottom of the stage stairs. Pulling her into a hug, he removed her mask, brushed a stray hair behind her ear and tipped her chin up to look at him.
"I'm so sorry Melody. I promise you, I will do everything in my power to save you."
All Melody could do was nod. She swallowed hard and walked up the steps to her doom. Mistress Selene greeted her at the top. She held out a hand to Melody who wasn't sure what to do. For a brief crazy moment she wondered if she should kiss it. Oh this was ridiculous! The Mystiks were just people too! Right? She tentatively reached out and shook her hand.
"Congratulations Melody. We shall expect you at the ceremony in two days at Willow Glenn. Eleven-thirty," Roxane added.
All Melody could do was nod. Mistress Selene studied her a moment before motioning to Roxane who appeared at her side in an instant.
"Bring the membership attire."
"Right away my Lady," Roxane dipped her head. Next to her on a table a folded silver robe lay. She picked it up and brought it to Melody. As she made to give it to Melody, a shout from the crowd stopped her.
