Chapter 4 – The Game is on

Alive was the only word to describe how Rogue felt. She couldn't have been more thankful for her friend's ingenious plan of switching masks for the night. Graydon, whom Rogue had passed by several times during the night, hadn't even turned his head towards her let alone noticed whom she was. However it was quite obvious how lost the festivities were on him. He proudly prowled the edge of the dance floor, sending his younger brother looks of utter disapproval as he pranced around with a string of lovely ladies through out the course of a mere hour. Marie had smiled to herself when she caught sight of Olivier dancing with a pretty young brunette with a petite frame in a pale pink gown (1). She could only imagine the sweet little things her brother would be whispering into her ear as they danced so closely. She pitied the girl a little, knowing she wouldn't be the last girl to hear such things from her charming brother's lips that night. However on the other hand, it was not for her to worry herself over. She had been asked by several gentlemen to dance and had accepted each request with great relish at the thought it would drive her brother cross with disapproval if he knew. She took great satisfaction in proving even just a little that what her brother had protested about men wasn't entirely true about all of them. Most were perfectly charming without any apparent evil traits. Perhaps it was the lack of identity spreading about the room, but it seemed as though every man that crossed her path and joined her in dance wanted to know who she was with such insistence she couldn't fathom. Marie thought it rather amusing in spite of the pangs of nerves she got from such close attentions. But even so, she would recite the common rule that no identity was to be revealed until the stroke of midnight. She had never had much talent for mystery until now and the sensation of it was enthralling!

However at half past eight, much to everyone's curiosity, the merriment and celebration came to a complete halt. The music silenced as a figure came to stand in the centre of the ballroom, a spot-like outlining the green trip to his Robin Hood attire. The gentleman smiled charmingly before he began to speak to the now-silent crowd around him.

"Distinguished guests, treasured amis et famille! I welcome y' to tonight's birthday celebration in honour of mon fils (my son). I hope dat thus far, y' are all enjoying y'selves!"

"T'ought dat no one was supposed t' reveal their identities until midnight Monsieur Jean-Luc LeBeau!"

A young masculine voice had piped up somewhere in the sea of people, causing everyone in the crowd to laugh amusedly. Even Jean-Luc himself smiled with genuine amusement as he replied with a hint of mock-annoyance.

"Well someone must ensure order in dis house non?"

There was a general chortle of agreement amongst the listening crowd. When the chatter died down, Jean-Luc spoke up again.

"Now, as tradition goes in LeBeau celebrations, we shall have a round of games involving de art o' dance and good humour!"

As soon as the words had escaped his mouth, an overall chatter of approval and interest erupted throughout the crowd. However with a raise of his hands, Jean-Luc silenced them all once again before continuing to speak. The spell bound crown watched as a dozen male servants appeared from the crowds and began to outline the crowd's edges. Marie realised with as much curiosity as any other in the room, that each servant held a large bouquet of half-bloomed roses. Crimson, white, yellow and pink coloured each bouquet. Jean-Luc continued to speak with an ever-present smile across his lips.

"My servants shall hand out a single rose t' each guest. Gentlemen, y' have until de music starts t' find a lady of y' choice with de same colour rose in their possession. When de music begins, y' mus' dance, when de music stops, y' must stop where y' stand et find a new partner. Do not lose de rose y' have been given or y' will be asked t' forfeit from de dance floor until de next dance. De last couple standing dat 'as proven t' be de best of us, will be crowned de Belle et Beau of de Ball! Maintenant, mes amis. On danse!" (Now my friends. We dance!)

There was applause from the crowd followed by a buzz of chatter and excitement that over swept the room as the servants began to hand out the half-bloomed roses. Marie smiled at the masked servant as she took the offered white rose. She studied it gingerly for a moment in her gloved hand, using the tip of her index to stroke its outer petals. The stem was thornless while a thin black ribbon was tied in a bow around its neck. Marie smiles softly as she brought it to her nose and inhaled its floral scent. Simultaneously, it was then that she felt the gentle tap of a gloved hand on her shoulder. She turned abruptly only to stare up into the smirking face of a black-masked gentleman. He offered her a hand as he lifted the matching white rose to her sight.

"May I have this dance Mademoiselle?"

Marie gave a small nod and curtsy and took the young gentleman's hand as the music began to play at a quick jolly pace. Two rings of couples, one outlining the other, spread across the dance floor in accordance with the song. Couples began to weave in and out while keeping in time with their chosen partners before taking their partner's hand and waltzing on the spot as they continued to weave in and out between the other couples.

Marie laughed and smiled as her feet barely touched the ground, not knowing that a pair of red-on-black eyes watched her from the shadows and smiled. Remy had been just about to introduce himself and offer his own white rose when another gentleman with the same intentions stole the moment. Not at all discouraged by any means, he returned to the shadows and kept close watch. He would seek out another moment he could steal with his Southern Belle. Though the lighting made it difficult to see her clearly, his eyes had an unnatural talent of being able to see despite the darkness that clouded other people's vision. He watched from afar as she laughed and smiled, turned and clapped on cue. When the music came to a pause, there was a burst of feminine giggles and the quick shuffling of feet as people scattered to find new partners. Remy found his moment of opportunity. He weaved stealthily and quickly through the crowd until he found himself behind his Southern Belle. Ever so gently, he reached out with the rose in hand and touched the side of her cheek with it. She stopped abruptly and turned as he withdrew the rose. She turned on the spot only to come face-to-face once again with the white rose he held between them. He had the satisfaction of watching as her eyes flickered with surprise to amusement and then curiosity as her gaze shifted from the rose, and finally, to his face. He was sure he heard her gasp slightly but that only broadened his smile. As the music began to play again, he raised his free hand in an offer for the new dance. What else could she do but take his hand? Her satin-clad fingers fit into his hand like, well, a glove. His fingers enveloped hers as he pulled her closer and wrapped his other hand securely around her waist. As the music began to play again, he led them at the quick pace the violin instructed.

Marie didn't know what had come over her. One moment a rose was dangling before her and the next, she was staring in a pair of smouldering rubies in a sea of black satin. She had felt the gasp escape her lips without restraint. What sort of creature or man had such eyes? Though his face was bathed in shadows and flickers of light danced briefly across his face, those eyes remained constantly glowing, constantly watching her. She felt her face burn a little under those eyes. Surly the colour of his eyes was some kind of trick of the light or part of his costume? The majority of his costume was of black and red finery. She dismissed the unusualness as they parted for a moment. He was at least a head and a bit taller than her with the grace and confidence only a gentleman could have… or a very arrogant and well educated man at the least. She felt him pull her closer as the music began again, causing her heart to jump. She put a hand to his shoulder and let him encase her fingers in his hold before they began to follow the song. His hands, she noticed, were gentler than she had expected. Though he held a firm grip, he was gentle and almost careful not to clamp her fingers. He did not speak, only smiled handsomely down at her as he gracefully led her about the dance floor. This, along with the fact that he wouldn't stop looking at her left her a little unnerved…and curious, very curious.

Suddenly the music came to a halt and in response so did the dancers, including Marie and Remy. However, instead of standing side by side with parted hands and turning their attention to Jean-Luc as the others had, they stood in the same embrace. His demonic eyes bore into hers like fire torches in the night while that charming smile broadened across his face. Marie felt her cheeks warm again as she continued to stare back- that is until someone grasped her around the waist and tugged her away.

She hadn't noticed the call for a change of partners until she finally turned and eyed her new dancing partner. However when she turned back to look at her previous partner, she was surprised to find he had disappeared all together amongst the crowd. Marie shook herself mentally and forced herself to shake the pull of disappointment his absence brought. She pushed him to the back of her thoughts as her current dancing partner spun her about the room.

"Those in possession of a white rose must now dance with one with a red rose! As yellow must pair with pink!"

The change in the game caused a frenzy of excitement and commotion to overtake the dance floor as ladies and gentlemen hurried to find a partner in time. Some dozen or so were left to retreat from the dance floor, as they had not found a match. Marie was about to stand aside, having not found a partner quick enough, when she felt a familiar warm hand grasp her own and turn her around. To her surprise, those unmistakeable red-on-black eyes stared down on her once more, and in response to her bemused look, the silent Prince Charming held up a red rose to match her white one. The music began to play and they moved with it once again. Marie couldn't help the new swell of curiosity within her anymore than she could stop her feet from stepping in time with his. She marked his persistence as surprising and peculiar...and yet, she couldn't bring herself to end the dance or call him out on his odd show of determination. Bold and charming as this silent rake was, her curiosity was heightened. With newfound boldness, she returned the smiled and counted her small victory when her cheeks didn't flush at the action. His grin broadened ever so slightly but before she could even begin to speak, the music came to an abrupt stop and the same announcer called for a new turn of the game; one must find a partner with a pink rose.

Marie gave the silent Prince a raised brow expression.

"Ah don't suppose ya have a pink rose tucked away somewhere too?"

The corner of Marie's lips quirked upwards with amusement as he produced from his coat, a perfect pink rose. The orchestra began to build to a quicker tempo as they turned about the dance floor amongst the dwindling crowd of couples. The pink rose twisted around her white rose as he kept hold of her hand and turned her around on the spot. Marie couldn't help a jovial cry when he suddenly dipped her as soon as the music came to another pause. Grinning from ear-to-ear, the masked Prince kept her dipped towards the floor. Marie grinned back when he tucked a yellow rose behind her ear and brought her to an upright position again as the music returned at a vaster pace. Marie was practically burning to know what motive this strange young gentleman had to play such a game with the likes of her. Was he merely taking advantage of the mysteriousness of the masked ball? She deemed that only a half-truth. This didn't feel like a mere game of masquerades and whatever his intentions, Marie intended to find out. However before she could think of how to approach him on it, the music gave in to a final crescendo and she was turned on the spot only to return to his arms with force as the music came to a timely end. Her hands steadied against his firm chest, her heart hammering against her ribcage as she stared up into those unforgettable eyes. His hands remained locked around her waist, smiling in spite of the shortness of air between them. Marie made to speak but her chance was stolen when a voice spoke. The moment shattered between them in a gust of noise and clapping. They soon realised that they were at the heart of the dance floor and that only three other couples stood close by. However all attentions were directed at them. Marie felt herself pull away slowly, unsure if the reason her cheeks burned was because of the dancing or from all the unexpected attention. Finally, the clapping died down and Jean-Luc LeBeau disengaged himself from the crowd to take the floor. He held a hand out to her silent partner and shook it with gusto before turning to her. He grasped her hand and smiled as he came to stand between them. A pleasant chuckle escaped him as he spoke to the admiring crowd.

"I do believe we 'ave a winning couple! Mesdames et Messieurs! I present t' y', de Belle et Beau of de Ball!"

And with a cry of approval from the crowd, two servants appeared at their sides and before Marie could breathe again, they were crowned with wreaths of painted gold leaves. Jean-Luc congratulated them individually. Marie felt her cheeks burn crimson but said nothing as the Master of the house continued to make announcements. Her gaze slipped towards her still-silent Beau of the Ball only to look past him and to recognise a frightfully familiar face in the crowd. She watched as he slowed in his actions…only to pick up the pace as he circled the fringe of the crowd, edging closer to her. Her heart began to hammer harder against her chest as she snapped back to facing the front, only to feel her brother's decidedly suspicious gaze follow her. Her blood turned to ice as he began to edge towards the front of the crowd. Visions of her overly protective brother dragging her kicking and screaming from the ballroom like a deceitful child flashing across her mind as her heart skipped beats. She new if she didn't move now, her visions would soon become a reality. Tactfully, she began to back away into the crowd behind as Jean-Luc continued to speak about the ever drawing nearness of midnight and the revelation of identities it would bring. Graydon was nearing her still when she became submerged within the crowd. She didn't stop to look back as she weaved between people and tables until she came to a narrow passage between two of the long buffet tables. With the smell of the kitchens wafting from the corridor, she took to the passage with haste. At the end of the passage she could make out the doors that she assumed led to the kitchen but stopped mid-way when a pair of doors seemed to appear from the darkness. Going as far as the kitchens might only cause unwanted attention from the kitchen staff, Marie tested the glass doors.

A relieved sigh escaped her when the brass handle turned freely. She passed through them as quick as possible only to find that they opened to the long balcony terrace surrounding the ballroom. Clusters of artfully placed plants and hedges acted as a shield from the cityscape outside while glass panel doors patterned along the exterior walls of the ballroom. Marie did not stop until she had reached the end of the corridor. Once there, she came to stand with her back against the joining wall. Feeling she had put as much distance between herself and the passageway she came from as possible, Marie leant back against the moss-coated wall with a relieved sigh. Though a little breathless, she felt herself ease into the seclusion of the open balcony and the hope that her brother had lost her amongst the waves of the crowd inside.

A light chortle escaped her as she pushed the wreath crown off her head and wiped the moisture off her dampened forehead. To think she had so haphazardly expected to dance her way through the night without her brother taking notice. Too true her brother was a born bloodhound when it came to his baby sister and not even a well-contrived scheme could keep his nose from sniffing her out eventually.

Frustration erupted in her erratic heartbeat as she angrily pulled her gloves off her hands. Was she ever to have a moment where she was not monitored or kept shielded from the world outside her family? When her Aunt Marian had asked her to come stay with her for the New Orleans season (her first season no less!) she had had such dreams of freedom and excitement and endless parties. Her mother however, knowing of Aunt Marian's rather odd temperament, reasoned a deal that ended said dreams. With the excuse that Aunt Marian was an insufficient chaperone for her only daughter, she insisted that Graydon and Ollie go along for the season as well. The only consolations Marie got out of the bargain was that she had Cousin Keira from Atlanta to keep her sane and that her mother hadn't insisted on coming as well. Now however, even the consolations were losing their power on her. Marie closed her eyes a moment as the words rolled off her tongue in frustration.

"Ah swear they will monitor meh into an early grave soon…"

"Dat would be a shame ma belle. Y' don't look like one fit for de grave."

Marie froze at the sudden, sultry voice.

Don't hate me. We'll be winding back to Remy's perspective next update.

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