****Very long chapter ahead! Enjoy! Well, I had fun writing this so apologies if it is a mess...****
'Great. Now how do I do this?'
The question rang through his mind over and over again. It bothered him as soon as he had promised her to do it and it hadn't stopped since then. It stayed with him when they got in the car, gave him a headache when they drove through the town and it still gnawed on him now as they entered KCPD.
Sebastian risked a sideways glance at the redhead. She had been unusually silent the whole ride. 'Of course… she's been thinking.' He felt for his cigarettes and checked how many he still had. 'I can't make her wait much longer…' Only five little death bringing smokes were left in the small container.
If he took one now for a short break it could easily buy him another ten minutes.
No. He wasn't one to make excuses. He would tell her. The only problem was…
"OH HELLO, DETECTIVES!"
The trio stopped and gawked at the cheerfully waving receptionist. Seb, because he had been in deep thought. Helen, because she was still sour at the novelette lover from their embarrassing encounter in the morning. And the last one because he seemed to have a general dislike for the goldfish-faced, novelette loving person behind the desk.
"I have got something for you." He bent over the counter and held a letter out to them. "This came in just now." He grinned sheepishly at the female in the group. "And a little something else, but you'll see~"
"Alright…thanks, I guess?" She took the letter and inspected the envelope.
ND Ind.
To Detective Helen Saul
KCPD
"ND?"
She weighed the object in her hand. 'Huh. Quite heavy…'
"What is it?" Sebastian had stepped closer. He, too, looked at the rectangle of paper in her hand.
"ND Industries." He ran his thumb over the black letters. "They finally answer. A phone call would have been enough. I didn't think they'd send it via post…" The detective took the envelope out of her hands and started opening it.
"Who?" Helen snagged it back from him. "And it's addressed to me- so I guess I'll be opening it if you don't mind."
"ND Industries. They are running the night club you both visited. I asked for information on the staff that worked that night. They kept me waiting for an answer until now."
"Why would they send their response to me then? I never heard of them before…much less talked to them."
She ripped the envelope open and looked inside.
Three thick strips of parchment came into sight. Each one of them had the same intricate design and printing on it.
You are cordially invited:
MOONLIGHT SONATA MASQUERADE
~A Night To Remember~
A time and a date was stamped on the back.
"Entrance tickets?" Helen handed the contents of the letter over to her partners.
"Are you sure you asked for info on that guy and not for an official debut? Can't really picture you with a white dress and long gloves, you know?" She chuckled lightly and then looked at the envelope a second time.
To Detective Helen Saul. Reading this felt good.
Yes, sure, she had been working again for a few days now. But it didn't feel like being back on the job for real…yet.
'It felt weird at best. A strange team, strange case, chases, darkness, monsters….and that man behind the glass doors. He just vanished. Did I really see him or…?'
"Bribery." Leslie interrupted her thoughts.
"Oh?"
"And bad bribery if you ask me." Leslie started walking towards the staircase.
He studied the ticket's front and backside. "Not only is this completely irrelevant to our case…it's also tonight. No time for preparation or making any plans."
"You intend to go?" The female caught up with him.
"Of course we'll go." Sebastian answered her. "It's hosted by the same guy who owns that other place. We will get the information one way or another." He was slowly relaxing now. Something had come up- and it had successfully taken her mind off the promise he had made earlier. Maybe it was time for a cigarette after all.
"Oh, I don't know…" 'HELL YES I WANNA GO!' A masquerade sounded amazing- and it would certainly be a nice way to wind down after the hell-on-earth experience she'd been through today.
'Now…if only I had a fairy god mother to get some fancy dress bippity bopitty boo'd on me…'
"Great."
The redhead turned to her albino partner. He looked even more pale than usual. A big frown on his forehead and the strained expression on his face left no doubt on the fact that he was obviously uncomfortable with the situation.
'Ah, I remember…there will be lots of people on a party like that. Not a place for Leslie…no wonder he doesn't seem too happy about it.'
"We'll keep an eye out for you too, if you'd rather stay behind this time, Leslie."
She gave him a weak smile that he answered with a slightly confused look but didn't bother to reply.
Sebastian took note of this exchange. She was trying to be nice to the guy. No wonder.
Who wouldn't? To the others, he looked like the innocent boy that had once resided in this body.
Little did anyone know what a cruel monster now lurked behind those big bright eyes.
The important thing aside from that was:
He most likely wouldn't tag along tonight.
Even if Sebastian and Helen didn't find anything relevant to the case on this party- it was still a chance. He'd tell her everything. The truth about the things that happened two years ago. The truth about Mobius and most importantly, the truth about this person right in front of him.
Yes, he'd give her all the…flowers?
"What on earth is that?"
The Detective looked past Ruvik and into their office they had just reached.
A stupendously big bouquet of flowers greeted them and filled the room with the sweet heavy scent of roses.
"Whoa, hey….hold on right there…"
Helen shoved herself past both of the males and let out a series of gasps while rounding the object that must had been placed on her desk while the group had been absent.
Her hands lightly brushed over the crimson petals and satin cords before she turned around, face red as beets.
She waved her arms in some sort of exaggerated charade back and forth before breathlessly exclaiming "Do you see what I am seeing?!"
The redhead turned around again, not waiting for an answer. "Who did that, I wonder…?"
'A sec ret admirer? Hah, yeah…as if, Helen.'
"Read the card." The younger of both men strode up to her. Without hesitation he grabbed past the girl and dug into the heaps of red blossoms to pull out a small piece of paper that had been attached to one of the flowers leaves.
The front of it simply read 'To Helen'.
"Oh my god…" She was excited. He could hear it in her voice. And feel it. The female detective had moved closer, as close as possible to get a better look at the note he held in his hands just now. He felt her body lean against his, could smell the faint scent of hers.
Close.
"Turn it around!" Her face cupped with her hands, her eyes fixed at the small rectangle between his fingers, she didn't even notice him looking at her.
"Right." He focused on the card again. The parchment was heavy. An expensive brand of paper had been used to convey the message sent with the flowers.
He turned the card around to reveal the words on its backside.
As a sign of good will and an honest apology, I am looking forward to seeing you tonight, Ms. Saul.
be my guests this evening.
To spend time, become entranced, and to share valuable information with you.
Sincerely yours,
N.D.
"What." She grabbed the card from him and walked over to the nearest window. As if more light would make the contents of this message more understandable.
"Who is this N.D. guy?"
"N.D. Nathan Doyle. The owner of ISCARIOT, a few other clubs and establishments and a company that has to do with quite a few major building projects in town at this time."
Sebastian sat down on his desk, he watched the albino and lit a cigarette. Those two…
He didn't like the look of this at all.
"Huh, you've already made your homework, I see…" She handed the card over to the older detective and let him read it. "But why is this guy sending me flowers…?"
"He is most likely targeting the weakest link in the chain."
"Gee, thanks, I was just thinking this was way too nice to happen, Leslie. I really needed that."
He didn't look at her, but he smiled as he took off his jacket to put it on the rack at the door.
It was true though, he couldn't find another reason this person was aiming their message at the woman in their team…or could he?
" 'And to share valuable information.'"
Sebastian sat up straight and read the last bit of the message out loud. "He will give us the info on that guy personally- or more specifically, it seems like he wants to give the information to you."
He gave the note back to Helen.
She turned the card around once more. The thick high quality paper lay heavy in her hands and the words on it still sent shivers up and down her spine.
'So he wants something like a date. With me? '
"Sounds like he won't give the information to anyone but 'Miss Helen Saul'."
Sebastian leaned forward in his chair and placed his chin on his hands. The whole thing sounded fishy. But then again, they were talking about Nathan Doyle here. High society big fish and millionaire. If experience had taught the detective one thing then it was that people like Doyle meant what they said. And if he said he wanted to spend some time with the redhead in exchange for the info they needed than he would do exactly that. As ridiculous as it sounded.
"Even if she doesn't go- we'll find another way to make a deal with him. He's come forth now and revealed that he has something to share…there's no going back for him on that."
The white haired male touched one of the blood red roses. His pale white fingers were in heavy contrast to the dark petals. The prospect of getting new, possibly highly valuable information had to be tempting him too.
"You think I'll chicken out?" The female frowned and started fumbling with the richly decorated bouquet of flowers on her desk herself.
"I was merely thinking that you'd treasure your womanly honor more than to sell yourself off to someone so cheaply. Someone you have never seen before…" He resisted the urge to crush the delicate blossom in his palm. He knew he wanted the info- then why did he say that?
"Besides, I doubt that Doyle will be satisfied with his choice of company."
"Oh, don't worry."
'Smartass...and why wouldn't he?'
Helen rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips. "I can go back at a great repertoire of experience in all things love and romance. A single date shouldn't be too hard to get through- and who knows, maybe he'll fall in love with me and give us even more than he initially promised! Hah." She plopped down on her chair and played with the note in her hands.
That thing even smelled good- whoever that Doyle guy was, he sure had some taste. In flowers, cards AND in women. Leslie had no idea.
"Very well. We'll see how far that second-hand experience of yours will get us."
"Fancy enough?"
The redhead turned around her own axis to show off the long sleek black dress she was wearing.
It was a simple one- but she was positive that even a fairy godmother couldn't have done much better.
"He'll be 'entranced'!"
"Then we're all set and ready to go." Sebastian replied after he acknowledged her outfit with a nod. He was dressed in a smoking himself. When had the last time been where he had dusted off the black pants and jacket? He couldn't remember- but considered himself lucky that the clothes still fit like back when he had bought them. "The tickets?"
"Right here!" Helen pulled the three cards out of the small purse she was carrying. She gave one to the detective and pouted at the remaining two in her hand. Just as she was about to put the third one back into the purse she halted when she spotted a familiar figure at the corner of her eye.
"You can give that to me."
"Leslie!" She gave the ticket to him. "I didn't think you'd come too."
"I didn't expect that either." Sebastian eyed the albino carefully. This was throwing off his plans on telling Helen the truth. 'Why did you come here?' was what he wanted to ask. But that would be too obvious right now. Instead, he said the first thing that struck him when looking at the albinos outfit.
"Where's your tie?"
"I don't like ties." They glared at each other. Of course the other one had noticed Seb's disapproval of his presence. Tension began to build up between the two of them and Helen quickly interfered.
"Who cares about ties or no ties? You can go commando for all I care! Now, let's crash the party!"
She pulled the men closer to the entrance of the big manoresque complex.
Clear lines and contours defined the building that towered over them and its
several stories with high paned windows and spotlights, that illuminated the glass-clad façade, made it look like an ominously glowing, dark crystal.
"Ugh- look at that 'money' chic…" The redhead hastily climbed the stairs to the entrance and held her ticket out to the gorilla in a suit that guarded the doors.
Her hair cascaded down on her shoulders and back in long flowing strands. A single barrette in form of a black flower adorned it.
'A black lily…'
Sebastian stared at the decoration for a second and felt the all too well known sting in his heart.
'Myra…Lily…I have to find out what really happened.'
He was the last of the group and absentmindedly gave his ticket to the guard who in turn made a last cross on some slate and mumbled something into his headset.
They then entered the house and where lead into a large hall.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't impressed…"
'Although I've seen stuff like this countless times before, actually.'
Her heels clicked on the marble floor as Helen entered the glitter and glamour spewing ball room.
Drapery covered the walls and crystal lusters hang from the ceiling wherever she looked.
Black was the main color reigning in the room, only interrupted by small isles of icy blue and crimson red from time to time.
The place was filled with people. Clothing and demeanor spoke the same language as the interior of the hall.
'Money'
Almost all of Krimson Cities' high society had to be here. She spotted the first photographer lurking on the other end of the room and groaned loudly.
The redhead turned around with an internal sigh. 'It's not too late- we can still leave…'
"All right, we tried- oh, look, Leslie is all pale; we should leave immediately." She hooked her arm under that of the albino and tried to tear him with her. He shook her off.
"I am fine. We're not leaving until you spoke to the host of this 'Masquerade'."
Masquerade. Right.
She peeked into the masses again. Everyone was wearing masks.
'Now if only I had a mask….'
"Miss Saul…"
The voice came from her side. A full and sensual tone, it sounded highly pleased.
All of them turned to see a man with shoulder length, sleek, raven black.
His dark brown eyes fixated on the redhead and the man's lips curled into a smile.
'Hot damn…' Helen was barely able to keep her jaw from dropping.
"Uh, yes? That would be me."
His intense stare somehow made her blush. It was only then that she noticed the man beside him. He was holding a serving tray with a few masks out to the group.
She snatched one from the tablet and held it to her face, now a little less concerned and a little more confident about staying at this 'party' a while longer.
"Detective Castellanos, Mr. Withers…"
The serving tray was held closer to the two men. Sebastian sighed and grabbed one. He'd play along with this game. The info they'd get from it was too important not to.
The servant turned to the younger man and watched him expectantly.
A single mask was still on the tray.
He didn't take it.
"I am afraid you can't stay without a mask." The dark haired man smiled at the albino and hid his own face behind a simple black veneer. "This is a masquerade, after all…"
"This is child's play- nothing more. I don't need a mask."
"Oh, I am well aware of the fact. Some of us have much better ways to hide their true selves, isn't that right? Mr. Withers…"
The way he said his name…
"Do me a favor and take the mask." Sebastian quietly sneered into Ruvik's ear.
The albino obliged and the man with the serving tray bowed and left.
"Now! That that is done- I hope you'll enjoy this little…festivity. As the owner of this humble place and host of this marvelous Masquerade I invite you to be my guests. Feel free to…mingle with the exquisite guests and excuse me while I carry Miss Saul off to a less… crowded place."
He leaned forward, one arm behind his back, the other one reaching out to Helen. She hesitated and looked at her partners. This was it. Getting separated once again.
She'd get that info. And that date.
'But who will keep an eye on Leslie? He hates places like this.'
Her eyes switched between the men.
That dude looked handsome as hell. And he also looked like he knew he was handsome as hell….
'Alright, screw Leslie…I'll get my date with Prince Charming right now. Also, Sebastian can take care of Leslie…if they're not on each other's throat within minutes, that is…'
"I am ready if you are." She took the hand held out to her and waved a goodbye to the other two.
The man breathed a kiss onto her hand and led her off.
Ruvik and Sebastian watched the two disappear in the crowd.
"That Doyle. He knows."
"I noticed." The detective looked at his former-enemy-now-partner. Yes, the perfect disguise. No mask needed. He looked at the mask in his own hands.
A stylized version of an eagle's face and beak. The symbol of authority, power, guardianship and skill.
'What a great guardian I am…'
A quick glance at the mask in Ruvik's hand offered much less insight. It was plain white, somehow strangely fitting to the man's outer appearance.
'You're not giving anything away to anyone…but just now…'
"Are you alright?" His question went almost unnoticed as the other one was still standing beside him like frozen, his stare fixed onto the spot where the female and the man they now assumed to be Nathan Doyle had vanished.
"Are you alright?" He laid a hand on Ruvik's shoulder but was brushed off immediately.
"I said I am fine." His tone was bitter but calm. This guy wouldn't lose his posture even if the walls around him where to crumble and break down.
The detective watched walk away.
'If you think I'll babysit you then you're wrong.' He had better things to do. All masks aside; he had already seen a few faces he recognized. Important people of Krimson Cities' higher ranks.
Sebastian covered his face with the eagle mask.
'Let's see if Doyle's exquisite guests have some special reason to attend this Masquerade.'
'What a day….ghosts, monsters, flowers….and I think this just turned into some kind of modern day Cinderella story. I should keep an eye on the clock just to make sure…'
Helen was still amazed. The man had introduced himself as Nathan Doyle and he had led her into some kind of…Separeè? A private room for sure, but if he wanted to impress her with fancy French words then so be it.
If the ball room had been somewhat noisy then this room was dead silent. More marble floor and walls so dark and shiny that she could see her mirror image in them. The one theme this guy had going was echoing from the floor, walls and ceiling. It resonated from the expensive furniture and tiny objects in glass caskets and even the fireplace that seemed to be sizzling somewhere near crackled it over and over again. 'Money, money, money….' He had led her into the room and to a large chaise longue they had both sat down on.
"Let me tempt you to a glass of wine. Miss Saul."
He poured some dark red liquid into two glasses and handed one of them to her. She didn't like wine at all but who cared about insignificant stuff like this now? 'Miss Saul will drink this wine and Miss Saul will seduce your ass.'
She took a sip. It was heavier and much sweeter than she had expected.
Not bad at all. Another sip wouldn't hurt, right?
"You wanted to talk to me…" Only two sips and she felt the wine entering her system already. A tingling, warm feeling in the back of her neck and her legs.
"Oh yes, indeed, I was- ecstatic- when I heard you had arrived at my little event."
"I meant your invitation. Excuse me if I am wrong …but I don't think we've met before."
Another sip of the wine. Damn that stuff was better than she wanted to admit. 'Just make sure not to drink too much, Helen, or your badass seduction, no, interrogation skills will fail…'
"You're right, we've not met before. All the more reason to change that. Hence the reason I invited you. I was intrigued the moment my eyes fell on you, Helen. And my interest in your person has only grown since then…"
The redhead chuckled nervously. 'Not sure if flattered big time….or more than slightly creeped out…'
She took another sip of the wine and scolded herself for it. The female detective placed the glass on a nearby small table. 'Enough of the non-fizzy fizzy drink for you…'
Her head was slightly spinning. She closed her eyes for a moment. Was there music playing somewhere? She felt like she wanted to sway…damn alcohol.
"Beautiful…" He brushed a strand of hair out of her face and she felt herself blush like no tomorrow. 'Cinderella story, no biggie…is it hot in here or is that just me?'
The wine had to be making this much more romancy to her than it actually was, right?
He moved closer and looked deeply into her eyes. 'Holy crap.'
This guy was hitting on her, no kidding. She could throw away all of the novelettes now- this felt as if it was taken directly out of them. And better. It was real. Or not better?
"…just like your mother."
She snapped out of it.
"You knew my mother?" Helen moved away a bit trying to regain her posture and trying to calm herself.
"Knowing, no. I have seen pictures of her, yes. To think I'd have the pleasure of meeting the daughter of the state's senator. I admit that it was the last thing I had expected."
She inspected him more thoroughly. So he knew about her father….and about her mother.
Time to abort mission before things got hairy. She cleared her throat.
"The info. I take it you have something that we need."
"You want to leave so soon?" He smiled, obviously satisfied with her reaction. If he had wanted to brag about knowing about her parents then he had gotten what he wanted. In no way would she give him stuff to tell the newspapers or blackmail her into something.
"If you don't mind. I don't feel like conversing about my family." She clung to her purse unwilling to look him in the eye.
"How sad. But I guess it's been a long day."
'Oh you bet…'
"I have the info, your partner has been asking for, right here." He pulled an envelope out of his jacket and put it on his lap. "I apologize for not giving it out earlier, but you see, I am a busy man…and I like making good deals…"
She stared at the envelope. Keeping focus was so hard. Her head was still spinning and all she wanted to do was sit down and lean back. 'Drinking that wine out of sheer politeness. What a stupid mistake. It did taste pretty nice though…'
Or splash some cold water into her face. Yes, that sounded nice.
"A good deal…?" Her voice sounded much fainter than she had intended.
"Yes" , he moved closer once more, "your visit was pleasing as is but you seem to have misunderstood me." The fire was still crinkling somewhere distant. Helen looked Doyle in the eyes. Such dark pools of ember…
"I don't care much for what you are doing or for your family…my sole interest lies within you, so to speak. So, I am giving you a choice…in exchange for this envelope."
"A choice?"
She was still torn in-between judging him as a nutjob stalker or the 'mysterious-man-who-knows-everything-about-you-and-enters-your-life-abruptly-to-make-everything-four-hundred-percent-more-sexy-and-sensual'. Those novelettes didn't seem to be the best source of information for these kinds of encounters after all….
"I will gladly hand over this valuable information in exchange for a kiss."
"Or…?" 'Or your firstborn son. No, surely not that…'
"Or another peek at that delicious black lace I have first seen you in."
"Excuse me?" She looked at him, now completely dumbfounded. 'Delicious…black… lace?' Something dawned on Helen. This guy was the owner of ISCARIOT….
He smiled at her like a schoolboy.
"The one you sported so elegantly when you uninvitedly invaded my businesses' backstage areas. You and I both seem to have a fondness for danger , forbidden things…and darkness."
That bastard. He had only invited her in here to get another panty shot?! 'What a pervert! I knew this would haunt me if anyone would ever see it…! And here I was thinking I'd be met with a gentleman.'
The sudden rush of adrenaline wiped away the effects of the wine and she angrily raised her hand, ready to slap the living crud out of that rude person in front of her. But felt restrained. She turned her head to see what kept her arm in place.
A man in a suit smiled at her. He held her hand in a firm grip making it impossible for her to move even the slightest inch.
"The kiss it is then, I figure."
"Wha—" she wanted to object but was cut off by his lips. He pulled her close and she felt his hands on her back and her neck. His toned body was pressing against hers.
As soon as it had happened it was over. It had just been a kiss, nothing more. He pulled back and smiled, brushing her hair behind her ear.
'No tongue, no grabbing at my butt? Wait, am I seriously complaining at the lack of indecency?'
She frowned but took the letter from his hands none the less. Willingly or not, she had earned this 'reward'.
"Thanks, I guess…" Confused as to why she was even thanking him, she stuttered some words as a good bye and made her way to the exit.
"Oh, it was my pleasure, Miss Saul. Until we meet again….good bye."
Doyle told his servant to lead her back to the hall and then snickered to himself.
"So it's true. I simply…have…to have you, dear."
"You're walking on thin ice."
Doyle turned around. He hadn't expected anyone else besides himself to be here still. The woman took a step out of the shadows. She crossed her arms over her chest and cocked an eyebrow at him.
"You've had orders."
"And I kept to them, didn't I?"
"We've instructed you to dispose of any evidence. Not to help them find it."
"That, I did. Or did you actually believe I was going to give this information away without making sure it was worthless by the time they'd have access to it?"
"We've also told you to keep your hands off that woman."
"Oh, I know…I just couldn't help it." He grinned to himself and played with small accessory he had skillfully removed from the female detective's hair earlier. She hadn't even noticed. The black flower looked fragile and small in his palm. He closed his fingers around the object.
"It's only human. Don't you know that it's the toys we are told not to play with that tempt us the most?"
***********************************************************************
Ruvik aimlessly wandered through the spacious room. He tried to avoid the masses but had no choice but to stray away from the relatively safety of the walls now and then.
Chatting, dancing and drinking people roamed the hall and kept bumping into the man who was in search of just one empty space, one quiet corner to retreat to and watch the unholy row of self-indulgence from afar.
He found himself walking backwards when yet another group of laughing jesters came his way only to stumble into what seemed to be some sort of tent like structure.
His eyes adjusted to the sudden change of lighting and he made out drapery, curtains, cheap jewelry that hung from walls and ceiling. And the strong smell of different spices.
A voice rang through the air behind him.
"Now, now, what do we have here? Come closer boy, so Madame Zeli can get a better look at your face…"
At a small round table in the middle of the dimly lit tent sat a old wrinkly lady. Her curly hair was long and covered in just as much frippery as her tent. And her neck. And her limbs.
'A fortune teller…?'
He wanted to leave the small room again but decided against it when he heard the laughter and squeals of people outside.
Staying inside for a little longer could prove less stressful than leaving right away.
The jingling of a plethora of armlets pulled his attention back to the old woman. She had moved. Her hand was pointing at the empty chair in front of her.
"I can show you things yet to come."
"I am not interested in your jamboree." He pulled the curtains back a little and peeked outside.
"Your judgement is too rash, young one. My predictions have never failed to this day. Sit down for a while and I will tell you secrets of your future."
The old hag wouldn't stop talking, would she?
"Is there nothing you desire? I can tell you about everything. Your life, health, fortune, love…"
"Save your breath. I'll sit down." He slumped on the chair.
"Now? What do you wish to hear about?"
"I don't care. Just get it over with." How long could it take to get the info from this man? His mind kept circling around the view of them leaving together. He needed distraction. If the ramblings of this woman could give him a few minutes of peace from these thoughts and the wild hubbub outside then he was willing to let her try.
"Fine. Give me your hand, young man. I'll read to you… from the lines of your life."
The thought of her spindly long fingers touching his hand was revolting. He let her do it anyways.
Sebastian admitted defeat. There was nothing to gain from this party. A few politicians and investors of bigger companies attended it- but none of them even knew who their host was or what he did.
Much less did they know…or admit to know… about the goings on in Krimson City.
Talking to them was useless and a waste of his time. If only he knew how Helen was doing.
She was young and pretty- but that wouldn't get her far if that Doyle proved to be as eccentric as his house and his taste in pastime suggested him to be.
'She'll handle. Although…I should at least try to find out where he took her to.'
Of course he was curious and he felt bad for basically feeding her to the lion. But the case had come to a dead end and this man could provide vital hints to further their investigation. It was simply necessary.
He made his way through the crowded hall. The later the evening, the louder and more promiscuous the guests had gotten. Shameless behavior as far as the eyes could see.
'Give them a mask and they'll show their true self…all under the safety of the disguise, naturally.'
"Ah." He stopped. A bulky bodyguard stood before a small door. The man was watching the partying people and spoke into his headset from time to time. Suddenly he moved to the side and looked at the door expectantly.
It opened and a person emerged from the private chambers of the Masquerades host.
Sebastian's eyes widened. He ducked behind some of the other guests and covered his face with the eagle mask. Unbelieving, he mumbled under his breath.
"Kidman?"
"Hmmm, this is strange…"
"Does your magic fail you?" Ruvik watched the old woman inspect his palm. Now that he had allowed her to look 'into his future' he was quite amused to see her confused face.
'What kind of act will she put up?' He had no experience with fortune tellers but he had expected her to point at several lines on his skin and mumble something about luck, a long life and lots of children.
The same she most likely told every fool that stumbled into her little marquee.
"Mhhh- no, that can't be it. Let me look at your face, bub." Before he knew it her claw like fingers had gripped onto his chin and pulled him closer to her.
Foul breath mixed with a strong perfume. It made him nauseous. And angry.
but he still kept his calm.
"Your eyes…" She hissed at him. "What's wrong with your eyes?!" Her grip on his face fastened and he could feel her nails dig into his skin. She breathed heavily. "Youuuuu….THIEF!" He struggled out of her grasp and stumbled out of the chair.
The woman now bawled at him at the top of her lungs. "What are you! You thief,THIEF!" She kept yelling at him, walking backwards, pointing a finger at him. "GET OUT OF HERE; WHATEVER YOU ARE!"
Without a moment's hesitation he did just that. He staggered out of the tent and right into the masses, pushed forth through the dozens of people and further, further to an open door that led outside and into a cold, nightly garden.
Fresh air. He kept running until the house was behind him. Until the noise became faint and the lights didn't reach him anymore.
He stopped when he came to a fountain. The drizzling water mixed with the sound of his jagged breathing.
"I am…a thief?" he touched his face and then stared at his open hands. "Then what are they? Who are you to judge me…"
"Leslie?" The familiar voice came from the other side of the fountain. Or rather, inside the fountain.
He tried to look through the curtains of falling water but she was already rounding the inner pole of the large garden decoration.
The female detective stood inside the fountain's pool, knee deep in water, her dress ruffled up in her hand just enough as to not touch the crystal clear fluid.
For no apparent reason, he noticed, as the fabric was already soaking wet and dripping.
"What are you doing out here?" 'Is your 'date' already over?'
He watched the redhead walk through the heaps of water. She was quiet. Her face was illuminated by the spotlights that littered the fountains ground. The expression on her face was unreadable. Like a statue. Frozen in time. Only that this one was taking slow, thoughtful steps towards him in the eerie moonlit scenery.
"I needed some time alone." She looked back to the house.
"Did he keep his promise?" 'What happened when the two of you were alone?'
"Sure." She pointed to his left side and he saw her shoes, purse and an envelope laying on the edge of the fountain. He didn't like the way she had answered him. A toneless voice.
"You didn't like the meeting."
"You're right. I didn't."
"It was different than you expected."
"Again, right."
He sighed and sat down beside her items. His hand brushed over the envelope.
"You should have known better. This is not one of your books. This is a cruel world- you'd be better off trusting no one but yourself. Or else…"
'Or else you'll only end up betrayed. '
"I know that. I know."
Her voice was faltering. "I knew. Therefore the books. Because I knew."
Yes, for a moment she had wanted to believe it. These last days had been so strange- it could have been possible, right?
"Isn't it okay, if it's just in my dreams?"
It was only now, in this brief moment, that he saw a hint of bitterness shining through the cracks of her mask. Through the cracks of that usually hidden, broken smile.
Maybe there was more to this woman than he had thought after all…
She climbed out of the water.
"So, why did you come out here?" She changed the topic. Maybe it was better that way.
"I needed some time alone." He smiled and took the envelope.
"Huh. Great minds think alike." She nudged him and grinned a little. "Oh, wait."
He had started opening the letter but stopped now.
"What?"
"We should find Sebastian before we open this. He might be interested in it too. Besides, he had promised to tell me everything about the case and who it is that you're after, tonight."
She picked up her shoes and brushed off her dress.
"Everything."
'THIEF!' Madam Zeli's voice rang through his head.
"Yeah, about time if you ask me." She held her hand out to him to pull him up. "Let's go find him."
He took her hand but he didn't move. She looked at him, puzzled.
"There's still some time…I will tell you."