AN: Sorry for the short chapter. There will be longer ones coming up in the future!!!

Part Four: The Lioness Mask

Chapter Eleven: A Compulsion Best Not Resisted

Hailley stood in front of her full-length mirror, looking herself over with complete satisfaction. Her brunette locks lay in glossy curls along her collarbone, sparkling with glitter spray. Green eyes were defined by brown liner, lips brought to life by nude gloss. She was wearing a short, plaid skirt over her bare and tanned legs, a lacy black cami hugging her torso, and pink heels to to match the color of her skirt. Placing her hands on her hips, she twisted and turned, glancing at herself from as many angles as possible.

Hot indeed. No boy could resist her tonight.

No... Something was missing. She continued staring at herself, eyes narrowing in thoughtful scrutiny. What was it, though? Her glossy lips pursed.

An idea hit her, and a soft giggle bubbled from between her lips. She wouldn't actually wear it to the club... But what harm was there in merely trying it on in the comfort of her own room?

Hailley looked over her shoulder at the case on her nightstand, and as though she were answering its sweet call, she slowly walked over to it. Her fingers grasped the edges; the lid was pushed up to expose her prize. She couldn't help her gasp. It was so beautiful, her mask. A shiver ran through her body as she picked the mask gently up, trying to suppress the urge to embrace said object. It was a hard urge to ignore, though.

She brought it up to her face, wondering how this was going to work. How could a mask as old as this possibly fit her face? She closed her eyes as the piece came closer, and she experienced a brief jolt—her heart speeding up, her breath catching—as she felt a momentary spark of claustrophobia. It was like being submerged in a pool of water without taking a deep breath first. Her lids opened wide as the mask and her skin touched. She was being crazy, acting like this over an old ornament.

Moving her hands from her face, she waited for the mask to fall, but it seemed to fit perfectly. She smiled in pleasure, rushing back to the mirror to see what she looked like.

It was incredible. Her mask was seamlessly locked on her face, a perfect fit. She looked fierce. Too bad Planet Bang didn't have masquerades. She could see what she would wear. Didn't Egyptians wear those thin, white cotton dresses? See through. Revealing. Her body was made to be viewed at. She tilted her chin, her fingers tugging at her top, pulling it up some to reveal her long torso. Her hands rested against her flat stomach.

Where was her ride? She wanted to go out, wanted to party.

She closed her eyes, being consumed by the darkness, the pads of her fingers pressing against her face. The lioness face covering her own felt so real. In no rush, her eyes drifted open, and the reflection she saw in the mirror was her own. No beautiful, ornamental mask. Just Hailley. But... It wasn't "Just Hailley". She was...

"Fierce." She had only meant to think it, but hearing her own words had a strange effect on her. "How..."

But the reflection changed, and it was only herself again, still playing dress up.

"I'm crazy," she said to herself, taking the mask off and cradling it to herself gently. "That's the only way to describe that."

She stared at herself, wide-eyed. For a brief second there, she had looked... Wicked, alive, glowing. Her brows drew together as he glance moved to the lioness mask.

I can't wait to party, she thought absently, putting her precious antique away.

Honking sounded outside. A grin spread across her lips as she did one last make up check before running out. Excitement and danger buzzed through her.

Blaze and Conrad were waiting for her. She slid into the backseat, smiling at them. "You guys ready for a wild night?"

Blaze matched her grin. "You know I'm always down."

Next Up: Hailley really does have one wild night...