A/N: I'm lazy…the chapter's short…
"My lords and ladies…the masquerade shall begin tonight!"
Prince Prospero declared to his guests at breakfast. The audience clapped and cheered.
Virginia sat at the other end of the table in silence.
"This masquerade will last forever and ever until the world is free of the Red Death! I, your prince, promise you that this party will be the strangest and most exciting party the world has ever known."
"You may know that there is a wing of the castle that is blocked off. Well, this afternoon, it shall be opened, revealing the pride of this castle. The Seven Rooms."
The guests started chattering amongst themselves. A masquerade? What fun! What sinful delights that can amaze the eye at a masquerade!
What sin could tempt and confuse righteous Virginia?
"Come my fellow nobles…come and see for yourself the rooms!" Prospero smiled and chuckled in his own mischievous way, slipping off the throne and leading the parade of nobles down the halls.
Virginia followed with her mother. Lady Dulcinia was still angry about her daughter refusing the great Prince Prospero. How indignant!
They went to the west wing tramping with their fine shoes.
There was a large dance hall, shrouded in black cloth so all was dark. There was a stand for an orchestra, and to the far end of the black covered room was a magnificent stairway.
Gilded, golden and red, it was beautiful and covered with ornate carvings. It was the only room that wasn't covered with black sheets. And the door was even more beautiful and ornate, golden and shining. There were fleur delis, gargoyles, cherubs, flowers, ivy and birds gilded and craved in the gold and bejeweled door. It was tall and large and black curtains shrouded the edges. It was truly a work of art.
The procession followed the prince through the small doorway that they were in and went across the ebony and gold dance floor. The sheets covered the walls and everything, hiding the true appearance of the large ballroom.
Prospero strode up the velvet red stairs with ease. The nobles were loathe putting their feet on such a red carpet, but it was the taste their prince provided and they wished to enter the rooms.
"You may come no farther. You will see the procession of the rooms after you are dressed in your proper attire. But know thus there are seven rooms, sevens room filled with wonder. You may dance in the rooms, be amazed by the menagerie of splendors particular to each throughout."
"This room is the main reception hall. It is covered with black to hide it's beauty till the masquerade. Through this door are the rooms, and at he farthest one, the Black Room, is the ticking clock. All must obey and stand still as it strikes the hours till the chiming ends. That is the only rule." He smiled as the guests applauded. All were excited for the ball! Weeks and weeks of revelry and wildness!
Virginia bowed her head and hoped that she could hide away.
"Once we are inside the west wing, the other wings of the castle shall be locked till the end of the masque. Here will be the endless lights and bells of humanity and this masquerade shall go down…as the night of life! We will survive! And now…now go, dress yourselves my friends, and come hither for the party of a lifetime!"
The guests ran! They cheered and screamed as they left the floor of the sun and moon and went to dress in their costumes. Virginia was the last to leave, heading through the door.
Prospero watched and strayed behind her. He was still angry about last night and watched her leave.
She will be mine…she will be my wife! In two day's time she will be married to me and no one can stop me! He smirked. I hope she will like her dress…it is befitting for a harbinger of death. Again he smiled hoping she would like the dress he placed in her room…
A/N: R&R!
Shoys.