Three weeks passed with little ceremony, until Dominic formally invited me to the Masquerade Ball. Of course, I knew he would ask me sometime or other, but, nevertheless, I was ecstatic. There was one minor problem. I needed two things: A dress and a mask. I persuaded Dominic to help me shop, and he brought me to a very expensive boutique a short ride from the theatre. He told me to pick anything I thought would please me, and he would pay for it. I tried to tell him not to, but he insisted. In the end, I couldn't decide what to masquerade as. I took my problem to Dominic, who had been waiting patiently at the front of the store, making small talk to the cashier. He smiled at my question, and whispered something to the nearest attendant. She smiled, and lead me to the back of the boutique, where she unveiled a gorgeous onyx dress. The fabric was a stunning, dangerous black, dancing with seductive red swirls. Around the chest area, the cleavage line was just the right mixture of flattery and secrecy. I fell in love with it at once, and gave Dominic a grin full of excitement. He smiled back, and paid the woman up front for the gown. I couldn't stop writing all of my thanks to him as he led me to our next stop.

The small shop we entered was overflowing with the most magical things in the world: Masks. Black masks, blue masks, yellow, green, striped, sparkled! An amalgam or shapes and sizes in every color and pattern known to exist. Ever since I was a child, masks had always been magical to me. I saw them as escapes, and gave their wearer to become invisible and mysterious. Dominic told me to find whatever suited my fancy, and so I did. He laughed at the silly faces I made while I tired on some very extravagant and outrageous masks. But on, shoved into the very back corner, caught my eyes. I waved to Damian, and pointed up at the shelf the mask resided on. He pulled it down, and I grinned with pleasure. It was a soft, velvet fabric mask, black as a moonless night, adorned with a single red satin teardrop stitched underneath the right eye. I tore my eyes from the simple facial adornment, and smiled up at my friend. To my surprise, his face was grim, but then he caught my eye. His grimmace turned into a forced smile, and he said, "Forgive me, Rhyder, but for a moment that mask reminded me of a...rather bad experience at another masquerade ball."

I was intrigued, but made no mention of inquiry. We purchased the mask, and went home to prepare for tomorrow's ball. Dominic left me to my self, to make any adjustments to my costume. He told me he needed to find something to flatter me as well. When he left, I caught myself smiling after him like a a buffoon. I sigh contentedly, and go to hang my dress up. As I enter my closet, a sinister voice whispered into my ears.

"Oh, what a lovely gown...my favorite color, too. And a domino mask? How...enchanting."

Imagine my surprise to hear a grown man's voice coming from inside my closet! I burst from I and slammed the door behind me. I stood, gaping at my tiny closet, and half expecting for someone to come out and...and...

But nothing came following after me. This opera house is truly a mad house. I thought, inspecting the closet yet again. I kept watch for a few more hours, before finally dropping into sleep.

The next twelve hours flew by. Dominic requested me to stay in my room, so I would not hinder in the final preparations of the night's ball. I chanced upon a pair of scissors. With time to spare, I tamed the wild tangles of my hair and cropped it up to the base of my neck.I pulled long, red gloves to hide my scars, and braided my neatly combed hair before slipping on my dress.

I did look rather...apealing. I sashayed over to the mirror, and gave myself a good look-over. Hair neatly in place, scars fully concealed, and no one would be any wiser about who I was. Finally, I added my pièce de résistance, my mask. I looked good. Very good.

Now all I had to do was wait.

Sure enough, within the hour, Dominic came to call for me at my room. He-as usual-looked perfect. He had a dark red mask that covered most of his face and complimented my own, and a black and red costume that looked like something out of a gothic fairy tale. I smiled as he bowed to me and kissed my hand, but he didn't say a word. I was enraptured when he slipped and arm around my waist and pulled me close. Together, we made our way to the grand lobby, where the masquerade was to be held.

The place looked like a dream. Gold and white adorned every surface, and merry adults frolicked around like careless children. They were happy to have the house of art back in their beloved city. At first, Dominic and I watched from afar, and I could barely contain my pleasure of being here, with the man who saved my life. I looked up at him, and smiled. Something was different, though. His eyes were...colder. Shockingly so. But when he looked down at me, they flashed back to their usual sparkle, but behind that sparkle, the coldness lurked. He nodded towards the dance floor, took me by the hand and pulled me into the sea of others. There, he twirled and spun me all around the floor, with many strange looks from the other dancers. Some of their faces sported confusion. Others were frightened, and some looked downright jealous. It didn't matter to me. I was dancing with the man who made me the most happy.

Wait. What?

Did I love him? At that point, I didn't really know, but something was brewing in my heart that night. Something I'd never felt before, not even with Damien. Another dance ended, I curtsied, and made my way to the refreshments. I picked out a glass of wine, and watched the crowd while I sipped my drink. I couldn't find Dominic anywhere in the sea of masks. the clock chimed midnight, and I wanted to find him to do the traditional unveiling of our dance partners. suddenly, I spotted him across the way, trying to...hide? Why was he hiding. I crossed to himand on the final stroke of twelve, I reached up to take off his mask along with everyone else and their partners. My fingers slid behind the crease of the mask , but his hand flew up, and crushed my wrist before I could react. My face contorted in a silent scream of pain, and I glanced into his eyes for an explanation.

"Remove the mask only if you wish to die, Mademoiselle."

The look of pain plastered onto my face was replaced with a look of horror.

This was not Dominic.

This was the voice which haunted my closet.

This was the voice that chased me down darkened halls.

And I was at his mercy.