After what only seemed like seconds, but had to be several minutes, the love-birds separated their beaks and stared at each other wide eyed for a moment, shocked being the understatement of the century. Marietta could feel her heart pounding in her ears, which was almost impossible considering she was dead, but breathing made her feel better, and dead or not, shaking happened. She wondered if everyone's first kiss was like that, "Wow," She whispered, studying his face. From the look on his face, it clearly wasn't.

Alec was trying to keep the guard, the Volturi guard, but on the inside he was like a Popsicle in Arizona. He let his arms relax a little around her waist. "Wow?"

Her face was actually turning red as she tried to not meet his eye. He tilted her face up so she had to, "You're ACTUALLY blushing? I didn't know that was even possible. So am I just a good kisser?" He teased. She shivered at the word, it being so foreign to her. She'd focused so much on school and theatre, boys and romance were the last things on her mind.

"I…uhm"

"Wait, you can't tell me that a pretty girl like you had never been kissed before?"

"Well, I-" She grinned, "Ok! I've been…busy."

"Well, are you too busy-"

"Marietta!" Someone called from inside.

"Holy crap! If one of my family members catches me with you we're BOTH dead!"

He cackled, "Alright, alright, I'll get you back." He grabbed her hand and they rushed back up the stairs.

"Wait! If I'm going back to Forks…when am I gonna see you again?" She stopped, dead pan serious, "And I can say this because I know you want to see me again, you don't want to let me go now."

"Do you have your num-"

She pulled a card from the top of her corset and thrust it at him, "Here, phone, address, everything."

"Will you write to me?"

She teared up, trying to calm herself in order to not appear too over dramatic. Truth was, as cynical as she was, she was a hopeless romantic and a sucker for passion, "Everyday,"

"No no, Marietta please, don't, don't cry." He took hold of her face.

She sniffed, trying to shake him off, "I'm just," sniff, "Over-reacting, that's all."

"No, you're not. But…I promise…we will write, and we will talk, and I'll be on a play to Washington as soon as I get the chance." He wiped the single tear with his thumb.

"Marietta!"

She dabbed her eyes, "I gotta…I'm sorry."

"I understand," He stepped back and gave a little bow and a peck on her hand.

The music was fading, people were leaving, and the sparkle the castle had seemed to be twinkling away like the clock struck midnight. This magical fantasy night was dying a painful death. But prince charming couldn't let her get away that easily. The hand he still had he pulled, slamming her into him again for the second time this evening, but rather than meeting eyes, their mouths met again for a moment. They pulled back, she handed him her mask and took his out of his other hand. He gently pressed his lips against her forehead, "Until next time."" He whispered.

As much as it killed her, she turned from him and sprinted as best she could in heels towards the door. "There you are! Where have YOU been all night?" Jasper asked patting her back.

"Just enjoying myself." She spat as the door was opened for her and she climbed inside.

"Marietta? Are you okay? You look-"

"I'm fine!" She cut Alice off, "Just sad to leave that party." In all honesty, she felt as if she was walking away from her dreams, the masquerade, the music, the mystery man. She just wanted to run back up onto the stage, yell encore and rip open the curtains again as the opening bars of the title track would play. That was impossible however, because they only had a few hours before their plane took off. She tried to shut out her thoughts, squeezing herself against the door in the corner, just long enough for the lights to go out in the back so nobody would see her tears. Maybe she was just giddy about having that physical contact with someone, but was subconsciously playing it up to be more than that. She couldn't describe what exactly she felt; she'd never been in love before and calling it love made her feel like a heartbroken child. Yet, she couldn't stop picturing his face in her mind. Her lips still tingled remembering the sensation of being pushed against his, she could almost taste him still, and that pushed her over the edge just as the lights faded and the cobblestone rumbled. Seeing the castle from the mirror felt like a dagger plunged into her. She was surrounded by the closest thing she'd ever had to family, felt more alone than ever, leaving her heart behind. Pressing the mask against her heart, as if to protect it from the daggers of reality, she whispered a part vow, part plea, cried silently in the dark.

Back at the Volterra, Alec didn't have the heart to be a 'good host' and show the rests of the guests out. Instead, he ripped off the tie and made his way to his chambers. When he got there, he slammed his door behind him and locked it. He knew Aro would come looking for him eventually, but he probably had a few hours of his own. Moping in his room was the LAST thing he wanted to do. What he really wanted to do was highjack a car, speed after her, bring her back to the castle to stay, and make her his. But he would have settled for a good slaughter. Ripping through countless throats and bathing in the liquid red energy would be the only consoling he could want. What he did want was for Marietta not to be as crestfallen as he, much less use her gift to READ what he wanted, any of it. He didn't want to talk to Felix, Aro, OR Jane. Jane was the last person he wanted to see. Jane would've ruined his night with Marietta then tortured him about it for eternity. She typically wore the pants, but he was sick of that. He was a man. He was an individual…an individual in love. That opened his eyes, MARIETTA opened his now teary eyes. Jane would say it was a problem, blame her, maybe try to hurt her. If Jane so much as LOOKED at Marietta the wrong way, Alec wouldn't hesitate to end his own sister. After years of silent animosity, he might actually enjoy it. At least thinking about how much he disliked Jane distracted him from thinking about how much he LIKED Marietta. Like? He loved her. He thought that love was a joke, and that love at first sight was stupid and impossible, but that's what it was.

The only thing worse than being heartbroken, is being heartbroken and dumbfounded at the same time. Since he couldn't tear into civilians or maul his cruel sister, wallowing in his sorrow seemed like his only option. Accept it. That would make him more likely to stay in touch. Touch. He looked down into his hand and felt his heart crack a little more as he looked over the small purple mask. He ran his finger along the glittery trim, some of which ended up on his fingers. He wondered and held it up to his face; it was too small for him and just as delicate as HER. HIS HER. It even SMELLED like her. He leaned against the door and slid down until he was sitting at the base. Desensitizing was the first part of Volturi guard training, but she just shook him. That training would shake her. If he brought her back to join the guard, it would change her. She would be as bloodthirsty as he would, and that pure, twinkle in her eyes would disappear. She wouldn't be her anymore. Maybe it was better that she left. Knowing that he even thought such a thing cut him even deeper, so the first time in centuries, he cried.