This one was really hard to write. Sorry in advance because it will switch a lot between POVs but I left extra spaces for the switches... Hopefully it won't be too abrupt or anything. Anywho~ Enjoy!
The immense size of the ballroom never ceased to amaze Lavi; that the Manor was large enough to house such a hall was a wonder. The brightness of the hundreds of milling guests was dazzling; each one dressed in a stunning display of expensive fashion and elaborate designs. Gowns were donned in every colour of the rainbow, the skirts catching and reflecting blinding luminescence.
Looking over the crowd, Lavi could see how groups had formed quite easily and moved like an ocean current. The young women had come together in numerous friendship cliques watching and being watched by similar bands of men. Elsewhere old friends and relatives had gathered to discuss news and no doubt compare the styles of their peers, whether it be the ostentatious gems, jewellery or the flamboyant animal themed masks sported by some of the more impulsive party-comers.
The oval dance floor was the only bit of floor that promised reprieve from idle talk and gossip, though Lavi was reluctant to step in amongst the whirling lions that moved gracefully alongside tropical birds. Through the crowd she spotted Sheril and Tricia in matching black furs. Tricia leaned on his arm as they spoke animatedly to a messy haired gentleman.
"Who's that?" Lavi enquired.
Cross followed the direction she gestured, "Reever Wenham. A professor from the Antipodes, he's currently running a string of lectures on something or other."
Lavi's upper lip twitched. "That was a very helpful description."
Rather than invest any time in the stimulating conversation, Lavi turned back to the pageantry. It was clear that a high degree of care and attention to detail had been taken by the guests to outdo each other in expense and style. In her dark blue and flimsy mask Lavi began to feel quite plain.
"Look out," Cross nudged Lavi. "You've caught some attention." He pointed out a small group of ladies decked in pastel colours who were all whispering quite animatedly, not even making pretence of staring so blatantly at Lavi.
"Who are they?" She pressed her lips into a thin line turning away discretely to save face, more for the ogling watchers than for herself, though she could still feel the weight of their stares at her back.
"Nobodies." Completely disregarding Lavi's discomfort, Cross veered their course right through the gaggle. The young women immediately changed their demeanour to simper after the merchant. Cross basked in the spotlight. "But that one is married to Alistair Crawley, an Eastern European Count. The family usually keep themselves to themselves. She must have dragged him here."
One of the women, who stood taller than the others stepped forward boldly smiling up at Cross. She was dressed all in purple and fringed in black lace. Lavi rolled her eyes behind her mask; this one was the leader no doubt. There was always one in every group.
"What a surprise to see you here Cross. The talk is that you had forsaken attending anymore parties." The blonde woman had an astounding skill of flashing all her pearly white teeth at once as she spoke. "You have been missed."
"If I knew you had been waiting for me than I would have come to one of these things sooner." He kissed her hand and the plain women behind her sighed. "Perhaps we could catch up in private?"
With increasing difficulty Lavi kept a placid expression on her face. The hardest moment was when the woman snatched her hand back in refusal and Cross was positively gobsmacked. It was good to know that there were still some women left with their common sense intact.
"I'm sorry Cross," She smirked unapologetically, holding up her left hand to show off a rather large diamond. The woman behind her chattered excitedly.
"Eliade, I'm disappointed. I thought you were above that particular affliction of women..."
Lavi quickly grew bored of the conversation. Cross had not introduced her and the woman, Eliade had not asked her for her name so Lavi assumed it would not be rude to allow her attention to drift. Eliade had begun gushing about marriage and true love when Lavi gave up on the conversation. A gap had cleared through the thicket dancing bodies and one pair in particular caught her eye, a flash of black and gold whirled in the middle of the floor. Lavi found herself drawn to the edge of the crowd.
The pair moved elegantly, perfectly synchronised. Lavi was memorised by their fluid movements that had captured the gaze of the other guests. Many of the other dancers had left the floor to give them more room as they spun and twirled. The woman's long skirt caught the light and shimmered, flicking about her in mesmerising eddies and whorls. The bright gold of her gown shone on her, whereas they would have been garish on any other.
The pair moved so fast, Lavi could barely register their features beyond their clothes, though Lavi would have known the male anywhere regardless of the mask he wore. The woman she did not recognised. From the sighing of the crowd around her, the graceful flowing of her body and bright golden skirts Lavi knew who she was.
Lulubell.
"Aren't they lovely together? Although I don't know if the Earl would approve of this?" A lady in raven feathers said to her flamingo pink friend. The friend quickly shushed the raven speaker. Lavi looked away quickly, straining her ears to listen. "…why else do you think Mikk has not married yet? Who has a daughter to compare with our Lady Noah?"
Lavi's watched the dancers, her face burning and took deep breaths to steady her. It would have been if she did not herself think that that two made the perfect match. They swung close by Lavi's position on the edge of the floor. Gliding so effortlessly across the floor, Lavi could see Lulubell's lips form inaudible words and she saw how Tyki laughed and bent down low to whisper intimately into her ear.
A curious feeling that she could explain built up inside her that threatened to choke. The room was suddenly too warm, the air thick with cloying smokes and perfumes and the mask did little to help the situation. The girl turned on her heel to find Cross once more and drag somewhere it would be easier to breathe. Sorry as it was to think about, but he was her only anchor here tonight. Lavi dove through the crowd to find Cross and somewhere in the background she heard the hum of applause.
Had Lavi looked back she would have seen the black clad man falter as his eyes followed her of the floor.
"Tyki." Lulubell said sharply, "Watch your step and do not embarrass me."
Tyki bit back a retort and reluctantly did his duty to take Lulubell through the finishing steps of the dance, a turn, a twirl and a bow. It was over. Finally.
"Slow down, you'll look too eager. And when has Tyki Mikk ever looked over eager?" Lulubell commented as Tyki set a quick pace of the floor, careful to resist the desire to trace Lovely's footsteps.
"You did that on purpose? You were just waiting for Lovely to see us?" Tyki gritted his teeth, careful to maintain the charming smile. The dance was over but the show still ran on. The vultures were still watching. "What kind of game do you think you're playing?"
"What does it matter if she sees us? We were only dancing, what are you afraid of?" Lulubell cocked her head to the side, mildly curious. The expression melted smoothly into one of disdain, though Lulubell skilfully turned it in to pleasant surprise as she greeted an old acquaintance in passing. Tyki ignored the barb. That had to be Lovely who had watched him with Lulubell so intensely. The young woman's face was obscured by the mask, there was no mistaking the fiery hair that billowed behind her when she had turned and fled.
"We allow for your other indiscretions, Tyki. This one is too close to home."
Tyki nodded tersely at a middle aged man he did not recognise who had been surveying Lulubell from over his greying and plump wife. The man quickly turned away. Tyki knew that Lulubell was talking about his long absences with the miner crew. His response caught in his throat when he caught sight of red.
There was Lovely pulling Cross towards the door. Not too far away from them stood Sheril and Tricia, and any moment the pairs were about to collide.
There was a tug on his arm, bringing his attention back to the present. Tyki was struck by a pair of vivid green eyes. The owner of said eyes outstretched her hand.
"Lady Elizabeth, I presume." Tyki dipped to kiss her jewelled hand.
"Lord Mikk, I've heard so much about you. I'm honoured that you agreed to accompany me this evening," Plump red lips parted revealing a dazzling set of pearly teeth. "Your last night of bachelorhood one might say."
"I shall leave you two to get better acquainted." Lulubell exchanged places with the newcomer, bid them a good evening and departed. It worried Tyki that Lulubell was headed directly towards Lovely and Cross, the crowd parting for her easily as if she were Moses and they the Red Sea.
"Would you like to dance?"
"No." Frustrated, Tyki took the plunge and took off after Lulubell. "As you apparently already seem to know there will be quite an announcement later. It doesn't strike you as highly peculiar that we should be introduced on the night that I am to be put off limits?"
"Oh not at all, I'm perfectly aware what this is. I've paid for the evening." Elizabeth righted her peacock headdress as they had a more difficult time than Lulubell crossing the crowd. Tyki bitterly chewed the response. Paid for the evening? Did that make him no better than a bit tail, as the boys at the 'Innocence would call the working girls. He pushed the thought aside and scanned the room to find Lovely once more.
Getting across the room proved hard work as just about everybody seemed to want to stop and talk to Tyki. Present at two balls in a row, certainly not the Lord Mikk they all knew. And who was this lovely woman accompanying him? Tyki brushed off all the questions much to the chagrin of Lady Elizabeth and sped his way to Lovely.
The red haired pair had come into view again, but at the last minute the path straight path was blocked by a squat balding little man, who as it turned out was Lady Elizabeth's uncle, a mogul in the railway industry; Arthur Holden. A man with far too much to speak and very little to say, Tyki mentally noted.
"Young master Mikk," Mr Holden patted at his gleaming crown with a handkerchief as he spoke. "How delightful to see you looking after my niece so well. My sister would be proud to see this, rest her soul."
"Thank you, uncle. And how are you?" Elizabeth said. She pushed Tyki into greater prominence.
"Yes very good. I wanted to have a word with you brother, all this shipping and flipping. I have a proposal for him." Tyki was only half listening, the other half was watching Lovely. Cross had just given her a glass of something, and now she was smiling at him. Why was she smiling? She said she could not stand the man. But here she was holding on to his arm leading him to the door. "…Rail is the way to go. Once you land your cargo, how do you think you're going get your goods the rest of the way?"
Mentally cursing the group that had gathered and obscured his view, Tyki turned back to the little man, slightly confused. Holden on the other hand seemed incredibly proud of whatever conclusion he had just drawn. "What are you talking about?"
"Rail my boy. Weren't you listening? I should probably talk to Sheril." He said beginning to turn a shade of red.
"No, I don't think he would be much bothered either." Lovely and Cross were moving again and he could not see the Kamelots or Lulubell. "Lady Elizabeth, keep your uncle entertained for a moment." Tyki left the outraged mogul behind.
"Thank you for the water Cross, but it's still too hot in here. I need to get outside for a while. You should go find a table and just drink like you planned." Lavi was still feeling unsteady on her feet. The temperature in the room was reaching unbearable highs and she was not used to wearing such high shoes for so long. The pain in her ankles and pinched toes were getting louder and louder. To his credit, Cross kept up with her and did not abandon her on her flight to the exit.
She was not ready to change her opinion of the man, but she might decide to be a little nicer. Maybe.
"How could I leave a woman all alone in this place." He took a glance around and winked at her, "Who knows what kind of scoundrel would like to take advantage."
Lavi could not control it, she genuinely laughed. "Somehow, I think you are the only scoundrel here who has that on his mind."
Cross laughed deeply, "All I have to do now is wait for you to forget about Mikk for a little while."
Lavi narrowed her eyes at him.
"You should consider it," Cross said as he pitched himself. "Mikk is busy with Lulubell, a mighty fine woman if you ask me. I'm just saying I'm here and even though you don't look as good as your mother, you do alright."
Lavi took a moment to process Cross' words. There was a compliment and a number of insults buried in all that. "I'm flattered." She said coldly.
"Well why not?"
"Let me see?" Lavi hummed and screwed up her forehead, "You look at woman like dog looks at meat. You told Tyki I was Bookman the very first time I saw you. And let's not forget you tried to humiliate me in front of a tavern full of people."
"Let bygones be bygones woman." Cross shrugged. "What are looking so thoughtful about?"
"You said would tell me about why I'm here. That day with the poker game, you said if I won, you would tell me."
"But you didn't win."
"No, but it was a cruel game." Lavi was surprised she did not feel angry now as she did then. "You knew very well what was under the patch, but you still made me take it off."
Cross shrugged. "And you had it covered anyway. So no one saw anything."
"Tyki did." Lavi looked up at Cross, her expression inscrutable under the mask. "You did it on purpose. Are you trying to expose me?"
Whatever Cross' reasons were, it was not to be answered now. While Lavi had been considering her thoughts, Cross had steered her right up to Sheril, Tricia and the golden woman, Lulubell.
Cross immediately began fawning over Lulubell. Sheril glowered and Tricia stepped up beside Lavi and squeezed her arm.
"You look beautiful Lovely," Tricia said warmly. "Are you enjoying the ball?"
"Yes very much thank you, ma'am." Lavi said, avoiding looking at Sheril and Lulubell. Both of whom were watching her like hawks.
"I don't believe we have had the pleasure of being acquainted." Lulubell moved towards, almost glided across the distance. How did she make walking in those shoes look so easy? "Lovely is it? You can call me Lulubell."
Sheril cleared his throat, also getting closer to Lavi. She was surrounded by yellow eyed predators. "This is Lovely, a ward of the state in my care. Lovely this is Lady Lulubell, the voice of the Millennium Earl."
"Please Sheril, just Lulubell. Lady 'So and So' ages me. Do you have no family name? Or is it simply Lovely?" Lulubell spoke slowly, as if she were trying to communicate to a dullard. Lavi frowned back at her.
"I'm sure there is one on paper." Lavi felt an instant dislike for this woman. She had an aura Lavi did not feel comfortable with. Lulubell was too perfect, inhuman in her flawlessness. "I have no family left to me and when the time comes I will take my husband's name. Lovely is enough."
"Yes it is." Lulubell studied Lavi for a moment longer. She was about to ask another question but was cut across by another.
"Who do you suppose will be the lucky man to give you his name? It's a pity Mikk will be unavailable soon." Hand in his pocket, Tyki stood beside Cross, his burnished silver gladiator mask hung loosely from his other hand. Another set of bright yellow eyes on Lavi.
Lulubell lifted an elegantly thin eyebrow. She caught Lavi's eye and pointedly put her arm through Tyki's to lean on him. Tyki pulled a face but otherwise ignored the woman. "And please don't say Marian, I'm not sure how I feel about this old goat getting the prettiest girl in the room."
Lavi's face warmed at the compliment, she had to look at her feet to hide the blush spreading across her face. And also so she would not have to look at Lulubell hanging off Tyki any longer. "Cross has been an excellent companion so far this evening." She managed in a quiet voice.
"Think again little brother, I've already got her." Sheril cut in loudly and slipped in between Tricia and Lavi putting his arm around Tricia's waist and kissed her hand. Everyone chuckled, though Lavi saw the tense competitive look that passed between the brothers. There was a warning in Sheril's words and it was not very well hidden.
"Tyki, where is Lady Elizabeth." Lulubell inquired a razor edge to her tone. "Was she not to your liking?"
"She has pretty eyes, but that's about it. Leave me with more interesting women next time Lulu." Tyki shrugged. Lavi ground her teeth at the shortened nickname. "I left her with her Uncle Holden. It looked like they had a lot of catching up to do."
"Elizabeth Holden?" Cross looked impressed. "I may have to look her up."
"Yes it would be helpful if you were to find her." Lulubell gave Tyki a black glare, which he missed because he was staring intently at Lavi who was also doing her best to ignore him. Lulubell's face split into a pearly smile, cat like as she rounded on Lavi. "I would hate if I were to leave my first meeting with you Lovely and not know if your face matched your name. Would you mind taking off your mask?"
"I'd rather not." Lavi shrank back. A trouble shadow flickered across Tyki's face. "It's a masquerade ball, isn't half the fun in wearing the mask?"
"And the other half is in the unmasking." With nowhere else to go, Lavi took a step closer to Sheril. Most of those present now knew of Lavi's dilemma and only Sheril was aware that the make-up beneath the mask was not enough of a cover-up. She hated having to hide behind him, but what other option did she have? Tricia was on Sheril's other side. Cross knew her dilemma and although he was her escort tonight, he was also too far.
Tyki was out of the question.
"Lulu, you're scaring the little fox. She can be quite delicate." Sheril smiled indulgently. He cocked his head towards the oval piece of floor. "Lovely, shall we?" Tyki's jaw tightened, Lavi feeling guilty tried her hardest to send him a mental apology, stopping short when she recalled him skating across the dance floor with Lulu.
"Lovely why don't you walk with me a while." An instruction, not a request. Lulubell waved a hand towards the door. "We could be quite good friends I'm sure."
Lavi cast about for a rescue. Sheril had frozen with her hand in his, his mouth a tight line. Clearly he could not refuse a demand from Lulubell. Tyki fidgeted as if he were about to make a move. Unexpectedly it was Cross who jumped to her rescue, "You people talk too much. I want to dance."
Without another word Cross dragged Lavi into the throng and onto the dance floor. Lavi felt like a doll in his arms, unsure of the steps and stumbling along to match his pace. Cross was no better at being a dance mentor than he was at being an attentive escort, leaving Lavi to piece the routine together by watching the other dancing pairs around them. Lavi had a good eye and managed to pick up the steps quickly.
"Thank you." She mumbled under her breath. Cross merely grunted in response, clearly uninterested in her gratitude. It was no surprise to Lavi to see that Cross was already scanning the ball for a worthy piece of skirt. "Have you given up on me already?"
The music changed tempo, faster now and turned into a livelier tune, a polka perhaps. Cross pulled Lavi close at the waist, "I move on fast."
"I can see." Lavi laughed as she followed his gaze to his next unfortunate victim who looked all too happy to play the part. Suddenly Cross sent her spinning to another partner, a bright haired and bright eyed young man.
The man boy smiled at her sheepishly and being more useful than Cross guided her through the correct steps until the next change of partners. The twirling and spinning was beginning to get to Lavi and she prayed for the song to end. The music was too fast, the crowd too thick and partners too keen for Lavi to even consider leaving the floor herself. Etiquette dictated she could not exit the dance floor unless escorted at any rate.
By the third change of partners Lavi was caught in a pair of sturdy arms and she decided that she was ready to make her excuses. "Sir, all this swapping and changing has giving me quite the turn. May I rest a moment?"
Her partner was a man in a silver gladiator mask with a pair of sensuous lips she was already well acquainted with. The colour drained from her face, her legs felt too heavy to move, Tyki was forced to tighten his arm around her to keep her from staying rooted to the spot.
"Don't go just yet. You have no idea how hard it was to fight the other hopefuls who want to be your partner, and you did promise me a dance." Golden eyes winked her. "The next one is a waltz."
"What about Lady Elizabeth and her pretty eyes?" Lavi said sullenly.
"Compared to your eyes, hers look like a swamp." Tyki snorted. "No class."
"Funny, I thought I was low class stranger at the ball." Lavi anxiously studied the silk of Tyki's shirt. She looked up worried. "I don't even know how to do this dance."
The song ended and the orchestra began to play the elegant string tones of the waltz. Tyki moulded Lavi into the right starting position, placing her hand over his shoulder and lightly held her side. Standing this way with joined hands and staring into his eyes, Lavi felt that curious feeling return, fluttering now in a pleasant way. It was still a wonder to her that she was able to breathe.
"Just follow me." Tyki squeezed her hand encouragingly. His other hand travelled to the small of her back, where it rested warmly.
"Careful, Lulubell might see that and get jealous." Lavi looked up at him from under her eyelashes, testing his response. To her delight he looked disgusted at the mention of her name.
"Don't talk about that woman to me." He sneered. "She's done nothing but ruin my evening. Lulubell is my cousin and I love her but damn her for doing her best to keep me away from you."
"Cousin? I thought she was…"Lavi felt her spirits become lighter and her face become a little warmer. Her thoughts must have shown as Tyki laughed quietly at her, his breath warm on her bare shoulder and making her blush deeper.
"What did you think she was to me? A lover?" He purred.
"Well I wouldn't be surprised, half of these women are all giving you the eye." Lavi fumed.
"Time to twirl. Smile and look pretty." Tyki spun her on the spot, her skirts flying. "And you're one to talk. What kind of show were you putting on with Cross? That man has eyes on one thing only."
"And what would that be?" Lavi curled her lip devilishly, a look that was mirrored on Tyki.
"I could teach you all about it later."
Lavi could not control the burst of laughter. "I'll look forward to it."
The orchestra finished the song and with only the shortest interval started the next. Lavi remained Tyki's partner for this song and the next. His hands never once left her, a constant reassurance that he would catch her. A promise he kept with every stumble, flawlessly putting her right without a hitch that it could have been taken for part of the routine. There was unreal quality to it all, as if they two were in a bubble, separate from the party.
Bending low, Tyki brushed his lips against Lavi's ear, "Do you want me to take you away from here? We could leave right now."
Lavi looked up at him, puzzled by the request. Why would she want to leave? Not when she was finally close to the one she wanted. Not when the idea of dancing all night no longer seemed a bad idea.
Because it would all be over soon. Any minute now Sheril would call for attention, to make an announcement. Soon everyone would be ambushing Tyki, pumping him with questions, congratulations and condolences.
A dizziness that had nothing to do with dancing was creeping up on her again. The touches that had been so reassuring a moment ago did nothing to ease the pressure, rather adding to the heat of the sorry situation. How on earth was one supposed to think straight like this?
The song was ending and the pairs had stopped dancing, gently applauding each other and the orchestra. Tyki watched her expectantly; maybe even slightly disappointed.
Lavi bit her lip.
The crystal chiming of a glass being tapped filled the ball, silencing the guests. A circle had cleared around Sheril, who was gesturing for Tyki to join him.
Tyki's face, what little Lavi could of it, had turned sour momentarily. Carefully resetting his face Tyki walked over making sure to take Lavi with him. All eyes were on them, hushed whispers followed them. The kind of whispers that Tyki was accustomed to and Lavi had been learning to acclimatise herself too. The upper tier of society was always whispering to each other, no better than fish wives.
"Who is she? She was here at Lord Mikk's homecoming too…"
"Did he bring her back?"
"My cook knows the kitchen girls here… Say there's something not right about her."
Tyki glared the whisperer into silence. Lavi gently applied pressure on his arm to keep him walking. He flashed the woman a disarming smile and moved on.
Sheril put himself between Lavi and Tyki, clapping an arm over his brother's shoulder.
"Friends, thank you all for coming out tonight in spite of this horrible deluge. With any luck it will clear and I'll be rid of the lot of you before midnight." He paused for the ripple of laughter in the hall. "Some of you have been wondering why I've gathered you all here. Tonight marks the end of an era for my little brother."
The crowd perked their ears up, ready for the announcement, not that they needed an excuse to attend and extravagant party. Lavi scowled behind her mask, disgusted at the way Sheril basked in the attention, his chest puffed out proud. Tyki was awkward, yet fashionably so under Sheril's over enthusiastic introduction.
"You see my friends; Tyki is soon to join the ranks of the happily married." The hush broke and immediately ceased when Sheril started speaking again. "At this very minute Lenalee Lee, a samurai princess from Japan is braving the seas to tame our Tyki." The crowd laughed appreciatively. "We all know Japan has been a nation closely guarded and secretive, but even they open the door when the Earl comes calling."
Tyki grew uncomfortable under the weight of the stares of more than a hundred pairs of eyes; he played with his mask and in the end took it off to run his hand through his hair. He seemed boyish in his awkwardness as he grinned bashfully at the crowd and rubbing his temple. Lavi to the other side of Tricia, as far as she could politely be from the brothers.
"Speech! Speech!" The crowd chanted.
Tyki raised his hands in submission, and cleared his throat loudly.
"Firstly, I'd like to apologise to all the beautiful women here. I would have liked more time to love you all." The women tittered. Lavi felt her face grow hot. The air really was stifling in here. "Secondly, there is no secondly. My dance card is empty for the rest of the night. Who's next?"
The crowd roared with laughter and immediately Tyki was swarmed by eager butterflies.
Lavi was staring hard ahead, in the periphery Lulubell was lurking studying her expression. The room took on a blur around the edges and Lavi did not even register the voice of Tricia until the woman shook her lightly. "Sweetheart, are you alright?"
"Mm." Lavi nodded. "I need some air I think."
"I think that would be best. Would you like me to walk you?"
"Why did you send him to me, my lady?" Lavi heard herself say. She could not stop it was as if her voice was coming from somewhere else, somewhere far away. "Did you do it to punish me?"
"No, never to punish." Tricia looked tired.
"Then why?" Her throat felt like it was closing up, with difficulty Lavi swallowed back the lump in her throat and the tears the threatened to come along with it.
"He would have come to you anyway. I was foolish for thinking there could be another way." Tricia put an arm on Lavi. "Go for that walk dear. Cool your head, maybe you consider retiring for the night now."
Lavi pushed passed through the horde, heads and shoulders swimming in her vision. The mask was too much, desperately she wished for the time masks would no longer be needed.
"Lord Mikk, it's so good to see you again."
Tyki's attention was drawn back by the squeak of a petite woman with curls of amber. He had been following Lovely's course through the hall and out into the corridor. Tyki looked at woman puzzled. "Have we met before?"
"When you arrived at the Manor," The young hopeful blushed pink feeling more than little foolish. "We were dance partners most of the night."
"I don't think he remembers even half the girls he dances with, Evette," jibed a woman in a tiger print turban.
"My apologies," Tyki brought her hand to his lips. "Please forgive me I have a matter I need to tend to. If I am lucky enough to meet you again, reserve a dance for me Evette." He rolled her name out in the way he knew woman liked to hear it. As if it was a secret between only the two of them. Evette swooned; He had already forgotten the name as he yet again crossed the mass of guests across the hall.
If he could only catch up with her, he could try harder to convince her to leave with him. Forget about Earls and Samurai Princesses. But there were other questions he had to ask like why did she not answer him when he asked her to leave the party, and why did she not seem surprised that Lulubell was deliberately coming between them?
More importantly Tyki had another question. Like a twisted version of Rumpelstiltskin, Tyki was ready to guess her name, and hoping to be wrong.
"Tyki!" If it had not been for the hand that grabbed a hold of his elbow, Tyki would have ploughed on through the crowd and ignored the demanding voice. He turned around to find Lulubell standing there, her eyes aflame. "Where do you think you are going?"
Stubbornly ignoring the woman, Tyki set a brisk pace to the door. Lulubell struggled to catch up to him and simultaneously remain casually coiffed. Tyki pushed his way bodily through the crowd, not caring for the foul looks he received as he mowed a path to the exit. He had had his fill of apologies, niceties and all-round fake-ness for this evening.
Outside the air was cool and he needed to pause to allow his eyes to adjust to the dimmer lighting. It was quiet now, the rain having stopped and the only sound being the hum of the party. As he walked he cursed Sheril's penchant to keep the hallways barely lit during his parties. It adds to the fairy tale, when they enter and everything even the ordinary has an extraordinary glimmer, Sheril would say when questioned about the oddity. Tyki clicked his tongue loudly, the sound bouncing back to him from the walls.
A measured cadence of footsteps followed Tyki. It was funny how some people leaked their character into every fibre of their being. Even Lulubell's footsteps spoke of controlled elegance and restraint. Hell was about to be rained on him, that was another thing those footsteps spoke off.
The golden woman caught up with him easily now. She gripped his elbow tightly and forced him into the nearest window seat. "Well?" Lulubell said tersely, biting back the fury at the show of disobedience.
Tyki brushed the wrinkles out of his suit jacket with exaggerated motions and taking more time than he needed. "Careful Lulu that almost sounded like that pesky human emotion called anger."
Lulubell looked as if she was about to unleash a tirade, pausing only when a curious couple walked by slowly clearly trying to pick up on any sign of juicy gossip to feed back to other guests. Tyki waved jovially at them as they passed. When they were gone Tyki leaned back against the cool glass and pulled of his mask, quickly scanning the area for other stragglers. There was no one else beside a pair, partially hidden behind an alcove who had decided to continue the party in the hall way. He ignored them.
"Do you have any idea how pathetic you look? Chasing after your brother's prostitute."
"Don't call her that!" Tyki snarled.
"Is there another title you would give to one of her profession?" Lulubell examined her nails. "I want to know what is so special about this girl. Would you not be happy enough with any other until Lee arrives?"
"You mistake me for Sheril," Tyki said coldly. "You know Lulubell I would also like to know what is so special about this girl. She is absolutely not that, but Sheril keeps her under lock and key. And when has it ever been the Earl's concern who I choose to be with? Have I not already agreed to take part in this farce with the Japanese? This one freedom is what I am owed."
Tyki was on his feet, barely an inch between him and Lulubell. He took deep steadying breaths though his nostrils flared like an enraged bull.
In the dark corridor, Lulubell crossed her arms and observed him as coolly as a school mistress may observe and unruly child as she chewed over which punishment would serve him best. The shades of grey and black around them swallowed the colour from her eyes, leaving them empty orbs inset in a grim pale face. "Do you think this is love?"
The question echoed in his ears. Tyki searched her face for any sign of mockery. As usual Lulubell's poker face was the best he had ever seen, he could not find even a trace of humour. Although he had once told Lovely he loved her and had been laughed at, he could imagine how much Lulubell would make him suffer for the sentiment. Something must have shown on his face because Lulubell let out a defeated sigh.
"Perhaps we should find out how she feels." Tyki narrowed his eyes, confused at the meaning of her words.
"Sheril," Lulubell called out. "Make yourself decent and come out here won't you."
From behind the wall came an annoyed grunt followed quickly by a startled gasp. Tyki watched wide-eyed and tight chested as Sheril emerged dragging a dishevelled and tear streaked Lovely behind him. When Lovely caught sight of Tyki she froze, the look on her face mirroring the horror he felt inside. Lovely would not look at him as she anxiously pulled up the straggling straps of her dress. Tyki swallowed the bile rising in his throat.
"What do you make of that? It's one thing knowing the reality of the situation, and quite another to see it." Lulubell mocked over his shoulder, standing behind him to ensure that his view was not blocked. "Don't you think so Tyki?"
"Be quiet." He shot at her limply.
Tyki's eyes flicked from one to the other, Sheril looked back sullenly refusing to let go of Lovely. There would most certainly be a mark there now, a stark red bruise. Tyki tightened his jaw at the thought and clenched his fists, not trusting himself to stop at only breaking the grip.
"Sheril, I'm going to need you to let go of the girl for this." Lulubell ordered the man and he relinquished his hold. Lovely rubbed her wrist gingerly and took a step away from Sheril.
Tyki rushed forward to be by her side, but froze, stricken when Lovely also moved away from him and inadvertently stepped into the dark light of the window. Two things happened in that moment.
First Tyki was crushed that Lovely had looked at him the same way she looked at Sheril. Was that disgust? The second thing that happened was that Tyki saw that Lovely no longer wore her masquerade mask.
In the silvery light of the moon, her lips were kiss bruised and swollen. Tears had made the kohl liner form black rivers down her cheeks and there around her eyes Tyki saw them.
Stark tracks of scar tissue, crisscrossing and livid from the redness about those green eyes he thought he knew.
Hope you liked!