Chapter 2

"Are you kidding me?" I anxiously looked for my grandfather who disappear after we arrived at the venue. I grip the masquerade mask Silas gave me. The reason why Silas gave me the mask was because it is a masquerade theme. Im completely ready to turn my back and go home. What's Silas even thinking? Is he out of his mind?

I never expected that Silas planned my debut this extravagant as if he were the one who was celebrating his birthday. Silas keeps avoiding me since we arrived. He told me about how he planned my birthday since last year. He knew that I'll be mad, but he still insisted and didn't let me know about it.

"This is once in a lifetime," He pointed out "If something happened and tries to ruin your party, I'll kill them all for you," Silas bragged, he doesn't care about the visitors, he only cares about the party he prepared and the money he spends.

"Don't kid me, Silas, before anyone tries to shoot me you're already drunk."

"Oh here, I know you don't trust the food and drinks around here so a brought one. Don't worry it has no poison," Silas handed me a drink. I nodded and grabbed the wine glass from him.

"Thanks."

"I'll look for grandfather, don't worry, I won't drink.." Silas said, he wear his masquerade mask and disappeared.

__

I bit my lips, instinctively scanning the crowd. Silas who told me that won't drink is already drunk, I want to kick his ass to wake him up. He can easily get drunk because of his low tolerance for alcohol.

All around me was music and laughter and joyful noises which struck me as ironic that I would be standing in the middle of the ballroom-- waiting for someone to dance me.

I look at the glasses I'm holding since Silas handed me the drink. I elegantly sipped while looking at Silas. The sensation rush through my mouth. I'm hungry and thirsty, Silas is kinda a lifesaver.

I was in the last drop of my drink when I sense someone standing beside me. Shock and fear envelop my chest when someone reaches his hand to me-- asking for a dance. My fist tightened around the bouquet of red roses I'm holding and the empty wine glass that almost shattered. I'm not shocked because of the way he just popped beside me, but because of the uneasiness I felt and the fear that aroused inside of me. It's instinct.

I look at his hand before paying him my attention, my forehead knotted when I notice the peek of a familiar tattoo-- and that's hit me. I remembered the image I once saw when I was sixteen for my mission but ended up failing.

It was...Lily

"Can I have this dance, my lady?" A handsome voice caught my attention that stop me from staring at his tattoo. I put down the wine glass when a waiter pass and throw him my gaze.

The man is wearing a pair of pants, white long sleeve polo, and a black mask, engraved with black expensive stones-- different from the formal wearing of men who are wearing a tux.

My instinct told me to decline and turn around-- his aura's off and that tells me that there's something wrong about him, but at the same time, it's telling me to grab his hand and let him.

I scan his face. The mask is a hindrance so I can't tell who is it, but he has a perfectly sculpted jaw and his lip is kissable and naturally red-- that's what I noticed.

My gaze averted to his eyes-- dark and scary. My mind is telling me that there's something that isn't right, especially after I look at his eyes. When I let my guard off, that was when I feel his arms encircling my waist

"What are you doing?" I silently asked him. The man started to dance with me. I play along, we dance along with the harmony of the sweet and mellow music coming from the violinist performing, invading the whole place.

"Having a great time with the most beautiful woman at the party," He whispered, more likely complementing and mocking me at the same time.

"Thank you," I answered and plastered a fake smile.

"So you agree that you're beautiful?" My smile vanished.

"Yes, who wouldn't," I smirked. Being two-faced means you need to make one of them pretty.

He leaned and buried his face in my neck. My eyes widen and gripped his shoulder and chuckled, "What the fuck are you doing?" I asked, almost threatening him. Instead, to back off he just sexily chuckled. I was caught off guard for a moment, I gaze at him while replying to his soft laugh inside my head.

Oh, fuck! Lily! wake up!

"You smell good," The man murmured. I become a statue when I felt his tongue and lips licking my neck, no one did this to me-- and I can't even move to protest!

"Stop--" I pushed him away when I felt him trying to bite me. After pushing him, the satisfied and smirking face of the man welcome me.

"Are you going to put me in handcuffs? should you punish me to the full extent of the law?" He prowled closer with, an intense gaze.

"Do you want me to?"

"Gladly."

We didn't quite get it perfect first impression. I was anticipating to response.

"Why did you do that?" I calmly asked but inside I already raging with unknown mixed emotions.

"My lady, licking your neck is not the only thing I can do, I can also lick your--" He stop and take a peek behind her, "Scary" he whispered and chuckled.

"But I don't mind," he said and look at me, "what do you think of marrying me?" he asked.

"W-what?" I stuttered.

"You're blushing," he chuckled, again!

"Shut up and just answer my question seriously," I commanded, trying to be cold, but he ignore my words instead, he grin at me.

"I don't mind, bossing by my future wife."

"C-can you stop?"

"Uh no? but..?" He paused, "Darling, let me tell you a secret," he leaned closer, "Someone wants you dead."

"What are you saying?"

"Shh, my lady..." The man hold my shoulder and tiny waist and averted my body to Silas's direction, my body just moving without my permission.

"What are you doing?"

"The show will start soon," he whispered.

My body can't move. My chest started pounding fast, fear envelope inside while looking at Silas who was already drunk, my body feels numb and ready to fall then I remembered the drink Silas gave me, but why?

"You know Darling, Some bastard asks me to do this..." The man behind me started, "and I want you to play along," his voice is dangerous and threatening.

"Shut up, are you scared that I can kill you that's why you put drugs on my drinks?" I said, trying to fight from his arms embracing me.

"Don't be mad at me, this isn't my idea."

"M-my head--" I shut my eyes when I feel something hammering inside my head. My legs become weaker, the man locked me in his arms to prevent my legs from folding underneath myself..

"I apologize about the drink," he calmly said and pointed to my brother, "It's really my idea," I slowly open my eyes and open my mouth to speak, "and he agreed."

"D-don't kidding me."

Not even a single person suspected what was happening. I can't fight nor move, my strength got drained instantly.

"Silas!" I tried to shout, but even my voice is weak that it can't reach him.

"This won't last"

"Silas and you should die tonight," My eyes widen when I saw a red dot on Silas's chest. I want to scream, but my voice is too weak to let it out.

"P-please n-no," I said, pleading to the man behind me.

My mind went blank, my face paled as I saw the red dot on everyone's chest, no one did even notice except the two of us who's standing in the middle..

I try to get out of his grasp and run towards Silas, but I can't do anything. I was like a withered flower that lost its strength. I can't even get off from his arms.

"Watch carefully Darling," he whispered to me, I want to close my eyes, but my body didn't listen to me

A long silence invaded between the two of us until he spoke, "bang," and chuckled.

The next thing I knew, blood flowed out of Silas' chest. The people start to panic and run in different directions, and gunshots and bombs start to dominate the whole place.

I watch my brother's body fall on the floor while my grandfather tries to protect him. The horror is visible in my eyes, like a doll without emotion and can't move.

"S-silas," I called, 'no, it can't be, Silas is still alive, he's strong! one bullet can't kill him,' I keep whispering to convince myself.

My tears fall, "Let me go!" I scream with the remaining strength I had. He looks at me. Shock and confusion drew on his face.

"P-please... " I pleaded.

"I can't, even if I want to, I can't just abandon the plan because you started crying."

"What are you talking about! what plan?!" I exclaimed while trying to get off from his arms.

"You'll know it, but not now," The voice from him sounds nightmare that keeps whispering to my ears, " I feel bad shooting your brother two times, three bullets is more satisfying, but whatever."

My head start to hammer inside and fire instantly grew in the whole place. I can't do anything, but watch everyone get eaten by the fire.

"Fuck you."

"I'm sorry," he softly said, his voice has a trace of sadness and worries, but I'm in pain to notice his words, the next thing I knew is getting myself eaten by darkness.

"I'll look for you, I promise..." it's the last word I muttered until I lost my consciousness.

"Darling, You'll thank me for this."