Novel & Cerita Blissful Masquerade

I had made a point of pretending he wasn’t there, even when his presence felt impossible to ignore. What had that kiss been about, anyway? Why would he kiss me when he had already promised himself to someone else? Annoyance tightened in my chest, and I released a quiet breath through my nose. “Ah! That reminds me.” Jane brightened further. “Since it’s a masquerade, we’ll need proper masks too. We can’t ruin beautiful new clothes with those cheap things sold in ordinary shops.” Her enthusiasm brought a faint smile to my face, but I still wasn’t certain I wanted to attend.

She danced and mingled with ease, while I found solace at the bar, sipping on a drink and watching the partygoers from afar. As the night progressed, I found myself feeling more at ease with the party's anonymity. The masks allowed me to forget about my past and embrace the mystery and intrigue of the night. But that all changed when I saw him - a tall, dark stranger, dressed in a black suit and mask. He stared at me, making me feel uncomfortable. I quickly averted my gaze, pretending to be interested in my drink, but he approached me nonetheless. "Hey there, beautiful. May I have this dance?" he asked, his voice smooth and low.

"Although the money is decent, this is a masquerade performance. The clients prefer to be anonymous. I agreed right away without thinking. Friday night arrived fast, and before I knew it I was standing backstage at Eclipse, clad in a revealing costume and a black mask half my face. As I watched for my signal, my heart hammered in my chest. Soft, sensual lighting enveloped the stage as I left, the eyes of the patrons tracking every action. Trying to forget where I was and why I was doing this, I turned my attention to the music. The performance passed in a haze, my head disconnected from my body.

Inayos ko ang tassel earrings sa tenga ko. I put on the last thing I haven't applied yet to put color on my pale face. Ang may kaputlaan kong labi ay nabigyan kahit papaano ng kulay pagkatapos kong lagyan ng pulang lipstick ang labi. I sprayed ounce of perfume on my neck, collar bone, wrist and at the back of my ears. Vanilla scent played inside the four-cornered room as I swayed gracefully in front of the mirror. Huling pasada, nang makuntento sa itsura ay lumabas ako ng kuwarto.

He asked. "Yes yes sir." The recieved said with a shivering voice. "You know who is speaking right?" He asked again and the head of department replied with an overly excited and shivering yes. "Good, I need you to do something for me." He said and relayed a set of instructions to him before hanging up. "Now that's how you treat your wife well." He said as he unties the masquerade mask and placed it on the cabinet in the kitchen. As he did the dishes, Edward hummed to the song his favourite song and did a little saying around.

“Thinking is how people get themselves killed. Enjoy the Masquerade instead.” With that, he left. I held the fox mask to my chest, trying to steady my breathing. Burned farmland. A reward. Killian’s rage. And here I was, hiding in the woods with rogues, pretending I was building a new life. Pretending I wasn’t still tangled in the ashes of the old one. By the time night fell fully, the Masquerade had begun. Lanterns glowed like suspended stars, dancers spun in circles of swirling colors, drums beat in joyous rebellion, and laughter filled the air as if grief didn’t exist at all.

Beside it lay a mask—a plain, featureless white porcelain half-mask that covered the eyes and nose, devoid of glitter, feathers, or expression. "It looks like a shroud," Aria whispered, picking up the heavy velvet. "It’s a Domino," Cassandra corrected, applying a layer of gold shimmer to her collarbones. "Very Venetian. Very mysterious. And most importantly, it blends in with the drapes." She turned from the mirror, her eyes critical and cold. "Tonight is my twenty-ninth birthday, Aria. It is a Masquerade. The theme is 'Gilded Age Decadence.' I am the Queen. Damian is the King. And you..." She gestured vaguely at the gray heap. "You are the shadow."

Elowen POV. The leather sofa in VIP Room Three still held the warmth of the last client. I could feel it through the thin crimson silk barely covering my body as I adjusted my position, making sure every angle was perfect. The jeweled mask sat secure against my face, catching the low amber light, hiding everything that mattered while showing everything that didn't. My red hair fell in waves over my bare shoulders. No brown wig or oversized cardigan swallowing my curves tonight. Tonight, I was Nyx, and Nyx didn't hide.

I knew. I walked up to him, tugging my wallet from my coat. “Something wrong, sir?” I retrieved a check. Five digits, clean. I handed it over. “Get this to the masked dancer.” He whistled low at the amount. “Damn. Lux?” His lips curled into a grin. “She’s fire, ain’t she? Man, every guy in that room would sell their soul to get a taste. She’s so fucking unreal.” I didn’t respond.

A handwritten note was tucked inside, Reggie’s script again. A chance to dress up. Escape. Be whoever we want for one night. Dominic’s one of my oldest business partners. He is discreet and understands privacy. I thought… maybe we could go together. You and me. Cassie looked up at him, pulse kicking. “A masquerade?” He nodded. “It is a safe high-society. The masks mean no names, no faces unless you want them seen. I know it’s a different world, my world and it might be overwhelming but I want you there with me, not as arm candy. As my girlfriend.”