:: Annabeth Montgomery ::
Annabeth didn't keep the track of time, there was only the enchanting melodies of piano, the cold and velvet sensation of ivories lingering on her finger and...her voice. She was in the small white instrument room of Montgomery manor, trying to throw the stress on her shoulders away via singing and playing piano, she did that usually when she was about to go to "The Masquerade.". But how matter how long she sang her heart out, or played instruments for hours, she still couldn't throw away the gloomy heaviness squeezing her abdomen.
Her mother was probably looking for her, but she was already prepared. Annabeth had a bad habit of not taking care of her appearance, more like...dressing very plainly. She was wearing a plain strapless white dress tightening around her corset, with a black velvet material wrapped around her waist, like a belt. The dress stopped around an inch below her knees. Annabeth never gave the opportunity to her mother to scold her about this, but she was very strict about her hair. She liked the itchy feeling of her curly honey locks left on her shoulders.
She caressed the grand piano made from oak for a while, then stood up and walked towards the white lime door. The instrument room itself was very small compared to her own room, but Annabeth liked this room much better than hers. She liked the atmosphere of it, much more home-like than the candle lit lounge that she had to sit all the day with her parents.
She was about to turn the doorknob when her mother barged in while panting hard. She was sweating very bad, but unexpectedly her make-up hadn't even ruined a bit by the liquid.
"I knew you would be here, come on, the car is waiting for us."
Annabeth sighed and put on her white mask. She liked being plain, just like her usual look. She was very pretty and attractive when compared to the other members of masquerade, like all of her family members. But she was very plain compared to them. She tried not to bite her lip because she didn't want to ruin the blood red lipstick her mother had forced on her. Of course, 'Capella' was going to sing today too. Capella had always sang in "The Masquerade" with various tones making people swoon in envy.
Annabeth didn't know anyone in there, she had not talked to anyone of them. She had no right to be jealous of their friendships and relationships when she intentionally stayed away from them. But she couldn't help but feel like an outsider, she was a human after all. When she was young and new to Masquerade, she always thought if she was invisible to the ball, she wouldn't get a match. Nevertheless, watching things grow in the ball made her feel worse. She was 18 now, meaning she had only two years left until she find her match.
She didn't notice arriving at the magnificent manor, nor she minded her mother dragging her in. Her father wasn't present with them. She hoped this day would pass like the others as well.