Xander Blaise Collins's Story

Xander let out a soft sigh as he re-slid his mask over his face, looking to his father, who was already on his way to the Council meeting. Being the president's son and the heir to the position, he should attend the meetings so he can gain experience and knowledge. But tonight, he requested that he would be excused from it. This must've been his billionth time putting it on, so he didn't have to adjust it a bunch like he used to. He had come early with his father, so after putting the mask on, he had made his way to the ballroom and was inside.

Slowly, he walked around the ballroom, unsure of what to do until someone showed up. The faint sount of footsteps came from the entrance, and he turned his head to see Lucid, Reverb, Picasso and Genie gathered there. He smiled, though it was hard to see through the mask, and bowed. When he stood straight again, he flattened out the lines of his shirt. He looked at down at himself, remembering what he'd gotten dressed into. A white 18th century tunic, covered by a red coat, black trousers, and a pair of black boots

Xander strutted towards them, and stopped infront of Lucid. "Welcome." He paused to bow to them once again. "Ladies, gentlemen." He said, a formal greeting. His golden eyes fell upon Lucid, whom he was supposed to be matched with. "Good evening." Xander gently took her hand by the fingers and and faintly kissed the top of it. All the meanwhile not noticing as Starlet teleported past them.



Mythias stood back from the mirror and took a look at himself. His eyes softened at the sight of the mixture vibrant blue and black clothing he had put together. He turned from the mirror and grabbed his coat, nearly running into his father. "Have a good night." The older man said, setting a hand on Mythias' shoulder. Mythias nodded and shrugged it off, sliding his arms into the coat and leaving the house. It was darker outside, because by every passing minute he was plunging further into the night.

He walked for quite some time, looking at the details in the sky nearly every step of the way. Eventually, he came to the Manor. Before stepping in, he waited outside and walked a little more, but only around the courtyard. When he was finished, he walked inside, put away his coat, and began down one of the larger hallways that would branch off into the one leading to the ballroom. Mythias looked at the small black watch fastened to his wrist and looked at the time. His shoulders slumped and he continued down the hallway, and to the ballroom.

Once he was there, he joined the group of five gathered around near the entrance. He smiled and waved, pretending to take off a hat to them in greeting. He waited a few seconds before tapping Pheonix on the shoulder, and gently pushing him aside so he could get into the ballroom.

:: 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.

It hadn't taken long to get ready, or to get to the Ballroom. Maori watched the group from a few metres back, eyes fixed on Mime, who had just arrived. She looked down to herself to see nothing, to which she frowned. It's a shame to waste such a beautiful dress if noone can see it. She thought, and let loose a smirk. She trotted towards the group and followed Mime as he gently and subtly pushed past Pheonix.

Once fully inside the Ballroom, she looked to Mime, who was looking straight at her. Through her. She took a few steps closer and examined his facial features. She held a finger right in between his eyes, and she unveiled herself, walking out of the Ethereal state. "You." She absorbed his slightly surprised look and added, "Your mask is crooked. Sort of." She said, and poked it.

Then, noticing how close she was to him, she blushed and took two massive steps back. "God, you're no fun. Usually people freak out and say 'Ahh! You scared me.' But- you can't right?" Her eyes widened and she slapped one hand over her mouth. The other one was hot in persuit and landed on the first with a loud clap. "I'm so sorry. That was totally rude." She shrunk back even further and veiled herself once again. Oh god, I feel so bad. That poor guy. His name is even Mime. It's better staying in this state. Much less embarassing. She thought, slumping her shoulders. Once she was done moping, she unveiled herself once again and looked down to her dress, to make sure she was visible.

She tugged at it a few times, feeling uncomfortable in it. It was a Green dress that wasn't that pretty, but it wasn't plain either. She had put on eyeshadow to match, though it wouldn't be very visible through the mask. Once she was sure she could go face the normal world again, she stood with her hands clasped together and hanging down infront of her. She maintained her posture for the time being.

"Hm..." Caroline observed the new toy ship as she let it float in the indoor pool that she had, a sigh came out from her lips along with a frown, "This is just boring~" She took the ship from the water and observed the model, "Maybe if we would make this a wind up toy instead, then it would be more fun to watch." She wrote this down on a piece of paper that was with her.

Caroline exited the pool and went towards her room, she placed the ship model on the table with the piece of paper. She then sat by the window as she stared at the moon and the stars, "To fly again underneath this magnificent sky..." She thought as she remembered during the times when she and her older siblings would fly in the air for the entire day. One reason why the high leaders of her clan didn't accept the invitation: it would mean they couldn't use their powers out in the open anymore, they could only use it in the ball. Their philosophy is to be free like the wind.

KNOCK KNOCK

"Come in." Caroline said as her eyes did not leave the night sky.

Thomas, her most trusted butler, entered the room with a silver tray on his hand with letters on it, "I am sorry to disturb you, my lady, but these letters just came in." He said as he walks towards Caroline and placed the tray down to her level revealing three letters, "And I have prepared your clothes for this evening."

Caroline took hold of the letters and browsed the name of the sender, "The clothes that we have talked about, Thomas?"

He nodded as he placed the silver tray by his side, "The same clothes, my lady. Annie will arrive shortly to assist you in changing."

She nodded, "Very well, then. Thank you, Thomas. You may go." Thomas gave a short bow and left the room. Caroline's eyes went back to the names of the senders, "Bartolomeo Vargas, Lovino Rizzo and Veliciano De Lucca...must be another commission." She thought as she opened the letters and scanned who she was going to kill.

KNOCK KNOCK

"Must be Annie." Caroline thought, "Come in."

Annie came in and bowed towards Caroline, "I am here to help you change for tonight's ball."

The young girl stood up from her spot and nodded towards the maid and began to remove the clothing that she was currently wearing and wore a long sleeved buttoned shirt, along with a green and black striped vest and black trousers, as well as white stockings and knee high leather boots. She then proceeded to wearing the dress robe she had asked to make. Twirling around and looking at the mirror, she nodded in approval of her clothing. Annie bowed to Caroline again, to say that she would leave, and left the room. Caroline took her full face mask and placed it on once more. She left her room and proceeded on going outside of her manor, where Thomas was waiting for her with the door of the carriage wide open for her.

Thomas bowed towards her, "Have a safe trip, my lady."

Caroline bowed in reply and stepped inside the carriage. Once seated comfortably inside, Thomas shut the door and the horses ran towards her destination, "Another night to observe "The Masquerade". Another night closer in achieving my revenge." She thought darkly as she travels towards the designated place.

As soon as she entered the room that was filled with music and people, a smile appeared behind the blue mask as she soars up in the sky with shouts of joy coming out from her lips as she flies above the crowd. Her eyes spotted the group who were close to her age, "Better to socialize and make me the very least suspect. Plus, it's fun to socialize and to play pranks." She thought as she zoomed towards and landed with the air blowing upwards that the women of the room and had to put their hands on the skirt of their dresses so that it would not be blown fully upward.

A playful laugh erupted from her lips and as she bent forward to contain herself. After several laughs, she turned to the group, placed her hands on her hips and titled her head a bit, "How is everyone?" She asked with full enthusiasm within her voice.

Xander let go of Lucid's hand just as Genie walked away. He felt embarrased when he noticed how much space they'd been taking up. As he walked further into the ballroom, Pheonix's eyes fell upon numerous people. Some he knew, and some were unfamiliar to him. There were a few dancing, a few sitting, a few conversing, and the occasional person eating the food prepared. He looked back to Lucid.

"May I ask you for your first and last dance tonight, Miss?" He asked, outstretching a hand for her to take. His hands felt oddly warm, which was a bad sign. Fire. Oh no... not at a time like this. Control. Focus. Control. He thought, furrowing his brow the slightest, but trying to hide it.



"You."

A second later a finger was on Mythias' mask. He stepped back in surprise. "Your mask is crooked. Sort of." A girl, dressed in a green dress and a black mask, said rather abruptly. He subconciously raised his hands and adjusted it. "God, you're no fun. Usually people freak out and say 'Ahh! You scared me.' But- you can't right?" She said, and he raised his eyebrows, waiting....

Slap. Slap. Two hands were covering her mouth. It didn't take long or her to figure out what she'd just said, and who she'd said it to. Before he could do anything, she shrunk back and appologized. "I'm so sorry. That was totally rude." He raised his hand to wave it off but she disappeared. He softly chuckled and turned on his heel. His eyes fell upon Pheonix, who was offering a hand to Lucid in an offer to dance.