xxxoh don't you wonder when the light begins to fade?
xxxand the clock just makes the colors turn to grey
xxxforever younger growing older just the same
xxxall the memories that we make will never change
xxx
News eventually filtered through that a number of suspects were going to be attending a masquerade ball in the city in a few weekâs time. It was a private affair, but Malfyre had managed to get them all on the list. Under pseudonyms, of course. Cerys honestly thought that Persephone Rothschild was far from the worst, especially because it was believable. Some of the others, Malfyre had clearly had fun with their names and had toed the line of believability. But the ball presented one major issue for her. She couldnât use her bow. She couldnât conceivably smuggle in any weapons, which meant sheâd have to improvise if she came down to it. But her siblings had trained her plenty in hand-to-hand, and sheâd been paired up with Gemini. She knew it was probably only a matter of time before she ended up getting stuck with Red Witch, but she just prayed that day never came.
Sheâd agreed to meet Gemini in there, but couldnât see them when she arrived. Apparently, they were coming as their male form, but she couldnât see either of them. So she stuck to the crowds, searching for a semi-familiar face as she took a glass of the free champagne. It was more for appearance than anything else, she didnât want to cloud her senses. She fished her phone out of her clutch and texted Aaron.
To: Aaron
you here yet? come quick before all the free champagne is gone :P
She felt someone barrel into her, almost knocking off her feet. Her balance was off in the heels, so it took her a millisecond longer than usual to recover. But there was strong hands grasping her as she recovered. She didnât recognize this man. He was too short and the wrong build to be anyone she was working with, and so she flashed them a charming smile.
âAre you alright there, miss?â He asked as he released her.
âYes, thank you. Just was distracted there for a moment,â she said with a light laugh.
âEasy to do. These receptions are always so busy, these things happen. Are you enjoying yourself?â He asked.
âOh, yes, itâs been lovely so far.â
âDid you come all by yourself?â The question seemed out of the blue, and Cerys examined the man for a moment, trying to figure out his intentions.
âOh no, my friends are coming too. I just live the nearest so I got here first, theyâre going to be here any minute now,â she said, her light tone not giving away the suspicion bubbling in her stomach.
âMaybe I should keep an eye on you until they arrive. Just to make sure you donât have any more mishaps,â he said, taking a step closer.
âIâm a grown woman, I can handle myself just fine.â Her polite facade was starting to drop. She wasnât sure if this guy suspected something or if he was just being a creep, but she was starting to think he wouldnât back down. This wasnât what she wanted, and she knew it could potentially complicate things later. But punching him would definitely garner unwanted attention, and that would be worse.
xxxthere is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin
xxxin the madness and soil of that sad earthly scene
xxxonly then am I human,
xxxonly then am I clean.
xxx
Getting ready for the masquerade ball or whatever it was took more effort than Att really wanted to put into it. It needed a new suit and a mask that wasnât just the same one he wore as Icarus. He wasnât going as Atticus Hawkins, though. He was going as William Alexander Goldberg-Jameson III, and that required a slightly different look. He didnât think for a second anyone would recognize him anyway, but he wasnât taking a chance. So his suit was perhaps a little more out there than usual, and his mask was elaborate. But as he got dressed that evening, making sure to look as polished as possible, he felt like he wasnât totally looking at himself when he looked in the mirror. He looked like a different version of himself, and that was what he wanted. Into his inside pocket went his knives. He hadnât gotten another gun yet. He kept putting it off, coming up with different reasons why knives were a better solution all round.
Heâd tried to force visions about the ball on a number of different occasions, but every single time, he saw something entirely unrelated. Eventually he gave up, the emotional and physical toll just too much. He didnât know if knowing or not knowing was better. If he had seen something, would he have even been able to change it?
Atticus and Lucy made their way to the hotel by limo, Lucy insisting that there was no way in hell they were just getting a taxi. They had an image to portray and they were going to stick to it. Att was on edge the whole time, but did enjoy the luxury of the limo and the attention they got as they stepped out was oddly wonderful. Delighted gasps and eyes that scanned them from head to toe and liked what they saw. Whispers about her dress, his suit, their masks. With their masks on, nobody could or would ever recognize them, and there was something thrilling about that. Att had slipped in his earpiece in the taxi, the mic already concealed in his mask.
âIcarus and Red Witch are on site,â he said, moments before they entered the main room together. He could feel eyes turn towards them as they entered, and he smiled. There was a power and a thrill in pretending to be someone else