The ball begins
I slide the key under the knob and the blue light filled the frame. The door shook with a tiny tremor as I turned the key. Was it the door shaking or was it my hand? Be brave Jane brave.
With my eyes closed and my breathe held I opened the door and walked into the closet. The temperature dropped, like a cold blast from the freezer door at work. It didn't get warmer as I stepped inside
I heard a metal latch swing open and the sliding of rusty slab against another. I was in a box, like a steel trap barely a foot above my head. It was totally medieval except for the RGB strip that emitted the Blue light running along the sides of this cage.
"Ticket?" Howled in a low tone with such effort and so little air. "TehehehKehehKeht" the voice repeated into the slot.
This dress doesn't have pockets as I remembered as I frantically patted my hips for them. Ruby always sewed pockets into my clothes and put her little rocks in them. Did I leave the ticket on the bed? Raising my hand to my head as I looked back to see cage wall and not the bedroom I expected. There it was. Stupid.
"TehKKEhT!" I shoved my hand and the ticket to the door and took a breath.
The voice groaned as it opened the solid cage door.
The cage opened into wide open marble foyer. Black and white marble floors polished to a fine shine, featured an intricate pattern. It looked like a flowing river growing more white as it lead away from the cage. Looking into the white marble as the rusty box disappeared from behind me.
Just my blue dress and a black figure remained, A butler. He was patiently waiting for me to stop my gawking at the smooth stone that built this gothic temple. Where you would expect stain glass there was only empty portals that opened to the blackest night. It had to be the sky. No stars or moonlight. LED bulbs provided the light, there were ripples carved into the walls to keep the motif of flowing water, they appeared like small churns of as though the water hit a rock and was about to foam, thats were the light came from.
After finally taking in majesty of this place and comparing it to the sparsely decorated McMansion Sebastian called home, I was ready to make my way deeper into the … the castle. The butler had no face. No mouth, No eyes. This must be the magic of the mask. I thought as I tried to look through the magic, my head began to hurt. An immense pressure was building behind my eyes. I kept pushing and the magic kept pushing back.
The ground started shaking, breaking my concentration. The butler grabbed my arm to move me. The pain was gone. In the place I was standing a big blue boulder appeared. The blue light faded and the boulder was just a grey stone with RGB lights patterned into celtic or pagan symbols.
Before the butler could finish the word ticket a slip of paper jutted from a crack in the stone. The stone disappeared with just as much of a rumble it appeared with. I expected some sound, but it was quiet as the castle shook.
The golden man was left kneeling before me. Wearing a toga, with his defined back and gold threaded blonde hair falling over his toned shoulders and arms. Standing, his chest was just as carved as his front. No, towering over me he brushed the hair out of where his eyes would have been, if his face was not as featureless as the butler's was.
"Excuse me." He said as he stepped forward and motioned us to step back. When he stood with us the ground rumbled again and another boulder appeared. The Butler took the ticket and a smaller man of silver and gold stood up. A tinier version of the golden hunk, more wirery than buff.
The hunk patted his friend on the shoulder and then they turned their attention to me. I tried to say Hello but instead of words I felt that same magic pressure on my throat.
"Hello I'm" instead of his name a garbled shreik came out of his faceless head. He slapped his hand to wear a normal mouth would be. "Without my wits apparently. This is my attached servant. Would you do us the pleasure and courtesy of entering with us?"
Again I tried to speak but the pressure strangled me. The Hunk turned to his wirery friend confused. His friend looked me up and down relizing that I was trying to speak. And spoke in a small nasaled voice " she is prevented from talking (sebastains dad) must have muted her. Perhaps she is of the siren clan."
"A siren! Exciting!" The golden hue beamed brighter with his joy. "Then lend me your hand and I'll take that as a sign you endorse our company." Reaching out he gently patted my hand between bith of his before leading me down the hall and towards the Ballroom.
"Great!" -H
"Is this your first ball mis?" -W
"Give my hand a squeeze once for yes and twice for no." -H
I gave his hand a squeeze. He was not as strong as I expected.
"Exciting, We've been to many but the fates have been cruel and left us without mates so far. Are you hoping to find your fated one or a political marriage?"
I didn't know what to say. I held my hand rigid and straight inside his frasp as we continued down the hall.
"Keeping your options open I see." H
"We are traditionaists, searching for our fated ones. It's been a long search but balls like this provide a nice distraction at least." W
"Do you think the fates would give me a siren bride?" H
"A powerful team you and a siren would make." -W
"A powerful match of course, what are songs without words." the hunk turned toward me. "Would you grant me a spot on your card tonight?"-H
I stopped walking and pulled my hand free from his grip. Panic started from the pit of my stomach and my limbs began to freeze. This is not the time. With my eyes closed I tried to make quick sense of this situation. You're ok Jane. Sebastian is in there once you see him he'll explain. He took your voice for your safety. Yes once I rationalized that I had my arms back. Then I searched my thoughts.
A memory of Ruby and one of her romance novels. This wasn't just a ball this was a debutant ball. Sebastian is going to present me as a match before his father. That was the plan. That bastard. I'll show him by dancing with this Golden god.
The Hulk and friend were whispering to each other. They resolved their conversation and turned back to me. " Do you know the steps? Up for yes and down for no?" I motioned down. "Would you be willing to let my friend teach you?" I motion Up. The silver and gold man stepped forward and reached for a piece of paper that poofed into existance directly in front of me. Then made his mark, the Hunk made his under it. It's my literal dance card.
I don't know if I was mad at Sebastian or not. When I saw him clearly across the massive ball room, the anger dispeared like his white cloudly whisps. He said I'd see horrible things down here but everyone look like regular people. Maybe it's this intent magic, only one person looked like I should be afraid of them, A giant of a man with spikes and horns coming out of every part that is normally round. Large claws on the ends of his hands. I quickly moved my eyes to the other guests. They had formed small comversation pods. Each pod had a debutant wearing an identical blue dress. They were my shape and size. This had to be more magic. Magic great now you have a perfect excuse to accept anything you ever see thats just a little bit strange.
"Where would you like to mingle?" H
Is it rude to point? I placed my finger on the Hunk's chest.
"Very good I'll decide."
He lead me over to a group where two men wearing wearing tailored pinstripes, one black with white stripes and the other his opposite were having a quote unquote discussion about something political in a place I can't pronounce. The Debutant paused the coversation so The golden Hunk could make introductions as best he could. "... And this fawn is likely a siren bound not to speak. May we join the discourse?"
"As long as you two promise to vote with your minds as to the winner of this debate. I have only two spots left on my card and I can't abide those whose reason with passion."
" Passion is best reserved for the arts of love." The Hunk. "Of course these intellectuals may not be giving you their all. They know you have a spot for each of them."
" you're perception is character enough for to spur these two into putting their whole weight behind the argument."
"Then allow me to occupy the second to last spot. So you can see how they behave when love is on the line."
"It would be an honor." The hunk kissed her hand and signed his mark on her card.
The faceless men who were debating shifted from wearing tailored pin stripes to baggy pants and large shoulder padded jackets. I guess their intentions changed as did the seriousness of their dress.
I tried to follow along with the discussion but it was terribly boring. One would cite a year and event and the other would cite another event preceding it. I couldn't follow any of the names or the places and it'd be rude to try and talk to any one else during the back and forth. The debutant was rapped in the debate.
Sebastian was across the room. Hovering from debutant circle to debutant circle. Was he looking for me? The girl who can't speak. Would he get here before I had to vote on who gets the final dance?
The answer to that was of course, no. I just cast my vote the same as the Hunk's friend. I have no head for these poltics, I don't even care for earthly politics. All war is bad, why is that the controversial take these days?
The men who surrounded the debutant congratulated the winner. The loser, deflated his suit and looked like a skeleton wearing an old timey prison suit. He turned to me and asked "Would you mind taking second place as a partner?"
I put up my hand firmly in a stop sign. Immediately feeling very rude. And the man shuffled off. The Hunk's friend snickered in my ear "Wise choice. Harsh but wise."
I didn't catch Sebastian's approach as the loser stumbled over to what I assume was the bar.
"Sorry, pal. The lady's card is full." the winner said.
The debutant giggled as the winner marked the last spot.
"My apologizes." Sebastian replied and headed off to follow the loser to the bar.
It was the sound of his rain boots sloshing in puddles that weren't there that got my head to turn. I started to follow him but The Hunk's silver friend was holding my arm. "It be best if you filled up your card among the bachelor's here miss. There isn't much time left before we start."
Was it okay if I ran. Ruby eat your heart out. I'm chasing after a man at a debutant masquerade ball. I grabbed Sebastian's shoulder, my hand disappearing into his cloudy fluff before resting on his solid body.
He turned "yes?"
It only took a moment for his eyes to light up and see that it was me. I couldn't berate him now but I would when given my voice back.
"Are you okay *garbled sounds*?
I pointed up happily.
"Is that a yes?"
I pointed up again.
He hugged me "you're ok with this?"
I waited and pointed up. Thinking this isn't as bad as he thought it would be. There is that scary claw man but the Golden Hunk and his friend are nice.
"You know why I brought you here?"
I pointed up.
"And you're ok with it?"
Spun my finger in a circle. How does one say MAYBE.
"Confused?"
Up
"Very well, may I have a spot on your dance card. One dance and then we can get out."
Up
"Ugh! I can't leave you alone can I? Whose names are these. After we're done I'll need to see this card again. Understand?"
I wafted my hand down.
"What do you mean no?" As he signed the card and it disappeared again. "You don't know how or you don't want to share?"
Wavering my hand back and forth
"What does that mean?"
It's suppose to mean neither you dolt.
I pressed my finger to his skull.
A bell rang
"Just a minute left. Lucky you didn't fill up your card. I don't think we want to be around when my father has the ability leave."
I put my palms up and exaggerated a shrug.
" oh don't worry when the dances start you and your first partner will appear at your designated spot. I stitched a spell inside your dress. Don't resist it will guide your steps. You could probably go limp and the dress will dance for you."
Sebastian took care of everything didn't he. I don't know why I keep reminding myself of his age. Clearly I'm the innocent one when it comes to these matters. I trust him, he is so cute and soft. Nothing like that biker, that man was rough and tall. Oh but he was eager. Just a tall, eager back scratcher, I'm sure I'll forget all about him soon enough. Sebastian is just using me to piss off his father, I'm just using him to figure out what the fuck is wrong with me. Magic clearly it's something magical. Was I cursed from birth?
A bell rang and the lights shut off with a great big thunk. The sound of when the theater lights go down.
When the lights came on the silver and gold man stood before me bowing at the waist his hand extended. I took his hand and that's when the music starts. "Step onto my feet miss. I'll guide you." I've seen these father daughter tiktoks and was envious of the girls whose parents could love them. Mine always gave off that vibe that they would rather be in another room of another house across the country. The other girls were jealous I got to move in with my best friend Ruby at the age of sixteen into an apartment Ruby's mother paid for. But I felt like A Charity chase.
"One-two" the silver and gold man repeated. I had been lost in my own self loathing I didn't regoncize that we were dancing. It was effortless. I wonder if I'm being graceful. Ballroom dancing wasn't to hard. I guess I'm not an accurate judge though, I was on auto pilot. The silver and gold man was relieved when I stepped of his feet and performed the steps myself.
We were halfway though the second chorus before I started listening to the music. The beat was a somber ballroom, but the lyrics were stretched to synchronize "living dead girl" across the music. I thought techno country roads was a good cover, this was mindblowing though.
"That was excellent miss" the silver and gold man kissed my hand after the music stopped.
Quickly two bells rang and the lights died again. My dance with the golden hunk was to KISS "I was made for loving you".
"It's a shame we were nit meant to be fated. Please extend invitations to your sisters, I'd be honored to find my fated one among your siren clan." he two kissed my hand and disappeared with the sound of three bells.
Finally, Sebastian in his raincoat and safety vest stood before me. Without a bow he extended his hand. I stepped forward and we danced to "Numb". He must have felt my eyes glow when he spoke. "Yes, I chose the song. Just enough of a classic to get under his skin."
At the end of the dance he held me close, shoving his head under my chin and cradling my neck. With a gentle firmness, I sank into his grip. I heard the four bells ring out each on further than the last and the sound of wind muffling them. When the darkness faded we were standing in Sebastian's living room. The living room of the McMansion.