In the end, everything will be lost in oblivion

𝚃𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚆𝚎 𝙰𝚛𝚎 𝚃𝚘𝚘 𝙼𝚞𝚌𝚑 - 2

"Oh, Lord Cambray, how long haven't we seen each other. It must have been an eternity since our talks."

Mrs. Daryl almost never forgave her boring gossip and conversations.

"Yes, almost forever. I have to admit, I missed your playful dog. Oh, what was his name," I slough with my fingers and my eyesight strayed at her chest. I got lost for a moment and turned to her lips and aristocratic nose. I never said I didn't have enough glances, just words.

Daryl sweetly grinned and shouted:

"You probably mean Mr. Paw. Him, I presume, you've been seeing the most. Daughter is very fond of him, therefore, she always forces servants to go walk with her. I'll tell you, the child probably fathered the devil himself," we both laugh out of decency and there's a silence for a moment. Sweet silence. But not for long.

"Anyway, we breed a few more retrievers, but we had to rear one a few days ago. A very sad matter. Death is a cruel thing, I'll tell Lord Cambray. Mr. Daryl said the same thing and look what happened to him," Mrs. Daryl couldn't finish the sentence, whereas a completely unknown voice mixed into our circle. "Death, I suppose," and at that point, I wished I had been Mr. Daryl. That bastard was very lucky.

The voice was hard and intoxicating. Quite intoxicating than the wine in my hand. It was him, of course. Who else could ruin this peaceful evening.

The night should have gone according to my calculated plans, but this man never rests.

With a playful smile, I turned to the lightly tanned man in a completely black suit, on which the silver threads lining his sleeves shone like fireflies. No one in this hall had a more ostentatious costume, and yet he wore it as if he did not realize the weight of his own money.

Mrs. Daryl said:

"Mr. Lukowski. What a nice surprise." Her voice certainly didn't sound like she was pleasantly surprised.

Lukowski gritted his teeth. "Well, thank you. Please allow me to offer my sincere condolences to Mr. Paw. I bet he would taste great on a plate."

"You, you... pff!" Cried Mrs. D., deftly pulling out a feather fan and she began to fan. All the blood rushed to her face and before you had time to say Mr. Paw, she was on her way to tell her friends how indecent this society has been in recent years.

Only he and I stayed.

Our eyes locked in a burning look. If I could be one thing at that moment, I would be divine flames that would cruelly melt his angry smirk into a large blot and let him be served at a dinner.

"Adam," I replied with a sign of severance and anger. His expression of rage rather resembled poisonous harmfulness.

"Jess," he viciously said through his teeth.

I turned hastily on my heels until my shoes creaked on the marble floor and abruptly stepped down a massive cherry staircase to the balcony. My hands gently rubbed against the wooden ornaments and touched the handle on the terrace. Almost immediately, I was enlighten by the moonlight, and from the bush labyrinth below me there was a noticeable knocking of horses and washing of carriages.

I waited a few seconds before turning to Adam. The moon rays bounced off his crimson mask and glare was playing on its surface as he cleverly folded it and looked at me. His sight was burning, quite different from the way he glanced at me before. His posture was very balanced, but that face, something appeared on it, a completely different emotion, new to his features.

"Jess, you know well that if I had a chance, I would kill you. Our past is not at all commendable or worthy of remembrance but rather filled only with greedy memories," he wasn't looking me in the eyes anymore, but stared at his hands in which he held the mask and gently rubbed his thumbs against it.

"I'll stop you there. There is no point in discussing such a thing. We have all come here for diverse intentions and, frankly, I don't see a reason why we should continue this talk. I think there's enough people to entertain us without even glancing a look at each other. So if you'll excuse me now, I have responsibilities... Aa! Let me go!" Before I'm able to leave with the rest of my dignity, he caught my hand.

"Just let me finish my thoughts! Please, Jess, I'm not going to argue with you. My intention for coming here is to share this information with you. So let me at least tell you this." Adam let my hand go, the onyx in his pupils punctured into my eyes and I saw a subtle droplet of sweat over his upper lip.

"Thank you. So we're both in a high position, and I think we're proud to admit that we're bastards. Sorry, for the expression. We share a lot of memories but not the good ones. However, I remember quiet well the happy memories too. In the beginning, when we've been, you know, subjects. And, frankly, I would never admit it if it weren't for you, but I've loved it. I own this reputation of arrogance and you certainly heard how people nicknamed me - "monster" or "ruthless". Yes, partly I absolutely enjoy it. But, indeed, I've loved a simple life. Even though I had calluses and clay engraved into my palms. And you, Jess, you reminded me of it. You made me be different."

And that's when I couldn't tear myself away from that drop of sweat. It looked like a tiny pearl. Something that could have been, what can be.