Bound Beneath the Moon [ONC 2021] ✔

Chapter 2

I didn't expect the ballroom to look like it does now. I've never seen the palace employees go all-out like this for such a simple event. Moon dust powder blankets every surface in glitter, white iridescent alite flowers float around the room, and almost every wall and tile has been cleaned and decorated to match the theme. Pure white and incandescent silver, just like the colors of our Zophorian markings. Pleasant odors fill the room from the table filled with sweets and snacks. Even the servants, court employees, and maids are dressed in the same silky fabrics as I am. Although, I know they're much cheaper fabrics and sewn to last short whiles. Making outfits from pure quptright cloth is expensive even for my family.

But even the guests don't seem to spare any expense when it comes to this ball. People from all kinds of species are wearing what I can only assume are the finest fabrics they could get their hands on. It's a sea of colorful masks, glittering outfits, and rainbows of skin colors.

I didn't even know it was going to be a masked gala. But, upon looking around, practically everyone who isn't Zophorian is wearing one. From simple ones painted in gold to exotic animals, there's a whole range of them. I even see a few with masked imitating katawings. Some of them are covered with sparkly reds and bright oranges, others with metallic blacks and nebula-painted feathers. It's like they're intentionally mocking me.

I don't appreciate any of them. To stalk me enough they know what Kavas and Taquib look like...

But everyone seems so excited. I even see my mom chatting to someone other than my dad. But when the doors open for me and my heels click on the tile, it's as if time freezes. No one utters a word, every set of eyes draw their attention to me at the top of the golden staircase. Almost everyone I lay my eyes on is staring, even Zopharians who have seen me numerous times before. Mom and Dad have their gazes glued to me, a few dozen people make their way to the front of the crowd, and I watch a sea of multicolored eyes meet my gaze. Even Morven is taken back from the silence.

The silence goes on for a few moments. Not even wine glasses can be heard clashing together or whispers from elders. I think Morven can tell how awkward it's getting, because he hurries to take a few steps in front of me. He bows and holds his arm out in my direction. "Azalea Sezo has arrived."

How or why that gets the crowd to break out in applause is beyond me.

He offers his arm out. So we link our arms as he guides me down the staircase. Chattering and laughs echo through the room again, lively folks talking among themselves.

"Thanks," I whisper.

"Of course." He grins and gives me a playful nudge. "You might wanna hurry up and mingle to find yourself a lady."

I bite my lip. "You're really pushing it here."

"That's a good thing."

We end up walking to the end of the stairs. But we don't move far from there. We stand there in silence, inspecting the room. Morven keeps looking at every breasted-person he sees. Because of course, he's only focused on the feminine ones. Meanwhile, I'm trying to glare away at every man who walks my direction.

But, someone doesn't see me as threatening enough. He walks right up to us with no care in the world. It's as though the entire room isn't staring at us.

Despite how he's wearing the mask of a scaly reptile, his face looks all-too familiar. It's Arroyo. I can see beautiful powders dusting his gray-blue skin and the numerous crystal necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets, and even other body piercings scattered on his body. When your family is full of crystal miners, getting luscious jewelry and dazzling piercings like that is something that's natural. And he's wearing something similar to Morven. The same deep-neckline top and viole with lantern sleeves covering the rest of him. But instead of deep purples and crimson he's wearing pale yellows and dark greens. Meanwhile, his pants are more snug and tight-fit, with rips around his knees.