Masquerade

Beyond the Fantasy

In case you hadn't realized, there's a sex scene coming up, and although it is the last chapter I wasn't going to leave that big bed unused so there will be an epilogue featuring some light BDSM.

The wonderful picture is by anonymus2k.

Beyond the fantasy

"Careful Miss, there's a storm coming."

Cassandra pulled the hood a little further over her face. She didn't recognize the guard stood by the south gate, and she was hoping that he wouldn't recognize her. The last thing she needed was rumors flying around about how the witch Cassandra had gone into the forest at night.

"How do you know? There's not a cloud in sight." She asked.

"It's the wind Miss, and my knee. It always hurts when there's a storm coming. You should get inside soon Miss."

"I will." She said, though in fact she did not know if she would or wouldn't. Her determination wasn't going to be shaken by somebody's bad knee.

"Be careful on the Western road if you're going that way."

"Robbers?"

"No, Corona dousn't have any problems like that anymore. The path is just very uneven Miss, a few low hanging branches as well."

"I'll be careful." Cassandra said over her shoulder, walking quickly. She had dithered in her room for a long time, though to do so had been pointless, if she was honest with herself it was always clear to what she was going to do. Her heart was fully set on it, however hard she tried to convince herself that it was a bad idea. Running into the dark woods after a man she didn't really know. A man who may not even be there. A lot of things had changed since he had whispered in her ear the night before.

She made her way down the short path, past a few conifer trees till she reached the large oak tree that was just out of view of the gates. It was a well-known meeting spot. As she went to lean against it, she could see the rows of initials that lovers had carved into the tree. She had always rolled her eyes at the people who meet here, but now she was having her own clandestine meeting. She leaned against the tree and took a deep breath of the slightly cool air. Going by the town clock as she had passed, she should only have a few minutes to wait.

The night was still warm but there was a slight bite to the breeze. There was a soft rustling noise from the movement of the leaves, Cassandra felt a chill that had nothing to do with the temperature. It was hard not to feel anxious when the wind was blowing through a forest, the noise, the movements just caught out of the corner of her eye. It was hard to relax, her mind told her it was just the wind, but she knew that there could be thugs in the woods. She wondered what the time was now and questioned whether he would actually show.

What was she doing here?

She'd messed things up. She wondered about leaving, tried to convince herself to move, but her legs were rooted to the stop. There was a long high-pitched whistle as the wind got caught in between the nearby rocks. She turned, and then she saw it, a figure appearing from out the darkness of the woods, a tall slim figure, with what looked like long horns protruding out of his head. She took a step backwards before she remembered the branches on the mask from the night before. He had come.

He moved slowly through the night and she stepped forwards from the shadow of the grand oak, pulling her hood down, showing her face as it was framed by the gold filigree mask. As he came closer, and she saw those familiar blue eyes her breath caught in her throat and her chest felt full.

"I didn't know if you would come Cassie." He said.

The use of her nickname would have confirmed everything if her heart had not already told her who he was.