Unspoken

~ Chapter Eight ~

The third party wasn't much different from the last. It was boring, and long. I spent most of the time with Finch, although Zen coerced a few dances out of me, which seemed to annoy Noah. Zen made me uneasy, but he didn't seem like a bad person.
We'd left the hotel early in the morning, and had gotten home two hours ago. The house was chaotic, filled with staff sorting out the party decorations and menu. Noah retreated to the fourth floor immediately, but I was drug to my room by Ari.
She was busy now adjusting my hair and make up while my nails dried. She'd chosen a clear, pink coat for them, and lined the tips with silver. My eyes were accented with thick black charcoal pencil, dramatic and bold against sparkling silver eyeshadow that glittered and sparkled in the light.
My lips were coated in a deep pink gloss, and my cheekbones were dusted with a delicate blush. At the moment, Ari was settling thick and feather-like false lashes onto my eyelids. The adhesive glue itched uncomfortably.
She'd pulled my golden hair into a lovely waterfall braid. Small pins with silver flowers and butterflies were woven through, accenting it with a simple, yet beautiful bling. The loose strands of my hair were curled, cascading down my back.
I wore a sparkly silver club dress with spaghetti straps and a heart shaped neckline that pressed my breasts together and accented my cleavage. Strings of silver hung from the fabric, glinting and glittering with every move I made. The skirt itself ended at my mid-thighs, but the strings fell just above my knees.
I wore glittery silver pumps and jewelry, though I'd been so insistent on wearing my fathers necklace that Ari was forced to compromise. She wrapped the chain delicately around my wrist until it hung like a bracelet, pausing at the sight of the ring. Around my neck, a layered diamond necklace glittered against my chest.
"I look," I paused, pursing my lips. "I look like a doll."
"You're the prettiest doll I've ever seen," Ari giggled, stepping back to admire her work.
"I feel like a guinnea pig mannequin," I sighed, following her from the bathroom. She was in a sexy black dress with one shoulder. It was short, accenting her long legs. Her hair was done up in a curled bun, set low to the right. "You look lovely."
"Thank you," she smiled, adjusting my strap. "So do you."
"I don't feel like I do," I laughed, sitting on my bed to adjust my heel. "I feel too glittery."
"Hey-the shine is what makes you look hot," she winked as I stood back up. "The party started twenty minutes ago. Shall we go?"
"Yeah," I said, following her from the room. I could hear the upbeat music blasting on the first floor, vibrating beneath my feet. My palms were sweating again.
"Hey, Vey," Ari said as we followed the stairs to the second floor.
"Hm?" I asked, crossing the hall.
"You're smoking. Show them your flames," she said. I looked over at her in confusion. Her dark eyes were hard as she took my hand. "They're unjustified, dictating our lives. Show them how wrong they are. Your fire may just burn the whole system to the ground."
"Wha-" I was cut off as she pulled me down the stairs. I could see Noah conversing below with a group of middle aged men and Zen. He turned as I came to the bottom steps. There's no way to talk about this with her until later. I bit my lip.
Noah's eyes locked on me, widening at my appearance. He wore a simple button up shirt and red tie, with black suit pants. His mouth opened, as though he were about to say something, and he took a small step towards me. Then, arms flew around me, and I was pulled in for a tight hug.
"Damn, Tiny," Finch murmured at my ear. "You look hot as hell."
"Thanks," I laughed, pulling away and stepping off the stairs. I glanced over at Noah, but he wasn't watching me anymore. I felt a little disappointed. "Finch, this is Ari," I gestured between the two of them. Ari's eyes were wide as she took him in. I couldn't blame her. He was very tall, and handsome too.
"Nice to meet you, Ari," he saluted her lightly.
"N-nice to meet you, too," she stuttered.
"Hey there, gorgeous," Zen said, resting his arm on my shoulders. "Who's your pretty friend?"
"Ari," I shook him off and stepped back. "Meet Zen."
"Hey," she waved at him shyly.
"What's kicking, cutie," Zen winked at her.
"Fucking womanizer," I mumbled under my breath, rolling my eyes.
"What was that, sweetie?" Zen ducked his head so he was my height, and then he met my eyes.
"Hm?" I feigned innocence. "I didn't say anything."
"Uh huh," he smirked, straightening. "Well, I'll see you lovely ladies later," he waved nonchalantly and walked away.
"Um," Ari was suppressing a giggle.
"Yeah," Finch snickered.
"He's a bit over the top," I shrugged, leaning against the bannister.
"He's been giving you a lot of attention," Finch commented, shoving his hands in his pockets with a smirk.
"Yeah," I nodded. "It's weird."
"Has he?" Ari asked, seeming concerned.
"What do you know, Ari?" I wondered quietly.
"He did the same thing with Natalia," she whispered back. It was hard to hear her over the music.
         "Natalia," Finch said lowly, looking at me. "Your sister?"
        "Yeah. I wonder if he knows," I let my words trail off as I thought about it.
        "There's no way he doesn't," Ari said, confirming my thoughts. "Your eyes are a huge give away."
         "That's just weird," Finch shuddered, straightening. I caught Noah's eyes over his shoulder, and watched him turn, disappearing down a hall.
         "I'll find you guys later," I said distractedly. "I gotta pee."
        "Okay," Ari said as I straightened and adjusted my dress. I waved at them before weaving through the large crowd.
It took forever to reach the other side of the room, but I was finally able to slip into the hallway. Noah was nowhere in sight as I turned the corner. I continued to walk, eventually wondering if I had somehow hallucinated him.
I adjusted my strap anxiously as I continued down the hall. A hand suddenly clamped over my mouth and I gasped, struggling and fighting against their grasp as I was quickly pulled into another room. Then, a familiar scent mixed with cologne filled my nose and I relaxed into him. He pushed the door shut and spun me around to face him.
We were in a marbled bathroom, similar to my own, with a theme of gold and white. This was all I had time to register before Noah's lips met mine. His fingers laced through my hair as his left arm encircled me, pulling me tightly against him.
After a moment of shock, I wrapped my arms around his neck and returned the kiss. His lips moved hotly against mine, passionate and sweet. I gripped the collar of his shirt, pressing closer to him.
"God dammit, Nevaeh," he growled against my lips, pressing me up against the door. He kissed me again roughly before I could respond. His lips were both hard and soft as they moved against mine.
         He lifted me onto the counter, his lips still pressed to mine. He was more animal than human as he gripped my thigh, his fingers slipping beneath my skirt. I finally pulled back, gasping for air as my hands clutched the front of his shirt.
         "You're too fucking tempting," he murmured against me, kissing up and down my jaw. "This dress shows too much skin."
        "Do you want me to change?" I asked breathlessly as his teeth caught my ear.
        "No. I want to be the one to undress you," he murmured in my ear. Goosebumps rose on my skin in anticipation just as a knock came at the door. He looked at me with a humored smirk as he asked, "Who is it?"
       "Mr. Wickenburgh is looking for you, sir," a male voice came through the door. Noah went rigid.
       "Tell him I'll meet him in the parlor shortly," he responded, his onyx eyes suddenly hard. Even the gold and amber flecks became solid as he avoided my gaze.  Footsteps faded down the hall, and Noah pulled the door open. "See you later, little dove," he said as he left.
       I sighed and slid off the counter, feeling a little disappointed as I walked back down the hall. I rejoined the party a moment later and searched for Ari and Finch. They weren't anywhere in sight.
       "Hey, beautiful," a honeyed voice growing in familiarity spoke.
        "Zen," I sighed, turning to face him.
        "You don't look happy to see me, gorgeous," he stood casually, one hand in his pocket, a cigarette in the other. He wasn't the only person smoking, but his smelled and looked different.
        "It's weed," he held it out to me. "Not tobacco."
       "I'm good," I waved it away.
       "It's good for you," he winked, insistent. I accepted it and he held up a lighter, igniting the end. I took a deep drag and immediately began coughing, handing it back. My eyes were watering, and my head felt like it was floating.
       "God, that's powerful," I choked, fanning my face. I couldn't breathe evenly yet, and my throat felt a bit sore. He chuckled and took a drag, holding it out to me again. I waved away his offer without hesitation and stepped back.
       "It's not bad once you get used to it," he shrugged, taking another hit.
        "That's what people say about cigarettes," I caught my breath and glared at him.
       "Don't look at me like that," he smirked. "I didn't force you to try it. Besides, I always say 'try everything twice. Your first experience may be bad, but your second is almost always better.'"
         "Why do you seem like the kind of person who won't take no for an answer?" I smiled wryly.
       "If I tried to kiss you, or sleep with you, and you said no, I'd back off, but this," he took a long, deep drag and held it out to me again. I accepted it hesitantly and took a small puff before handing it back. He seemed humored as he continued, "is harmless."
       "Until It kills me," I rolled my eyes. My body felt light.
       "Weed has never killed anyone," he laughed. "It's like medicine. People who abuse it are the problem."
        "Like you?" I retorted, raising an eyebrow at him.
         "Exactly," he grinned, taking another hit. I couldn't help but smile, though I tried to hide it with a cough. I held my hand out, and he gave it to me. I took another drag, deepening it until my lungs burned and I had to stop to cough. He took it back and killed it, smooshing the stub into a nearby crystal ashtray.
"I'm gonna go find my friends," I excused myself, scanning the room.
"They're in the dining room. Come find me in the ballroom later," he smirked, turning away and waving once. I rolled my eyes and wound through the crowd towards the dining room. I was pretty certain Zen only spoke to me to annoy Noah.
The dining room had been redecorated with floral bouquets and wreaths, and long tables lined with extravagant pastries, drinks, and appetizers. The fire was glowing, and colorful string lights lined the bookshelves and walls. Each table was covered by a lacey black table cloth, and lanterns and candle holders were placed evenly along them, flowers ringed around each base.
The centerpiece was a crystal lotus-shaped fountain that ran with iced water. It was illuminated by a soft purple light, and tiered beautifully. Crystal glasses were lined in six circles at its base, ice melting inside. The lotus looked like it was made of ice, trickling down into a crystal bowl at the bottom.
Finch, Ari, Lizzy, and Nora looked comfortable on the window seat as they waved me over, grinning brightly. I hurried over to them, and Ari scooted over, making room for me. Once I'd climbed onto the seat and made myself comfortable, she rested her head on my lap.
"Ooh," she grinned. "You have comfy thighs."
"Thanks," I laughed, patting her shoulder.
       "The night is young," Lizzy grinned, passing around drinks from a nearby table. It looked like a chocolate mix, so I gave it a sip, and then it was pulled from my hand. I looked up, startled.
Noah was leaning against the bookshelf with his arm over his head. He'd been the one to take the drink, holding it in his right hand as he smirked humorously at me. "What are you doing, love?" he asked, his voice low and smooth. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows neatly, and his facial hair was just beginning to return.
"I'm enjoying the party," I answered. The others had gone quiet at his presence.
"Zen told me something earlier," he pursed his lips, staring at my drink as he swirled it in the glass.
"Oh?" I rose an eyebrow at him.
"Did you really try weed?" he was suppressing a smile.
"Yeah, and?" I challenged. I didn't like being made fun of. Not by him.
"Nothing. I just wasn't expecting that," he smirked, finally looking at me again. He moved off of the bookshelf and took a drink from my glass before handing it back to me. He tilted my chin up gently with his finger, and our eyes met. "Try not to get too drunk, little dove," he murmured softly before turning on his heel and walking away. I stared after him, bewildered.
Angelina met him at the door, her Ruby lips spreading into a wide smile. She looped her arm through his, and he said something as they disappeared into the crowd. My stomach knotted, and the urge to punch her rose in me. Again, I was shocked by the violent images flickering in my mind. How I'd like to break her pretty little nose. Why does she make me so violent?
"He acts more like your boyfriend than your master," Lizzy noted, pursing her lips as I turned back to my friends.
"He does not," I blushed, hiding my embarrassment with my drink.
"Wait," Ari sat up, leaning against Finch's shoulder as she eyed me. "You tried weed?"
"I like her, Tiny," Finch laughed. "Girl has her priorities straight."
"Forget about the brewing romance," Nora teased, her eyes knowing. "Tell us about the drugs."
"It was alright," I shrugged. "It made my lungs burn, though."
"I wanna hear about the brewing romance," Lizzy grinned, her eyes meeting mine.
"There is no brewing romance," I insisted, blushing deeper and shifting in my seat. "There can't be. Not with my status."
I was surprised by how disappointed I sounded. Finch and Lizzy looked at me oddly, and I realized that they had only been joking. Now I look like an idiot.
"Have you guys tried these?" Ari broke the tension, leaning over me and grabbing orange colored drinks from a caterer's tray. They had orange slices and cream. She passed them around, and leaned back against Finch's arm.
"Ooh, it's tart," Lizzy puckered.
"Yummy, right?" Ari grinned as I sniffed my drink. I gave it a sip, and found it was delicious. It tasted orangey, with the perfect amount of sweetness from the cream. There was no bite to the alcohol, but it's flavor accented the drink pleasantly.
"I wanna dance," Finch slid off the seat, taking my hand and pulling me to my feet. "Show us to the dance floor?"
"Sure," I said as the others stood, smoothing their dresses. I gripped Finch's hand, dragging him with me through the dining room and down the hall. The others were following closely, their heels clicking on the marble floor.
People lined the hall, chatting and drinking. Music was blasting from the ballroom, and I could see colorful strobe and club lights shining through the door, dancing in the hall with the beat of the music. People were flooding in and out of the room, laughing and sweating.
       We filed into the crowd, weaving through them as the music grew louder. I could feel it vibrating beneath my feet. I could feel the music vibrating in my blood as we grew closer to the door.
My father had called me his tiny dancer when I was a child. Music was my lifeline-the air I breathed. It was in every fiber of my body, and there wasn't a single day I hadn't spent dancing until everything changed. I could feel the music again. And maybe, just maybe, I could get that part of me back tonight.
The ballroom was filled with people. A DJ had set up in the center of the far wall, and the dancing lights moved with his music. A glowing purple bar had been set up along each of the side walls, filled with ice and extravagant drinks. Everyone was dancing, smiling and happy.
The lightbulbs had been set to black light, and lasers shone brightly in the dark. Spots of glowing colors were everywhere, from shoes or dresses, and sometimes even makeup. Strobe lights were going off in every corner, and circle lights spun around the room. A disco ball had even been brought out, reflecting the colorful lights and throwing them in every direction.
"Let's try the drinks first," Nora said loudly, though it was still hard to hear her over the music. I nodded and we all moved towards the bar. The first display had shot glasses with purple blue liquor inside. I lifted one and examined it as Finch released my hand, reaching for a yellow orange shot.
"It's called a lotus shot," a voice said in my ear. I turned to look at Zen. "The orange one your boyfriend has is a nectar shot."
"He's not my boyfriend," I rose my eyebrow at him quizzically. I downed the shot, expecting a burn, but it was smooth as ice. It tasted sweet, yet bitter at the same time. "I've never heard of the lotus drink."
"You wouldn't have," he shrugged, taking his own. "It's a specialty from the Ivanov's company."
"Noah-I mean Mr. Ivanov's family makes it?" I asked.
"Well, their manufacturing company makes it, but Noah's grandfather is the one who invented it," Zen said, looking at me speculatively. He reached into his shirt pocket and grabbed another weed cigarette. "Want a hit of the joint?" he asked lazily, holding a lighter to the tip. My friends were all watching me, standing in a loose circle around Zen and I.
"Why not?" I shrugged, accepting it from him. I took a long drag and came back coughing.
"Pass it to your friends," he jerked his head towards Finch. I passed it over, trying to catch my breath again. Finch took a hit, but he didn't react the same way I did, passing it off to Ari.
"What?" he asked. "I've been smoking weed since I turned sixteen for my migraines."
I didn't even know he had them. He must have been prescribed weed when he was a citizen. Marijuana was perfectly legal. Many people used it medically, but there were others who also used it recreationally. It was supposedly good for you, and had been extensively researched for hundreds of years. Genetic enhancements and strain breeding had led to several variations that helped with various ailments and disabilities.
It was often prescribed to citizens over seventy to help with pain. Everyone had access to it after the age of sixteen, though under special circumstances, a child may be prescribed a certain dosage.
Then, there were variants specifically bred to enhance stamina, and provide energy to the brain and body. These strains worked similarly to caffeine, with long lasting effects. They were sometimes called the party strains, and I assumed what we were smoking now was one of them.
       Ari coughed badly, passing the joint off to Nora. It went around the circle twice before it was out. Zen stretched widely before speaking again.
        "Shall we join the party?" he smiled lightly, gesturing towards the dancing crowd.
       "Let's dance," Finch grinned. We moved into the crowd, finding a small clearing. We faced each other in a tight circle as the beat continued. Nora was already bobbing her head with the music, and Lizzy was jumping up and down in excitement.
      I stretched my arms and legs, loosening the muscles before I began to dance with the others. Ari was lost in the music, moving beautifully in the dim and crowded room. She faltered when she caught me looking and I grinned at her.
        "You're good," I said.
        "Better than you on your best day," she called back, grinning.
         "Are you kidding?" I smiled. "I could beat you on your best day, anytime."
          "Is that a challenge, missy?" she rose an eyebrow waving me forward. Bring it on. Her eyes read.
"Let's go," I grinned moving opposite her in the middle of the circle. I let loose, my body shaking with the upbeat music. She did too, matching my verve. Our friends cheered, but Zen just watched me with a soft smile.
I couldn't help but show off my newest moves. I'd been learning many over the past few nights, while watching other people. I could feel my muscles warming as my body moved, and the marijuana was finally starting to hit.
I felt energized, a sheen of sweat appearing on my skin. Finch joined in with the next song, and I began to jump up and down with the music. If Finch was amazing, Zen was a pro. Nora and Lizzy joined a moment later, singing along to the song.
I turned to the side, faltering as a bright shade of red caught my attention. Angelina was clinging to Noah in a sexy and provocative red dress. Mr.Wicken-burgh was speaking to them, and she was grinning. Noah looked resigned, touching the back of her hand as he spoke.
This was all I saw before I landed flat on my feet, no longer able to see them through the crowd. My stomach twisted uneasily, and I continued to dance half heartedly until the song ended. The others had definitely noticed the change in my mood, but they didn't say anything.
"I need a drink," I said over the music, excusing my self from the group. I didn't notice I was being followed until I stopped at the bar, next to the piano. The music was considerably louder this close to the DJ's station.
"What's that look, sweet pea?" Zen asked, leaning casually against the piano as I reached for a pink and white colored shot. I examined it curiously. It smelled of sweetened strawberries.
"What look?" I asked, clearing the emotions from my face.
"The look that says you're about to cry," he shrugged, lighting another joint. I touched the corner of my eye, and pulled my finger back only a moment after. I was surprised that it had come away wet.
"It's just something in my eye," I waved him off, avoiding his gaze. He held the joint out to me, and I accepted it, grateful for the distraction.
"What did you see?" he insisted, reaching for his own shot as I inhaled a lungful of smoke, and came back coughing. He took the joint and hit it again while I downed my shot. It tasted like strawberries and cream.
       "I didn't see anything that concerned you," I rose my eyebrow in a challenge and he grinned.
        "You know, Nev," he looked mischievous as he took another drag, passing it back to me before speaking again. "I like your spirit. You've got sass."
        "Careful," I couldn't help but smile. "It might bite you in the ass someday."
        I lifted another shot, downing it without looking. It was harsh, tasting strongly of tequila and lime. I puckered, my throat burning.
        "Aw, you're taking all the baby shots," he teased.
       "What should I be drinking?" I asked, hitting the joint and passing it back. I only coughed once this time.
        "These," he leaned forward, reaching past me for a set of amber colored shots. "Are the big kid drinks. This drink's called Fire-Ant Venom," he winked handing me one. He stood very close to me. "Bottoms up, gorgeous."
       I downed the shot and came back spluttering and coughing. My mouth and throat felt as though they were literally on fire. My eyes watered as I tried to catch my breath. Sure enough, I could feel tipsiness setting in with the marijuana.
     "Woah," I said when I could finally breath again.
       "Strong, isn't it?" he smiled, passing me the joint. I took another hit, my mind starting to feel almost cloudy.
      "Let's dance," he said, pulling me in front of the DJ as he killed the joint. He lit another as he began to move around me, his hands running over my body. It's just dancing. I thought, moving with him.
       A new song began, heavy with an electronic beat. The lights and lasers danced around us as I moved my hips back and forth. My body felt warm, heated as I moved. Zen's hands caressed my hips, and I closed my eyes, somehow imagining that it was Noah who held me.
       I wanted it to be true so badly it left me trembling. Why do I want you, Noah? I wondered. I wanted it to be Noah who touched me. I wanted his hands to slide over my body. I wanted him.
        "What are you two doing?" a low, smooth voice asked. My eyes fluttered open as I stopped dancing. Onyx eyes met mine, lovely and tempting.
        "Just dancing. She's entrancing when she moves," Zen spun me around to face him, tucking my hair behind my ear. I didn't have a chance to process the movement before he kissed me, hard and deep. He was shoved roughly off me and Noah swept me into his arms. No one was paying us any mind, thankfully.
           "What the hell?" I glared at Zen, squirming out of Noahs arms, though I didn't want to. I stepped forward angrily and slapped Zen hard across the face. Noah started laughing as Zen smiled lazily at me.
       "Don't take it to heart, hun," he mussed my hair, turning to Noah. "It's only a game."
       "I don't want any part of your stupid game," I flushed angrily. "Not if it means you force yourself on me."
       "You were the one rubbing your body against mine," he shrugged, turning back to me. The way he said it sounded so dirty. "But don't worry," he smirked. "I'll ask next time."
       "There won't be a next time," Noah said seriously.
        "We'll see," Zen rose an eyebrow.
        "There won't," Noah insisted.
        "Play for it?" Zen smirked. Noah thought for a moment before nodding once.
        "I'm ready for a fight," Noah stretched his arms, picking up a microphone and twirling it in his fingers.
         "You wanna fight pretty boy?" Zen grinned. "Let's dance."
       "Fine," Noah said, turning to speak to the DJ. The music cut out a moment later while I stared at Zen and Noah, confused.
       "Alright everyone, listen up. We've got a special entertainment for you all tonight," Noah flipped on the microphone, speaking loudly. Everyone was turning to watch now. Are they really gonna fight each other in front of all these people? I wondered. "Zen and myself are going to dance, and all of you will be the judges. You get to decide who wins, and who loses."
      He turned of the mic and handed it to the DJ. He looked at me with a small smile. "You'll give the final word on who wins."
        "A-alright," I stuttered nervously, biting my lip as he turned to the DJ.
       "Throw us a beat," he said, taking position across from Zen.
        The music began with a simple beat, building up slowly. Noah loosened his red tie, and they began to move, in sync with the music as they faced off. The lyrics began, tenor and clear.
        Zen was astounding, his moves complex and smooth, but Noah was a god. He glided across the floor, his movements in sync with the beat. He moved easily, light on his feet, and I found myself enchanted by him.
       At the build between the first verse and chorus, Zen threw himself upside down, spinning on his hand. It was shocking, catching my attention for a moment. He had a lot of upper arm strength, which became clear as he began to break dance.
       Noah's verve increased as he danced around Zen, a smile creeping onto his face. Their styles were similar, and their skills were advanced. My eyes widened as Noah's movements became more complicated, fast and impressive.
       A light sheen of sweat was pooling on his golden tanned skin. His eyes were liquid, his smile genuine. The lights moving over his body accented his features, giving him dramatic shadows and highlights.
         The chorus came to an end, and Zen rose to his feet. They pressed their backs together before springing into more complex dance moves. Zen rose onto his feet and spun in his heel, caressing my cheek dramatically as he faced me. He jumped back, and spun again, lowering to the ground as he turned.
         The second chorus, began, and my attention returned to Noah. He smirked and winked at me, drops of sweat trailing down his face. He was breathing heavily, and his skin was flushed. He was putting everything he could into his movements.
      The beat became louder as it built up to the bridge. The world seemed to move in slow motion as Noah sprung from the ground, curving backwards with his arms outstretched. A back hand spring. My eyes widened as his hands made contact with the ground.
      His elbows bent, and he pushed himself off the ground once more, curving into a backflip as the final chorus began with a loud booming beat. He landed firmly in front of me, spinning gracefully on his heel to face me.
       I squealed as he pulled me against him and dipped me, spinning me out before stepping back and facing Zen. The finale had begun, and they were both grinning, showing off. The crowd was cheering and clapping with the music, awed and excited. I could see Finch and Ari across from the clearing. Nora and Lizzy were with them, watching with wide eyes.
          Noah's touch left my heart racing in my chest, and it was as though an enchantment had settled on me, locking my attention on his every move. I could feel the blush creeping into my cheeks and the butterflies stirred in my stomach. How do you always manage to leave me wanting more? His scent lingered in the air, and I could still feel his warmth on my skin.
          The song came to an end, and they finished with cool looking poses. The crowd began to clap, slow at first, and then louder as they begged for an encore. The spell locking my eyes on Noah broke, and I shook my head, trying to clear it. He picked up the microphone but I couldn't make out what he was saying. My mind was flooded with images of him dancing.
"So, who won?" Noah asked, tucking my hair behind my ear.
"You," I smiled softly. There was no contest to start with.
"You can't ask her," Zen laughed. "She's biased."
Noah turned to speak to him, smiling and laughing. I squoze through the crowd, feeling a bit dizzy. I need to lay down. I thought as I stumbled out of the room. The world was starting to spin a little, and my head hurt. I leaned against the hallway wall for a moment, trying to steady myself.
       It took me a long time to reach the stairs, and then I had to drag myself up them. When I finally reached my room, I drug myself into the bathroom. I adjusted the dial on the shower and undressed, stepping in as the water began to run.
        I rinsed the makeup from my face and scrubbed myself clean carefully as the hot water soothed my muscles. When all the soap had run down the drain, I adjusted the dial to cold, gasping as the icy water hit. It sobered me a bit, though, so I was glad.
         I turned everything off and toweled off, pulling on a full length, flowing and silky white robe-dress. It's fabric was so thin that it was was almost see-through. A knock came at my bedroom door as I picked up my brush. I assumed it was Ari or Noah, so I called, "Come in, I'll only be a moment."
        The door opened, and someone entered, though I didn't bother to check who. I combed carefully through my hair, and pulled it into a long braid, letting it fall over my shoulder. I applied a moisturizing cream to my face, and brushed my teeth diligently before leaving the bathroom.
        I yawned tiredly as I shuffled along the carpet. I could see the silouhette of someone standing by my window, looking out. They hadn't bothered to turn on the lights, so I moved towards the door, flipping them on carelessly. I turned around to see Ari or Noah, and was about to ask what they wanted when I froze.
        It was not Noah, or Arianna who stood before me. No. This person was short, and balding, leaning against a golden cane. His eyes were wicked, his smile sickening. His skin was wrinkled and translucent, covered in age spots and moles.
Terror burned through me, and I paled. My heart thudded in my chest, and I resisted the urge to dry my palms on my robe. I didn't want to show any sign of weakness in front of this person. He was deadly, and intelligent. Dangerous.
         The person standing before me was Mr. Wickenburgh.