Carnevale (#Wattys2015)

Chapter 5

*Shout-out to ForgottenFlower17 , who made my new cover! It looks fab!!*

Cinzia teased her hair up to the top of her head and twisted the dark chestnut strands into a bun. She tied it off with a ribbon and picked up her gold and black mask off her and Sofia's shared vanity table. Cinzia placed the mask on the bridge of her nose and grasped the two long black ribbons, pulling them back and knotting them firmly together.

"Cinzia? Can you come help me with my dress?" Sofia called from the bathroom adjacent to the bedroom Cinzia was currently situated in. Cinzia stepped through the door and into the white and blue room, smiling at Sofia in the mirror.

"I have already put my hair up and my dress goes over my head, I don't want to ruin it, because, for once, it actually is staying in place!" Sofia explained, indicating to the mass of coppery curls situated on the top of her head. Cinzia nodded and picked up the dress and held it up so that Sofia could slip into it carefully. Sofia pulled the deep purple material over her shoulders and Cinzia wordlessly handed her the black heels that were placed precariously beside the sink. Sofia slid her feet into them and Cinzia, deeming her work done, stepped back into the bedroom.

As she stepped back in front of the mirror, she heard a knock at the front door and a few moments later Angelique burst through the bedroom door. Angelique made her way over to the cupboard, where she had stored her dress for safekeeping. She pulled it out and tugged it on over her head, before grabbing a ribbon and began to style her hair.

Half an hour later, and all three girls had finally finished getting ready. They made their way out of Sofia's family house and onto a large elegant gondola. The vessel had black and gold designs carved into the seats and velvet cushions perched on indents. Cinzia sat next to Angelique and grinned happily, yet slightly nervously, at Sofia, who sat opposite her. Angelique pulled out a small elaborately designed mirror and checked her perfect hair, making sure her curls fell over her shoulder to the right and reassuring herself that the rosebud-shaped curls sat in a neat line.

"Angelique. Honey. Your hair is fine, stop worrying." Sofia smiled at her best friend calmingly. Angelique patted her head once more, before putting the handheld mirror away in her shoulder bag. The gondola pushed away from the dock and they set off at a steady pace.

"So, you guys going to tell me who Bastian is so I can recognise him?" Cinzia sent a pointed look at Sofia, who just laughed at her and shook her head.

"Ha, you wish! Nope, thats not happening anytime soon!" Cinzia sighed at Sofia's denial.

After another fifteen minutes of Cinzia pestering Sofia for hints about Sebastian and Angelique nervously readjusting her dress to stop herself from checking her hair, the gondolier pulled the boat up next to a path that led to the courtyard.

A footman appeared beside the boat and held his hand out. Cinzia slid her hand into his and grasped tightly as he helped her out of the vessel. She let go once her shoes had found purchase on the cobbles and waited patiently while Sofia and Angelique made their way off the gondola.

Together the trio made their way through to the crowd towards three tall figures standing slightly to the left of the courtyard entrance.

"Hawk - you there?" Sofia whispered to the man on the right. Cinzia saw him roll his eyes behind his silver and blue mask, before replying with an exasperated, slightly hushed, sigh,

"Yes Raven! It is I, the one with the lamest code name in the history of lame code names. I told you before I wanted to be Phoenix, if I had to be anything!" 'Hawk' hissed at Sofia, who frowned at him. Cinzia looked at the other two men, catching the eye of the one on the far left. Pascal winked at her.

"Honestly Seb? Phoenix? You could have any code name you want, and you go for 'Phoenix'? And here I was, thinking you had slightly more, shall we say, class?" He raised his eyebrows at his friend. Cinzia giggled at who she guessed was Sebastian, who was scowling at Pascal, "I mean, come on! Why didn't you choose 'Serpent' or 'Leviathan'? I'm ashamed to know you!" Pascal announced dramatically. The group laughed at Sebastian, except for Sofia who glowered at them.

"I thought Hawk was a good name!' She spoke indignantly. Sebastian scoffed,

"Only because you came up with it! Angelique, any time soon?" He raised his brow expectantly.

"Ooh! I almost forgot! Cinzia, this is Sebastian!" Angelique gestured towards the man with the silver and blue mask perched on his nose, "Seb, in case you haven't aleady figured it out, this is Cinzia, your date!" She introduced the duo, before going to stand beside Pascal. Sofia linked her arm through Fabian's, who was wearing a white and bronze bauta mask and the traditional black attire, although his seams were sewn in a rich purple.

The three pairs made their way under the stone arch and into the courtyard. Inside, there were columns bordering the square, mounted with metal lamps, candles glowing brightly inside each.

Sebastian and Cinzia stood side-by-side, staring at the elaborately decorated courtyard. Cinzia trailed her fingers along the edge of the fountain, the pads of her fingers dampened by the slick marble surface.

"Come on you two! We didn't come here to stare at the decorations! Dance!" Sofia yelled from across the courtyard. Sebastian grinned sheepishly at Cinzia.

"May I have this dance?" He asked, holding out a dark-blue gloved hand. Cinzia placed her hand on his and they stepped into the centre of the courtyard.

As the pair stepped and spun in circles, they made small talk about their pasts. Cinzia found out that Bastian came from a wealthy family, yet didnt have any intention of following in his father's footsteps as one of the Supreme Court - one of the many advisors to the Doge of Venice. She also found out that he had known Sofia and Nico since they were babies and had remained friends for many years since. Sebastian learnt the real reason Cinzia had come to Venice (or part of it anyway). She told him that Sir Boriello and his two children were the only respectable family she had left.

By that time, several hours had passed and the pair was exhausted. They sat down on a bench next to Angelique and Pascal. Sofia and Fabian joined the four a few minutes later, followed by a waiter holding a tray full of champagne flutes. Cinzia gratefully accepted one, sipping the cool refreshing liquid, sighing as it soothed her dry throat.

"It's getting very late, when do you lot want to head home?" Angelique asked, turning her head to look at the rest of the group. Cinzia shrugged, making eye contact with Sofia and tilting her head to convey that she should answer.

"Let's have one more dance shall we?" She asked, grinning as her friends agreed. Fabian grabbed her by the hand and dragged her back onto the smooth stone of the courtyard. Cinzia grinned at Sebastian as he pulled her behind him, linking their fingers together. They made their way to a secluded, dim corner and began to dance. The pair stepped slowly and in unison, in tune with the band playing softly at the edge of the square.

After several minutes of peaceful silence, Cinzia's heel caught on a loose stone and she stumbled. Sebastian tightened his grip on her hips and pulled her back upright. Cinzia looked up and stared as the moon gently glowed in Sebastian's midnight blue eyes. He leant in slightly closer, at the same time as Cinzia did, shivering as his breath ghosted over her skin. Their lips brushed together and Bastian grasped Cinzia's waist. The pair pulled apart and Cinzia looked up at Sebastian.

Cinzia pulled gently away and made her way across the courtyard towards Fabian and Sofia. Fabian pressed a soft kiss to Sofia's mouth just as Pascal had done to Angelique a moment before. The two girls stared at each other, wide eyed, before making their way out of the quiet square. Angelique joined them as they walked under the stone arch and the three walked home in a daze.

*AN: Umm... so...that happened. Tbh, the chapter wasn't going to end like that, but... Oh well! First kisses, huh?

Hope you liked the chapter and I've got another one coming soon(ish)

xoxoxoxoxo

~howling-wolf~