Ravenswynd Legends

Chapter 8. Midnight Masquerade

Midnight Masquerade

We walked with great caution down the long wooden pier. Women in high-heels stepping upon planks of wood with gaps between them make for a slow and careful pace. Stepping as though I walked on a tightrope, I didn't dare look up again until my feet were back on solid ground. In the shadows of the dim parking lot, two large limousines waited with doors already open and motors idling. Both drivers stood at attention, ready and waiting. When the fog rolled in, it added to the eerie stillness that already existed. The clammy mist hid all the sharp outlines of everything around us - visibility reduced to nothing more than vague shapes and movements. By the look of relief on a few faces, I wasn't alone in my feelings as we climbed into the lighted vehicle.

The drive took about ten minutes, although the tinted windows, bright interior lights, and dense fog made any hope of scenic views quite impossible. All we could do was sit and look at one another- each soul lost in his or her thoughts. As for me, my thoughts kept on going back to the nagging feeling that, more than likely, we had made a major mistake in coming tonight.

Finally, the vehicles stopped. When the doors were opened the sound of light Celtic music filled the air. Melodies from violins, piano and flutes rolled in like waves on the ocean. The arrangement had such a beautiful and calming effect that within moments, the soft dreamy music managed to ease some of my apprehension.

The air was clear and dry here, farther inland. A warm, gentle breeze drifted through my hair bringing the aroma of flowers at every movement: roses, lilacs, lavender. Each step seemed to fill my senses with another lovely fragrance.

I craned my neck up at the building we were about to enter. It was massive - at least five stories high and huge pillars lined either side of the entryway. The two doors of heavy oak were both open and bright light flowed out onto the wide cement stairway. I counted twenty before we reached the top, and the music became louder at each step. We followed Captain Red inside to a vast foyer which seemed larger than our entire dorm building. A massive double stairway on either side, each a half circle, rounded the foyer and led to places unknown. Hanging from the ceiling in the middle of all this space was a beautiful crystal chandelier the size of Fiona's car. Two gentlemen in tuxedos took our coats and we were brought to a parlor on the right side of the stairway. In this room, there was a fireplace so large a person could stand upright in it.

A familiar painting hung on the wall above the mantle, and I stared, marveling at its strange beauty: Brilliant orange streaks burned across the sky as a thin man walked on a pier beside deep blue swirling waters. Far in the distance, two dark figures can be seen coming toward him. The man appears to be holding his face in his hands, or perhaps covering his ears, but has a most agonizing expression and wide open mouth: the epitome of fear. I thought this quite ironic, that a painting with the most befitting name, The Scream, would be displayed in a room where vampires and humans would meet. Perhaps the artist, Edvard Munch, had experienced such terror as the man in his painting did.

After a while, I was finally able to tear my eyes away from the ominous picture and take in the rest of the scenery. So far - no vampires. The room was filled with chairs and sofas, soft lighting and elegant decorations. Women servers dressed in black uniforms edged in crisp, lacy trim and little white aprons started flitting about handing out glasses of champagne to everyone. After a few moments of nervous mingling, Captain Red entered the room. It then occurred to me - we didn't even know her name.

Her bright smile surprised me, and after getting our complete attention, she said, "Welcome to our gathering. Let me introduce myself. My name is Amrita."

She then went on to explain what would take place for the first half of the evening. It was to be a masquerade ball where we'd be so disguised no one would be able to tell who was who, whether human or Raven, simply to get everyone to relax. I saw my sister frown and shake her head. I could see she wasn't happy at the thought of having wasted so much time on her hair and makeup, only to mess it up wearing facemasks or wigs. I personally thought it was a grand idea. It would help us to relax, and we'd able to talk to the Ravens and not think so much about the fact that they were vampires. Just because Captain Red - Amrita, told us they weren't allowed to do certain things here, didn't mean there couldn't be a rogue vampire who refused to follow the rules. The very thought of villainous vampires sent a quick chill all through me.