When Darkness Falls

Chapter 40: The ball

It was nearly time to go to the ball, and I paced around the room, my heart beating out of my chest from the anxiety. My nerves were sky-high, and I contemplated whether or not I should go. I tried to calm my breathing, and I nearly jumped through the roof when a knock came at my door.

I gasped in surprise and whipped my head toward the door. I inhaled and exhaled sharply, reminding myself that things would be fine. I walked over to the door and gripped the handle before swinging it open.

Dahlia stood there, smiling from ear to ear, as her bright blue eyes roamed over my body and took in my attire. "You look beautiful." She told me, and I smiled at her kind words.

I curtsied and lowered my head. "Why, thank you," I said in a playful tone, and she giggled.

She gestured with her hand for me to follow. "Come on, Darius asked me to take you to the ball," Dahlia said hurriedly, her excitement bursting forth.

I chuckled and followed her out of my room, closing the door behind me. Dahlia gripped my hand and led me down the hall, a pep in her step. She picked up the pace, and we hurried through the hallway, our gowns billowing softly behind us.

We came to a stop, and Dahlia pushed on the wall, opening a passageway. She opened the door and revealed a hidden staircase. I pursed my lips with surprise, and my brows shot up. "Well, that's cool," I said aloud, and she turned to face me, a sly smile gracing her lips.

She led me down the stairs, and at the bottom was another door. Dahlia took out a skeleton key and unlocked the door before pushing it open. A long, dimly lit hallway was on the other side, and my nerves began to rise when I noticed the bright light at the end.

Dahlia walked down the corridor, and the sound of her shoes clicking against the cement floor echoed throughout. I could hear music and people talking as we neared the end of the hallway. My hands began to tremble, and my heart pounded in my chest.

We stopped at the door, and Dahlia reached for the handle but stopped midway. She turned to face me, a stern look in her eyes. "Don't be afraid," Dahlia told me, and I nodded in understanding.

I sucked in a deep breath and swallowed the fear, smiling bravely as we walked through the door. My mouth fell open when we stepped inside, and my eyes roamed the elegantly decorated room.

Gold, candle-lit chandeliers hung from the ceiling, black vines draping down and nearly touching the floor. Tall golden pillars lined each side of the room and were decorated with black flowers. Round tables were spread throughout, covered in black silk and accented with gold candles.

Near the front of the room was a massive fireplace that burned brightly, providing adequate lighting in the room. A small group of men sat next to the fireplace and played classical music, the sound of their instruments nearly drowning out the conversations around me. Lastly, I noticed the large table that sat before the fire, covered in gold clothes and golden candles, a table fit for the gods.

I finally tore my gaze away from the enchanting ballroom and peered around at all the other people standing in the room. Some stared at me with great curiosity, and some glowered at me with pure hatred. I looked down at Dahlia, and she gave me a comforting smile before taking my hand in hers.

She led me through the crowd of people, and my heart began beating uncontrollably. I shuddered with fear at the number of eyes staring at me, and I looked around frantically, feeling unsafe.

My chest heaved with panic when I realized I had let go of Dahlia's hand. I stood there, alone and surrounded by monsters that outmatched me immensely. I continued walking, fear slithering up my spine with each step, and my eyes darted around the room at all the hungry eyes. Finally, I came to an abrupt stop when I collided with something hard, and it took everything in me not to scream.

A sharp gasp slipped past my lips, and I anxiously tried to back away but was grasped firmly by the arms. I looked up and was elated to see it was Darius. I sighed with relief and stopped fighting, no longer trying to pull away from him.

Darius smelled delicious, the soft scent of his cologne wafting into my nostrils and bringing me comfort. He wore an all-black suit, except for a golden pin attached to his bowtie. His hair was slicked back, and his face was freshly shaved.

Darius smiled and brushed the hair away from my face. "I'm here, Mon Tresor." He said in a calm voice, and I smiled, holding back the tears of joy I felt just from being in his arms. The fear and anxiety melted away in his presence.

He kept his hold on my arms but leaned back to take in my outfit. His golden eyes roamed the length of my body more than once, taking in every inch, and I watched as his eyes darkened and his smile widened with sinful intentions.

Darius leaned forward, brushing his lips against my ear, and I stiffened. "You look radiant, more beautiful than I could have imagined, and I look forward to the end of the night, to having you all to myself." He whispered sweetly, and I closed my eyes, blushing at his words.

My eyes roamed up and down his body. "You look really handsome," I told him honestly and a little nervously, but I wanted him to know the truth.

He chuckled and wrapped an arm around my neck, pulling me to him, then devoured my mouth. Darius stole my breath as usual, and all my worries were gone for that brief moment. However, when Darius pulled away, I was brought back to reality and slowly began to realize that we were surrounded by wandering eyes.

The strange people crowded around Darius and me with cold, scrutinizing gazes. I looked into his eyes with worry, and he smiled warmly. "They are jealous," Darius said with assurance, and I snorted.

Darius held out his hand and gestured toward the dance floor. "Dance with me?" He asked, with a questioning brow raised.

I looked around the room, and in the far corner, I saw Dahlia standing there with another girl. She smiled at me and gestured with her hand for me to go dance with her brother. I turned back to Darius and nodded, smiling with confidence as I took his hand.

He guided me through the crowd, and all eyes were on us, watching intently as we made our way to the dance floor. My chest heaved anxiously, and my muscles tensed, nearly causing me to trip over my own feet.

A few other people occupied the floor, dancing slowly to the intimate music. Darius spun me around, and I collided with his chest, causing me to gasp with surprise. His fingers glided across my palm as he held my hand in his, and the other hand snaked around my waist, holding me firmly.

I placed my other hand on his shoulder and sucked in a deep breath, trusting him to guide me. Darius raised a curious brow. "Ready?" He asked, and I nodded rapidly, even though my heart was pounding in my chest with uneasiness.

He kissed my forehead, lingering for a moment toolong. "Don't worry; I won't let you fall, Mon Tresor," Darius said with promise,and the tension eased a little as he whisked me away onto the dance floor.