Ethereal

Lark

I adjusted my black, feathered mask, staring at my reflection in the mirror. It was finally the night of my Becoming, and, not surprisingly, I looked no different.

I wouldn't be going as myself tonight though. Well, at least not at first. Going as the black raven would allow me to dance with whomever I liked. The black raven could steal a moment alone. Could catch his breath.

My other costume, the green serpent, would not be so lucky. The serpent would be dragged from dance to dance, forced to smile politely as people stumbled over their feet to touch his jacket or catch his eye.

I sighed. At least I could be the raven for a little while. I hadn't told my father of my plan; only Hiroshi knew. I was planning to be the raven until the troika before my servants would need me to get changed.

I stilled as Rhyannon's laugh came pirouetting down the hall. She and Elis were getting ready for the revelry together, which entailed piles of dresses and an absurd amount of laughter. I let out a sigh and, satisfied with my costume, slipped out of my bedroom. As I neared the ballroom, I could hear the musicians tuning. The doors would open any minute now. Pulling light away from me, I stuck to the shadows and reached the servant corridors. I felt along the wall for the familiar give in the panel, pressing against it until I heard a click. I slipped inside and followed the northern hallway towards the ballroom.

Once I had passed three doorways, I turned, climbing back out. I was now in a darkened corner of the ballroom, hidden beneath the stairs that I would enter from later this evening. When I was sure none of the servants would see me, I slid around the end of the stairs, creeping up them until I'd reached the first landing. I sat back against the wall and watched as the doors were pulled open and the first guests began to arrive.

The musicians immediately began to play a cheerful melody, though it wasn't the kind one danced to. The dancing would start later. My father, brother, and sister Nissa had already stationed themselves on the dais, greeting the guests.

I surveyed the influx of faeries, spotting a few faces I recognized. Over there was the baron who never knew when to shut up. Oh, and to his left was the count with a terrible sense of humor. And was that the young countess who had begged me to kiss her but had gotten too drunk and upended her entire meal on my lap?

I wrinkled my nose. Yes, it definitely was.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of black hair and the red mask of a fox. I nearly missed the moment Hiroshi blinked out of sight. A faint smile touched my lips. I waited until I sensed the barest disturbance of air to my right.

"Hiding as well?" I asked, keeping my gaze trained on the guests before me.

Hiroshi sighed. "How do you always do that?" He released his enchantment, and his figure sat against the wall beside me appeared.

I shrugged. "I suppose I have a gift."

Hiroshi scoffed, punching me lightly in the arm. "Why aren't you down there yet? The first dance is about to begin."

I raked a hand through my hair. "Do you ever wish you were born as someone else?"

Hiroshi tilted his head to look at me. "Not very seriously, if that's what you mean."

I sighed. "It's not that I'm not appreciative of what I've been given, but..." Hiroshi placed a hand on my shoulder, immediately understanding what I meant. My father. My brother. I was the disappointment of the family. "If only I'd been born the youngest, I wouldn't have been the one to decide if my mother—"

"Hey," Hiroshi's grip tightened on my shoulder, "you have to stop blaming yourself for that. It's time to move on." I began to protest. "And not with your usual methods of drowning everything out. Drinking only makes things worse."