The Reluctant Luna

Chapter 33

As I approached the grand entrance of the masquerade ball, my heart quickened its pace, matching the rhythm of the distant music that floated through the crisp night air. The soft glow of lanterns illuminated the path, casting ethereal shadows that danced along the cobblestone walkway. With each step, the anticipation coiled tighter within me, mingling with a tinge of nervous excitement.

The scent of fragrant roses hung heavy in the air, their sweet perfume intertwining with the aroma of freshly baked pastries wafting from the grand hall. The tantalizing smell teased my senses, beckoning me forward into the unknown realm of masked revelry.

As I ascended the marble steps, the sound of laughter and merriment grew louder. They were like a symphony of voices mingling and mixing with the enchanting melody of violins and harps. My pulse thrummed in time with the music. The steady rhythm echoed the fluttering of butterflies in my stomach.

With trembling fingers, I adjusted the delicate mask that concealed my features, its intricate design an elegant facade to the nerves that churned beneath the surface. The mask felt like a barrier, shielding me from prying eyes and offering a fleeting sense of anonymity in a sea of elaborate disguises.

Stepping through the arched doorway, I was enveloped in a whirlwind of color and movement. The grand hall stretched before me, adorned with cascading tapestries and shimmering chandeliers that cast a soft, golden glow upon the throngs of masked guests.

Everywhere I looked, figures adorned in elaborate costumes twirled and danced with effortless grace, their laughter echoing off the vaulted ceilings. The air was alive with the hum of whispered secrets and stolen glances, each masked face a tantalizing mystery waiting to be unveiled.

I hesitated for a moment, feeling a surge of apprehension wash over me like a tidal wave.

I thought about my plan and the outfit I had hidden in the bathroom on the floor 15 minutes earlier. Would I be able to go through with it? But then, as if on cue, a gentle hand brushed against mine, sending a jolt of electricity racing through my veins. I turned to find a masked stranger standing beside me, their eyes twinkling with mischief behind the intricate filigree of their fine wire mask.

Oliver. I tensed up.

"I knew you'd come," he said. His voice was a melodic invitation that stirred something deep within me. It was different from how he'd spoken to me before. And behind my mask, I recognized that he didn't know it was me. I felt ..cold.

I looked down at my hand in his, and I had the strange temptation to take it back.

"Do you want to dance?" he asked.

I looked at the dance floor where couples moved in graceful harmony. Each dancer seemed to be caught in their own world, oblivious to the outside chaos, lost in the hypnotic sway of the music. The rustle of silk skirts and the murmur of whispered conversations blended seamlessly with the lilting melody, creating a symphony.

But I didn't want to dance. I wasn't sure if I could. Oliver seemed to read this in my eyes.

"We'll talk then?"

He didn't wait for my nearly silent 'ok' before taking my hand tighter and leading me towards the balcony. I was reluctant to say anything... I wasn't sure if he'd recognize my voice. This wasn't something I had considered when I made my plans. Then again, nothing was going to plan. I wondered briefly if my presence would be missed... but Oliver had eyes only for his mate.

'As it should be,' said a voice in my mind. And even now, I'm not sure if I agree with it.

The balcony was serene and beautiful. The early ghost of the moon floated in a sky blazed with streaks of crimson and gold. The colors were so intense that they were like a canvas painted with fire and light that somehow stretched as far as the eye could see.