Sandra

Chapter 1

With the musicians playing their cellos and violins, the lake masquerade party had finally sprung to life at the Monarch mansion. The citizens of the crown and his colonies had dressed ever so nicely with his ladies wearing their finest gowns and his gentlemen wearing their finest waistcoats and jackets. But the most stunning things were the masks; some had covered their wearer's faces completely or partly. Some were studded and made of glass or precious metals. But among the partying lot were the unmasked Benjamin and Gabriel. The two young men weren't that flashy when it came to dressing up. Representing the Queen's Rangers, they wore green coats and with their black breeches and leather knee high boots. The only things flashy upon them were their sashes and sabers.

 "I've never been to a place like this before." "Best not get used to it, Benjamin. In a few weeks, we go back into the woods dodging steel and lead."  Ben grinned and playfully jabbed his friend's arm, "Why do you always have to ruin the moment? If we are to die tomorrow then I want this to be the most amazing night our lives!" Before joining the rangers, Gabriel would always enjoy the finer things in life and would try his best to shun the negative. But ever since their first skirmish he had turned a bit cold as if it had finally opened a door into reality. The two men had walked around the homestead chatting it up with inventors, politician and of course, the women. Most of them were bachelorettes with their fathers at their side. "Where is Samson?" "I don't know, but look at who else is here."

 Gabriel had nodded towards a girl in a lavender gown and a purple mask, her hair was a lovely brunette with eyes the color of steel with a ravishing upper body. "It's Delilah!" Benjamin began to blush furiously,"How can you be so sure?" "Are you kidding me?! Look at her, she's the only woman in the colonies with lips like that, and they're natural." The young ranger had sighed as he rubbed his chin, "You've forgotten soft looking as well," his friend jested. He tried to wipe away the blush in his cheeks and had stood tall. She was talking to an officer who wore a black mask and had a braided lock of hair hanging down from under his hat. "She's also talking to Samson! Let's go!" Benjamin had been pulled by his sash and had tripped on a root to fall face first into the chest of the girl he fancied.

 In an instant, he lifted his gaze from her chest locking his eyes with hers. Delilah's mask had fallen from her face exposing her now cherry red cheeks. "Hi M- Ms. Walter." "Good afternoon to you as well, Mr. Banks." He instantly hopped off and had offered his hand to pick up her while his chuckling friends watched. "I'm terribly sorry about all of this." He gave her back the mask that fell in the incident while Samson he held onto his beret. "I'm so glad you two could make it! I'm more than fortunate to run into Lady Walter," he said patting the boy's backs. He was the eldest and being an officer of the king's army he excelled in maturity, but like Benjamin, he would never flounder away from fun and relaxation. It had been many months ever since the war with the French had begun. "Samson! What's that thing on your finger?!" "Oh! This?" He pointed to his wedding band and grinned, "This is me being loyal to a woman and a daughter that I will cherish until I return to dust!" 

Delilah had smiled softly at Samson making Benjamin's heart sink as he put his beret on. "Well, she's very lucky to have you, Sir." "I hope so! Oh give me a minute to fetch her and for Pete's sake don't call me sir." Flashing a grin he stormed off making the boy nearly smile from ear to ear as he heart felt relieved. "I can't believe it, only a few months and he goes off and gets himself a daughter. It's weird how time works. What about you Delilah, have you any children of your own?" She had scoffed and punched Gabriel's arm, "Oh Heaven's no! I've been keeping myself busy; I'm a published writer now." The boys were surprised at her news, "That's fantastic! We're really happy for you, we really are!" She giggled at the boys, "You two need to stop before you make me blush." As she hid her face behind her mask she couldn't help but notice Ben's cheeks. "Ben, are you sick?" His eyes had shot upon at his friend's remark. "Ma'am?"

"Your cheeks, they're redder than apples. And for Heaven's sake," she playfully smacked his arm with her hand,"don't call me ma'am, it makes me feel old." The young ranger had rubbed his curly hair and had looked at his friend to support him. But Gabriel's eyes were latched onto someone else who had been eyeing them from afar. "Oi, Benjamin, don't look now, but you have someone eyeing you." At that moment didn't know whether to scold his friend or to hug him due to his marvelous distraction. But when he had gazed at where his friend nodded his eyes had lit up. There she stood, in an off the shoulder gown composed of the finest black fabrics with a white ribbon hugging her waist. Her skin was powder pale and appeared to be smooth and soft as silk. Her crow black hair stood out as she fashioned a golden mask that sat on her face. With a flick of her wrist, she opened her fan open to hide a small a giggle. "Benjamin you sly fox. I wonder who she is." Gabriel said with a smirk.

 It seemed that Ben would never catch a break. His face was yet again red like a fresh tomato as he glanced at the woman who had now turned to walk inside the mansion. "I'm not so sure myself," Delilah said. "I haven't seen her in town recently nor have I seen her at any other gatherings this fall. How about we go off and find Samson, I'm sure your lady can wait, Ben." He scratched his head and chuckled, "Of course, we sure did lose that man didn't we?" For the night, they began to talk  after they found Samson and his wife near the marble fountain. they were given two porcelain masks to enter the mansion. But little did our young adventurer, Benjamin knew that this would the beginning to a haunting tale.