Fading Into The Sea

Chapter 2

I really tried to argue with my father about the marriage. But my fate had already been decided. My father was going to make me marry some man I didn't even know. I was terrified. Father told me that he was going to ask for my hand during the ball at midnight and I was to say yes. He told me that it was for my own good and I may grow to love him. But I knew better, there was something about him that was unsettling and I didn't like it.
It was high noon when Mary started helping me get ready for the ball. My father had had a seamstress make me a beautiful black dress that resembled that of a peacock, it had green, blue, and silver embedded into the dress, and the way the colors where arranged made it almost look like I had feathers. It was beautiful, it was long enough that it drug across the floor, the tight fit top made me look curvy and really petite which I wasn't. Mary pined my hair up on top of my head with a few curls that gently rested at the sides of my neck, then she put the finishing touches in my hair, the pins were beautiful diamonds that looked like they had been sprinkled on top of me. My mask was black and covered the top half of my face leaving my red stained lips to stand out on their own. Least to say I didn't recognize myself. By the time I was finished getting ready the ball had started, the sun had dipped low behind the horizon leaving the sky a mixture of reds and oranges.
I was beside my father as the last of the guests arrived in our ball room, of course I didn't know any of them, because they were all my father's friends. I was looking over at the mounds of food that sat at a very long table. There must have been a good hundred people that showed up, possible more and I didn't know a single person. Wait scratch that I knew one person. James. He was dressed in a navy blue suit with a red cape draped across his shoulder and a gold mask across his face. It wasn't hard to find him amongst all the women that basically flung themselves at him. I was lost in thought when a deep voice brought me back to reality.
"Hello love."
I turned to see a tall man dressed in black standing next to me. His hair was as black as a raven's feather and neatly groomed back, his deep set eyes were a marvelous gold, and He had a black mask that covered half of his face, the sharp edges in the mask almost made it look like he had the face of a demon. His black cape had a red undertone to it, and was draped across his left shoulder. Little accents of gold dotted his suit here and there. Over all he was a pretty attractive man. Well at least from what I could see.
"Evening." I replied coolly.
"Are you having a good time?"
"Actually I'm a bit bored." I said turning to see that James was still flirting with the same group of women that he was earlier.
"Do you fancy him?" He asked. Turning to look at him a puzzled look on my face.
"For Mr. Chadwick? Oh no, not at all, he is quite rude and very self-absorbed." That made him laugh.
"How so?"
"He doesn't care about other people's opinions and don't even get me started on how much he loves his medals." I said. He laughed and looked over to where James was talking to some light haired bimbo.
"Well my lady, would you care to dance?" His voice sent shivers up my spine. He held out his hand for me to take, well it is my birthday and my last night as a free woman, I can dance with whomever I wish. I thought to myself.
"Sure, why not?" I said taking his hand in mine. He led us out to the middle of the ball room floor, where a bunch of other couples danced around us. Putting my hand on his shoulder and his hand on my waist a new song started to play by the band, and we began to sway back and forth. The song that played seemed sad, it was one I had never heard before, and I am sure that the band had never played it before. I looked around the room to see if anyone was watching us, butterflies jumped in my stomach as I felt a warm finger brush against my cheek. I turned to look at the man in black and gazed into his golden eyes.
"Don't worry about them," he whispered. "Right now it's only you and i." as soon as the words left his mouth the music changed dramatically into something fast and upbeat. We danced faster and faster, he twirled me every which way, our bodies were in sink, we didn't miss a beat as the music carried on. My gaze didn't part from his the entire time. The song was coming to an end and he ended the dance when he threw me in a low dip. We were both panting, trying to catch our breath, my face was so close to his our lips where just inches away.
"Who are you?" I whispered. He stood up and looked at me before he bowed and said.
"Thank you for the lovely dance Ms. Michelson, it was one to remember." Then he turned and disappeared into the crowed. A shiver went up my spine, and my hands felt warm and clammy, I knew that that man was dangerous but I was intrigued by him. It wasn't until after he left that I realized everyone was staring at me. I gave a embarrassed smile and nod then walked off to sit at the long table along the wall.
Two seconds later the party was filled with music and chatter again. who was that man? Where did he go? Did I do something wrong? Questions swam in my head as my father approached me.
"Who was that man Brea?" he demanded.
"I... I don't know."
"You don't know? I am having a hard time believing that Brea, he was practically all over you, you've had to have met him before!"
"father I swear I don't know him, and all we did was dance, is that a crime?"
"You are to be married Brea! I expect you to mind yourself, you are a young women and should be acting as such, not some spoiled little child who throws a fit when she doesn't get her way. I didn't think I would ever see a day when my daughter, the daughter of a Duke no less would throw herself into the arms of a man she doesn't even know."
"You're already forcing me to do just that." I mumbled.
"I beg your pardon?" he gasped.
"Nothing father."
"Brea your engaged to Mr. Chadwick don't you forget that." He said then walked away.
"Not yet I'm not..." I said to myself.
"You're not yet what?" said a voice behind me. I turned to see the devil himself. James.
"Uh, nothing. Please have a seat." I gestured.
"That was quite a dance was it not?" he laughed. I didn't say anything. "Do you fancy him?" he asked a questioning look played on his face.
"No? I don't even know his name." But I feel like I know him. I thought to myself. The dance replayed in my mind over and over again. Every time I closed my eyes I saw his gold ones. I have never seen eyes such as his. Curious I was about the man I had dance with I wanted to know more.
"That's curious." He said. "Brea would you dance with me?" I glanced over at the grandfather clock in the corner of the room. It was two minutes to midnight. I guess this is my cue.
"Of course." I said and for the second time that night I was led to the center of the ball room, but this time there were no other couples dancing, it was just me and James. The music started to play this time it was a song I knew. It was soft and kept a steady pace the whole time. I glanced around the room to see if I could find the man in black but he was nowhere to be seen. I felt James squeeze my hand a little too hard causing me to wince in pain.
"Look at me." He growled. I looked into his eyes and saw a bottom less pit staring back at me. I got goose bumps just even looking at him. I wanted nothing more than to run and hide so I wouldn't have to see him again. But at the same time I didn't want the song to ever stop playing, because when the song stopped playing James would ask for my hand. I didn't like James, not one tiny bit. The song came to a slow ending and we slowly stopped dancing. Then to my horror James took off his mask and got down on one knee.
He pulled out a small black box and opened it up. "Brea-"something knocked the box out of his hand and smoke started to fill the room. James quickly stood up and pushed me behind him. I could hear screaming and shouting all around me. Men that had torn cloths and dirty faces surrounded us, they had long silver swords and guns, and they fought men in every corner. The floor was stained with blood from people at the party and women where slumped over motionless bodies. Three men came at James and tackled him to the ground leaving me out in the open. I quickly turned to run but was cut off by a man with silver eyes and coal black hair. He was young and quite handsome but on his face was an evil smile. I tried to run but he grabbed me by my arm and hit me above my head. My vision began to fade in and out as I saw images of people running and fighting, I heard someone screaming my name but then everything went black.