Royal Masquerade

Chapter 3

It's almost midnight, and Astrea found that she could not get even a wink of sleep despite of her body simply scream for sleep after the unpacking that she just did. All thanks to Eric hostile warning about the Master's evil intentions. He had even warn her that beneath the mask that Narcissus is wearing,is an evil creature who feast on young virgins. Astrea is definitely spooked at the tale. She heard a lot of things about the owner of the Darklord Mansion, nothing is good but Eric's tale is by far the worst one of all. Now she's thinking that there's possibilities that behind the seductive gentleman's demeanor that Narcisssus is showing is an evil creature waiting to kill her and suck her blood dry.

Getting tired of tossing and turning on her new four poster bed, she decided to go to the kitchen and get a glass of milk to sooth her nerves and stop her imaginations from running wild. And so, after putting on her teddy bear bedroom slipper, she walked to the door and turn the knob to go down to the kitchen and get her milk as quickly as possible. Darklord Mansion is rather eerie at night, and she rather not wander like a lost soul in the middle of the night for fear of bumping into some ghost or sort.

As she closes the door and was about to turn around when she heard light footsteps approaching her. She gulped as she was shadowed by the owner of the footsteps. Scared out of wits, she froze.

"Where are you going, darling?" came the husky voice, and she recognize the voice as the Master's voice. Narcissus voice. It was seductive and has element of danger in it.

Astrea turned around, and saw the man in his silky black robe with a matching mask to hide his face. Fear was written all over Astrea's pretty face as he smirk at her. The light was dimmed, and she could have sworn that she saw a pair of fangs as he speak.

"Where are you going, darling...why are you still up? It's way pass your bedtime, princess..." he said dangerously as Astrea took two steps backwards and was trapped between the door and Narcissus, who placed his hands above her shoulder, effectively trapping her like a helpless prey. Imaginations started to run wild, and at that moment, she was truly convinced that he is a damned demon who will eat her alive. Perhaps what Eric had told her is the absolute truth, after all.

"I'm...I'm... going to the kitchen..." she murmured brokenly as breathing became hard.

"Beautiful girls should not wander after their bedtime, Astrea..." he whispered into her ears as she looked deep into his eyes. Fear was stated clearly in hers, and she's so sure that he is able to read her emotions at that moment.

"I promise I won't do it again, sir...I'll... I'll just go back to my room now..." she said, shivering, both out of cold and out of fear and her mind started to device a plan to make an escape from Darklord Mansion as soon as she gets away from Narcissus's clutches.

"It's too late now, my love..." came his seductive whisper again. Astrea's eyes started to water. Tears of fear pooled in her eyes.

"Please keep your distance, sir...please... I'm can't breathe..." she said as he leaned closer, causing her heart to beat wildly.

"Are you suffocating, darling?" he asked as he brought his hand to caress her pale cheek. His touch was like magic, it warmed her instantly. She's not sure on how to react to his behaviour, but she decided that she doesn't like it, and wants to shove him away. The only problem is that her body is going against her and refuse to comply to her wishes. The fragrant of the musk that he was wearing caused her to feel faint. Sensuous, yet deadly and attractive. His eyes, was deep on her, and she felt like he was going to eat her up at the moment. Gathering her courage, she closed her eyes, holding back her fears towards her new boss or ex-boss to be, and shoved him away from her.

"Please, go away!"she manage to say in a rather small voice. He backed off slightly, as she wished him to, but still imprisoning her with his arms and smiled softly, looking at the truly terrified Astrea in front of him. His was aware that his mask must have given her some horrible thoughts. Her right hands were busy trying to locate the doorknob. She must twist it open and slam the door to his face as soon as possible and scream bloody murder.