The Council of Ten

Chapter 2 - The Mask and The Smile (Marco D'Este)

Chapter 2 – The Mask and The Smile (Marco D’Este)

* * * * *

A smile takes but a moment, but the memory of it lasts forever. ~ Author Unknown

* * * * *

I stood up and walked across to the window, staring at the black waters of the canal below. The lights from houses reflected off the surface, dancing almost in time to the music faintly playing in the background. My gaze wandered, trailing across the room to the table. Carefully, I picked up the mask, holding it at arm’s length, admiring the details. Royal blue with gold trimming the edges, the occasional streak of silver dashed through the design. The lips curved into a small smile. The smile was almost smug, like the cat that got the cream. But perhaps that was a good thing. It made me look accomplished.

Nobody would recognise me. Or so I hoped.

Tying the ribbons at the back of my head I glanced in the mirror, seeing an alien face staring back at me. The mask was new, would it have the desired effect? Would it work? I frowned under the material, wondering if my status showed through. The creases on my face smoothed after another moment’s pause, the mask may not have been enchanted but it was made by an artist. That was enough for me.

“Padre?” I said, walking into my father’s study. I saw him over in the far corner, fumbling through the contents of a drawer. He looked up at me and smiled.

“Ah, Marco. Are you ready?”I nodded and watched my father don his mask. It was unusual to see him without one, even in his own home. The same goes for my mother.Nobles wear masks most of the time, if someone saw them without one, the respect they had earned would go down the drain, just like that. I was still excused as I was a child, but at fourteen, nearly fifteen, years old, it was a matter of days before my parents decided things were going to change. Soon I would have to wear a mask in all company, even in that of my family.

“Where is Madre?” I looked behind me, seeing no sign of my mother.

“She is already waiting outside. Come, let us join her.” With that, I followed my father out of the room and out onto the narrow street.

“Madre,” I smiled and stepped into the gondola, sitting down beside her. It was only then that I realised she wouldn’t have seen the smile hidden beneath my mask, nor the frown that followed my realisation.

“Marco,” she laid a gloved hand upon mine and squeezed it “what a lovely young man you’ve turned out to be.” I swallowed nervously, my eyes darting. Please don’t let it be tonight, I thought, resisting the urge to cross my fingers in a silent plea. The gondolier pushed off and the boat rocked with the motion. I turned my head, watching the streets go slowly by as we travelled along the canal. I glimpsed several people in formal attire and wondered if they were going to the same ball as us. Wondered if we knew them. What did it matter? Nobody knew anybody at a masked ball, where it was compulsory to wear a full face mask, but a lot of people liked to guess.

A lot of people guessed right.

There were some people you just couldn’t mistake for others.

After some time, I clambered out of the gondola at Piazza San Marco, stumbling a little as the boat lurched. I stood for a moment, letting my father’s talk with the gondolier drone on in the background. It was crowded, people swarming up and down the street in costumes.

Most people.

You could still see the commoners going about their business, weaving in and out of the ball guests. My eyes landed on a girl and a boy, their clothes a little grey from the dust on the dry ground, laughing as they pushed their way through the mass of people, earning some scathing looks from women in expensive dresses. I did a double take at the girl’s smile. It couldn’t be...

“Lena?” I whispered, my words lost in the music, swept away by the current of noise. The white mask that covered the girl’s eyes made it harder to pick out her features in the poor light but her smile was the same. “Lena?” I said again before I was swallowed by the crowd.

The girl and the boy were gone.

I stood, staring at the empty space where they had been, running a hand through my dark hair, clenching and unclenching my fist in agitation. I thought about the smile I’d glimpsed for only a moment...the smile I’d seen so many times before. The smile I’d never forget. “Marco!” I heard my mother call. But I didn’t turn to look, I just kept on staring, occasionally being jostled by the wave of people. I couldn’t believe it-

“Marco!” Called my mother again. I tore my eyes away from the street and looked at Madre, her hands on her hips. I almost felt her frown under her mask, not a smile. “Stop running your hand through your hair like that, you have to look presentable, not like some street beggar who hasn’t enough money to afford a comb.”

“Mi dispiace, Madre,” I said, ruffling my hair one last time. “I am sorry, mother,” I followed my parents, not really watching where we were going. My excitement was dead now. Gone. I felt flat as my mind wandered back a few years. Back one year. Back four months. Four months? I cursed myself for being so stupid. “Mi dispiace, Lena,” I whispered. How could I forget?

How could I forget?

Tears pricked my eye lids, hot and angry, threatening to spill down my face. Though nobody would notice. They wouldn’t see. My mask would hide them well enough and only those who looked me in the eye would notice the occasional drop escape.

Stupid, stupid me. I don’t know how I managed to forget all those years. But I did. I hadn’t spared a thought in four months. Not one thought. I vowed to change that. I had to. But as I stepped into the hall, full of bustling people and deafening music, my worries and guilty conscience slowly slipped away.

* * * * *

Author’s Note: Four posts today! Wow... I only put this one up too because I almost have the third chapter written so you won't be waiting too long and, well, it's nice to read a bit more of a new story than a single chapter.

So, second chapter. How do you like it? Was it boring or did you think it was ok? I'm not sure about the first few paragraphs - I feel the flow wasn't quite right. Oh, and, do you like the Italian words or do they bug you? Any Italian speakers out there, please feel free to correct my mistakes if there are any. I speak next to no Italian, just some things from holiday so, please, anything not quite right tell me. Anyway - I'd love to know what you think :)