Corrupt

Chapter 4 - The Ball

The carriage carrying me and my best friend Tony pulls up to the Parliament Building at 8pm exactly. Even though the ball has barley started, the courtyard is heaving and I can see from the window that the hall is already filling up. The footman hops down from the back of the carriage with a slight thud and opens the door for us to exit. I am not used to walking in high heels, so I link my arm in with Tony's to help keep my balance. His girlfriend wont be happy if she sees this. "Ready?" Tony says, giving me an aprehensive look. He loves going to parties, not much unlike myself. 

"Ready," I replied, an easy smile slipping onto my face. I held my shoulders back and spine straight as we steadily walked up th steps, being careful not to trip in my dress or shoes. 

Inside the hall, the walls had been decorated with rich purple velvet curtains, and the marble floor mopped within an inch of its life. The ceiling of the Parliament Building is over 10 feet tall, and the very top has been lined with carved gothic gargoyles. The food and drink tables filled with every colour food you could imagine are pressed against the walls of the oval shaped hall, begging to be tasted. An orchestra plays from the end of the room, filling my bones with an urge to dance so strong I almost stumble on a waiter serving champagne in sparkling crystal glasses. Luckily Tony is there to steady me as we enter further into the hall, where the party awaits us. 

We are greeted by a few kind hellos from our friends, and even people we've never met before. Then what can only be described as a bumbling mess of skirts and petticoats, stumbles towards us is Tony's girlfriend. She has glitter smeared across her cheekbones and eye lids, and a bright pink lipstick to match her bright pink and incredibly tacky dress. Just as I had imagined, she is not happy to see me with Tony. "I'm going to go get a drink," I say to him to avoid confrontation. In return, all I get from Tony is a vague expression of bliss before he turns and walks towards the illuminated pink marshmallow wallowing towards us.With a slight huff, I turn and walk over to the drinks table. Tony had barely said a word to me tonight, not even complimented me on how i look. Not that I care. I don't care.

On my way to the table, I pass and smile a thousand times at familiars and strangers, always feeling welcome and warm in their eyes. I reach a waiter before i reach the punch table, and quickly take a glass of the sparkling champagne from his tray. Like all the other men attending the ball tonight, he wears a mask that covers his eyes. It is traditional for men to wear masks and not the women, as it is believed that women should not fall for men based souly on their looks. Personally I don't get along with this rule very well. 

Something bumps into me from behind and I almost spill my drink. I spin around quickly and do an awkward side step out of the way to avoid any more collisions like whatever just happened and see a tall man in a black suit stood perfectly poised behind me. Many people in the hall that i don't know stare and say hello to me like they know me, but this man was different. He was looking at me like he knew knew me. A hot flicker of something went off inside of me. Danger, danger. I don't move. Can't move. His presence had struck me so strongly my brain had forgotten how to do anything but not blink. Danger, danger. Could anyone else feel this? Danger, danger. The man stepped towards me. "May i have this dance?" he gestured to me with his hand. Still frozen in place, the man - not breaking eye contact with me - took my waist in one hand and linked our fingers with the other, and maneuvered me onto the dance floor. 

"I've got them," he whispered. His voice was deep and manly but velvet like the curtains. Got what? Do i actually know this guy? He can't just be some randomer if he's talking to me like this. My confusion must have registered on my face because he continued, "I've got the... you know what." I felt like slapping him across the face because, quite frankly, i did not know what he had. 

"Don't beat around the bush," I said. This voice didn't sound like my own. I must be going mad I thought, but he is the one driving me crazy.

"You know what," He spat. I didn't like his tone.

"Listen buddy if you've got a problem telling me what you got then maybe i wont take it." The music spun around us as we danced, both surprisingly keeping our composure considering the circumstances. 

"Just follow me," He said in a huff, and marched me to the far end of the hall. Pulling back one of the velvet curtains, he revealed a secret door and opened it. The door led to the outside ally behind the Parliament building. Not such a secret door then i guess. Once we had both stepped out into the cold and the man had shut the door, he took my hand once again and led me further up the ally. Danger, danger. A shot of excitement sat in my stomach. The mans hand was warm in mind and soft too. Danger, danger. We stopped abruptly halfway down the ally and he put his lips so close to my ear a wisp of breath caught in my throat. 

"I've got them," He said again. His breath was warm on my neck which added a fluttering sensation to the excitement in my stomach. Danger, danger. "I've got the pills." Danger, danger.