~Chess~ UkUs {Aph Cardverse}

~Chess~ Searchings

Chapter Eleven
{Arthur}

I breathed deeply, looking to Yao, who nodded at me.
"Let's start." he said softly. "Try not to bring too much attention to yourself."
"I didn't plan to." I chuckled lightly as we drifted off the stage and into a swarm of brightly attired people, loud and disoriented. They swirled around like paint in water, calling out joyfully to eachother and prancing along to the muffled harmony being placed by a muffled cello.
"How are we supposed to find any Joker in this crowd?" I questioned. "Do they wear some sort of symbol? Act a certain way?"
"I'm not sure," Yao said. "I've never read about a symbol or crest in any document."
"So we'll just have to go with our instincts?"
"It's all we can rely on at this point." Yao sighed, grabbing two slender glasses of champagne from a waiter's tray, handing one to me. "We don't want to look out of place since we're not dancing." he explained. I nodded, tracing my fingers along the cool glass exterior which was smeared with droplets of water.
"We should look out for anyone who seams to be out of place." Yao responded, swallowing some of his champagne, grunting afterward.
"How many do you think came, if any came, that is?" I inquired, following Yao's example, favoring the slightly sweet flavor.
"I don't know, but my best guess is that more Jokers than the usual will turn up." Yao replied, gazing at the faces around them. "There's a large turn out today, and with such the short notice, I doubt that guards checked all of the invitations off, which means easier access for them."
"Do you think they'll do anything worth notice?"
"It's hard to know," Yao stated. "Anything could happen at this point."

Yao and I continued strolling along the outskirts of the crowd, keeping an eye out for suspicious looking people. Finding nothing, I could tell Yao was getting discouraged, even if he didn't show it on his face.
"I thought we'd find someone by now." he grunted. "Everything seams too normal."
"Maybe they're waiting for something." I suggested, examining faces passing by.
"Nonsense, they wouldn't have enough time to plan for anything worth notice." Yao dismissed, flicking his hand.
"But with this much of a crowd, it would be easier to get away with some sort of crime." I said, placing the champagne glass on a passing waiter's tray, Yao following my example. "That's what I think of it, anyway."
"That is true." Yao sighed, straightening his sleeves. "Maybe we should get closer to the center of the crowds, we might get a better view of everyone there."
"It's worth a shot, it's not like we've got any better options." I agreed. We advanced through the crowd until we were in the center of it. The scent of clashing perfumes engulfed me until I had no desire to smell anything.

Our eyes flickered on the faces of strangers, never straying long. Dancers twirled across the floor, sending the sound of their footsteps across the room until they were drowned out by the crowds. Lovers embraced each other and waltzed slowly, savoring eachother in a way I'd only done once. My chest tightened. I needed to see Alfred again. I needed his touch, his scent, those azure eyes, his presence, all of it, all of him. If I didn't, I'd might as well perish right where I stood. I wanted to dance with him, to be there for him, and to have him in my arms. God, I needed Alfred. I don't know how I had survived without him. I had to set this straight. For Alfred. For Yao. For everyone not yet effected by my vacuous actions. I'll set this straight.

"This isn't getting us anywhere." Yao grumbled, scratching his chin. "We still can't see everything. If only we could get higher up."
"Higher up?" I chimed, searching the room.
"That's what I said." Yao agreed.
"Higher up, higher up." I muttered, eyes resting on the platform which Mother gave her speech on. "The stage!"
"The stage? Oh, the stage!" Yao clicked. "Get up there!" He started pushing me through the swarm of people.
"How am I supposed to not look suspicious?" I hissed, fighting against his shove.
"Your mother's up there, talk to her." Yao answered. "Tell her how great the ball is or something, improvise. Keep an eye out."
"Alright, alright." I breathed, brushing off my clothes before climbing the staircase up to the large platform where Mother stood.

"Arthur." she noticed, cocking her head and giving a small grin.
"You did a splendid job, Mother." I gulped, smiling at her. "This really is remarkable and I haven't seen such buoyant crowd!"
"I'm glad you like it so much." she replied. "We did do this for you."
"I'm very glad you did, it's nice to see everyone having a good time." That was the truth.
"Have you danced with anyone yet?" Mother questioned.
"Ah- no." I stammered. "I haven't found anyone I wished to dance with yet."
"Saving yourself for someone interesting?" Mother jeered. "What about her? The girl in the orange dress by that pillar? She's a lady, higher stature."

My eyes trailed to the area the lady was in. She was dressed extravagantly, maybe too extravagantly, making me cringe. "Huh." I grumbled. Mother started to ramble on more, but my conscious was taken about by anouther person. Alfred stood on the outskirts of the crowd, watching the lonesome and deserted musicians, clapping for them as their pieces ended, an innocent and infectious smile plastered across his face as the musicians smiled at him and continued their work. I remembered why I was so infatuated with this man when he gently swayed with the melody. He was such a beautiful thing, careless in a way I wasn't aware was possible before watching him from afar, admiring him for all he was.

"What about that one over there?" Mother spoke. I snapped my attention back to her.
"W... where is she?" I quested quietly.
"Him." she corrected, head held high, eyes sporting an interested gleam. "Young fellow by the quartet."

Quartet. Quartet? That's with stringed instruments.

Shit.

"What about him?" I questioned, keeping my hands behind my back and refraining from making eye contact with her.
"Nothing." she finished, turning her gaze back to the majority of the crowd, watching dancers prance across the polished floor was ease.
I gave a breathy sigh, shaking my hands of sweat. What does she know? I thought to myself. Why did she ask?

I occupied myself with looking around the swarms of people. I found Yao after a while, glancing my way every few moments, watching the dancers and sipping champagne, keeping a warry eye on the people around him. I scanned the hall, watching two men on the very edge of the crowds pace. I looked at them more closely.
Their clothes were strikingly similar, color and styling almost identical, unusual for such an extravagant gathering. They whispered to each other and pointed to areas of the room until another joined them. The trio advanced to an exit out of the hall.

I watched to see that Mother was occupied, then slipped out into the crowds, searching for Yao.
"Yao!" I called as I found him, grasping his shoulder.
"Arthur." he spoke. "Did you find anything?"
"Three men... they left the hall, seamed kinda weird." I breathed. "Should we follow them?"
"Let's go." Yao answered, excitement etching into his voice. We pushed our way through the crowd, going slower than we would have liked to. Among the dirty looks and rude comments, we advanced into the outskirts of the swarm.
"Which way?" Yao asked.
"I right exit." I responded, quickening my walking pace. The quartet's playing became more distinctable the closer we got to it. Its haunting melody surrounded us as nerves settled in us. There was a fair distance between us and the exit up into the stairwell. Slight crashing and bumps could be audible from where me and Yao were. We exchanged confused glances.

I forgot that Alfred was still by the musicians, so when his eyes met mine, I couldn't help but crack a smile at his startled expression, mask encasing his frame. He opened his mouth before the room suddenly went pitch black.

~~~

Finally an update XD Thank you for reading, please like and comment!

Number of words: 1393