It started with an invitation to a masquerade ball from an unknown person. It ended with a vampire claiming what was his.
One-Shot for the #HALLOWEEN2K17 contest
3k word limit.
Cover by @IM_THAT_QUEEN_17
Masquerade! Paper faces on parade . . . Masquerade! Hide your face, so the world will never find you! Masquerade! Every face a different shade . . . Masquerade! Look around - there's another mask behind you! -Phantom of the Opera
I looked the invitation over again and sighed, there was no postmark on it, no actual sender. The thick parchment and the elegant fine curved lines of the calligraphy writing brought me back to another time altogether. No one used these means of writing anymore. No one went into this type of detail these days. Deciding that I should attend this party since the sender had gone through so much trouble to invite me, I grabbed my keys and headed to the nearest Halloween store to procure the perfect costume.
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The night was crisp, as most October nights were and I pulled my wrap tighter around my shoulders to try and keep myself warm. My heels crunched on the gravel as I headed gracefully towards the giant dark oak door of the Gothic mansion that stood looming before me.
As I knocked on the door and waited, I could hear the soft hums from an orchestra inside. Finally the door opened and a short yet very imposing man with a black pointed mask opened the door. "Invitation," he croaked as he held out his hand expectantly.
"Oh yes, of course," I took the invitation from my clutch and handed it to him. "May I enter now, it's a bit cold," I requested as he eyed my invitation for much longer than necessary.
The man looked up at me with dark eyes as he grunted and stepped aside to grant me access into the mansion. The clicking of my heels on the marbled floor echoed all around the foyer. "This way," the small man said as he waddled towards a set of dark wooden doors. He threw them open and my breath got caught in my throat. There were so many people dancing gracefully around the room. It looked like a sight from a Victorian themed movie. "Your wrap, Miss," the short man said as he held out his small hand again while looking up at me.
After removing my wrap, I gently set it in his hand and then made my way into the throngs of people dancing, laughing and having a good time. Several eyes watched me as I walked towards the refreshments table and grabbed some punch. It was clear that I was out of my element here and I didn't recognize anyone. As I sipped my punch, I decided that it might just be best to leave quietly, it's not like I would be missed anyway. I turned and was staring at a rock hard chest. Tilting my head up slightly, I was staring into a pair of dark beautiful eyes. "Good evening, would you care to dance," the man asked in a very deep and alluring voice.
My voice couldn't be found, so I settled for nodding as I set my cup down and took his proffered hand and allowed him to pull me into the crowd to dance. As he took my waist and began to gracefully spin me, the crowd seemed to part, leaving the whole floor for us to dance on. "I'm glad you came," he said with a smile on his full lips. "I wasn't sure if you would," he added as he spun me out and then back into him, resting my back against his chest.
