The Apostate Trials

Chapter 18

Noah's eyes opened, but he couldn't see a single thing. No, he could. Vivid flutters of light arched in patterns across his peripheral vision, nearly blinding him. He was frozen solid, unable to blink. Couldn't close his eyes to block out the light.

Anxiety poisoned his viens; his heart felt like it was eating its way right out of his chest. He tried to sit down, but his body no longer obeyed his command─his legs and arms and fingers simply refused to comply.

A fierce ringing pounded against his eardrums, made him wince. But it was quickly drowned out by another sound; music. A soft, lively melody that his muscles seemed to relax to. His body remained groggy─he felt as if he were tittering along the edges of consciousness, felt his control shift in and out of the music that both calmed and troubled him. But something deep within knew exactly where he was. People were all around him, cheerfully smiling from behind their masks as they danced.

His immediate thought was that they were laughing at him, demons out to attack him.

Gradually, as his vision cleared, his location was made more predominate by the second. The flutters of light were from the crystal chandeliers that hung so magnificently above, candles and incents the other sources. The walls were beige; the music came from a stereo at the room's heart, beside a large mirror. In it Noah noticed that he, too, was donning a mask. He felt his heart wrench at the sight, of which he discovered to be caused by the glassed wine firmly held within his right hand.

He blinked. Twice, and began to focus his gaze on the object of everyone's eye─a woman, her pale complexion and alluring curves highlighted by the skin-tight scarlet dress she dawned, her moves elegant and her laughter tempting. Her face remained hidden behind the confines of a red-fox mask, not allowing Noah to see much. But what stood out most about her were the supple strands to her beautiful silver hair. It had somehow managed to immerse everyone within the room, men and women alike, all who chose the swiftest of moments to sneak in and steal a dance; the woman didn't discriminate, took the hands of all who offered willingly.

With a yawn Noah softly pressed his back to the wall, then took notice of a figure casually approaching him, a blond male with a small wolf mask and a large cheesy grin.

"Never thought I'd ever see the day," He exclaimed. "─when the Noah himself would attend a masquerade ball." The man relaxed beside Noah and began to eye the woman as well. She truly was captivating, in a sense. "I see that you've taken a liking to her. Well, that is to be expected."

Noah took a small sip from his glass, allowing the man's words to register before speaking. "I don't like her at all. I'm just curious."

"That's what they all say, Noah," He laughed, resulting in Noah's furrowed brow. He spoke so casually with him that it was actually quite disturbing.

"...How is it that you know my name?"

"C'mon, Noah. Do you really think masquerade balls hide identities? Believe me when I say, everyone knows who everyone is here." Noah wasn't all too convinced; the man had changed subjects long before he could voice it, however. "Allow me to give you a small piece of advice, colleague to colleague. You'd be better off not going anywhere near that girl."

After yet another sip he found his wine glass to be empty. Noah sighed, partially disregarding the man's comment. It went in one ear and out the other. "I hope there's a reason behind why you say that. For your sake. I personally don't take well to empty threats."

"Your reputation proceeds you," The man's grin turned sour, his eyes narrow. "But, as you suspected, there indeed is a reason. It's only a matter of time before you're forced to meet her, being the director's favorite and all, so it's probably for the best if you learn about her through me." There was a small pause, to which he lit a cigarette before continuing, offering one to Noah as well, who accepted. "Her name's North. She's the director's daughter, and as such, getting in her good graces also means getting in the director's graces. It helps that she has an appeal that's quite heavenly to say the least─but the thing is, North has no bad graces to speak of. She loves all men, believes we're just playthings to use and dispose of however she sees fit. Doesn't even matter the age or how they look. She steals all hearts."

The man's words aligned almost perfectly with what Noah was currently seeing; North was indeed dancing with any and everyone who offered their hands, getting intimately close to each one. The mention of her being the director's daughter is what had really caught him off guard, his eyes locked sternly on her mask, the cheerful way she blushed and giggled.

Sometime during this mix, Noah couldn't particularly explain when, their eyes had locked, as did all the others who followed her gaze and hasty footsteps. She was mere inches away from Noah's face before he even knew it himself. "C'mon. Dance with me." And not awaiting his answer, she forced him onto the floor's heart.

The song, unlike all the others before it, was a slow one; North's arms wrapped snugly around Noah's neck, her body grew alarmingly close to his, her tender pink lips curved into a soft, elegant grin. Noah wrapped his arms around her hips, pulling her closer. North seemed to like the idea. But for Noah, it was only one of common practice, watching as all the other men who so admirably surrounded her before instantly began to distance themselves, their eyes narrow, their scowls profound. He couldn't really blame them. After all, he had absolutely no idea what he was doing─why he allowed himself to be dragged onto the ballroom's floor with her of all people.

"This was definitely a bad idea," He mumbled, more to himself than North. "Everyone's fixated on and by the thought of you. And right now, I shouldn't be here."

North pulled Noah even closer, delicately brought her lips to his ear, and whispered; "The one they're fixated on is you. They fear  you, Noah."

What that man said about masquerade balls must've been true, or so Noah thought. Even North had managed to magically piece together his identity.

"Why would they fear me," He heard himself scoff at her remark. "Everyone here is either a founder or supporter of NEST in some way. At the drop of a hat, I could very well be tossed into the Apostate by their command."

North's grin seasoned at the thought, she distancing herself only slightly enough to press the tip of her nose softly against his. "I saw footage of your combat training from the other day. We all did. Your reflexes, speed, precision─they're all out of this world. They're not human."

"You sound convoluted."

"That's exactly what truth sounds like," North didn't miss a beat. "People fear you, Noah. And that fear is exactly why my father keeps you on such a tight leash." From the corner of her eye, she took notice of a small group approaching them, each a man who had overcome their fear with the mask of frustration dawned behind their masks. "Looks like your time is up."

And with that, North softly pressed her lips to Noah's, an act that left him completely mesmerized, even as she took the hand of one of the approaching men and began to cheerfully dance away in a separate direction. He just stood there. Silent. Conflicted. Amused.