Dance of Ciprahn

Chapter Eight

The men begin to stir. They raise up their heads and gaze out towards their chosen partners. Once they lock eyes with the woman they choose they nod their heads towards them in invitation. If the woman agrees to the dance she nods in return, otherwise she averts her gaze. Slowly, like the undead awakened from their graves the couples saunter towards each other. Red Mask has been looking at another woman but Jo clandestinely stomps on her foot so hard on the woman's foot she gets up and leaves in a huff. 

Jo stares so intently at Red Mask that he can't help but notice and he nods in reciprocation. They get up to go dance with one another. Poor Gloria was staring holes into the ground and beads of sweat are starting to form at her temples. Green Mask, finally frustrated by her lack of eye contact strides over and gently takes her hand and leads her away to dance. And then there is Cass. Dammit. This crap keeps happening. All of the available gentlemen have already chosen their partners for the evening and begin to dance. Cass feels her face go red and her eyes sting as she fights back tears. She walks back to an empty table with regal composure and collapses into the chair once no one is watching. She lets out a loud exasperated sigh. 

A glass of half-drunk hundred dollar Moscato lay on the table which she promptly drains. She rests her head on her hand and looks sadly at the dancing couples. They whizz around in fantastic swirls and gesticulations. Their forms are rigid and elegant as they march hand-in-hand through the open spaces as one. The long train of the girls' dresses dance like a queen's robe as they dance, and their hair swishes like ship's sails. Quick kicks and insteps and lightning quick moves dazzle the dance floor. One woman twirls like a top as her partner spins her like a man possessed. Another pair dips so low that her hair lightly caresses the floor, a wide smile of dance-joy on her lips. Another pair looks so deeply into each other's eyes while they dance Cass fears they might crash into a wall. She looks jealously over at Jo. 

She is all smiles as Gold Mask sweeps her through the dance floor. Even Gloria manages to eek out a few dance steps and she says something that makes Green Mask throw back his head in laughter revealing his perfect white teeth. An older pair both has their eyes closed in furrowed focus, each attuned to one another's bodies and motions, moving as one in perfect harmony and unity. She couldn't tell where one person begins and the other ends. They move so seamlessly and perfectly it was as if they are one being, one entity entirely. They reach ultimate dance nirvana, a oneness so perfect that even lovers embraced in the throes of passion couldn't quite emulate. Cass mindlessly plays with her necklace while listlessly watching the lovers' dance. 

At the end of the necklace is an old family heirloom that has been passed through the family for centuries. It had been in the attic for years when her grandma "Meemaw" gave it to her. Meemaw was old and had a little bit of dementia; she had a habit of giving gifts out of random things. Meemaw had told her "Keep this safe, it's very important." She then went on to describe how mixing mints with coke was a good recipe for keeping vampires away. Cass didn't really think much of it but decided that the ring was beautiful and was worth keeping. The ring was green and carved from sort of exotic gemstone (jade?). Speaking of which this dark brooding hombre keeps looking at her. Not like checking her out but as if he is studying her. Cass keeps portraying body language indicating that she is not receptive to this and is in a terrible mood but he pays no mind. He is wearing a white mask and has searching inquisitive eyes and jet black hair that is as dark as a panther. Enough was enough. 

"Hey! Buddy! Can I help you?" said Cass. The man snaps out of it as if coming out of a trance and seems momentarily disoriented. "Wha- oh sorry." Regaining his composure the man replies "My apologies ma'am I meant no disrespect. I was merely admiring your necklace." Great, even my ring gets more attention than I do. Wait, yeah right. Ring. He was probably looking at my boobs. She rolls her eyes. She shoots him a quick look. He doesn't look like the pervy type. Maybe he is just looking at her necklace. Maybe he was gay? Feeling a little guilty about snapping at him she continues. "It's fine. I'm Cass. You can look at it if you want." She holds it out for him to see. White Mask cautiously moves over not wanting to startle her. When he gets a closer look his eyes widen as a wave of recognition washes over his face. 

He expertly hides it milliseconds later and he has a stoic face. He looks up at her and she studies his face. From a distance he kind of freaked her out, staring at her like that. Up close it was different however. He has green eyes and an olive skin tone. His hair is thick and it looks like it was naturally wavy but he had tried straightening it. He looks oddly familiar but she couldn't place it. He has a slight accent that he hides well. He is impeccably dressed and he looks quite dashing she has to admit. He has a calm, relaxed demeanor but he could walk and talk with purpose and authority. He has a certain charm and magnetism about him so much so that he could be a player if he wanted to be thought Cass. "So, what do you think?" "I think it's a very good ring. Good craftsmanship. And beautiful. Like it's owner," replied White Mask. 

That catches her off guard. She lets out a surprised laugh and looked at him incredulously — mouth ajar. He holds her eye contact and grins boyishly. It was such a genuine compliment she couldn't fault him for it. It wasn't like the tired pickup lines guys would try with her to try and get into her pants. White Mask didn't seem to expect anything and wasn't trying to get anything from her. In fact he seems a little detached and distant — in his own little world. Cass clears her throat, and it ends up making a really gross unladylike sound. Oh God. "Uh, thank you." She pauses trying to think of something to say. She isn't great at thinking on her feet, and this night's festivities have already kind of tired her out — introvert that she was. "My pleasure," replies White Mask. A moment of silence and they watch the couples dance. "My name is Tristan." Cass looks back at him. "Well, pleasure to meet you Tristan." Tristan looks over at her and smiles brightly "But my friends call me T. Please. Call me T."