Excelsior: Loki

Chapter 2

Clapping down on her exposed back, the man's rough hands caused a large red mark to appear and Katja to nearly pass out. As she turned to face him, she could feel the numerous amounts of callouses on his palm, and once his face was in view, she was bewildered. Long, blond hair that reached a little past his shoulders nicely framed his face, as did the small beard that he had, although it looked like stubble that he had neglected to shave and had grown out some.

"I would reprimand you, but appear to be doing no harm." He said a deep bellowing voice that sounded just as boisterous as he looked. Katja assumed that he was a part of the royal guard.

"I am terribly sorry, for I was just admiring the excellence of what is beheld here." Katja squeaked out, still rather frightened of the large man, whose hand still rested on her shoulder.

His eyes grew wide and he pulled a grin, something malicious and plotting. He had something on his mind. "Go to the ball and await me, for I have someone who must be in your presence."

Katja followed his orders, mainly because she did not want to end up in the dungeons tonight. She reluctantly left the library, and was sure that the highlight of her night was cut short by a guard, so, she took her time returning to the ballroom. Once Katja finally reaches her destination, she realizes that the Royals must have joined the festival, for it was much louder than before, yet the music hadn't started for now was the time to mingle and eat hors-d'oeuvres.

"There you are!" she heard someone exclaimed, although it was most likely not directed to her: she really did not mingle in these circles. But Katja turned towards the noise anyhow and took a second to recognize the man from upstairs, his red and silver mask covering most of his face and his beard the rest. "Come along!"

Katja was soon dragged towards a far corner of the room, where only one man stood, staring at her over his shoulder, so she could only see his profile. Draped in green and black, with delicate touches of gold, his perfect posture controlled the room with his grace and nobleness. He was exquisite and fulgent, the gold of his mask reflecting the light from the chandelier. His mask cut off right at his cheekbones, black covering the top half of his face, a dipped right at the tip of his nose, the gold filigree across his forehead continued up into two gold horns that made large curves backwards and ended in sharp points and a multitude of smaller horns that branched out. From under his mask, Katja stared back at him as he grew more guarded with each second she was in his presence. His mask did cover the entirety of his face, and she could see his pale skin, pink lips, and sharp jawline. 

"Brother I have brought someone, this is Lady..." the guard faltered off, having realized that he never asked Katja for her name.

"Cinderella" she finally said, never breaking her gaze from the man as she deeply curtsied. The man raised his eyebrow, smirking. He knew what she was onto.

"Lady Cinderella, this is Prince-" he was cut off this time, by the mystery man.

"Charming." He bowed low, and Katja saw her reflection in his horns. "Charmed," he smiled and offered his hand. "Take a turn around the room with me?" he asked, his voice was deep and melodious, his intonation and annunciation impeccable. Katja gently laid her hand in his, feeling heat rise to her cheeks, and he briskly walked, leaving her almost stumbling behind him. Prince Charming's "brother" left standing where they were moments before.

Prince Charming led her out of the ballroom and into the hallway which she had travelled down not long ago, and the two slipped into the parlour. As soon as he closed the door behind them, he dropped her hand and proceeded to turn on the lights. The parlour was lived in, with gold and red furniture that circled around a table. A small gold cabinet was in the corner, gold being a reoccurring theme in the castle.