Capricious

~Masquerade~

 We made it. Erik got down off of his horse and pulled an old skeleton key out of his pocket, unlocking the massive wrought iron gate.

"Nadir take the girls to the masquerade. I'll try to slow them down." Erik remarked.

"Oh no you don't!" I exclaimed, whirling around on the horse to glare at him. "You're coming with us. They don't even know who they're looking for! Those men have guns and you have some string!"

"She's right Erik... come on!" Nadir replied.

Erik huffed out a sigh and remounted the horse behind me.

Cindy told us where to go and soon we could hear the distant sounds of a party.

Erik tensed behind me, one of his hands quickly making sure his mask was still secured.

"Remind me again why we are going to this party." He chuckled nervously. 

"To hide, Erik." Daroga replied tiredly. "And when we get there I'll text a friend who can help us out of this jam."

"A friend?!" Erik sounded offended. 

"Yes Erik you aren't my only friend!" Nadir scoffed. 

Erik grumbled behind me and I sought his hand.

"We'll be alright. Don't worry I'll stay with you... Keep you out of trouble."

His laughter rumbled like thunder behind me.

"Do you really believe you are capable of such a thing?" He asked, clearly amused.

"Hey at least I made you laugh." I replied defensively. 

We had finally pulled up to the party.

Flashing fluorescent lights, shot up into the dark night sky like beacons.

Hot pink, Blue and orange lights lit up the masks of over a hundred people.

If they thought it was weird that we showed up on horses, they did a very good job of showing it. Or perhaps they were just really drunk.

"I need better cell reception. Cindy come with me?" Nadir yelled over the crowd.

I nodded to him and dismounted with Erik's help.

I tried not to notice his hands burning through my dress.

"Where are they off to? Are they leaving us?!" Erik panicked.

"Yes, to get better cell reception." I smiled.

"To get what?!" Erik's eyes were wide.

"Just trust me!.. now we need to blend in,"

Erik looked around watching the people dance around us.

"May I have this dance?" He asked uncertainly.

"I'd be honored." I replied with a smile.

The lights from the stage shone on his white mask giving it an eerie, deathly look.

I heard sounds of shouting and went to look for our pursuers, but Erik gently pulled my head to his chest and continued to sway with me to the music.

I could tell by how nervous Erik was looking that our pursuers must be getting closer. He looked down at me and smiled charmingly.

"You know I haven't been to a Masquerade in over a century." He remarked conversationally.

"Really?" I gasped.

"Hmm."

"What do you think of this one?" I smiled.

"Well the music is rubbish."

"Hey! I'll have you know I like Coldplay's music!" I remarked, hitting him on the arm playfully. 

"This isn't music, this is just noise!" He exclaimed. 

"Whatever grandpa..." I scoffed.

Erik sighed as he sighed loudly to me "... I was always of the mind that music should make you feel something."

"Try listening to the words." I suggested.

His eyes took on a contemplative look as we swayed to Coldplay's Yellow. 

Look at the stars
Look how they shine for you
And everything you do
Yeah they were all yellow

I tried to focus on the words of the song but ended up getting lost in Erik's twinkling blue/yellow eyes. 

I came along
I wrote a song for you
And all the things you do
And it was called "Yellow"

So then I took my turn
Oh what a thing to have done
And it was all yellow

Your skin
Oh yeah, your skin and bones
Turn into something beautiful
You know, you know I love you so
You know I love you so

I swam across
I jumped across for you
Oh what a thing to do
'Cause you were all yellow

I drew a line
I drew a line for you
Oh what a thing to do
And it was all yellow

Your skin
Oh yeah your skin and bones
Turn into something beautiful
And you know
For you I'd bleed myself dry
For you I'd bleed myself dry

It's true
Look how they shine for you
Look how they shine for you
Look how they shine for
Look how they shine for you
Look how they shine for you
Look how they shine

Look at the stars
Look how they shine for you
And all the things that you do"

By the end of the song I was breathless under the starry sky, Erik led me off to the side away from the dancing couples, as he kept his head on a swivel for the people who were following us.

"Erik?" Nadir's voice cut through the fog of our dance. 

"Over here!" He replied. 

"We've got accommodations for tonight and a plan for tomorrow..." Nadir smiled, his green eyes glittering. 

"Well lets go then. And be rid of the... revelry... This gaudy show of ignorance..."

I rolled my eyes at his dramatic words.

"Come on Cindy." I smiled linking arms with her as we walked ahead of the men.

"Did we loose them?"

"I hope not..." Erik remarked staring at the girls. 

"Erik?" Nadir raised an eyebrow. 

"Oh you meant our pursuers? Yes I do believe so!" Erik blushed. 

"Well of course, what else would I mean..." Nadir's head suddenly looked over to Alexandra in understanding. "...Oh!"

"We should go get a carriage..."

"A carriage to take our dates to safety in???" Nadir asked nudging Erik's arm playfully. "Do you mean a cab Erik?" he asked cocking his head to the side. 

"Well how should I know what they're called! I've only been in the cellars for a hundred and forty some odd years!" Erik remarked moodily. 

He crossed his arms and marched ahead.

Nadir chuckled and jogged to catch up to him, hailing a cab on the way.