The Queen of Elysium

Chapter 85 - Masquerade

Aren stares into his glass, he has barely drunk since the 'incident' a solar ago, but right now he needs fortifying.

"Come on, Aren!" Leo urges. "The carriages are starting to arrive."

Aren slings back the remains of the amber liquor, welcoming the smooth burn, and then slowly rises from his chair.

Leo cocks his head. "Do you not care for the theme? I think a masquerade ball is a grand idea."

"Oh, it would be just dandy if it were not immediately obvious who I am." He brandishes his mask, which is intricately made from golden feathers and has a hooked beak of beaten gold. His tailed jacket, waistcoat and breeches are yellow and heavily brocaded with a golden feather motif.

"You always were mother's golden boy." Leo grins, earning him a shoulder barge.

Side by side, they stand in front of a mirror and affix their masks. His brother's identity is equally evident in a lionesque outfit that is only marginally less golden than his own.

Soon after, they are standing in the ballroom with their parents welcoming the guests as they arrive. A parade of beautifully dressed people descend the stairs. Some have chosen to wear a likeness of their primes and are easily recognisable, while others have selected more extravagant or mysterious costumes.

He politely greets them all, but the rainbow of colours, acres of lace and gallons of glittering gems just wash over him. That is until a striking couple in white walk in. The male has a horse mask, while the female has a unicorn one and both have white blond manes braided with silver ribbons.

Her dress is modest compared to most; an elegant cascade of snow-white silk and silver slippers matching the silver of the unicorn's horn. The mask covers far too much of her face for him to be sure, yet his heart still leaps in the hope that it is Elissa.

When she places a slender hand in his, the eagle in him lends sharpness to his eyes. The chin and alluring lips look like hers, however, deep in the shadowy depths of her disguise, he detects blue eyes.

A cough from his mother, followed by a nudge from Leo alerts him to the fact that he still has hold of her hand and that a queue is starting to form.

She curtsies with swan-like grace. "Thank you for the invitation, your highness. Felicitations on this auspicious day."

The voice is wrong. Who is she then?

The mystery woman slips through his fingers and glides off with her companion. Aren is left to greet his guests and steal surreptitious glances around the vast room to locate the unicorn.

Once everyone has finally arrived, Leo remarks, "I wonder she is?"

"Who?"

"The girl who you cannot keep your eyes from." Leo shakes his head. "At first I thought it was Elissa. Whoever it is, she must either have supreme confidence or the purest of hearts to represent a unicorn."

The blood drains from Aren's face. "My heart belongs to Elissa. How can I possibly look at another?"

"Perhaps it is for the best." Leo grasps his shoulders. "Perhaps it is time for you to move on."

"Then it would be truly over." The words are whispered as if a sacrilege.

"Why not ask her to dance, brother?" At his protracted hesitance, Leo huffs. "Then I will."

His brother walks up to the lady and bows, before taking her hand. They join the dance floor and a long threatening growl rumbles in the back of Aren's mind. Be still, this is no time for nonsense.