Huntsman

6

"Her face was unlike any monster I had ever seen or could ever dream of in my darkest nightmares. The skin was discolored, hanging off and held on by warts and lacerations that were sick to the touch. I cannot believe I had ever found anything in that face beautiful and worthy of me."

-letter from Lord Hyde to Lady Rion, dated the first day of the month of Faversham, in the fourth year of Queen Evelyn's reign.

I stared at my reflection in the looking glass. My expression remained unchanging. Cold, like the air around me. Being confused at first, I'd detested looking in the glass, but had grown to rather like it. After all, it seemed to suit the mask.

I ordered the handmaidens to leave, their incessant chatter not helping the pounding in my head. Terrible, a curse. Or maybe a leftover from the turning, but annoying nonetheless. Accompanied with a chill I seemed unable to shake off, though that was probably due to the chill weather that had been reigning since I'd had a taste of power.

But now...

I stared. Stared long and hard, contemplating the face of power. And beauty, if I didn't say so myself. Though I had to concede that I myself would certainly look a slight bit better with a certain body part on my face.

No matter. If the aftermath of the face of Death was any indication, everyone, even Death itself seemed to be entranced by those depthless eyes. Eye, now, but still an eye nonetheless. Still there. Still captivating.

I hoped.

Thoughts of the ball to be held floated into my mind. The word that would spread due to a few chosen people having been invited and in attendance. What a way to spread the news, hopefully to be taken as a statement, and not a mask.

Not to hide.

Thoughts of the ball... and after.

The special someone I'd hoped to see there. Derin.

Handsome and always aging like fine wine, his ebony hair falling across mine, his large hands in mine. Entwined, like we both craved. Maybe, just maybe I'd share some of it with him.

He loved Divencia. Loved every bit of it like we loved each other. Trustworthy, and always willing to be my companion, I contemplated telling him what had happened. Sharing it with him.

Not just the story, the nightmares. More than that. More... like Divencia itself.

Share the responsibility. Maybe. The burden, the weight of ruling. Nights next to him, finally balanced...

Restful nights. Nights beside him. With him. Entwined together, maybe then I would get some rest. Some sleep.

Sleep. Craved, hoped for, longed for, chased after. Yet... so, so evasive.

I would see him tonight. Think it over. See what he thought.

The thought of him was enough to set my hands shaking, not even with the cold. I willed my dilated pupil to shrink back, the hyper awareness all too painfully obvious here.

At least I wouldn't storm in looking hungry for him. No, better to leave him desperate, clinging on for more. Always better. He'd never leave.

I drew my hands toward my neck, brushing the collarbone as I strung an ornate necklace across it. Onyx jewels hung elegantly, drawing the eye to precisely the right level.

Detail. It made all the difference.

With that, I surveyed my reflection, daring a glance as I unfastened the mask. Horrific. Absolutely terrifying. I looked at it, my eye narrowing. How i hated it. Something I could never fix, something I would be called a freak for.