Masquerade (Discontinued)

Prologue

London, England, Great Britain, United Kingdom

Tuesday the 8th of August 2000

1:00 AM

He was watching, unable to say anything as he watched the woman stand in front of a long mirror, admiring her visage. The man could not deny that he was admiring her curvy body as well, because she was a thing of beauty even if he could not quite see her face.

She sported a form-fitting crimson battle robe. A porcelain pale mask painted with red lips covered her face. Black eyes stared out of the holes and she tilted her head as she looked in the mirror. Suddenly, she clapped her hands together and pulled them apart, a stone staff appearing between her hands and she pulled away. It hovered for just a moment before she grabbed it out of the air.

He could have sworn that he head a clap of thunder when she touched it.

As soon as her gloved fingers touched the stone, marks along the long staff glowed brightly before it slowly dimmed down to look just as it had before, yet slightly pronounced. He watched in fascination as she turned around and grabbed a cloak off a large bed and threw it around her shoulders. She walked quickly from the room and he was quick to follow her, somehow well aware that she wouldn't be able to see him.

The woman was turning sharp corners and such and he didn't make an effort to remember anything. He only watched and followed as he finally came into a large, open space. She stood in the doorway and he watched in surprise at the group of characters that stood in the room.

It was a small group of people though they all wore the strangest masks and costumes of sort.

The nearest woman was dressed in all black and a frightening mask. It had three long horns sticking and curving up at the top and she had on a black feathered headdress. She had on black fur around the collar of long black and brown tattered robes and what looked like a katana was strapped to her back. The mask looked almost tribal and had bared teeth and a black tongue lolling out of an open mouth.

"Very theatrical, Jabberwocky," the woman said and though he could not see her face, he could hear the obvious amusement in her voice.

"I try, my Lady," Jabberwocky commented in a distinctly feminine and wicked sounding voice. She gave a little cackle though sounded quite monstrous if he was being honest. Jabberwocky cleared her throat and turned to the man standing next to her.

He wasn't sporting a true mask but an intense mask of make-up. His face was caked with white and there were deep circles of purple around his eyes. On top of his head was a large top hat that was half-falling of his head. He was wearing a long velvet coat over leather trousers and a dark top. He could see the hilt of two knives just sticking out of his sleeves.

"My Lady…when do we go?"

"Patience, Hatter. We wait for my siblings. This is as much their mission as ours," the Lady said, patiently and Hatter nodded, slowly. He looked over to the two other people that were dressed in various costumes as well.

"It's too bad that Pa—" Hatter started.

"Careful, Hatter. You do not know who eavesdrops. Codenames alone," the Lady chastised, sternly and Hatter blushed underneath his caked on make-up. He nodded in understanding before looking stern and resolute once more.