Mask

A Name

We swayed to the beat of the music. I closed my eyes for a moment and let him take lead. When I knew he was going to twirl me, I opened my eyes and smiled. This was always my favorite part. To feel the fabric of the dress move with me. When he brought me back, a question came to mind. I knew if I didn't ask now it would annoy me to no end. 

"Are you perhaps the same man I met before? The one with the joker mask?"

I could feel his hand stiffen on my back. "Was it obvious?"

I wanted to laugh. "Well, your attire is still the same, other than your mask, of course. May I ask why you were so frustrated before?"

He looked away and twirled me again. Was I asking too much? Did I make a mistake? I couldn't tell from his facial expression due to the mask but the way he held me told me all I needed to know. It was something he didn't wish to talk about. I learned early on not to pry into another person's life. My mother considered it an atrocity to ask too many inquiries. 

"You are only permitted to ask two questions and determine whether or not you can have a close relationship with them. If they stop answering, you already know the answer."

Oh well mother, I've already asked more than two today. The prince brought me back into his arms and slowly stopped dancing. That's when I noticed the music had stopped as well. I was about to curtsy to end the dance when he didn't let me go. I looked up and saw him staring at me. Was there something on my face? Oh yeah, the mask. It's been on for far too long I completely forget about it sometimes. 

 "Now its my turn to ask you some questions. Who taught you to dance?"

The first thought that came to mind was, did I do something wrong in the sequence? I've watched enough and practiced on my own to know I did everything correctly. Maybe I did so well that I surprised him? I was about to answer his question when I heard the door I walked through open.  We both turned as a woman with a lioness mask came out. She wore the opposite of the prince. Her dress was gold with white lining all around. Her mask was white with hints of gold. Her brown hair was pulled up into a pony tail as grey hairs peeked through. Was she somehow related to him? 

She stared at both of us. "Who is this?"

Prince Yaro pulled me toward him and moved to the side, as if shielding me. "She's a guest, mother."

She walked toward us and stopped a few feet from him. "She looks vaguely familiar."

I slowly separated from his arms and curtsied. "My queen, my name is Anastasia Herst."

The queen scowled and grabbed his arm, pulling him away from me. "You stay away from my son." Then she forced him to walk with her. "Come, you have guests waiting for you."

He didn't object but I could tell he didn't want to go by the slouch of his shoulders. The prince turned his head and mouthed goodbye to me. I slightly waved at him. Once the doors closed behind them, I decided to take a walk around the garden. I didn't want to take the same doors they went through. Maybe there was another way to get inside? 

I was starting to get hungry again. The dance distracted me enough to forget the hunger. I need to make sure whatever I choose doesn't dirty the mask. When I was younger, I remember wondering how I would eat. I thought I was going to die of hunger the first few days mother put it on. One day, I couldn't hold it in any longer and went searching for food. I gorged myself. In fear of mother finding out, I ran to the restroom and saw all the food stuck on the fabric and feathers. That's when I moved my mouth then. The mask seemed to move with me. I was able to see my mouth and teeth. It seemed so unreal. I screamed in fear. 

I tried to take the mask off then. It hurt and felt like I was trying to rip off my skin. I gave up then.  There was no point in trying to hurt myself in the process. I asked my mother once how to take it off and she ignored the question and walked past. I tried to ask again later on but she locked me up in my room for a couple of days and only gave me bread and water. I learned my lesson in never to asked again.  

Shaking my head. I had to remind myself where I was at the moment. After walking around, I was able to find the side door again. I was going to try and open it but then remembered I needed the key. There was no point in going through the front door so I'll just wait to go home. Walking past I heard the door handle move. I didn't bother looking since I was determined to wait. 

"Leaving so soon?"

I stopped in my tracks. I slowly turned and saw the Prince coming out. Was he able to get away from the queen? Probably, since he's alone now. Was I happy to see him again? I wasn't sure. This was the first time I've talked to someone more than once or had someone go out of their way to talk to me. It felt nice.