Prologue: Midnight Masquerade

The clock chimed instantly announcing the start of the 19th hour in the prolonged day as the young men and women filed into the ball room all eager to find a comfortable corner to chat in. A small fountain jutted a continuous stream of crystal blue water feet into the air, which fell like a stone to the pond below echoing with a shimmering splash. The rim circling the pond in an eccentric curving pattern cascaded over the tiled floor in a perfect fading arch that was spattered with small diamonds of water. A click of pointed heels against marble could be heard in the large hall resounding and mimicking the cheep thud of the time handle moving a minute further. A gloved hand slid across the gold plated backing to a dining chair as it inched down to the floral fabric scratching softly against it. The embroidered red roses burned brightly between the slender fingers that were veiled in white and as they pulled away sleekly slipping down behind the chair a silky lock of black hair fell down onto the slightly slanted shoulder. A sigh ruffled through the full red lips as the character rustled, straightening their posture and quickly disappeared behind the pillar.
A small sigh of frustrated anticipation urged itself from my mouth as I walked into the room staring around myself. What was father thinking? Holding a party for anyone even slightly acquainted with me. I glanced around and noticed that a group of girls had gathered to my far right and were giggling sure to hide their petite grins behind their petite hands that were covered in a gold silk. Their hair was laid perfectly on their heads not a strand free; all of it coiled up on top of their head. A few beads hung from the hair clips that adorned their blonde perfectly curving curls in a glistening array of colors. They smiled briefly at me and continued their self-involved conversation of the gathering of men, if you could call them men, at the far side of the hall. My eyes now moved to them, all done up in suits that they had obviously never worn before because they were all fidgeting and fighting their restricting collars. They continued, nonetheless, to stare unwavering at the group of giggling girls and flirt to the best of their ability. Had I not known what I was seeing I might have thought some of them belonged in the psych wards. I straightened the dress that was suffocating me and sneered.
I continued on my way through the dining hall headed straight for the table on the opposite side of the room. If I had to suffer through this dull party I was going to enjoy some good food. I pushed through the thick crowd and finally paused seeing a shadowed character move away from behind the pillar on my left. A white glove slid around the marbled base at about eye level as I noticed that the person turned back looking me straight in the face. A tempting grin urged me to follow, which I quickly did.
I was soon left behind in a flurry of people as I pushed and shoved my way through; sure to apologize at any moment it was needed. When I finally came to a clearing the mysterious silhouette of the being had disappeared. I frantically scanned the room, standing on my toes to get a clear view over the heads of the tall men around me. Frustrated by my loss, I stuck my nose in the air and breathed heavily through my pursed lips. I nodded, giving in to my defeat and turned back to find the table of delectable treats further away then it had previously been. I began to move forward and stopped when my ears caught a wicked snicker.
"Giving up so easily?"
I spun around and laughed in childish delight as I quickly curtseyed to the young man.
"Ah! There you are. You can't imagine how hard of a man you are to keep track of."
"Louis D'Aguerre, at your service, mademoiselle. And you must be the famed Eileen Loxton."
"That I am." I held my hand out to him which he gingerly took in his own and kissed lightly. "Welcome to our little charade. And how did I forget you, Sir? I am regretted to say that I cannot place your face."
"I hold no offense on this matter madam, for we have in fact never met before. I work for your father or rather I am hoping to work with him on a sale."
"A sale?"
He nodded slightly holding my eyes with his in a suffocating embrace. "Yes, I was hoping to find a plantation around here. It is quite a quaint and beautiful little town and I heard your father deals in realty."
"He does, yes. Would you like to speak with him?"
"Do you think he would forgive me if I refrained from going to him right away? For I find myself quite infatuated with his daughter."
I felt a frank blush spread over my cheeks as I glanced down to the floor trying to hide my embarrassment. I led my eyes up his tall, slender frame that fell perfectly into the suit he wore. The four button gray vest curved to him enunciating his figure below the black waistcoat he wore. His elegant fingers were covered in white silk gloves and the gray top hat he lifted off his head only drew my eyes more sharply to his pale blue eyes. He turned glancing to the side as someone entered the long hallway causing him to sneer. His silken black hair slid down onto his shoulder falling in luscious curves onto his white collar, which I only now noticed was undone, revealing his pallid skin and a silver chain. He stuck the hat back on his head and to my dismay excused himself making his way to the far side of the hall.
I remained silent; watching him as he walked away and finally peered to his target seeing that a slightly older man had entered the hallway, another face I did not recognize. I moved toward the table not willing to wait out the conversation and greedily pounced on the first plate I could find. I loaded the plate with food and was about to shove a huge bite of cake into my mouth when I heard someone clear their throat from behind me. I turned expecting to find my mother and came face to face with Sarah, my best friend and maid. She glared at me, her hands thrown perturbed to her hips and her lips thinned in annoyance.
"Lady Eileen! I don't know how you aren't 500 pounds! Now come on, dear. Your father wishes to see you in his study, he has a visitor he wants you to meet."
I quickly set the plate down, licking my fingers and straightened the skirt of my gown in an uneasy manner as I smoothed back my hair. What was I going in to meet this time? Some arrogant businessman that claimed he had right to half father's estate? Or perhaps another marriage proposal that I would have to turn down after only one night of knowing the man. I entered my father's study with caution and relaxed when a saw a young gentleman standing on the far side of the room, his body leaned fully against the wall. He was shadowed by the fireplace that lit up the doorway and left side of the room, which I stood in. I stepped in further and heard a sigh of contentment.
"Ah, here she is. Mr. Savoie, please meet my daughter Eileen."
I caught sight of a man who looked in his late twenties to early thirties approaching from the corner of my eyes and quickly turned curtseying to him.
"It is a pleasure madam." he kissed my knuckles so softly he sent a chill over me.
I peered at him with difficulty from lack of light and could only discern a few of his features. His full blonde hair dropped in perfect curls around his chiseled face and was slowly led back into a ponytail with a green satin tie. His eyes were a dark and deep black and his full red lips stood out boldly against his pale skin. There was something striking in his perfect composure, something so captivating it consumed all of my attention. He stood a bit taller then me, though I noticed that most men who I had met tonight did. But when he flashed a smile I felt overcome by fear and desire in the same second. I quickly looked away, again to the man standing in the shadows.
"And this is my companion, Louis D'Aguerre. He has a tendency towards silence."
"Louis? You left me so suddenly, back there. I wasn't sure what to make of your departure."
The man stirred slightly but did not respond. He either shared a mutual respect with Savoie and would not speak when silence was intended or more likely he feared him.
"I see you have already met Louis." the voice seemed oddly cold now.
I nodded and turned to my father questioning him with my eyes.
"These young men have told me that they are looking for land to buy here and I have told them that to look at all the plantations it would surely take more than a day. They will be staying here for this time, my dear. Please show them two rooms they could use. Sarah is busy with the party."
I nodded again and curtseyed to my father, "Gladly. Please follow me."
I walked out into the hallway and led them quickly down to the quarters where I finally stopped and opened a door. "Here you all can be directly across the hall from one another. Should you need anything the kitchen is downstairs. oh, never mind I will show you all around after the party. Please hurry to join us as soon as you are settled." I backed out of the room shutting the door and hurried down the hallway.
I stopped dead in my tracks when I heard a voice raise to silence someone. I waited listening and finally crept towards the door, which I now realized I had left cracked slightly open.
"One simple thing, and you can't even do that!"
"I got us in here didn't I?"
"I said stay away from his daughter. That's all you had to do, but you just couldn't help yourself, could you?"
"She came to me. What was I supposed to do, run?"
I jumped startled by the rattle of furniture as someone was thrown up against the wall, their breath knocked violently out of them.
"One little thing. I hate treating you like this.."
I moved away as fingers suddenly gripped the frame of the door in pain, white-gloved fingers.
"You seem to like it." the voice came out straggled and strained as the hand gripped tighter. "A lot actually."
"I could kill you right now."
"Then do it." a cough broke the sentence as I readied to run in.
Silence followed as I heard a sigh of anger, "No, you'll be worth something tonight."
I heard something crumple to the floor as a gasp struggled in. "You always say that."
"And I." I cocked my head in confusion as I heard the sound of ruffling clothing, "always mean it."
"I'd rather you kill me."
"I know."