Masquerades of Deception

"Kill her," the voice ordered him in a way that was past demanding. Anger emanated from every vibe in him. "Do it tonight."

xxx

She looked around the ballroom bored. Her gaze took in everything that she found herself disinterested in. This small gathering of people that thought this mask ball was fascinating beyond what they remembered the last one to have been like was what disinterested her the most. It had been a ball that was geared especially in her favor from her fiancé; her fiancé that would do anything she asked, except what he was supposed to.

Warm breath fell on the back of her neck, someone's fingers began to play with the tresses of her hair until they moved them away. A soft, lingering kiss was placed on it. Nervous upon knowing who it was, and aware that any person could see them if they looked close enough to see the man behind her, she removed the hand that had begun to trail its way under the cover of her long hair that draped on her shoulder and over the swell of her bosom.

"Stop it," she said through lips that appeared to be closed, but spoke to him.

Another warm, feathery kiss was planted on the back of her neck, out of the sight of curious eyes. She reveled in the arousing feel of it for a second before coming to her senses. She knew this wasn't the time, or the best place, it being a party thrown for her by people who were blind to certain things, she looked over her shoulder at the man standing behind her tall chair with eyes that read the same emotion as his.

"Where?" he asked her in a husky tone. She returned her gaze to her fiancé, who eyed her obsessively from across the room. His eyes held the hint that he hid something.

Elegantly, she covered her mouth with her hand, playing like she concealed a yawn. "The conservatory beyond the garden."

Without another word, or touch, the warmness from the body behind her disappeared and she knew he was gone. Standing up herself, and straightening her dress that had began to birth wrinkles on it, she stepped down from the tall chair that had been specifically bought for her and her fiancé for this occasion. She moved towards the hallway that led through a maze before allowing her to reach the conservatory, but stopped when her name was called in the hall.

Turning to look back at a friend of hers, she automatically recognized her as her first cousin, Emiline. "Yes?" Her anxiety was evident from her stance. She controlled her antsy attitude.

"How are you? Good?" Confused at her cousin's question, she nodded her head.

"I'm good, yes." Her eyes moved down the hall to where the door was a few feet from her. She fixed her mask with impatience.

A smile came on Emiline's face that she didn't want to take the time to figure out, she was shocked when her cousin hugged her roughly, then said, "I love you like my sister, just remember that."

"Thank you." Releasing herself from the embrace, she patted Emiline's shoulder. "I love you like a sister, too... But I have to go, there's something I have to take care of for Earl."

Another smile grew on Emiline's face. She watched for only a quick second as her cousin turned around and walked back up the hall before she exited and was met by the windy late night air. Quickly, she made her way to her private conservatory that she knew he was waiting at for her. Her eyes took in every object, hoping that he hadn't decided to stand her up.

"Adele." Turned around by a strong grip on her waist, fingers gripped her chin and her surprise was covered by a soft roughness.

xxx

He watched the other man enter the ballroom again from across the room. Smooth, as if by coincidece, their gazes collided for a quick second in affirmation that the deed had been taken care of. The problem was disposed of right where it started. Everything was done and finished. There was nothing to worry about that would set itself in front of him as a problem... Not even the bastard that would've been his in months to come.

Returning to the conversation he'd been carrying with a few men a second before, he caught Adele reenter the ballroom, a basket of flowers crooked in her arm, just like she'd promised him she'd get before the ball had begun. He hated what he'd done, he should've felt guilty about it, but didn't. He'd removed the one person from her life that she cared for the most, the one person that was more like a sister to her than her own sister, only he could at least not have to worry about his secrets being revealed.