Moonlight Masquerade

My entry into Meg McNulty's Masquerade blog hop :)

And the picture I used as inspiration for my entry (funny it isn't the picture that made me want to write for this blog hop).

Tell No One!

It was the first rule and the hardest to keep.  Nathan had spent the month since the mysterious package arrived trying to figure out which of his friends, small in number, had invited him to a masquerade.  He almost didn’t come but so much about it begged him to step out of his comfort zone.  He knew he would regret not taking the chance to see what it was about.  He looked at his own reflection, the black mask covering most of his face and the horns that fell down the sides. 

The horse drawn carriage stopped, lanterns hung to each side of the driver as if he had traveled from old London to retrieve him.  The driver, in a hood that kept his face covered jumped down and opened the door letting him inside.  The interior to the carriage was plush and velvet red, but he was surprised to see he wasn’t alone.  A woman sat across from him, with a purple masquerade mask very different from his own with feathers sprouting out all around of different more lively colors.  Her distinct blue eyes shined bright surrounded by the glowing purple. 

                The carriage began to move she smiled and leaned forward, “Where are we going?”

                Nathan could not stop staring at her lips, red as the ripest of strawberries, “I don’t know…”

                “I received this,” she motioned towards her dress and mask, “I still don’t know who it was from.”

                “Me either…are we crazy?”

                “It doesn’t seem real.”  The carriage had moved maybe a mile when it stopped and both companions moved to the edge of the seats to look out.  “Oh my gosh,” she muttered.

                The carriage driver opened the door for them.  Nathan stepped out and turned taking the mystery woman by her hand helping her from the carriage.  The area was lined with torches and lanterns, the full moon high above finished lighting the area where nearly thirty people all in decorative masks, costumes, and dresses gathered.  “Who…”  Nathan went to raise his mask but was caught by his companion, her hand on his wrist.

                “Second rule.”

                Never remove the mask.

                Nathan smiled at her as he lowered his hand, her fingers still tight around his wrist as she walked forward pulling him along.  Nathan kept pace until they came to the head high stone columns as they turned to get a better look at the magical assembly.  Nathan could now see the crowd clearly and the wonderment of it as people danced and talked.  The gathering looked like it was plucked out of a book.  Nathan felt his heart race as he turned to look at his carriage companion, her eyes as lost in wonder as his own and he knew his own smile mirrored hers.  And he remembered the third and final rule.

Prepare for the night of your life.

Click the image to check out the other entries.