Chapter 186: The Masked Ball

[Music: The World We Made By Ruelle]

I stepped through the doors into a grand ballroom filled with people in custom gowns and tailored suits, each of them wearing a mask to conceal their identity.

This was a masked ball, and for once, I was glad it was.

I felt like I had teleported through time into some grand historical event of the century.

I came to the location Julius said I should, and it turned out to be a private boutique where I was dolled up for this ball.

They really outdid themselves if you ask me, and I can’t rein in any distaste because the attire was quite lovely.

So what if I like the gown? Doesn’t mean I should like the party, because this place is freaking me out.

This was some society shit going on around here, and the concealed faces only added to the vibes.

God, I hope a ritual or something isn’t gonna happen. I blame that on watching Salem before this night; now I’m spooked more than ever.

The people here certainly took the theme of the ball seriously.

"You look beautiful, kitten. So stop fidgeting."

I nearly jumped when I heard the masculine voice in my ear. I cleared my throat and placed a finger on the micro earpiece hidden inside my ear.

"I’m not fidgeting. And this earpiece is making my ear itchy."

Hearing his voice directly in my ear wasn’t helping either. It was like I was in for a spicy audio.

"You don’t have to make it obvious that you’re talking with someone."

I quickly pulled my hand down and lowered my voice to a whisper. "I can’t help it; I haven’t done something like this before. It’s like a spy movie gone wrong and your voice..." I paused, clenching my teeth. "It’s distracting."

He chuckled, and I almost stopped breathing, or maybe I did because I can’t seem to think fucking clearly right now.

Calm your panties, Anastasia.

"I should be the one saying you’re distracting."

I rasped, turning until my eyes landed on the gigantic mirror a few feet away that mirrored everything in sight.

"You in that dress is a recipe for disaster."

I eyed my black Venetian lace masquerade mask, decorated with feathers, crystals, and dangling pearl strands. This alone completely made me a different person.

My ball gown was a black velvet with a figure-flattering bodice and an off-shoulder neckline.

"You should count yourself lucky that everyone in this ballroom has a mask on. It could have gotten bloody."

"B-Bloody?"

"You have no idea how many eyes have travelled in your direction since the moment you walked in."

Zade’s here.

How did he get here? The security was tight, and I only came through because I had an invite.

"Where are you?" I asked softly as my eyes quickly travelled around, and then I tilted my chin to look at the second floor.

It was just more guests engaging in their conversations and nothing else that could get me a match on Zade.

"Just know I’m close. And stick to the plan. Here he comes."

I turned quickly and saw a man walking toward me.

"Julius?"

He took my hand and pressed a kiss on my knuckles.

"Anastasia..."

Every fiber of my being forced me to yank my hand away from his hold, but I remained composed with a tight-lipped smile, silently thankful that I was in black opera gloves so that I didn’t need to feel his lips on my skin.

"You look gorgeous. I was right to choose this particular gown for you. You know Alice?"

"The one and only Alice?"

He sneered. "Yes. She took great pleasure in designing this gown for Anastasia Salvero, the exquisite dancer. You have made quite a name for yourself with your tremendous career. Many anticipate you to be on the stage again."

"You just know a lot about me, don’t you?" I said sternly. "How long have you had a microscope in my life?"

The music shifted into a slow waltz melody, and Julius led me to the dance floor and took hold of my waist to pull me closer.

"I’m gonna kill him after this."

A shiver ran through me when I heard Zade’s murderous voice.

"I think the main question you should be asking me is about the foo—"

"The Syndicate," I rushed through my words before he had the chance to finish that statement. "When will they be here?"

"You don’t expect them to reveal themselves that easily, do you?"

He gave me a brief spin before my back rested against his chest.

"For something like that to work, we’re gonna need to be on the special guest list."

I quickly pulled away, using the change in rhythm as a way to avert close contact. If Zade doesn’t kill Julius, then I will because he was getting ridiculously handsy for my liking.

Being his plus one was just a camouflage to attend this ball, but it seemed like Julius was taking this far too seriously.

We waltz gently to the beat.

"What special guest list?" I asked, getting down to business. "This is a special guest list as it is... our host should be entertaining us."

"I got the invite. The meeting with the Syndicate comes differently, and this Anastasia isn’t on the special guest list."

"Why do you mean?"

"In an hour, a group will be meeting in the next hall. I heard it’s for the business associates of the Syndicate."

"Ask him how he knew about this..." Zade’s voice vibrated in my ear.

I cleared my throat. "How did you know about this?"

"Just as I knew about this ball. I have my sources," he replied.

"Get him talking," Zade said.

"These sources of yours, are they like networks?"

He smiled. "If you wanna know if I’m involved with the undercity, the answer is yes. How else would I know all this?" he reasoned.

"It’s just so convenient that you know so much."

He leaned, and my body tensed up by the proximity.

"That happens when you have money," he said coolly, pride dripping from his tone.

"I’m guessing it has nothing to do with the fact that you’re my father’s sworn brother. I’m not sure that’s in the description given how you mentioned how he came from nothing. So tell me, Julius, what makes you so special enough to be here?"

"Good girl."

I’m gonna lose my fucking mind if Zade keeps talking in my ear like that.

"You’re curious about me."

"Is that a wrong thing?"

"No, Anastasia..." He sighed. "My identity is one thing I’ve always been cautious about. As you know, a name holds power, more powerful in any crime city."

I’m gonna guess the Undercity wasn’t the only crime city. Go figures.

"I’m here because I wanna protect you, which is why I prefer to stick to the Morri name for your safety, and mine. But yours comes first."

He dipped me to the beat, and I gasped when he pulled me back onto my feet.

"A-A little name wouldn’t hurt anybody, would it? I just wanna know if I can really trust you, and that comes with you telling me who you really are."

He gave a thoughtful expression. "How about this? I’ll tell you only if you watch the footage."

"What’s he talking about?"

The moment Zade asked me that question, my heart skipped a beat.

"W-Why?" I asked in a shaky tone.

"Because Anastasia." He cupped my cheek, and I shuddered from how cold his hands were. "You deserve to know the truth."

I gulped.

"I know you’re scared and confused. A perfectly normal reaction for things you don’t understand, but you have to walk past that."

I took a step back away from his touch.

"Okay."

Julius smiled. "Good. Then after that we shall uncover the Syndicate as planned. Lucky for us, I secured yet another invite. We should be done before the hour. Best get a head start." He positioned his arm.

I eyed it, taking a moment before I slid my hand into his arm.

Along the way, I discreetly took off the earpiece and dumped it in a nearby flute of champagne.

When Julius looked at me, I acted as though I was adjusting my mask.

Julius guided me toward the lobby, and with several turns we got to a door, and he released me holding up a flash drive.

"It’s all in here," he said. "And a laptop is inside. It took some trouble to secure that room, but I want this moment to be as uninterrupted as possible."

With shaky hands, I took the flash drive, and he opened the door.

The room looked like a terrace, but it wasn’t. The floor-to-ceiling windows simply gave it that illusion. Chesterfield chairs were arranged around a single table, where the laptop sat.

"After you..."

Silencing every other thought of reasoning, I walked in just in time to hear Julius’ phone ring, and he pulled it out.

"Excuse me."

I didn’t plan on waiting for him, so I neared the table, opened the laptop, and inserted the flash drive.

It took a moment before the footage was up. It was night, so the only source of light was the streetlights.

And then I saw it... a car.

"My car..." I murmured as a piercing headache followed.

I recognized that car. It was mine... the one I had ever since I finished college.

The car sped recklessly through the traffic lights. Then, an oncoming truck suddenly collided with it, and the footage went static.

Click!

I turned sharply and found the door being locked by a random woman.

"It looks like you have seen a ghost." She pointed a silenced pistol at me, and then removed her mask. "Is everything alright, madam?"

"C-Cynthia?"