Page 9 of Until

I take a seat in one of the empty balconies and look out on the dance floor below. From where I sit I can also see the entrance.

The ball has two rules—no one is allowed to arrive with another person. Everyone arrives solo. Another rule is that no one is allowed to exchange names. That is a rule I added more recently. It allowed me to get to know someone before they learned who I am.

A member of the waitstaff hands me a glass of champagne as I watch the steady stream of people entering the party.

The women are dressed in gowns. Their hair and jewelry add to their princess mystique. There are plenty of beautiful women there, but none have the spark.

An hour passes, and I’m beginning to lose hope that my spark is going to show up. While the guests take great pains to disguise themselves, after three years I’m able to recognize many of them. So far none of the guests seem like anyone new. No one is attracting my attention.

Eventually, the steady stream of people arriving slows. I can admit when I’m wrong. Telling the trustees I would meet her tonight, telling David to mark my words, I was wrong. She’s not here. Not tonight at least. Today is just another masquerade.

After finishing another glass of champagne, I rise to my feet intending to leave when there’s a flash. It happens again and I catch the spark out of the corner of my eye. I turn towards the direction of the spark, curious at what it could be.

A curvy woman enters the ball timidly. Her honey-blonde hair is styled so that the top of her hair is held in place with a glittering clip, letting her waves cascade past her shoulders, joining the rest of her hair. Her dress is a white strapless gown, with a full skirt that flows from her waist, exaggerating her curves. She is breathtaking.

She stands at the edge of the dance floor, with her hands hugging her arms as if she needs comfort. She looks lost but with a slight air of sadness around her.

I push my way through the crowd to reach her. As the years of the ball went on, I had increased the number of invitations hoping the odds would work in my favor. Right now I’m regretting that. The crowd slows me down.

She closes her eyes and her lips move as she talks to herself. She opens her eyes and enters the crowded dance floor.

As she slowly makes her way through the crowd, I finally reach her.

"Looking for someone?" I ask. She jumps, startled at hearing my voice, and then giggles as she puts her hand on her chest to calm her heart. She turns to me and smiles, lighting the entire room.

"Oh, no. I was just looking around. This place is huge. And I didn’t expect to see fire dancers and Moko Jumbie.”

“Yes, stilt walkers.” I find myself smiling back at her. “Not many people know that’s what they’re called, but it wouldn’t be a carnival without them. I’m guessing you’re a virgin.”

Her eyes widen, and her face turns bright red as she giggles and looks at the floor. I laugh, realizing what I said.

"I'm sorry, that’s not what I meant. Is this your first time at the Carnival?"

“Oh, I should’ve known,” she says as she rolls her green eyes. “Yes, this is my first time here. I didn't even know something like this existed until the other day." She looks around the room with a bit of awe on her face. "It's like something out of a fairytale."

I nod, agreeing with her. At that moment she looks every bit the princess, and I am happy to be her prince.

"Well if this is a fairytale, then the princess should dance at the ball." I bow to her as I hold out my hand, keeping my eyes focused on hers.

Her smile widens, making her eyes crinkle. While earlier I saw the spark, now I feel it. My heart quickens in a way I have never felt before.

She takes my hand and we reach the center of the dance floor. With one hand around her waist, and her small hand still in mine, I lead our dance. She looks up at me with a glimmer of mischief in her eyes. I’m hooked.

"So I'm guessing you're not a virgin?" she asks.

Laughter bursts out from deep in my chest. The couples next to us turn to look at us, but I ignore them.

"No, I haven't been a virgin in a very long time,” I say with a smirk, pressing the small of her back so I can feel more of her soft body against me.

While we dance she looks around every once in a while, taking in all the grandeur of the ballroom. When she looks back at me, her eyes meet mine, and hold them steadily. She doesn’t shy away. She has a confidence that is greater than her years.

The song finishes and there is a brief lull as the band prepares for their next song. We’re still dancing, even without music that everyone can hear. We had our own.

I cup her face with my hands and lower my lips to hers. She leans against me, and I deepen the kiss as the band begins again. I end the kiss with a gentle brushing of my lips on hers. Everything about her feels right.

“What’s your name?” I murmur, knowing she can’t hear me.

The more we dance, the more my body responds to her. Despite the desire building in me, I want to know more about her. I lean down to her ear, breathing her in. She smells like peaches and honey.

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