Page 111 of His Two Hidden Masks

“Dante,” I said, forcing my voice to be overly bright. “It’s Bella, you know, Isabella Uzano.”

He opened his mouth and inhaled before clearing his throat. “I didn’t recognize you with the mask.”

“Bella, if we have to walk the long way, we need to go now,” Leo said.

“It’s okay,” I said. “Dante is going to let us through. Aren’t you, Dante?”

“I am?” he said.

“Yes,” I stepped forward. “The thing is, you have seen me, Dante. In fact, you have seen parts of me you shouldn’t. I am pretty sure that stealing a surveillance video and sharing the stolen video with a civilian isn’t legal.

“Especially when that video exploits a woman in one of her most private and personal moments. I know I didn’t break any laws that night, but I am pretty fucking sure you did, Dante.”

“Bella,” he said, his ruddy cheeks turned ashen. “I destroyed the tape.”

“After you shared it.”

His eyes widened. “But after that, I did. I promise.”

“I know all about it, Dante, and you are a god damn liar.”

“And you kiss like a flounder,” Leo said, under his breath.

I stifled what would have been an explosive laugh. “Too bad you behaved like a sex criminal. Leo and I need to get to Doge's Palace in the next few minutes, so let us pass.”

Dante glanced up at the runway next to him. A line of models and dancers waited to ascend the stairs. A woman dressed as what only can be described as a Victorian Mermaid Queen was next. Her make-up artist stood in front of her holding a kit and touching up her glittered cheeks.

“Can you two handle the cat walk?” Dante asked.

“Yes,” Leo blurted, grabbing my arm. “Yes. We. Can.”

Dante pushed past the mermaid queen at the front of the line and held back the queue so we could walk up the stairs to the catwalk.

“We even?” he mumbled as I walked past.

“Not even close,” I said, “but it’s a start.”

At the top of the stairs, a woman with a clipboard ushered people onto the catwalk in time with the music. She held her hand up as two men wearing matching silver-and-red suits slow danced past us. With slicked back hair and matching handlebar mustaches, they glittered and twirled.

“Go,” the woman said, nodding. Leo and I stepped onto the catwalk and under the heat of the lights. I curtsied. Leo bowed and took my hand.

We sashayed in time with the music, walking above the crowd. As if in a dream, we glided along the catwalk, every step moving us closer to the steps of Doge's Palace.

An enormous flower archway marked the end of the procession. A woman with faerie wings hung suspended from the top of the arch on a glittering swing.

“And now we have Sir. Evan Langley and his partner, Sir. Leon Bing,” A woman dressed as an Egyptian goddess announced the couple ahead of us.

“The costumes are inspired by the days of Commedia Dell’Arte. Their dance is an homage to all lovers and the patron saint of today’s celebration, Eros.”

Oh, dear God. She was narrating this fashion show. What would she say about Leo and me? Were we even on her list? We were so close to the palace now.

Beyond the flower arch, I saw a wall of red lights with an enormous heart in the middle that pulsed in time with the music. Couples gathered in front of the heart, holding hands, kissing. I spotted enough traditional white veils to recognize our destination.

Leo and stepped into the spotlight. “And now we have a delightful pair, a secretive pair, a surprise pair,” the Egyptian goddess said. “The beauty of Carnival is the unexpected, and this next couple is a mystery of ivory and gold.”

The clock tower began a slow chime announcing the time. One. Two.

“We’re late for a wedding!” Leo shouted. He grabbed my hand and dragged me forward as the crowd roared.

---