The man behind the mask

[Only admins are allowed to see this image]Castielle had almost decided not to attend the ball this year but Evelyn had asked her too which was why she was here mingling with the other staff members and nursing the glass of champagne in her hand. She secretly wished it was something a lot stronger but for now it would do. Where many where wearing large poofy ball gowns she wore a simple red [Only admins are allowed to see this link] that she had had in her closet for a long time. Her hair was twisted elegantly into tight curls and a medium sized orchid was weaved along the side of her golden locks.

She wore no mask, though she was offered one at the door. She was never one to hide her face, even if it was masked ball. Evelyn often called her a party pooper but she didn't care. Balls were not as they use to be anymore. These were college students who were parading around like ladies and gentleman but in truth they were immature selfish loud and annoying humans with too much time on their hands. If only she could travel back in time that would be much more interesting than this ball. Tipping her glass back she elegantly finished her drink and sat in the the tray of the passing butler. Bowing slightly she excussed herself from the staff and made her way over to the large windows overviewing the gardens.

Perhaps if she had had someone to come to the ball with it wouldn't have been so dull. If only Duncan were here. He would have swept her off her feet in a moment and waltz her into an endless dream. But alas, it was not meant to be. Duncan was buried in her garden, a constant reminder that she was alone. Sighing heavily she tilted her wrist to look at the petite watch on her arm. She had been here long enough, it was time to turn in. A lady such as yourself should not be standing here alone. Mind if I join you? Turning slightly she glanced at the masked man who spoke to her. His scent drifted to her nose making her smile broadly. "Mister Riley." she said sweetly curtsying to him. "You may, of course. I wouldn' think you would come to the ball. You don't seem the type."

[Only admins are allowed to see this image]Evelyn really did not like Zeus. She was always so paranoid that someone was out to get her. Which really wasn't the case but she was so set on her ways that she couldn't see that he was only there to help. But Evelyn despised help from anyone. Stubborn woman.

Zeus had an old soul feeling to him, probably because he was an old soul. But the way he talked, dressed and even moved spoke a story that few could read. She was one of the lucky ones that could. It was good to have someone around that was as old as she was. They had a lot in common age, history, taste in things. He was a comfortable addition to her life one she could easily get lost in if she wasn't careful. Waving her hand she shook her head slowly and folded her hands together neatly. "I haven't had any accompany me to anything in a long time. I'm quite use to it." Twice she was stood up at the alter and the last relationship she was in ended up with her lovers heart being ripped out. Castielle had come to the decision that she was meant to be alone.

The Elder vampire smiled and nodded placing her cool hand on his. The Queen's Waltz played from the orchestra in the corner. This was one of Castielle's favorite dances. Taking her position she smiled and curtsied before effortlessly gliding across the floor allowing Zeus to lead. She loved to dance, even as a child she was always dancing in one way or another. "Thank you Zeus, I always hated being a wall flower."

[Only admins are allowed to see this image]Zeus even as a child was very well mannered. Which was probably why she liked him so much. People now a days were loud and selfish. They only looked out for themselves and were greedy. Zeus on the other hand was still, in her opinion, wise and caring behind his years. They had spent time together after her classes catching up on things, having coffee, making sure Evelyn wasn't trying to kill him. Try as she might, Castielle was afraid that she was beginning to develop feelings for her previous ward.

For a long time the elder vampire kept her distance from people and for good reason. She couldn't take losing someone else. Castielle had lived for a very long time and the more peoples she watched die, only made her heart more empty and hallow. Soon she felt as if she would turn into nothing but an emotionless shell of what she use to be. Castielle was afraid of feeling anything for Zeus. If she did there was a chance he would be in danger. Yes he couldn't die which was an up side but she had many enemies. Powerful deadly enemies that would use him against her. It was better that she was alone, people were safe that way.

They weaved in and out between the other couples dance, the room becoming nothing but a blur as she gazed into the wizards eyes. Castielle laughed at the memory of little Zeus dancing with her. He was but a child then and barely came up to her waist but she enjoyed those moments. "You were as talented then as you are now." she replied softly looking down at his chest to avoid his gaze.

[Only admins are allowed to see this image]Castielle was talented in many things, dancing was one of the better ones. She knew many forms of dance spanning from all over the world, but the Queen's Waltz was her favorite. It made her feel free, light and graceful. Something she rarely felt now a days.It was good to have a partner to dance with especially one she taught herself. "Flattery will get you no where." she said with a smile.

Turning elegantly in his arms Castielle's back pressed against his chest as they continued to dance. The hem of her dress gently brushed against the floor. Had anyone told her that she would be at a ball with a man that she knew as a boy she would have laughed. Zeus was no longer the little boy she knew all those years ago. He was a man, a very handsome, very powerful man. It was wrong of her to feel any sort of attraction to him. But part of her couldn't help but feel some attraction to him.

"Nothing...nothing at all." she spun around again resuming her original position as the music slowly came to an end. Wrapping her arms around his neck she leaned back into the finishing notes of the song. Smiling she gently traced her fingers over his high cheek bones. Yes, he had grown into a fine man, his paretns would be very proud. No matter what bad things he may have done in the past, he was a good man now. She herself had done a great many terrible things in her lifetime. Things that would make grown men weap. But it was not what you have done in the past it was what you do in your future.

[Only admins are allowed to see this image]He was always to observant for his own good, even as a child. She could tell one story but her eyes always told another. He was one of the few who could deduce this from her and not lose their head. Should she tell him? No of course not. That would only cause problems one in which she wouldn't going down. It was better that she kept her feelings hidden from him.

I shouldn't be feeling this way. He was a child when I met him, I helped raise him it is wrong for me to feel anything other than compassion for him. And yet, he sparks something within me that I haven't felt in a long time. I need to distance myself.

Her eyes drifted to his lips then back to his eyes, it was hard to focus. Though the music stopped the stayed in their position. His hands kept her body close to his, his warm flesh contrasted her icy skin. Her tongue peaked out from her ruby lips to wet them from their sudden dryness. Her mind was screaming for her to move to get out of his grasp and simply go home where it was safe and quiet. Her eyes fluttered softly, causing her ebony lashes to brush the honey kissed skin of her cheeks. She didn't want to move but she knew she must if only to keep her dignity in tact. Here she was, nearly four and a half thousand years old and she was feeling like a love sick child.

Placing her hand gently on his chest she pulled herself up to stand and gave him a short bow. Many eyes had turned to them, curious as to why they were standing in such a way. Her keen ears heard many a whisper float around the ballroom. She kept her emotionless face in tact, and excused herself to the beverage table where she picked up the nearest drink and drank it slowly. She needed to leave, if only for her own sanities sake.

[Only admins are allowed to see this image]Castielle had been so lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice that they had continued walking and it seemed to never end. She stopped and looked over her shoulder at where they had just come from and all she saw was an endless length of hallway. Turning she looked in front of her only to see the same thing. Placing her hand on the wall she knocked a few times to listen ot the solid sound behind it.

"Of course we have, because it would seem the fates just love playing with me this month." she said with a heavy sigh. First the elevator and now with a labyrinth of hallways. Just wonderful how could it possibly get any worse? As if on cue a deep growl vibrated in Castielle's ears. Stepping closer to Zeus she gently grabbed hold of his jacket. "It would seem we're not alone either. Come...let's try and get out of here before whatever that thing is comes and finds us."

Quickening her pace she set off down the path in front of them. The growling continued to get louder behind them. Castielle made the mistake of looking behind her the next thing she knew a giant black mass launched towards them. Pushing Zeus out of the way she grunted as the beast collided with her knocking down the hall. The sound of fabric tearing made her growl loudly. This was one of her favorite dresses! Pushing the demon from her form her arms shook as she restrained him. "What the hell are you?"

The beast was bleeding, she could feel the warm liquid splashing on the fabric of her dress as it fought against her. It was wounded, but still very strong? Just what the hell was this thing and why was it in the school? How could it have gone undetected for so long?

The demon howled angrily and arched it's back to retreat from the attack. Jumping from Castielle's form the demon turned to Zeus with a new fury. It growled angrily at him, it's attention turned to the man instead of the woman. Castielle pulled herself off the floor and watched the encounter. Looking around her she noticed a large mirror on the wall. The demon growled angrily and lunged for Zeus, snatching the mirror from it's post she hit the demon in mid leap shattering the glass in a million tiny pieces. The beast flew over Zeus and collided with the wall and crumpled to the floor.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly tossing the mirrors frame to the floor and looking at he hand. It was cut rather deeply but nothing she couldn't handle. Was it dead? Probably not, it would take more than getting bitch slapped by a mirror to kill soemthing like that. Whatever wounded it must have been strong, if they were lucky they might make it out alive.

[Only admins are allowed to see this image]This school needed better security it would seem. Demons, hell hounds, God only knew what else would happen within the next few months. But one thing was for sure, there never was a dull moments here. Castielle turned her attention to Gauge when he spoke, her brows nitting together in confusion. "So you mean to tell me that this happened before and no one has tried to kill the demon? Instead they wanted keep it hidden?" Sometimes the vampire felt that the intellegence level of people were dropping as time went on.

Accident, it was always an accident. One would think that they would keep a better eye on dangerous things at this school. Any more student deaths and they should just rename the school a morgue instead of a university.

Sighing she looked around her at the repeating pattern of the painting and mirrors. "The school is filled with secret passages but the laws of physics don't apply here so even if we were to find a secret passage I don't think it would actually take us to the right room. We cound end up in the Deans office instead of the lobby. But I will see if I can find one." Evelyn had taken her on a tour of the school and showed her a few of the secret passages that were hidden in the walls. They were behind paintings, tapestries, even two way mirrors. You just had to have a keen eye in spotting them.

They continued to walk until came to a stop. A large painting of Victor hung on the wall, it was old and the paint had already begun to crack. But something that stood out were Victor's eyes. Anyone who knew the old vampire would know that his eyes were brown but in the painting they were electric blue. Placing her hand on the canvas she gave a hard push making the painting move back from the frame and slide to the side exposing a dark tunnel. Lucky be a lady tonight! Turning to Zeus she stepped aside and smiled. "After you."

[Only admins are allowed to see this image]Wonderful a demon that can't be killed just what ever college needed. Castielle fought hard not to roll her eyes at his words. Humans, over the years Castielle had adapted to them but she still thought they were stupid as hell. It wasn't a good idea to mix humans with supernaturals especially in an enclosed enviorment. Witches and Wizards were one thing but humans with no powers and no way to defend themselves were another.

She allowed Zeus to go first, looking down the dark hallways she turned around and stared at his hand for a second unsure whether to take it or not. Gathering the bottom of her dress she lifted it slightly to step into the hidden passage before slowly wrapping her hand around his. It sent a shiver up her spine, one that should not have been there at all in the first place. For heaven's sake she had watched the man grow up. These feelings were simply because she had been alone for so long. It was destined to happen sooner or later, so she told herself it was nothing ot get her panties tied in a bunch over they would go away soon. Hopefully.

As they continued to walk down the hidden path, Castielle watched the painting close behind them with a thud. Well, they were not in an enclosed space with barely enough room to walk, in the pitch black with a killer demon after them. Here's to hoping that nothing decided to jump out at them while they were wandering in this tiny space. Because if so, they were both screwed.