Evenfall
Chapter 12 - The Family

Isa felt a strange sensation as the two of them stepped through the portal, arm in arm. It was not unlike a cool summer’s breeze, wafting over her; but it was still quite unsettling. She shivered. Nikolas turned to her questioningly, but she just smiled. He smiled back.

They stepped from the portal into the view of a massive courtyard, hidden in the shadows of an alcove. Isa looked up and found that the alcove they were in was in fact more of a large window sill; but it did its job nonetheless. Though they could see the courtyard, nobody else could see them. They were hidden completely, so nobody would question their sudden appearance out of thin air.

She looked away from the stonework of the sill towards the wide-open courtyard. It was pentagonal in shape, with one side being the entrance to the massive palace that towered behind them. It had a fountain in its center, and it was around this that the carriages moved.

Dozens of beautiful, filigree-adorned carriages looped lazily around the water feature, each one waiting its turn to stop before the great oak doors to offload its passengers, before meandering away to someplace else. Isa breathed in the beauty of it all. The horses pulling the carriages seemed just as dressed up as the passengers they ferried, bridles and halters adorned with silver, gold, bronze, jewels and feathers – each one more extravagant than the last.

Torchlight illuminated the courtyard, and this light glinted off gold, silver, bronze, cobalt, ruby and any other breathtaking colour Isa could care to imagine. They all blended seamlessly into one symphony of vibrancy. Isa thought it might even contest the forest in its glory.

A tug on her arm brought her back to the present. She looked up to replace Nikolas smiling coyly down at her. With a start she realized he had a mask on. She lifted the hand not trapped by Nikolas’s side to her own face and found that she too was wearing a mask. She smirked at the animal depicted on Nikolas’s mask.

“What?” He chuckled, cheeks reddening ever so slightly. Or maybe it was just the firelight glinting off a bronze carriage.

“The animal you wear,” Isa smiled, reaching up to touch his mask. “it’s my favourite.”

“Is that so?” he smirked. “And what animal might that be?”

“A wolf,” Isa said simply. Something dark flickered through his eyes, but it was gone before Isa could glean anything from it.

“What an interesting choice,” he said. Isa thought his smile looked somewhat forced.

“What animal might I be?” She inquired, tracing her mask to try and replace out for herself.

“A pig.” Nikolas said simply, expressionless. Isa’s eyes widened, and she immediately tugged at the mask. “Wait, wait!” Nikolas chuckled, hands closing over hers to halt her progress. “I’m only joking.”

“Quite an unfunny joke, if you ask me.” Isa muttered, dropping her hands so that Nikolas could reposition her mask. “What am I really?”

“A raven,” he smiled, stepping back to admire his handiwork. “Quite an interesting choice on Cindy’s part, I should say.”

“Agreed,” Isa said, puzzled. Nikolas gave her a funny smile. “What?”

“I think it’s the perfect animal to represent you,” he said, looking out towards the courtyard.

“How so?” Isa asked, tugging him along towards the massive oak doors.

“Well, ravens are free, are they not?” He said, falling into step.

“I suppose.”

“And they live in the forest, I’m sure?”

“That is true as well,” she chuckled. “I understand your meaning now. But how might you and a wolf be alike?”

Nikolas was silent for a while before speaking. “Are they not lonely?”

“Lonely?” Isa turned towards him. “How so?”

Nikolas shook his head and gave her a tight smile. “Never mind,” he said. “We have a party to attend!”

Isa frowned but followed him nonetheless towards the big doors. They seamlessly joined the flow of men and women dressed in extravagant dresses and coats towards the doors. Some seemed to mull about the stairs before going inside, greeting and being greeted by the various footmen stationed along the sides, each wearing a simple mask. Balanced on their hands were silver trays bedecked with crystal flutes of champagne and small finger foods, which the guests didn’t hesitate to take.

Isa also snatched one as she and Nikolas strode past, nodding in thanks to the footmen’s greetings as if they belonged at the party. She sipped it as they climbed the marble stairs and entered the extravagant mansion.

If Isa thought the outside of the palace was breathtaking, she had obviously not seen the inside yet. The ceiling towered above them, columns adorned with gold and silver holding it up. The floor was made of a rich black marble, its surface split by spiderwebs of silver and white. Shoes clicked harmoniously along it, the steps echoing in the cavernous room. Isa realized that they were already in the ballroom, easily the biggest room she’d ever seen.

She glanced around and noted the intricate carvings along the pillars and walls, and she followed them up to see the magnificent paintings on the ceiling. She gasped as she saw what the artist had depicted. It looked like the forest canopy, as if she were standing amongst trees and looking up. Branches and leaves snaked across the ceiling, broken by flashes of sky or colourful birds. Looking around, Isa realized that the pillars in the room were fashioned after tree trunks, and the silver and gold that wove around the marble depicted vines.

“It’s beautiful,” she smiled, unable to break her stare. Nikolas made a noise of agreement, and she turned to look at him. He was staring at her, and not the ceiling. She blushed, and he looked away.

“Shall we replace a seat?” He asked, gesturing to the many tables that were dotted along the perimeter of the room. It seemed guests were seating themselves freely, leaving their belongings at their chosen seats and then swaying off to dance on the spacious floor. Isa noticed the mini orchestra that played on a raised platform to one side of the room.

“Let’s,” She nodded, and allowed him to lead her to a table as she continued to study the room. Nikolas took her to a table towards the corner of the room, away from the hustle and bustle of the crowd. Isa smiled gratefully at his discretion and lowered herself into a seat. The orchestra seemed to finish their piece and the dancers and other party-goers turned to applaud them. The players stood and bowed, smiling graciously. A man strode up onto the platform and raised his arms, calling for the room to quiet down. He held a champagne flute in one hand.

“Honoured guests,” he called, strong voice carrying easily across the expanse of the room. The last conversations died off as he continued. “May I introduce the Duke and Duchess of Emrys!”

The room broke into applause as two more people walked onto the platform. The man smiled charmingly, and Isa could see – despite the black and gold mask covering the upper half of his face – that age had treated him kindly. The woman next to him seemed substantially younger, but strikingly beautiful nonetheless. The firelight glinted of her silver mask, which also – Isa noted – depicted a wolf.

“Good evening,” The man started. Isa could hear the age in his years. The crowd murmured in greeting. “I am so pleased that you could join us here tonight to celebrate my daughter’s sixteenth birthday.” He paused as they clapped, smiling tightly. “Anabelle, would you join me?” A pretty little thing joined him on the platform, her dress a deep red colour, matching her long hair almost perfectly. Her mask – made of what appeared to be red lace – only covered one eye, the lace continuing above her other. She smiled widely as she joined her father on the platform.

“My beautiful daughter,” he said, smiling fondly at her. She returned it. “When I met your mother seventeen years ago, I couldn’t imagine the joy she would bring me. I thank Archen every day for leading her to me, and for giving me you. I hope you enjoy your birthday.” He gave her a hug, and the audience clapped. “To my daughter!” he raised his champagne, and the guests raised theirs. “May she live a fruitful life!”

“Hear hear!” The guests chanted, sipping their champagne and going back to conversing. The orchestra started playing again as the family left the platform, along with the man who had introduced them. Isa raised her glass and downed the rest of it, a pleasant buzz settling in her stomach.

“Care to dance?” Nikolas asked from beside her. She glanced at his outstretched hand and grimaced.

“I can’t dance,” she said quietly. He beamed at her. “What?”

“Neither can I,” he whispered, flicking his fingers in a ‘come here’ motion. “Nobody will know if we seem to be doing the same thing!”

The buzz in her stomach prompted her to take his hand. He smiled and squeezed her fingers as he pulled her to her feet. She smiled shyly as they weaved between people and tables towards the dance floor.

Nikolas turned to her and smirked, pulling her towards him. He weaved one hand behind her back and held hers with the other, prompting her to put her other hand on his shoulder. She found herself blushing at their closeness.

“Nervous?” He asked, pulling her to and fro.

“Not at all,” she said indignantly as they swayed. He chuckled.

“Then why are you so tense?”

“Tense? I’m not tense. You’re tense.”

He raised his eyebrow. She rolled her eyes.

“Fine,” she sighed. “Maybe a little bit.”

Her breath caught in her throat as he bent his head next to hers. She could feel his breath on her ear as he said, “Me too.”

She felt uncomfortably warm as he lifted his head back up, looking her in the eye. She relaxed a little bit, and they continued ‘dancing’. She gave a startled cry as he spun her away from him and then quickly pulled her back. She slammed into his chest, and suddenly he was all she could see. She became vaguely aware that their heads were getting closer together as he leaned towards her. She started to close her eyes, the world fading around her.

The moment shattered, however, as the guests around them started applauding the end of the orchestra’s song. Embarrassed, Isa dropped her head into his chest, closing her eyes while her cheeks burned. She smiled tightly and turned away from him, clapping with the others. He seemed embarrassed too, clapping along as well.

The man from earlier stepped back onto the platform again, the crowd hushing to hear what he had to say.

“If everyone will please make their way back to their tables, the first course will be served shortly.”

With some grumbling, the guests started dispersing. Isa and Nikolas followed along, giving respectful nods and curt greetings to the other six people seated at their table before sitting and preparing themselves for dinner.

Despite the extravagant eleven course meal that was served, Isa realized that time flew startlingly quickly. Before she knew it, she was sitting back, feeling immensely full after the ridiculously sweet dessert. Second dessert, she remembered. How did anyone live like this? She hadn’t finished half her dishes!

Looking over, she saw that Nikolas had the same expression she did painted on his face. He sat back in his chair with a sigh, placing his napkin neatly next to his plate. Almost immediately the plates were rushed away by anxious servers who stood quietly all across the hall. He looked up and smiled when he caught her watching him. She blushed, remembering their moment earlier.

“Having fun?” He asked.

“Yes, thank you.” She said quietly, grinning widely. “This is the most fun I’ve had in weeks; probably ever.”

“I’m glad,” He grinned in return.

They glanced around and saw that the guests were milling back to the dance floor, the orchestra playing a substantially slower song than the one they had earlier.

“One last dance?” Nikolas asked, offering his hand again.

“How could I say no?” Isa stood with him, taking his hand.

On the floor they resumed their earlier positions, swaying gently to the calming music. After three songs, Isa started feeling drowsy, the lateness of the evening finally taking its toll on her. She was about to say as much when the Duke broke the sounds of the hall with the clanging of his champagne glass. The guests turned to look at him, and Isa noted that his wife and daughter stood beside him on the platform.

“I would like to end the night; or rather, morning, with the traditional salute to my daughter. As you all know, as is common in our household, we symbolically remove our masks at the end of the party to represent the removing of one’s younger self. If you’ll all join me,” he handed his glass to an orchestra member and reached his hands behind his head, untying his mask. Everybody followed.

Isa and Nikolas, amused, reached behind their heads to do the same. They noted that though everybody else’s masks were untied, they still held them to their faces.

“To my daughter!” The Duke said exuberantly, snatching his mask off and tossing it towards the ceiling. The guests followed suit, and the firelight glinted off countless masks raining through the air. The cheering abruptly stopped as the cry of the Duchess broke through the hall. Everybody turned to her as she fell to her knees, hands over her mouth. She was staring at one person.

Nikolas.

“My son?” She whispered.