he main entrance the mome

ery year since I was a child, desiring above anything else to impress the other wealthy families in our area. My birth mother chose well to leave me on her doorstep, being lucky that she even wa

n foyer is only half-way established, mother deciding on a silver and whit

h my coat buttons for a moment before smoothing my hair down. Mother loves my red hair, often saying she wishes should could t

g wryly at her. She rolls her e

r bed," she tells me, glancing at m

ff pass us by, arms heaving with furniture at decorations, paying us no mind. These events are no longer fun, but sin

e. Stepping into my room, I close the door, blocking out the curious eyes that linger in as strangers pass by. Le

my finger as I check the size to make sure it's mine. Sure enough, it is, although the neckline makes me ne

ng the fabric between her fingers. "Your mot

imagine what this will look like with my dark red hair and dark eyes. Usually my mother prefers conservative, pretty dresses that don't compliment my fi

ts, picking up her own dress. It's a light, pastel blue, which I can tell doesn't impress Le

ey yet," I say, falling onto my duvet, letting the plush fabric su

+

invitations are no given out lightly. Lei and I never bother to come down until at least an hour after the ball commences. Trus

it. Staring through the crowd, I take note of the lavish outfits and beautiful people that adorn them. Most of them I don't

itters menacingly, usually not bothered by the sight of a man in a suit, yet for some reason, my gaze seeks out whoever it is now standing with their back

the room, realising that I don't know them, yet the reaction my body is having to seeing them is strange, like seeing a long lost friend. Do they have tattoo's? I can't te

the server asks, r

looking around the server's body to look for the enigmatic stranger. Yet he's gone, disappeared into t

eside me, elbowing my side. I startle, before following her gaze, r

others I know from university. Alec's family are

of my drink, not bothering to see whether mother is witnessing me drinking. It doesn't matter that I'm an adult, she wo

seen before. He wears a dark suit, tie and button-up shirt black. He stands on his own, leaning aga

, nor can I place where I've seen him before, but he's definitely distantly familiar. His hair is dark

ays distractedly. I don't blame Lei for being attracted to him.

t of town, which would

you go tal

p before draining the rest of

wishing to invade her privacy, I look through the crowd. The music has slowed, lights shifting as people start to dance more appropriately,

k, bearing right into my soul. I exhale slowly, just the sight of him looking at me wiping all rational thoughts from my min

a deep breath, I start pushing through the crowd, avoiding those entranced in their dancing as I follow the man, trying to see where he is head

r me, a welcome relief. The man is nowhere to be seen, almost as if he has disappeared into the shadows that

en talking to. I take an uneasy step back, examining him carefully. Up close, he is far taller than I anticipated, towering over me. Beneath his suit, I imagine he is lean, well built. His eyes

easily, glancing over his shoulde

ic. He motions around himself, his jacket sleeve lifting bac

this was a

y is," I admit, rubbing my hands down my ar

o figure out where I know him from. His bone structure seems to be relatively uniqu

taking it in my hand. He firmly shakes it before drawing back, watching me intently. How have I no

ering why their talk was so brief. Brief eno

hether he is lying or reluctant to speak more about the matter. "Wha

, most

an, fo

expecting such a stripping quest

Mother won't like it, but I would like to see more o

et I can't help the uneasy feeling that glides over me. Why is he out here speakin

w familiar you look," I say, wat

oesn't react, expression r

here I have seen this man before, and instant it hits me, dread consumes me. I've seen him in my dreams, in my nightmare

y unease with him. If i explained this phe

on't wait for him to respond before slipping back into the ball