Page 67 of His To Claim
“Well, tonight’s the masquerade ball and I know it may seem dumb to you guys, but it’s always been my favorite event. This and the Snowflake Ball on New Year’s Eve.”
“There’s another one?” Jade asks in horror as she swipes bacon from the plate.
“Yes, that one’s also hosted by the Servites but it’s quite beautiful. They convert the entire manor into a winter wonderland. Anyway, my mom used to love going. It was one of the few times I saw her happy. We’d order breakfast from Scottie’s and spend all day getting ready. We always had matching gowns and masks.” She swallows as her voice cracks, her eyes getting glossy. “Anyway, it’s dumb, I know.”
I reach out for her and wrap my arms around her shoulders. She looks up at me in surprise since I’m not known to be a hugger. “Don’t, Stella. Never belittle what makes you happy. It’s what makes you so amazing. The little things that make you smile. Hold on tight to whatever good memories you have of her.”
“Thanks, Scarlett,” she says, choking up a bit and I have to look away so the tears that are trying to come out of my eyes go back to where they belong, deep inside me. “Let’s eat. I have a full day of pampering planned for y’all.”
And she wasn’t kidding.
Stella hired a full team of certified beauticians to help us get ready for the evening. A hairdresser, makeup artist, masseuse, a spa technician - the entire team. I’d never felt so taken care of.
After hours of massages, facials, baths, and body hair removal, and I mean all body hair removal, we’re ready to get dressed. I walk over to the front door when I hear a loud knock. Opening it, I find a small gift box on the floor with no name. I turn down the hall but there is nobody in sight. I take the box into my room and place it on my bed as I get ready.
The makeup artist and I agreed on a more natural bronzed look to match my dress for tonight paired with a bold lip color. My hair is now a mess of black curls loosely put together on my head with a few tendrils framing my face. I slip into my gold sequined gown as Jade comes up behind me to zip me up. The straps are thin, and the neckline dips low between my breasts, which means no bra necessary. The back is low and forms a deep V stopping right above my ass. All my tattoos are visible which is the only reason the girl in the mirror in front of me still slightly resembles me.
“Scarlett, you look amazing,” Jade says as she places her hands on my shoulders bringing her face to my cheek.
“I don’t look like myself,” I reply, staring at the stranger’s reflection in the mirror. I look like her.
My mother.
I glance away, turning to look at Jade who stands behind me. Her blonde hair is in a high sleek ponytail, her makeup a dark smokey eyeshadow with a light pink gloss on her lips. It goes perfectly with the metallic dark teal dress she chose with thin straps and a mermaid-like skirt that highlights ever one of her gorgeous curves. She looks incredible, her eyes nearly matching the color of the dress.
“You look beautiful. Who would have thought we would ever wear such expensive, elegant dresses, regardless of the occasion?”
Jade laughs as I get a gut-wrenching feeling in my stomach. I debate telling her about what Agent Servite has planned but decide the best way to make sure his plan goes accordingly, is to keep it to myself. I wouldn’t want to ruin her night, cause although she saidshe’s dreading going, I know my sister deep down loves to dress up.
“Now all we need are our masks,” she says, turning toward my bed where the black masks I bought for Drake and I lay.
She picks up the box I had forgotten about and turns toward me. “What’s this?” she asks.
“I’m not sure. I found it outside the front door earlier today. It has no name on it. I brought it in to open it, but with everything, I forgot.” At that she smiles wide and lifts open the lid. I walk over to her as she grabs a note from inside. As she reads the note, I look inside to find the most beautiful mask I’ve ever seen.
A mask spun of gold fit for an angel. I’m the devil seeking a semblance of peace amidst this hell, but you, my angel, are the chaos I crave.
I pull out the golden mask made to look like tangled branches intertwined with red crystals.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper softly.
“Who is this from?” she asks, turning the card over to look for a name but comes up empty.
I however know exactly who it’s from. “Ace,” I whisper to myself but I know she hears me. He must have seen me buy the gold dress from the shop.
We hear a knock on the door as Stella waltzes in unrecognizable. She’s wearing the silver off the shoulder, beaded gown with small crystals embedded in the skirt we picked out for her. Her strawberry blonde hair is in loose curls falling upon her shoulders, and her eye makeup, a mixture of lilacs and plums, make her gray eyes sparkle.
“Hot damn, Stella Silver, you’re a total babe,” Jade says, whistling and causing Stella to lower her head, a pink flushappearing on her cheeks. “Don’t hide away like that, Stella, embrace it. You’re hot, you’re beautiful, flaunt it.”
“You girls look incredible, the guys are going to lose it,” Stella exclaims, looking back up at us. “I’m so excited,” she adds.
I laugh at her enthusiasm and excitement but just as we are about to head out to the living room to meet Ruby, Jade grabs my arms pulling me back. “Are we going to ignore the fact that I know it was Ace who sent you that mask?”
“Yes,” I reply, pulling out of her reach. “I already have a mask.” I hold up the two black masks, while Jade walks back over to my bed and picks up the gold mask bringing it over.
“You need to wear this one. It’s beautiful, Scar,” she says, handing it to me.
“No, he shouldn’t have sent it to me.”