She jumped slighly, and saw the silver-haired man right next to her. His presence screamed millions in her face. She looks up to him, their height differences was noticeable. His short hair, as lustrous as moonlight, and as white as its color, cascaded in soft waves. His crimson eyes, piercing and enigmatic, seemed to hold untold secrets as they scanned her body behind a delicate, ornate mask. The mask, crafted with intricate silver filigree, perfectly matched his elegant attire—an impeccably tailored suit of crimson and black with subtle silver embroidery that shimmered with each movement. His presence was both captivating and slightly unnerving, as if he were a phantom from another world, come to weave intrigue into the night’s festivities.

"Are you articulate or are you just worth gazing at darling?"

His remark made her get out of her stare, she tried to quickly refocuse herself. She scoffs and looks him up and down. "I know my self worth, don't need a man telling what I am and what I'm not. How dare you think Im faking my status." Who was this man to come up to her with such an attitude. She just hoped he left soon.

He laughs deeply and leans in closer to Nyx. His silver hair going slightly over his mask. "Such entitlement coming from someone like you." His red eyes gaze over her attire as he spoke.

"Like me?" Nyx retorts with accusation. She faces the man with her body. "And just who might you be Mr. Know it all?"

"Me?" He questions. He then gets near her face, grabbing a piece of her silver hair and inspecting it in his slender hands.

She watches as he plays with her hair slowly and purposely. As if to irritate her more.

He then lets it fall gracefully against her bare shoulder and gets near her ear. Whispering. "Well Mr. Know it all, knows you stole that mask to get in here Ms. Johnson. You're asking for danger to follow you, darling." His smirk widened ever so slightly, a silent acknowledgment of his own perceptiveness. His whole face was cover by the mask except his lips.

She faltered for a moment, the weight of his gaze pressing upon her. In that instant, she realized that this man was not fooled by her words or her practiced charm. He saw beyond the mask she wore for the world, peering into the depths of her soul with an unnerving clarity that left her feeling exposed and vulnerable. She tried to save her composure and replied with a taunt. She tilts her head and spoke softly, her breath faking his face by how close they were. "Not surprising I attract danger. So what? you've come to arrest me?"

He scoffs and stands up straight, tapping his temple as he rest that arm on top of his other that crosses his waist. "Do be careful on what you wish for, it just may come true kitten."

He smirks once more and it irritated her. She rolled her eyes and looked away from him. "Flattery will get you no where." She responded.

"It brought me to you." He quickly says to her dismissive attitude against him. He then gets closer and stood directly behind her, his body lightly touching her back. She sucks in a breath by the close proximity. "A woman impersonating another, it's like you're asking for it."

She turns and pushes his away by the shoulder. "It's like you're asking for a fist on your face."

He quickly compose himself and gracefully grabs her hand, smoothing it with his fingers. He then gently kisses the top of her hand. "I'm sure a hit from would fold even the most formidable enemies of mine." His voice reverberated her ears pleasantly despite not knowing him. She could admire attributes of someone, nothing to it.

She furrows her eyebrows as she refocused her mind. "Enemies of yours?" Maybe if it wasn't for how he handled himself, he would of met her first already. Multiple times.

He hums and tilts his head, looking at her rm under his eyebrows. His crimson eyes never left her at his kissed her hand. "Observant are you?" He then gently puts her hand back at her side and observes her. "So what are you really here for? Stealing mindless protocores?"

She straightens her body and looks to the protocore near them. "Hardly." It wasn't her main goal but it wouldn't hurt to steal one or two.

"Then maybe a certain someone." He implies discreetly.

She slowly looks to him. "How would you know what I'm here for?"

He simply walks backwards then gestures his forearm to her. His forearm waiting for hers to be interlocked with his.

"What?" She asked impatiently.

"Dance with me." He said. It was like he knew she would accept even if she showed hostility. Whatever he wanted he would get. And she hated how easily she trusted this sculpture of a man.

"Why should I?" She aggressively questioned. Crossing her hands as she taps her heel on the floor.

"You'll get the answers you seek. Not a bad deal, is it not?" He shows his eagerness with his forearm. Gesturing it as if she was told to walk towards him.

She contemplates her situation. He knew more than he let on, and not to mention he sounded vaguely familiar. Though the voice didn't register any face to it in her memory and it stumped her. And the fact that he knew she was fake from the start puzzled her even more. Maybe a dance wouldn't be so bad. What's the worst that can happen?

"Alright." She concluded. She seductively walks to him and slides her gloved hand up his sculpted bicep then wraps it around his forearm. Their height difference was way more noticeable now. Her head barely reached his broad shoulders even with the added inches the heels gave her. She looks up to him and smiles. "Lead the way."

Their conversation died there as he led her further into the building. They walk down the red carpet that laid in the middle of the large room and made it to two intricate doors. He lets go momentarily as he opened the door. "Ladies first."

She hummed and nod her head. "Such a gentleman."

She quickly wraps her arm around his forearm as they continue to walk again.

The ballroom before her was awash in the soft glow of chandeliers, their light shimmering off the masks and costumes of the revelers. As couples glided across the polished floor, a hauntingly beautiful melody began to weave its way through the room. The song, with its delicate piano notes and ethereal strings, cast a spell over the crowd, drawing them into its enchanting embrace.

Each note seemed to capture the essence of the masquerade—the mystery, the elegance, and the fleeting nature of the night. The music swirled around the dancers like a gentle mist, guiding their movements in a graceful ballet of swirling fabrics and masked faces. The refrain echoed softly, a tender lullaby that wove through the laughter and murmurs, lending an air of timeless romance to the evening.

The lights dimmed, casting a gentle glow over the dance floor, creating a cocoon of intimacy amidst the bustling crowd. As they reached the center, she became more and more aware of her situation.

She couldn't dance even if it was for her life.

The man noticed her hesitant body as they finally make it to the middle. "Can't dance?" He asked, facing her.

She gulps and faces him as well, looking up to him. "Afraid not, Mr. Know-it-all."

"Such elegance of beauty unable to partake in a dance?" He smacks his lips and grabs her waist. "Allow me."

Her eyes widen as his hand touched her waist. "Hey, watch where you-"

She began until he puts a finger on her lips. "Refuse me all you want. But if it's answers you seek, you'll dance with me- or better yet-" He says as he looks around then back to her. "You'll learn to dance from me."

She found herself in yet another situation her own stupid choices led her. She huffs and nods. "Okay, okay."

"Excellent." He commented. He began to sway them, watching her footsteps. Amused as she tripped on her own feet a few times. "Let me take control." He whispered. With his other unused hand, he glides it up her other hand, slowly. Taunting her situation, tapping his fingers along the way like spider legs. He then interlocked his fingers with her and looked at her.

She admittedly blushed at his movements, she was supposed to be demanding answer from him during his request and here she is. Glazing at his charm.

"Put your arm on my shoulder."

She does just that and stares at his chest, memorizing the small patterns on his black dress shirt behind his red blazer.

"Look at me."

The hand that held her waist, went to her chin and forces her to look at him. Not forcefully but slowly and gently. She looks into his crimson eyes them to his lips at he spoke.

"Let the music guide you, feel its rhythm in your soul, your mind, your movements."

As much as she wanted to dance as if she didn't have a care in the world she got to the matter at hand. "As much as admire your confidence in this, I need my answers."

"That you do." He says. He huffs in defeat and talks as he danced with her. Smiling every now and then at her slight tripups. "Fine. Ask away."

"How do you know what I'm here for?"

"Simple. Your eyes don't glimmer at the protocores like the rest of the people here. Admittedly because you don't have the riches they do." She sees him smirk as he stares at her.

This guy...

She squeezes her hold in his hand, causing her to curse under her breath. "I'll pretend I didn't hear that."

"Whatever helps your little ego kitten."

"And the name calling-" She abruptly groans out. "Can you not?"

"Alright, Ms. Johnson." She knew that he knew that wasn't her real name but it was better than what he's been calling her.

They both remain silent once again as she tried not to trip over the man's feet. She looks down but his deep voice made her look up again.

"Have confidence that you'll move gracefully, never look towards the ground."

She scoffs and looks at him. Washing away his comment. "So, how did you know I stole this mask, were you watching me?"

"In a way." He then holds her waist more firmly and presses her against his body, both dancing closer than before. He leans near her ear and whispers. "A certain crow told me."

"A crow-" She begins puzzled but remembers that mechanical crow she captured for a few moments.

She makes her arm go more over his shoulder as if she was hugging him. Realizing the person she's dancing with was the one from the rooftop. Right? "Were you there?" She asked quietly.

"I'm not following." He simply responded. He knew what she meant but he wanted to here it from her.

"The rooftop, did you help me?" The more important question she should of asked was, why was he watching her?

She felt the vibration of his hum, he then parted from her and faced her stopping their dance. "Yes, that was me."

She becomes more agitated as she demaed more answers. "Why were you watching me?"

"Because Nyx-"

At the mention of her real name, she froze in her spot. Even more so when he began to take off his mask. And when he did, she finally recognized that face. She saw it when she was in the hunters association learning about Onychinus. He was the leader.

"You're more valuable than you know."