🪻《The Masked Ball》🪻

Everyone in the mansion busily strode back and forth while preparing for the ball. Clodette instructed the gardeners to assemble a garland of magnolias for Anastasia's ball, apparently Anastasia asked Clodette if she could take some flowers from Monique's garden to give as a welcoming gift for her guests. 

Some workers cleaned the carriage and prepared the horses while Evangeline and the maids primed Clodette for the evening ball.

Claude looked at the mirror and combed his hair neatly. Pulled his coat over his shoulders and went outside to check on the horses. He was quite fond of the horse that Clodette gifted him on his seventeen birthday, He stroke the black mane of his horse as his mind wandered;

Clodette told him to escort her to the masked ball, He was excited to escort her for the first time. She usually took Julius wherever she went. He couldn't help but smile of the thought that Clodette chose him this time, he told the stable boy to feed his horse more hay as he went back to the mansion.

He was waiting for Clodette at the end of the marble steps when Julius came up to him. He reached out and brushed some dust from his shoulders, "Where did you go to get some dust on you?"

Claude remained silent, "You're not visiting the library, are you?"

"No, I went to the stables to see if everything is going well with the horses, you know —"

"Everything is prepared well" Julius interrupted him.

"When you're at the party always stay by her side, Claude" he nodded at him.

He moved closer and neatly placed a handkerchief tightly on Claude's right pocket chest. Claude wore a black coat with a white shirt underneath, his legs looked long and slender wearing his black pants, his hair was neatly combed back and tied at the back with a blue ribbon, a silver badge pinned on his chest. It had House Monique's crest.

The crescent moon.

"You look so handsome today!" Evangeline exclaimed with her hands covering her lips. She looked like she was about to cry.

"Come on, Evangeline! You say that almost every day am I that handsome?" Claude cocked his head towards her and playfully blinked his eyes several times. She gave a little giggle and playfully slapped him on the chest. "You little demon" she said, amused.

"Is everything ready?" Clodette descended from the marble steps with her long golden hair braided decorated with a intricate golden feathered wreath. She wore a long white dress with a silver and blue bodice embroidered with silvery feathers that looked like a metal armor, the dress hugged her body tightly and her shoulders were showing.

She looked divine.

Her crimson eyes glimmered under the candlelight and a wide smile stretched on her face, Claude couldn't stop staring at her.

Evangeline nudged Claude with her elbow and motioned him to escort Clodette. Claude strode toward her and held out his hand, she placed her hand in his and they walked toward the carriage.

They arrived in the masked ball five minutes late,  as Clodette always say It's better to arrive late than unprepared.

The carriage entered a huge bronze gate with bushes designed as animals on either sides of the narrow road. After passing by the bush animal displays the carriage needed to pass by a line of pine trees. The candle lamp hung on the trees illuminated the road.

The carriage halted in front of the entrance door where the footmen greeted their carriage driver, Claude quickly climbed down and offered his hand to Clodette so she could easily climb down. She handed him a silver mask, the same as hers.

"You should wear this"

He nodded in response.

As they entered the great hall, the dancing ceased and guests stared awestruck at Clodette. Even with a mask on, Clodette's beauty still shone through; it was evident on the people's reaction. They strolled into the ballroom and Clodette tugged Claude's arm a little, he tilted his head closer to hers as she whispered "Tough crowd"

Claude scoffed, "Maybe beauties are scarce here" he teased her, She gave him a disapproving look.

The ballroom was massive with an elegant white walls. In the middle of the room was an enormous diamond chandelier catering several candles that illuminated the dance floor. Several young men and women already merrily dancing with each other but ceased when Clodette arrived.

Young men straightened their backs and tried to capture Clodette's attention but she was more engrossed with her partner. Claude's eye wandered around the intricate painting on the ceiling, the painting depicting the creation of the world, how darkness was bound and the light ruled.

The musicians only started again when a small brunette woman clapped her hands. Anastasia was standing next to her father, Monsieur Thomas Smith. The ladies were eyeing Clodette as they whispered among themselves and watched her every move, Clodette was still the center of the society so they couldn't miss out what she was wearing tonight! While the gentlemen were smiling brightly eager to gain her attention.

Clodette was rarely seen in public for years and they were all delighted to see her, well—some of them were. She was once the center of aristocratic society but she mysteriously bound to her home and never seen again until now.

Did she stop coming to parties because of me? To stop people gossiping that she adopted an orphan boy? Claude thought.

His reverie broke when Anastasia came closer to greet them. She wore a red dress with tiny flowers decorated on her shoulders and the hem of her dress. Her hair tied halfway and tiny curls dropped on her right shoulder, her low neckline emphasizing her bust. She wore a thick red lipstick and pink blush across her cheeks.

She kissed Clodette on both cheeks and smiled;
"It's so good to see you again, I know you do not like it when I check up on you but I miss you!" She blurted out.

Anastasia was a chatterbox while Clodette listened to her every word without complaint. It's hard to picture how they became friends but eventually they did.

Anastasia met Clodette when she was fourteen years old. She was caught stealing the yellow roses in the Monique's garden. She was enthralled by it's beauty that she wanted to have one of her own. Upon hearing the reason, Clodette sent a pile of yellow roses to the Smith's mansion. From then on, Anastasia would come by and visit Clodette.

Clodette told Claude that the Smiths were a family of warlocks and witches, a great secret from society. Anastasia have been made a priestess of Sodom recently.

"Did you like the wreaths I sent you?" Clodette smiled gently. Claude never knew she could smile warmly like that to anyone but him, it stung his heart a little.

"Of course!" Anastasia replied as she glanced up at him and her cheeks flushed. She whispered to Clodette but Clodette just furrowed her brows and spoke;

"This is Claude, Evangeline's son" Evangeline's son? Oh! That's how they introduce me to people. Claude nodded and took Anastasia's hand in his and planted a kiss. She giggled;

"How do you do?"

"I feel wonderful now to have seen such a beautiful lady" Claude teased her. Anastasia giggled again and tugged Clodette by the arm.

"I didn't know Evangeline had a son" Anastasia eyed Claude with interest. She turned to Clodette, "Why didn't you tell me?"

She came closer to Clodette and whispered "He's gorgeous"

I am just right in front of you lady, I can hear everything. Claude thought.

"The thought never occurred to me" Clodette replied.

Anastasia shrugged "Oh well, now I know him" she waved her hand gently and a man in his late forties came toward them.

"Happy Birthday Monsieur" Clodette told the man. Monsieur? Is this Thomas Smith? I thought he would be in his late fifties?

"Your servant greets you Madame Monique" Thomas replied.

"My brother isn't here so you don't need to be so formal" Clodette said solemnly.

"Even though, He held great authority even here Madame and I should show courtesy to his only sister"

Clodette nodded and turned to Claude, "This is Claude, Evangeline's son"

Thomas gave him a little nod and smiled, "Such a handsome lad" Claude gave a low bow. As he straightened up, he met Thomas' eyes! They had a unique purple color but quickly faded away.

"Such crystal blue eyes you have lad" he stepped closer "a color like this can only be found in—"

"Oh! How merry is this party, Father!" Anastasia interrupted "Who wants some wine?" Both Thomas and Claude fell silent. Clodette was the first to break the awkward silence.

"I will have one"

Anastasia lifted her hem and cried out "Let's go then"

The party was too lively, the people were dancing, drinking and eating. All of these people were from the high society of New Orleans. A few group of women kept giving Claude flirtatious glances as they whispered and giggled among themselves.

Hmm,What's their problem? Do I look odd in this coat? He looked down on his coat and brushed his hair gently in place.

He looked at them and raised his glass to acknowledge them while giving them a shy smile.

I must be in my utmost best behavior. The girls giggled and kept on whispering.

"I think you're the belle of the ball tonight" Clodette whispered in his ear that startled him, he accidentally threw his wine on the hem of her dress.

"Oh, you're so clumsy" she said as she brushed the handkerchief on her dress.

"You startled me!" Claude yelled as he bent over to help her get rid of the stain. He tried to dry it with his handkerchief.

"Oh, forget it!" Clodette smacked his hand away as she strode to the garden.

"Hey, The powder room's that way!" he called behind her, he decided to follow her to the garden but Anastasia blocked his way. She wore a strong perfume that made him dizzy and upon taking a closer look, She was wearing a very thick make-up. That moment Claude realized her signature mole was fake.

"Where are you going? ", As she was inquiring she kept on blinking her eyes.

"Are you okay? Do you have dust in your eye?" he asked out of concern

"Wha—no!" Anastasia quickly recovered and asked again "Where are you going?"

"I apologize but I need to go to the garden, my lady" he smiled politely and tried to escape but she caught him by the arm and tried to pull him closer to her enormous breasts.

"I didn't know Evangeline had a son"

"Neither do I" he replied with annoyance but she gave a little giggle.

"You're funny!" she moved closer and trailed her finger on his chest where the crescent moon pin was.

Lady I wasn't trying to be funny Claude thought.

"Such delicate features and crystal blue eyes" She moved in front of him, "Clodette must be having a hard time hiding you away"

Claude gave her a questioning look!

Anastasia smiled, "It's a full moon tonight"

"Yes it seems so" he replied.

"Do you want to dance" she blinked flirtatiously, she was trying to seduce him. Claude gently took her hand in his and kissed it.

"I apologize, I'm not good of a dancer", then he walked away.

Clodette furiously strode away from Claude. He made her so angry.

Since the beginning of the party, he never told me that I look beautiful, but he tells Anastasia she's beautiful? He even threw wine on my dress!

"What am I thinking?" she spoke loudly to herself.

How could I think about Claude like that?

She suddenly felt her heart beating fast, "Am I crazy?"
She twirled around to look at Claude who was walking toward her.

He's just a–when did I? When did I start thinking of him in that way?

But then Anastasia appeared and suddenly grabbed Claude by his arm, Clodette saw how Anastasia pulled Claude closer to her and she felt her blood boiling, she walked past the divan where a pair of lovers immediately pulled away from each other as she strode outside the garden. She stopped and inhaled the sweet scent of the night, she tried to calm her nerves!

Light footsteps walked toward her. She could hear her breathing and her trembling hands. Clodette glazed behind her.

"Do...do you want some wine Madame? " A slender woman wearing a white and black maid outfit came up to her and offered a glass of wine.

I do need a drink

Clodette reached for the wine glass as she stared at the maid, she had uncomfortably trembling hands.

"Are you cold?" Clodette asked her.

"Ye–yes Madame, Please have the–the wine"

Clodette took it and nodded, the maid ran fast as humanly possible towards the mansion.

That's odd, how did she know I was here I swear no one saw me enter in this part of the garden I thought.

Clodette raised the glass to her lips and took a tiny sip. As soon as the wine touched her lips a sudden electrifying feeling engulfed her whole body, she felt her veins tensed and her muscles numbed.

She immediately gripped her throat forcefully, clawing it. Scratches after scratches she made that weren't healed. Her white satin dress now covered in blood. The burning sensation was excruciatingly painful, she screamed!

She struggled to walk while grasping for air. Her eyes were hazy and she couldn't breathe, it was vervain. The wine was mixed with vervain. Vervain was a purple flower that could harm vampires, it stripped them of their strength and rendered them motionless so they could be killed easily by their enemies.

but who... who did this? The glass was scentless! Someone who knows to brew this kind of potion is not an ordinary witch!

Her feet stumbled and she fell face down on the damp grass. Her eyes were frantically looking around when suddenly a pair of heavy footsteps strode toward her, some of her senses have been weakened but her sense of smell hadn't. She could smell his familiar scent. Sandalwood.

"I'm sorry, I need to do something" he spoke.

Clodette was in her weakest state but she managed to speak his name, her voice trembled with indescribable anger.

"Julius!"

🪻《Author's Note》🪻

Hey lovely people!🥀

Phew! What a cliffhanger right? Who would have thought Julius would betray Clodette!

🍂| Question of the day:
Do you think he has an ulterior motive of doing this? What are your thoughts?

🪸| Glossary:

Vervain: a potent herb that's purple in color

Please comment below and don't forget to hit that "Vote" button!

Chapters 08-09 Will be updated tommorrow.

Stay tune! 🍁 Love, Julia🪸