Candescent (The Opalescent Collection Book 1) Read online

  “Why not?”

  “I know you don’t own a mask.”

  “I don’t own a mask? Since when? Do you not remember the mask you gave me on my birthday from your last trip to Italy?”

  He smiled. “I must have forgotten. I’ll have to tell Louie.”

  “Oh no don’t tell him,” I teased.

  “At least you’ll have a mask. It will be impossible to find you.”

  I wondered if he was referring to Louie or himself. The server came over, placed Monty’s drink before him, asked us if we needed anything else, and left. I watched as he lifted his cappuccino up, hesitated, and placed it back down.

  “You will come right?”

  “Of course, Louie’s behavior won’t prevent me from coming.” I assured him.

  “Good, I’ll make sure you’re on the list then.” He went to pick up the cup again and watched as I gawked at it. Wordless, he pushed it in my direction and I quickly pushed it back to him. “I insist.”

  Sitting back, he studied me with his eyes half- closed as though he was in a daze, but when I moved he followed my movement with his eyes. Taking the cup in my hands, I glanced back at him, my lips curving over the edge of the mug in a smile. I found myself thinking and mumbling to myself a name that came to mind and at once, I chuckled to myself. Breathing into the cup, I whispered the name into the steam so he couldn’t hear me.

  “Fitzray.”

  Chapter 3 - Mask

  The next day I found myself in Pete’s presence. He felt bad about the day before and asked me to meet him back at his house again. It was then that he apologized for his outrage and pleaded for my forgiveness.

  “You know I forgive you.”

  “I didn’t know until you told me,” he admitted. He took the silver dragons in his hands, tracing against its engraved, polished surface. “This necklace looks wonderful on you,” he said, focusing closer on its detail.

  “Monty invited me to the ball.”

  “The masquerade ball,” he mumbled, “is no more than a party.”

  I was surprised by his relentless expression. “Weren’t you invited?”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Monty and Louie are my cousins, why wouldn’t they invite me?”

  I shrugged, feeling he didn’t really need an answer. “You don’t want to go?”

  “I don’t have a choice,” he sighed, “I already told them I’d help them. Besides, all of the party stuff is packed downstairs.”

  “What kind of stuff is it?”

  “Decorations mostly. Do you want to see?”

  I nodded and he let go of my necklace to lead me. He took me around the house and down to the basement. Down the stairs, an entrance into darkness, led into the basement. Pete pulled a string I hadn’t seen that turned on an overhead light, what one would have expected to see in a closet. It illuminated only a portion of the basement.

  “The dungeon,” he said, making a gesture to the lightened portion of the room as if to introduce me to it.

  I took in the musty atmosphere and insecurity wrapped itself around me. The dank, stale air I breathed in gave me a sense of apprehension and my eyes immediately flicked toward the jumbled mess of decorations piled high to the ceiling. Party favors and bowls, cups, utensils, and tall candles filled the room. I strained my eyes to see that the decorations were even scattered in the darkness. When I was finished taking it in, I turned to Pete.

  “Where’s your mask?”

  “It’s upstairs I think.”

  “What’s this then?” I pulled a gold mask from the pile.

  “That’s Louie’s.”

  “What is it doing here?”

  “It probably got mixed in with all of the other stuff they brought here.”

  I looked at the mask surprised. It was gold painted and flexible. I was sure I made a face at it because Pete chuckled beside me. It was prefabricated painted plastic with cut slits for seeing through. There wasn’t an elaborate pattern of glitter or feathers that I was used to seeing on mine. I turned to Pete and then back to the mask. Perhaps he thought he was above the whole masquerade thing, or wearing a mask, or if I knew him at all, just thought he could carry it off. Poor Louie wouldn’t know that wearing a mask to cover his whole face would make his identity unknown and unless he stated who he was at the beginning of the party, he would have to cope with being subjected as the one who wears the pathetic plastic mask. The people who would be attending this party had wealth and would have fancy masks with feathers, glitter and glam, and I knew if Louie wore this, he would be frowned upon.

  “Show me your mask.” I said it more as a request than a demand.

  He led me back up the stairs into warmth - the muggy, hot, dreaded warmth of the season. He directed me to the couch.

  “Sit, I’ll be back.”

  I sat on the couch, waited patiently for my friend. When he returned his hands remained behind his back as though he wanted to surprise me. When he sat down, he presented the mask to me. It looked magnificent. Seeing this mask, I wondered why Louie hadn’t gotten something like it. It was ocean blue with dyed navy blue ostrich feathers. He placed it on his face, to which it only covered half, and put it on me. He smiled as he put it down on the table before us.

  “You have to show me your mask so I can find you during the party.”

  “Isn’t the whole point of having a masquerade party so you don’t know who anyone is?”

  He sank back. “So you won’t tell me what your mask looks like?”

  “You’ll know who I am.”

  “I won’t.”

  “It’s the mask Monty gave to me.”

  “I’ve never seen it before.”

  “He gave it to me at the party.”

  “What party?”

  “The little family and friends get-together party,” I said calmly, suddenly unsure if he had come.

  “Monty told me it was more like a friends and family get-it-together party. He said it was crazy.”

  “Why weren’t you there?”

  “I was sick.” He said simply, but looked disappointed.

  “So you never saw the mask?”

  “Just tell me what it looks like.” He leaned close now as if bothered by suspense.

  I looked at him thinking that telling him would take out the whole mystery of wearing a mask.

  “It’s pink with peacock feathers.”

  “That’s it? No pattern? No glitter? No beads or gems?” he pressed.

  “There is a red gem in the center where the feathers meet.”

  “No glitter?” he asked again. I knew there was enough glitter on it for an entire first grade class with bottles of glue in hand.

  “Yeah, there’s glitter, silver glitter.”

  “Ok.” He sat back thinking. If he asked me another question, I would not reciprocate. “I’ll find you.”

  “What will you wear?”

  “Hey, don’t ask me a question you’re not prepared to answer.”

  I glanced away. “I have to wear a dress to match the mask.”

  “Nothing too pink I hope. I don’t want to get caught dancing with a flamingo.”

  I stood up. “No, of course not, but I don’t want to be dancing with anyone covered in that shade of blue from head to toe.” I nodded my head to the mask.

  He looked at me now as though he just realized I was standing.

  “Are you leaving?”

  I started to back away. “Yeah, I have a lot of things to do.” Before he could ask me what, I was already at the door. “I’ll see you at the party.”

  “I hope so,” he remarked.

  “Just stick around with Louie, he can find me anywhere, anytime. It’s like he can smell me coming a mile away.”

  I wanted him to laugh at this but instead his face became serious. I knew he wouldn’t be caught dead hanging around with Louie or relying on him to find me. I hoped he didn’t think I assumed he wasn’t capable of finding me. He must’ve seen my sudden panic because his face softened and h
e walked up to me. When he reached me, he let out a soft chuckle as though finally regarding the joke. His hand immediately flew to my necklace. He drew himself close to breathe into the collar of my jacket.

  “Don’t worry, as long as you wear the silver dragons, I’ll find you,” he breathed.

  He grasped the necklace harder in his hand and moved closer to me. I would have moved back because of the heat but I found myself surprisingly comfortable in his presence. He lifted it up to his chin, at first I thought to look at the detail as he had earlier, but instead he closed his eyes and kissed it. For a moment he kept his eyes closed, his head bent down to the dragons, his thumb rubbing the silver. When he opened his eyes, he frowned as though he had wished upon the charm to grant him perfect eyesight, but in dismay found it had not.

  He dropped it suddenly, taking a step back as though regretting what he just did. He cleared his throat suddenly flushed and looked at me.

  “I’ll find you.”

  I looked away from him with certainty that he would be there at the party. Taking what he had just said and done as a way to say goodbye to me without saying it, I opened the door to leave. He was suddenly alarmed.

  “Chenille, promise me you’ll be there.”

  “I promise I’ll be there. I’ll be there waiting for you.”

  His face brightened as though he needed to hear that. I waited to see if he needed to say anymore and turned back to the door, my hand resting on the doorknob, my body anxious to leave.

  “I love you,” I heard him say.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his lips form the words and they swelled in the back of my mind like a migraine. I couldn’t wrap my mind around them. I dared not to look back at him to see his expression, the one expression with anxiousness, just hoping I would say them back. I couldn’t do it. My hand immediately turned the knob and I pulled the door toward me to make a space large enough for my escape. I couldn’t even give him my regards. My mouth was too dry to speak. I left without saying another word to him.

  Chapter 4 - Masquerade Ball

  It was the day of the party before I knew it and that meant I would have to confront Pete again. The past days I felt guilty not saying anything to him and was hesitant in even making an appearance to the party.

  I stood before my long mirror dressed in a fancy gown. It was red velveteen, tight at my hips and extended out as a hoop skirt that gave the appearance of an upside-down rose. I looked down at my gloved hands and back to the mirror. I put on my mask, touching the silver dragons. I couldn’t even tell it was me behind the mask. I hoped Louie wouldn’t find me. I walked to Louie and Monty’s house since it was not far. The only downside was that the neighbors that spotted me all yelled out, hollered and commented, but they all knew where I was going. I was going to the hottest party of the summer.

  At the door, a built man dressed in black stood quietly with a clipboard containing the list. It pained me to see him dressed the way he was, standing in the heat. He looked cool to me, surprisingly free of sweat. He glanced at the list after I said my name to him and he opened the door for me personally, something I didn’t see him do for the people before me.

  Inside it was busy with people as far as my eyes could see. The decorations seemed too flowery for this party, but the way each person’s mask caught the light of the chandelier above made it all seem worthwhile. There was a soft yellow glow emitted from the candles scattered throughout the house. The music played so loud I could feel it pounding in my chest. People were packed around me, using what space they could to dance. In awe of them, I simply stared at all of those who wore the long extravagant gowns and held themselves in a pose with their partner without stumbling in their high-heeled shoes. They moved around swaying in such a way I felt that ghosts surrounded me, while only seeing their eyes behind their masks had me convinced they were not. I walked through the crowd unsure of where to go, when a hand tapped on my shoulder.

  “I knew I’d find you.”

  Instinctually I thought it was Pete, when I suddenly caught sight of the marvelous green mask that covered half of Monty’s face.

  “How’d you find me so fast?” I found myself yelling over the music and the people.

  “Your mask,” he pointed to his own as though unsure if I heard him or not. I nodded in response. “How are you doing? You need anything?” Before I could reply, a hand tapped his shoulder and he excused himself to talk to the masked person. He at last turned back to me. “Meet me on the balcony later,” he said and walked away.

  I made myself comfortable eating appetizers and drinking my cup of fruit punch. Pete eventually spotted me in the crowd and called my name until I turned in his direction as he made his way to me. I saw the glimpse of a golden mask not far behind. He smiled and kissed my cheek at once. Apparently what happened a few days before didn’t bother him now as he gazed at me through his blue mask. He was probably just happy that I came.

  “I’m glad to see you Chenille.”

  He kissed by face again and this time wrapped me in his arms to dance. The face behind the golden mask studied me. Around me voices rose in commotion as Pete’s father entered. The people at the party appeared to know who he was, or at least his authority, because they all cleared the way for him. I looked up at Pete alarmed.

  “What is your father doing here?”

  “He’s meeting with my uncle, nothing important.” He assured me.

  He held me a bit tighter and I closed my eyes, feeling the daggers from behind the golden mask settle on me from behind. When I opened my eyes, the golden mask disappeared in the crowd. Before I could utter a sigh of relief, the golden mask reappeared, this time in front of Pete’s father. They were talking. The golden mask nodded in my direction, no Pete’s, and Pete’s father glared in his direction with sudden fury. Someone called Pete’s name and before I knew it, he broke away from me to see why he was called.

  “Chenille!” I heard my name just barely over everything around me and caught sight of Monty behind his green mask, gesturing for me to come.

  I made my way through the crowd, stumbling over the long gowns that trailed on the floor. When I met up with Monty, he grabbed my hand without a word and led me through more people, up a winding staircase until we were at the French doors that led to the balcony. He took a key from his pocket to open the door. I was impressed. He obviously planned this. He opened both of the French doors and led me onto the balcony. We were alone with nothing but the warmth of the summer air on our backs.

  “What’s all this?”

  He still held my hand, saying nothing to me but pulled me to the banister. From this view, it felt like I could see everything from where I stood. The whole city seemed to play out below us and we were perched above it all.

  “I wanted to show you this.”

  “Why are you doing this?”

  He shrugged. “I’ve never seen such a sight before. I thought you might like to see it too.”

  “It’s very nice.”

  He reached behind his head to untie the ribbon that held the mask to his face to take it off. When he had done so, he placed his mask down and drew himself to me so close, so fast, that I just stayed frozen in place. He laughed in response. I hoped he could not see my embarrassment. Even with the mask covering half of my face, I was so sure he would not see the color pooling beneath it.

  He reached behind my head to untie the black ribbon and stayed, fumbling with the string. Of course I knotted it too tight. I remained motionless while he did so, breathing his scent. He smelled like how Fitzray had in my dream. Perhaps he was nearby when I was dreaming. Perhaps I smelled him in the dream.

  “You’re very quiet.” He remarked shyly, still manipulating the knot.

  Shaking away my thoughts, I glanced up at him wondering why he had pursued the idea of potentially fighting with a knot. The very idea frustrated me.

  “Why do you even bother,” I asked bluntly, wondering why he didn’t back away and give up.

  �
��I almost got it.” I felt the pressure release from the back of my head as he stepped back, holding the mask by the ribbons. “Now look again.”

  I did as I was told and could see the whole landscape below without the mask obstructing my view. I held onto the banister, still looking out.

  His hand touched my shoulder and I turned to face him. “I’ll be right back.”

  Before he left me, his hand brushed the side of my neck. One of his fingers touched the chain of my necklace and he reached behind with his other hand to take it off. I took his hands in mine to stop him. I knew he didn’t like the necklace either. I knew he didn’t like what it represented. Respectfully he turned his head, heading inside. “That necklace is nothing but trouble,” he called, pausing to glance at me before he took another step.

  I wondered if he was referring to the charm’s power or what it represented. I knew it was trouble if Louie was around.

  “What trouble?” I called.

  He paused to catch the childish cock of my head. When he saw me, he only shook his head and proceeded to walk inside.

  “Chenille!”

  I froze hearing the yell. I took a couple of steps in Monty’s direction and heard the yell again. Never had I heard my name said with so much power or fury before. Pete was in the doorway, the white shays blowing in the breeze beside him. His mask was off, uncovering hatred and so much anger that I cowered in his presence, something I had never done except in a dream. He rushed up to me and I stepped back, careful not to back up into the railing. I quickly put my hands up in defense.

  “What’s wrong Pete, why are you so angry, so angry at me?”

  “Don’t act like you don’t know!”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You told!”

  “What?”

  “You told! You told him! You told him about my eyesight! Traitor!”

  “I don’t understand! I didn’t say anything to anyone!”

  “Then how do you explain how my father knows? I told you-,“

  “And Louie and Monty both know too,” I interrupted.