Preparations and Reflections
After dinner, Serena rushed upstairs to get into costume. The masquerade was to be tonight, in an hour. For that reason, dinner was served early at 5:00. Now, it was 6:00.
She went into her closet. *Well, now to make myself look like someone other than Serena Larynce. If they found out who I was, then I wouldn’t be able to leave the ball room. However, if they had no idea who I was, well, no harming them, and I’ll leave early!*
She pulled her hair into a tight blond bun and pinned it tightly. She then took a long black wig and placed it over, the tresses falling to her waist. She pinned it securely and combed hair out. It was a rather beautiful wig, and she DID look pretty in it, even if it wasn’t her actual hair color.
She then looked at her mask. She was right in her beginning judgment. Though the mask covered her eyes, she need insurance. So, she put in her black contacts and blinked as she saw someone else’s face in the mirror. But she took some foundation of an almost white shade than her usual and placed it over her face. She also put sliver glitter on her face. She looked different enough. It would work. She then got up and went to the closet. She was not going to be an angel, for yet another time, as she had been in childhood. This year, she was going to be a ice queen, for of all the things the Larynces knew her to be, they never guessed she’d actually GO as the Ice Queen the newspapers all said she was. She put on a shimmering gown of white satin, embroidered everywhere with slivery thread and jeweled with diamonds and pearls. Over that, she put on a chiffon overdress, which was also seeded with pearls and diamonds, though not embroidered. She liked it. The sleeves were loose and she wore white satin gloves underneath, and tons of silver rings on each hand. She wore thin intricately bent silver wire snowflakes at her ears, and one on a silver chain at her exposed throat, which had also been whitened and glittered. She then put on a white mask which was also decorated with pearls and diamonds, and edged with white swan feathers. She then put on the glittering tiara, and slipped her feet, which were in white pantyhose with silver glitter, into some silver dancing slippers.
*I might just stick around tonight. I actually still look like a rather pretty dancing partner, so who knows, I might actually get asked to dance!*
As she sat and sighed, with five minutes to spare, she’d thought of the reason why she never wanted to stick around anymore. Back to a Christmas ball when she was sixteen years old…would HE be here?
(Ten years ago)
She was beautiful. She was an angel this year, as usual, but she was enthusiastic about it this time. A white silk gown, edged with gold flowed to her feet, which were in gold slippers. She wore white wings, out of real swan feathers behind her back, and a gold halo at the top. She looked pretty. Her golden hair was let down this time, flowing to her waist in waves, and her blue eyes flashed with excitement. She wore a gold mask, jeweled with diamonds.
She entered the ballroom, excited and feeling glamorous. She relaxing after studying hard for the past few weeks, and she was happy. Tonight, who knew? It was out of a fairy tale! She might meet the prince of her dreams.
Of course, that was only a fantasy, she thought slightly bitterly. Being a Larynce Princess wasn’t being royalty, as she had found out. She sighed at that…she only wished.
*Please, anyone who’s up there, if you’re not going to let me live happily ever after, at least give me Prince Charming*
As her eyes fell back from the ceiling to the crowd about her, she froze. It was him.
But shockingly enough, he was there. Standing out on the balcony, with black hair and he was very tall. He was dressed as a prince, in forest green velvet tunic and black pants and black boots. He wore a gold crown, and a forest green mask. A forest green cape was about his shoulders.
Serena caught her breath. He was HANDSOME!!!!!
She weaved her way through the crowd, not really caring where she went, but not approaching her prince. The prince had to come to her, as Mina always said happened.
And he turned and he saw her, and that moment, time stood still, or at least Serena’s heart did. He stood up from his place by a table, and approached her.
She caught her breath and smiled warily at him.
“Good evening, bright angel,” he said, taking her hand, and kissing it softly, lingeringly.
“Good evening!” she smiled, a blush creeping up, and a warmth making her hand tingle. Her heart was pounding, and her mind was dissolving away. What had happened tonight? Magic?
“Do you care to dance?”
She nodded, smiling widely.
His eyes glittered with mirth and admiration.
Her teeth were perfect, and dazzled him.
They danced the whole evening. Serena’s mind was in the clouds the whole time, every thought tingled her mind, and her heart. Her whole body was almost floating. And her heart felt VERY warm and full. It was wonderful, and before the last dance, he drew her out to the balcony and smiled at her, his blue eyes, which were sparkling underneath the mask, smiled in hers.
He bent forward, and kissed her on the forehead, then, trailing a small path down her cheek to her mouth, where she met his in equal ardor, exhilarated and happy. Her mind and her heart had fused in a glory of sensation. His lips were warm, and so were his arms, and everything about him. She curved her arms around his neck, and held on for life, reveling in the youth of love.
(Now)
It was her first kiss. It was indeed, something very special.
Serena remembered her prince, and kept on remembering him to this day. She didn’t ever find out who he was, but she knew that she was waiting for him, and some day, they’d find each other.
So she came to every ball, and waited around, but no one came, so she’d leave.
Now, she started to forget about him, except for whenever she was preparing for a ball…then she’d always remember him…she always looked beautiful for him, in case he ever just “stopped by”. But he never came. He was part of the past, and he’d never come for her. She’d given up when she was twenty-three.
Sure he was handsome, but they weren’t destined, and it was all a bunch of teenage foolishness. It had to be, as she reasoned now.
As she looked at the clock, she noticed her five minutes to herself were up, and got out of her chair, to come out her room, meeting another person who was already in the hall, about to go down the hall when he heard Serena Larynce’s door open.
