The Masque of the Red Death [Open and ACCEPTING!!]

[Rin128563]

Scarlet smiled but her eyes did not. She looked over at him and asked, "Then why did you ever leave that happy place?" She wanted to know why he left such a nice place to come back here.  

[Nick_austin90]

"All things must come to an end, my lady," he replied, "and so does my happiness." Nicholas lowered his head to gaze to the ground, his eyes filled with sadness and his fists clenched tight.

"My uncle is a stubborn man and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. He sent assasins to our house one night and killed everyone save me. I was away with my mother at the time and the moment we returned, my mother was killed," He told the reason.

"I ran and fell down a cliff and was presumed dead then by most of the assasins save one. I had miraculously survived and was saved by wondering monk. He taught me many things about life and taught me how to dampen my hate. I was 10 then," he paused. He took a breath and continued.

"But you see, the monk was elderly and by the time he passed to me what was important he left the world. I was left alone to fend for myself. I was 13 at that particular time and the assasin found me," he paused again, "and he was not alone." By now, the breaths he took shuddered with him as if he was terrified of his own memory.

"I-I killed them all," he whispered. "I killed them all with my bare hands and they weren't even able to retaliate once." His eyes were wide with shock and fear. The scene of the memory played in his eyes. By now, he saw nor feel any other person save himself but his lips continued to relay the story. He was lost in his memory.

"I killed them without a single thought and I acted on my feeling," he spoke. "Hate, fury, vengeance, sadness, and sadistic pleasure ruled me as I slay them one by one." He became quiet with a fearful smile upon his face.

"And by the time I realized what I had done, they were all dead around me," he paused yet again. "A pool of crimson liquid around me, on me, within me." He stopped. His eyes wide. His expression, regret, fear and shock swirling around in a tight circle.  

[Rin128563]

Scarlet didn't know how to confort him but tryed her best. She placed her hand upon his clenched fist and spoke softly to him, "It's ok don't speak anymore. Such memories as those should stay but locked away. I may not understand what you had gone through, but I know that you did nothing wrong." This she spoke with truth and really thought he did nothing wrong. He was just a child what else what one do in a situation as that. She then went over and knelt in front of him, and as she did she took the mask out of his hands and placed it on his face. "If this is what keeps you together then all means wear it." She smiled at him even though she felt sarrow aswell.  

[ChompIified]

Ace had somehow evaded the guards without getting caught, but he knew they would him discover him sooner or later. He looked around and compared himself to them. He wore tattered jeans and a ragged cloak while the wealthy wore elgant clothings "Rich snobs.." He muttered under his breath. He tried not to attract attention, lucky for him, they were all focused on their conversation with each other.  

[Nick_austin90]

"I," he waited for the right word to come to him. "I thank you for understanding my situation, Princess Scarlet. The only reason I wore my mask is because I do not wish to be found by my uncle nor do I want to remember that I was the only one who lived from the massacre of my family." Nicholas explained as he gripped lightly on the slim hands of the princess.

"But my uncle fears me too. He had failed to kill me and now I have returned. It is only right for him to feel that I might come and kill him, as I would have, unless the virus had killed him first," he mused. "I would not know that unless I go and see him but I don't think I want to leave. I am free of the disease thus I wish not to contract it." An both were quiet for a while.

Suddenly, the voice of the guard who stopped Nicholas at the gates was heard. He was calling for Princess Scarlet. She handed him his mask and he wore it.

"Princess, tell no one of my feature or my tale. I implore you to keep my secret safe for the while," Nicholas asked, his voice once again muffled by the mask. Then, the guard appeared.

"My lady, it seems as if someone had managed to break into the castle and we know not whether he is healthy or not," the guard said breathlessly.  

[Rin128563]

"Don't worry i would never tell anyone..." she smiled at him and as the gaurd came in she walked over to them. When she heard there news she nodded. "Well then you must find him/her and when you do, check if he's infected or not."

"Right," the guard turned on his heels and headed out.

"Wait..." Scarlet said quickly before he left. "If he is healthy then let him/her stay don't kick him/her out." She then motioned for him to go.  

[ChompIified]

Ace saw the commotion and knew it was about the break-in. Time was running out. If he was caught, who knows what they might do to him. Ace hid behind the door. A guard entered the doorway. Ace clapped his hand over the guard's mouth to silence him and quickly stole his clothes. Ace clobbered him and rolled him under the banquet table. He quickly grabbed his old clothes and stuffed it in his bag, which was also under the table.  

[Rin128563]

Scarlet left the garden and told Nicholas to come along as well. When she was nearing the ball room she saw a gaurd looking around, maybe he didn't hear the orders. "Excuse me," she said to the gaurd and then finally reached him. She spun him around and looked at him. "There was a break-in so i need you to go find the person who did so." Scarlet then stood quiet looking at him carefully.  

[ChompIified]

Ace stared at her. "Uh.. Right! The break-in.. I was.. Uh.. Just looking for uh.. My...." His eyes darted back and forth. "My watch. Y-yes my watch." He said as he pretended to look around.  

[Rin128563]

Scarlet laughed, "Well look for it later and find that person. When you do, bring him...or her to me," She motioned for him to leave. When the guard left Scarlet turned to Nicholas with humor on her face. "It seems i found our un invited guest. Well lets just leave him be, he doesn't seem to be infected so its fine." Scarlet smiled and then saw the actual guard crawling out from the table.

"Princess....." he muttered since he was still a bit dizzy.

Scarlet knelt next to him, "It's ok i know, just let him be. Anyways go get some rest." She smiled down at him and nodded.

He thanked her and quickly left before any other guards or guest saw him.  

[Nick_austin90]

Nicholas saw something peculiar about the man who just crawled out of the table. He wore no guard clothes but he recognized the man as the guard from the door. Out of curiosity, he peered under the table and saw a bag. He took it out and examined the intems within.

"Princess, he is truly cunning ," he said in a amused tone. "Look at this," he showed the ragged clothes in the bag to her highness. Then he stood up and faced the ever leaving guard who actually noticed that he had found his former clothes.

"Hello there young man, please enjoy the party her highness has thrown," he said cheerfully. "If you wish for a change of clothes from those armor, I can borrow you mine. Would you like to change into a suitable dressing?" He asked.  

[Nick_austin90]

"Ah, it seems as if he is prone to not listening while he is fidgeting," Nicholas was amused by the man's antics. "He is not surprised even to see my masked face. He is truly an amusing man," he said smiling beneath his mask. The clock tower rang.

"My lady, it seems as if midnight has already fallen. Shell I escort you to you to your room? Or is there a chaperone awaiting you somewhere?" he asked.  

[Rin128563]

Scarlet watched the inturder trying to act like a guard. She saw it amusing and knew sooner or later that he would figure out that she knew his true identity.

The guard simply nodded. Scarlet turned around and walked over to Nicholas and the guard.  

[Nick_austin90]

"Well, my lady. Is there someone awaiting you?" Nicholas asked. Before her highness could answer he asked yet another question

"My lady, I am curious. I believe every lady has a chaperone but I cannot see yours. Do you have a chaperone or is your chaperone Miss Nymphdora?"  

[Rin128563]

Scarlet answered both his questions, "No i don't have anyone awaiting me and i also do not have a chaperone." Scarlet looked around mostly to make sure her guest were still being intertained.