Romance carnival

The music swelled around them,but Isabella barely heard it.The stranger's presence consumed every inch of her awareness."You own the carnival?" she asked,her voice low, unsure if he was teasing her or confessing a truth too wild to believe. It is eyes gleamed behind the mask. "I own much more than that." She frowned, unsettled by the arrogance in his tone. Yet something in his voice made her shiver-not with fear,but with anticipation "Why speak to me,then?" Isabella forced herself to sound bold,though her hands trembled at her sides. "There are hundreds of women here." He stepped closer, closing the distance between them.The scent of expensive cologne wrapped around her."Because you're the only one not pretending". Her breath caught.How could he see through her so easily, when even she barely knew who she was anymore? The crowd pressed closer,laughter spilling into the night,but Isabella felt trapped in a bubble of silence with him. "your name?" he asked at last. Isabella hesitated.The rules of the carnival were clear_behind the mask,no names,no identities.For one night, everyone could be someone else."No names," she whispered, clutching her mask tighter. The man's smile widened."Then you'll be my mystery.But know this,bella_always unmask what belongs to me." Her heart thundered. she should run,Vanish back into the crowd.But her feet stayed rooted,as if his words had already chained her in place.