The Wrong Time

The Devil's Trill

I have never been so thankful for a crowded room before in mt life. The mass of people between me and the stranger made it easy to slip out if his sight.

Call me a coward for not wanting to face a perfectly normal stranger but my bodies reaction to him worried me. Maybe it's because I am dressed like a woman I have confused myself.

Of course that is it. What other possible answer is there?

As I try to steady my galloping heartbeat I feel a light tap on my shoulder. Quickly wipping my head in the direction the tap came from finding nothing and no one there. Maybe I imagined it.

"Good evening." I hear a rich deep voice come from the opposite direction of which I was facing. I turn to look in the direction of the voice and have to look up to see their face. My heart skips a beat as I make eye contact with the peridot eyes again. The stranger from the doorway. Why is he over here? I takes me a moment to collect myself.

"Uh, um yes. Good evening." I stutter out tryingto make my voice sound more like a lady. The stranger smiles at me and takes a step back to slightly bow and offer me his hand.

"Would you care to join me in a dance?" His manners are impeccable. Before I really register what I'm doing I find myself taking hus offered hand and being lead to the dance floor. I suddenly freeze as I realise what I am about to get myself into. The stranger looks back at me with a concerned expression. At least, that is what it looks like beneath hus mask.

"Something the matter?" He questions taking a step closer to me to be easily heard over the noise of the ball.

"I... I have never danced with someone before. " That is tecnically a lie, but I had never danced as a woman so it still counts right? He looks at me a little shocked. Did I not lie well enough? Did he see right through it?

We stay in that position for a while. Suddenly, catching me off gaurd, he let's out a little chuckle.

"Do not worry my dear, I will lead you well." I don't know exactly why, but I find myself nodding in reply, trusting this stranger ti nit make me look like a complete fool. We continue our way onto the dance floor just as the orchestra finish a piece. We take up position easily, him guiding me on what to do. As the next piece starts up I feel a shiver go down my spin. The devil's trill.

The thing about these underground balls is that little to nothing is off limits. Everything fromthe guests to the music can be considered risky and most of the time a bit taboo.

The man leads me in a dance, matching the pace of the violins as we move together to the forbidden tune. A strange rush of excitment flows through me. Me, dancing with a perfect stranger, a man none-the-less, to the devil's trill. This is sure a night I will remember for most likely the rest of my life.

It is all a bit breath taking if I am honest with myself. Never did I think I would, or even could, do something like this. I may need to give thanks to my sister later.

The song finishes far too quickly for my liking. The stranger lets go of me and bows to me as I courtsy to him. He then stands up straight with that wonderful posture of his.

"This might seem a little forward on my part, but would you mind accompanying me and gracing me with the pleasure of yiur presence and conversation for a while?" I am a little takenback by his bold question, but I suppose this is an underground ball and he is being a gentleman about asking for my company.

"I would be honoured sir." I nod to him and take his arm when he offers it. We walk away from the dance floor and make our way to a rather more secluded conrner of the room where most of the noise doesn't quite reach. I take to leaning against a wall and for the first time take in the full appearance of the handsome stranger.

He was dressed in a full three piece of an off white/yellow colour. It complimented his slightly tanned skin and dark hair which was slicked back. And of course his warm peridot eyes. Overall he was simply dashing and even I could not deny it.

"So if you don't mind my asking," he starts, leaning against the wall by his shoulder next to me, "what brings a beautiful young person like yourself to a place like this?" An odd question seeing as he seems about my age as do most people here.

"Well, to be honest it was my sister that convinced me to come. I suppose I just needed to get out of the house for a while. I dont usually get out much, by my own choice of course." I look off into the crowd that are just beoynd the pillars as I speak. It feels a bit strange, being so open with a stranger. But there is just something very comfortable about him. I glance over at him to see his eyebrows have risen.

"Oh? You don't seem like the indoors type. But I suposse I am likely mistaken. I am usually quite a good judge of character, however, you are proving to be quite the puzzle." I feel my face slowly start to heat up and I cant help but thank Victoria for ensuring I had enough make-up on to at least make my blushing more subtle. I can only pray it is enough that he wont notice.

"You speak very boldly sir. Have you charmed many ladies this way?" I ask, finally finding my courage to be outspoken as I usually am. He throws me a very self-confident smile.

"I can't say I haven't, but it was never for the reason you may be thinking and certainly not for the reason I am trying to charm you." He is so blunt. I am completely thrown off balance again and need to take a moment to compose myself.

"And what exactly would that reaaon be?" I barely get the words out without managing to stutter.

The stranger leans closer to me and whispers softly in my ear, "well I guess you will have to wait and see."