When I Find You

Chapter 18: The Fallen Mask

    My heart was racing as I looked at what was in front of me. There was a white box left at my door from the man who tried to come in and put it on my bed as he was instructed to do. He wouldn’t tell me who it was from, he just said “This is for you.’ Then he set it on the floor and disappeared. I picked the box up and took it to my bed. It was wrapped in beautiful silk lavender ribbon with a white bow to match the box. 

    I opened the box to discover a beautiful mask, handmaid in silk, lace, and cashmere. Even with all the fabric and beading, it was still light as the feathers that outlined the purple delicacy. This year, I wore a white satin dress, and this mask matched perfectly. There was a card underneath the mask and surrounding tissue paper. I pulled it out to see who it may be from, hoping it was from the man who owned purple eyes. It read:

    “From your secret admire, to the most beautiful woman to exist.”

    Hmm, that didn’t answer who it may be from. I turned it over, in hopes I would find the name of the person. There it was, not just typed or written, but stamped on the white card, and it read ‘Julian’. Oh my goodness, is he here right now? Is this really happening? I know I hoped to see my mate, but I wasn’t sure how safe he would be. 

    I quickly gathered myself and put my mask on in front of my floor mirror, ensuring that I did look beautiful. Or rather, that Julian would think I was beautiful. I headed to the exit, throwing the door open by it’s handle. I felt alive in a way I never have before. I was ready to risk it; risk everything. I ran down the stairs and stood in front of the double doors that would lead me to the Masquerade ball. I paused for a moment to catch my breath. If I was going to make a late entrance, I would absolutely do it right. The world would remember me tonight; and they will remember that I am a force to be reckoned with. 

    I signaled the guards to open the doors with just a nod. The wind went through my curled hair and I entered confidentially. My eyes scanned the room for a certain pair of eyes, but I could not find them. Everyone was staring at me and the confidence I once felt, was drowning in the crowd before me. I wanted to go hide, but I waited a few seconds at the top of the 3 stairs that lead to the dance floor. I broke out of my fear in the moment when I felt an arm wrap in mine and Tristin looking at me. This was all wrong, this was not who I wanted on my arm in this moment. I felt I was finally brave and hopeful, but Julian was no where to be seen. 

    Tristin lead me to his table. Maybe this is the moment he referred to as doing me a favor. Now the world would believe I was his and not the man hiding from the queen, but regardless I had plans for tonight and I felt terrible for how it may go down for Tristin. He leaned into my ear and whispered something that I didn’t quite here, not because it was loud, but because the sadness I was feeling overwhelmed me and my other senses were limited to that heartbreaking truth. He got up and left and I followed him, but we went in different directions. I decided to head straight for the bar; I needed a drink to numb the pain, yes, but I also needed some liquid courage. 

    “Scotch. Make it a double.” I ordered the bar tender. He quickly screamed to get me the best scotch he had and put a round ice cube in it. He handed it to me with quivering hands. I suppose I made most people nervous with my entrance which I was beginning to regret. “Thank you,” I said before turning to head back to my table, but Andrea stopped me before getting too far. 

    “Ava, you look so pretty tonight!” She exclaimed. I was not joyful this evening. In fact, I did not want to be here, but my best friend needed to be safe and I wanted her to come with me. I think she saw it in my face that I was planning something because her smile vanished and there was concern on her face. She lifted an eyebrow as she tried to analyze me and read my mind, but she would not be able to. No one knew what was coming. Hell, even I didn’t know. She nodded her head when she realized it was something I can’t discuss in this environment. She knew me well, so maybe she did know what was going to happen. 

    I walked to my table and sat down. Tristin was back in his seat and moved mine to make it easier to take a seat. He turned back to his plate and grabbed his drink to take a sip. He turned his head to me and leaned in closer to my ear. I wasn’t too fond of him this close to me, and I can’t imagine how Julian must feel knowing a man is close to his very own mate. 

    “I’m a little upset I missed the most grand entrance with the most beautiful woman to exist.” He spoke, but… the card said the exact same thing and it said it was from Julian. And then it hit me. His scent. Not just anyone’s scent, but Julian’s masculine scent. He looked into my eyes and I saw his purple eyes gazing at me. My eyes welled with tears and I was overjoyed. I couldn’t believe this was happening. He was here! I grabbed his face and pulled him in for a kiss. 

    “One year was way too long without you,” he stated. 

    “Julian, I’m so sorry, you must have been in so much pain. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.” I kept repeating to him over and over. He pulled me in for another kiss before putting his finger on my mouth to shush me. I pulled back a little before speaking once more, “But I’m going to make up for it tonight.”

    “Ava, what do you mean.” He asked with a warning tone. He was scared for me to do what I sort of planned tonight. I just hoped he was ready to go when it was time.

    “Julian, when tonight is over, we need to run because I have no idea how it’s going to turn out.” Seriousness was completely laced in my tone. “When tonight ended, I was planning on finding you and I would not stop until I do.”    

    “Ava, it isn’t safe for you to do that. We have no idea what the Queen would do if you put yourself in harms way. Do you hear yourself? Don’t put yourself in danger like that. Ava, I’m beginning you.”

    “Julian,” I paused looking down at his hands, tracing the lines. “I was not asking. So I need you to support me and be prepared when it is time.”

    “Ava.” He warned.

    “Julian, this is not the place.” I warned back. It was my decision to be here and find information. It made me miss an entire year with my mate and I decided I was done waiting. I thought he would be happy for me, that this was what he wanted. Why wouldn’t he support me? Unless, he was hiding something. 

    Everyone stood up when the Queen tapped her knife against her glass to get their attention. She gave her normal annual toast. “I would like to thank my staff for always putting together a wonderful ball. I would like to thank my beautiful children who make life worth living. I would like to thank all of my citizens who made it tonight. You know? I wouldn’t be queen without the support of you and I will do my best to continue being the queen you deserve.” 

    “I think I, too, would like to make a toast,” I paused to stand up. Julian, was trying to warn me not to, but it was too late. “I have taken a year away from Investigative Intelligence to focus on my health. My…sickness… was impossible. I also have taken this year to conduct my own research.” I took one last sip of my scotch for more courage. I stepped further into the dance floor to have full view of the Queen and see her face drop when I confront her about what happened to my parents. “You’re right Queen Vivian, you wouldn’t be queen without your citizens here tonight.” I laughed sarcastically. “But what about the citizens you abandoned when you caused a fire to get vengeance on the woman you knew you could never have? Are you so petty to lay revenge on people that did not deserve to die? Did you think I wasn’t going to remember one day the real truth that happened that night? My mother chose to have a family with a good man and left her childhood love behind, but that was so earth shattering to you that you decided if you couldn’t have her. My question is, why wait so many years? Did you think she would come back? I stated.

    “That’s ENOUGH!” She roared, but it wasn’t enough. It was not enough until I said it was enough. “Ava, you know absolutely nothing.”

    “I know nothing? Then educate me on the reason that you might think murdering my family was justifiable. You killed my family and took me into your home for what reason? Of course it wasn’t just for a good life, there was more to it. You took me in because you know what I possess, but in reality you have no idea how powerful I can be.” I knew for a while that the spell did not last long. Six months ago, there was a full moon and I felt my bones begin to c***k and I shifted into my wolf; and was she powerful. I felt the magic, and the energy radiating off my wolf. She was kind, but she was fearless. 

    “Take her.” She told the guards and each of them were running towards me. 

    I opened my hands and balls of fire formed. “Does this make you nostalgic, my Queen.” I mocked. Julian, Andrea, and Tristin, ran towards me and I created a ring of fire around the four of us. The guests were frantic around us, trying to escape, but I blocked the doors with more fire. 

    “Ava, what is the plan.” Julian asked.

    “To make. Her. Suffer.” Was all I said before throwing more balls of fire. I turned around to see the Queen with a knife in her hand. She was running towards us. 

    “I wanted to tell you! I wanted to tell you the truth, Ava. I promise you!” She exclaimed. I walked closer to her, to find the sincerity in her eyes, but it was blank. She swung her sword and it cut my hand open. 

    “You wanted to tell me before or after you decided to kill me?” I asked, but it was a rhetorical question. I looked at my bleeding hand and the anger was fuel for what came next. I shifted into my wolf and Julian did the same. There were other guests here who also shifted into werewolves. I focused hard on my inner witch to enchant to warriors who were with us here tonight. I didn’t want an actual fight, I just wanted to instill fear into the Queen and those who are loyal to her. Focus, Ava, I kept telling myself. I closed my eyes and internally spoke a spell.

    “Enchant the warriors who have come to fight. Give them strength in this night. If we are one let the world be known. Let our strength and power be shown.”

    In that moment, the fur of the wolves who were on our side, lit up. There were beautiful shades of fire radiating on them. Julian had purple fire, and mine was blue; some had green, some had pink, others had red. It was a beautiful sight to see. 

    “Ava, we need to get out of here, we are not ready for this fight.” Julian linked me. 

    I nodded in agreement. I howled in the large room and ran towards the door. Andrea and Tristin followed us out. There was a limo waiting for us. We all shifted back into human form before climbing in and going home to Julian’s airy palace. My hand was already beginning to heal. Julian pulled me close to his arms so that no one would see my naked body. Andrea’s dad was in the passenger seat. He opened the window and threw a bag closer to us. 

    “I figured you guys may need clothes.” He smiled and turned around to signal the driver to move.

    Julian grabbed clothes for me first, putting a shirt over me. “Julian, wait.” I said. He looked at me curiously waiting for me to explain. “My mask!” I yelled, it had fallen when I shifted. 

    “It’s okay baby, we will make another one for you.” He said, while putting his own clothes on. I turned around to look out the window, sad that I would never see it again. 

    I fell asleep in Julian’s arms on our way to my new home.