StarCrossed

"I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where." -Pablo Neruda “Hurry, hurry! People are already gathering in the square!” Eveline was excited as she bounced around the room. As Mother finished tying my gown at the back, my little sister stopped and stared at me. The olive green velvet draped nicely over my curves, the see-through sleeves hung down to just below my knees. At my waist hung a belt I had embroidered earlier in the week with yellow flowers. My unruly blonde hair had been tamed into a messy braid that I pulled over my shoulder. “You look beautiful, sister! The men won't know what to do once they see you! You will be the most attractive young lady in attendance!” I had to smile at her enthusiasm. Eveline had always wished to attend the Hunt Ball, but Mother did not think she was quite ready for the activities. This would be my second year. Originally, the Council had decided to make this event as a way to encourage breeding of those ready of age. Eveline did not understand that, let alone what it meant she may have to do. My first year, I stayed far from anyone’s eye, nervous and wanting to rather watch than participate. Attendance was mandatory, by Council rule. At a specific age, parents’ say or not, the young adults of the town were forced to attend. If they did not, they were made example of in front of the entire town the next morning. Mother did her best to shelter me from the event, but as of last year I was at the mandatory age of 18 years.  Mother came into the room.  “Olivia, you look beautiful, my darling.” I could see the worry on her face as she spoke. “Mama, I'll be alright. I will attend, dance, and leave.” I rested my hand on her cheek, trying to comfort her. “I promise to be careful.” “Should anything happen, run for the house. I do not care what the council says, you shouldn't have to do this.” She sighed heavily.  “I will, Mama. Now please stop worrying.” She walked over to my bed, grabbing the dandelion embroidered mask that lay on the blankets with shaking hands. The Hunt Ball was how Mama had become pregnant with my sister and I. She was now passed the age required for attendance. She never spoke much about it, but a lot of the women her age had been convinced it was their duty to attend.  “Trust your gut and act upon it. No matter what the offer,” she said quietly. I kissed her cheek. She had every right to worry. Were it not for her telling me the tricks of how to avoid a partner’s eye, I would have possibly been pregnant with my first child last year. I blinked, which brought me back to now. Standing in the eerily quiet room. I grabbed the mask from Mother, putting it on as I walked down the stairs and out the front door. The streets that lead to the town square were fully decorated with flowers and lights. The streets themselves had been cleaned earlier that morning. The Council made this event out to be something better than it was. They rallied the people by having them come together to prepare the town for this one night. Every year. I did not see how the people could be so blind. The Council was sending lambs to the wolves. It was infuriating. As I came to the square, the decorations became more elaborate. The Council sat together on a stand, from which they could watch the festivities. The dancing part, I mean. They did not stick around for the later festivities. They knew what would happen, or at least they knew what they were hoping to happen. Young women and men grouped together in the square.  The Council took attendance, each person being called and brought forward by name. It was their way of showing off the participants. If there was a certain member of the town that someone had their eye on, it made it easier to pick them out of the group. It felt like this alone took forever. The music finally began.  A man swept me up immediately. Spinning me so much that I became nauseous from the twirling. Another man took his place, keeping things formal, hardly letting our fingertips touch. This continued, a new man taking another’s place almost to the minute. I began to look around at whatever I could focus on so I did not have to look at them as they came and went.  That was when someone caught my eye. He was tall, with long black hair that was pulled back with a blue ribbon. His dance partner was one of the older women allowed to attend. As if he could sense my eyes on him, he glanced my way. If I wasn’t mistaken by the lights, I would say his eyes were golden amber color. The color was only magnified by the plain blue mask he donned. His gaze returned to his dance partner. I didn't recall seeing him during attendance. As the music stopped, he bowed to her and she to him. Everyone bowed to one another, except me to my dance partner. They all waited. The man with the golden eyes looked at me again curiously. I looked away, shaking my head, and finally bowed to my dance partner. The music started again. The women gathered in groups of five, as did the men.  Something caught my hand, pulling me from the group of women I had joined. Right off the dance floor. I looked to see who may have pulled me away, fear rising in me. Surely it had been one of the oafs I had danced with previously. But no, the one who had pulled me from the crowd was the man with the golden eyes.  He lead me to a cluster of trees where it felt we were closed off from the rest of the world. Without a word, he tugged my hand and brought me between him and a massive oak. The bark made my skin tingle as the two just barely touched. I felt nervous. Would he force himself upon me? Would I have even a chance to fight him off if he did? I could tell from the fit of his suit that he was well built, the muscles of his arms struggling to not rip the sleeves. Lord help me if this man was a starved wolf ready to devour a lamb. “Wh-who are you?” I managed to ask. His scent filled my nostrils. It was intoxicating. It was like pine and rain clinging to one another. I felt heat begin to come to life inside me. He touched his fingertips to my neck and trailed them down to my collar bone. A burning trail that caused me to ache and the heat to rise.  “My name is William, Ms. …?” “Olivia,” I answered bashfully. “Ms. Olivia,” he said, a seductive hint to his husky voice. Impulsively, I kissed him. I hadn't kissed a man before then. I felt nervous but there was something about him that felt familiar. The kiss was simply more proof of that. It made my heart ache, my pulse quicken. He looked at me confused, frozen momentarily. Then he was kissing me, our lips tangling together frantically. He pushed himself up against me, causing the bark of the mighty oak to dig into my skin. The heat I had felt became sweltering. Did his body react the same way? Something in me felt as if it were awakening. My mind began to feel fuzzy and before I could tell what I was doing, I kissed him. Only this kiss was primitive, animalistic. Teeth nipping in earnest. I gasped, frightened of myself. Where had that come from?  “Why did you do that?” William asked quietly. I thought I saw shock on his face. “I apologize! I don't know where that came from…” I turned my face away from him, feeling my cheeks heat with embarrassment. I was glad for the slight cover my mask gave. “I shouldn't be here. I promised my mother I would be home soon.” I slipped around him and ran in the direction of home. I couldn’t look back. I ran, weaving my way though decorated pathways, until I was a street away from home.  “Wait! Olivia, please do not run from me. That was perfectly natural.” His voice was getting closer, echoing less. My hand was caught and I was pulled against a hard body. Only, when I looked to see the face of the man, it wasn’t William and his blue mask. This man had removed his mask. I did not know him by name, but I had seen him in town before. He mostly hung out at the bar with some of the older councilmen. “Where are you running to, little mouse?” His voice was sickly sweet as he spoke. His piercing blue eyes raked over my figure. He licked his lips like a hungry stray mutt. “Running home? I don’t think so. There's still time before the festivities are over.” He wrapped a firm arm around my waist, keeping me pressed against himself. I tried to shove away from him. With no luck. The man chuckled as if he enjoyed my squirming and panic. “Let her go.” William stood before us, his frame rigid, a primal rage beginning to seethe from him. “This little mouse was caught in my trap. It would be a terrible waste to let her go. It is the Hunt Ball, after all.” “You’re disgusting,” I spat at the man. His grip around me tightened.  “Hold your tongue, gir-” With what force I could gather, I stomped my heel onto his foot. He yelped in pain and he threw me to the ground. Before I could blink, William had tackled the man to the ground at my feet. William was giving him the beating of a lifetime. It made me sick to my stomach to watch. With each throw of his fists, it was like a part of him was trying to escape. A savage part. When blood began to flow, I couldn’t bear to look any longer. I covered my ears and shut my eyes tightly. A minute felt like an eternity as I lay there curled up. A hand touched my shoulder. I flinched away, guarding my face with my hands. “He’s alright, Olivia. At most, he’ll wake up with a blazing headache. Please don’t hide from me...” I opened my eyes to see William’s hand outstretched for me to grasp. I looked over to the man’s body that lay on the ground. He was still breathing. Cautiously, I took the outstretched hand and William lifted me from the ground. Still holding onto my hand, he lead me quietly and quickly through the streets. “Have we met before?” I ask, breaking the silence. “What makes you ask?” “I feel like I know you from somewhere. As if I’ve seen you around town before, but I know that I never have. How could that be possible?” “There have been stranger things to happen,” he said with a hint of enthusiasm. There was silence again.