Evgeni ran into Akagi near the coffee machine in the cafeteria. Akagi poured himself some coffee and walked away.
"Are you still mad?" Evgeni asked. Akagi turned back, "Do I have a reason not to be mad?"

Evgeni looked at his cup and Akagi left the cafeteria. He met Aleksei behind the school building.
"I heard Evgeni invited Vierne for a masquerade ball," Aleksei said.
"How do you know that?" Akagi asked.
"I was there—I heard them,"
"Whatever. What's that got to do with me?"

"The lunar eclipse is on the day of the ball." Akagi looked at him, "Did Vierne accept the invitation?"
"No, of course, she didn't."
Akagi took a sip of his coffee.

"I tried performing the Nuo exorcism on a client,"
"How did it go?"
"I almost died. It didn't work—Made her condition even more excruciating."

"So, what do we do?"
"I have a plan but for that, we will have to distract Vierne."
"You mean?"
"Tell her to go to the ball, she won't refuse if you're the one who asks her to go there."

"Absolutely not," Vierne refused as soon as Akagi brought it up on the day of the ball.
"But why?"
"Isn't it obvious—Lict needs me the most today. I still haven't figured anything out—I'm busy."
"Aleksei and I have figured it out. We will handle it. You go to the ball,"
"What—"
"Trust me, Vierne. Just go and have a great time,"

She looked into his eyes, "Okay. As you say, Lord Akagi. But if it gets out of your hand, don't hesitate to call me. I'll come back running whenever Lict needs me,"
"I know,"

Grigory sat inside the library and opened the first page of the Gate.
'Vierne, do you know--Magic is a result of strong belief. Everyone has magic but nobody believes in it. Magic only happens when you believe in it,'
He read through the pages. It was a book based on the middle ages in Europe. Witch trials and elution covered majority of the book.

He chuckled, 'This might get me killed,'

Vierne quickly reached her classroom and opened the door, "Galkin!" She shouted and Galkin turned away from Nadia, "What's a masquerade ball?"
"...Are you sure you're a noble?" He judged her.

"I don't know how European aristocrats work," Lict scratched his head.
"It's in the manor house,"
"Evgeni has two manor houses?"
"Yeah, they live in Moscow in the winter I guess. And in summer, they go back to Siberia."

"Talk about rich kids," Galkin said.
"You out of all people are saying that? You are a prince too!" Lict shouted.
"I didn't go to balls that often. Plus I don't know what to wear," Vierne said.
"When is the ball?"
"Tonight,"
"God dammit. Come with me."

Galkin, Nadia and Lict decided to help Vierne get ready. Slavik joined them because it was something different from usual. Vierne sat inside Galkin's dorm room in her spaghetti.
"Lict, we need a ball gown," Galkin said and Lict made a blue ball gown around Vierne.

"The colour kinda looks too flashy?" Slavik said.
"Make it darker," Galkin said and the royal blue shade changed to navy blue.
"Looks like a one-piece," Slavik said.
"Could you give it more layers? Make it look fuller."

Lict moved his fingers and the golden dust moved around her gown, and make it puffer.
"Alright, looks a bit plain," Slavik said.
"Can you do some embroidery on it? Not too much but not too little,"
Lict moved his fingers and black embroidery appeared on that blue gown.

"Looks good,"
"You know what, Milady," Lict moved his fingers and the intensity of golden dust around Vierne increased. She began shining like a star. When the light disappeared, Vierne's gown was decorated by amber embroidery and peals. Her hair was curled and she wore black and blue ornaments. Her cheeks were pink and her lips were red. The mascara and eyeliner were on point.

"Perfect," He smiled.
"Wow, you know how to do makeup?"
"You're like some fairy godfather," Slavik laughed in the background.

"It's so pretty," Vierne looked at her gown, "Now you're going to be the beauty at the ball," Galkin complimented. She looked at Lict.
"You should leave for the ball, Milady," Lict smiled, "I can take you there,"

"Sure," Lict made a Limo with his magic and opened the door "Reminds me of Cinderella" Vierne laughed and got inside the car. Lict moved his fingers and the golden dust converted his uniform to a black suit, "I guess this is better,"

"You are awesome!" Slavik shouted. Lict laughed, "Thanks," He dropped her off at the manor house, "I'll wait for you outside, Milady"
"Okay, are you sure you don't want to come inside?"
"No, I'm fine."
"Okay,"

Vierne climbed the stairs of the manor house while Lict waited inside the car. It was the night of the
Lunar Eclipse. Aleksei had draped a black, loose outfit and Maks had sticked amulets all over the manor house. The clouds curved around the moon and it appeared like a well.

Akagi took his axe in his hands, all of them were wearing a mask too, "You know the plan, right?" Aleksei asked.
"Yes. We'll kill Lict while Vierne is busy with the dance." Akagi said.
"Milord, this isn't right." Melissa said.
"You have a better solution, Melissa?"
"No,"

"Trust me, I didn't want this to happen. But we have no other choice. Either we save Lict and die or kill him and live."
Aleksei turned to Maks, "You know what to do,"
"Yes, Milord,"

Vierne walked to the ballroom. It resembled the ballroom in her mansion, but it was much bigger and filled with people. Baroque music covered the halls. She was wearing a black mask. Everyone was wearing a mask, after all, that's what a masquerade ball was.

Evgeni stood beside his parents, talking to the minister. He was dressed up, wearing a red mask but she recognised him.

She didn't know what to do so she quietly walked towards him. Evgeni moved his eyes away for a second and looked at Vierne. He took a double take and smiled. He recognised her immediately too.

"Excuse me," The minister bowed and moved away while Evgeni walked towards her. She bowed. The music stopped.
"I didn't think you'd come," He said.
"It was a last moment decision," She said.

"I'm glad you chose me,"
"Pardon?"
He brought his hand forward, "Would you like to dance?" Everyone was looking at them. Vierne realised that this was the moment Ms Sophie had been preparing them for.
"Of course," She held his hand and bowed gently.

The music started and so did the dance, "You're pretty good at dancing,"
"We are taught dancing in school,"
"That's wonderful," He looked into his eyes as they danced. Evgeni's parents looked at the dance, "Honey, we might have found the bride earlier than expected,"

Lobelia looked at them from afar. She wore a metal armour suit and a red cape with a red mask. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail.

Slowly, the moon began turning red. Lunar eclipse had started. Maks knocked at Lict's window and Lict pulled it down, "Oh Maks, Aleksei was invited too?"
"Yes, he's calling for you,"
"Alright,"

Lict got down from the car and walked behind Maks. They walked down the stairs to the garden where Aleksei was waiting for him.

"So, you're going to kill me?" Lict asked.
"You knew about it?" Aleksei asked.
Lict smiled, "I wish Milady doesn't cry a lot," He stood before Aleksei when Akagi suddenly appeared behind him with an axe in his hands and his eyes shining bright red. He was ready for a swing that would slit Lict's neck away from his body.

"Vierne trusted you," Melissa said, "You backstabbed her as others backstabbed you." The axe reached Lict's neck but suddenly stopped and fell on the ground.

"What happened?" Aleksei asked.
"I can't do it to Vierne. She trusts me even more than her—I can't break her trust. I'm sorry,"

"You should've killed me while you could, because now," Lict turned towards him, "I'll do the killing," The moon turned completely red by then and so had Lict's eyes.

"Oh God, no,"

-To be continued

Aleksei Vasiliev
Dear Ms Lady Demigod