NATASHA

I won't lie, that may have just been the best sleep I had received in years. My hair was a birds nest, and there were red lines on my face from the coziness of the blanket. My body was so warm, that it would physically hurt getting out.
It was time to brush my teeth. The things were already there for me, and wow, this bathroom was a palace. If it were a palace to me, I wonder how my brother's bathroom would've looked. Or should I even consider him my brother; I only met him a few days ago. I took a warm shower, and did some light makeup. The dress was in my closet, the ball was tonight. I think I can bear with this, not going to lie. But remembering the same person that's providing my warm water, also killed my best friend, was really a dopamine killer.
The dress was silver, and the masquerade mask was also silver. The mask had some lace, and feathers, with two eye holes in an elegant shape. I was still wearing pyjamas that were given to me. The bathroom also had a clean white robe, but I didn't wear it yet.

﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋

I was sitting at the large dining table.
"Eat up, sorellina" he smiled.
The chef had made perfect sunny-side-up eggs, with bacon, herbs, cherry tomatoes, and sourdough bread on the side. Everyone else at the table had the same thing too; My parents, Dane, Dane's parents and of course Niklaus. It looked warm outside, but the home was cold, and life less. If only I could just go outside and breathe the freshness of nature again. But my kidnapper brother wouldn't allow that. Living without a phone; any device, was torture. I couldn't imagine how it was like back in Dauntridge, Clara's rotting body; I should stop. Dane was poking the egg with the points of the fork, and he was resting his head on his hand, clearly uninterested in what's in front of him.
"Niklaus what's the reason? Just kill me already." Dane said.
"Dane, no." His father said from the other side of the table.
"I wasn't asking you Dad; Niklaus what's the reason."
Niklaus chuckled, as he held the fork a few centimetres away from his own face, before putting it down on the plate.
"Can't tell you bud. It's a surprise!" He said. "But since you're a detective; maybe you can try figuring it out!"

﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋

It was almost time for that grand ball. I was sitting in my room, blowing bubbles with my saliva out of boredom.
"Can I come in" Niklaus said, from outside the door. I walked up to it and opened it.
"What do you want now."
"So, since you're part of this whole gang now, I think you should go and train in our gym. For your own safety."
"Seriously? I'm not apart of your gang, or anything for that sense! And no I'm not going to go and train in your gym."
"Dane's up for it. Why aren't you. It'll cure your boredom."
"Just accept no as an answer."
"I'm your boss Natasha." His voice pitched down a little. "Listen to me; go train."
"No-"
"Tomorrow morning, five am. I already set up your alarm clock."
"I didn't even-"
"Mm no. You have no choice, but to train baby sister." He said, not allowing me to finish, swinging the door behind him.
"I'm not your baby sister." I said. "It's embarrassing being associated with you"
"You do not talk to me like that baby sister. I get to call you whatever I want, I'm the boss here."
By now, Niklaus had managed to annoy everyone to the tip of their breaking point. But really? Training? For what?
The silver dress and the masquerade mask was sitting on my bed. I couldn't deny that the dress was beautiful, but I couldn't wear it knowing that Niklaus was the one who gave it to me. It was about 1 hour before the ball, so I had time to get ready. I'm sure I won't be big news compared to the rest of the people coming, so I don't need to go all out. No red lipstick, no fake eyelashes. Just me and makeup that was slightly off my shade.
The dress was long; it reached my bottom of my silver stilettos that were somehow perfectly sized. It was sparkly, just like the red dress I bought months ago, except this one was one I liked better. It had an internal corset, small straps, and a cut down the left side of my thigh that spanned almost the top of my hip, all the way to the bottom. It was undeniably beautiful, and a little part of me was excited. A little girl wanting to live her princess, ballroom dreams, coming alive. With the masquerade theme as a cherry on top. The dress was quite flattering; it made my collarbone prominent, and my breasts full. Or maybe it was just this gigantic mirror in front of me, that I surely wasn't used to. There was also a large genuine diamond ring. I tried putting the ring on my pointer finger, but that didn't work. Then I tried my middle finger, and that didn't work too. Obviously by now, the pinkie and the thumb wouldn't be it. I tried avoiding the ring finger, but I kinda had to at this point; and it fit perfectly.

﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋

I was leaning against the bottom of the staircase, while Dane crossed his arms looking around. He was wearing a grey suit, with a black tie. His hair was gelled and slicked back, with one strand of his hair sticking down his forehead.
"There really is no way of escaping huh." He said, with a "i'm so done with everything" face.
"This could be our chance, you know." I said. "While people are crowding around, who's gonna notice us leave?"
"Natasha, trust me it's not gonna work. Niklaus could easily be tracking every move we make. He's a super smart guy, and I know that"
"But there's gotta be a loophole right?"
"There's a loophole to everything, but this sure is gonna be a tricky one" he sulked.
"I know we'll make it out one day."
"One day."

﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋

A few minutes after our conversation, people started coming in. 10, 30, 50, 70, 90, 100, I couldn't count anymore. I was standing next to my mum, whom was wearing red, and my dad, wearing black. I saw Dane's father talk to many people. It was as if he was the spotlight in this moment. Niklaus stood next me, and put his hand on my shoulder, and I brushed it off.
"Niklaus get your hand off me." I scoffed.
"Why? We're one big happy family, reunited together." A chuckled, "anyway as I was going to say-"
"Don't want to hear it."
"You're gonna hear it anyway."
I rolled my eyes, but let him talk. I was curious.
"So, you see, Carlos Marchetti," he pointed, "he's got a pretty crazy backstory despite how normal he looks."
"What?"
"Everyone calls him 'The Mangler' or 'The Mangler Marchetti'. He used to go on rampages, with me, when I was the underboss at the time. People would have missions to end his life because he used to refuse to make agreements with another group. He would find out who they were, and mangle their bodies; twist their bones, dislocate them, cut their fingers off and stick them in their mouths; all sorts of stuff. If you want, I can continue with all the different types of ways he would mangle-"
"No."
"Okay well, I better go and greet the guests. After all, it's my Grand Ball."

Everyone was wearing different coloured masquerade masks, everyone was unique. No two people wore the same thing. I walked around, and through a bunch of people, my heart was beating fast. Every single person in this crowd has probably killed a person in their lifetime. And that scared me. I tried finding Dane but he was no where to be found.
"Hi!" A woman tapped my shoulder.
"Oh hi! Sorry, I think you got the wrong person-"
"No no, your Natasha right? Natasha Russo?"
"Yeah I am, I mean, Natasha O'Connor is what I prefer, if I'm gonna be honest."
She stuck her hand out for a handshake. "I'm Bellatrix, Dorati. Call me Trix." She smiled.
"Hi Trix-"
"I know that your brother kidnapped you; or whatever, so I can show you around? I know this place better than my own. Niklaus was like a brother to me."
This can be a great opportunity to find ways to escape this hell of a mansion.

﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋

We were outside the kitchen. She was glaring at me, with her gold eyes through her also gold mask, stretching her gold dress down her knees, as they drifted up while she walked around. She brought me all around the house, but I couldn't find anything.
"Apparently there's some news that your brother's gonna announce."
"I'm sure it won't be anything."
She chuckled. "How was your town like?"
"My town?"
"Yeah! I wanna know."
"It was kind of small. Lots of trees. I took care of flowers for a living. I guess it's all just a memory now; right?"
"Cant say so." She said. "You'll find your way back someday."
"How do you know Niklaus?"
"Mainly our fathers. They were friends for a looooong time, so Nik and I were bound to be friends too. We used to go on missions together, but now we don't really do that sort of stuff anymore. He wants to go all solo and mysterious now."
"I think I was a victim of his solo and mysteriousness."
A champagne was handed to both of us, Trix guzzled it down, as we walked back over to the foyer.
"So you're dating Carlos's son?"
"Uh no I broke up with him" I chuckled awkwardly.
"Spicy. Now you've gotta live in the same house as him!"
"No I was dating his brother." I awkwardly chuckled again. My social battery was slowly running out.
"Oh, I missed out on crucial information then." She laughed. "Well, take care Natasha; I have other people to see!" She walked away, holding her empty champagne glass.
I stood there, sipping on my champagne, and Dane pushed past people to get to me.
"Thank god you're here."
"Can we get away from here? Please? I'm desperate." He said, with a begging undertone.
"Ugh, yes please."

﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋﹋

We walked up the stairs, into my room.
"Who was that from before?"
"One of Niklaus's childhood friends. Her name was Trix."
"Well, I needed to get out of there. Thanks."
"You're welcome?"
"God- Everyone knew who I was. And not in a good way. They all said I looked exactly how my Dad did, like in the 90s. And my Dad is-"
"I know." I said, "you know apparently Niklaus has some announcement."
"I couldn't care less about Niklaus and his stupid announcement."
"Yeah but, I think we should head over to see what it is. I mean like, over 150 people or more wouldn't come here for no reason?"
"You're right."
"Hey. . . Dane, you should wear suits more often. It looks amazing, on you."
He smiled, "ah yeah, I forgot to mention how flattering you look in this dress. It looks so good on you. You should know that."
"Really?-" Dane put his hand on my face, and inched closer to me.
"Dane.." my eyes searched in his.
"Natasha I can't keep this to myself for much longer. I've liked you for a while. Since the whole Christmas party thing." He drew his eyes down to my lips.
"I-"
A high pitched squeal came from outside, a microphone pitching itself. Niklaus's voice radiated from the speaker.
"Are you gonna go check it out?" Dane said.
"Yeah."

We opened the door, and Niklaus was holding a mic, smiling brightly. We were standing parallel to him, except a bit far away, as he leaned over the stairs to the crowd of people downstairs.
"Hi everyone! I've gathered you all here not only for a get-together, but also for some special and exciting news." He chuckled, "I'm happy to announce the engagement for Dane Marchetti and Natasha Russo!!"

What the fuck?? When did this happen? There was no agreement. I'm not complaining- but why?
Niklaus eyed us from the side to "get over here now otherwise I will slash your throat with the pocket knife situated in my right pocket".
Both of us walked onto the visible part of the stairs next to Niklaus. Dane whispered in my ear.
"What's going on?"
That's when it clicked. I looked at my left hand, and my ring finger.
"Dane, oh my god. . . Look at our rings. Did he make you wear that too?"
"He just indirectly engaged us together?"
We were whispered back at forth while the people downstairs were applauding.
"How did he measure our finger's size?"
"Hm. Do you remember when he drugged us?"
"Oh my god. . . He really does plan ahead of time."
"I've told you he's a smart man. I'm not mad; free wedding?" He chuckled.
"Free wedding at least."