Unedited.

Sophie felt eyes on her, but she was to busy trying to take in the sights to notice, or care. Chandeliers glowed brightly in all colors, blue, orange, red, green, purple, hung over the massive mansion.

The dance floor however white chandeliers hovered over with angelic like grace. Elves dressed in ridiculous and elegant clothes alike walked around the crowds, being sure the tables were full of food, that everyone had drinks, they made sure no one stepped on the trolls.

Sophie spotted Dex immediately bowing a sweeping bow in front of Biana. Who was staring wide eyed at him, through a black half mask, with a black feather sticking on the side, that was tinged with purple. Her dress was beautiful, Sophie was sure she designed it herself. With a full skirt, that trailed in a small train, black lace covered the dark shades of purple, black laces criss crossed up her bodice and tied in an elegant bow. Her dark hair had been dyed to corn silk blonde, and Sophie could see her eyes were violet. Sophie silently begged she'd accept the dance Dex was offering. Once she placed her gloved hand in his, Dex's smile was big enough to light up the dance floor, but he composed himself into his mystique character he had taken the role of.

Sophie's eyes swept over the room, and she stopped, she smiled. Grady and Edaline hadn't adjusted their looks, but the costumes they wore made Sophie smile. Edaline was dressed as a cat of some sort and Grady a wolf. Her eyes searched for Alden and Della, but her eyes stopped and widened as she stared at the dance floor. Stina....Stina was beautiful.

Her tall slender figure gave her a regal look, she was easily recognizable, she hadn't changed her looks and neither had her dance partner. She wore a black dress that hugged every curve of her body, the dress wasn't long like Sophie's but knee length, she wore heels, but was still shorter then her dance partner. Her dance partner didn't have his usually expressionless face, but a small smile was tilting his thin lips up, he wore a half mask that covered only a side of the face. Like the phantom of the opera's mask, it was snow white, his silver bangs flashed in the light, Tam Song was dancing with Stina Hecks.

He still stood taller then her even though she was in heels. Next Sophie spotted Melody's pale white dress gliding through the crowd, her blond hair looking like an angel, with her blue eyes shining she strode to a tall thin man, with dark skin, dressed in black. She tapped on his shoulder and he turned. He was a black swan. His blue eyes lit up at the sight of Melody, and he whisked her to the dance floor. His dark skin looking like obsidian against Melody's own pale ivory like skin. They danced with such grace, they were like two swans gliding over a crystal clear lake. Perfect, flawless and each smiling, as they held each other.

A tap on Sophie's should made her turn and look into teal blue eyes. But not Fitz's eyes. Alvar's. She opened her mouth to speak, but he raised his gloved hand, a single slender finger pressing against his lips. He was dressed in a pale blue tunic, with gold clasps, and white pants. His hair had been turned auburn gold, and his mask was a full faced mask, covering his high cheek bones, and strong forehead, only his lips remained uncovered. Alvar took Sophie's hand, and wrapped his other around Sophie's waist, leading her to the dance floor. As he pulled her close, he spoke in a low voice. "You look magnificent." He said, which made Sophie blush.

The dance was vigorous and cheery, "You look good yourself." She said breathlessly. Alvar's lips turned up. "I only came for one dance with you. Then I have to go." He said sadly. "Why?" Sophie asked. "The Neverseen are here." Alvar said, making Sophie's hear start jack hammering. "I don't know what they are planning but I needed to warn you." Alvar said. "Ruy is here too...look to your left, he's dressed as the happy jester." Alvar said. Sophie looked and spotted a dark clothed jester with soulless eyes, a painted smile and rosy cheeks, which looked burned instead of rosy. Clearly he was male, but he stood talking to an elf dressed as a masked statue, who had stopped to talk to him.

"Sophie please take care of yourself." Alvar said as the dance slowed to a stop. "Why? Why would you put yourself in danger to warn me?" Sophie asked. Alvar's eyes turned misty, as his voice lowered even more. "Because I care about you Sophie Foster. I've come to like you...to love you. You have helped me more then you understand, and I care about you more then you know." He said, bowing he pressed a kiss to her knuckles, leaving them stinging, he looked at Sophie once more. "You impressed me. Farewell Miss." He said before leaving her speechless. He loved her? Was all Sophie could think as she walked over to the refreshment table.

Alvar? Alvar Vacker? Alvar Vacker loved her? Did she just get her first love confession? At fourteen?! How old was Alvar anyways? Wait age didn't matter to elves right? Sophie gulped down the fruit punch that she had poured herself. The room had suddenly felt to hot, and her heart wouldn't stop hammering, as she looked for Alvar, he was across the room lifting a crystal, he caught her eye and smiled, he mouthed two words before flashing away.

See you.

Sophie turned back to the punch table and poured herself another cup. She eyes found Della and Alden, dressed as some sort of animals with horns, but they still managed to look elegant as they were teased good naturedly. Sophie picked out a curly ginger headed Rowan with brown eyes, talking to Marella who had gotten her dress wrinkled. She had straight hair, and orange eyes, she laughed at what Rowan was telling her. An arm wrapped around Sophie's shoulders "Found you." Keefe's teasing voice said. Sophie nearly dropped her cup, she pulled away from Keefe. His eyes were green, and his hair was still his messy blond that he must have taken hours on. "How'd you know?" She asked. Keefe smiled. "Well first I saw you come in, and you danced with a stranger before coming over here, talking to nobody else." Keefe said, his tunic was green and brown, and his mask was much like Tam's but black.

"At the end of your dance your emotions shot sky high, reaching me all the way across the room." Keefe admitted. "Who was that by the way?" He asked. "Nobody." Sophie said as she gulped down her punch, setting her cup down she looked around. "Whoa...easy with that emotion, Foster you might infect me." Keefe said, fanning the air between them. Sophie swallowed hard. "So you get the last dance?" Keefe shook his head. "Unfortunately no, Linh spotted me instantly and said she wanted the last dance." Keefe grinned. "Maybe Fitz will pick you out. Unless you find him first." He said his eyes sliding to Alden and Della, behind them, Fitz stood his eyes searching for someone.

His shoulders were broad under the tunic, his arms looked strong beneath the dark fabric, silver laced through the teal tunic he wore, his dark pants were tucked into his polished boots. His hair was messed just like Keefe's, probably having taken hours. His emerald teal eyes swept the room, once, twice, and once more. He hadn't tried very hard to disguise himself, his mask, only covered his eyes, and down the side of his jaw. Like a vine curling down his cheek bone. "I'll distract him, you can find him." Keefe winked before trying to walk away. Sophie snatched Keefe's tunic and pulled him back. "That's cheating." She said. She couldn't face Fitz, not right after his brother just kinda sorta confessed to her.

Keefe's eyebrows rose as he looked at her hand on his arm. Sophie quickly jerked back, "Something wrong Foster?" He asked. Sophie looked over st where Ruy was, to see he was looking around the dance floor.

"The Neverseen are here." Sophie transmitted. "Where?" Keefe asked instantly, as he pulled Sophie closer to him. "Keefe." Sophie hissed pulling away. "They don't know that we know. All we can do is keep our guard up." Sophie whispered. Keefe sighed, "You're right. You're right." He nodded. "I'll tell the others." He said before striding away. Sophie looked around again and spotted Sandor talking to a group only a few feet away. Tilting her head ever so slightly, Sophie looked at Ruy. Sandor looked over and by the way his shoulders tensed he knew who it was. Sophie would go find Linh, she hadn't seen the girl yet.

Sophie glided through the crowds, she talked to strangers in masks, she spoke to Biana and Dex, who were both blushing as they danced. Dex must have been practicing because he didn't miss a single step. Sophie found Linh talking to Rowan and Marella. Linh was breathtaking, her dress made a small pool of fabric at her feet, in aqua blue, silver, gold, white and black all clashed together in chaos, much like the ocean did when stormy. Her silver tipped hair was like the silver lining of a dark cloud. Her face was beaming like the sun breaking through. She was the very being of a hurricane, everything around her was chaos but she herself, the center of attention, the eye of the hurricane was calm, breathtakingly, chaotically beautiful.

Linh smiled at Sophie as she approached, but someone tapped on Sophie's shoulder. Please don't be Fitz, please don't be Fitz, please don't be Fitz. Sophie begged. She couldn't face him...not yet. Not after Alvar just...

The crisp accent filled her ears. "I believe you owe me last dance...Sophie." Turning Sophie found herself staring up into the face she dreaded but hoped to see all at once. Fitzroy Vacker. Fitz was smiling...beaming down at her. "Uh-huh...last dance. Sure. Excuse me." Sophie said and hurried past Linh, Rowan and Marella, to Grady and Edaline's side. Alvar was Fitz's brother...and thinking about Alvar like that...well it made Sophie confused, it made her head spin. She didn't like Alvar...not like that at least, she... Glancing over at Ruy, Sophie saw him move to the dance floor with the masked elf. Her eyes searched out Fitz and they met across the room.

He looked...hurt. But as Keefe spoke to him his eyes snapped to Ruy. Sophie looked away, and looked at Grady and Edaline. She needed a little normal...tonight she'd have fun, she'd be a normal teenager. She'd have to forget Alvar's confession... For now. In this moment she'd be normal.

Sophie danced through the night, one dance with Dex, another with Keefe, once with Grady, three more with strangers, then losing a bet with Linh, she and Tam had to dance together, Rowan got two dances of his own, Sophie danced with an elf named Simon, Edaline, Biana, Della, Melody and Linh all danced with her, she poured herself punch and hurried out to get fresh air. She felt bad for not dancing with Fitz but every time their eyes caught each others across the room -which had been more often then not- she just thought of Alvar.

Setting her cup down on the stone wall Sophie breathed out a breath. "Getting fresh air?" Fitz asked as he passed by Sandor who had stationed himself by the door. Sophie jumped. "Y-y-yeah." Sher stuttered, then mentally slapped herself for stuttering. It's just Fitz. She told herself. Exactly Fitz, the guy you have a crush on. Her conscience voice argued. Fitz stepped over and placed his punch next to hers. "How are you liking the ball?" He asked. "It's amazing." Sophie said, letting her thoughts of the party whisk her away. "The kids will start heading home right about now." Fitz said. "You mean us?" Sophie asked, Fitz chuckled and shook his head. "No I mean like little kids. Like Rex, Lex, Bex, and Blossom, that kind of little." Fitz said.

"Oh." Sophie said blushing at her own stupidity. She should of known that. Picking up her cup she sipped it, and as she set it down, Fitz came up beside her and leaned against the low wall. "Sophie, why have you been avoiding me?" He asked. "What?" Sophie asked. Fitz rolled his eyes frustratedly, and stood up, looking over her. "You, are avoiding me. Why?" He asked slowly, as if hoping her slow mind would understand. "I'm no-" Fitz took Sophie by the shoulders. His warm hands causing shocks to go down her arms, to her chest, making her heart pick up speed, feeling like it was tripping over itself in a marathon, butterflies battered and fought in her stomach.

"Yes, yes you have." Fitz insisted. "Sophie, why?" Fitz asked, hurt leaking into his voice. "Foster where are you at? I need some help with your cousi-oh..." Fitz stepped away and glared at Keefe. "What about Dex?" Sophie asked looking at Keefe who was smirking. "Am I interrupting?" He asked. "N-"

"Yes." Fitz said simply, crossing his arms. Keefe pulled his shoulders back. "Sophie your cousin may be in need of assistance." Keefe said not taking his eyes from Fitz. Sophie looked back into the party to see Dex surrounded by girls. Sophie groaned, as she lifted her skirts, and started walking before glancing over her shoulder at Fitz. "We....we'll talk later." She promised before marching through the crowd of girls, and linking arms with Dex. "You are hurting Biana's feelings." She said pulling Dex away from the girls. "It's not my fault they won't let me escape." Dex said. Sophie had spotted Biana leaning against a marble pillar, staring at the dance floor. Sophie deposited Dex in front of her. "Tell her who you are." Sophie said. Dex sighed. "Alright...alright." He glanced at Biana, as if cherishing every memory that happened with her before he took off his mask, shaking out his hair.

"I'll understand if you won't dance with me thee last dance Biana. I just went a little overboard at my Dad's store...despite what you think, I really did have fun." He said. Biana gasped. "I knew it was you all along Dex." Biana said. "Wait what?" Both Sophie and Dex asked. Biana rolled her eyes. "I knee it was you all along. I just didn't think you'd leave me by myself." Biana said. "They wouldn't let me go." Dex defended. "I'm sorry." He said. Biana didn't look at him as she spoke. "Come find me when it's the last dance." She said pushing herself off the pillar she strode away.

"I messed up Sophie. I messed up bad." Dex said. Sophie glanced at where Fitz was stepping into the room. "So did I Dex." She admitted. "So did I."