As we descended the ornate staircase, my eyes roved appreciatively over the glittering decor.

Teardrop diamonds and mother-of-pearl hung from the ceiling, giving the impression of falling snowflakes.
Tall, clouded crystal vases dotted the corners and tables, filled with snow and ice roses, perfect for adding to a drink or simply admiring.
Vines of snow coated, blood red roses climbed the pillars, staircases and banisters.

As soon as we stepped off the staircase, I hurriedly unhooked my arm and excused myself, leaving Hale looking confused and slightly offended. I cringed against the guilt, reasoning that he was just going to rant about his achievements all night.

I made my way through the dancing couples to the buffet table, a light chill causing goosebumps to rise on my arms. But my attention was snagged on the tall, imposing man and gorgeous woman, who were twirling gracefully across the dance floor. The people around them gave them a wide berth, but they somehow managed to remain right at the center of the extensive ballroom.
My loving parents.

Feeling my gaze, my mother's dark eyes found me. Our eyes met, and I saw hers examining me in a way that only she could do, and somehow making me feel extra self-conscious. Before I could turn away and stuff my face with chocolate, she gestured me over.

Sighing heavily, I walked over to where she and my father were standing, now chatting to a short, wheezy man and his wife, who resembled a glittering disco ball. When people saw me coming, they parted and bowed, murmuring 'How are you's' and 'You look beautiful's'. I smiled and nodded pleasantly, forcing myself not to pull away when one of the men took my hand and placed a kiss on my knuckles.

By the time I finally made it through the suffocating crowd and went to stand next to my father, the man and woman had gone. He looked down at me and smiled, his green eyes softening. "You look wonderful, Aurelia." He said, taking my hand in his.
I grinned back at him. "Not bad yourself, your majesty." He chuckled, and my mother turned at the sound.

"Aurelia." She snapped curtly when her gaze landed on me, eyeing my dress. "That neckline is way too low. Are you trying to attract trouble?" I gritted my teeth before giving her a strained smile. "You look beautiful too, mother." I copied her voice to perfection. It was a little knack that I had; I could mimic anyone's voice I was familiar enough with.

Red blotches appeared on her pale, powdered cheeks, and my father stifled a laugh. "You disrespectful-" My mother began, indignant. "Genna, my gem. Drop it." My father interrupted smoothly, and the hand that was slung around her tense shoulders began tracing circles on her exposed skin.

She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath; when she opened them, it was to look pointedly the other way. "Astra." My mother called my sister, who was clad in a deep, layered crimson, the material swishing around her slim figure while she danced. Her dark eyes were locked onto her handsome, brown haired partner, who I recognised as Caleb, Hale's younger brother. She either didn't hear my mother's call or pretended not to. They continued swirling, uninterrupted.

The corners of my lips tipped up. It looked like Astra finally found her prince charming. It was clear in the way she gazed at him, and he at her. I sighed wistfully. Would anyone ever look at me like that? Sure, being the Princess, I had many couriers, but none of them ever wanted more than my title.

My thoughts cut off when I caught sight of a dark hooded figure over Caleb's shoulder.
The strangest thing about the figure wasn't that he was wearing a long, hooded cloak and black mask at a ball, -although that was a close second- it was that he- or she- was looking directly at me.

As I stared back into his smoky grey eyes, -the only part of his face I could make out, the rest was bathed in shadow- which were bright against the black of his mask, and seemed to be appraising me, a shiver crawled down my spine. He was leaning against a towering ivory pillar, staying inconspicuously in the shadows.

He -or she- lifted a silver flute to his lips and took a long, slow sip of wine. Then, so fast I wasn't convinced it actually happened, he raised a long, gloved finger and beckoned. Thereafter he turned and walked away.

I blinked, wondering if I'd imagined the whole thing. Who was that? What was he beckoning me to? A hundred questions burned me. Knowing that I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight without finding the answers, I quickly made up an excuse and headed for the bathrooms. Once I was sure no one was looking at me, I turned and slipped behind the pillar, just in time to see a flap of black fabric going around the corner of a dark corridor leading to the kitchens.

A light blush coloured my cheeks as I followed it, remembering that the last time a male had led me through here, I was very drunk and in the phase of making very bad decisions. Apparently, I still am. I kept going, but the mysterious figure was nowhere to be seen.

Then, just as I was about to turn back, I saw a brief flash of light in the kitchens.
Intrigued, I followed it, finding myself in the huge, deserted kitchen, with endless rows of marble topped counters, stoves and ovens. I knew this place like the back of my hand, since my mother used to love baking. That was before she had Astra and decided to make my life miserable.

I would often find her here in the late afternoons, when the dying rays of the sun shone through the enormous windows on each side of the kitchen, turning her dark hair bronze. She would smile when she saw me, and I always thought that that was when she was happiest; hair shoved into a messy bun, elbow deep in flour, her mind empty of worries and focused on the masterpiece she was creating. That was when I was happiest too.

I smiled sadly, running my fingertips
over one of the counters.
A sudden, resounding crash caused me to jump, a scream caught in my throat.
"Ash!" An unfamiliar voice hissed from the darkness.
"I'm sorry, but who leaves a gigantic pile of iron dishes in the middle of nowhere? Not to mention that it's freaking dark in here." Another voice, -female this time- whispered fiercely back.

I was surprised. There were two people in here. I was only expecting to find the mysterious stranger. If even that. "Um," I mumbled, trying to be helpful. "The light switch is there." I pointed to the far wall. Just then, someone came up behind me and wrapped an arm firmly around my head, pressing a horrible smelling piece of cloth against my mouth.

I reacted instinctively, thrashing and clawing, but I couldn't breathe, and black spots were appearing in my vision. The person who the arm belonged to didn't budge, holding on as though their life depended on it. My hips bucked feebly, trying to throw the asshole off, but he just shoved the cloth harder against my mouth.

"Shh." A husky voice whispered in my ear as my world went black.