Masquerade Magic

A moment of fantasy and dreams, for someone very special to me…

"They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them,
a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them..."

She wondered, standing amid the strikingly attired, elegant crowd, precisely what the hell she was doing at an event like this one? It was crazy, she was neither famous enough to warrant her inexplicable invitation, nor important enough to merit the special attention of the staff. They’d been very courteous and helpful, but not overly forthcoming with explanations of why.

She sighed internally as she looked around the room. She’d found the perfect dress for this elite soiree, a stunning scarlet gown that hugged her ample curves and flowed around her feet like a cloud of molten lava. Her exotic masque had arrived at her home the day the invitation had mysteriously appeared in her mailbox. The dazzling creation was a silver and red artwork with crimson plumage, and it fit like it had been made for her.

The spectacular show that was the evening’s entertainment had ended a short while ago, and people mingled and murmured all around her. She’d sat alone, at a small table near the stage, the best seat in the house, even if it was for one. Champagne arrived, unordered. Blood red roses, two of them, tied with a thin, delicate strip of golden ribbon, were also placed on the table. She was certain her heart hadn’t been beating at a safe pace all evening. Of course, she smiled to herself; nothing about this night was safe somehow… Even the fact that she no longer cared.

“Le va di ballare?”

The words, softly uttered in lyrical Italian, caressed her skin like the whisper of a butterfly wing. She was only learning the language, but she knew what had been said.

She turned, and for just a moment, everything faded but the man before her. The murmuring crowd silenced in her head, and only the frantic pulse of her own roused heartbeat drummed incessantly in her ears. Six feet tall, dressed in formal black tuxedo, white shirt so vividly white that it was almost painful to look at, and black silk tie at his throat. His hair was darkest nightshade, and his face was partly hidden behind a simple, yet exquisite masque. Gold, with silvered accents, and black enamel around the eye openings a perfect frame for the sparkling jade of his eyes. Diamond-like shards glittered over the contours of his cheekbones where the masque rested on flawless skin, jeweled tears that voiced his loneliness. Her gaze dropped to his mouth, and another wild lurch of her nerves left her gasping inwardly. The smooth curve of his full lips was drawn up into a subtle smile, and she desperately wanted to know if his mouth was as soft and sweet as it looked.

“I’d love to dance,” she finally forced the reply past her parched throat.

“Grazie,” he purred softly, “volglio tenerti fra le braccia.”

I want to hold you, too, her heart answered, but she swallowed the revealing words before they could find voice.

He held out his hand and she accepted it, curling her fingers around long, graceful fingers that felt both strong and gentle. A moment later, she was held close against him, and in the most distant part of her mind, she realized that music had begun, a beautiful, seductive melody that flowed over her and into her, each note a kiss to her fluttering senses.

“Sei bellissima, amore mio.”

His voice touched her soul, captivated it, took possession of it, and she knew she was never going to escape the dream of being near him.

“The invitation,” she stammered slightly, but made the words come out. “It was from you?”

He nodded, but said nothing.

She dared to step closer, near enough to inhale the sweet, pure fragrance of his cologne. Every part of her knew him, felt him like he was part of her being. He kissed her hair as he embraced her and their bodies drifted into the slow, mesmerizing tempo of the orchestra’s romantic sounds. He sang softly, perfect notes of pure, profound beauty. She knew his voice, she’d heard it a thousand times in her heart, but it had never been real. Until now.

She wanted to ask who he was, but the spell might shatter and the precious moments she’d waited a lifetime for would be lost. Instead, she closed her eyes and allowed the darkness to bring him into stronger focus. The soft thud of his heart was a pulse of life in her ear as she rested her head on his chest and let the fluid motion of the dance make them one entity. All of the night’s questions no longer seemed important, her answers had been found in the timeless space between two beats of her heart — the place between her aloneness and the moment he’d spoken and filled her world with his presence and the promise of everything she’d ever desired.

“Non ho mai conosciuto l'amore fino ad oggi…”

She felt his smile, knew he had heard the words. Did he feel her shock at having uttered them? It might be true that she had never known love until this enchanted moment, but what had possessed her to speak it aloud?

Before she could do more than look up at him, he replied: “Ti amo con tutto il mio cuore.”

A shower of stars lit the world from inside her, fire and ice raced along the paths of her veins, and she wondered for a moment if she’d fallen into a dream-world where the only thing that truly did exist was the sorcery of discovered love and alluring strangers.

He held her face between his hands, his deep green eyes making her his hostage as he gazed down at her. His thumbs stroked the curve of her cheek where the masque ended, then slowly brushed over the quivering softness of her bottom lip. He bent close to her and she sighed as his mouth covered hers in an exquisitely gentle kiss. The taste of champagne was faint on his tongue as he coaxed her to lose herself in the pleasure of this first, tentative touch. She trembled against him and he gathered her closer, enveloping her in his arms and his aura, making her completely his in a way no one else ever had or could.

When he drew back, kissed her forehead, then smiled down at her, she was shaking in his arms.

“Chi è Lei?”

“Your destiny, mia bella,” he replied. “The love you asked for every time your heart broke before tonight.”

“Magic…”

“Ti amo.”

“Chi è Lei?” She lifted the masque he wore and her breath caught in a choked gasp of surprise.

The music changed rhythm, and he swept her into his arms as they spun around and around, laughter and happiness spilling from them, their infectious joy bringing smiles to all who saw them glowing with their love for each other.

“Anima mia…” She breathed into his ear, and he repeated the words as he set her on her feet and smiled down into her eyes.

“Anima mia… amore mio.”

“Il mio mondo…”