Behind the mask part 2

The descending of stairs into darkness is liberating and fills me with nervousness. Only the dragging sound of larious' wings and clicking of our steps is heard. He must sense my nervousness because he wrapped his tail around my left wrist and would occasionally coo softly as if to reassure me. Nothing like being led into a dark abyss by a blind bird monster. suddenly the stairs started to glow with a dim hue of orange and the faint sound of classical music and laughter could be heard. "we must be getting close huh beautiful." i squeeze his tail gently to give him the notice that im ok. Even though im pretty sure he can sense it. i guess it was more for me then him. The light now bright and vibrant doorway, the sight of everything looking like a beautiful painting come to life. the dresses that the woman wore swished past mens black clad suits and vibrantly colored masks and headresses filled the room. The door frame a perfect frame for the picturesque view. suddenly im brought out of the trance by larious' touch. rubbing his beak against my palm he gives me the encouraging nudge to step into the room and get lost in the ballroom of creatures. smiling down at him, i give him a light rub and walk into the lighted room. Everything stopped. i can feel the heat of embarrassment make its way to my cheeks and blood rush to my ears. larious right behind me, nudges me again to keep me moving through the room. the soft music continues while the rooms eyes stayed on us. i try to hide the fact i am frantically looking for Aridius with just my eyes. My hearts beating so hard i feel like everyone can hear it. suddenly the nudging stops and my anxiety disappears as i realize ive walked completely across the room so absorbed in my fear that i didnt notice it. i mentally face palm. there a balcony now standing open in front of me and the moon shines down on it. the sound of people talking picks back up and soon its as if nothing ever happened. i let out the breath i didnt know i was holding and lean on the railing. larious flops down next to the doorway and again falls fast asleep. there i stand alone, with the giant moon, millions of stars and the ocean below me. i look down at the beach and realize that its the very beach i was on when i watched the poor sailors meet there doom. the rock sitting still in the water waiting for its owner to sit upon it and sing again. Then the noise goes silent again and larious raises his head attentively. i turn to face the room of silent people and am met once again with those damned eyes. i feel like im completely trapped in the gaze of blue and green. they slowly get closer and i do nothing but wait in anticipation. i feel so out of place among the lavish people and now the most handsome man in the room, even with his mask on, makes me feel even more out of place then i already was. i snap out of the gaze and look back to the ocean, and i feel my senses heighten as the crowd again starts its chatter and anxiety starts to pick at me. hes so close now that i can feel his breath on my shoulder as he leans down and places the softest kiss on my heated skin. i close my eyes and let my anxiety melt with each kiss he trails up my neck to my ear. leaning my head back against his chest i open my eyes and stare into the shimmering pools of amusement. "Hi." the only thing, and dumbest, that i could spit out. "I see you found your way down alright." Nodding my head in confirmation, I turn to face him. "why do they do that weird freeze thing when i walk through?" he grabs my hand and leads me to a small table at the far part of the balcony and says " Well they do it because you are mine, no ones ever seen a mortal brought to the kingdom, let alone my home." "Then why do they do it when you walk through?" A glint of pride reflected from his eyes. "Respect, one day they might look at you like that you know." i lean my face in my hand as i stare out at the rock once again. "You should be careful around here. Its not just a dream, and im not the only monster here." looking at him sideways i reassure him ill be careful and close my eyes to listen to the waves. Its soft crashes and the sound of the water rippling calm me like never before. My ears perk to the soft hum of who i assume is the siren below. i listen. her words get lost in the waves and all it is is the tone of a womans voice, a melody. Being a woman her music cant hypnotize me, i can listen and enjoy her death tune. I let my eyes open and wonder to Aridius. Im met with an intense stare and my face heats up. "Why are you looking at me like that?" he takes the skeletal mask off and actually looks full face at me and says "what do you want?" I look at him confused. "what do you mean? I want lots of things, long hair again, beautiful skin, and intelligence that could surpass Einstein." he smirks at me. " No, I mean right now, in life." breaking away from the beautiful succubus' eyes I look at the moon. I've thought about it before, what I want from life, but I can't even distinguish if this man is real or if I've lost my mind. " you know just because I can dig around in your head normally doesn't mean I can when your in here with me." " Hmmm you learn something new everyday." getting up from his seat he stands in front of me and put out his hand. taking it he leads me to the middle of the balcony and starts to lead me in a slow swaying dance. pressed against him with one hand in mine and the other around my waist, I sway back and forth with him. " I can give you long hair" his eyes glow vibrant and suddenly I can feel a pressure under my scalp and am met with long brown curls. the sensation of new hair growing rapidly overwhelming my sense of feeling. the weight makes my head tilt back . we stop swaying and I focus on the stars and counting them while my scalp burns with new growth. putting a hand through my new hair Aridius pulls me upright and all of the hair that was hanging now covers my face like a curtain. His hand lost in my curls, pulls the curtain back. " I can give you beautiful skin." skimming his other hand over my arm and up my neck, to cup my head, he leans in and softly his lips meet mine. The hellish surge of skin crawling across my body brings on a new overwhelming pain. I feel tears escape and focus on his mouth. As soon as it came it went. I back up away from him. "Don't." who knows the horror of him manipulating my brain would bring. "I can do the easy and impossible KC, but I can't give you what you want if I don't know what it is. what do you want from this place, from your world. Me?" the no longer glowing eyes look at me, no they look like there trying to look into me. I push my waist length curls behind my ears "Well right now I want my hair out of my face." he laughs. " I want to stay here, where its always night and I never know whats going to happen. I want my friend to be happy and find love, I want my life to stop dragging. and...I want you. I don't know why I feel this insane urgency to just give in to you, and I don't know why I just can't but I think it has to do with what you are and who I am as a person. I can't ever just bend, im stubborn and I decide what I do." we stand in silence for a few moments. walking back to the ledge I look down in the water and there she is. on her rock throne, the siren sits combing fingers through her hair. The water slowly laps against the shore and moves with her tails flip. A loud horn blaring in the distance catches my attention. " why do you let the boats come?" Aridius stands beside me." Because even she needs food to survive, just like they go to her ocean for there own food. Both must catch there survival."

"Yes, but just like the fish some escape there fate." a new voice. turning to face the new voice, is another mask. the mask attached to a tall figure. "Why are you bothering us." Aridius clearly annoyed voiced out without looking at the new figure. stepping closer, larious shifts and draws his beak up in the direction of our company. The man now clearly visible, and i feel my heart pick up pace and my breath catch.