Memories of the Dark: ''Masquerading Ladies"

Cedany Shaw,

I kept on running until I saw Lianna at a fruit stall. I went towards her in a hurry.

"They saw me, they killed everyone." I told her. It was clear in Lianna's eyes that she was scared. "It's best for us to go back right away. They might kill us if they recognized our faces." I took Lianna's wrist and walked towards the place where our carriage was waiting.

Once we arrived at the waiting area of ACA carriages, the one who was supposed to take us back was gone. There was even a sign that says they were on their break.

"This is so unfortunate... why do they have to take a break at a time like this?" Lianna complained and I felt the same as her.

They should've picked a much better time than this. The shop owner and his accomplices are probably already looking for us. It would've been obvious that we were the ones who let those animals out.

"I could smell them from here. You should hide somewhere away from her for now!" The parrot that we took said.

"Of course, they would come here first. Let's go somewhere safe. Where do recommend we go to?" I looked at Lianna and it seemed like she already thought of something.

"How about we go to the very fancy boutique we passed by earlier? It looks like they wouldn't let a musty man go in. We should be safe there and we can buy some stuff for our disguises!" Lianna looked proud of her plan and it made me calm down a bit.

We both liked the plan so we hurried to the fancy boutique.

"Welcome to Charvaley Boutique, madames. How may we serve you for today?" A butler-like man asked.

I looked around and for sure it was a fancy boutique. There were even fancy ladies drinking tea as the butlers and maids show them clothes.

"We are currently caught in a bit of a problem. We need a disguise." The butler nodded at Lianna as he escorted us inside.

After some time, we managed to get into our disguises. I wore a short blonde wig and a green gown with a flower design along with a white beret hat. Lianna had a long black wig and wore an elegant blue gown and a matching bonnet hat. We looked like a refined noble lady would look. We do not look anything like our appearances earlier. I applaud the butler and maids that helped us.

"I bet we'll have to pay a lot for these. Just look at how pretty and fancy we look!" Lianna was complaining about the price at the same time she was appreciating how good we looked.

"I'm the one who's gonna pay though. It's fine since we didn't pay for the parrot we got. Speaking of the parrot. Where is it?" I looked around and the parrot was nowhere to be seen.

"The butler said it was for the best if it were to stay at the entrance." Lianna replied.

"Alright. I'll go pay at the counter while you go get the parrot, don't forget to put the parrot inside your bag."

"Roger that!"

As soon as Lianna went ahead, I paid for the disguises and we were right. It was very expensive, if I have to pay for it in gold coins, it would be a hundred. I paid one thousand silver coins for it. It was a good thing that they accept silver coins, if they weren't we would be dead. There goes my money. All I have left is three silver coins. I shouldn't have bought those facial masks so willingly.

Lianna Morris,

After we left Charvaley, we decided to go around town and act unsuspecting. The coachman and footman were still on their break, they would last one to two hours with their break.

I felt bad for Cedany and what she had just witnessed earlier must've traumatized her. I would know after all. It isn't her fault though, they must've done something that made Cedany's plan fail.

"Do you wanna look around that antique shop?" I pointed at the 'Lost in Time' sign.

We went inside the antique shop to find some familiar faces.

"I'm pretty sure that one of our heirlooms is here." Peyton said to the guys he was with. One of them was Henry and the other two looked familiar, but I'm sure I haven't met them yet.

"Should we go away?" Cedany muttered beside me.

"They wouldn't notice us with our disguises, so we should just mind our own business." I replied.

Cedany was worried about me and I appreciate it. However, I shouldn't cower away just because they're here, it's not like I'm here to bother them.

"Are you sure you did not mistake it for something else?" A guy with red hair said and soon the guy's eyes landed on Cedany.

What the hell?! What're ya lookin' at boy?! This is mine to look at! Not for your ugly eyes to look at! I unconsciously gripped Cedany's hand.

"Is something wrong, Lina?" Cedany looked at me worriedly as I smiled at her and shook my head.

"Hey, ladies! May I ask what your names are?"

The red-haired guy went to us as the other three guys had their attention on us since this red-haired dude decided to talk to us out of nowhere.

Both Cedany and I looked at each other not knowing what to do or say. I don't know if I should tell our real names or made-up ones. Why the hell should we tell him our names anyways!? Who exactly is he?

"Excuse us, gentlemen. We are here because of an important business. Please don't get in our way." I told him off as I rolled my eyes.

"How can a lady have such an important business that she can't even tell this handsome gentleman their names?" This motherfucker pisses me off!

"A business that a man could not handle because they are too busy handling childish stuff." Cedany answered and I looked at her with my mouth wide open.

"Ooh... burnt!" I laughed as the guys looked shocked.

"I don't mean to be rude, but I was just asking for your names that's all! You're probably too shy to tell me, huh? Well, don't mind me. I'll tell you mine anyways. I'm Benedict Gaunt, some say I'm a lady-killer and others say I'm a heartbreaker. However, I call myself a loverboy." Benedict grabbed Cedany's hand and kissed it.

This motherfucker!!! I gasped and immediately smacked his hand away. Benedict pouted as he caressed his hand.

"I must say that I don't think you should be calling yourself a loverboy... Others might mistake you for liking young boys. The most simple words to say it, people will mistake you for a pedophile." Cedany looked at Benedict in disgust.

Damn! That is a major burn! I can't believe that I'm witnessing this Cedany. It's a blessing to watch.

I took a peek at Benedict and for sure this is his first time encountering a girl dissing him. It's my first time seeing Cedany like this as well.

"I am Sadon deGrey, and I apologize for this man's unpleasant mouth." The guy with grey hair said.

Sadon looked more decent than the three of them, so I guess I'll accept the apology.

"We accept your apology since I am aware that Mr. Gaunt is not great at apologizing." I replied to Sadon.

"Why are you even apologizing to them? They're the ones who should be grateful that a man is even interested in their boring asses." Of course, Peyton the mighty has something to say.

"I don't think Miss blondey looks boring though." Benedict commented as he smiled at Cedany, who looked away from him.

"Really? She's your type? I guess this one is more of my type." Henry pointed at me and I was fuming with flames.

"What is this? 'Pick your type' game?" I muttered.

"Hey, hey, who's your type, Peyton?" Benedict questioned the edgy king.

"Didn't I just say that they're boring? So none!" Peyton looked away angrily.

"Aw, you're no fun! What about you, Sadon?" Henry question the most decent man.

"The three of you should stop being rude to these people. I already apologized to them on all of your behalf and now you're all making everything worse than it already is." Sadon still had his calm composure as he politely told them off.

Finally! A man who can view a woman as a person and not an object.

"Thank you, Mr. deGrey." I thanked Sadon and he just shook his head telling me that I don't have to thank him for anything.

"This useless interaction could've ended moments ago, if you two would just give us your name, ya know?" Peyton angrily looked at us.

"Ooh! So you're interested too, huh? Wanna know their names so badly." Henry teased Peyton as Benedict laughed with Henry.

Cedany looked at me with a tired look. I feel you, girl. I should end this useless interaction once and for all!

"My name is Lady Mari Juana. I'd prefer to be called by my full name, by the way. I'm proud of it, so it's not acceptable to be called anything else other than Mari Juana." I introduced myself with a made-up name.

I slowly looked at Cedany signalling her that it was her turn.

"I am Lady Finn Ischer. My father mistook me for a boy, so I ended up with a boyish name. Call me by my full name as well since my first name sounds too manly." Cedany introduced as I choked on my saliva.

The guys had confused looks on their faces except for Sadon; who probably thinks the situation is very interesting.

"You, ladies have such unique names. However, it fits you two very well. A very lovely name for a very lovely lady, am I right?" Benedict continued to flirt as Cedany sighed.

"We need to go now so—"

Before Cedany could finish her words she was too stunned by what she saw. I took a look and it was the shop owner having eye contact with us.

We're doomed. He recognizes us. But how?!

I quickly took Cedany's wrist as we backed away from the entrance that the shop owner opened.

"Hey, troublemakers. Ready to pay for the problems you've caused?!" The shop owner had his accomplices with him.

The shop owner was about to swing his axe at me, but Peyton stopped it.

"What do you think you're doing?! Don't butt in, little boy!" The shop owner said and swung his axe at Peyton; who dodged it.

"I don't know what happened, but you can't just swing your axe around, sir." Sadon put his hand on the shop owner's shoulder. "If you have any problems with these ladies, do it in court." He tightened his grip on the shop owner's shoulder.

The shop owner got angrier by this, as he and his accomplices were about to attack. But they were suddenly down on the floor as if something was holding them down.

"Don't even try to move, it'll just hurt your bones and muscles. I used magic, so anything you do next will be useless. Unless you're a sorcerer?" Peyton ridiculed them as he smirked.

I gotta admit, I found him attractive at that moment.

"Mind explaining what happened, Lady Finn Ischer?" Sadon asked Cedany.

Cedany told him everything except for the part that we trespassed and our identities, of course.

Soon the staff from Acantha surrounded the men and arrested them. Peyton and Sadon told them everything as the staff continued to ask them questions. They're probably not asking us since we're women, but I'm too tired to explain anyways and they might charge us for trespassing and they might end up knowing that we're representatives. We are done for! So I guess, I'll let go of the misogyny for today.

"Are you alright, Lady Finn Ischer? After hearing all that happened to you. I bet you were traumatized! A lady should never see something brutal like that. Can I do anything to mend your sadness?" Benedict was trying too hard, to be honest.

"I'm quite fine, Mr. Gaunt." Cedany declined, as she should!

"Hey, Mari Juana. You look familiar... Have I met you from somewhere?" Henry pointed out.

I started sweating like a pig. My eyes wandered around not knowing where to look at.

"I have a cousin who looks exactly like me! That must be why I look familiar, haha!"

"Oh! Now I know! You look exactly like Lianna Morris, she must be the cousin you're talking about!" Henry laughed off as I just laughed with him and nodded.