The Ball.

**

The howling wind calmed into a soft sighing. The snow fell lazily now, in big, fat clumps that gathered along every nook and bump of the trees. Mesmerizing—the lethal, gentle beauty of the snow. It was better than the other kingdoms where the roads are muddy and frozen.

He stood by beside the door waiting for the head of guards to come.

His friends were upstairs. Azriel was called upon by the guard that knocked on his door. He asked if all was well but got no answer. Rather, he was told to follow quietly.

If the guards understood their mission, he already advised his friends to run as fast as they could. Not only that, they should kill anyone in their way.

He was afraid of Akkad because of the weapons they had. Also, his aunt told him that each street has its defence squad.

It would be difficult to get away from them. Azriel looked around. Everywhere seemed normal. Nobody cared about him standing at the door except for the guard in front of him.

It means there was no trouble at all.

The head of guards finally came. He asked how many they were. After confirming, he wrote it down and handed five masks to him.

"This is for tonight," The head of guards told him. It was a mask party.

Azriel sighed as he went back to the bar. He hated mask parties. However, he was grateful that they did not get caught before the mission.

He knocked on the door and Stryga opened it "It's Azriel."

Azriel walked into the room when he widened the door.

He distributed the masks among his friends and lay on the bed "I have never been so tired in my life. These parties are not really my thing."

"We know your parties usually start and end in beds, Arseling," Sigurd said, as he hung his mask. It was boring for him too. He was tired of partying with men.

"Don't say that…" Kielee told him. She walked to where Azriel lay and said "We have come really far. Complete the job and let's go home. Do not give up" She looked at Heather and nodded "We have been preparing for this day as soon as we were born."

"Thank you, Kielee" Azriel sat up. He needed to be focused. Everything was going according to plan. The princess showed interest in him, which was a good step.

"So what now?" Heather spoke. She looked at Azriel's mask. They were all the same. How will the princess notice him with this stupid coloured mask?

She was going to get a new mask for her brother "I will get something from the market, quickly."

"Why all of a sudden?" He asked.

"Because it just occur to me that we need that which I am about to buy" She replied opening the door. Heather was waiting for her brother's approval to leave. Standing close to the door made it easier for her to win his heart.

"Go with Kielee or Sigurd," Azriel told her. He knew her as one who fought nonsense battles. If he still cared about the mission then someone has to be with Heather where ever she goes.

**

Princess Azrael's POV.

My dress was the most beautiful ball gown I have ever seemed. Queen Ivy had it made for me. My sisters already left so they had no idea when it's arrived.

I stared at it for hours. How did they do it? I mean the seamstress who made this gorgeous gown. The colour was perfect, marching with my red hair. I smiled as I ran my hand through its body.

"It is beautiful," I told my stepmother.

"You are a Princess, Azrael" She began to knot the ropes on her corset. I had no dinner so it was going to be okay. I have been wearing this for as long as I remembered.

Maybe I wore a corset when I was in my late mother's womb. I chuckled at the thought of it. It would be funny if someone's corsets were worn from birth.

"Here you go, my Princesa" she tied the last knot and let go of me. I sighed and walked to the mirror. I did not behave like my cousins. They screamed each time they wore corsets. My aunt did not take it likely with them. They were older than me yet they showed emotions.

I wondered why she forced them into things they did not want to do… just to make me jealous. I was expecting her to be nicer to me. I lost my birth mom at very young age. She was supposed to fill in that space.

My mother...I had no idea what she looked like. Not a single day passed by without me cursing myself. I was the reason why she died in the first place.

I wished my aunt will be a bit more caring. I wiped the tears coming out of my eyes with a cloth. This was not the time to cry.

"Your Spanish has improved," I said aloud. Queen Ivy was surprised that I noticed it. Of course, I did. She said princesa.

"Thank you, princess," She said. The royal make-up artist finally arrived. She painted my face into something else. I was eager to leave for the party but queen ivy did not let me. She wanted me to be the centre of attraction.

I did not want that. I just wanted to enjoy the party. And if a man was to notice me, I wished it could be the green-eyed man.

A cold shiver ran through my spine when I recalled his touch. It weakened every joint in my body thus giving my brain, high morale.

"I will give you red lips, my Princess," the makeup artist told me. I never paid attention to her looks until today. She was a plump-looking woman. Her face was to die for. She wore heavy makeup that made me envy her. I wondered how her face will be if she washed it off.

I was tempted to pour water in her face so that she could wash up in my bathroom but something inside of me said no!