8. ANCIENT TALE

He guided her to the centre of the hall. His hand warm against the thin fabric of her gown. Feeling overwhelmed from the situation she let her lips slash against her cheekbones into a fake smile. A smile she knows was everything to her and was nothing to her.

When was the last time she has smiled so much? When was the last time she let those people and their whispers taking over her senses. She was never the centre of attention. Not until a certain someone made her lust over a revenge. A revenge she is looking out for.

Thick, deep melody echoed in the lavish walls, making them pick up their steps into the rhythm.

Her eyes fixated over his. Half faces hidden beneath masquerades.

"What's the thing you doesn't like?" His fingers tingling kept over his shoulder.

His mouth twisted as he began to answer,- "Betrayal. I hate it."

"Mhmmm". Humming over his answer, she gazed over the interior of the high domed ceiling. Something quite enchanting about it.

"Like fairytales?"

"Huh." She blinked several times as he dragged her attention over him.

"Fairytales?"

"Never got enough time for it." Her lips twisted into a bitter smile as she lazily copied his steps following the rhythm.

"How could-,"

"I am having a headache. Please, be quiet." Saying she again fixated her eyes on the gothic walls. Something felt familiar about them. As if she has seen it, as if she has been over her.

A painting over the ceiling steals her attention. Unknowingly a question in a whisper escapes from her lips,- "What's the painting about?"

"You doesn't know about it?"

"Not everyone knows everything, Denzel." Giving him a pointed look, she again stretched her neck to get a better look. Warmth stretched over her back as he slide his palm all the way from her waist to her neck to support her neck and let her take a look at the dome.

In the middle of the dome was a sculpture. A mermaid sculpture. Her hairs flying in every direction over the painted ceiling. It was enchanting. Her eide blue eyes following the trails of ancient paintings all over the dome.

Unfamiliar giggles fell on her ears, making the creepy giggles take over her spine.

Blurred cheerful voices rang around her. Her heart thumped aloud. Scared, she hastily jerk neck around to have a look.

Couples were busy dancing and adults were as usual busy in their chattering.

"That isn't a painting." He answered, his voice plain and bored from telling about his ancestors again and again. His voice bringing her back to earth.

Tingling sensation flowing on his skin, feeling her so close to him

"Then what it is?"

"That's what I am telling you. It is a story." He grumbles, continuing and glaring at her.

"A story. What it is about?" Eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she dragged her eyes to him.

"If only you could have been quiet and been listening to me. Should have the story completed." Gritting his teeth, he thinned his lips. Dragging her into the steps.

Why was he on the first place dancing with her? Why, When he had girls in line to dance with? He was the bachelor of the clan who caused this country to be alive.

His ancestors was the reason why he was so respected.

"Denzel, I am sorry. Please tell me about it." Jutting her lips in a pout, she pleaded.

"My great great grandfather was a pirate. He thrived to live with adrenaline rush. Fortunately, he is not alive.

Once when he was in the seas of Bermuda. He had an accident with a Mermaid. She was a Queen." The story allured her.

Curiosity peaked and she ended up asking question in between his words. A low throaty grunt coiled around her. She didn't knew a single action of a man could set her body on fire.

"You need to stop questioning in between."

"Forget it, I doesn't know many thing about the accident. As you can see I am in future and normal human doesn't possess the ability to roam in past. So what I know is he ended up taking over her everything. Her Jewels too.

But, they had some chemistry too. He loved her and he killed her-"

"How can that happened?" She questioned again.

He snapped close his eyes at her question. Tingles flew over her lips as he shushed her.

"You questions alot." Muttering, he twirled her. Her satin gown twirling around her. Hushed whispers going deaf on her ears.

"What happened next?"

"That's a story for another."

'Only if you are alive to witness the next time.' A warning ran in her mind making her realise why she was here.

Her grip loosen from his hold and his other hand sliding down lazily. Raking her eyes to his, she pushed him away. Her touch lingering over his chest.

Questioned gaze followed her moments as she sauntered over to the exit.

Her steps colliding against the hard marble of stairs. Her lips crooked into a sly smile seeing he is following her with hushed steps.

Getting out of the area of the infamous Pirate's Palace which is only allowed to open once in a year; only on the eldest person of the clan.

Denzel's step mother's eyes burned seeing him following that strange girl out of the palace. Gulping down the drink in one go. She hastily made her way towards her husband.

Her red painted lips stretched into a smile as she greeted his friends and excused them away.

"Denzel is following a strange girl."

"So what?" His eyebrows raised in question as he allowed her to reason her worry.

"I just doesn't feel right." Her boney fingers curled around his arms as she placed her worry.

"Its quite alright. He is an adult. He knows ho w to handle himself.

Also, he has already stepped into our bio-marine business. He will understand everything slowly." Patting her grip on his arms.

"Hmm." Humming she leaned her head on his shoulder.