Serine turned around, her eyes scanning Minerva who lounged against the wall, Minerva's head was tilted as she struck a pose.
She was wearing a backless green and silver dress that hugged her curves, the silk fabric shimmering in the light.
Her high ponytail accentuated her features, her red lipstick a sharp contrast to her pale skin, as her bold eyeliner accentuated her eyes. She blinked slowly, her lashes fluttering as she moved away from the wall, struggling to hold back her laughter.
"I surprised you, right?" Minerva said, walking close to Serine. "You should fix your jaw, its hanging loose."
She laughed as Serine deadpanned. "Seriously?"
"What? I heard you use it on Merva, now we are even."
She walked to the oval mirror behind Serine, using her fingers to smoothen her edges.
"But how does it really look? I took inspiration from your style."
"It actually does suit you," Serine responded. "Only that you have smudged eyeliner marks."
Make-up was not something she really ever done on her own, but she had tried it today, and she loved it.
Serine helped Minerva fix it, and they both headed out to the party.
The hall was dimly lit, a soft melody playing in the background.
Minerva and Serine walked in together, picking up the masks of their choice at the foyer, and donning them, securing them with the delicate strings before they walked into the hall.
Minerva watched as Serine glanced around the hall, her eyes sparkling behind her mask as she watched the couples gently twirl across the dance floor.
"Shall we grab some drinks?" Serine suggested, Minerva linking her arm through Serine's as they made their way to the bar side and sat.
The bartender greeted them with a smile, and they ordered as many cocktails as they could, taking sips of each of them. The whiskey in their drinks burning down their throats.
"This is strong." Serine coughed, her voice barely audible.
"I told you." Minerva chuckled, her eyes twitching.
Serine nodded, trying to play cool as she took other sips. They burned down her throat, leaving a warm, fuzzy feeling in its wake. She coughed again, laughing. "Maybe I need to slow down."
As they kept trying all the different drinks, a voice interrupted them.
"Mind if I join you?" It was Zayn the trainee instructor.
Minerva spat out her drink, accepting a napkin from the bartender to wipe her lips, a cheeky smile on her face as her eyes moved between the two of them.
Serine's eyes were wide with surprise. "Zayn, I did not think you will come to this kind of party." Her voice betraying her delight.
Zayn smiled, taking a seat beside Serine. "Well, here I am."
He ordered a drink, staying silently besides them as they chatted, his and Serine's eyes locking and straying to the dance floor occasionally.
"You both should go and dance already," Minerva said finally. "I'll wait here till you are done."
"Are you sure?" Serine asked skeptically, looking at Minerva, and then Zayn.
"Yes, just go. I will be fine." She assured her.
"Would you like to dance with me?" Zayn asked finally.
Minerva rolled her eyes.
'Seriously. Why else would I have to assure her that I'll be fine alone?' She thought.
"Sure." Serine answered.
And they both got up, moving to the dance floor.
Minerva turned around in her stool, checking out the guests that arrived.
'Hmm. Should be fine.
I think that one would be cute.
No. Not that handsome.'
She gasped quietly watching in excitement as three guys with commanding auras suddenly walked in, the crowd pausing briefly to acknowledge them.
They were not from the main institute, of that Minerva was sure. And they marched like they were in the military.
She smiled lasciviously, her eyes fixed on the guy on the right side.
They marched towards a reserved corner of the hall, a waitress taking a tray of champagne for them.
Minerva was curious about their identities, she wanted to see the faces beneath their masks.
She downed several drinks in quick succession, her face contorting as they went down her throat.
This should get her through.
She loved their side profiles, and she wanted to see more.
There was no way for her to see their faces, and so she tried to look away, but her eyes kept straying from her drinks.
The one on the right looked at her piercingly, he had noticed her gaze. She smiled at him, but he looked away from her, chatting with the guys besides him.
Minerva looked away from them, sulking as turned her attention back to the drinks before her.
This was no fun.
She ordered champagne, the golden and silver liquid inside the flutes catching the lights.
She downed them one after the other, ordering more when she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder, and turned to find a guy behind her.
"Would you care to dance?" He asked shyly, nodding towards the dance floor.
Minerva's lips curled into a smile, and she nodded eagerly.
The melody changed, the music increasing in tempo as they glided onto the dance floor. The music was Infectious she couldn't resist moving, her body swaying to the rhythm.
It was all a whirlwind for her, twirling on the dance floor, her head spinning as she laughed quietly, It felt like magic.
She shuffled between the dance floor, and the bar, gulping down shots of whiskey and flutes of champagne and returning back to the dance floor again. Laughter and joy filled her heart, and tonight felt like it had to be all or nothing.
She spun across the dance floor, landing into the arms of someone strange. A pair of strong arms held her by the waist, pulling her close.
She felt her heart stuttered as she found herself so close to him.
She loved his scent, and so she leaned in to get a better whiff of it.
'He really smells so good.' She thought, her eyes closed.
"Must be enjoying my chest." He whispered in her ear.
Her eyes snapped open, as she tried to break away from his arms, but she felt the room spin and he caught her in his arms.
She looked up at him, a pair of brilliant brown eyes staring back at her through his mask, sparkling with amusement.
Her hear flutteered, crazy thoughts running through her head, as she felt his muscles shamelessly wishing she could take off his mask and see his face.
"Who are you?" She whispered, barely managing to keep her words from slurring.
He smiled wickedly, drawing her closer to him. "Why do you want to know?" He whispered, his breath tickling her ear.
He was so close.
Minerva felt everything blur out of her vision, the laughter, chatter, color and everything blending into shadows that remained backstage, and all she saw was his eyes that held hers.
The night wore on, her legs tired from dancing, her head feeling foggy. And so they walked out of the hall.
They were somewhere hidden outside the hall, the night air colder than she expected, slowly sobering her up.
Minerva leaned against the stone wall, the cold surface feeling like therapy against her warm skin.
The mask on her face glittered in the dim light, its light weight feeling heavy. She loosened the strings, the mask dropping to the floor.
She and the stranger were few feet's away from each other, their eyes locked in a heated gaze. He took a step towards her slowly, then another. He was giving her a chance to walk away, and she knew it.
Her breath caught, she was feeling light headed.
'Maybe it was the night air,
Or the many glasses of wine'
But it was none of them.
Minerva swallowed quickly, trying to step back.
"What...?" She asked in a breathless whisper.
Her thoughts scattered.
It felt like torture, and she knew he knew that.
He stood in front of her finally, his arms brushing against hers.
He was very close.
She swallowed again, her mind telling her to run away, but Minerva was never one to listen.
His eyes searched her face, tracing her features slowly. Her cheeks warmed, a smile breaking out on her lips, and he smiled back, gazing at her with intensity.
For a second, his gaze flickered to her lips, and then back to her eyes.
"You shouldn't be out here alone." He said quietly, his voice low. "Maybe you should go."
"No." She replied, her hand stretching out to hold his before he could move away.
"You don't have..." But the rest of the words got buried as he leaned in, and she stood on her toes despite her heels.
He kissed her slowly first, her eyes widening, and then closing as he deepened it. She knew nothing of such, but the excess wine In her system made it easier for her.
She felt his hands behind her back, steadying her, as she held onto the fabric of his clothes.
It was the last thing she remembered.
Minerva felt horrible pain, her head aching as she tried to move. Her lips were dry, her breath coming out in steam.
"Water." She croaked, her hand reaching for her throat.
She felt something heavy and cold against her skin, restraining her hands and feet. Her eyes flew open to see that both her hands and feet were cuffed with heavy metal, and chained to a wall.
Where was she?