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Esther stumbled dizzily, losing her grip on the glass which shattered noisily on the ground. She believed she would hit the cold marble floor too, but an arm encircled her waist, securing her from the fall. She tried to speak, to thank him, but her senses were engulfed in darkness. As the sounds of the masquerade muffle into a whirlwind of whispers and gasps, a familiar voice had called out her name, his voice sending goosebumps crawling over her skin. With her last memory being the embrace of the strange man, Esther’s eyes fall close, finally succumbing to the faintness.
When her consciousness returned, it was the honeyed sound of a woman’s voice. The air was brimming with her beautiful singing and the string quartet in the background. Esther blinked, opening her eyes to find herself on a sofa, a small crowd gathered around her.
As she stirred awake, the singing stopped, beside her stood a woman with an aura of power, her eyes wild and free. “Hi”, the mysterious woman spoke, a guilty smile tugging at the edges of her lips. Startled, Esther sat up, eyes traversing the crowd as she tried to recollect her thoughts. She couldn’t help but feel a lingering sense of fear and embarrassment, an unease gnawing at her when she met their gazes. Inhaling deeply, Esther sprang up from the sofa, looking at the ethereal girl with a defeated smile. “Thank you”, she whispered, her voice frail. As her surroundings came into focus, Esther hastily took to the exit, the ball now a distant hum.
She quickened her pace, determined to find respite if only for a brief moment. As she stepped out into the balcony, the cool night air rushed over her, drying the tears that welled up in her eyes. A silence stretched over the railing and into the deep water below, the breeze thick with the scent of perfume. For a moment, she took a few breaths, trying to steady her nerves and regain her composure. She began to feel a semblance of calm, finally turning around to find herself wandering the grand hallways of Ninth House.
The effects of the poison appeared to grow faint, the sweet taste on her lips evanescing. Esther exhaled sharply, forcing a smile, a technique she used to make her feel better from time to timel. She found her thoughts drifting back to the familiar man and the realization that he had recognized her, while she remained oblivious to his identity. It was an unnerving truth, but only heightened her curiosity. Her thoughts would be interrupted however, as soon Esther would slowly come to the realization that she was hopelessly lost in a dim hallway.
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@raviola - Desdemona
@idiot.exe - Atlas