Masquerade

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A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.


Sitting in a wooden chair, she held her hands to her eyes. The tears kept coming as she sat a little hunched over. She made her hands tremble. Her ears picked up the sound of the door closing and locking. Despite her show of despair, her mind couldn't help but wonder if she would ever get past that locked door with the supposed mage in tow.


Wood creaked under footsteps. Hands soon greeted hers, pulling them gently from her face. The male crouched in front of her and sent a reassuring smile. He continued to hold onto her hands as his thumbs worked soothing circles into her skin. "Now, no one's going to harm you here. I want you to calm down and tell me who's coming after you."


Looking into his bright green eyes, she noticed that they only displayed kindness. If she didn't have a husband and hadn't known about his darker hobbies, she probably would've melted into his arms. She kept up her terror, however. (F/n) pulled her hands back from his timidly and curled up more on the chair. Frankly, it felt like he was assessing how well her skin would cook when he touched her skin. It only helped to fuel the inner fear within her.


She let out another sob before she took a deep breath and exhaled. "M-my h-husband, h-he thinks th-that I che-cheated on h-him. He-he's fur-furious and told m-me that h-he's goi-going to k-kill me." Her body shook more as the man stood back up and took a seat across from her.


"You look thoroughly exhausted. How long have you been running?"


Not meeting his gaze once more, she made a nervous glance to the window and door. When she turned back to him, he gave her a reassuring smile to continue on. She returned the gesture with a meek nod. "A f-few days, I man-managed to ge-get away on the fir-first and se-cond days, but h-he ca-caught up to m-me to-today. I s-stole his k-knife and f-fought him off but n-not be-before he had ad-administered th-these." (F/n) pointed to the various cuts on her. Only fear reigned in her eyes when she glanced upon them.


"And, do you think that he follows you still?"


Her body froze before she tightly wrapped her arms around her knees. "I h-hope n-not. I kn-knocked him out w-with his k-knife b-before plu-plunging it in h-his l-left sh-shoulder. I'm n-not s-sure if he's st-still alive, b-but I didn't w-wish to chance i-it. So, I con-continued to run. When I s-saw you-your h-home, I cou-couldn't he-help but c-cry ou-out for a-aid. I'm s-so ter-terrified."


Footsteps sounded once more. He held out his left hand. "Come on. Let's get you cleaned up. You can tell me the rest once you've settled down."


What he said sounded so close to what Tarhuinn had told her earlier that morning. They were both gentle in their words, but she could tell that Tarhuinn was being genuine. This man, she could only guess that he was trying to spin the art of manipulation around her. She met his gaze with a fearful and doubtful one.


"Trust me. I'm not going to hurt you. I just wish to help." He continued to hold his hand out. She gave him another questioning gaze before she hesitantly reached out and took his hand. (F/n) moved her feet off of the chair and back onto the ground. With a smile, he lifted her up and onto her feet.


His hand intertwined more tightly with hers. She figured that he meant it to be a calming gesture, but it felt different from Tarhuinn's grip. Despite him trying to be kind, she could decipher that there was something more sinister to his hold. They walked into his bedroom before he sat her down on the plush bed. It seemed like a new set of sheets had been laid upon it. Besides the bed, she noted that there was only an armoire and a writing desk with a matching chair in the room.


He headed over to the desk and pulled out a red hair tie. The male tied up his shoulder length golden blonde locks before he sat beside her. Without warning, he reached for her left arm and started to tear at the fabric. Instantly, she pulled her arm back, but she winced in the process. She scooted farther away from him on the bed.


"I was just trying to get at your wounds better. If I tear the fabric, that will allow me to do so." In response, she shook her head. A sigh escaped his lips. "Then, at least let me see your arm. The cuts on you need to be healed, or they could get infected." Cautiously, she gave him her arm. He pressed his hands to the wound before a pale red light emitted from them.


This man was indeed a mage. She could already feel the magic working its way around the cut and healing it. Despite her relief at him being one, she only appeared shocked. "You're, you're a mage!" she exclaimed, eyes widening as they glanced between him and her arm. An amused chuckle left his lips.


"Yes, I am. This is why you have nothing to fear if your husband finds you here. He won't be able to do a thing against me." He moved onto her next wound. "And, you're welcome to stay here until you feel safe enough to leave. I can't possibly send you back out there when such a man is on the loose."


As he was about to take up her next arm, she tugged it back. Distrust shadowed her gaze as she looked like she had just gained her courage back. She wiped at a few remaining tears while a frown fell upon her lips. "That's kind of you to say, but we're both strangers to the other. How could you let me stay here? And, how could I trust you not to try something? My husband told me things about your kind. That you trick people and use them to your own benefit."


"And, you would believe a man who doesn't trust your own word? Based on what you've told me about this man so far, he seems to be the untrustworthy one. He's the one causing you pain, not me. I'm just trying to help you. Some mages can be rather fowl, but not all of us are. Please, let me aid you."


Another suspicious gaze coated her eyes. She broke the stare soon after, looking down to her lap. "I suppose that you're right. He's a rather awful man after all." He reached over and grabbed her other arm to tend to the wounds. (F/n) didn't give protest this time. Of course, she wished to dash out of the home, but she forced herself to allow him to put his hands on her. The two of them remained silent after that exchange.


Shyly, she observed his actions and inspected his features. His facial structure portrayed him in a soft light as though he were meant to always laugh. It gave him a friendly air, but his sharp, bright green eyes contradicted that look some. The well groomed eyebrows above his keen eyes only strengthened that side. As for his shoulders, they weren't as broad as Tarhuinn's, but they complimented his overall form. In some respects, it wasn't hard to see how this male could charm women and bring them back to his home.


"And, finished," he remarked before he moved away from her. He stood up from the bed and walked over to the armoire. "I'm sure that you wouldn't mind a change of clothes. Yours are quite ruined after all." When he didn't at first receive an answer, he looked over his left shoulder to her.


She had her hands tightly clenching her pants. (F/n) met his stare before she peered over to the item of furniture. Regardless of the condition of her clothes, she didn't wish to wear anything from him. For this task, however, she acted hesitant, especially when he opened the wardrobe to reveal a few dresses. They were probably from his past victims. "And, why do you have women's clothing?" she asked, concern written all over her countenance.


"Ah, this must look quite mistrustful, but these are my sister's. She comes over for a visit once in awhile. So, she left some clothes of hers with me so that she could reduce her packing."


Distrust remained on her face. Some of those dresses were rather revealing. If her life weren't on the line, she would've commented on that fact. "And, she'll be fine with me wearing one of her dresses? You're already offering me a place to stay. I think that's enough kindness ..."


Catching onto her pause, he smiled a little. "It's Willem. Please, just call me Will for short. And, it'll be fine. She's an understanding individual. I'm sure that she won't mind. You can go ahead and change. I'll be by the fireplace waiting for you with some tea."


"Thank you, then," she muttered, intertwining her fingers and looking down to her lap. As he walked by, he placed a hand comfortingly over her hands. He squeezed them a little before he left the room and closed the door behind him. With him gone, she let out a breath before she stood to her feet.


All of the dresses were floor length as they normally were. She had become accustomed to the ankle length ones back in their home, though. They allowed much better maneuverability. One of the bothering things, however, was the corseted tops that looked to be quite low. There were undershirts to go with the dresses, but they were off shoulder and did little to offset the low cut of the corsets. Not only that but also the cotton fabric of the skirts was made to be quite thin. It wouldn't surprise her if one of the dresses was partially see-through.


Finding the thickest and most high cut dress, she changed out of her ripped clothes and into the dress of choice. Personally, she wished to remain in her ruined clothes, but she didn't know what would happen if she came out of the room in them. She did keep on her own undershirt, though, which managed to hide her chest well where the other wouldn't have. (F/n) smoothed out the grey-blue skirt before she left the room.

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