IMPRESS.

[Credit to the YouTube channel for the cover up top: IAmDSharp - don't know him personally but he is super talented!!]

.

.

Chapter Forty-Four: Masquerade Ball Part 3.

--

"No," I breathed out coldly, "I am not walking anywhere with you."

He brushed past me and I watched as he turned around in the light that was reflecting from the silver and blue star decorations.

Zac's entrancing brown eyes sparkled as they raked my body, immediately raising the anxiety inside of me and turning my knees to jelly.

I took a deep breath, trying hard to take in his impeccable appearance without my mouth-watering...

He had my heart skipping beats with his fine velvet, night blue suit jacket and the black bow tie tied around the neck of his white, crisp shirt that was tucked into his black, high-waist breeches.

Those smart high boots that matched his black but silver embroidered, fancy masquerade eye mask had me staring forever. What completed his look was his dark hair that was smoothly combed over and appeared glossy in the light.

I cleared my throat, snapping my head back up when I realised we were both admiring each other, "you can't possibly still be mad at me for how our date ended?"

"You might want to rephrase that question completely, Zac, or just get rid of it actually. How can I not be mad? You killed that violinist just to prove a point... It was so uncalled for!" I rose my voice, already becoming frustrated with his constant agggggh.

Zac stepped towards me bearing in mind that people who were on the floor of the ballroom were looking up at the balcony, just to eavesdrop on what was going on.

His icy touch to my cheek made me flinch and the smirk that had grown on his face made me my nostrils flare and my ears heat up. "You are only angry because you liked what you saw. The blood dripping from my lips, the murder in my eyes and what you felt, the sparks that flew when I pushed you up against that tree and-"

My hand flew up to his mouth and I widened my eyes before indicating down to the ballroom floor where the eyes of many guests were interestedly staring at us.

"Look! Everyone is listening now..." I said through my teeth with a strained and nervous smile.

Zac pulled my hand from his mouth stifling laughter, "you should have just walked with me then, instead of making a big scene about it."

I tilted my head at him and with an unimpressed scowl I folded my arms.

He sighed loudly after realising just how annoyed I was becoming before slowly turning his head around to the guests who were gaping at us and sending them a deadly glare.

As soon as the prince's eyes landed on the guests, their eyes immediately averted elsewhere and their bodies shuffling around in panic that he caught them eavesdropping.

I rolled my eyes and then showed my gratitude for his selfless action through a faint smile, "thank you, just for that, I will walk with you."

Zac was eager to speak to me and once I agreed to walk with him, a satisfied grin broke out on his face at the same time his hand came out in front of my right hand that hung at my side.

I couldn't be bothered picking a fight with him right now so after quietly exhaling, I planted my hand in his and allowed his fingers to instantly intertwine with mine.

Now, my hearing isn't the best but I could have sworn that I had heard staticky noises sound from our hands connecting - as if to say the skin to skin contact between me and him was sparking real electricity.

My hand flinched from the shock and my stomach had a moment of nausea before I completely fell into relaxation and security as the prince led me down to the floor.

"You felt that too, didn't you?" Zac whispered into my ear and I choked at how close his lips were to my skin.

When I went to move away, he aggressively tugged me back to his side.

I quickly shook my head, panicking and trying my best not to show the major effect he had on my body, "I don't know what you are talking about," I lied.

His chest vibrated against my shoulder and he moved away from my ear so that I could only hear his laughter at a distance, "lying doesn't suit you, Natalya. I may not be able to read you. But, I have known you long enough to know when you are lying."

Well, I have been lying the whole time about who my abilities and family's history, so clearly he doesn't know me well enough.

"Why am I walking with you?" My chest rose as I tried to confidently step down the black stairs, with the help of Zac who was carefully leading me down to the floor.

I smoothly changed the subject, looking down at Zac's piercing brown eyes staring up at me in awe from the bottom of the stairs on the ballroom floor. I have to admit this was like dreams I would have when I was younger - walking down some stairs after making a grand entrance in the castle ballroom, it was a little surreal.

For some reason, as soon as Zac's hand momentarily left mine I felt disorientated... as if my balance slowly started disappearing beneath me and my knees were no longer able to keep me on my feet.

And without realising after being too focused on the miraculous scenery around me, I accidently missed the last step of the long stairway down to the floor and tripped.

HOW EMBARRASSING RIGHT?

I almost face planted.

Keyword being almost...

But, as soon as my body lunged forward and as soon as my feet left the black marble stairs, my body was caught in the muscular arms of another.

The muscular arms of Prince Zachary.

Heat rose to my cheeks, making me appear to be blushing as I sighed in relief staring back up into the same piercing brown eyes as before.

"Are you falling for me, Natalya?" Zac had the biggest smug look in history, a solid smirk of pure gold was on his face as he arched his eyebrow.

One arm of mine was around his neck and the other one dangled down, "um I- no- what- hell no!"

I jumped up and pushed myself away from him, snapping my head around so that the eyes that had landed on us again would look away. And my wish was granted.

"For your sake, I will forget that you just fell for me," Zac humoured and I groaned but nodded anyway, "thanks, I would appreciate that. Now, back to the reason of why we were walking together?"

He stuck his arm out this time so I could decide whether to hold onto it or not. Although I really didn't want to, I also didn't want to relive what just happened a minute ago so I didn't take any chances and held onto his arm like my life depended on it.

"I just wanted to tell you that if Preston tries to declare his love for you after one conversation, just remember that whatever comes out of his mouth is lies. Your job is to sway him to our side and make him believe you'll be his if so," Zac notified me.

I hummed, "make him believe I will be his? Wow, okay. So we are going to lie to a powerful King who could kill us all with his scary shadow magic?"

"Not lie, more like negotiate... In a different way," Zac tried to sugarcoat it but it was useless because I fully understood what he meant, and I see why Preston wanted to keep his options open because he knew that one side could possibly mess him up in the end.

I nodded, "okay. I won't fall in love with the shadow king if that's what you are afraid of and I will try my hardest to get him on your side."

We stopped walking when we saw Xavier, Chris, Terrence, Douglas, Aaron and Dario standing with Xander and Cathryn in the near the exit of the ballroom, dressed smartly with wine glasses between their fingers and masks in their other hands.

"Thank you for doing this, after all the shit I have put you through you have a right to be mad at me and I shouldn't force you into forgiving me. But, before I leave you, I just want you to be careful with Preston. He isn't like us Astenians, his from a completely different Kingdom that has evil morals and I don't know what runs in his mind. So, just be-"

"-careful. Yes, it's okay Zac I know what I'm doing. And at least you know that nothing can happen between us, you know that I can't ever be alright with what you did to me ever... But, nevermind that, you haven't a thing to worry about," I assured him after receiving a broken smile at the cold impact of my words.

All he did was sigh and nod, before gripping the sides of my head and pressing his lips to my forehead. "I know you'll be okay, after all, you always are."

I won't lie, his words were affecting me, every part of me. My heart was tearing at how sincere he was being, my mind was swirling and even though I hated to admit it, I wanted to hold him and just- ... I just wanted his arms around me, embracing me for a moment. Well, only until I snapped back to reality.

After he freed my head from his hands, I dismissively nodded pursing my lips and sent him a small wave and smile as he walked away.

He approached his siblings and friends nearby the exit of the ballroom and left me wandering around the floor on my own, swaying to the orchestra and waiting for Mr Shadow King to arrive.

I don't realise where my swaying hips are taking me until I find myself at food buffet, my mask covering my hungry eyes that were too busy eyeballing the precious prawns in the corner sprinkled with differing herbs and spices.

"Don't mind if I do..."

My hand goes for the reach, only for it to stop abruptly inches away from prawns as the ballrooms lights suddenly blow out.

What the-

Cathryn's POV~

"She is truly remarkable," Xander sighed out after taking a bitter sip of fresh blood, his eyes focused across from the balcony to the floor where Natalya elegantly swayed.

Xander wore a mask like mine, black and silver with an elastic band to keep it secure over our eyes.

I smiled at his statement seeing no point for a bigger response from me when all the other guys lustfully groaned in agreement when checking Natalya out from a distance. Xavier being the loudest.

"Stop acting like perverts you freaks," I scolded with a fake disturbed look on my face that morphed into an amused smirk when my eyes landed on my brother Zac, who was approaching us.

My hand went to his cheek and I tapped it three times before laughing out, "you are totally whipped."

The smirk he had on his slowly faded when Xander, Chris, Xavier and the other boys began to tease him and poke at his cheek.

"I'm not whipped," Zac grumbled, his eyes sparking with fury.

I rolled my eyes at his short temper, "oh yeah sure, then why are you so on edge with Natalya having to get friendly with the Shadow King?"

Xander put his arm around his brother's and jokingly said, "I hope you aren't hiding your feelings for my sake Zac, you of all people would know not to do that because of me."

"I'm not hiding anything," Zac snapped.

And as if this moment had been timed, as soon as my brother's voice that was risen in anger had sounded...

The lights blew out.

And, darkness flooded the ballroom.

The light coming from the moonlight shining through the tall windows surrounding mainly one wall of the ballroom.

"It must be him," I heard Zac mumble as he referring to the Shadow King and making us aware of what was occurring.

"Preston?" Terrence questioned on our behalf, he too waiting for confirmation.

Zac didn't get an opportunity to answer the question, because as soon as I heard his lips part... a chilling breeze spiralled in the darkness, prickling past my skin like a dozen thorns.

I shivered and jumped back and out of the way of the haunting wind.

Suddenly within the darkness was a flicker of light, light that wasn't so much angelic and light-hearted but, awfully dark and demonic.

There, central to the ballroom floor right in front of the orchestra, was a dark blue light forming from black smoke that swirled in a twister.

My mouth was ajar as I watched, fascinated by the grand entrance that we assumed was of King Preston Of the Shadowlands.

I slowly turned to my side to face Zac with a look of worry, only to find he had disappeared.

Disappeared and gone back to protectively stand by Natalya who was already being guarded by Derek near the ballroom buffet.

He really does love her, otherwise, he wouldn't have rushed off to her side as soon as he realised something potentially dangerous was happening.

Turning back to the centre of the ballroom, my eyes watched the black smoke rise up to the chandeliers and light them up with ink, dripping black and blue flames that surprisingly, made the ballroom far more enchanting.

What was left from the diminishing smoke were three tall shadows that sent people frantically backing up. I slowly followed the outlines of the shadows until my eyes landed on three pairs of feet.

My heartfelt constricted the moment I met the foreign faces of three dashing and delightfully appetising men.

Oh.

My.

If I-

- If I knew the men in the Shadowlands were this sexy I would've moved there a long time ago. Forget about being a princess.

"Hello, fellow rich people," the dark-eyed and ink-haired beauty wearing a black mask around his eyes like the mask of Zorro, who I assumed to be the leader of the three said with a daring smirk.

He purposely turned on his feet clumsily, giving everyone intense eye-contact before his eyes landed on my small but priceless crown.

My heart went into overdrive when his eye closed and re-opened again. A grin growing on his face as he ripped his eyes away from the balcony and averted them down where Zac stood in front of Natalya.

Did the Shadow King just wink at me? And did I like it? Hell yeah, I did. I mean, I know he is dangerous but damn is he hot.

King Preston took two daunting steps towards Zac who held his own and kept his facial expression as strong and impassive as ever.

I smiled seeing Zac's hand intertwined with Natalya's, whilst he blocked her from the potentially dangerous King in our presence.

Everyone was just watching the moment taking place in front of us, unable to believe he who had been said to be the worst ruler alive walking on Astenian ground.

When we thought King Preston was going to speak, he bowed his head at Zac first and took everyone by even more surprise than we were already in. "Prince Zachary, I see no sign of the King and Queen so I guess this negotiation is between you and me."

Zac squinted his eyes at Preston, debating whether to walk forward and shake hands with the shadow creature or not.

Watching his shoulders relax, Zac freed Natalya's hand from his and met Preston near the centre of the ballroom, standing directly in front of him.

I could see Natalya behind Zac anticipating something to happen like the rest of us were.

"King Preston, glad you arrived without any problems, I hope. It's an honour to meet the man of the Shadowlands in flesh. And yes, I am taking the place of my father tonight, he insists," Zac formally greeted, his hand extended out to Preston.

It didn't take a second for Preston to shake Zac's hand firmly. "Well, I must say. It's an honour for me too, to meet the most famous prince of all the Kingdoms... These are my two ruling brothers, Kai and Blake."

Zac nodded at the attractive, dark red head standing behind Preston on the right of their triangle formation and then at the left dark-haired male with the sexiest jaw structure I'd ever seen.

"Prince Zac," Kai said respectfully bowing his head at the time as Blake.

"Nice to meet you gentlemen, hope we can all come to a reasonable agreement tonight and I hope you make yourself at home, tonight we treat you as special guests," Zac motioned to the rest of the crowds surrounding the scene.

I released the railing I had been using for support and nudged Xander, indicating that he follow me down to where Zac and the three shadow men stood.

The six boys eyed our movement down the stairs of the balcony as did everyone else in the ballroom. I halted in my steps when everyone's attention drifted off to the ballroom doors seconds later.

Averting my eyes to the doors, I saw three incredibly dressed girls walk in, the IMPRESS girls. All wearing gorgeous gowns of different colours. Rose, white. Ella, dark green and Cassandra, purple.

They all looked beautiful but not as stunning as Natalya did.

Each girl forwarded to the railing where myself and Xander once stood, attempting to get a look at what had everyone quiet, interested and concentrated. Ella's face morphed into one of shock, Cassandra into one of surprise and Rose into one of amazement at the sight of the shadow beings amongst us.

I hurried down the stairs and caught up with Xander before he reached Preston, Blake, Kai and our brother.

"Alexander, half-brother to the prince," Xander shook the leader's hand and bobbed his head at the other two whilst I- I could not help myself, whatsoever.

A flirtatious smile crept onto my face, "Princess Cathryn, the sister of these two goons, nice to meet you. All," I emphasised with the biggest grin when Preston lifted the back of my hand to his plump lips.

Blake happily skipped forward with a flirtatious smile of his own and leant his face to mine before planting his lips against the skin of my tinted cheeks.

Kai bumped his 'brother' out of the way and kissed my knuckles twice as much as Preston had. "Nice to meet you too, Princess."

I giggled like a 7-year-old only to be pulled back by both wrists by my brothers. "My apologies, my sister has issues keeping her shit together," Zac rolled his eyes at me and I dropped my mouth open, taking full offence.

"Excuse me?" I furiously blinked at my brother but he merely ignored me.

Preston, Blake and Kai laughed lowly, "my brothers have the same issues, don't worry about it. But anyway... About the girl?" Preston queried.

Natalya, he was referring to her. The deal my brother and father had made with him.

I clocked Zac's fists balling up at his sides, his knuckles turning whiter as he hummed with uncertainty. Oh no, he doesn't want to do it but he knows he has to. Natalya has to win Preston's heart in order for him to side with us in the great war ahead.

I briefly shared eye-contact with Natalya who was innocently standing at the buffet table with a spiced prawn halfway to her mouth. With an amused smile I shook my head at her inappropriate time for feast and funnily, she just sheepishly smiled back.

"The girl?" Zac played dumb, trying to shield Natalya from Preston's view.

Preston and his brothers shared a look before laughing at my brother, a mocking laugh, "the girl you described as undeniably sexy, young and human," the scary smirk growing on his face as he said human made me shiver.

Why did he say it in that way?

"Oh. That girl. Of course..." My brother said through gritted teeth, "Natalya Ascelyn, is the girl you are referring to," he forced his feet to move beneath him and out of the way of Preston eye-view of Natalya.

The entire ballroom was silent, the only sound coming from the harmonious violins and bass cellos as Preston's eyes glimmered with so much light at his first look of the golden girl.

Somewhere in the silence of the hall and beneath the orchestra was the sound of sparks igniting, not just sparks but full on fireworks spraying every area of the air as the