“The party went without a cinch. 

There were so many cuisines and lanterns, it was very joyous. 

If only you were here to witness it...brother

-from ‘CLASSIFIED’ Princess Sib ylla of Endro

                                                                                    [AN HOUR AGO]

Walk. Smile. Talk. Walk Smile. TALK. 

Anastasia--well, 'Elena' now.-- weaved through the extravagant masses with her dark sea gown trailing after her. With a brief flick of her eyes, she could instantly identify all the candidates in the gala from the files Apostles gave. 

Despite their ordinary origins, it was very clear tonight they were going all out. Everyone decked themselves in golden ornaments and formal wears, boasting of wealth but what Elena loathed was their eyes. 

Not even a single pair had kindness within, each was a dagger; excruciatingly piercing by plunging into anyone until their fears were on display. 

Tonight was not a ‘treat’, it was a hunt. 

Elena quietly sipped her mango juice, observing from the edges of the crowd. Prattling away with Aquamarine was one situation, chatting away with strangers?

Absolutely not. 

It was an intriguing phobia given her line of work, but with forced retirement from the field as well as the bubble of solitude she constructed, it only cemented itself in her fluttering heart. 

Elena grit her teeth, her grip nearly shattering the fragile glass.

What am I thinking? 

Taking time to collect herself, she tried straightening her figure. 

Smile. Talk. Laugh. Can’t be THAT hard.

She glanced at the groups around her, deciding which would be simplest to merge into. However, fate seemed to have made up its mind long before her own. 

“Pardon me Madame, mayhaps you are in need of some company?” 

A smooth voice collided into her train of thought as she whirled clockwise. A lean,  ivory toned man stood in front, his hair parted by wispy curtains  shaping his contours with his hair braided until his waist. One side was a blend of red and browns whilst the other was black and snow streaked. 

His eyes were in a similar patter under long lashes, his right being sea green whilst the other a modest blue. His attire was perhaps the only thing that was not dual coloured being a dark red trench coat with a black suit underneath.

Chaotic yet striking.  

He laughed breezily at her silence. 

“I apologise for taking you by surprise. I simply saw such a gem left in the dark and thought it wise to bring it into the light.” 

He closed his eyes miming a dramatic faint as he gestured to the crowd.

“No one can keep up with all the drawl out there, I swear I was about to collapse!” 

He winked at her before extending his arm. 

“If it’s not too late for pleasantries, do permit me to introduce myself. My name is-” 

“Mahan Victaros.” Elena’s mind supplied yet at the slight raise of his eyebrow did she realise it was voiced. She sputtered, trying and failing miserably to cover up. 

“I-I-well-” 

“How do you know who I am?” 

The flirtatious attitude dispersed as his eyes now bore slight suspicion. Elena smiled shyly as her first attempt at socialising went bust. 

…shit. 

But she could not answer as screams echoed from the gathering, with people dashing to the gates. On instinct, she ran to the origin of the disturbance and was stunned at the sight.

“You bloody IMBECILES!” 

It was going so well for Ray, immensely well  for his first interaction with humans. He even managed to crack the hideous jokes Cy supplied, which suprisingly made them laugh as they drank away before switching to another mundane topic. 

For an hour, he continued this charade as if on autopilot. The natural way in which this act came to life stunned Ray and Cy alike, but there was no complaint. Afterall, the more solid their ‘humanity’ was, the better. 

Deciding to take a breather, Ray strode along the perimeter of the hall, watching the flickering night lights whilst chatting to Cy. 

Cy: You really should go out often! You’re practically a pro at this!

Does that mean you thought otherwise beforehand? Ray teased. 

Cy: Mhmm…I did consider deeming you as a typical ‘emo’, gritty persona-

Can you shut with the slang? It’s driving me up the wall!

Cy: That’s the point. HEHEHE  >:)

Oh for goodness sake.

He rolled his eyes at the atrocity in his head, opting to ignore Cy’s panels as he painted the city lights and frosty air into his memory. 

I could live with this. 

He shut his eyes for a moment, allowing tranquility to wash over him.  It was brought to a standstill however at a soft cluttering noise nearby. Ray furrowed his brow, glancing at the crowd bathed in golden glows inside the hall. 

None of them heard it. 

Cy: Well it is quite loud inside so- Wait-wait-STOP! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

Ray was already closing the distance, his senses on high alert as he approached noiselessly to see two humans. The woman was backed against the railing while the man continued to corner her further.

The man sneered at her whispering something but reeled back as she punched him straight in the face. He held his bleeding nose in his hands as he screamed. 

“You rotten wretch!” 

Ray focused on the man’s raised arm as it aimed. Oblivious as his own eyes went bloodshot. In a split second he was back in his isolated cell before reality crashed through.

Cy: DON’T JEOPORDISE US. 

That piece of-.

Cy: Do not-RAY! WAIT!

Cy’s cry was too late as Ray held the man’s elbow before yanking it over his body sending him sprawling to the stone floor. Stunned eyes met the ones of crazed amber. All the while, Ray’s face was passive whilst he spoke.  

“I’m fairly sure that is not how you court a lady, yes?” 

He forced his voice to even itself and turned to the woman behind him. Ray gasped, halting his actions as he finally took in her face and reared at her lavender eyes behind her spectacles. 

 Have I…seen you…?

But another question was voiced instead. 

“Are you okay?” 

The woman blinked owlishly before nodding. 

“Quite fine.” 

“Are you sure?” He asked again, with a pointed stare at the red swell on her cheek.

“I assure you this is-Behind you!” 

Ray glanced and dodged the drunken blow swiftly, but more followed suit. 

“Face me if you got the nerve boy!” The man snarled as Ray avoided yet another blow. Throughout the conflict, he could not resist belittling the frail human, dabbling with sarcasm once more. 

“I would if you could aim properly.” 

Cy:  Can we try NOT to anger him further?

True to Cy’s judgement, the man’s eyes went red as he charged at full force. 

Suddenly, they met at an even stance when the man jeered at him. 

“Aint you a pious soul? Truly a knight in shining armour rushing for the little doe-eyed princess-” 

“Excuse me?!” The woman and Ray exclaimed in outrage.

Simultaneously, he was punched in the gut with a kick landing on his side, throwing him from the outskirts as he rolled into gala. 

Ray slowly turned towards the woman, whose lavender eyes now resembled lightning. He followed behind as she strode into the light, barely glancing at the scandalised crowd.  

His eyes glared at the duo, eyelids starting to swell furiously. 

“You bloody IMBECILES!” 

The woman kicked his face swiftly before turning to Ray with a smile, ignoring the choruses of terror.

“Your turn.”

“With pleasure.” 

Cy: There goes our obscurity.

Ray unleashed his crazed smile as it went off kilter, his bloodied knuckles raised once more whilst the woman grinned from ear-to-ear next to him. Yet. Before he could move, another shadow ran from the corner of his vision. 

He bent back,  missing a swift punch to his face, before crouching down to knock his opponent off their feet. However, they anticipated the move, stepping back smoothly before interlocking in battle with Ray. 

The man’s eyes were blue and green with fangs on full display. What was once an immaculate hairstyle, now laid cluttered as his dual coloured bangs splayed all over his face. A kick to the stomach had both men spaced out once more. 

“Someone had a lot to drink, hm?”  

“To me, it looks rather like someone who cannot mind his own business.” Ray retorted, smiling at Cy’s addition. 

“Nosy and oblivious. Truly, a wonderful combination. Such intelligence, I’m sure.” 

Ray grinned as the man’s carefree attitude fell like a light switch flicked off. 

“At least I’m not harassing a man with my girlfriend.” 

The response was met with stunned silence from both parties.

Cy: How the heck is that his first conclusion? You know what, screw it- punch his face.

Oh, so NOW violence is okay?

Before Ray’s rebuttal could grace his lips, he felt the hairs on his neck rise in a rapid chill. He ducked instantly as a streak of glass hurled itself at the dual-eyed man, who barely missed one brutally punctured socket.

Ray glimpsed at the woman behind, her gloved fingertips now tainted red from the sharpness of the shard. Her face was devoid of emotion as she stared down both men. She was about to take aim once more if it were not for the hand that grabbed hers. 

Cy: Oh great! More entertainment. Can I start recording? 

This time, another woman stepped up, her grip unwavering along with her deep-sea gown which remained pristine as ever. For a second, she held the gaze of a soldier; battleready with her stance secured. Howevr, in the same second, she faltered as her eyes shot wide in surprise.

“I-I did not-um-sorry?-”

Violet eyes dilated further as blood rushed through the woman’s ears. 

“Get. Your. Hand. Off. Me.” The words were uttered with complete finality but the stuttering woman never followed the order. Instead, she swallowed before schooling herself again. 

“Sorry, but that is a no.” 

“Fine.” 

High heels landed straight on shoulderblades as the two engaged in fierce combat, albeit the ravenette seemed to be interested in running, contrasting the woman pitted against her. 

Meanwhile, Ray noticed the bruised human on the ground inching towards a knife.

Tsk. Nuisance.

 In a split second, leather shoes cracked his spine producing a cacophony of undiluted agony. 

“I told you to not try anything.” 

He pressed deeper, eliciting higher pitched shrieks that were cut short as Ray was wrestled to the floor. 

Bloody piece of-

He grit his teeth as he could feel his windpipe crack from the chokehold. Feral eyes now stared upon him as the line between reality and memory blurred rapidly. Glimpses of neon greens, ominous chambers and blinding lights flooded his vision whilst muffled whispers enveloped him as if he was underwater.

Completely shocking!

Defies every law of nature-

Restrain them!

It is going to be okay! Look at me-

I’m sorry…

NO STOP!

“Get…GET OFF ME!” Ray screamed as he kneed the man in his abdomen and switched their positions. Blows landed one after the other non-stop as Ray struggled to breach from the sea of nightmares now consuming him. Even Cy’s protests did not pierce the horror until last minute.

Cy: Ray! Ray, c’mon now-STOP!

A blow to the back of his neck jolted him awake as hands forced Ray away from the crumpled man and pinned him against the freezing marble. 

A soft click was what halted his struggle as a gun aimed straight at his forehead, leading to an extremely ticked senior officer. 

One look was all he spared for the entire scene, before turning to each of them in turn.

“You morons better have a bloody good explanation.”