The music shifted to softer strings now, threaded with a slow, deliberate percussion and Eli knew exactly what was coming. It was the moment to dance.
Of course, because apparently every event in this forsaken simulation ends with spinning. And this was the perfect time to vanish, she though.
She edged toward the fringe of the lawn, carefully ducking politely around the couples who were already moving to take the floor. She was fully prepared to vanish into the shadows and nurse her freedom in peace. Her plan was simple: skirt the perimeter, smile if absolutely necessary, and disappear behind one of those tall garden walls of grass before anyone thought of dragging her into the spinning.
But just as she turned toward the outer paths,
-THAK-
She got stopped short. Or rather, she collided.
Her forehead crashed against something solid, something hard.
"Ouch...!" she staggered back with a quiet gasp, her one hand flew up to rub at the spot of impact. For one bewildered second, she was convinced she'd walked straight into a wall. A very warm wall. A wall that hadn't been there a moment ago.
A faint, earthy scent of cedar or perhaps smoke curled up into her nose. Slowly, she looked up.
A man much taller than her was standing right in front of her, looking down at her, pinning her with a gaze that held far too much awareness for someone who hadn't just been rammed in the chest by a fleeing lady. He hadn't shifted a muscle from the impact, not even a twitch. As if he had expected her to run straight into him.
"I… I beg your pardon, my lord. I hadn't seen you there." she said, bowing a little as she had learned in her etiquette class, attempting dignity despite the ache blooming at her temple.
It was only then with her nerves still rattled, that she caught the color of his mask, silver, like the one she was dared earlier… but this was no half-mask. This one hid his entire face, giving nothing away. And his body… well, there was no mistaking it. He was built well. Quite well actually, his broad shoulders, chest as strong as a boulder, earlier, had her questioning him for a wall.
"What odd chances," she said in a tone only audible to herself, tilting her head toward his mask. "Running into another silver. Should I start collecting you people like commemorative cups?" she murmured.
He hadn't spoken a single word since they had crashed. That's why, Eli assumed that meant they were fine.
"Permit me to take my leave, my lord."
She said this and angled herself so she could slip past him, fully prepared to fade into the shadows..... only to find him stepping synchronously. He took one long stride that placed himself squarely in her path.
Eli blinked and wondered, if it was perhaps coincidence. She adjusted herself again, and stepped to the other side. Surely, it could be just bad timing. However, he moved again perfectly in sync with her, blocking her movement once more. This time it was no accident.
Really? Is he....is he being serious right now? What is he, a human barricade? What's his problem?
She looked at him with her eyebrows knitted together, her patience fraying, with irritation sparking hot in her chest. She was ready to snap something sharp at him... but before her words could form, he shifted again.
His one arm was now lifted extending outward, his palm were open and waiting towards her, the other one rested with easy confidence at his back. His posture was unnervingly composed. The stance was unmistakably a gesture burned into every ballroom and storybook: it was an invitation to dance.
Didn't he saw me getting away from the dancing area?
She shifted her weight back instinctively, and was ready to excuse herself, step around him and vanish into the crowd like mist. She had perfected the art of disappearance at these events.
But before she could refuse him, the static sound buzzed again.
Zzzkkk...zzzk....
"Zkk...A story must go on, princess," came the voice, which no one could hear from somewhere near the top of a tree. Maddeningly amused, the voice continued. "zkk....And some steps can't be dodged."
"Ha-ha-ha" the voice laughed "… and escape denied!" the voice added cheerfully.
When Eli turned to make her escape, pointedly ignoring the tall masked man standing like an immovable statue in front of her, the edge of her gown betrayed her. Her heel snagged on the trailing hem and suddenly her world tilted.
"Oh, no, no—!" The words tumbled out in a strangled gasp as she flung out her hands for balance, desperate to catch anything before she met the floor.
Instantly, a hand caught her arm breaking her fall and pulling her upwards.
The grip was firm, certain, as if he had already estimated exactly when and where she would fall. The jolt of the catch pulled her upright with startling ease.
"Gasp! " Eli's breath left her chest with the pull.
For a moment, Eli simply stared at the ground blinking through the rush of blood in her ears, she was grateful not to have face-planted into the grass.
"I-I...thank you," she stated with her voice still unsteady from the fall, still looking at the ground.
Even before the sentence could fully escape her lips, his hold shifted on her arm. His fingers loosened only enough to slide down her gloved arm, tracing a deliberate line until his palm met hers.
And just like that, the gesture of their hands changed. Eli's hand now rested neatly in his, her fingers were caught in the shape of compliance, as if she had accepted his offer to dance on her own accord.
This sly wall, she thought registering what had happened.
She blinked looking at him, thrown by the subtlety of it. He hadn't said a word, but the message was clear in the firm yet unyielding curl of his fingers.
Eli, still stubborn tried to tug her hand back once, lightly, testing the waters. Yet he didn't let go her. His grip only tightened, refusing to release her hand as if daring her to pull away again.
He then inclined his head slightly towards the dance floor, as if gesturing an unspoken shall we?.
"Wha.....! He's shameless! Why do I think he's secretly enjoying this?" Eli thought to herself.
She could've said no. No, she should've said no, but it was too late now.
Very well! Only one dance, no more. I'll stay close to the edge, keep it quick and slip away the moment it ends. Yes. Just one dance.
Closing her eyes she took a deep breath and then gave the silvered-masked-shameless-wall a small nod of reluctant compliance, and he guided her toward the floor. But her plan lasted exactly four steps.
Oh lord! This scoundrel. Where he's taking me? she thought as she yanked her face toward the stranger.
He was completely absorbed in guiding Eli to the floor and didn't even registered her frantic tug, unknowingly or perhaps deliberately they were heading straight to the center of the dance floor.
Once they reached the center, the music started. She didn't moved and just stood there as his large hand came to rest at the small of her back, steady and warm. His other hand clasped hers with grip that was firm, as a quiet command that she wasn't allowed to resist.
Eli closed her eyes, possibly out of frustration at the situation, and lowered her gaze to his wall of a chest carefully avoiding his eyes.
Her skin tingled where he touched her. With the wind tugging the loose strand of her hair, and the music floating from the gazebo they began to move.
"Waah… so much for escaping ," she whispered under her breath, barely audible to anyone.
Through the soft silk of her gloves, she could feel the strength in his hands. Broad, calloused and warm. Probably he is a knight, a noble or someone accustomed to commanding a weapon...… and dance, she concluded. Though she had danced only a few times in this story, Eli couldn't help but notice that her partner was a remarkable dancer.
But why was he staring at her like she was a puzzle to be solved?
She wasn't sure how she knew that when her eyes were still fixed on his chest. But she somehow felt it. It wouldn't have been so awkward if he'd just said something, but the man never went to speak a word more. She could have taken the initiative, yet she doubted she'd get a reply.
Right now it had been so long since she'd kept her gaze lowered; she couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes; she never got the chance.
And through it all, his gaze never left her face once. Not even to follow the rhythm, not even to check his footing. Eli, meanwhile, was painfully aware of his intense gaze.