by M J Hutto
“Are you ready to blow this popsicle stand?”
It was already seven and I was excited but tired. These events seemed to suck the energy right out of me, like siphoning my life force. I’d always been a bit more of a solitary person, crowds were overwhelming and tiring. This crowd would be even worse with the local celebrities, politicians, and upper echelon in attendance.
Technically, we both fit into at least one of those boxes but neither of us really did. We preferred to remain on the outskirts of such and remain the outsiders. We would simply be made further aware of this tonight. I didn’t mind being on the outside, I didn’t need for people to attempt to put me in my place. We would guard each other and try to have a good time.
Dorian was really more of a brother to us than a cousin. I always wished he and Jaylin had known each other better, I thought they’d have been a great pair. They loved many of the same things and would keep each other straight on all the others but it wasn’t to be.
“Let’s go,” I said, and he turned on the ignition, TLC singing about no scrubs blaring.
14 Dangerous Liaisons
The Policeman’s Masquerade Ball was being held at City 7’s Museum of Art History in the Ruby Ballroom. Probably why they chose red as one of the colors. Black was always one of the colors since the dress uniforms were black.
I stepped from the Jeep and shook my skirts out. I had fixed my mask in place prior to getting out with help of the visor mirror. Getting out had required dexterity and skill to keep the mask in place and intact. I watched Dorian hand of his keys to a valet, his mask also in place.
I accepted his offered elbow and we walked up the steps to the entrance. I was exceptionally glad I’d worn the low boots instead of high heels. There was a bit of a size difference between us, but we managed. He handed off the invitation and we were announced upon entering, very nineteenth century Ton style. Hopefully, the music would be a little livelier and more current.
The ballroom was decorated beautifully. There was a stage with a band in masquerade attire and playing current songs. The room was done in red, black, and silver. There were tables set up around the perimeter and curtained balconies with glass doors backlit with twinkling soft lights. And, of course, mistletoe above the doors.
I made a mental note to stay away from doors. I doubted anyone would bother with me, but stranger things had been known to happen. I wasn’t having the most typical of weeks so far.
Dorian led us to a table in the corner near an exit and helped me sit. He was just sitting when an older gentleman in uniform walked up. Dorian stood quickly and shook hands with the Police Commissioner. They spoke briefly and Dorian sat back down heavily.
“Everything okay?” I asked, hesitantly.
“I don’t know. I think the grandparents may have tried to buy me a promotion. I’m not sure he won’t take them up on it, either.”
I rolled that information around for a moment before replying. “Maybe he doesn’t need to be there anymore. I heard the chief is thinking about moving into politics?”
“Yeah, I’d hate to lose her as chief of police, but she would at least have a clue and might not be corrupt. It hard to say though, does the job corrupt the person or the person corrupt the job?” He sighed. “Nothing to do about it now. No reason for it to ruin the night.”
“What time is the auction?”
“You’re supposed to be helping me, not bringing up that catastrophe. Not till ten, I think. Maybe they’ll forget,” he was frowning so hard I could feel the frustration coming off him in waves. I didn’t need to see his aura to know he really was upset.
“I thought it was all in good fun. I didn’t know you hated it that much. You want me to win your auction?”
His face softened and he slouched gracefully in the stiff-backed chair. For all the world a carefree young officer. “I appreciate that Kable, but I don’t think it’s going to be doable even if we pool our funds. That damn Camille Davies is here, and she told me last year she’d see me again. She has more money than the federal reserve. She’ll behave, it’s just the endless innuendoes and accidental, on purpose dropping things.”
“She doesn’t put her hands on you, does she?” He shook his head. “I can lock her in the ladies’ room when it’s time to bid if you want. Or I can call mother over and tell her to outbid her. She’d love to one up Camille Davies.”
Karmine slid into the chair beside me in a stunning form fitting, sweetheart neckline red dress and a satiny red mask with roses holding it in place. She looked beautiful and I told her so. She returned the compliment and told Dorian he looked scrumptious.
“Who’s one upping Camille Davies? That biddie deserves some one uppance if ever someone did,” she smirked.
“Mother?” I replied with some hesitation.
“Oh, darling. Mother isn’t coming tonight,” she replied, waving her hand in dismissal. “She and Father decided to sit this one out since they have such a large gathering planned for your birthday celebration. They went to Italy for the next few days. Supposedly to shop for a gift.”
I nearly choked on the champagne I’d just begun sipping. The waiter checked on me and I waved him off.
“They are skipping one of the largest social events of the season to buy a gift. For me. What is really going on?”
“No idea sweets. What did you have planned for Mother to do?”
“She was going to have her outbid Davies for me on the bachelor auction. She’s kind of a lech. I’m a little worried she might get frisky this year. I don’t want to be chased around a room by a saber-toothed cougar. You know?”
Karmine hid a laugh behind her hand. I did not. Dorian pouted at us both. Kent walked up and asked what was funny, so we told him, and he patted Dorian on the shoulder.
“Might not be a problem. Looks like you might have a little competition this year. As it is, Ms. Davies is occupying the time of our new friend Detective Aether. He might have solved your problems without even meaning to.”
We all followed his eyes to a spot on the dance floor with Achlys Aether and Camille Davies in the midst of a slow dance. I hadn’t realized the music had changed but a waltz was playing, and the band must have been on break. They danced beautifully together-he was smooth and sure of his steps, and she appeared quite happy in his arms. I smiled broadly.
“Problem solved. Now you can enjoy the night without having that hanging over your head. Drink a glass of champagne and have some of the lovely food. Make me a plate while you’re up there.”
He laughed at me good-naturedly and went with Kent to peruse the food offerings. I saw them cross the dance floor and the moment when Davies saw him. Her head nearly swiveled off her head. Her swan mask in black matched her draped black dress and feather boa. She was quite striking with her silver hair and runner’s body. She had aged well, unfortunately we had all known her all our lives and Dorian thought of her as motherly, not romantically.
The dance finished and she went straight to Dorian. We could see his shocked and crestfallen expression from across the room. He continued to place goodies on our plates as she followed him around.
“I think I’m going to have to save him,” I said to Karmine, but she was already headed that way to do just that. Maybe I could get Karmine to bid on him. She also had more money than she knew what to do with. Maybe Camille would bid on Aether, he should be one of the first guys up since they went in alphabetical order. Dorian might still be saved.
My handbag was sitting on the table and Thibbs was sitting on it like an ornament if anyone came by. We were alone at the moment, so he was sipping champagne from something he’d pulled from underneath his hat.
“Excuse me ma’am, is this seat taken?”
Detective Hottie himself was standing beside the chair Karmine had recently vacated. I looked around but no one I wanted to be around was nearby. He was dressed in a black tuxedo with a phantom mask. His dark hair curled slightly though it looked like he’d used something to try to tam
e it. He grinned at me.
“I seem to have lost my appeal to the charming Ms. Davies. She took one look at Dorian and dropped me faster than a crack pipe in a trap house during a raid.”
I snorted out an abrupt laugh. “Very colorful. Where’s your dress uniform? Even the chief has one on.”
His smile lost a little shine. “I guess they aren’t sure they are going to keep me. They haven’t given me one yet. So, I broke out the old tux and here I am.”
“And the phantom as well. Very mysterious. Maybe Ms. Davies is worried about what you’re hiding under it.”
“I can assure you, darling,” he drawled, “Ms. Davies is much more worried about what I’m hiding under this tux than what is under the mask. She accidentally brushed me twice before I realized it wasn’t an accident at all. Your cousin may have saved my honor. She was getting very brave, and I think she would have had a handful of my treasure if the song had lasted any longer.”
I couldn’t believe how badly and inappropriately she was behaving. Had none of these guys ever said anything? I was definitely locking her in the ladies’ room when it was time to bid for Dorian and we would be having a discussion about treating people like people. She couldn’t just do whatever she wanted; it was wrong.
“I’m glad to hear your virtue is intact. We’re trying to run interference for Dorian, you need us to watch out for you too?”
He curled his full lips up in a warm smile and nodded, “That would be fabulous. I don’t think I could stand up to the scandal if I were molested on the ballroom floor by a seventy-year-old grandmother.”
I did choke on my drink this time. Luckily, I’d switched to water. He pounded me on my back and my eyes watered. I was laughing when he sat back down.
“Don’t say that to her face unless you want to be clawed to ribbons.”
He frowned. “What, like the whole city doesn’t know how old she is?”
I shook my head and felt the tendrils of loose hair brush my bare shoulders. I smiled up at him as I shivered slightly.
“Not that part. The grandmother part. She is gloriously unattached and has no children or grandchildren she claims. She does NOT like to be called grandmotherly or motherly. She slapped one of the men on the city council so hard for calling her a motherly woman she cracked his tooth.
“I personally think she slid her ring around, the big diamond she always wears, to make it hurt more and it connected with his tooth.”
He looked around me across the room and suddenly grabbed my arm to pull me up out of the chair toward the door. He wasn’t forcing me but begging with his eyes to follow.
I sighed loudly and allowed myself to be pulled along. The balcony led to stairs that descended into a labyrinth maze based off the one in Greek mythology that held a minotaur at its center. This one had a gift shop and ice cream in the center. He continued to pull me towards the labyrinth.
I stopped before we entered. He let go and turned to look at me in askance. I noticed Ms. Davies coming out onto the balcony, shook my head in annoyance, then nodded before shoving him forward and following. That woman was going to get me in more trouble than she was worth. Dorian was going to be pissed at me for deserting him. At least he had Kent and Karmine watching his back too.
“There better not be a minotaur in this damn labyrinth, Aether. Or an old lady won’t be the only thing you’ll be worried about tonight.”
He laughed, “Well you’d have to buy my time. I’m a very busy man and I only have the one night off. So, if you’re going to kick my butt, I’m afraid you’ll have to pay for it first.”
I rolled my eyes so hard it felt like I pulled a muscle. “I think I just pulled a muscle in my eye rolling it so hard at your inanity.”
He stopped walking to turn around. “My what?”
“Inanity, silliness, ridiculousness, insanity, vacuity, senselessness, vacuousness.”
He touched his chest with one hand and pointed at me with the other. The look on his face was one of incredulity. “Madame, are you calling me vapid?”
I started walking again after lifting my skirts slightly, “If the shoe fits buddy. Better catch up. Who the hell knows what they put in this thing for tonight? I wouldn’t be surprised if there are love spell booby traps. Fucking idiots, they’ll do anything for a few bucks. Get em hooked and they’ll pay through the nose,” I muttered the last under my breath.
I stopped abruptly, he did not. I stumbled forward but he caught me before I fell. Around the next corner I saw people. They were in a compromising state. I was pretty sure I recognized one of them, but the other was definitely not her husband. The two ladies were giggling and having quite an interlude. They were also both completely naked.
I held my finger to my lips and pushed him back the other way a little towards the bench situated against the hedge.
“Why don’t we give them just a little bit of time to, um,” I made awkward hand motions toward them. “Uh, finish up instead of barging forward. I think we have a little time before we need to get back. Or we could just go back the way we came. We might have to do that anyway. I can’t remember if there’s a secret exit to this one or not.”
He waved me to the bench. I let him sit first so my dress wouldn’t end up under him.
“You look quite lovely tonight,” he said admiring my boots sticking out from under the dress.
“Yeah, I’m doubly glad I didn’t wear heels since I’m trouncing through the wilderness with a strange man. They make good weapons but poor hiking accoutrements. “
He nodded in agreement. My necklace caught the moonlight and sparkled darkly. It caught his attention, but he glanced away instead of staring.
“That’s beautiful. Is it an heirloom?”
“It was my Babushka’s. It was one of her only possessions she was able to bring with her to this country from her home. They were never forthright with where her home had been. I think it was a whirlwind romance,” I said touching the necklace.
“Actually, I know it was. She was working in a dance hall,” I laughed. “As a dancer and met Granda one day when he came through looking for a guide. The hall was either in Russia or Kazakhstan or China or Mongolia. We were never able to pin them down.”
I glanced up at the stars. “Anyway, they made plans that night for her to leave with him. Two days later they were married and leaving that area, quickly. They moved to the US and never seemed to have looked back.”
He glanced over and away again.
“She brought this necklace,” I said lifting it slightly. “Two books, the clothes on her back and a set of hair combs. She gave the necklace to me and the hair combs to Karmine. Kent got her wedding rings.”
He was smiling softly, and the air was charged with chaos. I could feel the energy tingling against my skin like electricity. The stars were littering the sky and the moon was huge and close enough to touch. I could almost hear the universe singing a love ballad.
We leaned closer and closer, lips nearly touching. His breath was warm and smelled of the champagne he’d drunk. There was no more than a whisper between us. A chill wind blew as if to push us together, but we remained a breath apart. His eyes met mine and I could see the desire to close the space in them. I could also see the knowledge he wouldn’t, it would be up to me if I wanted.
As my lips touched his I felt a solid thunk against my head and our teeth collided. I turned with my hand to my mouth to find Camille Davies standing over me with her purse ready to hit me again. Detective Hottie was moving around me to stand between me and the harpy.
“What the hell lady! You are too old to be acting like this. And while we are at it,” I said standing with arms on hips. “You can’t just go around groping men. That is assault and if I ever hear of you doing it again, I’ll talk to the chief about it.
“Further, you are bidding here to raise money for the police department. These people are donating their time to raise money for a good cause, they are not escorts or sex toys. You can’t treat them lik
e they are. They don’t owe you anything, much less sex!”
She pulled her arm back to swing the purse again. A strong hand stopped her. Detective Hottie put her arm down. “You have to behave better. You have to treat people, yes even men, like humans. You can’t just take what you want. You are old enough to know better. Don’t be that person. If you can’t behave better, I’ll have you banned from this event, and I’ll personally press charges for assault.”
He shook his head and tsked at her. “I know you didn’t accidentally grab me. And I know you meant to do it both times. I hope you enjoyed your groping and got what you wanted out of it. It will be your last time with an unwilling recipient. Are we clear?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about young man,” she blustered in outrage. She did, however, back up, turn and walk away.
“I thought you said your virtue was intact.”
He grinned broadly, “Virtue, yes. But I won’t need a prostate exam again until next year.”
I laughed so suddenly and loudly a bird was startled from the hedge. We began to walk back toward the party. Neither of us said anything about the almost kiss. Leave it alone, VonSable.
At the edge of the maze, we noticed several people standing around. One of them was Dani, Maxine’s ex. She glared daggers at me but remained where she was. I continued to walk toward the stairs, then up onto the balcony. It looked like the auction was about to happen.
I turned to find him very close. My nose was touching his chest. I looked up to find him staring down at me with very serious eyes.
“Sorry,” I said as I backed away. “It looks like your time to shine is about to be a reality. Better go get ready.”
“Kable, I’d really like to discuss something with you…. before the nights over,” he glanced out towards the maze. “It’s really important.”