Masqued Tails

by Dawn Montgomery

  His throat looked perfect to nibble on. Strong sensual features dominated his face, reminding her eerily of the book she’d brought with her from her mother’s house. In place of his ears, he wore an exact replica of the ears from the drawing in the book. A Kitsune. A fox spirit. His eyes were intense, almond-shaped, full of mystery and heat. Dark, full lashes, the kind she’d normally be green with envy over, framed them in perfect symmetry.

  Extremely kissable lips lifted in a half smile and Alaya’s libido kicked in with a vengeance. Level-headed and strong-willed, her mother had always called her. Not today. She scrambled for something to say and decided the costume was a safe topic.

  “I seem to be underdressed.”

  “Really?” His grin became predatory and Alaya’s cheeks heated further.

  “I meant… I just…” She sighed and closed her eyes, pressing a trembling palm against her forehead. She hadn’t been this tongue-tied since high school. “Let me try this again.” Without staring at the man like a starving woman. “I meant the costumes.” She opened her eyes and gave him a small smile to cover her embarrassment. “Mine’s not as elegant or inspiring as those around me.”

  He tilted his head and let his gaze follow the length of her body. The weight of his half-lidded stare touched her skin like an intimate caress. Her breasts swelled under his perusal, overly sensitive nipples chafing against the lace of her bra. Flames licked their way from the tips of her nipples to the tips of her fingers and down to her pussy, stoking to a small inferno by the time his eyes locked with hers again. “I think you’re enticing.” He glanced around as though fearing to be overheard. His pseudo concern brought a smile to her lips and the spark of humor in his eyes told her he was flirting. He leaned forward and she leaned in as well. “With or without the dress.”

  “Ah,” was all her parched throat would let her say. She licked her lips and watched his gaze dart to the movement. Damn. There was no way to misinterpret his words. Was there?

  His lips pressed against her wrist and she jerked, startled. When had he taken a hold of her hand? And why didn’t I notice? He turned her hand so that they could both see the way her pulse leapt against her skin. The molten heat of his gaze captured hers as his tongue licked against the sensitive ridge of her wrist.

  A bell rang from the foyer and she snapped her mouth shut, blatantly aware of how she’d let it hang open like a schoolgirl.

  “Dinner.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I apologize.” The humor on his face belied sincerity, but it had her smiling through her light blush. “This is the introductory period. Where you meet the host and a victim dies.”

  “Dies?” She cleared her throat. “Right. The murder mystery.” She smiled. “You’ve done this before?”

  “I’m one of the players.” The ice of his smile was disconcerting.

  She reached out with a bit of her empathy. It felt internal, instead of external. Like he was bitter about something. Hell, maybe he hated his job. She could sympathize. Her daytime job was about as exciting as watching grass grow… in winter.

  “Ah, so you do this often?”

  “What? Seduce unsuspecting women intending to have a good time?”

  “Yes.” She laughed.

  “Only occasionally, and it’s never as much fun as this.”

  She shook her head in confusion. “I’m never fun.”

  His hungry gaze was back with a vengeance. “I doubt that.” He leaned close and Alaya could feel a buzz of something she’d come to recognize as magic happening around her. “A word of advice. Stay away from Mr. Devonshire. Trust nothing he gives or tells you.” He squeezed her hand hard enough to make her wince. “I’ll see you soon.”

  In an instant, he was gone and that furious buzzing had left.

  She rubbed the back of her neck to lay the hairs back down against her skin. Magick always felt like that. Like a delicately played lullaby she couldn’t hear, just out of reach. Dammit! She forgot to ask his name!

  “Oh, it’s starting!” Excitement murmured through the crowd at the woman’s soft cry. They all looked up at the domed ceiling with something akin to awe. Buzzing filled the air around her again and she tried not to fidget. Great, of course there would be magick. The invitation must have been for her mother after all. Her stomach twisted in familiar anxiety.

  Left out again.

  Alone.

  Clapping jerked her out of her musings and she followed the fingers pointing up to the balcony. Her would-be seducer stood at the edge, manipulating the air with soft caresses. The crowd oohed and ahhed, but she saw nothing but the man. He’d dropped the kimono sleeves, leaving his chest bare to her hungry gaze. God the man was ripped. There were men who tried for decades to get that kind of body. Hard in all the right places. Her mouth watered and her pussy ached with need. He’d pulled his long hair back into a ponytail so it framed his face, setting off an expression fierce in concentration. His ears barely twitched, but his tails flowed behind him, occasionally peeking out from the sides. Amazing work. She couldn’t imagine how long it took him to get into costume every day.

  He had to be a master illusionist for the crowd to be this entranced. Not a street performer, but an honest to God illusionist. Why he didn’t make the animatronics tail and ears illusions as well, she didn’t know. Maybe it took a lot out of you.

  “Gorgeous, isn’t he?”

  Alaya jerked in surprise and found herself face to face with a normal woman. She eyed the newcomer carefully. No odd ears, no costume, just a normal woman with normal features. Lovely, yes, but not out of Alaya’s norm. So she was probably a guest as well. The lady waited patiently for a reply.

  “Yes, he is.”

  “His name’s Shad and he’s one of the best in the world at what he does.”

  “And what is that, exactly?” And how do you know so much? she wanted to ask, but didn’t.

  She smiled. “He’s a master of trickery and disguise. He’s a hard one to keep track of.”

  “Not today, I suppose.” Alaya couldn’t help it. It bothered her that anyone would have caught her staring, much less know more about her Mr. Mysterious than she did. A wrist kiss and you’d think she was back in high school, the way she was going on.

  “Oh, why is that?” She looked up at the dome with all the others.

  “Tails and fox ears tend to stand out no matter where you are.”

  The girl froze and turned to Alaya with wide staring eyes. Eyes that made Alaya suddenly very uncomfortable.

  “What did I say?”

  The girl hissed through her lips and grabbed Alaya’s arm. “Hush and listen. Tell no one that you can see through the fox’s illusion or he’ll kill you.”

  “Who?” She pointed toward the balcony. “Him?”

  She pulled Alaya closer. “Pretend we’re having a normal conversation. Smile.”

  Alaya forced a smile on her lips. This chick was nuts!

  “Shad would never willingly hurt anyone. None of us would. It’s why we’re perfect for the collection. If you can see through the illusions that means you can save us all. And if he finds out about it, you’ll die.”

  “Look, this is all well and good for the game, but I’m getting really tired of getting grabbed.” They were really pushing this murder mystery thing.

  The crowd oohed and ahhed some more, others laughed. The girl’s grip grew desperate and Alaya gritted her teeth through the fake grin.

  Alaya would have stomped on the girl’s foot had she not had tears in her eyes. “It’s the finale. You don’t have to believe me now, but do this, then. You’re going to see something absolutely terrible. It’ll happen soon. When it does, pretend you saw nothing. Please. Act like everyone else and know that I’ll be okay. Come back to this room at midnight and make sure you tell no one.” She closed her eyes. “Please. You have to help us.”

  The girl embraced Alaya with a fierce hug, then moved out to the center of the room. Few noticed her progress, so engrossed were
they in the illusions. Alaya’s gaze traveled back to the master of trickery, Shad. The name fit. He turned his torso to carve more illusions into the air and she noticed a dark scar on his ribs. A new scar, by the looks of it, and a painful one. Starburst pattern. Something about it looked familiar. This whole trip was getting weird.

  A warning against Devonshire from his lips and a mysterious warning from another complete stranger. This whole game was getting too intense, way too early in the game. Just Another Little Murder knew how to write a crazy whodunit. Usually the dead body showed up first.

  A movement caught her eye from the edge of the room and she remembered the girl’s warning so kept her eyes trained toward Shad. By now the crowd had started looking around at what she assumed were individual illusions.

  The buzzing grew louder and the crowd clapped and cheered. Alaya feigned boredom and clapped slowly. The crowd, as one, looked at Shad as he did his finale, muscles moving with the grace of a dancer, taut and fluid at the same time. How he did it, she had no idea.

  A dark figure moved from the shadows of her peripheral vision, absorbing some of the heat into him in a way that reminded her of her vicious grandmother. Dark magick, old magick.

  He moved to the girl in the center and Alaya could feel the terror and resignation coming from her. Alaya stared at Shad. Shad caught Alaya’s eye and did a double-take, staring back with something close to terror himself.

  Alaya’s hair stood off her neck and she swallowed, wanting to look at the girl, but remembering her order. Whether this was play or not, sincerity rang true in the girl’s heart.

  Alaya saw a flash of something metallic then the girl screamed in agony, jerking Alaya and the rest of the crowd away from the illusions. Alaya could see Shad still working his magick. The girl lay on the gorgeous carpet with blood pooling around her, flowing from a stomach wound the likes of which Alaya had only seen on trauma television.

  “Don’t move,” a dark voice whispered, holding Alaya still. She shook under his touch, afraid she was next.

  “Oh my God.” One of the guests gasped and raced to the woman’s side, right beside the murderer. And he didn’t even know it. At that moment Alaya wished she could see magick. Wished she could ignore the killer standing over the victim’s body, obviously covered in some type of illusion. For a sick moment she wondered if the entire house was pretending he wasn’t there. She wanted to scream, “Someone call 911. Get this woman some medical attention.” The helpful guest’s pale skin had turned an eerie green and Alaya prayed he wouldn’t get sick.

  Alaya stayed frozen in place. “You don’t see me. I’m not here. The man standing over Maggie isn’t there either. This is just a game, Ms. Bellemore.”

  Alaya looked around. Most of the other guests were chatting and laughing, excited that the game had started. This whole thing rang like a familiar gothic novel she’d read as a kid. Speaking of familiar… that voice. The way he said her name. She turned slightly. The biker delivery boy from before. “What’s going on?” She kept her voice low and stared at the scene.

  “The first victim has died and Mr. Devonshire is using illusions to make the scene more realistic for the patrons. You’re not supposed to see us.”

  “How did you know I could?”

  “She told me. Stick with Shad until I come for you.”

  He melted into the shadows and Alaya glanced back to the fox. His face was pale and drawn with either the effort of his illusions or the strain of watching the woman’s death. Some game.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” Shad’s voice echoed in the room. “A murder most foul has been committed.” A few snickers followed the well-known line. “If you would, please refrain from touching the body as it needs to be handled by the proper authorities. For our magickal murder mystery, costumes, specific to your sizes and tastes, have been laid out.” He swept a hand across the air and the crowd clapped. Another illusion. “Please join us for dinner where all” -- he stared at Alaya, capturing her gaze with his own -- “will be explained.”

  The crowd dispersed and Alaya stared at a spot above the chilling corpse on the carpet. She’d said she would be fine, hadn’t she? Midnight. Alaya turned toward the exiting crowd. By midnight if the girl wasn’t prancing through the room, Alaya was taking the next train out of Weirdsville. She wasn’t above stealing the limo.

  Chapter Five

  Alaya was quietly directed to a bedroom further away from most of the guests. While that would have normally made her feel relieved, today she wanted crowds. It was a huge relief to find two of the staff in her room, and doing nothing else except, well, waiting. Odd concept to wrap her head around.

  The bedroom was comfortable and extravagant at the same time. Too many pillows, too ornate for her taste, but it did make her feel like she was on vacation.

  The blonde smiled with an open, friendly expression. “Welcome to your room, Ms. Bellemore.”

  “Thank you.” She shut the door behind her and waited for the two to make the next move.

  “We have a dress ready for you.” The brunette opened an armoire and Alaya’s jaw dropped open. It was gorgeous. An amazing material she’d never seen before. Extravagant.

  “I can’t wear that.”

  “Of course you can.” She laid a metal case on the bed and opened it up. Curious, Alaya leaned over to see. A dozen broaches lay inside. Her eyes were drawn to the intricate shapes.

  “They are very rare. Some are carved from bone or jade, others from shell or wood. Each of the pieces in this collection were carved in the likeness of an animal. Which would you like to wear tonight?”

  Her eyes were drawn to the fox. Soft and flowing, like a Native Alaskan art piece she’d seen once. Her fingertips traced the curve of the fox. “What does it represent?”

  “Your personal guide during your time here.”

  The blonde opened a door that led to what appeared to be a bathroom. Alaya heard running water.

  “You like the fox, ma’am?”

  Alaya nodded slowly. Boy did she ever.

  “Good choice.”

  “Thanks.” Alaya couldn’t keep the dry tone from her response.

  The girl visibly paled. “I didn’t mean to presume.”

  Alaya blinked. What had she missed? “It’s a lovely broach. I just seem to be preoccupied with foxes lately, is all. Don’t worry.” Maybe the girl was new or something.

  The blonde returned. “You have four hours until dinner. I’ve run your bath. Would you like a massage or anything else before dinner?”

  Sex with a hot fox of a man, the impish voice in her head said. “No, thank you. The murder has my mind racing and I’d rather be alone.”

  The blonde nodded and left, ignoring the other girl. The brunette chuckled and leaned close to Alaya. “I shouldn’t talk to you about this, but it does seem extremely realistic, doesn’t it?” the brunette asked, sympathy apparent on her face.

  “Yes, very.”

  “I thought the same thing when I got here, but she’s always up and around the next day. It’s amazing how realistic they make her, isn’t it?”

  “She’ll be up and around tomorrow?”

  “Well, not in front of the guests, but yes, bright and early every time.”

  Alaya couldn’t stop the relief from spreading through her limbs. She gave the girl a hug. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, and if you’d like a bit of advice?”

  “Yes.”

  “Watch out for Shad.”

  Her pussy tingled. “Why?”

  “Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.” The brunette blushed.

  Alaya rolled her eyes. She knew the man was a playboy, but really. Everyone knew something about him. “Why not?”

  “Everyone here is wonderful, Ms. Bellemore. It’s just…”

  “What? Please, call me Alaya.”

  “Of course. Well, some of them are more wonderful than others.”

  “He must be a killer in the sack.”

  “That’s
what I’ve heard.” She giggled quietly. Alaya genuinely liked the young woman if for no other reason than because she’d put her at ease.

  “Well, let’s hope I find out.” Alaya grinned and they both laughed.

  “Does it bother you that he’s well-known?”

  “I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I, for one, haven’t been laid in I don’t know how many moons.” She shrugged. “Sometimes bragging is just that, bragging.”

  The girl cleared her throat.

  “Okay, just how wonderful is he? And how do you know?”

  “Let’s just say he’s very adventurous and will do things to your body, wickedly delicious things. He understands your body better than you do. And I know because I like to watch.” The girl winked and Alaya’s cheeks flamed in sudden understanding.

  She turned to look at herself in the full-length mirror, smoothing her sundress over her curvy form. “I wouldn’t know the first thing about how to draw a man like that.”

  “You won’t have to. He’s already shown interest, so there is no contest. He’s very picky.” She pinned the fox on Alaya’s hanging gown, right above where her heart would be. “Each guest has a special power. Yours is the ability to control water, so you’re a sea goddess. Isn’t that wonderful?”

  Wonderful? Alaya doubted she could ever be graceful enough to pull off goddess of the sea, but it was a neat concept.

  “Enjoy your stay, Alaya.” The brunette gave a curtsy and left.

  Four hours. She caressed the dress with a light touch. She definitely needed a bath before wearing something so sinful. Heated thoughts of the fox-man ensured it would be a short one. She raced to get ready.

  * * *

  Shad stalked through the halls, rage billowing through the path in his wake. A small part of his mind mentioned that it had been a very long time since he’d lost any sense of control.