The rest of the evening passed without any more strangeness. By the time her shift ended at four, Jade had all but forgotten the strange blond, let alone the invitation.
She grabbed her jacket, slipping it on as she left The Beyond, waving and smiling at the bouncer at the door. At some point he must have replaced Scott, although she never really noticed their shift changes. He was new and she couldn't recall his name offhand, but she still wanted to be polite and friendly. A little “do unto others” never hurt anyone.
Wrapping her jacket a little more tightly around herself in hopes of fending off the chill in the air, Jade realized she was probably going to have to set aside her favorite leather jacket in favor of something a little warmer. Fall was beginning to hit Detroit with a vengeance, and winter would be chasing at its heels.
A quick pat on her right pocket assured her that she had both her keys and her cell phone. Tugging out the latter, she sent a quick text to Derek that she was on her way home. He worried a bit when she was walking home alone so late at night. At least, he worried if his head was anywhere in reality rather than his own fantasy.
It was only a few blocks, but it really wasn't the safest of neighborhoods. Not that Jade herself had ever felt threatened here. She hadn't. Still, better safe than sorry. Tucking her phone back into her jacket pocket, she hurried her steps, finally rushing into the building and up the long flights of stairs. By the time she reached the door, she had her key out and ready, though it proved completely unnecessary as Derek swung the door wide, awaiting her arrival.
Chapter Five
Though his prepaid cell had chirped moments ago, Derek could not relinquish his book this near a comfortable stopping point. It was unnatural to stop mid paragraph. Finding a good place for a temporary reprieve, he reached across the bed and snatched up his phone. Reading the text message, he smiled. She considered his feelings when most would not bother. She knew he would worry about her walk home, and as such let him know when she began walking. He looked to the clock before resuming his book.
Finishing up the chapter, Derek climbed to an upright position on the bed and placed his book on the bedside stand. Carefully he arranged it to be parallel to the edge of the table. He sat upon the edge of the bed a moment and closed his eyes before beginning to rock back and forth slowly. For whatever reason, the book seemed to help him find clarity. Though he could not remember where he had gotten it, he had read it a great many times over the years. At least chapter three, that is.
He had been only six when his parents had decided that Derek’s rage and antisocial behavior was simply too much for them to handle. Their relationship and sanity strained, they had delivered Derek into an office, told him good-bye, and left him there. Over the years Derek had visited the office many times, and each visit resulted in him going to live with a new family. Each new family meant new doctors. New doctors meant new diagnosis and each of those came with new medications. Medications didn’t work. Sometimes the family was better than the last, but ultimately each and every new family had decided just what his parents had; that Derek couldn’t be fixed, his mind worked differently than others’, he would never communicate like everyone else. They blamed his sickness, they blamed his parents. Derek didn’t care. Especially now that he had found Jade.
The Book, as he had come to refer to it, brought him comfort. Reading chapter three was the only way Derek could remember his parents. Not any of the parents he had been given in the office, but his real parents. Though the memory was not distinct, more or less just a fuzzy representation of a couple standing with the sun behind them, it was the only image he could recall. He half smiled at the memory.
Turning to the alarm clock, he made note of the time before walking to the window. Peering out into the darkness, he feared for Jade’s safety. Though he knew she was smart and fast and could generally hold her own, Derek wished each night that he could walk her home. He had even offered on several occasions, but Jade insisted she was fine and enjoyed the walk home alone in order to unwind from her work day.
Knowing she would be home soon, he set about the tiny apartment gathering up some of the items she had purchased over the last couple of months. Gathering them into his arms he took them into the bathroom and began to place them carefully around the tub.
He placed nearly three dozen vanilla or mulberry candles of varying sizes methodically around the deep garden tub. Turning on the hot water, he carefully lit the ring of cream and deep purple candles as the room filled with their scent, mingled with steam.
Retrieving Jade’s favorite shampoo and conditioner from the stand up shower in the corner, he placed these upon the edge of the tub along with her scented body wash and lotion. Unsure if she would require anything else, he placed a pair of towels at the tub’s side and waited patiently for the tub to fill.
Finally, when he thought the water level adequate, he turned the knob to staunch the flow. Rising, he returned to the bedroom and collected Jade’s fuzzy slippers and silky robe. Those he placed with the towels before deciding that the room was complete. Returning to the door, he verified that all was as he had envisioned it before closing the door behind him.
With everything prepared, he waited patiently for Jade to return home. He hoped his surprise would allow her to relax. He hoped she would luxuriate in the hot water. He hoped that she found release in some manner that might allow him to find his inspiration and continue writing.
* * * * *
As soon as he opened the door, the scent of warm vanilla and berries drew her in. When Derek greeted her with a hopeful, somewhat childish grin, she knew he had some sort of surprise for her. The scented candles tipped her off that he'd drawn her a bath.
Deciding to forego conversation and merely revel in this little treat, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and started shedding her clothes as she headed towards the bathroom.
She dropped her jacket on the floor, stopping just long enough to toe off her boots, dispensing with her shirt in the hallway. When she reached the bathroom, she removed her undergarments and socks and stepped into the steaming slice of heaven.
She should have taken the time to clean up after herself, but she knew Derek would grab everything. Normally she did the chores and the cleaning, so when he made an effort to spoil her she indulged.
The water was almost too warm, burning her toes in a delightfully enticing manner. Slowly, she sunk down into the tub, feeling that same tingling burn throughout each of her limbs, eventually stinging her belly and her breasts. Aahhh, this was as close to heaven as she might ever get.
While she soaked, she listened to him rustling around in the front room, tidying up and, if she wasn't mistaken, making her a quick meal. Probably a sandwich or something light. Though Derek was often distracted, he more than made up for it with things like this. Little indulgences that were planned for no reason other than to make her smile.
And wasn't it lovely that it worked so well.
Thirty minutes later she was still soaking, trying hard not to fall asleep in the water. Her skin was all pinched and pruney and the water was cold but she still needed to wash her hair. With a long, deep sigh of regret, she dipped her hair back and began the cleansing portion of her bath. Not nearly as much fun, but necessary.
She had just climbed out of the tub and slipped on the silky robe Derek had left out for her when he came strolling in.
"Where did you get this? Did someone give it to you at the club tonight?"
A quick glance at his hands and she recognized the invitation. "Oh, no. It's not for me. Or, at least I don't think it's for me. One of the customers left it on the bar tonight. I'm glad you found it. I need to bring it back to work with me tomorrow and see if I can find him to return it."
"You're not sure if it's for you or not? Did he give it to you? I'm not entirely sure I like someone else inviting you to a party."
"No, he didn't give it to me. He left it on the bar underneath my tip. That's why I don't think it was inte
nded for me."
"You said it was under the tip?"
Jade nodded, flipping upside down to wrap the towel around her hair.
"If it was under the tip, then it's for you."
Rolling her eyes, she reached past him to grab her toothbrush. "Why would someone invite me to a ball? Especially someone I don't know. It makes no sense. Not to mention what the hell would I do at a ball? I'll ask the manager tomorrow if he knows who the guy was and see about returning the invitation. I'm sure he'll need it since the address and details are on it."
"Okay. I still think it was meant for you. You know, if it is for you, maybe you should go."
Jade looked over at Derek. He didn't look angry, nor did he have the standard “tortured artist” expression he normally wore. He actually looked... pleased. Maybe? Huh. Derek was rarely pleased.
"Why would we go to a ball?"
"Not we... you."
"Oh no. If this is supposed to be for me and if I were to go there is no way I am going alone. It's we or not at all."
The pleased expression was fading into one of consternation, but he still didn't seem angry. Just hesitant.
"Well, then we should go. It could be... enjoyable."
"Really? I usually have to drag you out of the house, sometimes leaving your fingernail marks on the wall, yet you think a masquerade ball might be enjoyable? I must say I'm a bit confused."
"I know you like parties. I like you to be happy."
"Well, this “party” requires costumes, which require money. Money that we don't have to spend on frivolous nonsense. So, whether I was invited or not really doesn't matter. We're not going."
"I have the money for the costumes."
She raised her eyebrows at him, silently asking for further explanation as to where he got this mysterious money. Subtlety never really worked on him. Sighing she finally turned to face him, stripping the towel off her hair. "And where did you get this money?"
"It was a gift. It's not a lot, but it's enough for costumes. We should go. Even if the invitation wasn't meant for you, you have it now. Unless he asks for it back, I say we go."
"Wow... that's more words than you usually string together at once. Unless of course you’re writing." She said this with humor and a little surprise, intending to tease not to mock. Derek was not what one would call “chatty.” With a little shrug, she finally caved. For whatever reason, he seemed insistent. "Okay. We'll wait a couple days and if I don't see him again, we'll go to the ball."
He smiled, a little lift at the corners of his mouth, the expression looking almost painful from lack of use. Laughing a little, she still appreciated the effort. "Go on now, get out of here so I can brush my teeth. I'll be in bed in just a minute."
Jade suspected that Derek saw some potential for inspiration in this invitation. A masquerade ball would definitely be fodder for his imagination. However, since she would most likely have a great time she was willing to overlook his personal motives.
Besides, maybe he really was just trying to make her happy. Either way, she would make the best of it.
Several days later and Jade hadn't seen hide nor hair of the elusive blonde guest. When she'd asked the manager about him, he'd actually laughed at her, stating that “if he had a dollar for every blonde male in this club, he'd be able to retire.”
Each day she brought the invitation to work with her, only to bring it back home again. After a few days of this, Derek once again pressed that they should go to the party. If they were going to attend, they needed costumes, and time was running out.
So, she finally caved. This evening, once they were up and around, they were going to a costume shop across town to see if they could rent a costume appropriate for a masquerade ball.
Hmmm, what was appropriate for a masquerade ball? Hell if she knew, other than it probably needed a mask. She was hoping that maybe the costume shop could help her figure it out.
Now, this afternoon, they were going to find costumes. She finished getting dressed, added some mascara and lip-gloss, and headed out to the front of the apartment. Derek was at the computer, though he didn't seem to be accomplishing much outside of raking his fingers through his hair; a clear sign of frustration.
Laying her hand gently against his shoulder, she wasn't even remotely surprised by the startled look, bordering somewhere between anger and hatred, which he leveled on her when he turned to face her.
Smiling gently, she merely waited while his expression cleared and he rejoined her in their living room.
"You ready? We have costumes to rent, and unfortunately the rest of the world doesn't seem to run on our schedule. We have to hurry if we're going to make it before they close."
Derek joined her, quickly grabbing both his jacket and hers. They stepped outside just in time to see the sun setting behind the buildings. It occurred to her briefly to marvel at just how long it had been since she'd seen the sun at all. She'd been working as many hours as they'd give her, always choosing the later shifts when the patrons were a little more drunk and a lot more generous. She knew Derek didn't want to talk about it, but money was tight. She was doing what she could to help out.
Deciding to set aside their troubles and merely enjoy this rare evening off, she grabbed Derek's hand and smiled up at him as they strolled through the waning light.
As they walked into the shop, the proprietor, at least she assumed he was the proprietor based on his age, smiled at Jade before glancing nervously at Derek. Mustering up her most flirtatious grin, she strode to the front desk, adding a little extra swing to her hips.
"Hi, I'm hoping you can help us. We need costumes for a masquerade ball. Do you have anything here that would suit that purpose?"
Somehow, she didn't think the costumes she saw hanging in plastic baggies in the front of the store were going to work for this event.
"Yes, my dear, I'm sure we have something for your party. Please feel free to look around the shop. What type of masquerade is it?"
She felt her smile falter a bit, she didn’t really have an answer to that question. She pulled the invitation from her pocket, showing it to the man in hopes that he would see the elegance and realize that the costumes available wouldn't work.
"I think it's more... upscale, perhaps, than the costumes I've seen. Is there maybe another costume shop that you can recommend?"
As soon as the proprietor looked at the invitation his whole demeanor changed. Heavy paper, a matte cream color that almost felt like linen with writing done in a beautiful gold filigree;
You are cordially invited
to attend
The 75th Annual
Masquerade Ball
Saturday 27,October 2012
Festivities begin at 9:00
We eagerly anticipate your attendance
At once his smile was genuine, his manner overzealous, as if she had just told him she intended to buy everything in the store.
Odd, how one innocent piece of paper could elicit such a change in behavior.
"Aaahh, yes, madam. I see your point. I believe we will have something in the back that will suit the needs of you and your companion?"
He said the last part questioningly, somehow prompting Jade to respond, "Yes, my boyfriend."
"Please, won't you both come with me? Unless the gentleman would prefer to simply give me his size and we can select something for him."
Though the old man didn't seem exactly threatening, his behavior was off somehow. His reaction to a simple piece of paper was curious at best, although a little psychotic was not off the table. There was no way she was going back there without Derek.
"Ummm, no. He'll come with us."
When Jade called out to him, Derek wandered over from the cheap costumes he had been looking through. Gripping his hand like a lifeline, Jade towed Derek behind her as they followed the owner into the back of the shop.
Her nerves relaxed almost immediately when she spied the stunning theater quality costumes hanging on the racks. Poin
ting Jade toward an area of Gothic and Renaissance ball gowns, the owner said, "I believe these will meet your needs, madam. Yes?"
Jade couldn't stop the little gasp of pleasure as she eyed the luxurious gowns hanging before her.
"Yes, this will be perfect." Her words came out a little breathy, but really, whose wouldn't when faced with such a sight. Hanging before her was every girl's princess fantasy come true.
Her eyes immediately settled on a deep purple satin Victorian ball gown, trimmed with black velvet. Grabbing it off the rack, she checked the size. It would fit. Feeling almost as if this dress were meant for her, she headed to a fitting room.
Even slipping the dress on felt sensuous, the wonderfully heavy gown settling over her hips and draping to the floor. A little lift of her breasts and she settled into the top and began tugging on the laces. Derek would definitely need to help her into this the night of the actual ball, yet she got it tied tightly enough to see the fit.
It was perfect. The flared hips added curves where she lacked them, the corset style top lifted and produced cleavage that normally wasn't there.
When she stepped out to show Derek, his quick gasp was all the confirmation she needed. This was the dress.
"Maybe you can wear the black velvet tunic so we coordinate?" she asked.
Chapter Six
Derek’s surprise for Jade had gone flawlessly. Even now, days later, he could clearly envision the smile that had formed on her lips as soon as she had opened the door to their apartment. She had literally lit up in that instant, and so happy to be thought of, she had stripped across the apartment to not waste a single moment of the hot bath. Derek grinned.
Today was Friday. Today was the day. He had thought that maybe the anticipation would allow him to write. Hell, at least to outline the next chapter, but as the days passed nothing worthwhile had occurred. Today though, they would rent their costumes.
Beyond The Mask (The Beyond Book 1) Page 5