Page 20 of Semblance

“Look at this scrawny girl standing before us. She’s supposed to be the first lady of the Midnight Society? All of us in this inner circle of ours know that the Golden Virgin is nothing more than a flea in rags. Her story is nothing but a bunch of Chinese whispers originated from the imaginative mind of Calisto,” he continued. His scorpion eyes focused in on me. “Tell me you bony little slag, how virtuous are you really?”

Suddenly Shadow erupted and he scooped up Lucien from underneath his armpits, lifted the brat high into the air, and slammed him onto the ground.

“You shite!” Lucien cursed as he sprung back onto his feet. “I’m a fucking Gamble. You do not get to touch me.”

“Get the fuck out of here,” Shadow said, “Before I make you swallow all of your soon-to-be broken teeth.”

“Calm yourselves, both of you,” Takeshi said as he rose from his seat. “I swear my dog has more patience and common sense than you two.”

“This bloody excuse for a ‘lord’ laid his hands on me. Tell me James, since when did we start striking each other,” Lucien said.

“It was…” Takeshi paused, and then turned to Shadow, “Inappropriate.”

Takeshi’s words seemed to have affected him as Shadow’s shoulders slumped and he retreated back from Lucien, his authority now diminished. I was curious to see the face of the man behind the mask and the whirlwind of emotions he was going through at the moment.

“Leave us alone,” Shadow finally said.

“But our business is not finished,” Abraham said. “We still need to discuss the selection you’ve made-”

“We’re done for tonight.” There was finality in Shadow’s tone of voice.

Even though his visage was hidden behind the scorpion mask, I sensed a burning hatred radiating from Lucien that was dark and hideous.

“You’ve made a big mistake laying your hands on me,” he seethed. “I promise you that--”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Shadow mocked. “I haven’t heard the last of this. You’ll make me pay. Throw in whatever cliché you find appropriate. Just stop whining and get the fuck out of here already.”

He then turned to everyone else. “Please, just leave me alone. We’ll finish this another time.”

I watched as the council members left the study one-by-one. I followed closely behind Abraham. However just before I could reach the door, Shadow called out to me.

“Not you Golden Virgin,” he said. “It’s a nice night out. I’d like for you to take a stroll with me.”

It was the last thing I wanted to do. More than anything, I just wanted to go home and forget this night even happened.

“But my ride is leaving,” I said, gesturing towards Abraham.

“I’ll wait for you dear,” the old man reassured me. “Take your time.”

I watched helplessly as Abraham closed the door behind me, leaving only Shadow and I alone in the room.

I turned my attention to the towering masked man. Something about the way he stood, his shoulders slumped and his head bowed low, made me fear him a little less. He was no longer the dominating monster I first saw, emerging out of the foliage of the garden. Instead the way he stood reminded me of an emotionally wounded man.

“Why did you choose me?” I asked.

Shadow didn’t reply. Instead he lifted his hands to his head and slowly removed his mask, revealing himself to me.

#

Chapter Six

The man was gorgeous. He had his sister’s hypnotic blue eyes and I found myself lost in his gaze, as well as Calisto’s skin, though not as pale. His ageless chiseled face was smooth and unblemished.

Shadow was not the monster I envisioned him to be. He was a ravishing angel that for some unexplained reason had chosen me to be his soul mate.

And he hadn’t even seen my face yet.

I took off my mask and allowed him to look at me, the fabled Golden Virgin sent from the heavens, as rumor had it.

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