The feeling of cold metal against my thigh as I inched my way across the ballroom elegant yet unknowingly dangerous. Like a wolf in a sheep’s costume, I glance across the room and lock my eyes with his. Dressed in black and ruggedly handsome. His emerald orbs glazed over with an emotion I couldn’t quite put my finger on. It seemed as time slowed as we gazed into each other’s eyes before hastily breaking eye contact. The music slowed and he made his move, making his way across the maze of oblivious dancers before stopping in front of me. I studied his face for any sign of emotion, anything that could give him away before resting my eyes on his waiting hand. Tenderly lifting up my hand I rested it onto his. His rough palms engulfing my hand as he guided me towards the dance floor. Moving in unison we danced the night away, without a word but somehow with mutual understanding. The cool dagger strapped to my thigh served as a bitter reminder of what was to come. But as the music slowed and I rested my head against his shoulder and inhaled the intoxicating scent of pine my heartbeat quickens. But as every second passes, I can feel him guiding us further and further from the middle of the ballroom. Soon enough we were in an enclosed hallway. I move to step out of his embrace but his grip tightens. His eyes dancing mischievously he leans in, his hot breath hitting my ear. “It’s quite a pity someone so pretty has to end like this.” Reaching under my dress I feel the familiar smooth metal flicking out the dagger I pressed it against his neck for a split second his eyes revealed his surprise.
“You should know that villains often come with pretty faces,” I replied in the same sultry voice I had practiced in the mirror just a few hours ago. Circling around him like a predator to prey, “So who sent you?” My voice ringing out beneath the roar of the music from the other room. His eyes scrutinized my every move as his hand drifted towards his back pocket. Whipping out his dagger we circled each other, matching each other’s pace as if dancing our own sort of twisted tango.
“Guess,” he smirked, his eyes cool and calculating. As the music slowed in the background he lunged forward catching me in surprise only giving me barely a second to sidestep his dagger slashing wildly in the air. I wince as I felt the sharp blade graze the side of my back, my dagger clanking noisily as it slid down the hallway. Catching him off balance I pounce, pinning him to the ground, kicking his dagger to the side. My eyes narrow as I feel his familiar palms caressing my hands, and for a fraction of a second, I let my guard down. Giving him a way out, flipping me onto my back he pinned me down on the cold granite floor. I feel a fluttering in my stomach as he stared into my eyes, before trailing his hot gaze to my lips. And for a split second, I swore I heard him mutter under his breath.
“Till the next dance… princess” then, he was gone. His dark cape fluttering behind him as he fled the scene. Looking out into the darkness at his disappearing shadow I touch my lips as if just remembering to breathe. My stomach involuntarily somersaulted as his words echoed throughout my mind. My logical hatred for him was betrayed by my body and soul as hands were already craving his touch, my lungs missing the iconic smell of pine I had gotten used to. But I was determined to finish this mission, even those soft brown locks, draping over his forehead won’t stop me from that. Standing up I dusted myself off, picking up his dagger and slipping mine back into my sheath my imagination ran wild. A seemingly never-ending stream of thoughts poured through my mind. Slipping through the castle door I looked up, into the darkened sky. Shimmering with a million fairy lights, emblazing the august night sky. But at that moment, I could only see his eyes, exquisite, like priceless emerald. Getting lost among the pine forests, running through the fields of Ireland with the exotic aura of a newborn dragon. Butterflies erupting from my stomach at the thought of the next dance, meeting my prince.