Masks at Dawn
Julian D'Aurelius carried Selene Aurevale on his back, his face dark as he stepped into the D'Aurelius estate.
Open were the iron gates. Along the path, lantern light jumped with every gust, stretching dark shapes across trimmed bushes. Rain mixed with grass filled the air just enough to notice. Far off, a rumble of thunder crept through silence like it had nowhere to be.
A faint warmth brushed his collarbone where her breathing landed. Her limbs hung easy at first, then tightened when she stirred without waking. Words slipped out, soft and unclear, as her hands bunched the cloth near his shoulder. Stillness followed just as fast as the movement had come.
A soft breath escaped Julian as she shifted her stance. Red smudges marked his collar, left behind without warning. That thin line of calm - nearly gone.
A moment too late, the entrance swung wide. He stood just short of touching it.
