His eyes fluttered closed upon the second touch as he clung to the centaur. "My wings are fragile right now," stated Ignatius while glancing at Cyris. "Even more then usual since I've just unfurled them." Smiling mischievously chuckled. "There will definitely be rumors about us now." Something the centaur had said earlier had suddenly come to mind.

Smiling a little at her words, the young man tilted his head to send her a reassuring look. "As long as you don't put yourself in danger," stated Uriel matter of factly. He didn't want Estella hurt, not at all. Especially not for his sake. The thoughts of that almost kept him from stepping forward to look at the sword. Seeing the blue gem shine, the white haired man felt his eyes widen at the sight. This was truly powerful magic.

The fact was even more apparent as the sword balanced upon it's tip to address the both of them. Automatically Uriel found himself in a combative stance taking in every detail of the situation. "There are ways to make mortals live longer. I would know, the queen assured herself that my life would be long so I could replace her lost champion." The secret so well kept slipped from his mouth. Exposing such a thing was dangerous indeed. Again Uriel hoped Phryne would release him from his duties, but at the same time he doubted it very much. Feeling a little guilty for his thoughts the changeling sighed while seeking reassurance by grasping Estella's hand in his tightly.

Azrealla couldn't help but chuckle slightly at the girls blush, her eyes twinkling slightly. She tilted her head to the side as she looked at the girl, simply listening. It still didn't fit the pattern but at the same time perhaps taht was merely because most packs didn't real create a true society and settle down for generation upon generation. Could it be so simple as that? The idea intrigued her a little ...

"Is the mother matching the child common" She asked curiously. She couldn't help but feel herself relaxing. She had expected there would be conversations of power struggles and similar prattle... not just a simple conversation she could learn things from with a person she actually wanted to spend time with!

***

Estella took in a quick gasp of air as he took such a combative stance, afraid he or the sword would do something stupid. After all, how do you fight an angry sword? She did not take her eyes off of Audrial, however, until he spoke of his life being long. She found herself looking at him with a slightly stunned expression. The only ways she knew of were to become something dark, yet the fae knew something more? She bit her lip in thought.

It made her happy of course, the idea he would keep living... but it also made it clear that getting the queen to release him would not be easy. She had thought she escaped the woman's concern when the prince had chosen the centaur over her... but now it seemed she was still going to be breathing down Estella's neck! She frowned at the thought but was soon frowning at audrial instead...

"Only as long as you are her dog, what kind of life can you give her other then being collared besides you!?

"that's ENOUGH" She hissed at the sword suddenly, her hand slipping from Uriel's hand so she could stand between the two. She was careful to keep her volume low but her tone seemed to suggest such fury in the second word... Her own magic was lifting with her anger, the moonlight seeming to begin to gather around her slightly. Briefly the softest impression of butterfly like wings seemed to glitter there but they were not clear or visible as she wasn't actually using her powers and just angry.

"It's my life, not yours!" The half fae continued with a toss of that fiery mane of hers. She didn't understand why Audrial was being like this! Sure he was usually rude, arrogant, and judgemental but this was going overboard! What was he trying to accomplish?

Jo tilted her head at the question, match how? "If you mean in type or colors, then about as common as the child matching the father. With the actual species, then, yeah, I suppose so," she said, trying t answer both ways that question could go. "With coloring, it tends to be a blend of the parents, but leaning one way or the other, like a human child might look like their father, but have their mother's eyes and nose. With the types, there's not so much blending, it's usually clearly one type or the other." She relaxed again, taking another drink from the glass of juice she'd forgotten about.

What about this woman was so fascinating? And why did she feel drawn to her, wanting to spend more time with her? The questions started seeping back into Jo's mind, distracting her from her explanation. Her mother had sent her here in hopes of her finding a mate, and all she'd done so far was talk and dance with women! One in particular... Her mind circled itself, and she found the blush creeping back up her face.

Azrealla nodded slightly, her question apparently answered. So the type of bird followed the mother more often as did the apparent therianthropy... It definitely had a pattern. She found her thoughts re-directed, however, as the other woman blushed. She couldn't help but smile warmly, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes. She leaned forward and touched one of her blushing cheeks as if to indicate it as she spoke.

"Hmm... A blush that isn't my fault?" she teased, curious. Just what had caught the woman's attention or what was Jo thinking about to make her blush? ella felt rather...greedy about Jo's blushes now and didn't want anyone else causing them tonight. It was a silly thing, but Ella could be silly when it came to things. Perhaps her singlemindedness could affect even her pleasures...

Jo almost jumped, looking back to Azealla as she spoke. "I, um, well..." she stuttered, train of thought broken. "Well, I'd just been thinking that the reason my mother sent me here was because I wasn't showing any interest in the men back home." Her blush deepened, and she looked down, almost whispering the next words. "I think she wants grandchildren..." The thought of raising a family both panicked her and made her feel something warm and fuzzy. She loved children, really, she'd just never given much thought to having any of her own.

Azrealla leaned back into her chair as the other woman spoke and looked at her thoughtfully. For a moment Ella was perfectly serious as she sat back and put her hands in her lap, her spine as always straight as a board. So Jo was beginning to feel something for her... but also something Jo had known she could. She hadn't quite meant to be the one to help a girl figure out she was bisexual or gay or even straight for that matter. It wasn't that she didn't' like and feel attracted to Jo, she did, she just knew the confusion and stress of going though that via experience.

"But what do you want?" she asked quietly, her tone almost ...gentle. It was different then the usual dominant side of her she showed to people. There was no teasing, no pushing in her words, just something akin to understanding. She tilted her head to the side again as was a habit of hers and waited. She studied the other girl, an unreadable smile on her face.

"I," she started, face turning back up to Ella. "I think... I want to get to know you better," she said, mouth working without her mind's permission. One hand flew up to her mouth as she realized what she said, blush speeding over her face to the base of her neck. "Oh, my, I didn't mean, well, maybe, but I..." she trailed off, realizing that her babbled phrases weren't helping her any.

Oh, why did she have to always say things before thinking? She hadn't even realized she'd wanted to get to know Ella better, or had she? She'd thought of bringing her to Eerie, and the thought of going to Ella's home river was there as well. "I'm sorry," she whispered, almost shrinking back into the chair. "That came out before I'd thought of it."

Growling to himself silently at the sword's words, he moved forward with an angry gesture. Before any words left his lips, Estella had stepped forward. The impression of wings startled him, making his eyes widened in awe. Struggling to find words, Uriel shook his head and put a supporting arm around Estella's waist.

"A collared dog I am not, or have no need to be. There are ways to free myself." Painful perhaps, but considering what the courts had invested into his training and his life it was warranted in his mind. Besides, if the task were too frightening and yet if he still over came them it would prove to himself as well as anyone else that his love was true. It would be a test among many others, he was sure.

Estella was shaking with anger when she felt a familiar arm around her waist. It soothed her slightly and she glanced towards him. She bit her lip, having almost forgotten... she had someone fighting with her now. The idea, despite earlier, was still strange to her. She shook off the thought as he spoke, again tempted to ask so many questions. She just didn't understand how it all worked... and what Audrial did seemed to have him convinced that Urie would lead her only to heartbreak.

"Ways you already know you'll endure?" the sword taunted. The man's voice sounded mocking, even more insulting in tone then when he'd called him a dog. The voice made it clear... he didn't believe that he would. Perhaps he just had been in the sword too long to remember what one's first love felt like. Estella didn't know but it was equally clear she was done tolerating this... even though it brought up a point that had her attention more then she wished it would.

She patted his arm then briefly removed it. She held out her hands and the white glow overtook her eyes completely as the faint impression became what appeared to be true wings made entirely of moonlight. Of course if one touched them they would find they were just energy and not solid enough to fly but she did bend the light around the sword to become physical indeed. For a moment the man within it could be seen struggling, the former murdered prince, in the form of a blueish white and semi transparent version of what he had been in light.

She then used the ropes of light she'd formed around him and forced the sword back into its scabbard. Once there the magic within the scabbard would keep audrial there. Of course he still could and was yelling at Estella but she was largely ignoring him. She sighed and put her hands against the railing, glaring at the ground a moment. She hissed a final insult to shut the sword up, something that made it fall into shocked silence.

"You meant to use me to kill a man while pretending you just wanted to help me, You lost your right to tell me what to do a long time ago...The nerve of you! who do you think you are my dad!?" She hissed at the creature, not finding finding it so funny anymore. Did he really think he should be in that role? She frowned to herself, maybe he really was just trying to protect her in his usual hot headed way...

"Urie...I'm sorry, I didn't...I don't know what got into him..." She nearly whispered as she released the moonlight. The beautiful wings that had been on her back disappeared as she did so. She then, however remembered what he had said. She took a deep breath to force herself to speak. It was this inner worry that had made her fight audrial even though she could already feel him making her head hurt for it and would likely add other punishments...not to mention it just drained her energy like hell, his magic was just too ancient and old for it to be easy...


"... What ways? will they hurt you?" She asked quietly without turning to face him. Her voice stayed strong until the last word where the softest tremor entered it. She couldn't bare the thought of him being hurt because of her... Yet she couldn't leave him, not now... this feeling, what on earth was this feeling? It made the idea of leaving him feel like it'd be better to stab out her own heart...

***

Azrealla gazed at her in thought a moment. So she was right... she had awakened the woman's hidden sexuality. She reached over to take her hand, stroking the back of it. She looked at Jo's scared hands a moment without a word, unsure for once in her life. Could she really pull this innocent soul into her world? She loved being with her, watching her, talking to her, how her blushes came so easily and her heart seemed so open...

"Do not say your sorry... I'm not. I would like to get to know you very much, but do you realize what that could mean? If it were to develop into more? I can not leave my river for more then a month's time and the longer I stay away, the longer i have to stay when i return. I would also have to continue my work and being legally dead I don't have all that much I can give you if one of these times. I didn't come home... Be careful my sweet, being with a rusalka can be a dangerous game..." She finally said, deciding she owned the girl that much. If the girl really was debating spending her time all with her this evening these were things she needed to know. She said the words simply even as her eyes lingered on the other woman's hands, the same way one would speak of the weather.

Cyris smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry then." he tilted his head. "what can I do to make it up to you?" The Centaur brushed back a lock of Ignatius' hair, and nodded. "Yes, there will be... and if no one else starts them, then I will." he winked.

The young changeling looked upon the transformation that Estella over went her change. She was entrancingly beautiful, even though she was angry. Angering her was the last thing he wanted to do now after seeing what such an action wrought.

"Yes, but nothing I haven't gone trough before." The queen couldn't take away his long life. It had been an irreversible change wrought in his body by magic making Uriel not quite human. Even so he'd never been a fae and never would be.

Laughingly the fae wrapped his arms around the centaur. Wins beating gently, Ignatius lifted from the balcony and launched into the air. He didn't fly for long just enough to give Cyris a taste of the experience. Returning to the solid balcony, he grinned and pressed a kiss upon the centaur's cheek. "Was that so bad?"

((So short, I'm sorry!))

Cyris smiled when Ignatius wrapped himself closer to himself, until his wings started beating. He gave a bit of a gasp when his feet left the ground, and held tight to the fae. Cyris tried to keep his panic down, in order to enjoy the gift Ignatius was showing him.

When Ignatius returned them to the balcony, Cyris sighed. "not horrid, but next time, lets give me a warning to prepare myself." He smiled, and placed a quick kiss on the faes lips. "deal?"

Estella shook her head as he spoke, leaning her hands against the railing and tilting her head forward to hide behind that red sea of hair. As she stared into the darkness below she bit her lip, it wasn't fair! None of this was fair! How could they hurt him like that? Were they really just more immortals that thought they could use humans as toys? It was starting to feel like her father hadn't been ousted for being the cruel bastard he was but merely for turning their own methods against them! Only concern for Ignatius whom she still considered a friend, despite him being replaced in her heart by Uriel, kept her from wanting to run to the queen and do...something. What she wasn't sure but just something.

She closed her eyes tightly a moment, not sure what to do. Her first instinct was to run away from the budding love blooming between them but then she thought of the alternative. If someone didn't get him away from the courts he'd have to spend the rest of his life here...with them. If she left, she would leave him with just as much pain as if she stayed as well as a broken heart for both of them...There was no easy way out, no escape. It was already to late...

"Is....is there any other way?" She nearly whispered, her shoulders falling a moment as she leaned against the balcony with her dress acting as a cape. She shivered a little as Audri was too angry to care about how much she was hurting and unsure now. He simply cared about inflicting pain through their mental connection for defying him. Her head felt like someone was squeezing it. Audri'd get over it shortly, he always did, but in the mean time...

Seeing her shivering made Uriel frown. Quickly he removed his coat and wrapped it around Estella's shoulders before uttering a word. Wrapping an arm around the redhead's waist as he sought comfort, the changeling let his eyes rove over the night before them. "There may be, but this is the only one I can think of." Placing a kiss on her temple, the young man sighed and retrieved his coat.

"I'm sorry but we've spent too long together. Someone may already be suspicious." Standing at a respectful distance from Estella, he offered her an apologetic smile. "We'll see each other again this night, but we must act as friends. Later though, tomorrow, perhaps we can see each other again." And without such restrictions. Bowing before taking his leave, the young man sent a bright smile Estella's way before entering the ballroom once more.

A little surprised, Ignatius blushed lightly as he locked eyes with Cyris. Lifting his lips he pressed them against the centaurs lingeringly before saying a word. As he spoke a twinkle entered the prince's eyes as he held Cyris close. "Very well, I promise. Have you any questions you would like to ask about me?" Hopefully he did, because Ignatius had no idea what someone might like to know about him.

Estella nearly jumped as she felt the coat touch her shoulders, putting a hand over his as she glanced back at him. she wanted to say to think harder then but she didn't, she simply closed her eyes as he touched her temple. She felt it soothe her slightly and began to relax despite audri's yelling. She nearly whimpered as he removed his coat, her eyes opening to raise to his. She nodded but for a moment said nothing. She didn't want to let him go so soon. She wished she understood what was happening....She shook her head and watched him leave.

For a moment she glanced to the shattered ring, gathering the bits of crystal and fragments of twisted gold into a pouch from her purse. She then hid it away, not knowing why she bothered. Perhaps simply to ensure that no one else could find it. She headed for the table and grabbed a drink before she sat down with her aching head.

Nivedus gave another charming smile. "I'm finding myself quite entertained, but who wouldn't with such lovely company?" He said, looking from one woman to the other. He then looked to Stuart as he spoke and gave a slight bow to the less than lovely merrow, focusing on his words so he could decipher them before responding.

"It's quite alright, Lord O'Cairne." He said, offering a nod to tell him he had addressed them correctly. "I have no doubts it would be hard to keep your hands firmly on one as lively as Lady Rosellen." He jested, brilliant smile returning again as he then listened to Rose refute Stuart's claim and blamed the slip-up on herself. When she suggested switching partners, though, he didn't show the frown his lips wanted to curve into. He had just barely begun to dance with Janu and he was quite intrigued with her. She wasn't a shifter, nor did she seem like a Bakeneko, it was a mystery he wanted to uncover.

Still, he kept this all inside, his pleasant smile not showing any of his hesitation. "If the Lady wishes and Lord O'Cairne agrees, I do not see why not." He said before resting his vivid eyes back on Janu. "Lady Janu, your opinion?" he asked, secretly hoping the pale woman was put off enough by the Merrow's appearance to decline.


Heiro gave a nod and held his arm out for her to take before leading her towards the secluded rest area. "May I ask the name of the Lady I am to accompany?" He asked, letting his smile fall slightly to hide his fangs again. Taking a moment to ponder on her appearance, he noted small details many would overlook, the way she held herself, her tone of voice, what she fidgets with, where her eyes wandered... all these things told him more about the bashful Fae than if he had talked with her for an hour. This was one of the reasons the Queen chose him, the training he underwent so many years ago still served him everyday. This and his nearly unmatched abilities in stealth and camouflage, both due to his powers, made him on the top of her list for nearly half a century now, despite his seeming disregard for her power and rules.

Sadiya blinked as she stared at the taller woman. Heiress to... Hell? Dozens of horrible human's tales of the underworld rushed through the Fae's mind and she tried not to let it show, giving a slight smile. "Sadiya Lahab, Ambassador of the Kahroba tribe." She said, thankful her voice sounded more steady than she felt.

She managed to flash a smile to Abanya as she thanked her, and turned back to Luciel as the Wyvern introduced herself. Clearly Abanya was either not bothered by the fact the grey-skinned woman was a demon or she was very good at hiding discomfort. Sadiya was betting on the former, as the dragon had already shown she did not know much about western civilization's mannerisms and the like.

((Silly Niv, XD depending on janu to be petty and rude as your saving grace would be like depending on me to be cruel to loved ones >.>...))

Janu couldn't help but flush a little as attention was focused on her from Nivedus comment and her ears lowered. She did, however, give Rose and Stuart a bashful smile. She didn't mind Stuart's appearance, she'd seen worse things. Hell, considering some of the forms she could take she could look just as inhuman....just as strange. True, some might like hers better as they were cat like and furry instead but to her she saw little difference.

"I don't mind at all." She responded and tilted her head to the side a little. It was a rather cute, almost innocent pose for a moment. She was clearly unaware of any reason Nivedus would want her to decline, or what Rose had suggested it for. She seemed to think of it no different then if a human couple had tried to cut in. She figured that Rose simply wanted to dance with Nivedus who was good looking and seemed to have a habit of charming people. Of course.. to her Nividus wasn't as good looking then Heiro but, who was?

Looking from face to face in the little group, she couldn't help the small laugh that left her lips at Nivedus' words. She wasn't exactly used to being spoken of as such, but she rather liked it. Holding her breath for a few moments, the blonde waited to see what Stuart and the lady would say. Needless to point out she was quite relieved when it turned out that Lady Janu didn't mind switching partners.

"I presumed you both had more experience with dancing then either of us, was I right?" To fill the silence, Rosellen spoke out rather confidently. In truth she was feeling a little less then that, and rather uncertain.

Announcing Duchess Rachel Black of Darkwood. Representing the Darkwood Clan and the Black family.

Strolling to the top of the stairs with a bold and challenging look. Rachel surveyed the scene before her. There were already many people here and she knew not a single one of them. Taking her time, she firmly stepped down each step allowing her boots to echo clearly. As she reached the bottom, her gaze swept the dance floor, refreshment stand, and the balcony beyond. Walking deliberately through the dance floor, she made her way with her head held high to the back wall. Leaning against the wall with one foot raised against it and her arms crossed, she calmly allowed her gaze to again sweep the room.

If there were anyone looking for an excuse to break any attempts at peace, she would be an obvious target. It would take an individual with courage to approach her at all. She dripped with danger and skill, her battle prowess obvious in the style of her black attire. She smirked and waited. It shouldn't take long for someone to get past the fear they must have felt at her bold and daring entrance.

Announcing Sir Mitch!

Mitch walked in calmly, allowing his white cape to enfold around him. He felt slightly out of place after the grand entrance the lady ahead of him had made. She was human too, of that he was certain. However he rather take his chances with the Fae after seeing the glint in her eyes. He calmly walked down the steps, his cape billowing out gently behind him. He headed around the dance floor towards the balcony. He enjoyed his space and would appreciate knowing who was around.

Lunalla gently placed her hand on the arm that Heiro offered, a small smile on her face. Once they were at the rest area, she sat down, looking at him when he asked for her name. "My name...?" she said, "Oh! Uhm... Lunalla... Lunalla Myste..." She paused for a moment, pondering her mind for something to say. "What's your name?" she asked, which was the first thing that popped into her head.

The sound of a woman's name being announced made the white haired man look up. With a sigh he adjusted his mask before standing gracefully to make his way to this duchess's side. Bowing politely he offered her a small smile. Nothing more then any stranger would offer to another in these circumstances. "Welcome to the Masquerade Duchess Black. I am one of the fae ambassadors, Uriel. Is this your first Masquerade?" He couldn't remember seeing the surly looking woman at the last masquerade.

Then again he had been distracted. He couldn't be this time though, not anymore. There was too much at stake for that to happen. It would make the wrong people suspicious and put someone he held close to his heart at risk.

Jo listened to Ella's words, letting them sink in and raise the questions she needed to ask herself. Did she really want this to be more? She skirted that question, moving on to the next. "It would not be so hard to go to your river, I think. I am much faster in the air than more mundane methods of travel," she said. Truly, living part time at another place would likely be good for her. It would at least get her to see more of the world. "We have mages who can spell a basket to weigh almost nothing, and be pulled through the air. And I don't need much, I can supply my own food, mostly, and can even continue my work, as long as I had a bench and supplies, and I could bring those with me." She shook her head. "And it would be no more dangerous, I think, that living with one of the gryphons who's a peacekeeper or scout."

The answers she was supplying to Ella's problems brought her back to the first question. Would she truly like this to become more than a friendship? She blushed again, looking down at the hands holding her own. "I think, though, that you would have to teach me how to act among the people around your river. I would dislike having people after me because I say the wrong thing."

Azrealla nodded as the other woman spoke but seemed to be debating something. There were dangers.. many did not believe that all her victims could be murderers. Whether it was because the murderer had only done a one time mistake or because they were pillars of the community or even just good at hiding didn't matter. The fact was that the price was the same for those who killed someone accidentally and someone who tortured someone to death were the same, only their death could free the Rusalka. This was what made her so hated by so many, and made being with her so dangerous. Still...she wasn't sure how to explain that so she simply answered the second question.

"It is...difficult to say. There are some too driven by blood lust to really interact with unless you are a Rusalka... the others tend to be cold towards the living so you would face prejudice when you meet and they would likely ignore you. Not that it matters as much as you think... we are fairly solitary and only meet in groups larger then two or three when one of us has lost enough of their mind to need a Keeper or other business comes up... A keeper being one of our sisters to stay with her and hunt with her"


the greater difficulty may e how we live. I tend to live under the water, but like my sisters have done in a few times past when love could conquer rage I can live on land near the river bank. I would build a small simple home like they did...it wouldn't be much, just enough for two. You would likely spend a lot of time by yourself when I worked, I have to do a lot of investigation sometimes if there are not many clues. " Ella said quietly as she gazed at the other woman thoughtfully. She seemed to be a serious sort and treating this as serious so Ella would be the same. She'd thought the idea of someone falling for any Rusalka, living corpse and hunter of men, was so ridiculous she hadn't actually considered it...

Rachel was a bit surprised that this calm and respectful man had approached her. He was very courteous. She almost wanted to laugh at the irony of this. She came here to represent her clan and ensure that those who threatened the peace dealt with her so as to not cause too big of an incident. Instead, this rather charming young man approaches her with all the graciousness of a host. You would expect no less from an ambassador.

Returning polite gestures, she dipped slightly into a curtsy. "It is indeed. Thank you for your welcome Ambassador Uriel." Ambassador huh? That was a bit surprising considering he looked to be human. Why would the fae ask a human to be their ambassador when humans were responsible for so much? She tilted her head, directly searching his face. There didn't seem to be any hostility there. "Your an ambassador? Of the fae? Forgive me for being surprised. I didn't think they would ask a human to be one for them considering the past conflicts."

She nodded, part of her mind wondering what sort of other business would require a conference. She did hope that Ella's other duties prohibited her from becoming a Keeper, though. But, not having to interact with other rusalka often almost made her sad. "I don't see me becoming a rusalka any time soon."

She though a moment about the implications of other rusalka having fallen in love. "I am used to being alone, or mostly alone. I spend most of my day working, and tend to lose focus of what's going on around me," she said. "So, being alone would be no trouble. And, maybe having someone to come home to would help you to feel better when you aren't having a good day." Wait, come home to? The thought made her pause, was she really willing to give up Eerie to live on a river who knew where, just to be near Ella? A small whisper deep in her mind echoed yes back at her.

She almost blushed again, but somehow didn't. "And, maybe someday, I could take you in a basket to Eerie? The spells placed on them will hold the weight of enough supplies for two people for a month, much more than the weight of one person."