Suddenly he came toward me, while his friends pushed the wheeled table underneath their desk again. It was done. It wasover.
Before I knew it, the mask was on my face.
The threads still glowed on the outside, but they didn’tbother me. The man went behind me to tie the satin laces tightly. I breathed, and air slipped through the mask with ease. I hardly felt it against my skin, though it had looked sturdy from a distance. To my surprise, it wasn’t—it was soft and light, a part of me already, only a few seconds in.
“Remember—in the ballroom, voices are considered an offer already given,” the man said.
Johnny had said something like it outside, too. “Yes, but I don’t really know what that m?—”
Of course, he didn’t let me finish.
“You may keep the mask on until you feel it is right to give it away. If you choose wrong, the ballroom will keep you forever.”
I paused.
“Excuse me?” Did he sayforever?
Surely, he was joking. Hehadto be, but…
The man wasn’t smiling. He was already by the black doors, handles in hand.
He turned to me and said, “Until then—enjoy the party,” and pushed both doors open all the way.
11
The sound of music wiped my mind clean of questions and thoughts. I was moving before I realized it, a strange need growing in my chest to go to it, to see where it was coming from, what was making it so flawless, so smooth, every note slipping to the next like silk.
Instruments.
Instruments were playing the beautiful melody—onlyinstruments. On their own, without anybody holding them up. A cello, three violins, and a grand piano, every inch of them clean and glossy. They stood alone on a stage in the middle of the room, surrounded by tables covered in silky cloths, full of dishes and food.
Surrounded by tall wooden partitions placed everywhere around the wide space.
Surrounded by the people.
So many people were already in the party, dressed impeccably, men and women alike—the same colors, the same style of dresses and suits as ours. It was likewhoever had made our clothes had made theirs in the same breath. They were all dancing, moving so gracefully.
They were all wearing the same masks, too.
Something moved behind me and I turned with a gasp, completely disoriented, to find that the black doors had closed. I’d somehow come all the way into the ballroom, and the doors had closed. The red drapes that had been to their sides fell forward without anybody even touching them.
When they settled, it was like the doors weren’t there at all.
Every other wall I could see from here was covered in those same red drapes made of rich velvet, and the chandeliers over our heads were made of tear-shaped crystals that reflected light so beautifully. The ceiling was made of glass, too, and I could just see the new stars twinkling in the night outside.
Outside.
There was a world outside. I wasn’t lost here, wherever they’d brought me. It was a party, indeed, onefullof people.
I wondered if they were the same guests from the cocktail party. I wondered if they had come here to dance with us, too. I wondered if the queens were among them. It would certainly make me feel better if they were.
Because this whole thing was madness. To be asked to pay with memories—whatmadness!And I had paid, hadn’t I? I’d paid with memories. I’d given them what they asked for, and…
I stopped. Closed my eyes. Thought hard.
Whichmemories had I paid with?
Time’s Teeth, I couldn’t remember. I didn’t have the slightest clue which memories I’d given, but that man said that they would stay with me, didn’t he?
