Masquerade Ball (OPEN to everyone)

As the dance begun, Amelia had no problem following his lead. His steps were long and taken with purpose, which made their travel around the dance floor elegant and balletic. When he spun her, Amelia's dress twirled out around her like petals of a flower, and when he pulled her back to him she fell easily back into the steps. His strong arms held the frame flawlessly, which gave Amelia ample direction.

It became clear a few minutes into the dance that they were beginning to clear the dance floor of other couples, but Amelia tried to push the thought from her mind, afraid that if she knew just how much attention was on her she might revert back to her cloistered self. She was enjoying her small escape into confidence, and though she understood the feeling was likely fleeting, the choice she had made to enjoy it had wasted no time taking hold.

How her dance partner managed to compliment her while providing a name for himself, Amelia could not figure out, but she accepted the name in good grace, appreciating his knowledge of Greek mythology. Amelia had indulged at times in learning about mythology, wondering what it might have been like to have been a mortal interacting with the powerful beings which were Gods.

As his words and the song came to an end, the boy spun her out in, one last dramatic flare of motion, their arms extended to increase the space between them. Although they had separated physically, his attention clearly had not wavered from her as he looked toward her with an emotion Amelia could not identify behind his mask.

When the music changed to a faster samba, Amelia spun in and took back her place in the frame of his arms. The steps were quicker now, more demanding, but the adrenaline which pumped through her veins with the accelerated tempo brought forth more flirtation from Amelia's lips. From where it came, Amelia could not say, but she did not stop it from coming.

"You dance nearly as well as you dress," Amelia said, making reference to the designed suit the boy had chosen for the ball, "But I suppose when you paint on such a beautiful canvas, no matter what you draw it turns out handsome."

Seriously! Who are you? Amelia's introverted side spoke up inside her head, but Amelia suppressed the voice once again to enjoy the moment and the dance.

Aden watched as there was glimmer in her eye while the crowd to in her beauty, before the music changed to a samba. Aden was only alright at the samba and no where near as skilled as he was in the waltz, but he would put on his best show for her. After all this night was turning into an adventure for the both of them. With a little foresight Aden saw that this would not last for much longer as the day would draw to an end sometime, and Apollo and Athena well the will be dead like the leaves outside in the fall chill.

Now though Aden swayed his hips to the fast rhythm while he extended and retracted his feet to the beat of the music. the crowd was dispersing as the rest of the couples now tried to follow their lead in the Samba. A double compliment and the second one was something he had never heard before. He would have to write that one down as it was certainly special.

"So Athena are you always this well how do I put this stunning? I am mean 10 minutes ago i was on my way out of the dance, and then I ran into you. Now look at where we are in the center of the dance all eyes drawn. Oh and about the artwork it is not a stand alone piece i am guessing the even greater work standing next to it make it more appealing." Aden said the last part alluding to how amazing she looked.

This girl really was something that Aden had not expected, but it reminded him of the teen muggle movies such as She is all that where the unexpected is really a star.

As the dance heated up, Amelia moved closer to him, letting his body lead hers around the floor. She was unaccustomed to being in such proximity to another individual, but her hormones were not nearly as rational as her mind, and they celebrated in the rush of excitement that the dance involved.

Although the mystery man did not seem to be as proficient in samba as he had been in waltz, his handle on the steps was strong enough that they were the demonstrative couple on the dance floor. Usually, all the attention which was now focused on her would have led Amelia to disengage herself and find a quiet place to be ignored, but for now she chose to gain selective tunnel-vision, watching only the features of her dance partner, reading the spins and turns in his facial features as much as in the direction of his arms.

With another compliment applied to her Amelia was beginning to wonder if the man spoke any language except that of flattery, but the fact that she had been starved of attention all her life somehow made her revel in it now. Amelia shook her head in disbelief as she lowered her eyes in respond to his statement, looking up again only after taking a moment to put her sudden giddiness in check.

"I don't usually draw much attention at all, much less stun," Amelia responded honestly, but using her tone of voice selectively so as to sound mysterious instead of pathetic, "I find I am usually the artwork at the back of the gallery, rather than the masterpiece which draws attention to the show."

"But I suppose some undiscovered artwork ends up being the most appreciated when it is brought to light," she reflected, swaying her hips with the beat of the music and following him as he stepped backward. She placed a hand on his chest as she moved forward, and when the dance called for her to start to move backward, she lifted her hand from his torso and rolled her shoulders backward in time with her steps.

Her analgy reminded him of the a Mona Lisa a piece that was meant to be private, and not displayed, yet it has mamged to be come the biggest piece of art work in the world. Could she be Aden's Mona Lisa, no that was jumping the gun a bit and they hadn't even seen the enirety of thier faces. The dance was coming to it's conclusion which made Aden happy as it was wearing him out gigger frames like himself were not meant to sway thier hips so much.

Aden learned one the perfect finish to Samba, and though he had never used it before now sounded like the perfect oppertunity to whip out. It was a bit austtionacious and he hoped that it did not scare her off, but how could she was Athena not only the Goddes of beauty, but also one of war. That fire pashion showed through when she put her hand on his chest he was once again shocked this time by her lack of concern when it came to macking physical contact.

The music had about ten seconds left Aden could feel it, and the time was right to peforem his trick. the move in his mind was always a bit swing dancish, but hey his instructor told him to use it. Aden gracefuly swept Athena's feet out from under her as he flipped he around. Now that the were facing the same way he place his head on her shoulder leaning against her head. while he ran one of his hands down the side of hger body in that sexy latino style that the samba was known for.

Aden began to whisper in her her, "Well my dear Athena consider this the proper lighting to be the spotlight." With that Aden awaited her response to what he had just done.

The dance she was doing with Aden was far to risque for something her mother would have had her doing, but when Amelia checked to see if Anton was planning on intervening, she found the man in conversation with another smartly dressed man, pointedly ignoring Amelia in what she perceived as his way of saying, "Don't worry, I won't tell your mother."

Feeling as though she was free from all pressures now - societal because she had on her mask, and parental because Anton was giving her free reign - Amelia breathed easier and let the music control her, much in the way it did when she played or sang. It was easier to follow the rhythm when she released the stress and paranoia from her mind, and her dance partner made it that much easier as he tugged and pushed on her arms, spinning her about the floor with grand flourish.

As the music was beginning to cadence, the boy took complete control of her motion, no longer leading but instead moving for her. Her feet left the ground briefly as he picked her up, turning her to face the mass of students who had stopped what they were doing to watch the spectacle on the dance floor. Amelia felt the boy's head against her shoulder, his short hair bristling against her bare skin. She knew the move he was about to do, the intimacy it would create between them, and the likely response of the audience they had gathered.

Despite all this, though, her mind had relinquished its control of her body and instead of pulling away from his touch, Amelia allowed the boy's hands to slide along the curves of her body, fanning out at her hips as though to highlight the shape of them. The whispered words in her ear sent shivers down her spine, making her arch her back just as the last notes were played by the brass instruments, bringing their fanatic dance to an end.

The crowd, however, did not realize Amelia's arch had been in response to his words, but instead perceived it as the punctuation mark at the end of their routine. Light applause from a few of the seated guests and the looks of disbelief on most of their spectators made Amelia evermore aware of what a scene the pair of them had just made. A whoop from a male guest in a white tuxedo made Amelia blush, and with the rush of color to her face Amelia lowered her shoulders and her posture returned to normal. Taking a deep breath before moving, she turned to face her dance partner, her face flushed both from the exertion of the dance and from the attention to which she was unaccustomed.

"Perhaps we should allow other couples to enjoy the spotlight for a while?" Amelia asked breathily, barely containing her attraction toward the boy whose name she did not even know. The absurdity of the situation did not escape her, but she was beyond rationalizing her emotions at this point and just let the masked woman take over where the bitter party guest had left off.

Gesturing toward a table which had just become unoccupied as a group of what appeared to be first years left the great hall in a cluster, Amelia tilted her head as she awaited a response from her partner.

The Arch was a nice finish lie a beautiful frame for the painting, but he knew i was because of the way he was treating her. He find it a tad bit comical that the events in this night i t was quite a whirlwind of events, but when she offered to go back to the table Aden was resistive, if not adiment about not going back over there. He felt that who ever that man in the corner was it would be well a very likely distraction to his plan, and the rest of events tonight.

"I feel that after that spectacle of grace, passion, beauty, fire, and intensity we will always be in the spotlight some how if we remain here. Maybe we could go outside, and I will show you something that is almost as breathtaking as your eyes my Athena." Aden did not pull her out there this time he awaited to see if every thing had been in vain or not. Would she respond as the Closet girl, or the wall flower it was all in the air.

Aden felt he had unleashed something along the lines of the Sexy librarian and that indeed was so hot. it was every mans dream to have a sexy librarian weather they admitted it or not. She had brains and looks, plus she was also feisty to Aden that spelled perfect. It would also spell perfect to his parents if you left out the key word that she is a which. There obsessive habit to thwart anything good in Aden's life id dealt with magic was obtrusive and overbearing. Not to say though that this was something good it could always develop along those lines thous, so it served as a good example of these feelings.

Amelia could tell by the emotions which flickered across the lower half of her gentleman's face that he did not fancy sitting at a table among the masses of other students and professors. It took him only a moment to think of an alternative, and Amelia made note of the fact that he thought quickly on his feet. It was a trait Amelia possessed when it came to wand work or ways to escape a potentially uncomfortable situation, but she was not usually so smooth when it came to conversation.

His suggestion was lined with flattery, and again he was drawing out reactions in her she was not accustomed to. She averted her eyes from his, trying to think clearly despite their proximity and the adrenaline rush she was experiencing.

Stepping outside her comfort zone had been thrilling beyond anything Amelia might have imagined, but wasn't it time she started being rational again? Looking over her shoulder, Amelia scanned the tables for the man who had escorted her to the ball, the man assigned to be her chaperon for the evening. Anton seemed to have allowed himself a glass of champagne, probably assuming now that Amelia had begun dancing she would occupy herself for the remainder of the ball.

With Anton sufficiently distracted, Amelia's options were now lain out before her. Should she go back to the table where the Gryffindor girl still sat, or accompany the man who had charmed out of her a girl she barely recognized? When her eyes were pulled back up to the statuesque man who stood before her, the decision suddenly became much easier.

You only live once... Amelia reminded herself, And for you that life might just be for this one night. Enjoy it. You've earned it.

The rationalization was weak, but she suppressed the urge to delay further her answer. Instead, Amelia snaked her arm through his, placing her hand lightly on the wrist that a half hour earlier she had been clenching for dear life.

"My breath is yours for the taking," Amelia whispered, just tall enough in her heels to reach his ear, "Lead the way, Apollo."

While he was awaiting her time from what Aden could only guess was a mix of the two girls he had met her tonight, he could not help but to watch where her eyes went. The masks were good at hiding your upper face, but the eyes could still give away the expression of searching for approval.

Aden felt like the look must be one meant for that man he had seen eying them of and on this wonderful night. Thoughts once again stirred up in his mind as to who this man was, and what he meant to Athena. It was ethire some blind date or something closely related it to it. Another thought arose4 that perhaps it was a stalker, which would be well unfortunate because he did not want to spoil tonight with a duel. That prospect though reminded Aden of a story he had once read The Count of Monte Cristo the author escaped him at the moment.

In the story at a masquerade ball much like this one two estranged friends duel out of anger, and competition for a women. Of course their battle was with swords while if Aden was to engage in a conflict it would be with magic something far worse then a fencing cutlass.

The wait was over she finally spoke it turned out Aden's prompts through out the night had one, and she was indeed the more like the closet feisty girl. Before retorting to her Aden gave one final look around the ball room giving a pleasing nod as to say he approved of the dance for what it had done for him, and her, the women now interlocking arms with him. " Well then Athena I Shall lead you out of her on my golden chariot, it is only fitting for some one as vibrant as the Sun." With that Aden gracefully carried her out of the ballroom. This could be to much, yet tonight Aden seemed to have a repetitive series of pushing the envelope.

Isabella walked into the ballroom, clearly very late. She grabbed a small cup of punch and retreated to a seat at the back. She enjoyed watching all the dancing and listening to all the music, but she eventually got very bored. Maybe someone would ask her to dance...