A Night to Remember (all the pretty people)

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

"Expected, perhaps. But still crass." Alek had no room to talk, attempting to use Christine as a means to hurt his half-brother. But charming men like Alek got away with much more than they should be permitted.

"Would a spin on the dance floor raise your spirits?" He offered her his hand and a handsome smile. 

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine took another sip of the champagne in agreement to Alek's assessment of society. She had no idea that she was a means to end with Alek, she might have been devastated to find that out, but he kept his intentions well concealed.

She looked at him and the temptation he offered, and the champagne bottle another temptation. She took a final sip, had she and Lyra -mostly she- finished an entire bottle in such a short time? That wasn't good news.

She set the glass down and stood testing her footing to see if she was sober enough. When her footing held she shrugged it off as impotent alcohol, "I'd be delighted." she said placing her hand in his.

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

Alek lifted her and when she was standing he put her arm in his and guided back into the ballroom. The atmosphere was completely different inside; the lights were almost blinding compared to the soft glow of the evening garden, the room buzzed with voices, and a colorful flurry of dresses filled the dance floor.

Alek guided Christine out into the swaying crowd, pulling her close as his right hand cupped the small of her back. As they joined the movements on the dance floor Alek smiled and said, "you let me know if any more vultures bother you. I'll take care of them." He spun her around before pulling her back to him with enough force that her body was pressed against his.

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine realized the alcohol's affect on her was a bit more intense than she realized when Alex's hand resting low on the skin of her lower back caused a shiver to run through her.

When she was drawn into him she gasped, confusion lit in her eyes for a moment as she drew them up from the absent space between them, to his sturdy chest, and finally to his eyes.

She felt a mild panic, then his words pierced the haze, she smiled,"My hero."

She spun out and came back, "Again."

[Lyra Newbury]

Alek could do this all night. Christine really was amazing, it was absolutely no trouble at all to spend his time pursuing her. Even if his intentions were less than honorable. He smirked at every glance, every gasp, and every shudder she made whether voluntary or not. She was even easier in her inebriated state.

***

Lyra was annoyed with Julian for not coming even though it was still relatively early, as Christine had pointed out. She missed him and the fact that Mason had surprised her at her apartment instead of Julian was confusing while also being very expected. Mason proved his affections for Lyra.

Of course after asking a few people if they'd seen Mason she was met with variations of "I saw him dancing with a lovely young woman not too long ago." It may have been her guilty conscience for having cheated on Mason with Julian, but she felt instantly betrayed that Mason was dancing with someone else and as he was no longer on the dance floor Lyra suspected the worst.

[Christine Montgomery]

It might have been the champagne, but Christine felt better than she had in ages. She was actually having fun dancing with Alek. After a few structured dances they began to play current music which enabled them to loosen up on the dance floor.

***

"Julian! Out of hiding at last!" Mason said greeting his friend just outside the ballroom. "I'm glad you're here there's someone I want you to meet." Mason said with a grin, "Well I'm sure you know her, but-"

"Her?" Julian smirked, "There's a her?" he laughed, "So that's what has you too busy to visit a friend."

Mason appeared sheepish, then teased, "It was your foul humor that kept me away."

As the two men conversed and caught up, a third party kept an eye on them.
***

"This isn't good."

"Well what did you expect to happen?"

"Not this!" Sam argued.

Nik pressed two fingers to the bridge of his nose as he often did when he was staving off a headache.

"Help me-"

Nik put a hand up to stop her from pleading and began walking down the stairs to talk to the men.

Sam smiled at him, sometimes she really did love the man. Now she had to find Lyra.

[Lyra Newbury]

"There you are!" Lyra smiled at Samantha, glad to finally see someone she actually knew. There were plenty of people she had met before, and many more that she'd only been introduced to. Lyra had spent a good 15 minutes wandering around asking if anyone had seen Mason, Sam, even Nicolas. She needed people she didn't have to force a smile around, her cheeks were starting to hurt.

"Have you seen Mason? I heard he was dancing with some girl...I snapped at him earlier and I wanted to apologize."

[Samantha Montgomery]

"Nik is busy stalling." Sam said quickly through her teeth as she smiled giving the appearance that everything was fine.

She guided Lyra over to the banquet table and explained, "Mason is speaking with Julian right now." she told her friend, "I hadn't realized that you invited him."

[Lyra Newbury]

If Lyra wanted an excuse to not have to smile, this was a perfect one. Her heart instantly began to race as her panic returned. "Oh Merlin, I thought he decided not to come!"

Lyra whispered as she explained the problem to Sam. "I invited Julian after I saw him a few weeks back. It was after Christine was taken and...well that's not the point. I was planning on ending it with Mason but when I tried he surprised me with his mother, and then he went out of town for business. I didn't want to break up over owl and he said he'd be back before the ball, but he only just got back tonight." Lyra clutched her chest, trying to stave off the dizzy sensation she felt.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam was sympathetic, "Hold it together Lyra, we'll make it out of this yet, but I need you to stay calm." she said knowing that others would have their eyes on them.

"Alright, I want you to take a deep breath and just try to keep it together for the next five seconds alright?" she put her hand on her friend's shoulder,"I'll take care of it."

Sam's mind was already whirling and quick into action mode as she planned how to avert the crisis that was happening before her. If this only could have been a different night, but Lyra's come out party was no time for theatrics.

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra would care about the awkward stares and murmurs later if she did not follow Sam's advice, but Lyra truly didn't care about anyone else at the party at that moment. She was too preoccupied with the two men she cared about and the mess she had made of their hearts. Lyra wasn't even worried about them hating her. But she couldn't stand to think how Julian would hurt when he found out his replacement was Mason, or how Mason might hate one of his best mates because of something she did.

Lyra nodded and took several deep breaths, forcing a smile while trying to remain calm. All she had to do was listen to what Samantha instructed. She'd cocked up enough trying to solve this problem on her own.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Samantha took her hand and led her to the small stage where the band was playing. The music cut off.

"If I could have your attention please." Sam smiled a perfect practiced smile, "I'd like for you all to follow Lyra and I into the gardens outside. We've arranged some additional entertainment for this evening."

Sam nodded to the staff who gently directed guests this way and that.

She turned back toward Lyra, "After I make this announcement, take this key and go to any door in the house, use it and it will take you to one of the guest rooms." she explained.

"I can send Mason or Julian...who do you want to see first...although eventually you will have to talk to both of them."

[Lyra Newbury]

Stepping onto the stage did nothing to ease the oncoming panic attack, but she smiled anyway and looked out onto the crowd. She found Christine with the charming man she had met in the garden, and focused on her new friend's face. Christine had her own boy problems, Lyra reminded herself. She wasn't alone in the romantic f*ck up club.

As the guests filed outside Lyra looked to Sam, her fake smile faltering slightly. She took the skeleton key and nodded, she could do this. She'd been planning to do this already, but she was still unprepared for it. Did she want to speak with Julian first, or Mason? Merlin that was a difficult decision. In the end she decided to speak first with the man she had actually cheated on. "Mason," she answered hesitantly, wondering if she had made the right choice.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam nodded and then took Lyra's hand and guided her outside. The guests had gathered down the stairs and were now turned looking expectantly upward at Sam and Lyra.

"Thank you all so much for coming. Tonight we are fulfilling an old tradition." she nodded to a staff member who brought forward a dome shaped object concealed by a black velvet sheet.

Sam pulled the sheet back to reveal a golden snitch hovering delicately in the air of a golden cage.

"The snitch will be released into the maze..."

Sam was eloquent in her explanation that whoever caught the snitch would not choose Lyra's dance partner for the ceremonial waltz, but would also receive the large emerald within the snitch itself.

It was an older tradition, usually held only by the highest of rank, and those who could afford it.

Sam turned toward Lyra, "If you would be so kind." she said gesturing to the latch on the cage's door. It was Lyra's part to release the snitch.

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra wished her smile was as practiced and polished as Samantha's, as the entire party turned to watch her release the snitch. She lifted the clasp on the cage and gently pulled open the door, her hand shaking as she did so. Before the door of the cage was fully opened the snitch had zipped out into the crowd and buzzed about over the heads of the guests. It seemed to almost tease them by being so close to everyone before it zoomed off into the maze.

Everyone was happy, smiling and laughing as the snitch flew over their heads. Lyra's stomach was in knots.

[Samantha Montgomery]

As the guests departed into the maze Sam stayed behind with Lyra.

"It's alright, it's enchanted. No one will find the snitch until I give the word." she told her friend, "And there are enough surprises in the maze to keep them occupied for quite a while."

Sam had intended to take the time to freshen up and perhaps nap, well no she wouldn't, but at the very least relax, but that didn't seem to be in the cards.

"I'll send Mason to you and I'll send Julian in the maze."

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra's confession continued here.

[Aleksander “Alek” Eiriksen]

The formal festivities continued here.