A Masquerade Tonight

I had defied Mathis yet again. Despite what he’d ordered, I’d not gone to WitchFall. Earlier this morning I’d decided that it would be wise to save us both the grief of the argument and just go. But as the evening drew nearer I had two problems.

One:  I couldn’t think of a way of leaving my parents’ house that early. I had no plausible excuse.

Two:  I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I knew I should. Knew it would taper his fury at me some. And still, I was so reluctant that I couldn’t force myself to.

But when there was a knock only a few minutes past six, I found myself scrambling around the small shelter trying to find a place to hide.

There was nowhere.

And my father was eyeing me as though I’d lost my mind.

My mother pulled the door open and revealed him standing on our stoop. Leaning leisurely against his silver accented cane. His head tipped low beneath the dark brim of a tall hat.

He was dressed in finery. A gr