Chapter 1 - Masquerade Ball

"Please! Let me go!" The man begged as the woman continued piercing his skin with her sharp red heels. Her smile widened at the sight of the man. 

"Tell me what I want and I'll let you go," she whispered with seduction. When he didn't utter a word, her heels grew deeper down his skin. His agonizing scream echoed in the dark big room with only a few people inside, not willing to interrupt the woman. 

"S-stop, stop!" He breathed heavily, but she did not stop. 

"A masquerade ball!" he screamed at the top of his lungs. Her eyebrows arched and her eyes squinted. She moved her foot away as he gasped for air. Her heel was crushing his skull and he couldn't bear the pain anymore. 

"Give me the details," she commanded. 

Tears mixed with sweat rolled down his cheeks as he slowly gulped. "A masquerade ball will be held t-tomorrow. H-he-- The M-mafia boss will be t-there," he explained as she slowly lifted her head to look at someone from afar. 

"Take care of this matter, Blood Moon," the person uttered and the woman nodded with a slight smile. 

After the matter was finished, she returned to her room and watched herself in the mirror as the blood of the man was splattered across her clothes. Most importantly, her red shoes. She took them off and started polishing and removing the blood.

Her watch lit up, brightening the room she was in. She looked over with a blank face and saw the notification for her new mission. Kill the mafia boss and she's free to leave the life of an assassin. She's supposed to be happy, but after being through so much, she just can't provide proper emotions. 

"One last kill..." What she didn't know was this would be a rollercoaster to hell. 

SOFT music began as agent Blood Moon got ready for the night she will commit her last kill. Putting on an eye-catching leather cherry red dress that hugs her figure and black heels that makes her four inches taller. A masquerade ball, she remembers. A mask should be worn. 

Blood Moon grabbed a black fox mask that covers her eyes and nose, and only her red lips are visible. She walked outside the room and met her idiotic partner in crime. "Hello, Shadow," she greeted with a bit of hesitance. 

"Looking great, Keisha," he greeted with a playful flirt and she closed her eyes in frustration. "Do not-- Do not call me by my name," she irritatedly commanded. 

"I didn't know you were coming with me," she murmured with gritted teeth. Guessing from the way he dressed, she concluded that he'll be accompanying her. 

"A mischief such as you needs a partner for this act. After all, this will be your last mission. The mafia boss will take his last breath tonight," he cunningly mentioned with a wink. Such eyes to die for. Shadow resorted to being an assassin after his sister was slaughtered years ago. 

"You better not get in my way," she warned with a stern look, making him chuckle. He nodded his head like an obedient puppy before offering his arm. "Shall we?" He waited for her to wrap her hand around his but she walked past him.

He chuckled lightly before holding his heart. Keisha, also known as Blood Moon, has always been like this to him, but he dared not care. 

Upon arriving at the venue, Keisha stood outside the car with her arms crossed, looking at the mansion. "Pardon me." She looked behind and saw a man towering over her wearing a black suit, and a red mask covering his eyes and nose with hideous colored pink hair. She furrowed her eyebrows and so did he. 

He's familiar, but she can't figure out from where. 

"Excuse me?" he asked. She came back to her senses and moved out of the way. She was in between two cars, blocking the way. The man didn't waste any more of his time and continued walking as men followed behind. 

"Do you know who that is?" she asked, turning to Shadow who just came out of the car. He shook his head but warned, "Careful with people at this party. They might be more powerful than we can handle. Let's do this job discreetly."

"Settle down, everyone," the master of ceremonies announced. Keisha and Shadow were led to the table they were assigned to.

Eyes were on Keisha as everyone was wearing black and white clothes, yet she was wearing red. "This is why you should read instructions," Shadow whispered lightly. Apparently, the party was exclusively in black and white. 

Her body's beauty was exaggerated, and none dared to question why she was wearing red. The mask on her face hides her disgust from the people's stares. Before sitting down, she spots the man who bumped into her across from them. He was staring at her intensely. Once she noticed, he gave a small smirk, raising a glass of wine to her. 

To his surprise, she ignored him. Keisha sat down, her back facing the man. She heard laughing at the back but she completely ignored their presence. 

An hour into the party, Keisha was staring mindlessly at the food in front of her while Shadow was eating his. "The last time I ate food from a mission, I nearly died from poison," she uttered while eyeing the food. 

It looked delicious, and the jealousy of seeing her partner eat makes her want it even more. She grabbed a fork and scooped some food. She was about to eat it but the lights shut down. "Fuck," she whispered under her breath. This was their cue. 

Really? When she was about to eat, they had to do the mission? 

She looked beside her and Shadow was already gone. She stood up from her seat and they had five minutes to execute this plan. She scanned the entire room despite it being almost pitch black and spotted their target. 

She sprinted forward but her heels tripped on something on the ground. Cursing the gods inside her mind, she braced herself for impact. She inhaled sharply but then-- "Careful," a man uttered quietly yet sweetly. He caught her hand before pulling her to his body. 

She faced him before landing on his chest. Her heart started beating fast and the lights opened. Her mouth slightly opened, looking behind, and saw Shadow sign something. He wasn't able to do it on time. 

She closed her eyes with annoyance. "How about a dance?" she blurted out with a forced smile. She looked up and met him face to face. "A simple thank you would have sufficed but alright. I'll take you up on that offer," he uttered smugly with a glint of amusement in his voice.

"How about a dance, everyone?" She announced and the man in front of her nodded. Couples stood up from their seats. 

She gulped before leading him to the middle of the dance floor. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers. With a blink of an eye, the room dimmed and music started playing. Keisha started questioning what this man's authority is. He just helped them execute their kill. 

His hand wrapped around her waist and electricity went down her spine. She looked away before wrapping her hands around his neck. She breathed heavily while dancing and watching Shadow from a distance. 

"May I know the name of the beautiful lady in front of me?" She softly smiled, still focused on Shadow. "Uh... I don't really know you," she murmured. Her eyes lit up when she saw Shadow pouring the poison into the drink. 

"Really?" he asked with a smirk and amusement. They continued dancing, waiting for the target to drink his tea. When he lifted his glass, she was filled with anticipation. The man she was with leaned down and whispered to her ears, "My eyes are up here. Focus on the man you're dancing with. Not elsewhere." 

He grabbed her chin and faced her towards him. She felt her breath stop, watching him smirk and his eyes looking through hers. "Since you're in this event, I would've assumed you knew who I was," he uttered with raised eyebrows. Her eyes fidgeted between him and her target before laughing nervously.  

"I-- w-who are you?" she asked before gulping, waiting for the target to fall to the ground. He chuckled lightly, keeping his gaze on hers. He raised his right hand and removed the masquerade mask he was wearing. "The mafia boss who's hosting this event," he introduced. 

Her eyes shifted back to him, having a clear view of his face despite being in a dimmed room. He had bright blue eyes, a defined nose and jawline, arched brows, and seducing pink lips. "S-say that again?" Keisha was flabbergasted. 

"Eros Galaz," he revealed his name. Her jaw dropped at the same time as their supposed target dropped to the ground. The lights lit back up and his smile grew wider. "Now may I know your name?" Before she could answer, a woman screamed bloody murder. 

She looked behind Eros and saw their target struggling to live before completely stopping moving on the floor. Shadow joyed, still unaware of the truth. Eros, the mafia boss, turned around to see his right-hand man dead. 

Keisha with her hands still wrapped around his neck, and his hand wrapped around her waist, was in shock. Her bright blue-green eyes with no emotion suddenly filled with every emotion she can think of. 

She just danced with the mafia boss they were supposed to kill. "We took down the wrong man..." she murmured under her breath, staring at Eros who was holding her waist tightly.