Chapter 2: Masquerade ball

Natasha's POV

"Good evening, madame."

I smiled at the man who greeted me. "Good evening," I greeted him back.

"Your invitation please." He offered his palm, waiting for me to give him the invitation that he was asking.

I repeatedly cursed inside my head.

I don't have any invitation because I'm not invited to this party. It's my first time being at this kind of event in my entire life and I have no idea that this is how it works. All I know is that I need to wear a long sexy dress that exposes half of the skin on my body and a red mask that covers half of my face, and I'm glad I did that, but the invitation. . .

I smiled at the man in front of me. He's a big man and looks scary, but at the same time has a gentle aura and smiles back at me.

I removed my mask so I could look at him and he could see my eyes clearly.

"You are very beautiful, madame," he said.

I smiled at his words genuinely because I truly feel beautiful right now. I am wearing make-up-- a thing that I haven't done in my life until tonight. It's honestly a shame that I have to cover my face with a mask because the said theme of the party is a masquerade.

"You will let me in and forget this happened," I whispered to him as I stared directly into his eyes.

Seconds after, there was a red sparkle sparked in his eyes. The man nodded at me with full obedience as he untied the red ribbon that served as a blockade.

"Thank you," I whispered once again as I wore my mask again and went inside.

I have used this ability several times already since the moment I stepped foot in this city. If my father knew about me using my ability to control minds, he'd be furious because I was forbidden to use this skill of mine my entire life. But even though I was forbidden to practice it, I can easily use it if I want to. I can easily read and control minds if I want to. It comes naturally. I remembered that I even tried it on my friends before and it worked, but when I tried to do it with my mother and father- I couldn't. Especially with my father. I can't read what's on his mind. It's like there's a block or something that I do not know and can't understand.

I am the only one in our pack who has the ability to read and control minds. My mother said that this is a special gift given to me and no one else possessed it in our kind.

It wasn't my intention to control minds because it was morally wrong, but I had no choice but to do so.

May they all forgive me.

I touched the dagger, securing it in my thigh harness. The slit in my dress is high and exposed my right thigh, but I'm glad the dagger remained hidden and safe because it's a precious weapon given by my father. He even said that it was designed to kill the man.

As I entered the room where the party is, the sound of the violin welcomed me and I automatically felt relaxed because the sound of it was so soothing to my ears. But, I quickly composed myself because I'm not here to relax. That's way too far from the reason why I came here to this party.

I roamed my eyes around. The room is filled with sophisticated and elegant people. From the way they move and the way they talk--, you can tell how rich they are-- filthy rich.

But my eyes are looking for one particular person. I have no idea what he looks like and who he really is except from the description of my father of him. He told me that he is arrogant, ruthless, and dangerous and I have to be careful with him.

'But, you have to be sure of killing him.'

The words of my father echoed in my mind. I shook it off and tried to put it at the back of my mind, but it's just impossible to. And his other words saying I can't go home unless I have the man's head is just hard to forget because it affects me badly. I wanted to ask him why. Why can't I go home if I fail?

I heaved a deep sigh as I continued to roam my eyes throughout the entire place. The whole room is slightly dim and the lady whom I asked yesterday said I could find him if I could see girls circling around him and flirting with him.

I squinted my eyes at the man sitting on the sofa in the corner. There are two women sitting on his left and right and one in his lap.

It's him. And the lady is right.

He's not wearing a mask. And I can recognize his hair when I saw his back yesterday. He has long hair that is tied in a top knot.

It's Valerian Fenrir.

Looking at him flirting with multiple girls at the same time made me sick to my stomach and I had to avert my eyes. I even saw him squeeze the butt of the girl sitting in his lap.

My father is right.

He is nothing but a disgusting bastard.

I gripped the dagger in my thigh and made sure I was able to get it out and make my way to his death.

Father said to stab him straight in his heart so his death would be certain. I keep that in mind.

Taking a deep breath, I started to make my way towards him slowly.

Our eyes met.

My heart hammered inside my chest when I remembered what my father said. He told me to never look straight at his eyes, but it's too late now because our eye contact seems hard to break. I never understood why my father warned me about staring at his eyes, but I'm guessing it's because it is hard to end the life of someone you have shared eye contact with.

Valerian Fenrir suddenly creased his forehead in confusion as he stared at me, but he quickly hid it. But, I already caught his sudden confusion.

What's the matter, hmm?

I smiled at him and he smiled back at me.

Father warned me about his charm and the way he can draw a woman's attention easily and I get it now. I get what my father meant by that.

Although I can't really see him clearly because of the dim light, Valerian Fenrir has the face of a perfect sculpture of a Greek God. From his perfect nose, luscious lips, and perfect jaw-- I mentally chuckled at my thoughts. It would be ironic if the last thing I do is to fall in love with him before I claim his life.

It's ironic and pathetic and impossible, because a pretty face doesn't guarantee a pretty person. He's a bastard. And I would never.

"Hello," I greeted him with a smile although in my mind I was already cursing him.

"Good evening." His virile voice filled my ears as he held my hand and planted a soft kiss on my knuckles.

I smiled at him once again. A smile that was a sign of flirting and I had to endure the sickness I felt in my stomach in doing so.

In order for me to be close to him, I have to pretend that I want him. That I want to be one of the girls lingering with him.

Valerian Fenrir whispered something to the girl sitting in his lap and to the other girls beside him. They all then stood up and left. Obeying him like a brainless little puppy.

Well, good. I don't have to worry about getting rid of them because he already did it for me.

"Sit," he demanded as he gestured to the space beside him.

Rude.

I wanted to punch him in the throat because of the way he talks to me, but I fought the urge to do so and instead, I sat beside him.

"What's your name?" he asked as he faced me.

Now that I can see him clearly, I was completely astonished by his looks. Valerian Fenrir looks so damn handsome. . .

I cleared my throat and tried to bring back my focus.

"Natasha," I answered.

"Natasha," he repeated. "Beautiful."

I chuckled lowly at his words. Of course, he would say that. I know exactly his kind.

He held my chin, making me flinch because of his touch. His hand is so cold.

"Relax," he whispered as he tried to remove my mask, but I quickly backed away.

He held me by the chin again, making me face him.

"Let me see you, Natasha," he said as he slowly removed the mask that was covering my face before I could even say anything.

"You are beautiful," he stated when the mask finally fell off my face.

I smiled at his words.

This is the last face you'll see before you vanish from this world.