Galbatorix gave the winged man one last scathing look before dismissing the group with a lazy wave of his hand. "You can go now. Leave a list of your targets and their powers with my man on the way out. The plan commences a week from today," he said.

_______Time skipness....________

Raven felt ridiculous. She didn't even know what she was doing here. Oh wait, yes she did. That oversized, blue-scaled lizard also known as her dragon. She couldn't even complain about what an absurd idea it was for her to be here, in a dress, in the middle of the Empire. The Rider shifted uncomfortably in her chair, the rustle of silk accompanying her movements. The sound made her scowl even more.

She was the sort of person more at home in work clothes. Now here she was wearing an emerald green dress, with a slit up the front of the skirt revealing another skirt (navy blue) under it. The sleeves stopped just short of her elbows, but then a bell of green silk fell from there, covering her arms all the way down to her hands. Oceanis hadn't stopped there. Not only had she made Raven buy the thing, she made her wear these awful little slipper-like shoes with flat soles. There was no way she was going to be running in those things. They kept trying to fall off her feet.

The only fond thing she could say about the dress was that she had managed to get out of having to buy a hoop skirt. The dress fit snugly about her waist before billowing out with a short train behind her. She sighed and crossed her arms. Watching the people dancing across the room. At least they can't see my face. she thought with fake cheerfulness, adjusting the fang-shaped mask that covered her eyes and then curved along the right side of her jaw.

Illuna grinned happily, dancing with some stranger wearing a mask that cover his entire face. She hadn't really been invited to this party, but she had managed to find a way in. Her smile faltered a bit when she remembered the guard who's mind she had tampered with, but she was sure he'd be all right later. The song changed and she curtsied a farewell to her partner, her ruby party gown shimmering in the slightly dim lighting. She turned to go find something to drink, but the closest waiter was standing beside a woman in a green-and-blue gown who was wearing a decidedly formidable look. Lu chuckled at the woman's sour look, then went looking for a drink elsewhere.

Truthfully she liked to dance, but the real reason she was here was because she had a feeling her twin might be as well. She couldn't tell for certain though. The half-Shade girl unconsciously rubbed a finger against the ring on her left ring finger. It was because of this ring that she couldn't tell where her twin was.

Arston bowed stiffly to his partner as the dance ended, then watched her walk away in her red dress. He stood and surveyed the party-goers, trying to see if he could spot any of the people he was supposed to kill tonight. Bile rose in his throat when he realized what he was doing. All these people here enjoying themselves, and I'm here about to try and kill a few of them. he thought in disgust.

He shook his head and walked off the dance floor, wishing he could at least do this job with some amount of honor. But no, he had to be here, dressed like a nimwit to satisfy the king's crazy whims. He irritably tugged at the black, full-faced mask hiding his features from those present. He noticed a girl in a purple gown watching him and immediately turned and walked in the opposite direction. Don't even think about it girlie. he thought savagely, no longer in a mood to try and enjoy the dancing.

Aero blinked in shock. Something about that man in the black mask reminded her of... But it couldn't be... She shook herself back to reality and turned to continue her conversation with the gentleman who had escorted her here. Still, her mind kept wandering back to those happy times with her brother when they were young.

OOC: My, how I love using Hawke. ^ ^

Hawke tugged at the collar of his dress shirt nervously. Over his dress shirt, he wore a nice black suit, nicer than he should have gotten. Elisa's scolding reverberated throughout his mind and he groaned, slapping his forehead in embarrassment, but stopped when he felt his palm hit his mask. The mask fell to the floor with a slight shake, and he quickly bent over to pick it up. He thought about his conversation with Elisa. . .

No! If you are going to go to a dance without my assistance, then I at least must help you pick out a suit! Elisa had said. Hawke groaned before picking a tunic and showing it to his critical but playful dragon.

Elisa showed her distress through an irritated squeal. Hawke, you have absolutely no taste! Do you have no interest in women? Because I assure you that you will get none with that trash of fabric! Elisa snapped, eying the tunic with disgust.

Hawke's cheeks flamed and he straightened his stance indignantly. He was about to point out that Elisa was a dragon, and that she wouldn't know what a woman would like, but she interrupted him by poking his chest with one of her talons.

No, it was too embarrassing to recall all of it. He felt his face flush just thinking of that part. No, that was probably the worst conversation he had ever went through, short of when he thought that Iz was Galbatorix and Nirexi was Shruikan. Hawke scooped his glass through the punch bowl and walked off nonchalantly, casually sipping his glass.

Crugan had his foot up against the wall, eying the others around him. How were they supposed to recognize these people when they had masks on? Once again he was forced to reiterate to himself how stupid this plan was, and that Alagaesia surely needs a new king. A mask fell off of one person, and Crugan's eyes darted to him, confirming him as one of the people on the list.

Illusia glared at nearly everyone around him, but none could tell because of the mask on his face. He occasionally glanced at the list Galbatorix had given him of the people he was supposed to kill. He sighed; just more actions to reinforce his forced bond to Galbatorix.

OOC: When are the baddies going to make their move, Saph?

IC:
Hawke couldn't help but smile back as the woman he began to dance with smiled. When she gently placed her hand on his shoulder, he couldn't help but notice something very particular about the arm. On the wrist, just below where it joined into her hand, was the tattoo of a scorpion. Hawke could vaguely remember such a tattoo from somewhere...but where? Then it all hit him like a pile of bricks, and everything made sense again. The long black hair, the tattoo on her wrist, the way she smiled at him from almost out of nowhere. "Iz?" he murmured in almost a whisper.

When Illusia told her that she was pretty, he noticed that she acted as if she had heard it a lot before. Like it didn't really mean anything now. Illusia recognized the male dancer as Aescix. Aero probably thought it was some sort of prop. After all, it wasn't everyday someone met someone with wings. When Aero asked him another question, he phrased his words carefully. He couldn't say much without revealing the truth. Looking away sheepishly, he replied, "I'm not really sure. But the person who sent the invitation was anonymous. There was no nothing whatsoever on the message that resembled any sort of connection to someone. Furthermore, we haven't even seen the person who sent out the invitations here at this dance." That he could say quite truthfully. "I mean, these punch bowls couldn't have set themselves up, right? Why would someone send an invitation to a ball without even greeting those whom arrive? I just hope I'm not being overly paranoid about this," he muttered.

For the first time in he life Reb blushed. She smiled and looked down. Her whole face warmed, and she hide it. "Thank you. You are a gooddancer yourself. I dare say that for being unnexspierenced we are doing great!" Reb said, and watched as a couple twirled by.
Zantya took danced with the strange man, twirling happily.(I'm aware it's not Hawke)

Pass post

IC:
Hawke could only stare - mouth agape - as Iz confirmed his suspicions. His cheeks were warming quickly for two reasons. One, she had teased him about the incident in the Empire. Secondly, he was dancing with her while she was doing it! He removed his hands and backed away slowly. "Uhm...I think I'll get a..Do you want any..." Unable to form words, he simply turned tail and ran towards the punch table. His cheeks were burning from embarrassment, and what does he do? He sticks his head in the punch bowl in an attempt to cool down. In a few moments, he came back up. Just then, the music changed to a much slower pace.

OOC: Sorry about the punch bowl everyone. GA made me do it!

IC:
A red tint flared slightly on Illusia's cheeks as the music changed to that of a slow dance. He could only look away sheepishly at her request. True, he wanted to tell her absolutely everything so badly, but he couldn't. In fact, he had just about said everything he could under his oaths. He didn't want to see the look of betrayal in her eyes when he would he forced to do what he had to do. "I want to...but I can't. I really want to," he said, staring at her intently.

Muuuuaaaaaaah! I'm in an instigating mood.

Ic: Reb was amazed at how quickly and easily she lost herself in the dance. They twirled endlessly and Reb giggled. Movement to her left caught her eye, and as they twirled she looked that way. A lithe, pale woman I a red dress stood not far from them. The movement Reb had glimpsed was the woman in red swaying. The closer they twirled to the mystery woman, the more Reb was overcome with dread.

The form was all to familiar, as was the odd swaying. Only one person in her whole life had done that. He gaze traveled up the woman, noting each detail, they eyes causing her chills. Staring back at her was Letheona. Evil she-witch who followed Galby. Letheona grinned as if sensing Reb's recognition of her.

For the first time that night Reb stumbled, abruptly ending her dance with the handsome stranger. She lost her balance and grabbed his arm for support. "Letheona." she snarled.

Zantya was oblivious as she drank her punch, though losin interest in the fruity beverage when te poor, confused man used his head as a cup. She politely sat her cup down and turned to watch the dancers. She hid a gape when a young woman tripped up on the floor, and looked away. Embarrassed forthe young woman. She was about to walk away completely when a name she had hoped to never hear again was snarled.

Zantya whirled back to the dancefloor and reevaluated the situation. Before her were two equally strong women, one in red the other in ice blue. Two women she would never be able to forget. Reb and Letheona.


Letheona licked her lips in anticipation when se caught sight of Reb, and almost laughed wen Reb recognized her. This was too good! The utterly ridiculous plan was working. She grinned when Reb snarled her name. "Ahhh dear Reb I see you havent forgotten me. What a pleasant surprise. Whatever on earth brings you here?" she asked sweet as sin.

[/color]

Raven looked up at Caete, reaching out with her left hand to feel his wing. Her jaw dropped when she felt the warm feathers and muscles. "You...you really weren't kidding," she said, her mouth dry. She had thought Jason was one of a kind when she met him, but apparently not. She eyed the other winged man carefully. He was now standing in a slightly protective stance in front of his partner, who was snarling at another woman, this one frail-looking and wearing a red dress.

"I take it from the look on what little of your face I can see, that you are not happy to see this other person?" she asked casually as they slipped through the crowd. She was starting to see signs of unease and anticipation in the body language of everyone she looked at, but that didn't necessarily mark any of them as having anything to do with the drugged punch. And then it hit her.

"Oh...well now don't I feel like a complete dunce? Perhaps we should hurry up this little charade and get to the door. I remembered where I'd heard his name before," she said, jerking her chin at Arturos. There were two women with him, one running away and the other gripped rather tightly in his bear-like hands.

Arston grinned toothily down at his partner, and whirled around lightly on his feet, pulling her gently with him. "Oh I think I can manage that at least," he chuckled. She had a lot of temper to her, and it amused him. They don't come like this in the castle, he chortled, spinning her away from him and pulling her back with his right hand. He barely acknowledged the woman in the purple dress that bumped into them. He nodded at her and turned away, but not before noticing her silvery-blonde hair.

He opened his mouth to comment on his partner's dress when they passed the door and he noticed a man in a black shirt and grey tunic enter through it. That was the signal. The attack was mere moments away. He gritted his teeth and started wishing Galbatorix had allowed Arturos to act as back-up. All he had to rely on was a few hundred Imperial soldiers, which wouldn't do him much good in these tight quarters.

Aero had almost reached the door when a man entered the ball room and looked around. She saw him look straight at the man that looked like Arston, and nod. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the other man tense up as he danced past. Her face blanched and she tried to walk past the man in the grey tunic, but he stepped in front of her and cut her off.

"I'm sorry ma'am, but the host is about to make an appearance, and has requested that everyone remain in the ballroom," he said in a friendly tone, gesturing for her to sit at a nearby table.

"Oh, of course," she said, quickly turning around and searching for a friendly face. She saw Illusia still standing on the dance floor, looking slightly dejected. Her instincts told her he was in on whatever was about to happen, but she also felt that he wasn't happy about it. Which meant that maybe she could get him to help her.

She marched straight over to him and stared up into the eyeholes of his mask. "Help me Illusia," was all she said.

Lu gagged on her punch as her sister willingly, albeit grumpily, allowed the man to continue dancing with her. She grinned, willing to bet money on what kind of thoughts Soleil was having at the moment. "Having a good time?" she called out cheerily as they sauntered past, lifting her punch glass in a toast.

Hawke's eyes widened when Iz pulled him close enough to where their noses were almost touching. A light crimson flushed on his cheeks, and he replied, "Yeah, I haven't done many smart things around you, it seems." Hawke glanced in the direction Iz was indicating, and was surprised to find a man with wings dancing with a woman. Were the wings real, or a prop? Since Iz knew him, there was no telling. Hawke took a breath, "Ok," and then he clasped her hand in his and placed his other hand near her waist. He glanced again at the pair to know where he and Iz were supposed to be going. "Alright, let's move," he said softly and began in that direction.

Illusia silently watched Aero as she made for the exit. She was so close! He urged her on mentally, but then at probably the worst possible moment, a man with a black shirt and gray tunic walked in. Illusia recognized him immediately and cursed as he stopped Aero. Over the sound of music and talking, he caught enough bits and pieces of what the man said to know that he had stopped Aero and probably made up some excuse.

Why was this happening? She was so close to leaving this place and avoiding the conflict, but then the signal--in the shape and form of a man--had come, ruining everything. Illusia cursed himself, his life, and this terrible mission. For the first time in a century, he had actually felt like he had helped someone. He was thinking that if this continued, maybe his true name could change. But of course, that would simply be too easy. Life was too unfair to make great accomplishments like that even the tiniest bit easy. He almost collapsed, feeling a spasm of pain in his mind. His hand immediately came to his temple, where the majority of the pain was coming from? What was happening now? He felt like his mind...his entire identity was on fire, burning into non-existence. The pain was nearly overwhelming, and he was on the verge of blacking out when a voice broke through it all.

For some reason, Illusia had never found it this easy to say, "Yeah. Yeah, Aero, I'll help you."

Crugan, through the massive crowd of people here, almost missed the signal. A man in a black shirt and gray tunic walked in, giving a brief nod to Arston, before stopping a woman from leaving. Crugan drew closer to Arston, waiting for the final signal to attack. Everything was leading down to this moment; surely they couldn't fail. Not with this much preparation. Crugan hated to admit it, but the king's seemingly holed plan seemed to be working almost flawlessly.

OOC: Saph, I hope you don't mind his true name changing right here. If you do, though, I'll change it.