Watching him with interest, Alastair's golden eyes brushed over his lips occasionally; he was patient this time as Ellis inched closer to his face, his breath touching Alastair's lips, and quickly gave him a faltering peck on the cheek. Done with his task, he hurriedly scrambled to get back on his feet and away from Alastair, who sat unmoving in a daze, his eyes staring at Ellis were clear and unblinking.
Taking his chance, Ellis peeled open Alastair's fist, snatched the earring, and backed away from him. Alastair not once tried to stop him. Ellis, still suspicious of his sudden change in his behavior, didn't want to find out why he was suddenly being so submissive, lest he got attached to this devil again.
"Seeing you leave me is making me mad…"
"Stay mad then."
Hand on the knob of the door, Ellis heard Alastair for the last time (hopefully) and shot him a farewell as he twisted the knob and walked out of the restroom. He was planning on running out awkwardly to avoid being seen by the guards again, but to his surprise, there was not a single soul standing out the door, as if everyone had been abducted by aliens while Ellis was crying for his life. Having sex as two males is really a life-or-death situation in a smut-tagged web novel; just thinking about it again, Ellis could feel a headache coming.
Now, one hand on his head and one on his lower back, Ellis swiped his eyes to the left and right, and he still didn't know where he was or from where he had come. He was already bad with directions, but after getting tossed around, his brain cells were all shaken up; he could hardly think clearly.
Wanting to keep a distance from the door that held the devil hidden from everyone's eyes, he began to walk to the right despite not knowing where it would lead him. That's when the thought struck him. Lorenz was here too; he was attending the annual masquerade ball, then the killer…
"Should I just go back to the restroom and wait for the guards to return?"
No!
If he went back, it would only increase the chances of Alastair getting more chances at recognizing him and pounding him. A depraved pervert of a devil can never be satisfied with just that; he'll definitely want to do more. Actually, if the killer was here and their target are nobles, the prince should be at the top of that hit list.
"Yes, with no guards at station, I hope the killer gets you. You spawn of a devil!"
However, Ellis couldn't help but look back at the hallway to check if Alastair was really safe in the restroom by himself.
"His men really are useless…"
The more he stared at the empty and dimly lit hallway, devoid of any other humans besides him, the more eerie it felt. Shaking his head to let go of any disturbing thoughts, he continued walking with a hand on the wall for support until he suddenly got electrocuted, causing him to instinctively call back his hand. His vision blacked for a moment, but it didn't return to normal; instead, he saw the moon…
The darkness of the night was veiled beneath the faint light of the moon. Somewhere in the garden, silence reigned—serene and still. The trees swayed softly with the gentle wind, their leaves whispering secrets into the night. Following the wind's path came the sight of a young man's body, a mask still covering his face. He swayed faintly with the breeze, suspended in midair by a rope wound tightly around his neck, the other end fastened to the balustrade of the balcony on the first floor.
Ellis's breath hitched as he saw the body, and his vision returned to normal. He was standing in the same hallway.
"…What the fuck?"
"A nightmare? While standing? Did I pass out for a moment there?"
Ellis's heart was beating fast; he was scared bald by the sudden scene that came out of nowhere, maybe it was a sign that if he stayed here a second longer, that would be him!
Forgetting his earlier struggles, he hurried forward, walking in a straight line without daring to glance behind him. A growing brightness filled his vision as scattered voices overlapped in the distance. Moments later, he stepped into the source of the light—the grand, dazzlingly illuminated ballroom.
Turns out, both of the ends were always leading to the ballroom; to the left was the start of the other path. Ellis straightened his back with difficulty and walked to the grand staircase in the middle. Staring at the stairs, Ellis glanced at his shaky legs. Sighing, he endured it and climbed down to the ballroom covered in commotion. Everyone was flustered and standing close together in a corner; Ellis scanned the ballroom, and the royal guards that were scattered earlier had tripled, guarding the doors of the ballroom.
The guests also seemed scared, actually…
"Ellis."
The moment his feet touched the ground floor, someone grabbed his arm. Ellis, distracted by the crowd, didn't notice until he was dragged and called.
"Where were you all this time? I searched everywhere."
His father spoke in a stern tone, taking Ellis by the hand as they moved closer to the cluster of masked nobles. But Ellis's body went rigid the moment he realized where they were heading. If he approached that crowd, someone might recognize him—and later, that witness could be the very one to help chase him down. Panic jolted through him; he abruptly planted his feet against the tiled floor, halting in place. His father turned back at once, eyes narrowing in confusion at his son's sudden resistance.
"What's wrong?"
"Father… we need to leave right now."
Ellis responded in an urgent and anxious voice. His father thought for a second before speaking.
"Duke Leon and Lord Lorenz ordered for everyone to remain in the ballroom. No one is allowed to leave until further notice… while you were away, there was… another murder in the garden connected to the ballroom."
"What?…"
The image he had seen moments ago flashed vividly in his mind, sending a chill down his spine. Goosebumps prickled across his skin as a wave of dread washed over him. His entire body trembled, and cold sweat seeped through his back, clinging to his already uncomfortable clothes.
"I was so worried, I didn't even know if you were safe… Ellis, just where were you?"
"Father, we need to leave. You can talk to the Duke and Lorenz later—no, I'll explain everything to them, for now, we need to leave."
This time, Ellis dragged his father to the guarded exit of the ballroom, but all he did was tug on his father's hand. The viscount was stubbornly not moving at all!
Father, we'll be done for if we stay any longer!
"Ellis, it'll be suspicious if we leave now…"
For fuck's sake, it'll only raise more suspicion if we stay and they confirm everyone's identity!
"Father…"
At his last option, Ellis spoke solemnly.
"I'll explain everything to you when we are out of here, but if we stay, our lives will be in danger."
The Viscount rubbed his eyes through the mask as if he was tired of his nonsense, but Ellis wasn't done yet.
"How do you know that, Ellis? All the royal guards are here to protect us, leaving now is more dangerous if anything."
"Father… I… I can see the future."