"May I have this dance?" Asked a soft, spoken deep voice from behind me. I slowly turned around, wondering if it is him or not. Before me stood a tall jester in black and white with a broad grinning mask and drooping curved nose, he offered me his black-gloved hand with a slight bow. Within the holes of the mask, I noticed a shimmer of his eyes that looked at me.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQEwcsPMrj
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMvKgOk1SM
I gave a silent nod and placed my hand upon his; a shiver went down my spine as he led me to the dancefloor. Was there a cold breeze or something else? Maybe all the skeletons around me? Or was it simply the touch of this man's hand? Or surrounded too long in darkness and death that I've almost forgotten how it feels to be touched of a living like me?827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScwAf1J8Yg
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwPwHpv378
"Is something making you uneasy, Milady?" He asked softly and calmly as he led me into a waltz. "You look far from comfortable."827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsDxU3C4hw
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9vDfuJBI9
Astoundingly the sound of his voice calmed me, but I sensed in his tone that he feared that he was the cause. I took a deep breath and grinned. "I was lost in my own thoughts; it has nothing to do with you, Sir."827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfSduGcQCv
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fT3OYY7UO
"What was it then, if I may ask?" He almost whispered, knowing my answer may be something very personal.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTcvIJOT84
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3nByRA5aP
"Wondering where the Bone King is and..." I took a deep breath. "Am not sure how will I react. He's brought me here since I encountered him the first time down that dark and deserted street."827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzR3ctdzNih
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYlVJapECA
"Are you afraid of him?"827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcy62Tma5J
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7iebwoaSs
"I can't say for sure." I gave an honest answer.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TXfFyEcWL
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLJlEhScYE
"Don't worry; you can ask me anything about him. He's a close friend of mine."827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1Xf9ui6x5
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDbatPR6ch
"Thank you, but at the moment I want to enjoy this dance." I smiled at the jester.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1nLq5eM31
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HFp7ndNBj
The swooning music of a waltz made us twirl in its slow rhythm, and the jester led me with perfection. At a wall covered with mirrors, it all looked normal at first glance, but when inspected closer you saw a skeletal hand here and an empty eye socket over there. I was the only one in the flesh and from another world, the world of the living.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHUuiXkuBI
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6G9ghfLwV
Suddenly I found myself staring in the mirror, and the jester stood beside me.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80xU8yBfyx
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqHgGJUn5m
"Is everything alright?" He wondered softly.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFV77MkpmC
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvcUFvS362
I quickly turned to him and nodded. "Sorry, I was caught in my thoughts."827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeogt634Es
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGF0r1HJzI
"About being the only one of your kind? The only human here? At times I wish to think that I'm not the only one."827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xGfHsdFpX
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZOZN3MPfN
"You're like me? My greatest apologies that I did not recognize you."827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKwx1zvSR5
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEy5sSoZu4
He chuckled softly. "This proves that my costume is a brilliant disguise. Would you like another dance?"827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡST4RAivETG
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLB55Sia9Xl
I smiled and nodded. He led me on the dancefloor and twirled more vividly the waltz than before. There was a sense of happiness from the jester, and I couldn't stop grinning to his happiness, it was contagious. At one turn, he suddenly placed his hands at my waist and lifted me. I gasped for a brief moment, realizing how strong he is. As a natural reaction, I threw a short glance to my surroundings. Everyone has stepped off the dancefloor and were watching us dance. Loud applause followed as I noticed and was back on the ground. What an expected surprise but a positive one, I tried my best to ignore and enjoy this dance. I dislike being the centre of attention.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTpvsIWBTA
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8jBgXHxCs
"Was that too much for you?" The jester asked concerned as we waltzed on.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMb3luWKPY
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMVlVucjc1
"No, only surprised and am not accustomed to the attention." I began to look around me, nervously—so many skulls grinning at me.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkR66MAYrU0
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGMFgzP9n6
"Ignore their glances, Milady." He whispered while gently turning my face to him with two fingers at my jawline, looking deeply into my eyes.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYyTBJkIwT
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJ2W4jh8cd
Before I faced him, I saw one of the skeletons dressed as a king with a golden crown. Immediately I recalled that the Bone King should be here soon to dance with me. Will he be tolerable that I danced so long with his close friend, who is also a living human like me? In his dark eyes that shimmered within the holes of the mask, I sensed admiration and affection.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfiKbukJkX
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnyGHiKMLI
Suddenly a shiver ran down my spine and made my hairs stand.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2VjXl35yM
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKD4uIoYRO
"Focus on me, and the music and all will be well Milady." He assured.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6BRNB8bRZ
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rTGB5OFu8
I gave a short nod. He led me on across the dancefloor to the rhythm of the music. I kept my eyes on him as he said within a few steps my nervousness has vanished. Whoever he is, he makes me feel safe and understands me with great respect. A great comfort that he is human like me.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneyic5F5D8
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvuw7Bx9GO
As the music ended, he gave me a small twirl and bowed deeply; I bowed too. Loud applause followed as we stood up, some even whistled. The jester offered to me his hand, which I accepted without hesitation.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAFyHOnbCv
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GSZU4Lwic
Many continued to applaud many even lauded with admiration. "That was magnificent! Absolutely perfect! I'm still speechless of your perfection! It was really awesome, Bone King!"827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhfpFRHirM
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3w9rZh5uq
Immediately the jester chuckled. "Thank you, but I'm not as perfect as the Bone King. I'm the jester. His majesty will arrive in his true self in good time."827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IUK4pjZX8
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYt2m8wRna
My suspicions rose as the jester gave such an answer. Am I with him all this time? Come to think of it his shoulder that I rested a hand upon while dancing did feel thin and bony, and his gloved hands were not warm to the touch but not cold either. Rapidly I let go of him and took a few steps back. As I faced him, he faced the ground with a deep sigh before looking into my eyes. "Are you, the King?" I almost stuttered. Dread has almost gotten a hold of my voice and breath.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogWdv4dcCz
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKKXZQuxyZ
"I am milady."827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmu2D7dlO29
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZvFFpOnBy
"How-" I swallowed to gather my words quickly. "Why this approach, your Majesty?"827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FItSHq5I6
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJyalKAZDm
"There are many answers to give to your question. To live a dream, a yearning desire and ease for you or so I thought." He paused and removed his mask. "Although I am the Bone King, I dream of being a living, a human-like you. To have flesh on the bones to feel and produce warmth to share, with you."827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4XGQYD6ni
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuicS3N68J
I blinked speechless at him. Suddenly I recalled the proper etiquette how to behave in the presence of a king and quickly bowed, I looked to the floor in shame.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Vgy8Cbrr3
827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4xyDgDTvT
"Please Milady." He walked up to me with a concerned voice and lifted me from my bow. Our glances met, a shudder went down my spine. I did not look into eyes but dark and hollow sockets, yet I felt a glance. What he said is true, he behaves like a human in the flesh which he is not. The Bone King dreams of being a human in flesh and blood.827Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWKPPeueck
Penana
search
Loginarrow_drop_down
Registerarrow_drop_down
