"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.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPM0Gr2bPX
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyiOTs4ozQ
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?896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclg0HNb9NT
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIBHtooQ8r
"Is something making you uneasy, Milady?" He asked softly and calmly as he led me into a waltz. "You look far from comfortable."896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHVdm4Q8HG
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQLHa3O3cu
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."896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSC7uLIUz5k
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXF527ObFYQ
"What was it then, if I may ask?" He almost whispered, knowing my answer may be something very personal.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFT6UT3In1
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrORP6IoI5I
"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."896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsij7riKyYd
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqg8ZfgxdP2
"Are you afraid of him?"896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBjpBvuBQC
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn28AxM2rmx
"I can't say for sure." I gave an honest answer.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19cqJlq7bT
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVzz65zWgJ
"Don't worry; you can ask me anything about him. He's a close friend of mine."896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVacG8P0R3
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHA9hE3FPGw
"Thank you, but at the moment I want to enjoy this dance." I smiled at the jester.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZfphhK7UR
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5qbQ9Wror
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.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRWGHuphxO
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QWicjTB3e
Suddenly I found myself staring in the mirror, and the jester stood beside me.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQvfY8iUYb
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryc4gVXl1Y
"Is everything alright?" He wondered softly.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXP6PVffM6
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlemGVDfef
I quickly turned to him and nodded. "Sorry, I was caught in my thoughts."896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0laTngT21
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoNgezlP2H
"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."896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJC3iEolmdH
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBh9hKlYKs
"You're like me? My greatest apologies that I did not recognize you."896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9LnDhGsLV
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDATZSD0l2
He chuckled softly. "This proves that my costume is a brilliant disguise. Would you like another dance?"896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4AXUK6x1Y
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiCn3WGqCY
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.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gdoimiaLl
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyI2qhF66p8
"Was that too much for you?" The jester asked concerned as we waltzed on.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MVt8X28yZ
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0VnS7tNby
"No, only surprised and am not accustomed to the attention." I began to look around me, nervously—so many skulls grinning at me.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmcjM3oLew
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtCSWDoGAw
"Ignore their glances, Milady." He whispered while gently turning my face to him with two fingers at my jawline, looking deeply into my eyes.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqy8FFeP8KH
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fBtR00HQH
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.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26NDaY8nwa
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIYQN8cpSV
Suddenly a shiver ran down my spine and made my hairs stand.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlkGDRKhV9
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiD1fAJkwio
"Focus on me, and the music and all will be well Milady." He assured.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1qe1aaNxF
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYkmtN8Rc9
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.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZYRFamvAR
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4O9sPmRfT
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.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNYJMWMR7n
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRRrpoCAOx
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!"896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1W9KwtUDv
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPeOqSFrxS
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."896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3K2ew50hYz
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzomvTAvZ3V
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.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixyOYcuWMM
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxgAVpvd1w
"I am milady."896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnAyf8b7Ow
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSf4TtklrxP
"How-" I swallowed to gather my words quickly. "Why this approach, your Majesty?"896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fZuZXkKvs
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34UGwYGPpp
"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."896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj25ICH63Dn
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LNg3uolqR
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.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEA5PSIzGg
896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrzG3m2Ogl
"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.896Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThZD4WnHAk
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