Short Stories

Mystery Man

Written: 1-4-16. Published: 1-4-16.

The music was loud in Jessamine's ears as she looked around the lavish hall she was situated in. Swishes of material floated around the room as the ball attendants danced and twirled with their partners. She had no escort to the ball yet she still chose to show up as she never was one to miss a ball as extravagant as this one.

The soft material of her gown pooled at her feet on the smooth marble floor. It was a simple gown, a tight corset bodice that laced at the back, pinched at the waist before flaring out in waves and folds that were the layers of her skirts. It was black in colour with amethyst purple lace patterns adorning the bodice before spreading down he skirts and fading into eventual nothingness at the ends.

A fountain was placed haphazardly in the very centre of the grand hall, tall and pristine clean. Showers of crystalline like water rise up and floats down the sides of the marble fountain in beautiful shimmering waves.

Surprise passed through Jessamine's mind as a figure suddenly appeared before her. There was no doubt that he was handsome. He was tall, well built, sharp jawline and had the most marvellous cheekbones. She could hardly believe her eyes, he may well be the most perfect human being she had ever met. Jessamine never believed in perfection until now. Until this... this faultless man stood before her in all of his splendid glory. She did not believe in perfection until his dark forest green eyes met hers.

Those same eyes that gazed into hers gave her a slow agonising once over, obviously taking in everything about her. He took in her hair that was pinned up in a loose up-do with wisps of curly hair sweeping her pale cheeks and neck. He took in her small button nose and heart shaped lips. He took in the exquisite dress that complimented her shapely figure. Finally his eyes rested his eyes upon her electrifying blue ones and gave her a welcoming smile.

"Would you like to accompany me for this dance, love?" His voice finally floated into Jessamine's ears, almost causing her to faint. Not only was he perfect to look at but his voice was also perfect, it was a deep husky one with a heavy British accent that fitted his looks splendidly. "It would be my pleasure" Jessamine accepts gently, allowing him to grasp her hand with his outstretched one.

She noticed the stares of other couples following their movements as they stride across the exuberant ballroom and into the throng of dancers. Almost immediately Jessamine was whirled around into his comforting grasp. As they began dancing slowly, she took in his magnificent black suit adorned with a deep velvety red tie.

Throughout the night Jessamine and the mystery man barely stopped dancing, in fact she didn't even feel fatigued in the slightest the whole night. Time seemingly flew by as they danced and conversed. The night was certainly a magical one for Jessamine. She was sure she was in love.

It did not occur to Jessamine until she arrived home after the ball and parted waves with her mystery man that she never asked for his name. Fear struck her as she realised that without his name she may not find him again unless they somehow, by fate, crossed paths. But Jessamine knew it would take a miracle for that to happen.

Jessamine searched the whole town for her mystery man with no luck of finding him. Even describing his statuesque looks did not aid her search. She searched for days, weeks, months, until finally giving up and almost forgetting of her mystery man. There was just no trace of him and she eventually lost hope of ever finding him.

Finally a year passed and it was time for the annual ball yet again. This one was just as extravagant as the year before. Jessamine's gown was similar to the one at the last ball but also different at the same time. It had a corset bodice as the last one with many layers of skirts swirling and flowing around her to the floor. This gown was a magnificent red with black lace trims. Her hair was curled in a loose up-do, held in place with just one large pin.

Hours passed by of Jessamine dancing with many different gentlemen. Some she knew and some she did not. Finally, just when she was prepared to leave the ball she caught sight of a familiar velvety red tie and stood in shock for a long moment. Finally she returned from her thoughts and departed swiftly from whom she was currently dancing with and, ignoring his protests, scurried across the ballrooms marble floors in search of the red tie.

She became ecstatic as she approached a familiar man situated at the base of the steps and that lead up to the large fanciful throne. To be certain that the man was who she thought Jessamine glanced at his face as she arrived beside him and her smile stretched from ear to ear as she recognised his features instantly.

There he was. Beside her. Finally.

Suddenly a great anger took over her as she thought of all the hours she spent looking for him. The hopes, the tears and everything else she spent on him, constantly thinking of him and wishing to see him again. Had he even tried to find her?

"Where have you been?" The angry words slipped past her lips as she again glanced beside her at the man. "I'm sorry love," Came his calm response, "Things have been busy in hell" His heavy accent seemed to float around the air and she almost lost herself when his comment finally clicked.

"Do not play jokes with me" Jessamine hissed, enraged that he would do such a thing after leaving her for a full year without so much as a name.

Long moments passed and as she was about to say more his hand was on the small of her back. "You see that throne?" He asked before continuing after a short pause. "Sit on it"

Jessamine began to protest, saying that she could be thrown out, shunned or worse, beheaded for sitting upon the kings throne. "Sit" Was all the man said, stronger than before and strangely she could not protest. She found herself moving effortlessly up the marble steps and slowly seating herself. The man followed closely behind her and stood beside the throne with one hand situated atop it.

"What is your name?" Jessamine found herself asking, despite being highly confused and fearful of her life if the king found her upon his precious throne.

"Lucifer, king of hell" Came his reply and suddenly the room was changing. It seemed to be melting and dripping like the hot wax of a candle, colours and objects infusing together in a mess of colours and blobs. Then quite quickly things reversed, back into place, although everything was different.

She was seated on the throne of hell with the king himself by her side. His hand brushed her neck as he reached for the pin of her hair, releasing it and allowing the soft curls to tumble down her back, some framing her face gently.

"And you, Jessamine, are my queen"