Dancing on Strings

Unmasking

"I don't plan on ending up down there."

Angelique raised en eyebrow at her.

"You talk about the people down there like they're below you. Figuratively, not literally."

"They are."

"Then I'm not going to get stuck down there. If I have to be stuck here, I won't be looked down on."

Angelique gaped at her for a moment, then started laughing, throwing her head back, red hair flaring around her, blonde streaks flaring like fire.

"One of the select few it is then," she said, laughter still in her eyes as she looked at Mai, "You'll have to make yourself truly troublesome for Reve if you want to escape the lower levels and make a title for yourself."

"I'm sure I can make trouble," Mai muttered.

"Then good luck with your little war."

Mai glared at her and Angelique looked towards the main room again, her smile fading.

"Our talk time is up, Reve is back," she said, gliding to her feet. "We may as well greet him."

Mai quickly stood up and followed Angelique as she floated off, only stopping when Angelique did.

She had stopped at the doors, blocking the way for a moment, her hand on the handle before she looked to her right. After a moment, she drew in a breath and released the handle, turning and gliding to one of the tables tucked in a corner, almost hidden by sweeping curtains that draped to the floor.

Opening a draw, she pulled something out and turned, gliding back before holding it out.

It was an envelope, made of stiff, creamy paper, without a name written on it. Mai looked at it for a moment, then looked up.

"See if you can get out," Angelique said with a smile.

Mai raised an eyebrow.

"Tonight, see if you can go home. Take this letter with you into the waking world. Prove that you somehow stand equal to me."

"What is this?" Mai asked, taking the envelope and looking at it.

"This is something that must not be opened until you have done what you so boldly claim you can do and end the dream world."

"I said I would get my sisters back and find the door, I don't know if I can end this world."

"One equals the others," Angelique said. "Inside you shall find two letters. One shall tell you what you what to do with the other. It is imperative you do not open it until you end things. If you do not end things, you do not open it, simple as that."

"Can't Griffin handle this?"

"Griffin cannot end this world," Angelique said, "he does not wish to die and Black would not let him die."

Mai looked at her for a moment. "If, somehow, I broke this dream world... you would all die?"

Angelique just smiled at her. "Let's find out," she said before throwing open the doors and sweeping out.

Mai quickly followed her back through the corridors, clutching the letter to her chest as they moved through the silent halls...

Until Mai realised it wasn't entirely silent.

As they neared the stairs that led to the entrance hall, she could hear arguing.

It took her a moment to realise it was Reve and Griffin's voices they were hearing. Angelique groaned and sped up; following the voices down the stairs and towards one of the rooms off the main entrance hall, opening the door a creek so they could see the pair inside, facing off against each other, muscles coiled like they were itching to strike the other but waiting for the other to attack first.