An Almost Midnight Masquerade

Dear readers,

How could anyone resist the likes of the beautiful goddess that is Meg McNulty?
The answer is 'they simply can't'

(Do keep in mind that the 'goddess' mentioned in my entry is not her. She's much too angelic for that post.) Meg here, is hosting the Twelfth Night Masquerade Flash Fiction Contest and I was so ecstatic about the theme that I had to enter.

To take a look at the pinterest board where the inspiration lies simply click here.

I hope you enjoy my entry. It came after much confusion and frustration (but I've been told that's part of the process) and in the end I did what I always do. That is, to mix together some magic, some love, and add in a happy ending.  

Source: http://klairedelys.deviantart.com/

An Almost-Midnight Masquerade

The goddess watched this realm through the pale sphere above.

Hung in the sky; her looking glass.
After being plucked into her servitude over a decade ago, she had only today seen the truth behind her planned survival; to serve as the goddess' 'cleanser'.

There was no thought of hiding and she would have been foolish to try, for she was owned and freedom would only be hers if she succeeded tonight.

If she did not...

She saw the goddess' confident smile and it unsettled every hope in her body.

But how could she steal a soul?

How could she steal his?

"Then prove to me that there is another way," she had challenged, "if you wish to be unburdened."

And now it was her own at stake.

**

He'd sworn never to hold another masquerade again but here he was forcing his way through the glitter and feathers, in desperate search of an ally to swap his mask with.  

Oh, the things he did for his mother and...

Well, here was something different.

Someone different.

She looked as uncomfortable as he felt. 

As breathless too, this contoured waterfall in a gown; beautiful, but a little out of place.

Muted like a robed element.

A familiar voice met his distracted stance. "I say, Dom, do you - "

"Busy," he said, forcing his glass into his brother's hand and already on his way.

No, it couldn't be ice.

**

"I don't believe we've met."

She shook her head.

"Or spoken?"

Again. Slower.

When he spoke to her, his eyes did not leave hers and had the goddess not held her voice captive, the same threat was in his gaze.

"Do you plan on allowing me to rectify this?" he pursued.

I wish it.
Minutes remained.

...this was not to happen.

The goddess laughed in her ear.

There was nothing to lose and faintly, she rested her palm on his chest as if he could console her. 
She'd not felt the beat of a heart for so long and his was loud, fast, and so robust it might have withstood anything.

"Do you know, I think this may be the first time a woman has actually aimed for my heart."

She laughed at that and said, despite the swelling sadness that would await her, "I'm afraid my aim is rather shoddy."
Goddess, have you returned my voice?

He sat his hand atop hers, encasing it in only himself and, for a moment, lending her a warmth she was surprised she even felt.

He considered that momentarily. "No, I don't think it is."

She was going to say he knew nothing about her but he suddenly sounded alarmed.

"Are you crying?"

Crying?

He ran a thumb down her cheek, mopping up the trickle.
"Oh no, I was mistaken. It would appear your mask just isn't very practical," he smirked.

Positive that she was delirious, her hand went to stroke an icy shard of her stalactitian cover but it gave way, yielding in her palms and meeting the ground in droplets.

"How-?" she gasped.

Goddess was gone.

Only she was here.

Her laughter was hysterical as she looked up at his wonderfully confused face.

"It would appear our unmasking has come early," he smiled.

500 words

'Be Inspired' Blog Hop

Readers!

Volunteered for this blog hop by the (I would usually say lovely here but he might not like that) strange, possibly psychotic but brilliant Matt Sloan (@Matt_Sloan) who has an amazing raven-filled blog you should take a gander at.
There are more things to his credit than just that, of course, but ravens are cute so  . . .

First, the rules:

1. Answer the ten questions

2. Tag five other writers, link to them in your post so we can hop over and see their answers too.

The Questions:

1. What is the name of your book:

Maid For A Gentleman

2. Where did the idea for your book come from?

The idea to actually write a book came, oddly enough, mid-way through one I was reading. I paused, looked up at the ceiling and thought that surely it couldn't be THAT hard to write my own. 

Oh, but ignorance is bliss!

The actual concept of my story came to me as a series of dreams. I saw a maid, an aristocratic gentleman and a friendship between the two of them that felt so intimate yet out of place that I didn't want to let go off it.
That coupled with the desire to create brought upon my story.

3. In what genre would you classify your book?

Historical Romance. (No surprises there!)

4. If you had to pick actors to play your characters in a movie rendition, who would you choose?  

All I'd like is an actor and an actress with kind features - that's how I imagine my leading protagonists. Preferably, they wouldn't be well-known though; I'd like to have fresh faces to grow into my characters and bring them to life.

5. Give us a one sentence synopsis of your book:

After being abandoned by his fiance, Nicholas Reyne decides a change of scene could be just what he needs, and even more, he realises, a change of company . . . even if the intriguing maid he tries to befriend is nothing short of terrified by him when he's sure he's being perfectly nice. 

(I'm really horrible at summarising!)

6. Is your book already published/represented?

No. Not as yet (have to keep the optimism alive) but I'm at 90,000 words and so I'm hoping to close in on the edits as soon as I can.

7. How long did it take to write your book?

It would be six and a half months now. So, not too shabby.

8. What other books within your genre would you compare it to? Or, readers of which books would enjoy yours? 

I can't say my style is much like any author's but I hope that readers of Anne Gracie, Lisa Kleypas and Julia Quinn would enjoy it.

9. Which authors inspired you to write this book?

As mentioned above; Anne Gracie, Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn, Karen Hawkins, Jo Beverley . . .  it really is a long list of talented women.

And, to break the pattern, James Rollins. How the man can take a subject I've never liked and mend it into a captivating story, I'll never know! I even briefly looked into different types of guns because they were included in his novels (not something I would ordinarily do).
That, is surely one of many marks of a good author. 
One day I'd like to make people look up random things featured in my books.

10. Tell us anything that might pique our interest in your book.

The story is primarily told from the maid's point of view; Caroline. 
Embedded within the story (in places that make sense, I promise you) are memories that span from the age of 4 to her current of 24. 

Some of them are funny little ones about her helping to tie pudding bags in the kitchen, others are about a filial loneliness she prefers to ignore, but all of them do serve a purpose together. 

If I've been successful at all, collectively, they should show just how much a person changes throughout their life.
And, that love is the best reason to do so.

And now – to tag five other amazing bloggers (apologies if you've already been tagged):

1. Meg McNulty

2. Jerry L. Gentry

3. Jo-Anne Teal

4. Susi Holliday

5. Rebekah Postupak

Enjoy! This isn't an easy lot of questions!

Kreativ Blogger Award

Would you believe I've been nominated for this? You should, kind is the lovely Angela who's blog you should visit here not only because she has a Visual Dare just waiting to be entered!

Update - It would appear I've been doubly-lucky, having been nominated before that by the wonderful Ruth also, whose blog you should also see here! 

Another Update - Well call me shocked, I've been nominated again, this time by the quirky (in a loveable way) Meg who has a fabuloso blog to venture onto here!

The Rules:
1. Thank & link back to the person who nominated you.
2. Answer the ten questions.
3. Share ten random facts/thoughts about yourself.
4. Nominate seven worthy blogs for the Kreative Blogger Award.

The Questions:
1. What's your favorite song? 

Keane - Somewhere only we know. I just love the lyrics and I've always wanted to have another world hidden away where only myself and another could go.

2. What's your favorite dessert?
I don't want to be predictable and say chocolate because chocolate's food, not just dessert ;) I'd say a summer fruit cheesecake . . . the fruits are a little redemptive!

3. What ticks you off?
Thoughtlessness - I can't stand someone who doesn't consider other people's feelings when they act.

4. What do you do when you're upset?
Write - often it creates some of my most moving pieces.

5. Which is your favorite pet?

It'd be a dog because they're so loyal and keep your lap warm when there's not a laptop on it. BUT if we're talking ANY pet, I'd say Pegasus - have a bit of an obsession with that flying cutie.

6. Which do you prefer: black or white?

White - it's a lot easier to add colour to.

7. What is your biggest fear?
Losing the people who mean the world to me.

8. What is your attitude mostly?
Unsure - it's usually unsure actually. I hate that.

9. What is perfection?
A completely selfless act. And love recognized between two people.

10. What is your guilty pleasure?

A big mug of hot chocolate and a blanket. Tv or a book would be a nice addition.

The Random Facts:

1. I hate moving house, I've already lived in 10 houses that I can remember and starting all over again isn't easy.

2. I'm half Indian, half Iranian and I live in England but ask me where my home is and I blank out.

3. I have the strange somewhat obsessive habit of covering all my books with clear plastic.

4. I'm afraid I'll spend so much time writing and I'll never find it good enough to show anyone or to try and get published.

5. My hair's so thick that when I leave it in a ponytail for too long, I get a headache. Such a pain!

6. I say 'bless you' to everyone, even strangers on the bus.

7. I'm not good at receiving compliments because I never feel like I deserve them.

8. I shattered my hand once when someone pushed me into a door. It wasn't particularly exciting but I didn't have to do gym for a few weeks so it was cool.

9. I'm obsessed with The Mentalist, CSI:NY, Bones and Castle - silly murderers always getting caught!

10. I wanted to be a singer when I was younger but the severe stage-fright didn't exactly help. Can you imagine a mute singer?

Let's stray from me now and see some other wonderful bloggers then!

I never thought I would but I joined Twitter recently and am very glad that I did - I had no idea there was so much talent just a few key strokes away and so many friends to find! I hope you check out their blogs and follow - 

1. Susi/ @SJIHolliday / http://sjiholliday.com/
(Who is so fantabulous, this is her third nomination!)

2. Miranda / @PurpleQueenNL / [blog?]

3. Laura / @LauraHuntley / [blog?]

4. Tim / @timkanebooks / http://timkanebooks.com/

5. Laura / @L_Meyer / http://imnotthemessiahjustaverybusymum.wordpress.com/

6. Sara / @saraleggz / http://saraleggz.wordpress.com/

7. Craig / @CraigWFSmith / http://about.me/TheCraigSmith

And now, I bid you adieu!

Afsaneh