masq8_10

Chapter 8 - Aftermath

“And let’s see who’s under the lucky mistletoe this year!” Gail
smiled into the audience at her granddaughter and her prince Charming, or
un-charming, whatever. The surprise was evident, and it seemed to put an
uncomfortable aura of hatred and confusion around them.
She looked above the heads of the surprised two to find they were
under the gold mistletoe.
“Serena Larynce and Darien Dredsdale, do you have something to
tell us?” Gail beamed. This was luck! Who knew the Christmas spirit
would agree that Serena Larynce was just what Darien Dredsdale needed,
and Darien Dredsdale was just what Serena Larynce needed? “Now kiss.”
Serena had always laughed at the tradition before, because the two
found under the gold mistletoe usually WERE engaged by next Christmas.
It was odd and scary. This year, she had totally forgot to look to the
ceiling for the hidden mistletoe, which she had always found year after
year. She had forgotten, and it was obviously very bad luck that she and
Darien were standing underneath the darn thing.
But with the audience around, she didn’t argue. Christmas
traditions were never argued. Especially Larynce traditions. Apparently,
as she looked into Darien’s eyes, they seemed to agree on this point. He
leaned in, and kissed her on the lips, and she kissed lightly back.
Immediately when their lips touched, they moved back, stiffly, and they
left the room together, keeping charade up, but secretly confused.

Serena entered her bedroom. How dare the Christmas spirit, or
whatever it was, choose her to fall in love with a man she so obviously
despised? It was evident that they didn’t love each other. Serena didn’t
want to get married, and Darien would hardly be the husband she would
have chosen if she were actually going to get married. Sure, he WAS
handsome, and he was a worthy bickering opponent, but really, what else
could they do together?
What shocked her was the fact that they actually had gotten along
that afternoon. It proved that they could, and to her mortification, it
proved they could have a WONDERFUL time together.
Sickened with a queasiness in her stomach, Serena slipped off her
gown and went to her shower, attempting to wash away all the mixed-up
feelings she was getting. *ME AND DARIEN DREDSDALE?!?!
HA!!!!*

“It’s destiny, I tell you!” Lita told her husband. “They ARE
attracted to each other, and destiny arranged it so that they’d meet
unbiased first, and feel the attraction in person, and destiny made it so that
they’d meet tonight before the ball and force them to stick together so
long! And destiny for SURE made the mistletoe above their heads!”
“But who knows if the mistletoe actually works!”
“It worked for Mina and Andrew, and Betty and Lincoln the year
before last, and in fact, I think Serena’s own mother and father were under
that mistletoe once. The mistletoe doesn’t lie, Ken!”
“Well, I just think that destiny or not, they are great complements
for each other, and anyone can see that though they despise each other,
they greatly respect each other. Who knows?”

The mask was beautiful, with sequins and diamonds and pearls all
over it. It was bordered by swan feathers and had an air of extravagance.
Darien fingered the mask in his hand. They never returned each
other’s masks. Well, he’d keep hers then. It was too elaborate and
beautiful to just throw away, and undoubtedly expensive. It was so
delicate and sophisticated. Just like its owner.
So Rena was actually Serena, the former first kid, and the Ice
Queen as he had always dubbed her. From the behavior she had displayed
this evening, he’d believe it, but from the happiness, innocence and
kindness she had naturally displayed this afternoon, Darien was inclined to
disagree.
Serena Larynce was a puzzle. That was the only way to describe
it.

Chapter 9 - A Train Ride in an Another Dimension

Serena got out of her bedroom the next day with her suitcase and
her things. It was six a.m., and she decided that she needed to start
looking for a place to live in Washington DC right now. She’d leave
early. A week early, but it didn’t matter. She was NOT going to stick
around and listen to all the teasing about her and Darien.
She had packed up all her things, and she planned to go to
Washington and find an apartment to stay in while she stayed in
Washington to do her Attorney General duties.
She had typed up her resignation letter for the law firm last night
when she found she could not fall asleep. She planned to stay as the head
of the Harvard law department. As she took the last bag out, ready to meet
the cab that she had called for about five minutes ago, she found that
another person had the same idea.
“Morning,” she mumbled to Darien.
“You’re leaving?”
“Yeah.”
“Aren’t you supposed to stay the whole week at this thing?”
“Well you aren’t!” Serena bit back quietly, not wanting people to
wake up. In one hand he held a travel bag and across his shoulder was the
strap to a laptop. On the floor by his feet was a briefcase.
“But I’m not family,” he whispered quietly.
He had a point, but Serena wasn’t going to let him gloat over that.
“Well I have some business to attend to.”
“As do I, and I want to catch my taxi, so if you’ll excuse me.”
Darien went ahead, and Serena, after taking her luggage bag and
picking up her work bag, laptop, and her purse, went up behind.

There were two taxis outside, and Serena went to one and said,
“Good morning, I’d like to get to the train station please.”
“All right.”
Serena noted as they pulled out of the driveway, which was a huge
“U”, that Darien’s taxi just pulled out as well.
Serena leaned back in her seat, and determined not to think about
the strange man in that car, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
She decided in her mind that she’d come back for New Year’s Eve
to satisfy her mother. *But if she thinks I’m going to stick around for all
the Larynce women to look at me like I’m a spoiled brat and hear all that
teasing, well she’s got another thing coming!*

“Miss, we’re here.”
Serena woke immediately, and got her things ready. When the cab
pulled to the train station , she got out and paid the taxi driver, and went to
the platform to purchase a ticket. To her surprise, Darien Dredsdale got
into line behind her. She ignored him.
She checked her appearance in the reflection in the ticket window
anyway. She looked nice. Tired but nice. Her hair was pulled back in a
ponytail, which was more like a bunch of golden curly tips bundled at the
nape of her neck. Her eyes looked sleepy, and a smooth serene blue. His
reflection was behind her. He was slightly taller, his blue eyes dark with
restfulness. He looked nice in that forest green coat, with a black scarf
around his neck. He was about four inches taller than her five foot ten.
She noted that they LOOKED like a nice couple. Nothing more.
As the old man in front of her walked away with his ticket for the
7:15 going to New York, Serena stepped forward. “I’d like one for the
7:10 to Washington DC, please.”

He had the nerve to sit next to her. She didn’t take into account
that the seat next to hers was the only one empty.
For being a 7:10 train the day after Christmas, this train was
crowded. *This is TOO weird!*
At least she got the window seat. She looked out as the scenes
passed by quickly. She watched the sun fight through the clouds to
brighten the snow to an intensity that was brighter than the sun itself.
Serena reached into her purse and pulled out a pair of sunglasses. She
then leaned her cheek on the cold window and fell asleep.
Darien sat up surprised when he the train made a right turn and
Serena’s head ended up on his shoulder.
He looked at her golden head, the sun reflecting off the strands
making a pretty halo. She looked so pretty and harmless like this. She
didn’t look like an Ice Queen now. Of course when she woke up she’d be
ready to fight with him again, all rested up and full of that energy that he’d
seen in her.
*Drat.*
“Sir, ticket please?” the railroad official asked.
Darien passed his ticket to the official.
“And your wife’s?”
“My-“
“In my pocket,” Serena said softly.
“Darien reached into her pocket and found nothing. So he reached
around her, letting her fall into his arms as he checked the pocket on the
other side, finding the ticket there.
He blushed slightly he conceded that the Ice Queen was VERY
soft and warm.
The ticketman smiled. *Now THERE’S a wonderful couple!
Probably just got married, too!*
Darien handed the ticket to the official and the official punched
holes in both. “Hope you and your wife have a good time in Washington
DC.”
Darien looked down to her, wondering what she’d say next. She
didn’t jump up and deny the fact that the railroad official thought that they
were married, and she hadn’t budged when she fell into his arms as he
looked in her pocket.
She looked so…so…she just belonged there, and the embrace was
sweet, and made him feel heady and warm all over. He liked holding her.
It made his arms tingle, and his heart overflow with an inexplicable
sensation. It sprouted warmth in his cheeks, and he had the impulse to just
kiss her forehead, but decidedly vetoed that notion, as he remembered this
was Serena Larynce, not his wife.
And what was going on with her anyway?
She fell in his arms to rest her head on his lap, face up. Before he
realized what he was doing, he reached out, and played with her blond hair
in his fingers, and traced the curve of her face.
“But honey, I thought we were going to the Christmas thing at the
Castle. The Castle is in Massachusetts, an hour outside of Boston. It’s no
where near Washington DC. You know how my mother gets when I don’t
attend family things. But if you want to go to Washington, that’s fine too.
Then we can finally spend some time away together away from work,
Darien. Wait. Washington is where we work. Where are we?” Serena
asked lazily, as she took his hand in hers, brought it to her lips, and kissed
it, and held it at her breast, right about her heart, where he could feel it
beating peacefully.
So she had been dreaming. Was he supposed to feel flattered that
Serena dreamt that he and she were married? And the feeling that came
over him at this moment. It was pleasing to him. The tingling warmth in
his hands, and the whole happiness she seemed to exhale enveloped him.
“I guess even that doesn’t matter much. As long as I’m with you.
I love you,” Serena smiled in sleep, turned into his chest, and hugged his
waist.
Darien was surprised.
So was Serena. You didn’t touch things when you were in dreams.
What was going on? She opened her eyes slowly to find herself in his
lap…apparently, there was a weird twist in her dream.
She pinched his forearm, painfully.
“Ouch…what was that for?”
She sat up. Color was flooding quickly into her cheeks, as she
realized that she was in his arms, like her dream. What mortified her even
more was that she felt just like she had felt in her dream: safe, loved, and
warm. The feeling of being with someone whose every touch sent a warm
thrill to her heart, the feeling of being with someone whose every breath
she wanted to share with. The feeling of being with someone she loved.
She suddenly backed away, confused, and focused on Darien.
“What is going on here?”
“That was what I was going to ask you.” Darien stuttered, coldly.
How did she get that Ice Queen tone so fast after she had been so warm
and loving? He composed himself quickly. “I wasn’t the one who fell
into my lap and kissed me!”
“I did NOT fall into your lap and kiss you!”
*True, but who knew?* “What if you did?”
“What if I did? It doesn’t matter. I was dreaming I was with
someone else.”
*Someone else named Darien. Sure.* Darien mused inside. He
wanted to laugh by decided that they’d leave it at that.
“It was such a nice dream until you just had to take me into your
arms and let me kiss you!”
*And I thought she loved me.* Darien burst out laughing.
His laugh was rich and deep. Serena liked it, even IF she didn’t
like Darien. It melted her insides clean. But she wasn’t about to let him
laugh at her. “What are YOU laughing about?”
“Nothing.” Darien decided that he WOULDN’T tell her what she
had said in her sleep. Besides that might start something in her and who
would like Serena Larynce to follow you around, thinking she was in love
with him?
Not that he would have minded much.
Darien rubbed his temples. WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH
HIM?

Darien gladly stepped off the train. *What was that? A train ride
in another dimension?* But he was feeling normal again, and he had
rationalized it. They were in sleepy moods and weren’t really aware of
what was going on. His mind was turned off and that was why he actually
thought those strange things.
Serena followed him off, back to her normal commanding self.
She walked with ice in every step, and she held her head high. *Just
forget the whole train ride happened. You don’t even know what
happened, so it didn’t.*
It had been a pleasant dream, she smiled inside. She didn’t know
who that husband of hers was, but he was extremely sweet.
*Wait. He was Darien.*
She nearly hit herself in the head, but she decided to hit herself
later. It wasn’t a dream. It was a nightmare, and that train ride was just
the beginning.

Chapter 10 - Some Distance

Serena mused over the nice penthouse apartment the agent was
showing her. No, it wasn’t like her New York one, but she had to give
that beautiful one in New York up.
Really, this wasn’t bad. It had a great view of the nation’s capitol,
and it took her breath away just imagining the view from the penthouse at
night.
The penthouse was larger than the one she had in New York, by
far.
There was even a second floor, where her room was, which was
also had a balcony, which gave the stunning view of Washington’s
skyline. The bedroom was spacious and was connected to a large
bathroom and a walk in closet.
The downstairs was also great. There was a living room, dining
space and kitchen, and a nice large den down the hall, as well as a
bathroom across the hall from it. Both the living room and den had views
of the Washington DC. The living room was spacious, and one entire wall
was lined with windows, which started two feet of the floor to two feet
below the ceiling.
The kitchen was simple. There was an island that would be
suitable for eating once she placed a stool by there. The stove looked easy
enough to operate, and the refrigerator space was adequate. There also
many cabinets, with glass doors, and plenty of space for mugs.
She liked this place. She liked it a lot.
It took three days of looking of various apartments to find this one.
Today was December 29th and Serena was relieved. The search was over.
The cost would undoubtedly be high, but she didn’t really care now. She
wanted this place.
“How much is it for the place again?”
“Fifteen hundred a month.”
“REALLY?” Serena asked. Her apartment in New York had cost a
good two thousand a month, and here was an apartment that was larger
and less expensive, by a whole five hundred a month. *Location, location,
location.* she smiled to herself.
“I’ll take it. I’ll move in by the fourth of January.”
“All right. Let’s talk papers now.”

Darien sighed, frustrated, into the phone. “I’m busy getting ready
for going into the White House. I don’t have time for silly balls.”
“Darien! This is a family event. Show up, and if you don’t, I will
tan your hide the next time I see you.”
Darien looked at the calendar. The 30th of December. Maybe he
could leave noon tomorrow. He’d arrive at around 6:00, and that gave an
hour before the ball. Good enough. “All right. I’ll be there.”
“Good.” >Click.<
Darien leaned back in his chair. He was tired of arranging things.
On the screen of his laptop, his resignation letter to Harvard was staring
right back at him.
*At least Serena won’t be there.* he thought, with something akin
to disappointment in his manner.

On the 30th of December, Serena rushed to New York after
checking out of her Washington hotel room and getting her things.
She went to her apartment, and put her things back. She then
rushed down to the main floor and talked to the leasing office. She signed
her papers and went back to her apartment. She called a moving company,
and arranged the numerous small details she almost forgot. The truck
would come on the third of January, and she’d be hopefully ready. She
was going to attend the ball at the Castle, after hearing a very annoyed
Ilene Larynce reprimand her daughter. She’d go home later on the first
and pack away her things then. That gave her an afternoon and a day.
At least her apartment was already clean.
Serena went into the closet, grabbed a garment bag, hoping that
what was inside it was what she wore to the gala in October. If it wasn’t,
it was hopefully what she wore to the wedding in August, or the one she
wore on September 7, or 14.
She then rushed out of her apartment. It was New Year’s Eve, and
noon. She had no idea the business would take her that long. She had
wanted to stop by the law office to get her very last case outlined for the
next lawyer to take. But she was determined to get to Larynce Manor in
time to make a queenly appearance at the New Year’s Eve ball. She was
determined to put on a smiling face and deny the Christmas fiasco. And
she’d avoid Melvin. But at least Darien wasn’t going to be there.
She rushed out, determined to catch the 12:30 to Boston.