I'm very glad to be back here, this is my first attempt at writing properly in a little while, so bear with me if I'm a bit rusty. I'm very pleased to be coming back with something new and fun to write about. So come in, sit down and I hope you enjoy it.

Updating: Should be once a week, most likely on Mondays or Tuesdays

Rating: This is NC17 for adult content which will most likely be later on in the story

Disclaimer: I dont own the males in this, they are celebrities and own themselves, however, I may change their surnames to fit the plot. Also there are some lovely girls that have answered my Cast Call that are included and they own themselves. However, the story, plot and my character belong to me, so please, no plagarism.

Thank you,
Louise Ann
:love:

Yay! I'm so excited for this :D Can't wait to read the first bit hun.

And don't be silly; I'm sure it will be fantabulous ^_^

*sets up a tent, pops some popcorn, and pulls out a book to study* (Hey, I may want to wait here for the first bit, but that doesn't mean I can afford not to study! Finals next week- whhhhyyy *shakes fist*)

:)

Yay!!! I love the title of it, it could mean so many things!

I can't wait to see it :)

Katie

Looking forward to reading this! Glad to have you back. :yes:

hugs,
Am

Weeeee, it has started!

I am very much looking forward to reading this!

Hugs
Dana

Ohh, I really cannot wait for this, seriously! I'm in constant need of a vampy fix! Bring forth the story!

:yes:

YAY!! :bigbounce: I can't wait for the first chapter Lousie. You've got me very excited.

:love:
~Kit-Kat~

Just to let you all know the Prologue is being hopefully posted monday or tuesday
So watch this space

^_^

Yay, prologue! :yahoo *gets comofortoable and waits patiently*
:love:
~Kit-Kat~

This might be an interesting story once the prologue comes out :D

A/N: The Prologue is kind of the ending and the story is the events that lead up to it. You will all be able to tell by the dates at the top. So bear that in mind when reading
^_^ And I hope you enjoy


____


The Marble Staircase





Prologue: Masquerade

1838


The exotic array of colours moved elegantly around the room, In my pensiveness I could not focus on any one person but simply gaze at them all at once. The long flowing evening gowns were like waves upon the shore and the onlookers, fisherman awaiting their catch. I kept my distance, not desiring to accompany the other guests in the festivities. It is not that I had no admirers to dance with, more so that I simply did not fit in with such a crowd.

The abnormally high ceilings and artistically decorated walls were getting a bit too overwhelming for me and I tugged on the elbow of Hugh’s jacket softly, hoping to get his attention.

He turned slightly and came close to whisper in my ear, “Miranda, I’ll be with you in a minute darling,” and then he turned his attention back onto the young woman in front of him. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy as he laughed at her dry humour and held his eyes on her almost constantly. I turned and slowly made my way through people to the other side of the room where I could distract myself in other forms. After picking my way through the colourful crowd I see it was not much different to my position before, Hugh and the woman were still in sight and I was still feeling exposed to all these strangers.

Feeling lost and almost defeated, I turn into the corridor that is only a couple of feet away and I slink down the dark hallway away from the celebrations. The dripping candles burned low in their holders, tempted to detach one, I slow down my pace. I reach my hand up, my long sleeve rolls back and collects at my elbow. I wriggle the holder loose and give it a firm but careful pull and it comes off quickly, making me stumble a little. A hot wax drip falls onto my thumb and I rub at the area absentmindedly as I continue to walk the corridor.

With each step it gets quieter and soon I’m left with just the sound of my own footsteps for company. In front of me the corridor seems to stop, in the dim light I see to the right of me there’s a long staircase leading up to another wing of the castle. Holding the candle outwards to the banister I see where the first step is and I start to climb. I hold the candle low to the ground so I can see where I am walking, the steps are made of marble in a beautiful ivy green colour. Upon reaching the top of the stairs I hold the candle out to light the way and walk towards the door straight ahead of me. I reach out and grip the cold metal door handle, I hesitate a little but turn it anyway and push my way into the room.

It was empty apart from a large four poster bed, a mirror and a desk. The window was open, causing the net curtain to flap about wildly. The weather had been terrible for the last couple of days, and tonight was no exception, the wind howled and the rain hit the ground like a thousand pins being dropped all at once. I walked towards the window, setting my candle down on the desk, I try gathering the curtain together in one hand and with the other I pull down the window.

It closes with a thud and the gust of wind blows the candle out. I sigh and sit on the windowsill looking out into the gardens, the sky growls and then there’s a flash of light, the storm sends a shiver down my spine and I tuck my legs up close to my body. My legs crunch my corset into me, making myself uncomfortable, if someone could see me now I’m sure they’d be very disappointed at how unladylike I was behaving. Realising this, I put my feet back onto the floor and just as my feet touched the floorboards I felt a strong hand being placed onto my shoulder. I jerk my head round quickly, sending a shooting pain up the side of my neck. I rub at my neck as I squint, trying to make out the person beside me.

“I’m sorry I startled you,” the man said as he stepped into the strip of light the moon was giving off into the room but I still could not make out his face. “Excuse me for being so forward, but may I?” He gestures to my neck, I nodded slowly and beckoned him forward. I turn towards the window to let him have a bit more space, his cold hands fell upon my shoulders and began moving up towards my neck. His fingers made a slow circular motion as they worked their way up towards the pain, he rubbed at the area soothingly.

“I’m sorry, I did not catch you name,” I said curiously.

“My name? Why, I thought my identity would have been more obvious Miranda.” I freeze up and my body must have gotten tense rather quickly as the man started to massage my neck harder, working his fingers up and down.

“You know who I am?” I try to sound calm but I must have faltered.

“You’re trembling my dear.”

“It’s cold,” I snapped back quickly. “I think I ought to be leaving now Sir,” I push myself up slowly and his strong hands push me back down.

“There is no need for haste Miranda, we have yet to get fully acquainted.”

“Is that so?” I say smugly, turning to face him. He is still standing in the darkness and I am unable to read his mood.

He shuffled closer, removed his mask, brought his head beside mine and whispered in my ear, “Allow me to introduce myself. My Name is Orlando Martisse.”

Yay its up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *dances around the room*

:getdown:

Anyways interesting prologue. I liked how it made me feel going down to the Phantom of the Opera's lair or something lol. Sorry I love that movie, but I love Gerry Butler more hahaha!

I can't wait to see more and where this story goes.

~Katie

Creepy!!! And the fact that her neck hurt...hmmmm *ponders* Veeerrry interesting...

Wonderful begining! I especially love the dripping candles and ivy green marble; I could picture it all so easily :)

But now I'm full of questions: who's Hugh? Who is she? And Orlando? And the girl Hugh was talking to for that matter; will she matter? *laughs* What next what next?

Oh, the joy of prologues, hehe...

By the way, her wandering through dark hallways alone, etc definitely reminded me of Beauty and the Beast, haha! I love it!

Oh my God! :blink: :tsk: :bow: That was a brilliant Prologue and I can't wait for more! I ahve many questions too about Hugh and Orlando ( :wub: ) and Miranda. I want to know who they are and I want to be a this Masquerade, I love masquerades!

It felt like that to me too Jewelz and kinda like Phantom too Katie. (Both favorite movies of mine). Anyways I loved how you described everything, definatly got me hooked. Update soon and when are we going to see tha banners? They always give me a picture of the story. Just wondering.

:love:
~Kit-Kat~

Really an excellent prologue, my dear! You completely pull the reader into the story immediately, wrapping them up in the story and making them forget everything around them. I could honestly see myself in that large ballroom and then creeping up the dark stairs. I think it is a great accomplishment for an author to be able to transport the reader into the world they have created and you managed that beautifully. Great job!

Loved this description! Very creative! :yes:

Ohh! Chilling! He already has a very sinister air about him. I can't wait to see where this goes.

Wow...that was a very lovely prologue! Very well written and spoken! :hug:

I'm so glad you all enjoyed it ^_^
When reading it back I did realise it seemed a little like Beauty and the Beast. lol

The Cast List should be up in the next couple of days which will be edited onto the first post in the thread and also I'm collecting people's banner information and I might ask the lovely Mena to do them for me and they will be posted in the first post here or in the cast call, so be expecting a PM in the near future

Anyways, thanks again
Comments and feedback are what spurs me on to keep writing so thanks alot guys :shine:

Louise
:santa:

That was a great prologue.

Mysterious and with a certain hint of darkness to it.
Characters who speak to the heart immediatly that make you wonder about them.
What is their relation, how are they connected and what will happen to them,
and there is the mysterious stranger that oozes out danger in every direction.
He certainly was creeping me out.

I loved your descriptions and the end has a very excellent clifhanger.

The only thing I could comment on is that you switched time. You start out writing it as if it is in the past and then go to writing it as if it is happening now. But besides that it was an excellent prologue!

Dang, what happens when you reply late is that evrybody already pointed out what caught my attention... *pouts*

But really, it was WICKED!! I got completely sucked into the atmosphere you created, and really, if the rest of the story is gonna be written this way, it will feel like living it!

Amazing. Please, post more soon!

Helllo dear,

Loved the prologue, and I am curious about the marble staircase, it seems to be a pivotal piece in your story...

As Ninque said the only thing I can find is the time switch in writing. It had a very good flow and you established the characters really well. It is making me curious about them and it will keep me coming back.

And essentially I have to mirror the coments on Bloom... I like his dark side. He reminds me of the bad guy in an Edgar Allen Poe story.

Love, Moon

*edited because gay is something really different than guy, sorry slip of the keys*

It is tuesday and I should have an update to post, I do have one, however it wont be up for a couple of days.
As christmas is fast approaching and with everything going on I have so many deadlines that I must meet.
So I wont be posting the first chapter today, but hopefully there should be one up before christmas
So I'm sorry guys but I promise you'll be seeing it in the near future

x

Hey it's okay, we understand.

Gotta question, when is the cast gonna be announced? Sorry I'm impatient lol.

Whenever you get the chance, post! :)

~Katie

I totally understand...I am swamped with deadlines to.
But I really hope you will post the next chapter soon,
cause I am really looking forward to read more.

Good luck with your deadlines!!

How about a new chappie???
*bats eyelashes*

I would really love that!