Note: This cover was created by artist, fiveonthe, from deviantart

She was stunning, teal dress opposite fiery red hair. A matching butterfly mask covered her eyes, highlighting her ruby red lips. It surprised Judal how a beauty like that wasn't swarming with attention. She stood off to the side, twirling a glass of wine, in the way only the elite knew how.

"Mind if I join you?" He sauntered over to her, wearing a cocky, almost feral grin

"Sure," She shrugged before taking another sip.

"Good, because I wasn't gonna leave otherwise," She laughed, hollow and empty.

"Sounds about right, most people don't listen to me anyway." They stood in silence for a while, drinking and watching the picture perfect couples danced before them.

"What's even the point of these stupid masquerades?" Judal sighed while playing with his own mask.

"I suppose it's supposed to add a certain mystic." The butterfly lady replied. "You could be dancing with the prince of an exotic land, or the daughter of your arch nemesis. Though I suppose…" She trailed off, staring wistfully. "It's more to hide our secrets."

"As if nobles don't hide enough as it is,"

"But everyone hides something, the people who claim otherwise hide the most."

"So where does that leave you?" He asked, intrigued by this woman muttering nonsense.

"I'm no one," She smiled but it's insincerity was plain as day. "No one important, all I have are insignificant lies."

The cheerful music stopped, and the lights slowly dimmed. A sad, nostalgic tune began, crying of lost souls and lost hearts.

"Dance with me?" He stretched out his hand towards the butterfly lady. She hesitated, but then sat her glass down and took his hand in her.

"Why not?" She laughed, and they danced out into the crowd. Though both skilled, their styles were distinctly different. His forceful and demanding, her's shy but strong. Eventually they settled on a combination of the two, lost but powerful.

"Why did you choose such a hideous mask?" The question's awkward and innocent but it strikes a chord with Judal.

"I remember meeting a funny old man, carting around strange masks. In his land there was a belief masks were really our true identities. For a coin or two, he'd make a show out of picking one out for you, giving sweet young ladies harpies instead of the angels they longed for."

"And we're you surprised when he gave you a face befitting of a demon?" Judal was transported back to those days. He knew he was a monster, the man didn't need to tell him. Judal wondered if he realized this once he had pierced his knife through the old man's heart, stealing his little wealth as the blood tainted Judal's hands.

"No," He curtly shakes his head. "It wasn't surprising at all." For a beat they danced, one, two, three, twirl, and again.

"I disagree with that man." The butterfly lady sighed as the tempo picked up. "I'm anything but a butterfly, those are free, beautiful things, and I'm anything but free." Judal tried studying her expression, confused by her ramblings.

"I know what your thinking." She interrupted his train of thought. "Poor little rich girl, and you're right. How is marrying a man you don't love, or being a pawn in someone's game so bad compared to starving in the streets?" For once, Judal was thankful for his mask, hiding the memories of those exact thoughts he believed long ago.

"Still," She paused as he dipped her down, before bringing her closer to him than earlier. "Blue blood bleeds just as red does. And while our ivory skin remains untarnished by scars, our minds don't,"

He tried to think of something deep or clever to respond with, but just like that, the haunting piece was replaced by one more suited for this celebration.

"Let's go," He pointed to a deserted balcony nearby. The butterfly lady complied and they entered the chilly night's embrace.

"So what do you see when you look at me?" She gazed up at the starry sky. "If you say masks are our true selves, but I say masks lie, what does that leave me as?"

"A lovely maiden I'd ravish if the situation was otherwise." Judal laughed at his crude statement.

"I'm not some servant girl you can harass!" She pouted. "Or maybe I am," Her tone did a 180. "That's the point of a masquerade, we agreed on that."

"Well I also said they were stupid, so why don't we get over this charade, and break a few rules?"

The butterfly lady laughed again, still empty and hollow. "Fine, but as long as I also get to see the real demon face of your's. With that, she took off the butterfly mask, revealing two pink, broken eyes. In them, Judal recognized no one of importance, just a sad, lonely girl.

"Now your turn." She moved to take his off, and gasped once he saw his face. "I see now how you could be seen as a monster with those red eyes," She commented, as she laid his mask next to her's.

"Still, your an awfully handsome demon."

"The better to lure you with and tempt you my pretty." He replied as she moved to cup his cheek.

"I'd like to kiss you if the situation was otherwise." Her words were clumsy and inexperienced.

"Why not?" Judal wiped his bangs out of his face. "We've broken a few rules already."