Dark and divine.

The party would start at dark.

Light was going to disappear in half an hour and Larkin was in his room, maids desperately trying to get him ready in time. They straightened and tucked and tied and pulled on the rest of his costume, as he stood high up on a stool, staring at himself in the mirror. There was a small smirk on his face, his makeup already taken care of. His eyes had been outlined with black, lips reddened to a deep, wet crimson.

“Go dress the boy,” he said to a maid as she passed in front of him, “The guard has the key.”

She nodded and left.

After they had fitted him in the last of his costume, Larkin stepped down off the stool. Hairdressers waited for him to take a seat so they could style his hair appropriately, and when didn’t, they approached, one opening his mouth to ask if Larkin would like them to fix his hair now.

He raised his hand and stopped the man from speaking, “Leave it down.”

He continued to gaze at himself in the mirror, making his own adjustments to his attire. He held his hands out in front of him, then raised them close to his face and examined his nails. Caught in between either wearing his gloves or painting them. He sighed, and held his hands out, “Get my gloves,” he ordered.

And they did, sliding them onto his hands and under his sleeves. It was the last addition to his silver, black and white costume. Larkin touched his face, tucked his hair behind his ears and headed to the door. The servants followed him and silence, and Larkin went down the hall in one direction, and the maids in the other. He was going to fetch Tic.

The guard opened the door for him and he went inside.

He smiled at Tic as they boy’s head turned to look at him. The maid was tying the back of his shirt. She finished and turned to look at Larkin as well, lowering her eyes to the floor.

Larkin extended his hand, “Are you ready to go?”