CHAPTER 22 JARED
Present day
I’m already getting ready to crawl back into my nest, even though I’m not exactly eager to anymore.
My recovery has wound down. I’m debating whether I should try to nap and prolong this strange state of limbo, this suspension where I don’t have to make any decisions, or whether I should go downstairs and finally have a serious conversation with… a certain someone.
Unexpectedly, there’s a knock at my door.
"Come in," I call.
Emilio steps into the room. He’s wearing a hat and a scarf, and his eyes peer at me curiously from behind his glasses.
"I hope you’re feeling better? Gianni mentioned you helped him with his makeup, so I figured I’d take a chance and ask if you’d like to come with us to the fireworks display. It’s really spectacular!"
I blink at him for a moment, caught off guard. I’d forgotten that they’d discussed it earlier. Well, I definitely do feel better. The only question is whether going out is actually a good idea.
"I’m a little worried about being out in public because people recognize me pretty often. You know, because of my Instagram, and in my current situation, that might not be such a good thing," I mumble, slightly embarrassed.
Emilio chuckles.
"Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. Our fireworks display is a little unusual. There’s something like a masquerade ball alongside it, and people come dressed up in all sorts of ways… Take a look."
He raises a hand, holding several Venetian-style masks.
"Look at these. One of them would look great on you. Silvio told me to bring it for you."
I stare at the one he holds out to me.
It’s green, decorated with tiny pieces of green, deep blue, gold, and turquoise glass cut like little crystals.
It’s also adorned with small stylized leaves, and around the temples, right where the arch of the eyebrows ends, there are little green plumes that look like dyed feathers mixed with thin golden threads.
Best of all, the mask also has additional detachable ears that extend the wearer’s ears into the shape of elf ears… Uh-huh.
"Wow, it’s really pretty," I say diplomatically, biting my lip slightly. I’ve never been much of a fan of carnival festivities or masquerade balls, but I can’t deny that the mask itself is aesthetically pleasing.
"And who’s going to the fireworks?" I ask a little shyly, because I suspect he might see right through the question.
And, sure enough, Emilio smiles.
"Everyone except Tony, whose back has been giving him hell. My poor son was in a really bad accident, and unfortunately, even after several years of recovery, standing for more than two hours causes him tremendous pain."
"I’m really sorry to hear that," I say quietly, still wondering what I should do.
"Oh, and our guest, Veyron, can’t go. He said he had an online meeting scheduled with his employee."
"I see," I mutter, rubbing my chin.
Emilio notices my hesitation and adds in a soft tone, "Of course, we’re not going to pressure you. We know how you might still be feeling. Recovery can be really rough, especially when someone is in a… well, let’s call it an uncertain situation. All of that takes a toll mentally too."
There’s nothing but understanding in his voice.
Ah, what the hell.
I take a deep breath and suddenly blurt out, "All right, I’ll go. I think this mask has convinced me. It’s so pretty."
I take it from Emilio’s hands, put it on, and study myself in the mirror.
Wow. I really do look like I just wandered in from a carnival. Curious to see the effect, I undo my braid and let my hair fall down my back.
Okay, now I could actually pass for some masked elf who wandered out of a fantasy realm… where he was either off recovering some magical artifact from an elven goddess’s temple or casting druidic spells to help himself in battle. I chuckle faintly and nod.
"Okay. Not bad."
Emilio laughs too. "Definitely. With your hair, it’s the perfect finishing touch for the whole elven look! My mask is much more boring."
He shows me the one he’s holding. It’s dark green, with cutout eyes and large, bushy eyebrows like some kind of kobold. I don't comment on that because, honestly, it is a little plain. Emilio sighs in mock despair, then waves a hand toward the stairs.
"Well, I’m glad you decided to come. So. Everyone’s downstairs and already wearing their masks. Do you think you can join us now?"
"Yeah."
I pull on my jacket and add another pair of pants over the ones I’m already wearing because I expect there might even be a frost at this hour, then grab my gloves and follow Emilio downstairs to the living room.
Sure enough, four people are waiting for me in the living room, all wearing masks, and what I see is… well, to put it mildly, rather unusual.
Of course, I recognize Renato immediately.
He’s wearing a mask that covers his entire face. It looks like it’s made of dark bark or densely intertwined, small wooden branches. However, the most impressive part is on top of his head.
Renato sports a headdress made of… deer antlers! Massive and heavy, it looks like a gigantic crown. It’s almost hard to believe he can move around with something that cumbersome on his head.
He’s also wearing a thick green cloak that falls all the way to the ground, making him look incredibly majestic, and he’s holding something resembling a wooden scepter topped with a large green gemstone.
Wow. And I thought I looked like a druid! He absolutely steals the show with that outfit!
Mauro’s mask is in a similar style, except it’s a little lighter in color, more of a golden brown mixed with fresh green accents. The horns on his head are smaller and point outward to either side. He’s dressed all in dark green, wearing a forester-style jacket rather than a cloak.
Sylvio’s mask is the darkest of the three. It resembles the other two, but the horns on his head curve backward toward his shoulders, as though they’ve bent under their own weight. He’s wearing a long brown cloak.
In the very corner of the living room stands Gianni, slightly hunched over. His mask covers only his eyes and extends partially over his head. It depicts the stylized head of some kind of gray bird, with a fairly long protruding beak and ruffled, ragged feathers.
All four of them silently look at me as I come down the stairs in my green elven mask. Emilio follows quietly behind me, he’s already put his on, too.
"I’m glad you decided to join us," Renato says solemnly, making a small gesture with his other hand, covered by a brown glove. "We’ll take my minivan. The festivities have probably already started."
I’m not quite sure what to say, so I simply mumble, "Thank you for inviting me. I’ve liked this town ever since I arrived, and I’d be happy to see how you celebrate here."
Renato doesn't answer. He only makes a meaningful gesture toward the door, but Mauro walks over to me and extends his elbow, very clearly inviting me to take his arm. I do so without protest.
Together, we step out into the freezing evening. The moon hangs high in the sky, the stars are twinkling, and the wind is cold but surprisingly refreshing.
We walk as a group toward Renato’s minivan, which is already waiting for us. I naturally sit beside Mauro, but even after I let go of his elbow, he reaches for my hand and takes it as we pull away.
It’s interesting… almost as if we’re already boyfriends, and this gesture would be completely natural between us. Mauro’s finger gently strokes the edge of my hand in a soft, tender motion.
I stare at it, feeling warmth slowly spread through me, along with the realization that…
maybe, with Mauro, I could have a relationship with someone who cares about me, who loves being close to me, and knows how to show affection.
Knowing that something like this could actually be within my reach makes my heart flutter.
Almost shyly, I glance at him, and his eyes meet mine from behind the mask.
I know, I just know, that he wants to give me all of it. Closeness, intimacy… love.
We drive through the dark forest toward town. We have to travel a good mile and a half before we reach it, and I’d almost forgotten how deeply Renato’s property is buried in the woods.
The town is lit up almost magically.
Strings of lights hang from the trees, and the shop windows are decorated for winter.
In the central square, various figures associated with forest folklore have been constructed from strands of lights: dwarves, gnomes, kobolds, animals, and even thick, chunky porcini mushrooms. Of course, it’s the holiday season, so there are plenty of Santas, sleighs, reindeer, and elves too.
But I have to admit that the colors of nature dominate. Everything is in shades of greenish gold, yellow, orange, brown, and teal.
The actual celebration isn't taking place in the square, but in the area adjoining the central market, a large plaza in front of the town hall.
It’s only when we stop there that I remember Renato is the mayor.
As soon as he gets out, people approach him, all dressed in various costumes representing forest creatures or beings from fantasy tales.
I see goblins, orcs, elves, trolls, druids, drow, dwarves, and plenty of animal masks too: wolves, foxes, lynxes, cougars, bears…
When Renato walks toward the central podium, I notice that many people bow to him, as though everyone recognizes him despite his disguise. Silvio follows him, then Gianni and Emilio.
Mauro and I are the last to join them.
The music quiets as Renato steps onto the podium and takes the microphone.