One step forward, one step back. The bright, hazel eyes of my partner were dazzling, but I was gazing past them. Those eyes that would have normally enchanted me were now just mere distraction, and a distraction I didn’t have time for. But looking out at the sea of brightly colored feathers and masks, all I could see were the eyes. They were my only clue. Golden eyes. They told me I needed to find the broad with the golden eyes. The hazel eyes of my partner weren’t going to cut it. I nodded to her respectfully, removing my hand from the small of her back. Ignoring her now cold stare, I moved past her, further into the crowd. Golden eyes… I scanned the many faces, shrouded by varying swirls and patterns. There were eyes of ice blue, sharp and calculating, flickering from face to face. There were eyes of emerald green, sparkling under the luminous chandelier. There were even black eyes, pools of ink that devour light with their intensity. I made my way through the mass of hidden figures. Tonight was a night for everyone. That was the beauty of the masquerade—everyone was faceless, nameless, void of any identity other than the allure of mystery. All that I had was the color of her eyes; tonight, it was what defined her. Had it not been for that glittering gold, that color of warm, dripping honey, I wouldn’t have found her at all. Not today, not in a lifetime. When I finally saw a flash, a glimpse of those golden eyes, I was off. Unlike the rest of the members of the ball, I knew what was under that particular mask that held those golden eyes captive, and it wasn’t anything to smile at. It was time to carry out my task and put those golden eyes to rest for a very, very long time.