The letter arrived on my doorstep without any flair or glamour, like every letter and bill that has arrived in the past few weeks, but I knew. I knew it was different, the glossy black finish that’s like velvet to the touch, smooth and written in gold sprawling script “You’re invited.” The back was sealed with wax, blood red with a golden rose. My hands shook as I grabbed it from my mailbox, wanting tear it into pieces. It shouldn’t have arrived this early. I still had a few days left but this letter could not be ignored. I slowly opened it, careful not to rip any little corner for fear it might result in irreversible effects. The paper nearly blended in with the envelope, black as night with gold sprawling letters a top the page. It said:

“We invite Miss Avery Philips to the annual Blackhill Ball.

The venue: Blackhill Manor

Time: 7:00pm

Dress: Black tie event

We hope to see you attend,

The Blackhill Charity Fund”

The letter was polite, written in beautiful golden script, but I knew, I didn’t have a choice in attending. If I didn’t, my life as I knew would never be the same. But if I attended, I would never be the same. That’s what he told me, promising the arrival of the invite, like a devil’s whisper in my ear. I shivered, in desire, the thrill of adventure calling me but his eyes pierced through my soul. I was afraid, afraid of leaving my life as I know behind and changing myself. The sudden cuckoo of my old grandfather clock shocked me out of my stupor. It was nearly midnight and the ball was tomorrow night. If I wanted to be ready, I needed my sleep.

I awoke to my phone’s alarm blaring, it was 7:00am, twelve hours till the ball. I had many things to prepare but the sound of my doorbell distracted me for a second.

“Delivery for miss Philips.” The doorbell rang again with the postman getting more insistent as each seconds past.

“I’ll be right there!” Throwing on a robe to seem presentable, I nearly fall over with how fast I open the door, the postman holding a box as black as the letter I received.

“Delivery for miss Philips from Mr Black.” The postman holds out a device for me to sign and hands off the package and disappearing down the steps as soon as my hands touched the package, nearly dropping it.

I fumbled with the package as I brought it in. It was quite heavy, I put it onto my counter and quickly cut it open and found a beautiful red dress sitting on top with a black card sitting in the middle.

“I hope you enjoy the gift

- T”

My cheeks flared, reminding myself of the whole reason I was doing this, a second meeting with the mysterious Mr Black. I had to store all my things away knowing I won’t be back for quite awhile, if ever. I looked at my barren apartment, looking like the day I moved in. My heart ache at leaving my life here behind but I needed to be ready for the changes as once I attend that ball, there is no going back. I was ready. I looked back into the box that was delivered in the morning. The dress was a perfect fit, a true blood red. Black heels sat under the dress, with their famous red heels. Another smaller box caught my eyes, sitting inside was a set of beautiful emerald earrings that matched my eyes. Another card slips out.

“I want your neck bare for me tonight, darling

- T”

With the amount of admiring and planning I’ve done all day, it was nearly time. I took a quick shower and got my clothes and make up ready. The reflection in front of me was unfamiliar but I looked fierce and ready to kill. I was ready to leave this life behind.