"Ah, I see," the darkly garbed woman replied,"well, it's nice to make your acquaintance dear. My name is Aleera Beaumorte', what is your name?"

Dalton looked around to Alice, eyes piercing behind his white mask.

Aleera stood patiently, black gloved hands clasped before her as she waited for a response from Alice.

"Yeah, what is your name?" Dalton repeated the question.

Aleera looked to Dalton, her expression hidden by her white mask.
"You don't know her name even?" Aleera asked.

"No," Dalton replied, looking to Aleera,"she hasn't really told me honestly."

Aleera tsked-tsked behind her mask,"Asking a woman to a ball and not even knowing her name. You surprise me Dalton." She joked.

"It's hard to know her when she won't give me a straight answer." Dalton replied indignantly before looking back to Alice, his arm squeezing hers tighter than earlier.
"Really now?" Aleera asked looking back to Alice rather slowly,"and why is that, dear? Come now! Your among friends here, don't be coy. Tell us your name."

Alice blinked at Dalton in a startled shock. "You don't know?" Her voice was incredulous even as Aleera asked the same thing. She had thought it had come up and honestly thought she had avoided it so well. But it that was so, then she could perhaps work with some similar? Her mind was too startled to come up with any really good cover, so the vampiress was scrambling. "I thought I had told you?" Alice frowned more to herself than the white masked man.

This was not good, she had thought that perhaps Liza had a cover for this, but she was not sure. There was a chance he had heard Liza call her Alice. So it was best to stick with that. Even if the police were looking for her, there were a lot of 'Alices' in New York City. One of the major cities of the world as far as Alice's father said. Her own opinion was slightly different, but she wasn't one to argue over a pointless fight. "Alice..." She answered honestly, struggling to come up with a proper last name. Something that wouldn't connect her to her old life. "Mary Alice Jane." She lied, a sour look about her lips and in her green eyes. The name was a ugly one and not one she cared for. Best to play off that fact. "I did say it was something like Allie..." She admitted to Dalton, giving him an apologetic look. "I don't really care for it. So please. I merely ask you stick to Alice. Mary has never suited me." And it never would!

Aleera chuckled and said,"Very well, Alice, it's a pleasure, it truly is."

"How rehearsed." Dalton snorted.

"Oh, shush it." Aleera retorted.
She then looked to Alice and spoke,"So, Alice, we are at a ball after all. Why don't you have a dance? Some wine perhaps? Or we could all sit and get better acquainted?"

"Uh-actually..."Dalton intruded,"I have something important to speak with you about, Aleera. Privately. Remember?"

"Oh, of course!" Aleera started, her low voice hitting a slightly higher pitch.
"Excuse us please,"Dalton said to Alice,"it'll only be a minute. Why don't you have a seat over at one of the far tables? We'll join you in a few minutes."

"Actually," Aleera interjected,"why don't you go meet our third party, Thomas Linder? He's that gentleman over there, in the skull mask." She pointed over to the bar, where sat the man in the black tuxedo with the black grinning skull mask. He sat alone on the far right end, a full glass of champagne before him.
"Don't be put off by the costume, he's quite a fellow," Aleera said,"go tell him your with us. He knows we were expecting Dalton to bring a fourth into our group."

"We'll find the two of you," Dalton said,"by the time you two have introduced yourselves, we should be finished talking and we'll join you."

Alice was about to agree to the enthusiastic Aleera as she suggested they chat when Dalton intervened. Though the tailor merely batted an eyelash, if they had business then they had business! Who was she to interfere? After all Alice was a business woman herself and understood the need to speak privately. "It's not an issue." Alice assured Dalton as she gave him a charming smile beneath her green and black mask. Pleased to sit and study the ebb and flow of the crowd.

But, once again, her thought for the future was interrupted by Aleera this time as the woman suggested that Alice might wish to converse with the man in the black skull assemble. While that wasn't a overly bad idea, Alice did raise a slight brow. So he was friends of a sort with Dalton? Welcomed relief flooded her at the name and assurance that he was 'quite a fellow'. If the tailor was honest with herself, she was a tad on edge with worry for Liam, but was stubbornly pushing that to the side. She would go on with her life and if the bastard showed up-! Well she'd figure out something then. Making her way over to the far end of the bar, the woman hesitated before giving a slight and small 'ahem' to the thusly named Thomas Linder. "May I sit here? Aleera thought you might wish company while she absconds with Dalton." Her smile was small, a wariness settling about her that wouldn't had been there if she hadn't wandered down the damning lane of worry.

The lone man turned and looked sideways at Alice, the solid black mask leering at her as he did so. He remained silent for a brief moment, thinking to himself as he sized up Alice with unseen eyes.

Hmm?...So this is the one? Alice Lynch? Enduro's latest little obsession.

"Yes of course," he said in a friendly tone,"have a seat."
He patted the leather-capped stool to his left tentatively with a bare hand.
He gave Alice time to seat herself before speaking again,"So your Dalton's 'friend of a friend', eh?" He mused. "And what is your name, miss?"

Across the room in the seating area, Dalton and Aleera stood huddled close together in a corner, their eyes peering over Thomas and Alice sitting together at the bar.
Dalton looked Aleera in her masked face,"Your sure he's here?"

"Yes," Aleera said, her low voice creeping near to a hiss,"I know he is. I can practically smell that snake."

Dalton exhaled through his nose,"Your sure we need her?" He asked.
"Yes," Aleera retorted,"she's the bait. All we have to do is have her remove her mask when she's on the dance floor. He'll spot her for sure, he'll recognize her, he won't be able to resist. He'll try to get her alone, and that's when we attack, away from the eyes of mortals."

Alice was not scared of skulls, infact they were a motif she often used in her halloween dresses. But her wariness only heightened as 'Thomas Linder' repeated her very own words that were said across the room. There was no way for the man to have heard that lest he was like Liza and her, or perhaps had some techie gadget or something. Trapped by her own well meaning manners once again, Alice wished she was less of a lady. Or bold enough to polietly decline the stool she ginger sat upon. Fussing with her dress so it would lay correctly and not get wrinkles. Her hand slightly shaking, his words mere moments before stabbing far too close to her wrecked nerves.

Again, another person asked her name! Well, she could tell one lie a thousand times and perhaps it would become true. But her lips twitched in a small smile even if the same smile didn't reach her emerald eyes. "Shouldn't a gentleman introduce himself first?" She admonished with a gently tone. This was a ball, was it not? So she would dance the dance of manners if he wanted her name he'd need to give his. Or something Alice could precive as his. "And friend of a friend? That's a interesting way of putting it." Trying to shrug off the oddness. To return to her 'normal' life. Even if this new 'normal' had her drinking blood.

Thomas smirked behind his mask, looking to his full glass of champagne with a casual demeanor.

"Alright," he said, turning back to Alice,"my name is Thomas Linder. I've lived in New York my entire life, long as it has been. My life has not been the most exciting these past years, well, by normal standards anyway, and isn't really worth chatting about regardless of what standard you relate to." He gave a slight sniff behind his mask and looked back to his champagne, the fizz having died from it.

"Now then, he said,"turning to Alice once more,"your turn. Tell me your name and, if you'd like, a little about yourself. Only if you'd like." He said assuredly.

Further down the bar, a lone patron seated himself on the the stool farthest to the left, sitting alone.
He wore a solid white suit, with a matching white undershirt, tie, gloves, and a vest. His shoes were solid black, the only diverse piece of his clothing, Italian leather dress shoes.
On his face, he wore a solid white mask, whiter than the snow's of a New York winter. The mask covered his entire face, and was rather plain aside from the eye cuttings, which were angled downward sharply like the eyes of some cat or fantasy creature. His hair, black and wavy, hung loose yet was tamed, and reached to his shoulders, the end strands tight with curls.

"Good evening sir, what can I get you?" Came the chirpy voice of the bartender, a young woman with long black hair tied into a pointy tail, her face bearing a chipper smile.

"Red wine," came his dry reply, his voice smooth and oily,"Biblia Chora if you have any."

"Yes sir," the bartender replied brightly,"coming right up."
As she reached for a bottle of red wine from beneath the bar, the man in white turned his hidden gaze down the bar, past a several patrons, looking casually though interested in Alice and Thomas's direction.

So his name was true, or at least it was a elaborate hoax. Which Alice was sure she could figure out. Her confidence in her perception had been shaken and she was only just getting back on her feet. Best to play it careful and slow. As delicate as any fine embroidery she made. Her shoulders relaxed slightly as she loosened her rigid posture. "Alice- Mary Alice Jane." It was Jane, was it not? Or was it Jones she had used before? It was too late now and Alice hoped she spoke the same name she had with Dalton and Aleera. "Alice, as I generally detest the rest of it." Her small smile of the mask was still wary and guarded, but the newly made vampire spoke true. She detest that name.

"And certainly you cannot be that old?" Alice dared to tread on more fragile threads as she picked over Thomas's voice. He sounded weary like may people in New York did, though not particularly old. Alice did know a thing or two about voices. It was perhaps due to wondering over that fact she didn't quite catch the familiar cadence that came from the man who sat at the bar. Brushing off the feeling of something being off, Alice assured herself she was in a well lit area with plenty of people around. No one would be cornering her in the dark to attack her again. "As for myself..." The woman studied the crowd with a inquisitive emerald gaze. "My life has been equally boring, though to spice it up my friends urged me out to this grand affair." Her lips twitched in amusement as she gave Thomas an apologetic smile. "I don't really have much to tell. My work is all I talk about and I'd rather not bore you with details or give away so many that you might as well steal away my work from me!" Her tone was light as she jested, but Alice felt the sharp sting of pain. Knowing her shop was so far out of her grasp. "I've been trying to find a way to get my business back up and running, but unfortunately it seems to never more be possible."

"Hmmm," Thomas mumbled, looking ahead to the shelves lined with assorted bottles of expensive alcohol,"I see."
He was about to inquire about her business when Dalton and Aleera suddenly approached from behind rather hurriedly.
"Sorry about our tardiness." Aleera said.

"No problem." Thomas waved it off.

"So I trust you two are well acquainted?" Aleera asked.

"Well enough." Thomas replied looking to Alice.

"Good," Aleera mused,"then perhaps the two of you can share a dance to an evening waltz tune."
Thomas started to speak before Aleera grabbed Dalton by his left arm with both hands,"Come Dalton,"she said,"dance with me."

"Hardly," Dalton said, pulling away from her,"this white collar stuff isn't my nightly jam, thank you."

"And I don't dance," Thomas said, looking to Alice,"sorry."

"Well aren't you two the real muddy sticks?" Aleera stamped her foot,"I suppose I'll just have mingle around until I find a gentleman who will entertain me. Care to follow Alice?"

Alice was slightly relieved as Dalton and Aleera appeared, though that relief was short lived as Aleera offered a dance. Or rather tried to force a dance upon both men. Not that Alice was disappointed by their decline. She enjoyed dancing, but after the past week, she didn't want to accidentally give away her vampyric nature with a missed step. If anything was to go wrong it would at that! But looking at the woman as Aleera stamped her foot, the tiny tailor almost gave a forlorn sigh. She could not just deny her. If only her manners would slacken to allow her to do so.

But good manners were such a part of Alice she gave both Dalton and Thomas an apologetic smile. "How can I refuse such a offer?" The fact was she could just as easily say no and have done with it. Alice stood from the stool, her black heels clicking on the floor softly. The clicking helped, it made things seem normal. That accepting such a small request as finding a dance partner would not lead to some traumatizing experience. Moving a hand back to check the tighness of the knot she had secured about her green and black laced mask, an extra insurance so that it would not come free, as she moved to stand with Aleera. "Dancing does indeed sound wonderful." The small woman agreed though there was a reluctance in her eyes.

"Wonderful," Aleera said,"lets go." She motioned with one hand for Alice to follow and headed out toward a particularly thick crowd of people gathered along the edge of the dance floor, which several couples occupied, though there was still plenty of room. The band, three violinist, a cellist, and a flutist, played a cheerful yet mellow song as the dancing couples stepped and twirled about beneath the great chandelier above.

At the bar, the man in white lowered his empty wine glass and adjusted the bottom of his mask back over his chin and mouth. It was then, when he turned and stood from his stool that he lay eyes on Alice, his eyes locked onto her alone. Twas not a look of recognition, but of interest.

I think I'll be having a dance now.

He took a forward step and composed himself in full as he briskly approached Alice, intent on gaining her interest before another did.

Alice followed after Aleera with a few private misgivings. She would have loved to stick close to Dalton for the duration of the evening. A person she knew was far safer than a sea of masks and faceless figures. The well of mistrust was not a natural bit of worry for Alice. But the seed had been planted when Liam had 'turned' her, it had been watered by the doctors, the police, and Inquisitors. All she had ever wanted was a normal life, with her shop and her craft. That it had been so ripped from her grasp...

Alice would do anything to get it back. Even dance with strangers and play the lovely Mary Alice Jane. Til the commotion died down and she had her answer to how she could get her beloved business back. Noticing a figure in a white, his mask even whiter as Aleera sought a partner. Alice shifted uncomfortably, remembering the last time she had found someone alluring. But a quick stiffening of her spine made her stand up straight. It was merely a man, nothing more. Liam was probably having the entire police force and FBI on his tail! That thought brought a smile to her lips.

The man in white approached Alice in a casual pace, his chest and shoulders held strong and his walk confident. He came to a stop at a comfortable three feet from her. He gave Alice a brief nod and then spoke.

"Good evening to you miss. Would you care to dance with me?"

Back at the bar, Thomas and Dalton were both turned around in their stools, facing the crowded ball room. Dalton sat back rather casually, his elbows resting on the bar behind him, while Thomas was leaned forward, palms placed on his knees.

"It seems a stranger has taken to Alice." Dalton said.

"Yes, I see him." Thomas quickly replied.

"Think it's our boy?" Thomas asked, leaning forward from the bar.

"Possibly,"Thomas said,"but not assuredly. We need to find a way to unmask her in front of the entire reception. If Liam is here, which I feel he is, he'll spot her, and he won't be able to resist."

"And then we have him." Dalton said.
"And then we have him." Thomas repeated.

"But that guy,"Dalton pointed to the man in white before Alice,"his hair is dark, not red like Enduro's."

"Liam Enduro is no fool," Thomas retorted,"odds are he's died his hair or taken up a wig. He's always been a clever bastard."

Alice listened courteously to the snowy man. Her green eyes darkening in the shadows of her mask. That voice sent a shiver down her spine, yet she saw no reason that she should fear the man. He looked nothing like Liam, then again she didn't- and hadn't for a while- looked like Alice Lynch. Yet at the request, how could she refuse? It was only good manners to accept, and so she did with graceful curtsy and offered hand. "I would gladly accept, sir." Her voice soft and sweet, hiding the venom that sulked beneath her mask.

While she couldn't openly refuse, she could make the dance hurt. If he was here to the wrong reasons or the right ones, it would do no harm. Thus was the delight of being a woman. So as she was led out onto the dance floor and the steps began, Alice purposefully missed the first two. Nailing the poor soul square on the same foot each time. Her green eyes all apologetic and a slightly timid smile hid the wicked mind that was diligently protecting herself from loosing more to a handsome man. Even if all she could tell was the voice. "My apologies. It's been a while, and I'm terribly out of practice." She said, as she stepped on his other foot with a not so feigned wince. But her sorrow was more for the shoes than his foot. "You'll have to forgive me, I didn't have a chance to warn you before the dance started." Alice sighed forlornly, her movements graceful for all her feet appeared to be clumsy.

"Tis quite fine," the man reassured Alice,"it can be tricky."

He winced not nor did he grumble as she mistepped onto his feet further, especially more it seemed when the song played began to climax slightly, increasing in tempo and tune though not losing the melodiousness to it.
The man cast his gaze downward briefly and them looked back to Alice.

"Especially," he said, stiffening suddenly and freezing them both in place on the dance floor,"when one deliberately tromps on their partners' feet."

The man remained firmly hold of Alice by the hand and back, though not forceful. He ignored the swaying and twirling couples around he and Alice as he spoke to her again, in a rather chastening manor at that,"While I understand you were probably just being courteous, I would've preferred that you simply declined my request rather than scuff up my shoes in an effort to scare me away, miss."

Alice whirled and dipped through the dance, her feet tapping on the floor as often as the man's feet. A warning unto what she do if she had a needle and he was wrapped in a suit of her making. Her raven bun study and fast against the movement, her wicked green eyes softing slightly as her steps turned more towards the floor rather than the whitely dressed man's feet. Perhaps he was not the threat she took him as, but still something was chiming in the back of her mind. A bell to be careful, to be wary.

It seemed to ring true as well, when the man froze them in the middle of the dance as the rest of the crowd swayed about them. His voice calling her out on her little aggressive act. The tailor would not deny she deserved the chastening manner for the shoes if nothing else. Though a hidden brow rose as she gave an apologetic smile to the mysterious man. Even as the constant chime of the bell was heeded. "Perhaps it was more of a irritant that you would not bother to introduce yourself before asking so boldly for a dance." Her lips curving into a faux smile as she changed her admission of guilt into a lecture of propitiatory. "As for 'attempting to scare you away'... I've had a bad run of people in general, and men in particular of late. So forgive a woman of her foolishness, for the world is a cruel place with little to comfort the weary soul." A bit of poetry she had dredged up from her many books that had been in her loft above the shop she had been forced from. There was no lie in the pain in her emerald eyes however, as she held him just as firmly with one hand upon his shoulder, his locked in hers as much as it was the other way around.

The man listened to Alice's response intently, and slightly nodded his head as she finished.
"I see. Well, I apologize for not introducing myself initially, though I had planned to after sharing a dance or two with you. This was to be a way of breaking the ice if you will. But nevertheless, I apologize. And as for your recent bad experiences with men, I'm sorry to hear that, I truly am."

He paused briefly, glancing off to the right before immediately looking back to Alice,"But you know," he said as he slightly pulled her closer and clasped her hand firmer,"not all men are dogs you know. I'm quite the gentleman actually, and I request the chance to prove it."

He stepped closer, practically against her, though not in a crude way, and looked with meaningful, ice-blue eyes from behind his mask.
"By the way,"he added,"I do find your grammar charming, quite poetic."

The reason for his lack of introduction was a common one at such parties as this grande ball. Alice could not fault him for it, and knew the blame laid solidly on her own thin shoulders. Yet manners would have to wait for a time, Alice had been taught a lesson. Careful was the watch word that paired with its sister, watchful. Yet as the man moved to pull her closer, Alice invoked her vampyric strength to take a slight step back keeping the distance between them as it had been. "Oh, I'm quite sure not all men are dogs, some are even snakes." Alice's own temper being brought to the forefront. While she was a meek and friendly creature in general, that demeanor hid a will of steel when the tiny tailor was pushed.

"Then please prove it." Alice agreed, granting him the chance he sought. For who was she to deny someone a chance? She was in a very public place and did not plan on slipping into the shadows with anyone any time soon. Thus she felt secure enough to grant the small favor. "But you have still failed to introduce yourself." The woman noted with a sly smile under her mask of green and black. "While I would gladly do so myself, is it not proper for the gentleman to go first in such things?" The bells of alarm in her mind clamored in great peals. Those eyes... She would not forget the cold blue eyes of Liam Enduro which she had once found so charming. Yet Alice held her judgement for better or worse. Eyes did not tell all after all. Liam would not be here. He dared not be! Her fingers ached for needles and the bastard wrapped in ribbon to be used as a pin cushion. But Alice had had her poliet, doll like eyes wide and innocent behind the mask as she thought horrid thoughts within. It would not do to scare a human after all.

The man, still holding Alice, was slightly set aback by her remarks, as well as her remarkable strength.

Hmm, well now, aren't we strong? A bit saucy too. Fortunately I tend to like that in a woman. He thought.

"Come now," he said,"it's unfair to generalize all men or even a grand majority of men solely on past personal experiences. It's not about gender miss, it's human nature in whole. You have the good, and the bad, of all races and cultures and of both genders. You know, there are many men who would easily classify many women as harpies and witches that use their figures and charms to cheat and take advantage of weak-willed men. Tell me miss, how many female secretaries and interns have separated marriages, broken up families, and slept their way to undeserved positions and titles? How many common prostitutes have slid their way into the pockets of wealthy old businessmen and politicians, hmm?"

He paused for but a second and continued,"My point is, you shouldn't generalize a group by a few bad apples. I do regret that you have been wronged by men as of late, I do, but please, don't become permanently and universally toxic to all males for the wrongs of idiots."

Catching himself from forgetting, he said finally,"By the way, my name is Alex Crawford, I'm a realtor from Manhattan, nice to meet you."
He finished with a short nod, his hold on Alice still firm but not harsh.

"A true enough fact." Alice agreed, unsure if she misjudged the man or not. Was he the threat she felt or were these warning clamoring from something else? The tailor felt uneasy as she began to question if this entire masquerade ball was such a good idea. Perhaps it would be best to just wait out the years in grieving sorrow for her former life til she could pick it up again? Nevermind that such a wait would potentially kill her. "Though I would argue that I am not generalizing as I have met a few decent people since. Rather I've just become more careful." She gave the man a apologetic smile as she took a step back into the dance (not stepping upon his abused feet) to lead them amongst the dancers once more.

So his name was Alex Crawford? "A realtor? How lovely, so tell me... Any properties you might try to get me to buy whilst we chat?" Alice diverted the conversation from her issue. Not wanting him to ask what exactly the bastard had done. After all, how exactly did one discuss turning into a vampire because you made a man a coat and then went to dinner with him? It wasn't done. Remembering herself, the small tailor added in the name she had been using this night. "Mary Alice Jones." At least she hoped that was the name, why on earth did she have to use such a strange and long one?! "I work- well worked- as a business woman."