[basschick]

i went over by 37 words - edited down from an extra 108.

The Ball

It was hot and stuffy, as such affairs usually are. The ballroom was lit with thousands of twinkling candles that sent flickering light around the room, leaving the far corners somewhat darker. The dance floor was crowded with couples, the women's long dresses moving as each couple twirled to the waltz that was playing. Through the door you could see several young bucks as they gambled rather than find themselves forced to dance with a wallflower. The latest gossip could be heard everywhere, about the murders of several of England's most scandalous rakes.

As always, Marcus had arrived late. It wouldn't do to miss such an event altogether - he had his social status to think of, after all. And although he had no plans for a permanent liason or friendship with these lights of the ton, Marcus was always interested in checking out the newcomers and young innocents just out of the schoolroom. He felt that both groups were his natural prey, the young or inexperienced women to seduce and the young men and their foolish older counterparts to fleece at the gaming tables.

Marcus had just been announced and was pushing through the hot, crowded room toward the refreshments when a woman he hadn't seen before caught his eye.

Even at a distance, she stood out. She was tall and slender, beautiful of course, and her pale hair catching the light of the candles so that it almost seemed to glow. She moved with such grace as must catch the eye of every man - and yes, even every woman - as she danced in the embrace of young Fitzhugh. And there was something about her that Marcus couldn't quite seem to put into words. She seemed almost cold. A challenge. No, a conquest. Marcus found himself moving toward the dance floor.

He found someone willing to introduce them. Her name was Angela and when she danced with him, she was as graceful and as beautiful as he had imagined. Marcus wanted to kiss her, then to force her to comply with his wishes, to crush her confidence and feel her underneath him. To his surprise, she was the one who suggested they meet outside, in an alley near the back of their host's townhouse.

Marcus was intrigued. He had ruined many a young lady, and not one of them had been willing. With a complete lack of manners, he took leave of his host and hostess only minutes after arriving, and found himself in the alley.

And she was there, pale hair and skin, glowing in all white. Without a word, he pushed her back against the wall, forced his mouth down on hers, and as he forced her lips apart he felt a small pain in his own lower lip. When he pulled back to look at his conquest, she pushed him backwards. Her strength was amazing for a woman or even for a man. Her eyes seemed much darker than they had in the ballroom. As he tried to push himself upright again, she stood over him, her hands holding him in place. As she brought her mouth to his throat, his last thought was that in the dim light it almost seemed as if she had fangs...