It isn't fair.

I haven't even been to a real birthday party before.

This is like teaching a kid to swim by throwing them in the ocean.

An exaggeration?

Considering how big the ballroom was compared to my shrunken self, I'd have to say no.

The door Apollo and I had come through was hidden behind one of the silver and gold curtains that draped the walls....because who needs windows and common sense when you have money?

Even long after we arrived, Apollo and I continued to hide behind said curtain, peeking out at the room.

The multi-storied ballroom ripped straight from a Disney nightmare.

The lowest level of the room was the dance floor, with a grand staircase leading up to a second floor, a balcony circling the room above our heads.

Up there, crowds of people chatted and tinked wine glasses and did all manner of other horrifying things.

And because two stories obviously weren't enough, there were rooms even higher than that, ones like those private box rooms you get at the opera.

To fit its grand size, the ballroom was full of people. Giant, elaborately dressed people, all wearing masks.

"This sort of reminds me of a movie I saw once..." I muttered to Apollo, undeniably cowering into his collar. "But everyone at that party turned out to be a vampire, and they all tried to eat Hugh Jackman...."

Giant. Rich. Vampires. Like the three scariest things, all rolled into one.

"Could you please, for once, try not to make this any harder than it has to be?" Apollo muttered, stepping back so that we were completely hidden behind the curtain.

"Fine. But only cause you begged." I grumbled, ignoring the way Apollo's jaw seemed to clench every time I opened my mouth. "Why are we sneaking in anyway?"

My mood instantly brightened as a thought occurred to me. "Is it because we don't have masks? Will they kick us out if we don't have masks?!"

"Of course," Apollo answered cooly.

"Then-!"

"I just didn't feel like wearing mine one damn second before I had to."

Right on cue, Apollo pulled out a pair of masks from inside his suit jacket, completely crushing my hopes and dreams.

Looking at the miniature mask pinched between his two fingers, my face blanched.

"Tell me that isn't...!"

"Don't complain. At least all you got was a Colombina."

I spun on him, outraged.

"Excuse me!? I warn you now boy If you use that sort of language with me again I'll... !"

"It's the mask type, you idiot!" He snarled as he shoved the miniature mask into my hands.

Stupid mask. It is bad enough that they abduct me from rehab, why do they have to humiliate me like this?

Thankfully, the mask was pretty tame. Just a simple white mask covering the eyes, with what had to be the most realistic painting of the Jack of spades sprawled artfully across the left side. The only colour was the actual J, which was made from ingrained gold.

Okay, at this point, it was already obvious that they had a lot of money.

But this, this, was just rubbing it in.

Holding my breath, I slid the mask on. When it didn't immediately bite, I hesitantly let myself relax with a sigh.

So far, so good. Sure, I hadn't even entered the actual party yet, but still, baby steps.

Glancing at Apollo, I wasn't surprised to see that he had already placed his mask on. The elegant black mask covered more of his face than mine, and had distinctly feline features, with silver engravings.

"So...are you supposed to be Cat Woman or something?" I asked innocently, only to snicker at the prissy glare he shot me.

"The only reason you are not dressed up as Little Bo Peep right now is because I refuse to wear a Black Sheep mask," He hissed back. "You owe me, Maddison. Forever."

Interesting. So some sort of sadistic demon is behind these outfits...

"Duly noted."

Even though I'm sure, I could rock an awesome Bo Peep...

I sighed, burying my need to mock his cat mask deep down inside me. "So, what's the plan of attack? No, let me guess... Platform it until we reach the boss level at the top?"

"That predictable, huh?" Apollo grimaced, reaching out to take the edge of the curtain.

"The heroine enters a room that has multiple levels and is full of bad guys. It's not exactly rocket science."

"No, but I doubt that it will be as simple as you seem to think." Taking a bracing breath, Apollo straightened, switching into aristocrat mode with practised ease. "There is no way any of us are going to come out of this unscathed."

Pulling back the curtain, he stepped out from behind the curtain with more elegance I had ever seen from the sour little mastermind.

"So basically just like every other day of my insane life," I muttered darkly.