CHAPTER TWELVE

        Allura looked through her wardrobe for a proper gown to wear to Karnyval.
She had never gone before and she was not supposed to go now, but she knew
Lotor would be there, and she felt she had to see him.  Karnyval was an
opulent gala in the Diamond Galaxy on Planet Palddon.  It was three days long
and all the nobles and royals in the Drule empire were invited as well as,
anyone of position in any part of the universe that wished to attend,
regardless of the political leanings of their planet.  If anyone had argument
with another they were to forget it during Karnyval, even the planets at war.
Most of the royals and aristocracy of the "good" planets would not even
consider the idea.  Some of the most nefarious and corrupt people in all the
universe would attend.  Some said it was not a party at all, but an
extravagant orgy.  Drinks, drugs, and sex would be in plenty there.  The
party-goers reveled in their debauchery and did nothing in moderation.
Karnyval occurred only once every three years during an eclipse lasting three
days.  It was anticipated greatly.
        Coran would be horrified to discover Allura's intentions of going, so she had
planned a small lie to hide the truth.  She had told him and the others that
she was going to Alteron to visit her Aunt Orla.  There she would not need a
chaperone, so no one would need accompany her.  Also, Alteron was, at present,
in the path of a space storm that would block communications for at least a
week.  It would be impossible for anyone to inquire after her.
        As Allura rummaged through her closet, Keith entered to see her.  "Allura, I
don't know why you have to go to Alteron now.  Can't your visit wait until the
storm subsides?  We would be unable to reach you should anything happen here,"
Keith implored.

"Keith, now is the PERFECT time to go.  The Karnyval is about to begin and I'm
sure Lotor wouldn't pass up the opportunity to attend.  If he's there then he
can't attack here.  You won't need me.  If something happens, someone can come
get me.  Alteron is a short distance from here."

"I suppose you're right," Keith admitted, "But it doesn't feel right letting
you go alone.  Can't I convince you to take someone with you?  I'll go if you
like," he suggested.

"No, I'd love to have company any other time, but I'd like to spend some time
alone with Auntie.  Maybe next time."

        Keith's continued questioning and appeals were making Allura nervous.  It
wouldn't do for him to find out.  He despised Lotor, but still, she hated
keeping things from him. Keith scrutinized Allura's face with his dark eyes.

"Princess, I feel as though there's something you're hiding.  Is there?  You
can tell me anything."

"NO! I'm doing exactly what I said, and I don't appreciate your insinuations!
Now please let me finish packing!"  Allura shouted.

        Keith averted his eyes and looked abashed.  He threw his hands up in
surrender and said quietly, "You're right, and I'm sorry.  I should never have
suggested you'd tell anything but the truth.  I know you better than that.
Have a nice trip."

        Allura's heart sank as he walked away, and she was ashamed of herself.  "I
should have never yelled like that.  He was right, and I couldn't face it.  I
shouldn't lie, but they'd never let me go if they knew," she thought to
herself.  "I'll apologize and make it up to him when I get back," she told
herself out loud, and then continued to pack.
        Allura had been to royal balls before but nothing like Karnyval.  She would
have to wear something spectacular.  She wanted to look nice for a certain
someone.  She blushed and giggled to herself.  She was giddy with the
anticipation of seeing him again.  She was sure he'd listen and mend his ways.
She would have to disguise herself so the other revelers wouldn't know her.
They said anyone was welcome, but Allura didn't trust them.  It would be
fairly easy to disguise herself, as Karnyval's first event was a masquerade.
She'd tell Lotor who she was when she got him alone.  She pulled out a coppery
red wig and put it on to see how she looked.  She smiled at herself in the
mirror.  With this wig and a feathered mask no one would recognize her, not
even Nanny!

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

        Planet Palddon was alive with music and activity.  Slaves scurried here and
there putting the final touches on the elaborate decorations.  The castle had
been transformed from an elegant, but modest home to an extravagant fantasy
land.  The ruler of Palddon lived below his means so he could host the, now
famous, event during the eclipse.  He spared no expense on Karnyval and, the
three days cost a small fortune.  Red wine flowed from waterfalls and splashed
in fountains.  Everything was gilded in gold, and when the guests arrived they
would walk on lush burgundy carpets.  The guests could dance among the stars
on top of the castle, watch dancing girls or play the many parlor games
available.  Entertainment was everywhere.  There were exotic animals and birds
with bright plumage that would walk among the guests as they viewed the
elaborate tapestries in the main hall, or strolled in the night wind through
the extensive gardens.  There was even a labyrinth to solve if one chose.
Crystals and other opiates were plentiful, and a person could gorge themselves
to death on all the delectable refreshments available.  Other fleshly
appetites could be satiated as well in the countless bedrooms.  Courtesans
were at beck and call, but often the guests would choose to pair off with one
another or with several others.  The only limit during Karnyval was the extent
of one's imagination.
        The guests had started to arrive by the mid-afternoon, and were escorted
quickly to their rooms to rest before the masquerade.  Lotor and Ayli arrived
in the late afternoon.  Ayli had begged to look around, but Lotor refused her
saying she needed to rest for it would be a long night.  In truth, he had
final preparations to make, and he thought she was too young and naive to
wander with such depraved people alone.  He could watch out for her at the
ball, but on the castle grounds alone she might run into trouble.  He had no
desire to dispatch anyone right off before the party had even begun.  She had
relented and he worked.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

        It was time for the masquerade, for the eclipse had finally begun.  Most of
the party-goers were already in the elaborate ballroom.  Special attention had
been paid to its decoration.  The floor was a cream marble shined to a mirror
quality.  The columns and pillars around the room were carved with the faces
of succubi and seraphs, from which ruby and diamond eyes shone.  Large, ornate
golden mirrors hung from the walls, and massive crystal chandeliers were
suspended low by golden cords.  There were oversized satin pillows hidden by
painted silk screens for lounging or other purposes, and soft benches were
scattered around the room to recline on when a break from dancing was desired.
        The dancers were not to be outdone by the room's splendor.  They were dressed
in resplendent finery.  The women's colorful ball gowns were made up of all
sorts of velvets, satins, silks, and laces, and they shimmered in the low
lights of the room.  Their hair was coifed high or else fell in masses of
curls.  Their wrists, throats, fingers, and ears were bedecked with jewels and
they all hid their made-up faces behind plumed half-masks held with
intricately carved sticks.  The men's outfits were more somber and uniform,
but they looked smart and dashing, and they hid their faces behind half-masks
embellished with horns.  The room looked like a strange menagerie of exotic
birds and dark demons.
        Allura had arrived on Palddon wearing her coppery wig and claiming to be a
princess from a distant galaxy.  Everyone was welcome at Karnyval, and her
presence was given little notice.  She had been escorted, upon her arrival, to
a lavish room where she could make ready.  It had taken her quite a while to
prepare herself for she was being especially attentive to detail.  When she
was done she looked in the full mirror and was pleased by what she saw.  The
princess had chosen a midnight blue dress of crushed velvet.  The sleeves were
off the shoulder, and tiny pearls were sewn along the edge of the plunging
bodice.  Diamond earrings hung from her lobes and caught the light when she
turned her head.  She lifted her full skirts to catch a glimpse of the
matching dancing slippers.  Her golden tresses had been pinned up underneath
the coppery hair and the artificial locks was piled high and held by pins
overlaid with luminescent pearls.  Tendrils of the red hair were allow to fall
around her pretty face.  Allura finally felt she was ready, and she lifted her
half-mask to her face.  The mask was decorated with scarlet, plum, and indigo
feathers.  Allura took one last peek at herself in the mirror as she left the
room and smiled.
        Now she stood just inside a side door of the ballroom.  She hadn't wanted to
attract a lot of attention so she had chosen not to enter through the main
door and down the grand staircase.  She swiftly searched the room for signs of
Prince Lotor, but he was nowhere to be seen.  Allura leaned against a far
column, and sipped a red drink someone had offered her, and watched the
dancers.  She hoped she had not been wrong about Lotor's attendance.  She had
just assumed he would come.  Perhaps, he had been busy with other duties and
had been unable to attend.  Then her trip would be in vain and her lie to
Keith all the more reprehensible to her.  Allura's thoughts were interrupted
when she caught a glimpse of movement at the top of the main staircase.  It
was Lotor!  Even with the horned half-mask she knew him, as she suspected did
everyone else.  Even if he had chosen to disguise his mane of white hair,
which he had not, there was no mistaking him.  He was an impressive figure,
and there was an aura of confidence about him that only a person with his
magnitude of power could possess.
        "My, he looks handsome in his formal attire,"  Allura thought.  She had only
ever seen him in his uniform.  Now he wore a tight black waistcoat over a
silken gray shirt, open at the throat.  Silver cording ran up the sides of his
black breeches and his hands were hidden by velvet gloves edged with the same
cording.  His heavy cape flowed out behind him when he moved and his boots
made a sharp sound on the marble floor.  Allura was not the only one who had
noticed the prince.  It seemed the whole room had stopped upon his arrival.
        Allura was struck by a sharp pain of jealousy when she noticed a girl on his
arm, but it eased when she realized it must be the sister she had seen in the
visions Lydia had offered her.  The girl could have been no older that 15 and
was exceedingly lovely.  She had flawless pale skin and luxurious silver hair
that cascaded to the top of her thighs.  Her hair was held back with a tiara
which had been embellished with jewels that twinkled like tiny stars .  The
young girl's half-mask had been lowered, and as Allura moved closer to see her
better, she could see that her wide eyes were a remarkable shade of violet and
were fringed by lush, dark lashes.  Allura thought she looked like the visions
she had seen of the deceased Queen of Doom.  Allura thought the young girl was
precious and wanted to know her better.  Just then, the little girl put her
mask to her face and began to descend the stairs on her brother's arm.  Allura
retreated further into the room to wait for an opportunity to speak to the
prince.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

        As Lotor and Ayli descended the staircase, Lotor barely took notice of the
fact that almost everyone in the room had stopped their activities and were
bowing as he and his sister passed.  His reputation always preceded him, and
he was used to the attention.  He was scanning the room for a suitable dance
partner and possible suitor for Ayli.  He was sure she didn't want to dance
with her brother the whole time at her first ball.  He saw a young man leaning
against a pillar.  The man looked harmless enough and as Lotor strode over he
said, "I am Prince Lotor of Kyldare and this is Princess Ayli.  I have matters
to attend to, and my sister wishes to dance.  Will you oblige me by being her
partner?"  Ayli was embarrassed by the fuss and blushed deeply, but she was
also pleased by Lotor's choice, for the man he had chosen was very handsome.
The young man blushed as well and stammered as he answered the prince, for he
knew exactly whom was speaking to him.  "Of course, your highness, I would be
most pleased!" the young man managed.  

"Good, and I expect you will treat my sister with respect," the prince
declared, giving the young man a dark, knowing look.

"Of course, my lord.  There is no question of it," the young man said.  Lotor
handed Ayli over to the man with a quick warning to behave and stay near.

        As soon as the dark prince was free, several ladies surrounded him clamoring
for his attention and a dance.  He was a highly sought after husband.  Lotor
noticed Allura just then and remarked quietly to himself, "That woman looks
very familiar.  I could almost swear it was Allura.  But she would not attend
a function such as this."  He waved the others aside and went to ask the
mysterious woman for a dance.  Allura saw Lotor walking toward her and thought
he had seen through her disguise.  She quickly realized it was not so when he
stopped in front of her and extended his hand.

"May I have this dance?" he asked.  She took his hand and he led her to the
dance floor.  The sea of bodies parted, and soon they were at the center of
the dancers.  The melody was beautiful and slow, and they waltzed for a long
time among the others without speaking.  Allura's heart was beating fast and
she felt flushed.  She had forgotten how good it felt to be in his arms.  The
scene in the garden flashed through her mind again.  She was also surprised at
what a good dancer Lotor was.  She should have suspected that combat
strategies and swordplay were not the only thing a proper prince learned.  
        Lotor held the mysterious woman close and wondered again if this could be his
princess.  The hair was different, but she seemed so familiar, and she seemed
to know him.  He had to know!

"You have not told me your name, my dear, " he informed her.

"Al....., Alana!"  Allura stammered, catching herself just in time.

        It WAS Allura! He was certain as soon as he heard her voice and her slip up
with the name.  He wished to get her alone and discuss why she was there.
Lotor scrutinized her through her mask again.  "Alana, why don't you accompany
me to the viewing area on top of the castle? I wish to see the lands," Lotor
suggested.
        When they reached the top of the castle, and Lotor saw they were alone he
took off his horned mask, turned to Allura and said, "Allura, I know it's you!
Did you think you could disguise yourself from me?  Take off your mask and
that wig!  I would know you if I were blind, so long have I loved you," he
told her passionately.  "Do I dare hope you've finally accepted your feelings
for me?"

Allura lowered her mask and stated, "I've come here to ask you, no, to IMPLORE
you to mend your ways.  I will not insult your intelligence by denying that I
have any feelings, but they are secondary to my duty to my world.  You must
stop your evil!"  Allura declared, her voice firm and serious.
        Lotor turned away and shook his head, "Always your WORLD!  Why can't you
think of yourself for once?  You deny yourself happiness at every turn!
Sometimes I believe you hide behind your duty to your world!  You are afraid
of what you feel and cling to what is safe.  Have you come all this way just
to ask me to spare your planet?" Lotor asked.  When he turned around his
golden eyes were bright and angry.  When will you stop denying yourself?  I'm
growing impatient!"  he shouted, raising his arms to the heavens as in
supplication.

        Allura frowned and stepped closer, "The enslaving of people for your own
selfish benefit is wrong!  People should not be slaves!  They should be free!
I want to know you better, but you must change!" she cried.  Things were not
going as she had planned at all.

"No, you don't want to know ME!  You said yourself you want to CHANGE me.  Why
can't you try to understand and love me as I am.  Everyone makes sacrifices
and gives up a little of themselves for those they love.  I can do that for
you, but you must give up some of your precious HONOR for me!  I can't be the
whitewashed man you want.  In my own defense, you rule a planet, not because
you're a good person, but because you were born to it.  Would you give up the
power you have and live as everyone else, or offer your people a chance to
pick a leader?  No, I think you wouldn't.  I was born a prince, and I intend
to rule.  The planets I take are ruled by kings.  They're not truly free as
you would suggest. Can't you try to understand the way I see things?"

Allura was growing more and more upset.  She had thought he would immediately
accept what she said and give up his ways.  "Lotor, what you do is evil!  The
people under your rule are unhappy!  Don't you see that? she said, trying to
make him understand.

Lotor took her hand and pulled her closer.  They were only inches away and he
caressed her cheek with one hand.  "GOOD men deny evil things and suffer for
it. To be evil is to be free of the constraints honorable men shackle
themselves with.  I live for myself and am, by rights, a happier man than
they, " he boasted.

"You are not completely evil!" Allura cried frantically.  "I sense good in you
and you do things that betray your proud words here!  You lie to me and
yourself when you say you want to be evil!  Allura's voice broke on the last
words and tears began spilling over her cheeks.  If Lotor continued his wicked
ways, she would be forced to hate him, and she loathed the very idea.

Lotor's face softened at the sight of her tears, and he brushed them away with
his hand.  He hadn't meant to make her cry.  "I can't believe you're here, and
I have chosen to argue politics with you.  I should be kissing you instead.
Ayli wishes my break from immoral acts and I have grown weary of my present
existence.  Perhaps, a change would do me good.  We will figure out a way to
come to terms," he told her softly.  
        Lotor pulled Allura closer and took her chin in his hand.  He brushed her
lips lightly with his and then gazed into her eyes searching for a response.
What he saw in her eyes was unbridled passion and something more. He had dared
to dream of her love before, but now it was truly there in her eyes.  He
wrapped his powerful arms around her waist and kissed her eagerly.  
        Allura felt a strong surge of emotion rush through her.  Lotor loved her and
she was sure they could find a ground both of them could stand on.  Her mind
turned from her thoughts to the growing sensations in her body.  Lotor's
kisses were long and slow, and she felt like she was on fire.  His kisses left
her light-headed and breathless.  She never wanted him to stop.  She returned
his kisses ardently and ran her fingers though his silken hair.  She ached
with desire and gasped with delight when he lowered his head to kiss the
hollow of her neck.  When he ran a fingertip along the edge of her bodice she
knew he could feel her heart pounding in her breast.  He continued to explore
her mouth with his and her body with his hands.  She wanted to be as near to
him as possible.  
        Lotor moaned with surprise and pleasure when she began to run her hands along
his muscular frame and slipped her hand between the fastenings on his shirt.
Allura was ready to give herself to him, now.  She brushed her hips against
his.  He pulled back from her suddenly and asked, his voice thick with desire,
"Are you sure! I want you to be happy, and I can wait for you!"  Lotor
couldn't believe he was actually giving Allura a chance to reconsider, but he
loved her and he meant what he said.  Allura took his head in her hands and
pulled him to her for a long kiss, suffused with heat.  When they broke she
whispered in his ear, "I'm sure! I want you and only you!  We can work
anything out.  I'm sure of it now."
        They turned toward the stairs to go, his arms around her shoulders, hers
around his waist, when five masked men raced toward them, weapons drawn.
Lotor reached for his sword, but it was too late.  They had anticipated this
and shots rang out.  Allura screamed in terror.  The laser shots found their
mark and Lotor crumpled to the ground.  Allura leaned over to help him when
she felt a laser blast hit her side.  She tried to stop her fall, but her body
would not respond.  She stared up into the sky, and the world went black.