72. Back in the Ballroom
Amy decides to peek back into the ballroom in case she missed anything. It looks just as grand as it did before, but now that nobody's here she can finally get a good look at it. The floors look to be solid marble tile. The walls are covered in giant mirrors surrounded by ornate gilded trim. The vaulted ceilings depict scenes of angels cavorting in renaissance style. But are they angels? Amy squints to get a closer look, and finds that the cherubic little children seem to have tiny horns, forked tails, and a slight reddish tint to their skins. “How bizarre,” she thinks to herself.
“Ahem!”
Amy is startled back to reality by a stranger clearing his throat. In the middle of the ballroom stands a young man holding a fiddle. He has blonde hair in a ponytail and his face is soft and effeminate. He looks very delicate, like a porcelain doll. His blue eyes sparkle as he looks at Amy.
“Pardon me, madame, but I couldn't help noticing how elegant your figure is.”
Amy regards the person suspiciously, but can't help smiling to herself at the compliment.
The man continues: “I just wanted to know, would you...” he trails off and looks away, then returns to looking at her, blushing, “would you mind dancing for me? I could play some music. I'm sure you are a beautiful dancer.”
Amy isn't sure about this. The young man seems harmless enough, but Amy has yet to encounter a friendly stranger in this house.
What should she do?