THE MASK: A Twin's Disguise

LISA

"Chop chop!" Suzana,the head of the house maids claps her gloved hands together. "Everything needs to be perfecto."

Fresh flowers are hanging on the shelves as well as the staircases. When papa announced that my twin sister,who is two minutes older than I is to be wedded to the young twenty nine year old Lord,Lore Cavannaugh, everyone seemed to be happy. Well, everyone except me of course,

"This is bad,very very bad."

"Miss?" Someone addresses me and I turn to find Silas,my best friend watching me with worried eyes.

"Miss?" I frown. "Why are you calling me that?"

"You know I'm not allowed to call you by your first name,it'll be an insult to your family and house."

I fold my hands over my chest and narrow my eyes.

"You know I don't give a crap about that,you're my best friend."

A gasp sounds behind me and I know it's Suzana,I'm not even allowed to say words like crap because it's not lady like. My father happens to be a Duke,the family title comes from way back generations. Our home is more like a castle,with huge portraits of my dead ancestors hanging on the walls in a perfect straight line.

"Come on.." I hiss then drag him by the wrist.

"Lisa."

"Shhh,just follow me."

When we enter the library doors,I lock them and get on my tiptoes, placing my lips to his. When I pull back,I sigh.

"Why aren't you happy?" He pushes some strands of my hair behind my ear. "Your sister is getting a dream marriage."

"I know,but that's the problem."

A frown tugs at his eyebrows.

"What do you mean?" Silas is the ambassador's advisor. The role holds something,but not enough for my father to accept any sort of intimate relationship between us,he'd call it a taboo and literally die.

"She's been seeing a-a gangstar,she's supposed to be pure before getting married to a Lord,that's the rule in our families,in these circle," I swallow. "Mona..." I trail off

"Mona what?"

"Is no longer pure."

His frown dissapears and gets replaced with shock. I watch him as his mouth opens then closes a few times.

"When did this happen?" He asks.

"It started a month ago," I say nervously, shifting my weight from one foot to the other.

He pinches the bridge of his nose and runs his fingers through his hair,then stops when he realises he's going to ruin the perfect gel.

"Are you sure?" He asks.

"Yes," I bite my bottom lip.

"Lisa," he places his hands on my shoulders. "Are you a hundred percent sure of what you're saying? You know that it's a disgrace and a crime to marry a Lord impure without their knowledge."

"I know," I run my fingers over his chest. "But maybe she didn't know she would be handed to Lord Lore. Had this arrangement been made at birth or fourteen,she wouldn't have done it,you know how much she used to mull over lord Lore."

"That's still not reason enough for her to break tradition, Jesus. What was she thinking?"

He starts pacing.

"Miss Lisa? Are you in there?" Asah,my personal maid knocks on the door.

"Yes Asah."

"It's time for your dress fitting."

"I'll be right there," I say just to shoo her away. Sometimes,things are taken overboard around here,I mean,I can take care of myself just fine. I don't need a personal maid.

"Did you tell any of your parents?" He whispers.

"No, they'll die if I tell them."

"Good gracious,was it just once?"

"Yes." Mona and I tell each other everything,it's like this weird blood thing where we can't hide anything from one another. So yes,she told me it happened once and I believed her,I know when she's lying.

"Okay..."

"Okay what?" I ask

"It's not that bad then,we'll make up something when the time comes,I'll figure something out and then let you know, that way you'll get to act like it's your way of advising her."

I think over it and shake my head in approval. That's better,if Mona was to find out that I told Silas about this,she would never ever forgive me.

An Hour Later

"What did I say about you being around that man?"

"He's just my friend,papa."

"No friends!" He bangs his hand on his expensive office desk,making me flinch.

Suzana,it couldn't have been anyone else but her,that lousy hag.

"But papa.."

"That man is beneath us Lisa,I won't repeat this again. You," he points his long finger at me. "Will not be seen with that man again,do I make myself clear?" He nearly growls the words out.

I bow my head and link my fingers in front of me.

"Yes papa," I whisper.

"Good. Now,go and get ready,the Earl's son will be here any moment,you are to accompany him at the event tonight."

I swallow and answer without looking up.

"Yes papa."

"Meet my eyes," he says sternly.

I slowly look up and meet his eyes. The warning in them has me blinking rapidly.

"And get rid of that habit,it doesn't look well on our family's mannerism."

"Of course."

He waves his hand, dismissing me.

To Papa,Mona is the Golden child,she's the perfect one, the one who does everything right,who's always composed and presents the family well.

No matter what I do,I'm not good enough for him.

* *Later* *

After Asah finds the perfect dress for me,I look in the mirror and run my eyes all over myself. I meet my eyes in the mirror and sadness reflects in them.

I need to stay away from Silas,if I don't, I might get him in serious trouble. He might even get fired if my father pulls a few strings.

"Done," Asah says,proud of the work she's done.

I take a deep breath in and smooth my palms over my stomach.

"You look perfect,miss."

I step down from the pedal and take her hand in mine.

"Asah,I told you to stop calling me miss,you're my friend-"

She immediately snatches her hand back.

"Please don't say that," she begs. "If the master hears you,I might get in trouble."

I smile sadly and nod.

"Can you at least tell me the truth when I need to hear it?"

She looks uncomfortable at my question.

"Please..I need to do this right,papa always thinks I'm wrong,at least help me prove myself to him?"

"Okay,I will help you miss."

* *Celebration Party* *

I play with the champagne flute in my hand,tuning out the Earl's snobbish son who can't seem to stop talking about himself and how huge his inheritance will be.

"Don't you think so?" He asks,I turn my head and face him.

"Yeah,sure,absolutely." I agree without even knowing what he just said.

"Ahh,I was right. You and I are the perfect fit."

I choke on the champagne and cough. Mama glares at me from the other side of the room where she's seated with her perfect daughter,Mona.

She shakes her head disapprovingly and I take another sip without breaking eye contact. Mona widens her eyes at me,a sign telling me to cut off trying to piss Mama off.

The clinking of a glass has everyone's attention going to the small set up stage.

"Good evening," Papa says smoothly. "Thank you all for attending this event,as you know,I have a very special announcement to make."

I take another sip and clear my throat.

I look to the left and meet Silas's eyes,who smiles at me from his seat at the Ambassador's table. I don't return the gesture,earning a confused expression from him.

"If I'd have everyone's utmost attention,I'd be grateful." Papa says,I meet his glaring eyes and compose myself.

"My beloved beautiful eldest daughter,Mona is to be wedded to a good honorable man in our society,Lord Lore Cavannaugh."

Clapping erupts from the people in the room,soft and classy as though their hands are delicate.

"Mona,would you do us the honor of coming forth."

Mama stands with her and gives her a peck on the cheek,then sits back down as Mona walks to the stage.

"Good evening, as my father has mentioned,I'm off the market."

Soft laughter from the people fills the room.

"Unfortunately,Lord Lore isn't able to make it on time as he is finishing a dinner meeting with Lord Armstrong. But he will be here soon. Again,thank you all for coming."

Clapping comes from the crowd again. The two walk over and join mama at the main table. Longing grips my heart tight as I'm reminded that i am not as special as Mona to seat with my parents.

The Earl's son says something again and I stand, running out of patience,I whisper.

"Can you just please fucking stop talking? You snobbish little shit." His eyes widen in shock,I carry my purse and walk out to get some fresh air.

I walk down the hall with tears welling in my eyes,then I bump into a hard body,my high heels make me lose balance but before I can fall,hands catch me and super expensive cologne flows into my nostrils.

I look up to thank whoever the gentleman is and find scorching grey eyes staring right at me.

"Are you alright,miss?"

LISA

I push away from Lord Lore's arms and clear my throat.

"I'm okay my Lord."

His eyes shine with amusement.

"My Lord? Please just call me Lore."

"I'm sorry for bumping into you,I'm a bit clumsy tonight."

"No,the fault was mine."

"Thank you for catching me."

He nods his head and puts his hands in his perfectly pressed tuxedo pants.

I go around him and walk out of the house.

When I get back inside the event room,I see Mona chatting and standing in a perfect posture next to Lord Lore. The beam on my parents faces has me snatching another flute of champagne and downing it all. Then I flatten my dress and walk over,the minute I reach the circle,Mama's smile falters.

"Having a good evening?" I ask.

"Oh,my Lord,this is my twin sister,Lisa. Lisa,this is Lord Lore."

"Ahh,I actually thought you had rushed off and had a change of clothes," he smiles, showcasing his pearl white teeth.

"You've met my youngest daughter before?" Papa says with a hint of worry in his tone,which only I and my family notice.

"Yes,I actually met her in the hall."

"Yeah,we bumped into," I hiccup. "Each other."

Mama's eyes widen a notch.

"Lisa,you should watch where you're going,you could have caused miscomfort on Lord Lore."

"I'm sure it was an accident," Mona says to them.

That's the thing about my twin sister,she's always ready to defend me and try to make our parents see a brighter side to my actions,but they don't seem to pay attention,they always focus on the faults.

"I'm so sorry,Lore," Papa apologizes. "Sometimes Lisa can be-"

"No,I was the one who wasn't looking where I was going,miss Lisa was kind enough to apologize for something she did not do." Lord Lore defends me even though I was the one in the wrong.

I smile thankfully.

"So,what do you do miss Lisa?"

"I'm into art-"

"Lisa is going to become a Lawyer," papa cuts me off.

"A doctor and a lawyer,I see. That's, interesting."

Yep,one more thing. Mona has a PhD in doctorate, as for me,I'm an artist. Something my parents didn't agree to. So I've kept all my paintings hidden in my room.

I tuck my lips in and snatch another flute from a passing waiter's tray.

"Lisa," mama whispers close to my ear. "You need to stop drinking too much,stop before you end up embarrassing us all."

A group of rich looking people enter the room.

"Ah,there they are. I would like to introduce Mona to my brothers and sister, if that's okay with you of course."

"Sure,you can go ahead. Mona," papa tips his head, giving his permission and they leave. Before I start getting scolded,I dodge when they get distracted by proudly watching Lord Lore and Mona who are walking away,with his hand placed at the small of her back.

* *Later* *

After the union celebration event, I sit on my bed and wince at the pain slicing through my feet. I remove my heels and hiss when I see my red bruised toes.

"Fucking heels," I whisper to myself.

The door opens and Mona walks in.

"Hey you," she says.

"Hey you back."

She takes a seat on my bed and watches me intently. Her features a mirror of my own.

"Why did you leave early?"

"I-i just got tired,my feet were killing me."

Her gaze moves to my toes.

"Come on,let me take a look at those."

She grabs a kit and brings out some ointment,I place my feet on her laps and she applies it on my toes,then gently massages them.

After two minutes of silence,she speaks.

"You do know that our parents love you,right?"

She doesn't look up at me when she says the words,i remain quiet and she finally looks at me.

"Lisa.." she sighs. "Just because they are strict doesn't mean they don't love you."

"Everything I do is wrong in their eyes Mona,both you and I know that they can't stand me. They couldn't even have me at the family table and that says something. Maybe they even wish I wasn't born."

"Lisa!" She scolds. "Don't you ever say that again,papa and Mama love you,they just want you to be..." She trails off.

"Perfect like you?" I finish for her. I know I'm being unfair to her but it's the truth.

"I'm not perfect Mona."

"Right,I remember,I've got one thing better than you."

Her face falls and then she looks away from me. I immediately regret what I just said.

"Mona,I didn't mean to-"

"No, Lisa. You're right," she stands and hugs herself.

I stand and place my hand on her arm.

"Mona,what do you really want? Do you want this," I wave my hand in the air. "Marriage with Lord Lore?"

"I don't know,I mean,yes but-"

"No buts,you're not even sure you want to spend the rest of your life with this man. You're doing it to please our parents when you're actually in love with that gangstar."

"He's not a gangstar,Lisa." A smile plays on her lips. "He's just part of a Motorcycle club,MC."

"Right,the not so Lord guy it is."

Mona chuckles at my statement,then all those playful emotions vanish.

"But it's my duty to hold our family's honor. I can't have something happen to our family because of my selfishness."

"It's not selfishness Mona,it's called happiness and choice."

"Choice doesn't exist in our world Lisa,I was stupid to think falling in love for a few months was okay until I took on my duty."

My eyes widen in disbelief.

"So you just wanted to have fun and then leave the guy to go back to your original life? That's not how love works Mona,you can't just turn it on and off."

She smiles at me sadly and takes my hand in hers.

"You need to promise me Lisa, promise me to never mention Liam to anyone. He's now my past,a past I can't afford to bring to the future."

She says with pleading eyes full of different emotions. Fear,longing,pain and torment.

My chest squeezes at the reminder that I actually did reveal her secret to Silas in a moment of panic.

"Have you told him you're getting engaged in three days time?"

She shakes her head,no.

"But I'm going to tell him soon."

"You have to do it before the engagement then."

She bites her lower lip and releases it with a pop sound.

"Yes."

I take a step forward and hug her tightly.

"I hope you know what you're doing," I say.

"It's for the best. Thank you for always being there, Lisa."

"I'll always be there," I reply.

When she leaves my bedroom,all I can think about is how my life will be when I get to her stage, because whether I like it or not,the life Mona has stepped into is the same life that is waiting for me. It's just a matter of time before someone comes and asks for my hand,or papa proposes it to someone in his circle.

LISA

A week after Mona's engagement. Everybody in the house seems to be very happy with how smoothly things are going. I keep sneaking glances at Mona,who smiles brightly enough to fool everybody but me.

"Stop slouching," mama whispers and I straighten. See shakes her head and continues chatting with the Countess,the Earl's wife who they invited for lunch.

"So Lisa,I hope you won't get bored when your sister leaves for her own house,I understand the two of you have been inseparable since birth."

The countess says politely.

"Of course I'll miss her," I smile at her.

"Well,it won't be long until you're in the same situation."

I choke on my food at the words that just left her mouth.

"W-what?" I stutter.

"You'll also have a chosen suitor soon,like the Earl's son. You too seemed to get along quiet well,don't you think so,Mara?" Mama asks the countess.

"Uhm." She clears her throat.

"Is anything wrong, Mara?" Papa asks and silence falls over the table.

"Well you see," she dabs the corner of her mouth with a napkin. "Patrick had a change of mind."

"What? But why?" Mona asks.

When the countess doesn't answer,everyone's eyes land on me, including hers.

"Lisa,what happened?" When I don't answer mama,the Countess speaks.

"It seemed like Lisa said something that seemed to upset my son very much."

She eyes me knowingly but doesn't out me.

"What did you say to him Lisa? Were you rude to the Earl's son?"

My mouth opens and closes three times.

"Maybe he just felt they weren't a good match. Lisa will find another good man because she's not only beautiful,but she's intelligent too," Mona smiles at me.

I silently mouth a, "Thank you."

* *The Wedding Day* *

After the countess left,I was cornered by my family, wanting to know what I said to Patrick,but all I said was, "I told him the truth he so needed to hear."

Of course that didn't please my parents,so they pushed the time of finding the perfect match for me and assured I wouldn't get out of it easily this time around.

That conversation left a sour taste in my mouth until now.

I sigh while looking around the room. Today is Lord Lore and Mona's wedding day. The light of the event herself,seems to be genuinely happy. She's warmed up to the decision of marrying Lord Lore and I don't blame her. He's very kind and handsome,she's lucky to have been picked by a wealthy man with such qualities of a gentleman.

"Miss,we need to do your makeup now," Asah says.

"Can't one of you do it?" Why do I need two people to fix me up anyway?

They both look me me blankly.

"Okay," I sigh and walk over to sit at the make-up desk.

Minutes later,I'm done and stand to twirl in the perfect silky pink dress and high heels.

"You look wonderful miss." Stella,who is Mona's personal maid compliments.

"Thank you Stella," I smile warmly. Now that Mona is leaving,I don't know what will happen to Stella,she'll obviously have to leave.

The doors burst open and Suzana stands there, scanning me from head to toe.

"Perfecto. Now,we have to go before we run late."

She gives me way and I walk out the doors.

The Hall is packed,rich perfume and silence fills the atmosphere as the groom stands at the isle waiting for his bride.

Two minutes,

Three minutes,

Five minutes.

And there's no sign of Mona.

Whispers start as Mama's phone vibrates. Papa's name flashes on the screen and something she reads has her tensing.

I dial Mona's number,it's ringing so I decide to step out.

"Where are you going?" Mama hisses in a whisper.

"To find out what you're hiding from me." I look her in the eyes.

"Don't you dare ruin this Lisa," she grips my wrist in a steel hold,then let's go when she realizes I'm in a standing position and everyone is watching us.

I snort.

"Oh please mama,don't start,I'm not as evil as you try to paint me."

Then I'm walking out of the church doors with everyone watching my every step.

I get to the bride's dressing room and walk in without knocking. Papa stops whatever he was saying to Simone,my uncle. I move closer and see the trickle of sweat on his temple.

"Papa?"

"What are you doing in here Lisa?" Uncle Simone asks.

"People are getting restless out there,the Lord is running out of patience. He's been waiting at the isle for over five minutes.

The doors burst open and Mama walks in with shaky hands.

"Henry,the Lord's family is starting to get angry, they're calling it an insult to keep him standing at the isle waiting for our daughter."

I bring out my phone and dial Mona's number but she doesn't pick up. After three more dials,her phone goes off.

I slide it from my ear and find expectant eyes watching me.

"Anything?" Uncle asks.

I shake my head no.

"Her phone just went off."

Mama lets out a frustrated,shaky breath.

"Did you tell your sister to back out of the wedding?"

I look at her in disbelief.

"Rose,it's not our daughters fault, if Mona chose to run away,then it's her fault and yours because you gave her too much freedom on this important day."

A knock sounds on the door and everyone pauses,uncle Simone clears his throat and says,

"Come in."

Asah walks in with a pale face.

"Asah?" I rush to her. "Your face is draining of color,what is it?"

Uncle hands her a glass of water and she gulps half of it.

"You're shaking,take a seat." She does and looks up with tears in her eyes.

"It's miss Mona."

"What about Mona?" Mama asks.

"She said she couldn't do this and ran away."

"No," mama whispers.

"A motorcycle picked her up and left."

I hear a grunt and then the shuttering of glasses behind me. I turn on time to find uncle catching papa,who almost fell down with a hand placed on the left side of his chest.

"Papa!" I rush to his side with panic gripping my heart tightly.

Uncle seats papa in a chair and hands him water.

"What's wrong with him?"

"He's going to have a heart attack. We need to find Mona."

"You won't." Asah speaks from my side, gaining everyone's attention.

"What do you mean?" Papa stands against everyone's advise.

"She said not to look for her because you won't find her."

Uncle's phone starts ringing and he panics. Papa turns away and places his hand on the left side of his chest again,as for mama,she can't seem to stop crying.

"It's over,we are going to be disgraced. Everything I've worked so hard for is crumbling right in front of my eyes." Papa says with so much emotion that anytime soon,we all expect tears to burst from his eyes.

Seeing my parents in so much pain has me hurting too. I think about how hard papa rose from the ashes his father left,how he proved those who thought the family was going to be nothing,wrong. He might be hard on me most of the time,but he's still my father, I won't let him be dishonored,laughed at and embarrassed until he dies of a heart attack when I can do something about it.

I take a step forward,as everyone focuses on drowning in their own sorrow.

"I can do it papa," I say loud enough for everyone to hear.

They all turn to me with shocked eyes, as if I've grown two extra heads.

"I can marry Lord Lore as Mona."