Story 2: Darkness
The room was beginning to fill with the dark masses, each entering in pairs and each moving to one portion of the empty clean space. Candles from the chandeliers had been lit by the caretakers of the room and all the windows were closed as was the custom for whenever the room was used. All were quite on entering and all were cloaked and hooded, save for a silver pin which bore a small jade leaf. All those who entered wore masks of many designs and some who could not wear a mask, wore only a black scarf to hide their identities. The host of tonights gathering entered last and wore the same as all who entered, the only difference was the pin which held the cloak had a gold rose. This was the only sign to all who were given entrance into the room that tonights host was this man or woman.
The figures all moved about before settling in random spots, tonights host wanted no couches and none were there. Tonights host wanted no smoking and none was available. Tonights host walked to the end of the room and upon the stage where the audience now watched in anticipation of the ritual to begin.
The host stood staring through the eye slits of the mask that held back the identity from all. Then with a clear calling and lifting her arms up opening her cloak so that all saw a naked body before them she called out.
"Tonight is darkness."
Those who had become patrons of the room knew what the night would be and those who were new to the room began looking around a bit frantic by the words spoken. Yet all who heard responded in whispers that turned to chanting.
"Tonight is Darkness."
They all repeated until it became a loud chant and the doors opened with two care takers coming into the room with long candle snubs. Both men were given a clear path to the chandeliers above and began working to snuff out the candles as quickly as possible. Starting near the stage and then working their way to the doors which held the outside world at bay. Still the new comers to the room were beginning to get restless as none of them knew or understood the hosts choice for tonight.