<div class="floatright">(https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/11917865_1484291961887317_2019264209_n.jpg)</div><div class="floatleft">(https://i.pinimg.com/736x/7b/8e/74/7b8e745e098bc61ef6f36ae32e84f650--anubis-mask-the-mask.jpg)</div>Name: Markus<br/>Location: Ballroom<br/>Tagging: Claudine -> Mina<br/><hr/><br/>Markus Jerome Cade's Father was a Major in the United States Air Force. While on assignment as part of a military intelligence gathering mission in the Egyptian Region, he stumbled across the most ravishingly beautiful woman he had ever seen. Markus's Mother had been assigned to his Father's unit as an interpreter and experienced what must have been Love, at first sight. The lovely Girl from Cario allowed herself to be swept off her feet by the handsome country boy from North Carolina. The romance was brief and heavenly intense and as the deployment came to its end Cade's Father made a promise that he would come back for her and make her his Wife. It took six months for that promise to become a reality. M.J.C.'s parents maintained a long distance relationship in which there was never twenty-four hours that hadn't past without them communicating with each other. When the Airforce Major returned he did so with the necessary Visa and Paperwork to fulfill his long-ago promise and together they made new vow's as husband and wife. It has been suggested that Markus was conceived on that very night...<br/><br/>For most of the young Boxer's earlier existence, he was an extremely blessed and happy child. To his Mother, he was her lion cub and could do no wrong, spoiled to no end and smothered in love. Markus was the spitting image of his father and that seemed to bring his Mom no end of joy due to his Dad's occupation that carried him off to God knows where as military tension heated up in the middle east. The Son of a dark-skinned Egyptian Woman and a Black Man came to idolized his sometimes absent Father as a larger than life figure who went off to save the world. Every homecoming was like Christmas as Mother and Son greeted their returning Hero and made the best of their time together creating lasting family memories that M.J.C. still cherish till this day. It was all how it was supposed to be... then it was not and the Boy who would one day become the Lightweight Heavyweight Champion found that spark of rage and fire that would forever shape his life.<br/><br/>Markus still remembered the day those men came to the house to explain to his Mother and his Father's family that it was a simple "training" mission that had gone horribly wrong. The Young Boxer remembered vividly how his Mom collapsed right then and there in a complete and utter fit of heartbreak and despair. How within a year she had weakened in both body and spirit till she became deathly ill and died. Cade remembered trying to comfort his Mom but being pushed away, unable to understand at that age of how being the spitting image of his Father was a torment to the woman who had lost the only man she knew she could ever love. Confusion and rejection turned into deep-rooted anger which only erupted into a rage after M.J.C.'s mother passed away less than a year after his father. Markus Grandmother had once said, "That poor child died the moment they told her your daddy wasn't coming home... her body just took it's time to catch up."<br/><br/>Nana Stone, Markus's Grandmother on his Father's side had stepped in to raise the now out of control orphan and she did so with the attitude and efficiency of a military drill sergeant. Seeing that Cade needed an upbringing that was based on strict and unwavering discipline to counter the pain that was eating at him; Nana Stone, a name Markus started calling her due to the Elder's rough and no-nonsense parenting, was more than up to the challenge. Under her watchful eye and swift use of a "switch", the Mother of his Father kept the wayward teen from self-destructing. It was Nana Stone's wisdom that got Markus into boxing, as the Grandmother was becoming annoyed at having to go to school to justify another physical altercation that her Grandson had gotten himself into. "That boy is so angry at the world that all he knows is that he has to hit something to try to feel better." Nana Stone had said to the school counselor. "...and look at him, sitting there with those two black eyes and a busted lip, looking like a damn beat up raccoon. He's not even good at fighting!"<br/><br/>It was Nana Stone who marched Markus little butt into that Gym and pushed him into the arms of his lifelong trainer. "Do something with him, before I lose my mind and bury him out back!" Grandma had said before turning around and leaving him standing there completely alone with this large and imposing man that would teach Markus so much. The Trainer, known as Papa Delgado raised his hand, palm out, and said, "Okay Kid, hit this and let's see what you got."<br/><br/>Yes, Nana Stone had raised Markus Jerome Cade right. Had taught him, through harsh lessons, to be the man that he was. One lesson that he had always taken to heart was that when you eat around other people you don't come to the table looking like a fool... though at a Masquerade Ball that could be unavoidable. Still as Nana use to say, "Don't come to my table dirty. When you sit for dinner at my house you will come washed up, cleaned up and dressed up or you don't come at all!"<br/><br/>After two dances, one with the lovely Countess and the other with the mysterious and sultry Woman wearing a domino mask, Markus Cade had broken a sweat. So as he pulled out his cell phone and text something. The Anibus Warrior turned to his gorgeous new companion and said, "Yeah eating in this getup is going to be a challenge, but so was getting you to dance with me. Maybe I'll go two for two." and as Cade looked over the unknown and beautiful masked Claudine and appreciate his good fortune at having her on his arm for dinner, he added, "Or three for three depending on how the night turns out."<br/><br/>When M.J.C. phone chimed a text message back he asked his dance partner, "I need to make a stop at the men's room before heading in to eat. Could you give me a moment? I promise I'll be quick." Once Markus had received an acknowledgment he turned and made his way to the bathroom that was close to the main entrance. As he approached the lavatory he spied one of the castle's servants waiting for him and holding a familiar package. "Your man left this in our care for you. Please understand we couldn't let him in."<br/><br/>"I understand and thank you," Cade said as he took the offered goods and disappeared into the restroom. Moments later the Anibus Warrior came out looking a bit different. Gone was the open-chested white top which was replaced with a black sleeveless robe adorn with Egyptian style beads and necklaces. M.J.C. had also added the matching cloth covering for the mask that completely encased his entire head in a blue and gold shroud. This was not going to make eating easier, but it should make an impact and that was what Nana Stone had taught him. Dinner with others was about making good impressions and honoring those who have agreed to sit with you to enjoy a meal.<br/><br/>Washed up, cleaned up and now dressed up. Markus's eyes scanned for the woman he was to escort into the Banquet Hall and found her, but before he could take that first step a scream alerted him to a surreal scene that one had to wonder if it was all part of the festivities. The Countess was kneeling beside the Count now lying on the floor and as M.J.C. walked up and joined the onlookers he quickly realized this wasn't something stage but an actual assault on one of the Hosts of the castle. The floor was now covered in deep crimson as the Counts lifeblood emptied from a knife wound in his side. The young Fighter now wishing to act, to do something could only watch as the Woman he had so recently danced with suffered thru hearing her beloved's final words.<br/><br/>After taking a moment to wrangle in her obvious grief and distress, She rose and addressed the gathering around her and her now late husband. Assuring them that everything was in hand and that they were to continue to try to what... enjoy themselves; as security now try to manage a possible murder scene and the fact that someone in this very castle was a cold-blooded killer. Part of Markus's mind screamed to go find the brown hair, burgundy dressed Woman he had just Samba with and make sure she was okay but the other half commanded him to stay in place and check on the Countess. As soon as an opening presented itself he moved up behind the Raven Haired Noble and reached for her hesitantly.<br/><br/>"My God... Countess! Are you..." Markus began to say, but as Countess Mina turned to Him and Her gazed fixed on the eyes of the young Boxer thru his Anibus mask, a silent command was issued that had the power and authority to stop him dead, no matter if he was the actual Egyptian Deity. Turning back around, the Royal continued to issue commands to her staff and guards as they started to form a perimeter to preserve the crime scene and to guide the Castle Guests to less dramatic areas. Once order had wrestled chaos to the ground and Mina seemed confident everything that could be done was being done she turned back to Markus, taking his hand and leading him off to somewhere a bit more private.<br/><br/>"I'm Sorry, I shouldn't have tried to..." Again M.J.C. started but the smaller woman just simply reached up pulling the Anibus mask up far enough for her to expose Man's lips. The Countess leaned up and softly kissed them as if she was taking a measure of comfort from the intimate exchange. A single tear rolled down Mina's face and landed on Markus just at the corner of his mouth. It tasted salty and bitter and filled with unimaginable loss that instantly took the Young Man back to the year his mother and father had died and an old forgotten pain caught in Cade throat.<br/><br/>Markus couldn't remember how long that moment lasted but it felt like forever in a second. Then the Countess broke off the kiss and composed herself, placed her hand on the chest of the Boxer over his heart, fingers still tinted red from her husband blood and smiled before turning and walking away in pursuit of her duties to her now terrified guest.<br/><br/>M.J.C. watched her go somehow feeling that the Countess had gotten what she needed from him and now had to carry on alone for the moment. Markus wanted to stay right where he was or find a way to get out of this place but thoughts turned to the woman he had asked to escort to dinner and the fact that a killer was out there. He suspects that his last dance partner was more than capable of taking care of herself but there was always strength in numbers and if he had to go down fighting she was on a very short list of people he would trust to have his back... after all she couldn't be the killer she was dancing with him when the murder went down, right!?<br/><br/>Turning to catch a glimpse of Claudine, Cade started to look for her in earnest...