The last ray of sunset sank below the horizon, dyeing the waters at the mouth of New York's Hudson River a molten, crimson gold.
At the moment day gave way to night, Stonefield Manor seemed to awaken from its slumber as well. Lights came on one after another, making the exquisite white stone palace within the estate appear to float in a soft amber glow.
This was a private estate spanning roughly two hundred acres, luxurious and magnificent like some enormous beast lying in wait beside the coastline.
A faint scent of tuberose and cedar lingered in the air, fresh and pleasant.
Vehicles continuously drove down the broad, tree-lined avenue, wide enough for four cars to travel abreast:
Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, Maybachs, Ferraris, Bugattis, Koenigseggs...
The various luxury cars gave off pleasant hums as they entered the manor like a school of fish swimming into the sea.
The cars stopped along the vast circular driveway before the palace. Attendants in black tailcoats and white gloves hurried forward and respectfully opened the doors.
Every man and woman who stepped out of the vehicles wore a mask.
They were not the extravagant, flamboyant masks of the Venice Carnival, but designs that were more refined and more private—
Some were silver-thread mesh masks covering half the face, their edges set with tiny diamonds that sparkled brilliantly beneath the lights;
Some were feather masks made from the closely fitted feathers of rare birds, their colors shifting from peacock blue to deep violet in ways modern techniques could hardly imitate;
Others had mask surfaces that refracted laser-like patterns of light, displaying different designs from different angles.
The masks concealed their faces, but they could not conceal other things: gemstone necklaces the size of pigeon eggs, antique bracelets worth more than seven figures, cufflinks made from rare