By Gianni Shamari Copyright ©2026 The penthouse at East End on the Upper East Side of Manhattan is alive with the scents of October and wealth. Cold air flows in from the terrace, warmth emanates from numerous beeswax candles, and champagne bubbles up in tall crystal glasses. Maré stands by the black marble bar, tuxedo jacket open, a simple black domino mask doing little to conceal his identity. The crowd is a blur of velvet, smoke, and masquerade feathers, but he never takes

By Jenny Swift Copyright ©2026 The late October air in the historic colonial district of New Orleans was imbued with an intoxicating blend: sweet incense smoke and the crunch of dry leaves. It was Halloween night, and the Beaumont family's imposing Victorian mansion had opened its heavy oak doors to host the season's most exclusive masquerade ball. Inside, the high ceilings were a spectacle for anyone seeing them for the first time. Dozens of guests conversed in low voices, h

By Jonathan Peters Copyright ©2026 My eyes. Purple-blue like a sad, dark ocean. Your eyes. Grey like the sky before a rain after a long drought. That first meeting. Must have been an age ago. Interior cabin lights were on when we met. All lights faded when we departed. Things end. Even stars. Time doesn’t mind itself. A twelve-hour flight to Peru, interrupted by a child kicking the back of my seat. Turning, irritated. “Hey!” I shouted. He stopped quick. Then I heard a snort.