The air hung thick with the scent of jasmine, a perfume heavy and sweet, and yet something felt wrong. The mansion, sprawling and imposing, stood silently against the backdrop of the moonlit night. The party, a gathering of the crème de la crème of society, had reached its peak, the laughter and chatter a constant hum. Within the grand ballroom, a hush fell over the guests, a chilling silence breaking through the festive atmosphere. The orchestra stopped playing, their instruments frozen in mid-air, their faces etched with confusion and alarm. The lights flickered, casting dancing shadows across the opulent décor, and then the room plunged into darkness.