"Thank
you, Ma'am." He scored major points by kissing her arthritis
riddled hand.
"We
have your costumes for the ball," she said with a smile. "Things
you can run and move in. We also fixed the masks so that they have
anti-dazzle lenses built in. As long as you wear your mask, the flash
can't blind you. This is a special material of our own design. It
even helps against a nuclear blast."
"Thank
you, Ma'am. I am honored to be among such fine people." His
Southern accent which had been minimal until then, sweetened his
words like honey.
The
costumes were beautiful. Rafaela's was a ball gown, but the skirt
could be easily removed and a pair of comfortable leggings were worn
beneath it. Done in rich, deep reds and golds made it stand out in a
crowd. The men were dressed rather like characters from Romeo and
Juliet. They wore suede leggings instead of tights, boots and
doublets over full sleeved shirts. Dirk's was black with silver trim.
Seth's was slate blue with darker blue trim. They looked magnificent.
The
Hunters carried them to the Vampire Lord's property. It was well
guarded and warded, but the three of them were able to pass without
difficulty, though their friends were not. They stayed outside the
perimeter, waiting to back them up if necessary. Dirk wasn't certain
how this would be accomplished, but he didn't ask. These people had
been killing his kind since time began. He wouldn't insult them by
doubting their abilities.
The
door swung open when they arrived. A liveried servant ushered them
in. He didn't call them by name, but it was obvious he knew who they
were. No one accosted them, nor were they even noticed by the
majority of the partiers. Everyone was drinking freely. Alcohol,
which had little affect on vampires, flowed from fountains,
surrounded by handsome young men and beautiful women. They were
obviously drugged and complacent.
Rafaela
bridled when she saw them. They were chained to the fountains and
fettered around the ankles. Dirk took her hand, squeezing hard, when
she walked toward the nearest girl. A dark haired vampire male had
her by the hair, partaking more than was necessary. She mewled
feebly, struggling against him, but that seemed to make him even more
eager.
A
liveried servant appeared at his side, taking him roughly by the arm.
He jerked at the burly vampire, pulling him away from the girl. Two
other attendants unchained her and carried her off.
"Some
people can't set limitations," a smooth, cultured voice drawled
behind them. "I thank you for not causing a scene, Brother. My
little soiree has barely begun."
Dirk
swirled around, bowing graciously to their host. "Glaive, so
good to see you again, Brother."
The
younger man smiled, but it was the coldest expression Rafaela had
ever seen. He wasn't as tall as Dirk, but broader through the
shoulders and chest. Although she knew he was several years younger,
he looked considerably older than his brother. She supposed that
overindulgence and debauchery took their toll no matter whether the
man was immortal or not.
"Will
you introduce me to this ravishing creature with whom you adorn
yourself?" He held out his hand to Rafaela.
She
took his hand gingerly, glad for the elbow length gloves.
"May
I present Rafaela De Santos."
"The
First Hunter of her clan," Glaive said with a snarling smile.
"You must want something very much, to brave this nest," he
said, bowing over her hand.
"Your
head on a spike would please me," she replied with a sunny
smile.
Glaive
chuckled. It was a truly alarming sound. "Forgive me if I fail
to accommodate you, my dear." He turned to Seth. "This
remarkable specimen must be your nephew, Seth. Pity we can't turn
your kind. You'd be a lovely addition to my stable."
Dirk
frowned as Glaive awarded Seth more than a cursory glance. "Your
tastes have changed some over the decades."
"Not
really, I just may indulge myself as I choose, now. Don't let it
worry you, Big Brother, I love the ladies more." He blew a kiss
to Seth.
It
was hard to tell which bothered the Hunter more, the sexual innuendo,
or the fact it was a vampire.
"Are
you here to kill me?" Glaive asked in a matter of fact tone.
"Because that would be a hell of a way to ruin my party."
"I
was thinking about it, yes," Dirk replied calmly. "Your
pets grow too bold. You don't keep them under control as you should."
"I
suppose you could do better?" This was the first time that
Glaive had shown any real emotion. "You want all this for
yourself, is that it? Your power play didn't work back then, it won't
work now."
"I
didn't want the power, or the house, or the nest, Glaive. I wanted my
brother back, but you made it clear that you embraced this life,
loved it, and wanted no part of me. You should have sought revenge
for our family, but you chose not to."
"Oh,
poor you. You always were the whiner when things didn't go your way."
Dirk
laughed loudly, throwing back his head. The music had lulled, so all
eyes rested on him and Glaive.
"I
believe you've got the roles reversed. You were the whiner. I'm
surprised Louis bothered with you, always wanting something more than
you could have. But you always needed someone else to do it for you.
I killed Louis so you wouldn't have to. Not because of this!" He
waved his arms at the house and all it contained. "Because we're
blood. Because I thought, I hoped, that meant something to you too. I
came here tonight hoping like hell I wouldn't have to kill you."
He drew a short sword from his scabbard. It glistened silver in the
dim lights of the ballroom.
©
Dellani Oakes 2017
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