Thank you to Elemental1000 for noticing my mistake. I went over this again and saw a couple other typos.
And for those of you who are wondering, this is a one shot.
Disclaimer: I don't own Chaotic
Parties were not unheard of in the Underworld, but they were never this extravagant. Then again, this was not an Underworlder party. Maxxor had thrown this party for his arch rival, and the leader of the Underworld could not understand why Maxxor would make his servants go through this much trouble. Chaor watched as Nivenna danced with one of the male servants. Whether the young male was putting on a show because of orders or genuinely trying to get closer to her was still as much a mystery as the rest of this.
"Does this make any sense to you?" Takinom asked. She was sitting near her leader, ready to defend him if anything happened.
"Not a thing." Chaor admitted as he watched Maxxor dance with Intress. It was easier knowing that Takinom didn't understand it either.
"I can't believe the Overworlders would go through this much trouble for us." Takinom knew Chaor would understand what she was saying; something wasn't right about this.
"They're up to something." Chaor openly translated her words for her. Takinom placed her left hand on the table and place her right elbow on her hand. She the placed her right hand over her face. Chaor knew what that meant to; he had just embarrassed her. "Well they are." Chaor said defensively, hoping he wasn't talking loud enough for anyone to hear him. No one was looking, and that was a good sign.
Chaor and Takinom continued watching in silence as the instrumental music played on. They were both irritated at each other. If only Chaor could be more subtle, and if only Takinom didn't get embarrassed so easily. They were always getting upset with each other, and there was no need to say anything about it when it happened; they both knew what was said.
Finally the music stopped and Maxxor and Intress walked to the table. Takinom waited for Nivenna to look over towards her, but it didn't happen. Her sister said something to her before the girls giggled and traded partners. Takinom gave the two a disapproving look- what were those two giggling about?
"Aren't you two going to dance?" Maxxor asked as he pulled out a chair for Intress. Her ears went back as she blushed slightly, too happy to even speak. It was like all of her hopes and dreams from the past few solans had suddenly met up in her throat.
"Underworlders don't dance." Chaor said bluntly
Takinom blushed as well, but not for the same reasons Intress did.
"You don't seem very happy with that answer." Maxxor turned his attention to the winged female
"It's fine." she lied
"Perhaps you like to be the exception?" Maxxor bowed slightly as he offered out his hand to her. Intress glared, but as usual, Maxxor didn't take notice of her.
"Takinom isn't interested." Chaor answered for her
"How would you know what I'm interested in?" Takinom scolded him
"I would be honored to give you your first lessons." Maxxor said honestly. It truly was an honor to be able to make peace with someone who you had once considered a threat.
"The honor is all mine." Takinom assured him as she took his hand and let him lead her to the dance floor. The band watched in shock as the two walked hand in hand.
"Way to go Takinom!" Aivenna said, not knowing how much she was embarrassing her mother. "You need to give Intress some lessons on how to pick up men- she's been after that one since forever ago!"
Intress groaned and placed her head in both hands, not caring that her elbows were on the table. Chaor chuckled at her discomfort.
"Aivenna, you're embarrassing your mother." Nivenna scolded her twin
"I am?" Aivenna asked as she looked over at Intress. Nivenna was right, and there was only one thing left to do. "Sorry Mom!" Intress place one finger over her lips to remind Aivenna to behave "Oh right, inside voice. Got it!"
Takinom grinned at how out of control Aivenna was and how well Nivenna was tolerating it. Normally the two of them would have been arguing by now.
"Something slow." Maxxor said to the orchestra. They did not disobey their leader.
Chaor and Intress watched jealously while Maxxor taught Takinom how to dance. She looked so beautiful in her red dress with the pink gems, and it matched too well with Maxxor's toga. Togas were usually considered formal in Perim, and the pants he wore with it made it clear that this was a very special occasion.
"I should have worn red." Intress realized as she looked down at her strapless dress.
"Grey is a decent color." Chaor said it out of mere impulse, and he immediately regretted it
"I would have never expected you to compliment me!" Maxxor glanced over when he heard Intress say that, but he didn't let it distract him from dancing with Takinom.
"I said grey is decent color." Chaor corrected her "That doesn't make you pretty."
"Your leader isn't very nice." Maxxor said quietly enough for only Takinom to hear him
"He's always like this." Takinom whispered so that Chaor wouldn't hear her
"Even to you?" Maxxor's heart physically heart when she said that.
"No," she sighed "he's not usually that nice to me. At least he told her that her dress was a decent color. Chaor never compliments my clothing."
"A lady should be treated with more respect than that." Maxxor said as he place one of her hands on his shoulder and wrapped his now free arm around her waist. She gasped and looked at him as though he was being inappropriate with her. "I think I know which song they're playing, and it's about to get faster."
"And a male is supposed to do this to a lady during a fast song?" Takinom asked as though she knew the answer was 'no'.
"For this one, yes." Maxxor remained calm and collected "That's just the type of song that it is."
"The rules of dancing must be more complicated than I assumed."
"Get ready, and don't get stiff." Maxxor warned her "There are a lot of complicated steps coming up, and I don't expect you to get all of them right. I'll have to have a talk with the orchestra after this. But for now, just relax."
Takinom wanted to make a smart remark about the band, but she kept her mouth closed.
Maxxor was right; the song did get fast and more complicated. Takinom did her best to keep up with it all, but she was failing miserably. Chaor would have made plenty of statements if she was failing with him, but Maxxor remained calm and gently, reassuring her every few steps that she was doing good. She soon began to relax. No wonder Intress was so addicted to this man!
Soon the song slowed down again.
"I'm so glad that's over." Takinom openly admitted to her former enemy
"We're not through yet." Maxxor warned her "Have you ever been dipped before?"
"Excuse me?" As far as Takinom knew, Maxxor was making a pass on her
"At the end of this song, I'm going to need you to trust me." Maxxor did his best to calmly explain what dipping was
"And you expect me to believe that you're not going to let me fall?"
Chaor heard that and narrowed his eyes. He glanced at Intress. She too knew which song was being played. She knew what was going to happen, and she was furious. He wanted to go to Takinom's defense, but she would probably just get upset with him again.
As soon Takinom was dipped, Chaor saw what the problem was. Something about the way she let herself fall back just so that Maxxor's strong arm could support her slender body just made him boil with rage. Now he understood what dancing was, and he would never let Takinom open herself up to Maxxor like that again.
The territorial male got out of his seat and stormed over to his third in command. Intress watched jealousy as Chaor grabbed Takinom by the arm practically dragged her out of the room. Maxxor had tried to intervene, but of course Takinom would want him to stay out of it. Men just never understand, but at least Chaor was making it clear that Takinom was his instead of dancing with another woman.
Maxxor walked back to the table and sat next to his second in command.
"Chaor needs to be more gentle with her." Maxxor immediately began to hate his rival again "It's one thing to show hostility towards an enemy, but the way he treats Takinom is uncalled for."
"Did you even see what just happened?" Maxxor looked questioningly at Intress. She had never sounded so cold towards him before.
"Do you mean the way he grabbed her and forced her into the hallway?" Maxxor didn't even try to imitate her tone- he would never speak to her that way.
"You don't know a thing about females." Intress said as she got up and walked a few feet away from him
Maxxor got up and followed her. "Do you want to go somewhere more private to talk?"
"No." Intress said as her ears went back again. "I don't want Chaor to think there's anything between us."