A/N: I'm trash…but I'm back in the swing of things.
My greatest apologies, you are all so patient! Now that I'm back in school and getting into my normal routine again, I can now start updating better…hopefully.
Tack så mycket, mina vänner. 3
Chapter Four: A Humorous Dance
The mansion was massive. When Eren and Levi pulled up in front of the staircase in their carriage, Levi couldn't help but gape and stare. The building was three stories tall, bright lights illuminating the front yard of the huge manor. He could hear the fast-paced but relatively peaceful instrumental music from where he sat.
"Ready?" Eren asked, although it didn't sound much like a question.
Levi nodded and grabbed his mask, pulling it over his head and setting it into place. It was a simple, black and white marble-pattered mask that covered half his face. No feathers or beads or fancy looks to it.
Eren's, however, was charcoal black like coal and it glistened like diamonds when light hit it – carved golden leaves framed the edges. Both of their outfits matched their visors, and Eren carried a cane carved from dark wood.
Hopping out of the carriage, Eren held out his hand for Levi, but the smaller didn't take it. He was too lost in the moment. Eren looped his arm leisurely around Levi's and the two walked in.
The ballroom was swimming with energy; dancing figures moved in unison, a dance that all knew. Outliers were standing closer to the walls, watching and commenting to the people next to them with drinks in their hands, goblets of silver filled to the brim with red wine.
A man, not much taller than Eren, approached the two, a mistress on either side of him. His hair was oddly colored in two different shades, and his mask was dark like his eyes. "Eren! You were able to make it!" he cheered. The man suddenly glared at one of the ladies and the two girls swiftly scurried away. Eren smiled.
"Of course, Jean. What do you take me for?"
Levi felt uncomfortable, standing awkwardly while the two men got reacquainted. He barely knew one of them, and the other was a complete stranger.
Then, Eren draped his arm across Levi's shoulders. "This, is Levi." he introduced, clapping Levi lightly on the shoulder, as if he was signaling him to say something.
Words froze in Levi's mouth and he struggled to even think clearly.
Jean laughed. "Seems as if someone has a bit of stage fright." Jean leaned forward and Levi inhaled, cheeks turning red. Jean, as soon as he got close, pulled away and faced Eren.
"So you did turn him." The lighthearted man Levi saw only moments ago had now vanished, turned dark and serious. "It is against her laws."
Eren shrugged. "I was hungry. He was there."
Instantaneously, Levi wanted to run. Eren talked of him as if he was a meal, a measly little being he picked up on the side streets. Nothing more than trash.
Maybe he was?
"Now, if you'll excuse us," Eren pulled Levi close to his side. "We'll be enjoying ourselves now."
The two began to walk away from the host, when Jean called back at them. "You can't dance! You'd be a laughing stock, Jaeger! Men do not dance with one another! So drink away your pathetic existence, Eren! I'll kick you out of the damn house!"
They gained a few stares from Jean's outburst, but otherwise, their presence seemed to go unnoticed. While Eren gulped down cups and cups of wine while leaning against the same wall he had been for half an hour, Levi stared down at his half-full glass – he hadn't drank a single drop of it. The ruby-red liquid sloshed on the sides of the goblet, threatening to trickle out and jump over the edges.
"Aren't you drinking?" Eren asked. He wasn't fazed at all by the alcohol. "You know, you can't get drunk. Not really, at least."
Levi glanced up at him, curiosity taking over. "Will I taste anything?"
Eren nodded. "Taste, yes. You taste food, you taste wine, but it doesn't do anything for you. Blood is your need, not grains or vegetables or water." He paused, pursing his lips while staring out at the dancing crowd. He tapped his pinky against the wine glass. "Well, it sure as hell does wonders for your taste buds, though." He downed the rest of the drink and slammed it on the table next to him.
Without hesitation, he grabbed Levi's hand. Levi quickly put down his drink before he was swung around and faced Eren, wide eyed and holding his breath. Eren's hand gripped his own while the other was wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer than he would have liked.
"W-What are you doing?" Levi squeaked. He quickly began to move at the same pace as Eren, their feet moving together, although Levi stumbled every once in a while – Eren's strides were too long for him to keep up.
Eren smiled. "I'm proving a point to our host, of course!" he chirped.
The pair moved towards the center of the ballroom floor, stares and glares of disgust beaming at them.
"We're being watched…" Levi whispered, gulping.
Eren chuckled. "Of course we are. As Jean said, men are not to dance with one another. Maybe it will be the turn of the century?"
Levi was more calm, despite the muttering and hate-filled squabbling that filled the massive room. Eren didn't care – he was obviously focused on Jean, his eyes fixed on him as the host fumed from across the room.
It was understandable – it was a curse against God. Or so it was said…
…but as Eren put it; "we're not with God, not since the day we were turned, we're beasts of the underworld now…"
Levi allowed himself to move freely as Eren led the dance. The music continued and dancers swayed despite the awkwardness. But for once since his crazed adventure, Levi was enjoying himself.
Eren must have noticed, because now they were eye to eye, chest to chest, toe to toe, moving as if they were one, spinning and gliding. Levi couldn't help but be taken away by Eren's beautiful eyes, like the bright sea after a dark storm, something so pure and so unique in such trivial times.
When the music stopped, everyone went silent. Jean marched across the floor and Eren released Levi from his hold.
Suddenly, Eren was punched in the face, staggering backward and hitting the ground as Jean growled. Levi backed away, eyes fixed on Eren as he wiped away a thin trail of blood with the back of his hand. The two men were staring each other down with such hatred, Levi could practically feel it clambering up his spine, sending shivers wracking throughout his body.
"W-what…" Levi swallowed his words, keeping himself silent. Whispers began to rise.
"How dare you!" Jean finally shouted. Men with broad shoulders and big hands flooded the floor, rushing around Eren and Levi. Jean's bodyguards. "How dare you plague us with your disgraceful actions!" he shouted.
A quietness fell over the manor, before Jean screamed with frustration. "Everyone out! NOW!"
People flooded out left and right, and within a few minutes, the entire hall was empty except for Eren, Levi, Jean and his guards.
Then, unexpectedly, Eren began to laugh. Jean did as well and he multi-haired man held out his hand. Eren gratefully took it and was hauled up to his feet once more.
Levi was at a loss, completely perplexed. Eren noticed and sighed.
"Jean and I meant for all of this to happen. He gave me the signal that the party was becoming a bore, so I decided to take the liberty of ending it with a bang, so to speak."
Jean nodded. "We do this quite often. That's why people always attend, they want to see what kind of crazy ending we'll have next."
Levi rolled his eyes, his whole posture sagging with despondency. "You mean to tell me…you've been conning me since we got here? Both of you have?"
Jean shrugged. "Not exactly. Eren really did want to dance with you. And what better opportunity than this?"
"You stole the words from me, Jean Kirstein!"
The three boys spun around, looking up at the balcony above. A woman was leaning against the railing, her black her flowing, red scarf matching her silky crimson dress. She was glaring at Levi.
"And who's that?" she inquired, tapping her foot. The sound echoed through the empty ballroom hall.
Eren pulled off his mask, as did Jean. Levi followed suit, not wanting to be the only 0ne with a silly mask on.
"Levi." Eren answered. The woman folded her arms, her eye twitching. Levi could see it from there.
"An illegal vampire?"
Jean swallowed and backed away. "I warned him…" he mumbled. Eren gaped at Jean, who was backing down instantly. "…I don't want any part of this…"
Eren straightened his posture.
"I see…" The woman vaulted over the railing and landed with a thud, perfectly standing still, her high heels still in tact. Within the blink of an eye, she was directly in front of Levi, grabbing him by the chin so he was forced to look at her cold eyes. Fear gripped at him.
"…allow me to fix that."
A/N: I have no words for how UTTERLY PATHETIC I AM WHEN IT COMES TO UPDATING!
