Thanks to Wikipedia for teaching me to the moves. Again, I would not have this much fun writing this chapter w/o Richelle Mead. All original characters and plots of VA belongs to her.
Grinding and Thrusting
I am made-up, perfumed, donned in gunmetal ultra mini-dress and thigh-high boots, and getting sick and tired of my 4th night of clubbing.
After I announced in the Guardian Headquarters at the Royal Court that I left St. Vladimir, I thought I will find my unsuspecting Moroi there. Little did I know that my Moroi left for Memphis. So once again I packed a few clothes, headed down South and have been going in and out of clubs and watering holes for what now feels like an eternity.
The multitude of faces are dizzying. So much to look at to find my usually intoxicated Moroi. Why in the world did I broadcast in that office that I'd be back with a charge within a fortnight? I know I am over reacting, but I feel I'm in a race to save my face from Pissy-Kitty and her troupe.
I will cripple that boozer when I get my hands on him!
For the nth time, I enter a typical smoke-filled bar, the place packed with humans, mixed with a number of morois and dhampirs. I can feel the sexual electricity buzzing in the air. It's a Special Elvis Night because the performers were strictly screened. Only males who look similar and can dance lustfully those hot and sexy gyrating, hip jerking moves of the Elvis of 1950's and 60s are invited to perform. A lot of them are not even professional impersonators but they are the heartthrobs of the modern Elvis wannabes. All of them are considered Kings and their egos get inflated and satisfied when they see the libidos of their audience work overtime. Of course, free casual sex has always been part of the perks of the job.
The promise of the special show definitely piqued my curiosity since I have not been attending to my Aww! lately, and it's suddenly clamoring for attention. Probably, it's high time to try a hot-blooded Presley and turn that man's night oh so lucky.
A drop-dead gorgeous Elvis just finished his set and women are going wild like teakettles screaming their heat off. The houselights lit up while the stage lights dim to signal a short break, giving time for everyone to catch their breath. I inched my way to the bar to get myself a margarita.
Then as the surrounding dims again and the stage lights turn on, pandemonium break loose when all the male-starved members of the crowd see the next Elvis performer. I am flabbergasted and my mouth is hanging wide-open! I am having a hard time breathing coz my heart is beating so fast.
This King vows decadent fantasies. He is leggy at about 6'3", his arms and body flaunts sinewy muscles, his striking emerald green eyes hypnotize and possess. And his mouth charms us to take a bite before he devours us whole.
As the music starts, he slowly lifts his right heel off the ground, gyrates his pelvis and ever so slightly thrusts his hips sensuously towards his gaping audience. Suddenly he shakes his head hard, a strand of brown hair teases his pouty lips as the beat picks up. The females swoon once he starts singing with his seductive but still high-powered voice, his arms spread wide to embrace his adoring fans. The music in full swing, his legs shake uncontrollably then moves to intense pelvic gyrations combined with hips thrusting! thrusting! thrusting! His glorious scepter magnificently conspicuous, forcing us to fantasize and wonder. A stunning woman turned whore obviously can't wait to find out. She jumps to the stage, reaches for his equally delectable hard buns, and presses her body hard on Elvis, grinding along with him. A second harlot quickly followed and sandwiches him in between. Curse those lucky witches! Before he lets the bouncer get the crazed tramps off the stage, the King indulges them by nuzzling his nose behind their ears seductively. I go on watching the rest of his fantastic show licking my lips again and again.
At the end of his set, he leaves all of us hungry, hot and bothered. Aww! I swear I will collect videos of the young Elvis Presley. Coz if this Elvis can make my blood boil with those grinds and thrusts, oh! uh! ahh!, I'll make my male buddies learn those moves and hold an Elvis Night when I want me a special time.
Sadly, I can't touch this Elvis…
I made my way towards him as soon as he goes down the stage. I wait for my turn until all the room keys and thongs are secreted in his pockets.
"Had I known you could do those moves with your hips, I wouldn't have left you at the sidelines when we were in St. Vladimir. I probably would have foregone my quest for the Russian arse had you given me a private show!" I definitely flash him my original MAN-EATING GRIN.
"Little Dhampir! Are you as hot and wet as I am?" He wiggled his brows suggestively, his face and body all sweaty.
We both laughed and embraced each other tightly.
"Adrian, that was superb! I didn't know you can rock and sing like that."
"Well, if you'll let me bring you to my room, I can show you every grind and thrust and wiggle these hips can do."
"Flirt! That's not going to work on me, Ivashkov. After all these years, I think I'm immune from you my Dear."
There is no need for him to know that his show earlier caused my heart to beat like a locomotive. It's important that we keep our relationship friendly and professional.
"My Dear? Oh my god, I think I have been treated like a novice by the highly-acclaimed St. Vladimir instructor." Adrian assumed a fake hurt expression on his face.
"Okay, I'll make it up to you by treating you to a nightcap after you're through here. I'll help you catch up with the Rose's latest news."
"Then we can leave anytime you're ready. I don't work here, Rose. I just need to do this once in awhile coz I'm an egoistical SOB."
"But King Elvis, do you have any change of clothes? With pants like that, I would be too busy defending myself from your sex-starved minions. It will be impossible to talk to you."
"And here I am thinking you wanted to parade me outside, butt and all!"
He huffed and turned his back on me to change. My eyes followed those buns until they disappear.
Lord Adrian Ivashkov has been a close friend of mine since our days at St. Vladimir. He is another spirit user, specializing in dream walking. Although four years older than us, he requested to live in the academy so he and Lissa can explore the unknown spirit element.
Widely known as a player, he flirted with me unabashedly, always ready with his suggestive remarks and visited me in my dreams. He chased me for a long time, openly expressed his heartfelt love and helped me with my quest to put to death, ultimately bring back to his original dhampir state, Dimitri Belikov.
Time and time again, Adrian proved to be a surprisingly faithful suitor and friend. But I was besotted then with my Russian god and did not give him much credit. By the time I realized his steadfastness and devotion, I have decided to go back to St. Vladimir.
Besides, Adrian and I are never meant to be. He is an Ivashkov, son of one of the high-ranking royals, the favorite nephew of the former Queen Tatiana, and former candidate to assume the highest office, King of Moroi-Dhampir society. A member of the Moroi governing body with a dhampir wife will never be tolerated, much more a King with a dhampir queen.
Nowadays though, he is acting the part of a Royal outcast. His sin is being the son of one of the brains of the assassination of the Queen six years ago, Daniella Ivashkov. His mother, being a high-ranking royal, was found innocent of the crime for reason of insanity to lessen the political impact on the prominent Ivashkov clan. She was sentenced to stay in the mental asylum for the rest of her life. Even Adrian is not sure why his mother did it. She was probably sick of waiting for the Queen to abdicate her office and would like her husband, Prince Nathan Ivashkov, to become king.
Unlike Tasha, Adrian left the Royal Court, assuring the seat of the Ivashkovs in the court to his cousin John Edward, when Nathan was forced to resign.
Sitting at the café, he dazzles me with his smile.
"What brings you to Memphis, Little Dhampir?"
"You. I've been looking for you for four dizzying nights."
"I didn't know my Elvis act is so famous it reached the Academy."
Turning serious, I reply. "I resigned my post in St. Vladimir, Adrian."
Still refusing to be grave, Adrian teases, "And you gave that up because you want to be the assistant of King Elvis?"
"I'm pretty sure you know why I'm here."
The smile leaves his face instantly, replaced with a frown.
"No Rose, I will not go back with you."
"Adrian, it's time to stop running. You were indifferent with Moroi politics when your father was part of it, but then you abandoned your seat to your cousin when your father resigned."
"Little Dhampir, Johnny Boy has much right to that position as I have."
"It's been awhile. You have not even tried to regain it back. Though your mother was involved in the assassination, we all know that even years ago, you could easily gotten back the seat of your father from John.
You are a natural politician, Adrian. You've got the charm and the wit. You've always been popular among the Morois and have loyal followers among the dhampirs. The Royals would gladly return the seat to you to avoid protests from the public."
"Come on Rose, adoring fans do not automatically lead to supporters."
"Don't belittle those who believe in you by comparing them to your screaming audience. Besides you've never shown any serious interest in government.
But nobody is blind to your charities and medical missions."
"Pah! Those are just a way to go around. It's no fun drinking with the same people all the time. And I should share. If you ask me, the family has too much green bucks it's almost obscene."
I refuse to budge. "Try saying that to Lord John Edward Ivashkov, he'll probably make you join your mother… Admit it Adrian, you are one of those rare breed. You have a heart."
"Then leave me to what I like doing, Little Dhampir. I feel filthy in the Court. I refuse to be around leeches."
He smiles sarcastically. "I believe in spreading the Lo-o-ve."
I try not to answer immediately. I let him think he is winning this argument.
"While you are spreading your love, what does your heart feel when you see the dead and dying?"
He frowns. "Rose, let us not ruin our night."
"Did you feel the love while holding the hands of your grieving buddies? Did you enjoy the company while you were drinking and everybody else wailing?"
"Not funny, Little Dhampir."
"Pardon me then… How many truckloads of medicine have you sent so far?"
I did not hear any answers so I ask again.
"Just for this year, how many funerals have you attended? What's the total number of coffins you've donated, Lover Ivashkov?"
"I am leaving."
He stands up but I catch his arm and sit him down hard. He is a Moroi and I am a Guardian Dhampir so I'm much stronger than him though he is a lot taller.
"Have you ever known personally any of these slain Guardians? Have you ever compared how many were old enough, and how many have just had their first kiss? Furthermore, how many Morois also died because their guardians were too young?"
"What more do you want me to do? I am doing my best to help, Rose."
"You are thinking like a band-aid. You do not stop us from having wounds, you just cure them when they're there. A band-aid cannot even treat a gun wound!"
Adrian looks hurt. "Are you saying all those who are helping are useless?"
"Absolutely not. We all need to get together if we want the Moroi-Dhampir world get back to its feet instead of cowering in the corner. Coz that's what we are doing right now. All Moroi societies governed by these Monarchs in the Royal Court, be it in Russia or Turkey, are like mice colonies. We are hiding in our cellars since the Strigois are exterminating us. We are being treated like pests! Just think of the danger if the Humans become aware of us.
"And what do you want from me?" It is frustrating because he still doesn't get it.
"There are volunteers helping out the victims, there are Guardians and Morois devoting their time teaching our novices; but we only have Lissa and Tasha. They are the only two in the Monarchy brave enough to go against this group of leeches or panicked Royals. King Nikolai is ready to throw all breathing Dhampirs to the strigois just to appease his Court.
It's killing all of us, Adrian. And despite all of the efforts to prepare the novices and to save the dying, the Royals will drive us to extinction."
"How can we make them listen? We will just make a triumvirate against all of them."
But I can see his eyes glittering.
"A triumvirate with a manic lobbyist supporting them to start with.
An enraged lobbyist with tireless staff to compile facts and photos of actual deaths. We will blitzkrieg the Monarchs with protests of the existing 16year old Guardianship law and other abusive legislatives just to soothe their panicking hides.
Plus Adrian, while Court is adjourned, the triumvirate and the manic lobbyist will travel to gain more drinking buddies and sympathizers. We will probably need King Elvis to ensure a big crowd."
I stop to leave Adrian to his thoughts.
He points to the club where he performed. "King Elvis will perform to a much bigger crowd than that one?"
"With the crowd screaming louder than ever and bikinis thrown by the minute!"
"So when do we go back?"
"As soon as you're able to wrap things up here… Ahmm... Adrian, can you hook me up with one of your Elvis friends just for tonight? PLEASE?"