Chapter 11
Morgan led them down the long narrow hallway into the breezeway, then through the double doors and nodded to the major domo and took up his position at the head of the receiving line, with M'lar standing sedately next to him, and Kait next to her.
The arrival of the guests was just the opening of the floodgates as more and more started to arrive. Soon enough the room was filled and the party was just beginning to the point of the opening dance. Morgan held out his hand to Kait and led her to the dance floor and signaled the orchestra and they began to dance, and M'lar was thrilled that Morgan gave her the honor of opening the ball as his partner.
They glided around the room with expert movements and soon others began to join them on the floor. M'lar felt a light touch on her arm and she turned to see Darius D'Armond was extending his hand in an silent request to be his partner for the opening dance.
M'lar accepted his hand and lifting her dress stepped to the floor and followed him gracefully around the room. "You look absolutely stunning tonight my dear."
Darius smiled he noted the envious looks of the other male counter parts in the room watching him take one of the most stunningly beautiful women they had ever seen around the room for the first dance.
"Thank you, and you look very handsome yourself tonight Mr. D'Armond."
Darius laughed softly, "Now we agreed that you would call me Darius remember?"
M'lar flushed and followed him doing a perfect match for his steps to the dance. "I forgot forgive me."
He twirled her around and then back up against his body and chuckled, "I would forgive you for anything my dear." M'lar caught the dark and very dangerous glanced of Alexis as she danced with Darius and had to find the formally polite side of her personality to finish the dance.
When the dance ened he leaned over and spoke softly, "Now you must promise me another dance before the night is up."
M'lar peered over his shoulder and caught the kill or be killed look of Alexis and said softly, "If I were you, I would most certainly ask the lovely lady over there for a dance because if looks could kill, I fear I would be dead and in my grave."
Darius turned and looked at the now fuming Alexis, "Yes I suppose you right but fear not she will allow another dance with you or she may find she needs s new employer before this night is over."
M'lar stepped back and felt her arm taken. Morgan was at her side. "Sorry Darius, my turn."
The music began and Darius looked at Kait and smiled, "My Lady Kaitlin may I have this dance and may I tell you how utterly charmin you look in that confection of pink?"
Kait giggled lightly and took his hand and allowed him to lead her to the floor and moved into an easy gliding dance with him. The whole room was beginning to buzz with the soft or not so soft conversations that were being held and M'lar noticed while she danced with Morgan that all eyes were on them. "I noticed that you did not invite very many elves tonight."
Morgan laughed, "The reason being that I did not want you uncomfortable around them. Besides we planned this perfectly with their exodus to Evermeet for one of their high holy days."
M'lar sighed with relief and actually relaxed into his hold. Morgan laughed, "I should give you more news like this if it makes you that pliable."
M'lar stiffened then realized he was teasing and relaxed. "Very good, now you see I do not cause you to melt and I do not turn you to salt because I touched you. If anything I make us both look good when we are together."
M'lar did roll her eyes and continued to move around the room, "it looks like Mr. D'Armond is dancing with Kait now. Oh look there is his mother and she cannot take her eyes off of us."
It was true Daniela D'Armond watched Morgan with M'lar but was more focused on Morgan watching them glide around the dance floor. All she could recall was the most curious dream she had the other night about Morgan and what a terrific lover he had been.
She now wondered if she could put that theory to the test and entice him out to the gazebo and seduce him. Then there was the other part of her that was more circumspect and did not want to know. Instead she now watched Deanna with Fallon Stormbringer gliding about the floor.
Fallon pretended he was interested in the silly catty comments that Deanna found as entertaining; mostly for herself, and covetedly watched M'lar with Morgan and at one point he frowned. He had thought that was the woman that Darius had wanted. Now he saw she belonged to one of the most ruthless pirates in realm space and on the sword coast. Even his arch nemesis was afraid of Morgan.
However, he had seen Darius when he waltzed with her earlier and he showed all the signs of being enraptured with this woman. Glancing over at Alexis he could easily see she too had the same idea he had, that Darius was going against Morgan for this woman.
Somehow he knew that Morgan would win and Darius would finally see what it was like to want something and not be able to have it. This made his gloriously happy. He had been raised with Darius but always was treated like the help and not an equal. Even though he had been equals with him in most things until he went to the citadel and then was booted out like his mother had been.
The dance was about to end and Fallon spun Deanna out and then into his body and bent her over and stole a kiss from her on the dance floor. This particular brave and outlandish act had accomplished what he wanted; it had shut her up. Deanna laughed as the kiss was broken and she pushed away from him. "Well I suppose that is one way to get a girl's attention, why don't we slip outside and I can show you what I can do with my very talented tongue."
She winked and took his hand and led him towards the verandas and into the night to a place she knew too well and had visited many times when she was in need to be sated. Fallon liking the idea of taking Darius sister for a little ride down pleasure lane was more than accommodating letting her lead him outside.
They followed the pathway around the garden and then into a alcove where there were padded benches. "Now, come to me big boy and show me what you really want and what you can do!" She hiked up her skirts and gave him a healthy look at what she had to offer. Fallon smiled and leaned over, speaking softly he said, "You were going to show me how talented you were with your tongue remember?"
Darius moved to Alexis side and stood watching the dance floor, "I suppose the next dance you would like to dance?"
Alexis spoke through clinched teeth, "I would like to rip out that bitches hair and then gut her. After that I would like to see you demeaned in front of this whole contingent of people by having your balls cut off and hung around your neck."
Darius chuckled, 'Really muh flower you would mess up your play house that much?"
Alexis frowned, "I would if you thought you would be with that cow over there." She turned putting her back to M'lar and the other guests as she captured his gaze with her own smoldering on.
"You understand one thing Darius, you belong to me for now and I expect you to never forget that, do you understand? That is Manshak's woman and you would do well to remember that before he mind blasts you into oblivion."
Darius looked down into her gaze and his smile was equally tight, "Alexis muh dear, I will remind you, that you do not own me and I will do as I see fit and with whom I see fit. Do I make myself clear?" She had never seen him so driven with his own determination nor anger.
Spinning around she grabbed his hand when the next dance began and pulled him to the dance floor. Morgan moved to stand next to M'lar and tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. "Now then shall we circulate and socialize?" M'lar moved next to him while he took her around the room to introduce her to the who was who of Waterdeep.
Most of the noble families were already enmeshed in their own dealings and she stood oblivious to the innuendos and the out and out catty remarks made around her while she stood by Morgan's side and pretended to not listen. Holding a totally bored and blank look on her face she suddenly felt as if she was becoming more accustomed to the ways of Waterdeep and was not so sure she was happy with this thought.
Moving along, shaking hands, having her hand kissed and then speaking of trivial things such as what it was like to be on an island in a tropical climate. The other topic was how long had she been a priestess and some even said they would be happy to provide her with books for her temple.
This made her smile and it changed her whole appearance when she smiled. Most the men were envious of Morgan escorting her around the room and they noted that Kait had already been circulating and making sure everyone was having a good time and was adhering to Morgan's warnings.
The evening had grown later, Morgan was beginning to feel the need to find someone to feed on, he had studied the many notables and nobles in the room and decided he would use one of his maids, slipping quietly from the room, he once again shifted to mist form and floated into the back rooms the ladies had used to refresh themselves and Kait said was necessary to find a place to fix their hair or powder their noses and to do what ladies did when they drank too much and felt the need to relieve themselves.
The same was arranged for the men that also felt the need for a necessary room. Standing on her feet for too long Pansy was beginning to grow sleepy eyed, not many women had been in to use their necessary room and she had been tempted to tell the other maids that had been assigned these rooms that she might slip off for a quick nap. She had a long night the night before with her boyfriend Harry, and they had romped in the sack for most the night. Which accounted for the dark circles under her eyes.
Morgan was about to summon Pansy to him, when he heard a soft gasp and an eek and in mist form he floated to the location of the sound and the anger that burned in his body was immeasurable. There he saw M'lar caught in her dress trying to fend off a dark clad man that was trying to pull the tiara from her hair and the necklace from her neck.
Shifting back into human form he came up behind the man that had a tight hold on her arms and jerked him away from her sending him flying over his shoulder to land with a sickening thud on the ground. Turning to see she was nothing more than disheveled he rasped out, "Go to the necessary room lock yourself in, clean up and I will come for you when I am done with this rogue."
M'lar lifted her skirts and rushed towards the door of the necessary room, shoved it open, and slammed it locking it behind her. Morgan advanced on the hapless male that now was trying to climb up to his feet and froze at the looked in the piercing cold blue eyes that burned into him with an intensity that the man would not forget even in his death.
"Do you know who you have wronged?" Morgan's words rasped with his anger bearing down on the man.
'No, who the hell are you? YOU better fucking step off! I will cut you up." The man withdrew the knife he had hidden up his sleeve. Was somewhat surprised to find his big pig sticker only evoked a smile.
"Really? You think I am afraid of that?" Morgan reached out with the will and focused his energy on the blade, ~molecular agitation.~ he continued and sent forth ~melt metal.~
The thug felt the metal heat and then begin to melt over his hand and burn his skin. "How. . . what the shit?" He dropped the knife and looked around panic edging his eyes. He had heard about those with the mind-bending abilities and now he was facing a mind bender.
Using thieves cant, he motioned one name to the man. Who caught on quickly "Yeah I know him. When tell him what you did he will come and kill you and that bred bitch."
Morgan clinched his jaw took a deep breath and spoke softly, "Tell you what, before I kill you, I will allow you to go find Morgan Manshak and bring him here. Oh wait, you cannot do that can you?" Morgan was taking his time with this one he not only had assaulted what was his and threatened him, he, a peasant had claimed to know him.
The man looked around for a way to escape. Not seeing any way out he puffed his chest out. "Yeah I can and I can bring him here to your fancy party and he will kill you." From the arbor a servant started to move towards Morgan and the man. Pausing she bowed.
"Oh Doctor Manshak, bed pardon sir, Sir Reginald was wishing a word when you get a moment and Lady Kaitlin was looking for Lady M'lar."
Morgan never removed his gaze from the man in front of him. He saw the dawning of his monumental screw up when his name had been mentioned. "Thank you Betsy, tell Lady Kaitlin, the Lady M'lar has gone to the convenience room and will return shortly, you may tell Lord Reginald I shall join him once I dispose of the trash."
Betsy curtsied and withdrew from the arbor. "Oh man Doctor Manshak I am sorry. I did not know this was your place, please don't kill me!" He began to grovel backing away from the now quiet Morgan.
He would remember he had picked the wrong party to crash and try to rob the guest of the owner and the most notorious man known to his kind, he had made a big mistake thinking he could harm what belonged to Morgan Manshak. Morgan nodded to the gate. The man slipped past the gate and before he reached the gate felt a hand grab his collar. Jerking him off his feet he was drug back against a hard body and felt his neck bent.
Morgan bent the neck of the rogue, sunk his teeth deep in to his throat and had him drained in less than a minute, snapping his neck he three him into the bushes and then moved to the ladies convenience room. Checking his clothing to make sure he had not soiled himself he knocked lightly on the door, "M'lar?"
Pansy opened the door and peered wide-eyed out to the doctor. "Is Lady M'lar all right Pansy?" He thought she should thank the rogue for being his meal instead of her this eve. M'lar stepped forward with signs of scratches on her arms and her neck.
Morgan frowned, "You should heal yourself M'lar you are badly scratched." M'lar turned to peer at her image in the mirror and ran gentle fingers over the red swollen marks on her neck. Chanting softly, she cast ~cure light wounds~ on her neck and arm, then cantriped her soiled gown to its once pristine appearance.
"Now shall we go back to the party since we are hosting?" M'lar sighed and moved past the pretty maid and spoke softly.
"Thank you for your concern and help Pansy." The maid smiled and curtsied to her. Morgan tucked her hand into his arm's crook and slowly made his way with her in tow back to the ball.
"Seems my men were not very observant for my guests."
M'lar spoke softly, "I am sure they did not think anyone would be harmed on their way to a room of convenience Morgan, I know I certainly did not expect to be accosted so near a chamber pot room!" She hissed as she tried to protect the men from his ire.
Morgan held his emotions locked down and waited while a group of ladies laughing and giggling whispering about some young men that had caught their attention when they moved to the convenience room. "Thus why being in a group is even more important, what if that had been Kait? Would you be so quick to defend incompetence?"
M'lar hissed back, "She as I would not have known any better had that happened to her Morgan, I felt a need to refresh myself and thought of all places I could be safe was in such a place."
Though she did not realize it, she had cut him with that remark and it had hit home, even his own personal home was not safe from the darker influences of Waterdeep and had to wonder if that had been an isolated incident and how that one had gotten in so close and knew when to attack.
Letting his gaze shift over the area he saw what he knew to be true, M'lar had been set up and he laid his dark and very knowing gaze on the culprit, Alexis Stone was going to have to learn a lesson and a hard one. He would not kill her this time, he would just mark her for life as a reminder not to mess with what was his.
Studying her from where he stood he pushed forth his will and ~ego whipped~ her, then ~probed her most recent thoughts and got an ear full, she was determined to see M'lar dead or maimed. Her rage at Darius' interest in this half-breed had her filled with jealousy and with a desire to see the end of the threat.
He ran though the conversations she had with Dani as well, and Dani's putting her up to the attempt, and the words that were had with the rogue that now laid dead hidden in the thick buses that surrounded the garden and the outside world of Waterdeep. He was sure once he was searched they would find the twenty gold that Alexis had paid to have M'lar accosted and if she died in the attempt so be it.
He patted M'lar's hand and led her back into the ballroom. "I take it that you completed the necessary ambulation's you needed to attend when you left the ballroom?"
M'lar had forgotten she had to pee and now was reminded that it was the fear of being attacked that had forced the pressure on her bladder to abate. "Actually no, Morgan I was so upset that all I wanted to do was straighten my clothing."
Morgan frowned, "Then I suggest while I stand here, you go on back to the necessary room and attend your personal needs while I go discuss my dissatisfaction with whom I think set this man on you."
Evan saying dissatisfaction, M'lar could not tell he was upset by his manner and actions. She turned now that the pressure on her bladder was making it presence known, she turned and with as much grace as she could hurry back to the convenience room. Pushing open the door Morgan watched her disappear behind the closed door.
Morgan turned to move with a degree of urgency towards Alexis that had now turned to hurry away from him. "Hold it right there Alexis, a word if you will." Alexis picked up her speed and suddenly found that a snail could travel faster than she. Morgan had thrust his science out and used the will of his way by ~initiate slow on target~
From there he moved at a less hurried pace. Where Alexis appeared to be moving slower than anyone in the room. Moving up to her side, Morgan spun her around and held his gaze with hers and imitated ~telepathy.~
"I have read your mind, and I know what you and Dani tried to pull, your man is dead and you will be next if I so much as even think you intend to do harm to my guest. Just so you understand what I am saying Alexis I am going to leave you with a reminder of what I will and can do. Have you ever felt so helpless that all your enemies in one room could take advantage of you while you were held helpless?"
Pushing his power forward he struck her with a `psychic crush~, then he shifted his will to initiate ~spectral force~ and let her see she was powerless and surrounded by all her known enemies. He could see the absolute fear she had and now he knew she was marked and would be for the next five hours.
Once the power wore off, she would be free but would remember what he had threatened. Then as a final mark on her mind and her soul he once again ~ego whipped~ then ~mind thrust~ entering her mind with a trigger word.
"M'lar is the trigger word and if someone says her name or you think of her and think her name, you will be struck with such a fear that you must escape from where you are for you could forfeit your life."
Now his job was nearly complete and he had put his mark on her and left his imprint, he would not have to worry about Alexis again or that is until another stronger psionist than he came along and took out what he had put in her mind. Morgan moved her from the middle of the hallway to the ballroom and set her in a chair by the door.
Whispering softly in her ear he said, "When you can move again, you will have a need to leave here because your life is in danger." Stepping away from her he moved back into the hallway and awaited M'lar's return. He felt rather proud of his abilities to manipulate the sheep that were Waterdeep's elite of the elite no matter what roadway they walked, he was always there at the cross roads of those paths to see they went how he wanted.
Having taken care of two unnecessary embarrassments for his party, he waited patiently and watched the others passing him with over bright alcohol induced smiles. Had he not eaten earlier, he would have found it easy pickings to find any number of eager or willing young girls to sate his blood lust. However as he had the most sought after and oft times most desired woman in the room, he felt no need to now feast on the lovely young women that had given him an open invitation to take them with a simple smile and a casual wink of the eye.
M'lar hurried with her need to evacuate her bladder, straighten her clothing and moved to wash her hands and straighten her hair. Then turning she heard in the other room women speaking about her. "Did you see her? She is hideous! How could any man wish to be around someone that is so deformed and horrible looking?"
M'lar leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. It was true; she was not the same as the other women there, the ones with the soft skin, and the smooth even foreheads that fit their perfectly lovely delicate faces with a gentleness that became their pale looks.
"Those breasts! They are so huge it is a wonder she can stand up straight."
" If a man looks at her it is because of her breasts and not her face that is for sure."
"Obviously if they looked up in her eyes, they would see what a horrid creature she really is."
"Manshak must be mad to think he could keep her safe and untouched here in his home? I am sure the elven nation is scared to death of her."
Then M'lar feeling the bite of tears hearing an all too familiar voice.
"Ladies, do you not think your thoughts would best be put to good practice by being less catty, insecure and obviously jealous by being on the dance floor so the gentlemen here do not miss your charms?"
Oh bless her sister she was coming through the door and had occasion to hear the things being said, she did not sound too happy as she put that blue gaze on each and every female collected in a group by the door and taking cheap shots at M'lar.
"I would suggest should you wish to keep the gentleman in question attention and not loose it to my sister, you will keep your mouths shut, smile pretty and pretend to enjoy the words the men are saying."
M'lar could see her sister standing all of her five foot two height peering over at the supposed ladies. "Otherwise you might find that my sister has garnered their attention to just more than her breasts. That being her intelligence and her innate charm of being able to listen to what they are saying. That coupled with their appreciation for who she is and not what she is keeps their attention away from you. That might be because she is a true noble born female and not just a wannabe noble with bad manners, grace and skin!"