Dance of Pales
Exploring the pet shop was a nearly daily must for their trio. The Count was never too worried of the places Chris went within the labyrinthic halls, as long as Pon-chan and T-chan kept close to make sure he was fine.
Today was just like any other, so far. They had been to a jungle, to a river, and to a dry prairie, yet they hadn't remained for long in either. Currently, they were wandering the incense-scented corridors again, Chris eyeing each door and deciding in a blink whether or not he wanted to go in.
'Here!' he exclaimed upon reaching a strangely-carved wooden door, which was also short and narrow, but not enough to keep him out.
"Which room is this…?" Pon-chan wondered aloud, for once not truly sure. T-chan didn't know either. And so, the blond child turned the knob and pushed the door open.
Soft music came from within, an unharmonious tune that sounded like it had broken instruments as its origin. The scent of a full banquet overpowered the pet shop's incense, and their mouths watered, even when they couldn't see it yet. A long corridor, illuminated by torches and painted red, was all they had in their sight.
'Come on!' Chris exclaimed, stepping in. 'It seems they are having a party. If they are, maybe they will let us eat with them!'
T-chan snorted at that, feeling offense at the fact that the child wanted to taste food he hadn't prepared himself. Pon-chan pushed him in after Chris, before entering herself and closing the door behind them, as customary whenever they visited a room.
They walked on and on, the scent intensifying and the music clarifying, both becoming nearly hypnotizing… Didn't keep the Count's most loyal pets from frowning, though; until they saw what rested within, they wouldn't let their guards down.
A round room greeted them at the end of the corridor, a dais at the center with a table on top, plates overflowing with tempting dishes and treats covering it to the last inch. Seated around it, thirteen figures perfectly straight and unmoving, bone-thin and with wax-like skin. Their faces were missing the eyes and their sockets, and they were completely hairless and naked, their hands ending in black claws and tinted in a deep red that seemed very much like…
"Blood. Fresh blood," T-chan mouthed, and Pon-chan nearly screeched in fright.
'Oh, look! The banquet!' Chris ran over to the raised dais, oblivious to his friends' reactions. He climbed and got to the table's border, looking at all the food with wide eyes.
"Chris, no!" Pon-chan finally screamed, but it was too late, as Chris had already picked a strawberry, and…
The slap of a handfan upon the child's hand made him drop the fruit. He looked up at the Count. "Chris, let's go back now," he said softly. "It's teatime already, and your brother will arrive soon."
And D guided them out and away from the heart-eaters' room and wedding celebration.
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