Michonne crinkled her nose at the spread of refreshments. Bloody Mary, blood pudding, blood stew - it was possible to feel squeamish on an empty stomach.
Rick had left her stranded, snatched away by a blonde with way too much cleavage for her dress. He'd reminded her not to look anyone in the eyes and to not wander off, as though she were a child in an unfamiliar and dangerous world.
In a room full of vampires, however, that might be closer to the truth than she would ever admit.
Daryl stood a few feet to her left, back to the wall, scanning the room. He blended into the shadows in his black shirt and suit, his motorcycle vest retired for the evening and his normally tangled hair tamed by a touch of product. He remained close enough for her to know he was there, but far enough to avoid any actual conversation.
An indifferent grunt had been her only reward for attempting small talk. The aloof man may have been hopeless when it came to human interaction, but she felt safe knowing at least one set of eyes on her would be his.
Michonne sipped her deliciously strong gin and tonic, settling into the buzz. Courage snuck up on her, nudging her to take in the surroundings. The ballroom was so grand, she had to remind herself that she was actually in someone's home. A crystal chandelier gleamed in the center of the room, illuminating the gold trim of the walls and arches in a regal glow. Evenly spaced lamp fixtures softened the corners of the room, driving away at least some of the darkness.
A jazz quartet, uniformly decked out in black and red, played a somber yet soulful tune. Servers dressed in all red traversed the ballroom balancing trays of pink champagne and more blood-colored hors d'oeuvres that made her stomach turn. There was very little dancing, with most vampires huddled in intimate groups, hobnobbing in evening wear and exquisitely decorated masks.
Michonne adjusted her own mask, letting her skin breathe. Rick had given it to her before they'd exited the limo. The mask was hand-stitched black lace shaped in elegant curves and paired with black rhinestones. A matching brooch on the left side of the mask, which was only large enough to cover the top half of her face, held a flurry of silky feathers, with streaks of dark red and purple.
"It's beautiful," Michonne had said, handling it with delicacy as she admired the intricacy of the design. Attending a masquerade ball was a first for her.
"May I?" Rick asked.
She nodded curtly and handed him the mask. He placed it lightly on her face, his fingers brushing her cheeks as he reached behind her to tie the black strands of silk in a knot at the back of her updo.
Even now, as Michonne's eyes kept landing on him in the crowded ballroom, she felt the shiver Rick's touch had evoked. He stood on the other side of the room, his hand on the shoulder of a bulky, red-headed man who reminded her of a drill sergeant, with his cropped haircut and thick mustache. The intricate tailoring of Rick's suit was even more admirable from afar, the sleeves of his jacket just tight enough to flatter his sculpted biceps. He appeared to be in deep conversation, but Michonne was sure that if she even sniffed, he would hear it.
It freaked her out how quiet the vampires were, their collective voices barely audible against the backdrop of smooth jazz; the only sign they were something other than human beings.
The perfect predators, she thought, unease causing a tingling sensation at the back of her jaw. After tonight, she hoped to never think of these human-looking predators again.
All eyes had been on her when she'd walked into the grand ballroom at Rick's side. She'd gone from feeling confident to confined in her dress, trapped by the tight clothing. Although most of the guests had returned to their conversations without giving her a second glance, she still felt their eyes on her.
Paranoia was a virtue, especially when among those who imitated the living.
Michonne reached for the red velvet cake that she'd been eyeing all evening. A temporary lapse in judgment. She had very few vices, but at the top of that very short list was stress-eating at the most inopportune times. That being said, resisting a moist yet springy slice of the her favorite cake would have been akin to prolonged torture.
She savored a large spoonful of the dessert - sweet, creamy, slightly tangy and…metallic. The flavor of blood flooded her taste buds. Michonne suppressed a gag as she inconspicuously ejected the half-chewed piece into her white linen napkin.
"Not what you were expecting?" the person beside her asked. In place of a mask, he wore a white eye patch decorated with a red skull and bones. What made her do a double take, however, was the fact that he looked to be a teenager. "They don't go out of their way to accommodate humans." His visible eye twinkled blue with interest.
What was a teenager doing in a room full of vampires? Was he here against his will? Maybe she wasn't the only one being forced to attend. Either way, the kid was the only other human she'd met that night. Conversing with someone who could focus on her eyes rather than the pulse at her neck was the smallest of comforts.
"I was too nervous to eat before. Now I'm too nervous to not eat," she said, looking up at him. She may have had a couple of decades on him, but he was still four or five inches taller than her.
He chuckled. "Good thing I've come bearing gifts." He reached behind the lapel of his black suit and pulled out a Big Kat.
Michonne's stomach growled in thanks as she accepted the candy bar. "I hope you realize we're friends for life now." She ripped open the wrapper. The first bite was as gratifying as a steaming bowl of pesto penne on a cheat day. The combination of salty and sweet had her taste buds humming in harmony.
"You're enjoying it way more than I ever could." He smiled and she noticed canines that were much longer than average.
The candy felt like a weight in her gut. A teenage vampire? Michonne took a step away from him.
"You thought I was human…" The satisfaction in his expression surprised her. "That hasn't happened to me in a while. Thank you."
Just because he looked so human and sounded so sincere, it didn't mean his fangs weren't as sharp as the others'. "How old are you, really?"
His eyebrows rose. "You don't know much about vampires, do you?"
"Did I offend you?" Michonne had zero interest in adhering to vampire etiquette.
"No, I'm not easily offended. But if you want to survive this crowd, you should probably steer clear of that question."
"Got it. Vampires are sensitive about their age."
He laughed. "Carl."
"Huh?"
"You should at least know my name before asking how old I am."
She took another bite of her Big Kat. "Michonne," she said.
"I've been a vampire for longer than I was human. If you want to know more, you owe me a Big Kat in return."
Against the most wary of her instincts, Michonne found herself warming up to this teenage monster.
"What's going on here?" Rick asked, walking up to her with Daryl in tow.
"Chatting," Michonne said. "It's something normal people do." Not that Carl was was exactly "people."
All hints of kindness dropped from Carl's face as he stared Rick down. "Rick."
Michonne looked back and forth between the two of them, the tension so palpable sweat beaded above her upper lip.
"Son," Rick said gently, as though he were impervious to Carl's death glare.
That's when she noticed the resemblance between them - in the eyes, which were as sharp as blue-tinged glass.
Rick has a son? And he's a vampire? Her brain failed to make sense of it all. There was so much she thought she knew and so little she actually knew when it came to these creatures.
And yet, as intriguing as this moment was between father and son, Michonne felt a force pull her attention away. Her eyes locked with those of a brunette, the smile on her face welcoming and unexpectedly genuine. The woman made her way across the room, headed straight for them. Her power manifested in the way she walked - glided, really - with a glamorously privileged air.
Before Michonne's brain processed her fear, the woman was upon them. She appeared to be middle-aged, but even the faint lines on her face held an unnatural smoothness.
"Welcome to Alexandria, Michonne," she greeted, with a warm smile. "It's so nice to finally meet you." The woman placed a hand on Rick's shoulder. Carl had disappeared at some point, leaving a huge question mark where Rick's son - vampire son - was concerned.
Michonne studied the interaction between Rick and the woman, the close bond between the two of them evident. She connected the dots.
"You're Deanna," she said. While Rick had kept her pretty much in the dark about the ceremony, he'd at least filled her in about the host and owner of the mansion.
Deanna's expression remained open, throwing Michonne's defenses off a bit. She was the leader of the Alexandria territory and hence, the most powerful vampire in the room. Similar to Rick, she wore no mask. In a green chiffon dress accessorized by a matching emerald necklace, the top of her head barely reached Michonne's shoulders, but her presence filled up the entire ballroom.
"My apologies if the food's not to your liking. I would've had human options prepared if I'd known you were coming."
Rick's mild embarrassment told Michonne she wasn't the only one who picked up on the side-eye in Deanna's words.
"It's no problem. I'm not really that hungry anyway." Which was true, thanks to Carl.
Deanna took Michonne in, from head to toe. "I can see why Rick likes you. You're a survivor. Like him."
"I'm not a survivor by choice," Michonne said bluntly, avoiding eye contact with Rick. "I just took life by the horns and held on for dear life."
Surviving one's family was not a situation she'd been prepared for as a teenager. It had taken a lot of work to get to where she was today. Most days, she wished only to be with her family…alive or dead.
Deanna considered her words, a thoughtful smile gracing her lips. "Hmm. A poet as well."
"She's a songwriter," Rick finally added to the conversation.
What was going on with him? Why was he suddenly acting so shy?
Michonne took a sip of her drink, wanting nothing more than to remove herself from the center of attention. "How do you know each other?" She had a hard time imagining Rick being close to anyone, but there was a natural rapport between them.
Deanna's smile was half amused and half annoyed. "Rick's secrecy is equally impressive and infuriating. I'm his maker, dear."
"His maker?" Michonne's throat went dry at a sudden thought. Here she was, amidst a sea of blood-sucking vampires, her life dependent on their generosity. Rick had promised she'd be safe, that he'd check even the inkling of a threat. But what if the threat came from the vampire who'd bestowed him with immortality?
Michonne chose to remain blissfully unaware of vampire etiquette. "How long has Rick been a vampire?" Butterflies swirled in the pit of Michonne's stomach in anticipation.
"You'll learn that soon enough, once your bond deepens."
Michonne's thumping heart betrayed her. "There's nothing going on between us. You're mistaken."
"Am I?" Deanna asked Rick.
His eyes were on Michonne. "That's up to her."
Michonne ignored him. "You don't understand. I could never have feelings for Rick because I-"
"Hate him," Deanna interrupted.
Michonne was silenced by her innermost thoughts being spoken out loud. It almost seemed too harsh. Almost.
But it was her truth. It was where she was - and would be for the foreseeable future. Nothing, not even a random act of fate, would change that.
"The line between hate and love is as thin as a razor. Your hate for him may very well lead to something more. And with that, I must leave you."
Deanna pulled Rick down to her and touch her forehead to his. They seemed to communicate without words, on their own frequency. Michonne's heart swelled at the memory of her mother doing the same to her, like clockwork, before bed.
Michonne would never forget what she'd lost. And never forgive the man who was the cause of that loss.
Deanna grasped Michonne's hand and gave it a light squeeze. "Ask her to dance," she said to Rick.
"What?" Rick and Michonne blurted out simultaneously.
"Ask her." This time Deanna zoned in on him, her quiet stare reminding Michonne that a vampire lurked beneath the cultured demeanor.
Rick trained those sparkling eyes on Michonne, equally dashing and expectant. "May I have this dance?"
There was no manipulation in his soft gaze, only patience. Michonne looked down at the hand he offered. The more she pulled away, the more he pulled her in.
"This ceremony's in Rick's honor, after all," Deanna chimed in. "And if you don't accept, he won't dance at all tonight."
Deanna placed Michonne's hand in Rick's, before gliding away as easily as she had come.
On cue, Rick drew Michonne in, his hand hovering near the small of her back; close enough to feel his heat.
Michonne hesitated. It's just a dance. And it's better than standing around waiting for the worst to happen.
Exhaling, she placed an unsteady hand on his shoulder. With a flicker of a smile on his lips, Rick pressed his palm against her skin, his hand hot at her back.
Breathe, she reminded herself.
He lead them in a smooth slow dance, Michonne having no choice but to follow.
"You look beautiful tonight," Rick said, his warm breath caressing the tip of her ear.
Michonne kept her eyes on the room. "Thank you," she said, hoping to come across as indifferent.
"Even better than I imagined."
Michonne wasn't sure if that was meant to be a compliment or a low-key insult. "Because your expectations for me are so low?"
Rick paused, forcing Michonne to look up at him. "No," he whispered. "Because they're unbelievably high when it comes to you."
His tone of voice, his words, his look - all threatened to make her see him anew. Not the Rick she'd loathed all these years and wished only the worse for. Not even the Rick she became infatuated with as a doe-eyed teen. But the Rick with his hand glued to the small of her back, staring down at her with overwhelming tenderness.
"Why did you bring me here?" she asked, unable to suppress the trembling of her voice. Enough with the mystery. If Rick wanted her trust, he would have to be straight with her.
"For your protection," he said simply.
Michonne tensed, waiting for more. Rick offered nothing.
Could he hear the wild beating of her heart in her cavernous chest? Whether it was the result of anger or excitement, she couldn't tell.
"The only thing I need protection from is you."
Rick squinted his eyes. He had the nerve to look hurt.
Luckily, before he had the chance to force her to reconsider her words, a tall, lanky man tapped Rick on the shoulder. He was accompanied by the same woman who'd stolen Rick away earlier. The combination of her bright red lipstick and flawless pale skin was blindingly stunning up close.
If being a vampire meant she could do away with her nighttime skincare routine, Michonne might actually consider it a fair trade for her soul.
"Sorry to interrupt this lovely display," the man said with a practiced smile that failed to counteract the chill of his blue eyes.
Rick turned to face the man head-on, anger seeming to rise like steam from his tense shoulders.
"Hot skates, thin ice, Phillip." Rick laced his name with disdain.
Phillip's lip curled into a polite sneer. "Deanna needs us."
While Michonne could only wonder at the source of animosity between these two or the potential threat the other man posed, Rick's protectiveness still sent a shiver down the curve of her exposed back.
Rick kept Phillip in his peripheral vision while addressing her. "This won't take long." His eyes probed her expression, which she hoped remained blank. "Daryl."
His familiar practically materialized out of thin air. The longer Michonne remained in the world of vampires, the more she felt out of sink, as though things moved here a millisecond too fast.
Michonne nodded. "I'll be fine."
But for the first time, Michonne felt anxious at the thought of Rick's departure. He gently pulled her into him, his warm hand returning to the small of her back. "No one will even have a chance to harm you. They'll die first."
Michonne sucked in a sharp breath, her nipples pebbling in response to the conviction in his threat. The thin silk of her dress left little to the imagination and she was grateful for the shield his firm chest provided.
They separated, Rick leaving her both blazing hot and ice cold all over.
"It'll be quick," Daryl said, his first reassuring words of the night.
She watched Rick walk away, with Phillip close behind. "Why am I really here?" she asked, pulling the other half of the Big Kat from her purse. Rick had managed to dodge her questions all night and his familiar was her only chance of getting any answers.
Daryl only grunted in response, back in watchdog mode, his eyes as piercing as a German Shepherd's.
"We haven't been properly introduced. I'm Jessie," said the blonde woman who'd accompanied Phillip. She'd been so quiet that Michonne had all but forgotten about her.
"Michonne." Instinct told her the less she shared with this vampire, the better. She focused on her snack, chewing the last of the candy bar with abandon. Jessie watched Michonne curiously, as though she were trying to decipher the meaning of an abstract painting.
"What a beautiful name," Jessie said, her fake smile punctuated by delicate fangs. "It's nice to meet you, Michonne." She held out her hand.
Michonne ignored the empty gesture. She guessed the vampire's polished tact proved handy in beguiling humans moments before she sucked the life out of them.
Avoid the eyes, she reminded herself, focusing on Jessie's jawline.
Jessie's smile wavered a bit at the slight. "He's trained you well."
"Excuse me?" Michonne lifted her head, shifting her gaze to Jessie's shoulder. If she hadn't just swallowed the last of her Big Kat, she might have choked on it.
Jessie shrugged. "Even a prized pet requires a few lessons."
Michonne's blood ran hot through her veins, her vision blurring with angry tears. So that's why he'd brought her tonight, to show her off like some rescue from the pound?
Jessie sniffed, her button nose pointed in Michonne's direction. "Is that your natural scent? It's intoxicating."
Daryl stepped between the two of them, effectively blocking Jessie. "Close enough."
Between the passive-aggressive vampires and Rick's mixed messages, Michonne was fed up and exhausted. She'd kept her end of the deal by accompanying him for the night. There were no stipulations on how long she had to stick around.
"I'm done," she said, hastily searching for the exit. "Take me home."
Just then, the chandelier dimmed to a muted glow. Michonne huffed. She'd need vampire vision to find a way out of the ballroom on her own.
The band ceased playing as Deanna stepped onto the stage into a pool of moonlight that streamed through a round window in the ceiling of the ballroom. Rick and Phillip stood on either side of her. "Thank you all for joining us tonight." Her voice carried well without a microphone, as it was quiet enough in the room to hear a tree fall in the forest miles away.
"For twenty years, I've controlled the most infamous territory on the West Coast," Deanna spoke with a natural command and authority.
Twenty years? That couldn't be a coincidence.
Deanna continued. "Alexandria is defined by a core of values - innovation, efficiency, order - but the one that defines us, that has allowed us to surpass all others, is loyalty." She motioned to Rick and Phillip. "These two men played a key role in elevating Alexandria to the top. Rick's leadership and business acumen, coupled with Phillip's passion for law and order, have positioned us to lead for decades to come. "
Rick's eyes were trained on Michonne, as they had been for the entirety of Deanna's speech.
"Although it is with a heavy heart that I step down as your leader, I'm proud to finally name my successor. It was the hardest decision I've had to make in a long time, but this man can ensure Alexandria becomes a beacon of hope for the future, one where vampires and humans can co-exist peacefully." Rick stepped forward. "Long live Rick Grimes, the newly appointed leader of Alexandria."
The room remained deathly silent as everyone, including Phillip, knelt down before Rick. So the mystery was finally solved, this was a ceremony to commemorate the passing of the torch from Deanna to Rick. Why he'd bribed her into coming, Michonne still had no clue.
Deanna motioned her way. "And we also welcome the first human member of Alexandria, Rick's chosen partner in life and death. Michonne Grimes."
Michonne who? Rick's what?
She would never agree to be anyone's wife - or whatever - let alone Rick's. Either she'd heard wrong or Rick had just started a fight she intended to finish, even if it took her last living breath.
Rick had blinded her to the truth and then used her blindness against her. But this time, she wouldn't just lie there, wounded and confused. Her only power lay in doing exactly what Rick did not want her to do.
She ripped her mask from her face, flinging it to the ground. She took in the silent room and all those vampires on their knees and felt - empowered.
She would force them to feel her rage. Rick especially. Michonne took a slow, deep breath.
"Michonne," Rick warned from the stage.
Michonne belted out the words, like her life depended on it:
Filling up my mind with hate, disgrace and waste
My rage is not allowed
She ignored the tortuous hissing that filled the silence between her breaths.
Try to hide your face but I can smell your sin
You wear the devil crown
The last note was loud, sharp and long, Michonne pouring every drop of her soul into it. The chandelier exploded, shattered glass raining to the ground.
In the darkness, the hisses and shouts were amplified. Breaking glass and the sound of scuffling overlapped. All hell had broken loose and Michonne couldn't see a thing.
Suddenly, she was swooped up and thrown over someone's shoulder. Not only was she moving at an unreal speed, but she had an eyeful of Rick's tight ass below the hem of his coat.
"Put me down," she yelled, pummeling his back. It was like hitting a brick wall.
"I told you not to do that," Rick said, as he zipped down the long hallway, across the driveway and into the dark night.
A/N: Thank you all for coming back to this story. I should have known better and put it on hiatus, but that's one lesson I've still got to learn. :) The story will shift quite a bit in the next chapter, with lots more vampire Carl. Will try to get that one out in the next couple of weeks, now that I'm officially "back." Hope everyone's safe and healthy and thanks for not letting me put this one down. As always, your faves, follows and comments are tremendously encouraging!