Dragon Knights: Sweet Revenge
Chapter 2: The meeting
Welcome the chapter two, thank you for reading this. I know you don't like chapter one so I'm going to let you in a secret, I made that one bad on purpose. : This one is going to be good. You'll know more about the characters and the events. READ ON!!!
The next big event this early in the season was the Spring Ball.
This was the one it was most likely that Kirukulus and Rath might both attend, so Cesia had carefully dress in favorite pearl, jonquil yellow crepe, the matching diamond necklace and earrings that her mother had let her borrowed before she left to travel, and a lustrous strand entwined in her black hair.
"You look all the thing, my dear," her father told her. "Are you ready for this?"
"Yes", she said quietly. She was ready for anything her father planned.
They stepped into the ballroom. It didn't seem possible, but the ballroom appeared full to overflowing already. Candlelight glimmered everywhere, reflected in dozens of mirrors, the light softening every detail and giving the room an intimacy and the most flattering glow. Chairs lined the walls on two sides, and already the matrons who would not be dancing had gathered for an evening of exquisite gossips. Servants hovered, accommodating every request, and on the balcony ten feet above, a string quartet played under the discreet hum of conversation. As they went, people bowed and made ways.
Cesia was grateful, finally, to see Delte, her dearest friend, who was obviously on the lookout for her. And so she left father now talking to other Kings and went to her friend.
Cesia grasped Delte's hands. "Delte! What a crowd. Have you seen Kirukulus?" Time to go forward. She had thought of a strategy. It couldn't even called a plan, but it involved feeding her father's worst fears by making sure she was seen with or near Kirukulus as often as possible. It wasn't a perfect scheme but it was something, and it just might serve for this evening until she thought of something better.
"So many people," Delte murmured. " But I say that every year, do I not? No, I have not been aware of Kirukulus's presence. Good evening, by the way, Cesia. Oh, look! There's a new face. Could that be-could it-? Rath? After all this time.?"
Blast it. Cesia whirled, and her breath caught. Blast! Her head started pounding. Rath.She hadn't expected him, not this quickly, not this soon and.looking so different-and so much the same.
She felt as if she had taken a header. So much for the plots and schemes. How like a man to just show up and throw everything top over tail.
She couldn't take her eyes from him. Even through the crowd, the water- light music, and Delte's sweet voice droning in her ear, her whole attention was fixed on Rath. She didn't expect this reaction to Rath. He seemed taller than she remembered, his shoulders broader, his hair longer and redder, his frown utterly forbidding, but that could be the effect of the high ceilings and low lights. Certainly the dark look on his face reflected the fact that he was not pleased, not with anything. Especially not for her.
But why should he have any opinion in the matter at all?
She could not take her eyes off him nor could he stop staring at her.
He had been thinking all along he would be dealing with the artless child she had been, only a few years older, of course, and instead he was looking at a woman full grown and aware of her power, a woman with presence and passion. A woman old enough to wed.
It was the most stunning surprise.
Lykouleon should have warned him. Damn him-Lykouleon should have told him. He felt as if he had fallen off a cliff, as if everything-every notion, everything he knew-had been pulled out from under him. And to make matters worse, there was Kirukulus, strutting and preening around the perimeter of the room, approaching the ladies who would speak with him, and commanding her avid attention, as she seemed to follow his every move.
Damn, damn, damn. Those eyes. As bright and black as ever he remembered. But not that womanly body, or that beautiful face. He didn't remember her looking like that at all. Damn Lykouleon. Damn him.
Thank God he had come tonight; thank God he had seen her before he had started anything, because he couldn't trust himself to go to her now, knowing what he knew. And he couldn't keep his eyes of her or Kirukulus. Thing could heat up at the instant, he thought, watching the man cautiously. Kirukulus meant business, and there was no more beautiful business in this ballroom than Cesia.
Kirukulus was the enemy, and he would never have her, not if Rath could help it. His mission was perfectly clear: he had her father's full faith and trust, and he knew exactly what he had to do.
"They say he wandered around the world and killed all the strong demon he could find."
Delte's words finally registered, and Cesia swung her gaze back to her friend. She reached frantically for the topic of the conversation. "Rath, you mean."
"Rath, I mean. And is he gorgeous or what? Handsome and strong."
"Delte!"
"No, no, no. There is a man I would suit."
"What about Kirukulus, then?" Best to keep her attention there.
"What's about him?" Delte said blankly, her eyes are still on Rath just as hundred of other girls and princesses.
"Do let's move closer to see," Cesia murmured. For how else would he know she was there? And how else would Rath see them when Kirukulus came to ask her to dance?
"Cesia!"
"Come, haven't you a bit of curiosity about him?"
"Not even a lap."
"Well, I do. Do come with me, Delte. You know you want too."
Delte followed Cesia reluctantly. "Oh, these man!" Delte muttered disgustedly. "Why is there not some kind of guide, some kind of tutoring for a girl as you as this to deal with a man like that.?"
Cesia grasped her friend's hand urgently. "What? What did you say?"
"I said a girl as young as you ought to have a some kind guide or tutor so she could learn how to deal with a man as experienced as Kirukulus."
"Oh, exactly!" And why hadn't she thought of that herself? It was a plan, perfect for diverting Rath and accomplished her own ends. But she really really needed just one more piece of the pie. Kirukulus must dance with her before the evening is done, so she could set her plan in motion.
Cesia sat on the sidelines with Delte and patiently waited. "Your Kirukulus shows no favorites," Delte commented acidly. "He goes to every sixteen-year-old equally. How democratic of the man."
Cesia suppressed a smile. Delte's observation was not quite true; as Kirukulus worked his way around the room, Cesia had seen his covert looks at others, and the hesitating step he had taken toward her once or twice. He had been watching her, amused that she, too, played the game of propriety by sitting on the sidelines and waiting, always waiting.
"My lady?'" And then his voice startled her, because she had been so deep in thought, and she hadn't been expecting him, not just then.
"My lord?" She looked up at him. He took her hand and led her to the floor for the reel. It was perfect for her purpose: there would be minimal conversation, and she gazed at him as if her heart and soul were in her eyes. One dance, she couldn't have planned it better. She hoped her father and Rath were both watching. She hoped they felt as powerless as she. And it worked; she couldn't believe how beautiful it worked. When Kirukulus finally led her back to her chair, she found Delte had gone and her father was waiting for her, grim as bear, and the best thing of all was when she finally caught her breath and looked around the room, she found Rath by the door. His expression as black as thundercloud.
Ok, I think I stop here. It's late and I had school tomorrow. Do you like it? Review, please. If I make any mistake, tell me don't hesitate. It is not much. They didn't talk but I will make them talk the next chapter. It will be interesting. Cesia will ask Rath to do something for her. Will Rath say yes or crush the poor girl's heart? Read the next chapter to find out. I write the next chapter as soon as I get ten reviews.
Chapter 2: The meeting
Welcome the chapter two, thank you for reading this. I know you don't like chapter one so I'm going to let you in a secret, I made that one bad on purpose. : This one is going to be good. You'll know more about the characters and the events. READ ON!!!
The next big event this early in the season was the Spring Ball.
This was the one it was most likely that Kirukulus and Rath might both attend, so Cesia had carefully dress in favorite pearl, jonquil yellow crepe, the matching diamond necklace and earrings that her mother had let her borrowed before she left to travel, and a lustrous strand entwined in her black hair.
"You look all the thing, my dear," her father told her. "Are you ready for this?"
"Yes", she said quietly. She was ready for anything her father planned.
They stepped into the ballroom. It didn't seem possible, but the ballroom appeared full to overflowing already. Candlelight glimmered everywhere, reflected in dozens of mirrors, the light softening every detail and giving the room an intimacy and the most flattering glow. Chairs lined the walls on two sides, and already the matrons who would not be dancing had gathered for an evening of exquisite gossips. Servants hovered, accommodating every request, and on the balcony ten feet above, a string quartet played under the discreet hum of conversation. As they went, people bowed and made ways.
Cesia was grateful, finally, to see Delte, her dearest friend, who was obviously on the lookout for her. And so she left father now talking to other Kings and went to her friend.
Cesia grasped Delte's hands. "Delte! What a crowd. Have you seen Kirukulus?" Time to go forward. She had thought of a strategy. It couldn't even called a plan, but it involved feeding her father's worst fears by making sure she was seen with or near Kirukulus as often as possible. It wasn't a perfect scheme but it was something, and it just might serve for this evening until she thought of something better.
"So many people," Delte murmured. " But I say that every year, do I not? No, I have not been aware of Kirukulus's presence. Good evening, by the way, Cesia. Oh, look! There's a new face. Could that be-could it-? Rath? After all this time.?"
Blast it. Cesia whirled, and her breath caught. Blast! Her head started pounding. Rath.She hadn't expected him, not this quickly, not this soon and.looking so different-and so much the same.
She felt as if she had taken a header. So much for the plots and schemes. How like a man to just show up and throw everything top over tail.
She couldn't take her eyes from him. Even through the crowd, the water- light music, and Delte's sweet voice droning in her ear, her whole attention was fixed on Rath. She didn't expect this reaction to Rath. He seemed taller than she remembered, his shoulders broader, his hair longer and redder, his frown utterly forbidding, but that could be the effect of the high ceilings and low lights. Certainly the dark look on his face reflected the fact that he was not pleased, not with anything. Especially not for her.
But why should he have any opinion in the matter at all?
She could not take her eyes off him nor could he stop staring at her.
He had been thinking all along he would be dealing with the artless child she had been, only a few years older, of course, and instead he was looking at a woman full grown and aware of her power, a woman with presence and passion. A woman old enough to wed.
It was the most stunning surprise.
Lykouleon should have warned him. Damn him-Lykouleon should have told him. He felt as if he had fallen off a cliff, as if everything-every notion, everything he knew-had been pulled out from under him. And to make matters worse, there was Kirukulus, strutting and preening around the perimeter of the room, approaching the ladies who would speak with him, and commanding her avid attention, as she seemed to follow his every move.
Damn, damn, damn. Those eyes. As bright and black as ever he remembered. But not that womanly body, or that beautiful face. He didn't remember her looking like that at all. Damn Lykouleon. Damn him.
Thank God he had come tonight; thank God he had seen her before he had started anything, because he couldn't trust himself to go to her now, knowing what he knew. And he couldn't keep his eyes of her or Kirukulus. Thing could heat up at the instant, he thought, watching the man cautiously. Kirukulus meant business, and there was no more beautiful business in this ballroom than Cesia.
Kirukulus was the enemy, and he would never have her, not if Rath could help it. His mission was perfectly clear: he had her father's full faith and trust, and he knew exactly what he had to do.
"They say he wandered around the world and killed all the strong demon he could find."
Delte's words finally registered, and Cesia swung her gaze back to her friend. She reached frantically for the topic of the conversation. "Rath, you mean."
"Rath, I mean. And is he gorgeous or what? Handsome and strong."
"Delte!"
"No, no, no. There is a man I would suit."
"What about Kirukulus, then?" Best to keep her attention there.
"What's about him?" Delte said blankly, her eyes are still on Rath just as hundred of other girls and princesses.
"Do let's move closer to see," Cesia murmured. For how else would he know she was there? And how else would Rath see them when Kirukulus came to ask her to dance?
"Cesia!"
"Come, haven't you a bit of curiosity about him?"
"Not even a lap."
"Well, I do. Do come with me, Delte. You know you want too."
Delte followed Cesia reluctantly. "Oh, these man!" Delte muttered disgustedly. "Why is there not some kind of guide, some kind of tutoring for a girl as you as this to deal with a man like that.?"
Cesia grasped her friend's hand urgently. "What? What did you say?"
"I said a girl as young as you ought to have a some kind guide or tutor so she could learn how to deal with a man as experienced as Kirukulus."
"Oh, exactly!" And why hadn't she thought of that herself? It was a plan, perfect for diverting Rath and accomplished her own ends. But she really really needed just one more piece of the pie. Kirukulus must dance with her before the evening is done, so she could set her plan in motion.
Cesia sat on the sidelines with Delte and patiently waited. "Your Kirukulus shows no favorites," Delte commented acidly. "He goes to every sixteen-year-old equally. How democratic of the man."
Cesia suppressed a smile. Delte's observation was not quite true; as Kirukulus worked his way around the room, Cesia had seen his covert looks at others, and the hesitating step he had taken toward her once or twice. He had been watching her, amused that she, too, played the game of propriety by sitting on the sidelines and waiting, always waiting.
"My lady?'" And then his voice startled her, because she had been so deep in thought, and she hadn't been expecting him, not just then.
"My lord?" She looked up at him. He took her hand and led her to the floor for the reel. It was perfect for her purpose: there would be minimal conversation, and she gazed at him as if her heart and soul were in her eyes. One dance, she couldn't have planned it better. She hoped her father and Rath were both watching. She hoped they felt as powerless as she. And it worked; she couldn't believe how beautiful it worked. When Kirukulus finally led her back to her chair, she found Delte had gone and her father was waiting for her, grim as bear, and the best thing of all was when she finally caught her breath and looked around the room, she found Rath by the door. His expression as black as thundercloud.
Ok, I think I stop here. It's late and I had school tomorrow. Do you like it? Review, please. If I make any mistake, tell me don't hesitate. It is not much. They didn't talk but I will make them talk the next chapter. It will be interesting. Cesia will ask Rath to do something for her. Will Rath say yes or crush the poor girl's heart? Read the next chapter to find out. I write the next chapter as soon as I get ten reviews.