Chapter 10
Sevic flopped onto the bed, running her fingers over the metal box she'd placed in her lap. She circled the lock with a tip of a finger, glancing up at the door when she heard the squawk of the comm unit announcing to the ranks that dinner was in half an hour. She sighed. It would be nice to see the looks on their faces.
Stop it.
It would secure some safety, at least for a little while.
Shush.
Oh, Christ. Why the hell not? I look damn good in that dress. And what better way to rub their noses in Jason's death.
Fine. But get your ass in gear.
With cold fingers, she dug through the pocket of Riddick's robe and plucked out the key, turning it over and over in her hand. She closed her eyes, shook her head, and jammed the key in the lock, twisting it and opening the lid. Once again, she removed the dress and ran her fingers over it before shaking it out and laying it flat on the bed. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves as she slipped off Riddick's robe, walking across the room to hang it on its hook. Her eyes closed as she slipped the dress on, walking to the door and cracking it open slightly.
"Riddick?" She heard him stand. "I need some help in here, if you don't mind," she said slowly. He pushed open the door and paused. "Can you tie up the back of my dress?" He nodded and stepped into the room, watching her straighten and gather her hair over her shoulder, out of his way. Taking a string into each hand, he paused.
"Um.."
"Just like shoes," she said with a touch of a smile. "Not too tight, though," she added quickly. She felt the material pull tightly against her as he tied the bow, just like a shoelace.
"That good?" he asked quietly. She nodded and reached back into the box, slipping the bracelet over her wrist. He watched her gingerly pick up the knife and run her fingers over the detailed hilt. "Nice knife," he commented quietly. She smiled, but it fell quickly as she nodded.
"Think I'll need it?"
"Can't hurt," he said with a small shrug. She nodded and lifted a foot onto the bed, hitching her skirt up to her hip. His breath caught in his throat as she slowly strapped the sheath in place, the knife tucked safely on the outside of her thigh, just where it would be accessible. "What are the gems?" he asked, walking to her other side to gaze at the weapon.
"Selerite," she said quietly. His eyebrow rose. "Like emeralds, but found only on Seleron," she explained, straightening to let the dress fall into place. The burgundy velvet hugged her torso, flaring out slightly at the hips, the square neckline joining sleeves that also flared out at the elbow. He watched her reach out and close the box, his hand darting out to catch her arm as she started to retract. Her eyes shot up to his questioningly.
"You forgot something." She shook her head, holding the hair pin up between them. His brows furrowed, hand releasing her arm. She blinked and went to the mirror, setting the pin between her teeth as she gathered her hair. The box creaked as it opened, but she ignored it. I'm not, she told herself firmly. She twisted her hair around the pin in a quick yet elegant style and looked herself over. Hurried, but it'll do. Riddick appeared behind her in the mirror, gazing at her reflection over her shoulder. "You forgot something," he repeated quietly. Her eyes closed.
"I can't," she whispered. She felt his arm wrap around her side, but his hand didn't clutch her as she expected.
"I want them to remember what they did to you," he said, his voice rumbling through her back, bringing goosebumps. She forced her eyes open, focusing on the object he held in front of her. Her eyes met his in the mirror.
"Why?"
"Because they deserve to feel guilty about it."
"They won't," she predicted.
"We'll see, won't we?" Her eyes once again focused on her ring, held delicately between his fingers.
"I can't," she repeated, letting her eyes close again. His free hand found one of hers, twining with her fingers. He bent her arm at the elbow, forcing her hand out, palm up.
"Yes you can," he whispered, dropping the ring into her outstretched hand. She shivered as his breath ruffled over the back of her now bared neck, a tear breaking free as he closed her hand around her ring. He moved away from her quickly, and a chill settled in without the heat of his body so close to hers. Her eyes opened as her hand opened, and she felt him watching her from behind as she slipped it over her finger, twisting it around as she read the words inscribed. Eschei G'nath Igbusthi.Seleron had three official languages. The inscription on her ring was in what had been the fourth, before it had been dropped from the curriculum. Few people had known it, both Sevic and Jason learning it from their grandparents at a young age. Her lips formed the words as she read them, translating in her head: Love lasts eternally. She turned to Riddick slowly, dropping her arms to his side.
"Are you ready?" she asked quietly. He nodded, gesturing for her to precede him out the door, and she felt him fall into pace behind her. Once outside the main door to the suite, he offered her his arm, and she took it, partly because she didn't want to feel as alone as she knew she would in that dining hall, and partly because she wasn't sure her legs would carry her the whole way.
The closer they got, the more rapid her breaths grew. Her face flushed as they appeared at the top of the grand staircase, the room below bustling with activity as people mingled before filing into the dining hall. Her fingers tightened on his arm, and he moved his other arm, lacing his fingers into hers as they descended the stairs. The bustling stopped, and she couldn't count the number of eyes she felt on her. As they took the last two steps, the crowd parted and they walked right through the middle, leading the crowd, now whispering in hushed tones, into the dining hall. Riddick took his place at the head of the table, nodding to Lord Vaako as he passed. Sevic was seated at Riddick's right side, the seat next to her empty. Lord Vaako sat across from her, on Riddick's left side, and next to him was Dame Vaako, who was now staring openly, eyes blatantly hateful, at Sevic. Sevic only stared back until the snake glanced away. As the rest of the crowd was seated, Riddick reached under the table and gave Sevic's knee a gentle squeeze, smiling slightly at her. She found herself returning it, though she didn't know why. The room was silent, save the noises of moving chairs and shifting dresses, until everyone was seated and the servants began bringing out the meals.
Sevic tried to calm the tremors in her hand as she reached for her water, Riddick's hand settling lightly on her knee again. She couldn't prevent her hand from moving to clutch his tightly, and he squeezed back, as if telling her to calm down, that everything was fine. She stole a glance at him, and he was already looking at her, his face calm but his eyes concerned. She forced a small, timid smile, and his eyebrow rose as his fingers spun the ring on her finger. Right, she reminded herself. Show it off. She nodded once and moved his hand to the knife resting against her thigh, silently telling her not to push. His eyes smiled at her, and he turned his attention back to the question Vaako had just asked him. She listened in to the seemingly superficial conversation, noting that Dame Vaako was staring at her again. Sevic's eyes met the Dame's and an eyebrow rose.
"Forgive me, Lady…" Dame Vaako trailed off, raising her eyebrows.
"Sevic."
"Right," Vaako continued in her uppity tone. "Your dress is quite unique," she commented, her voice dripping with artificial sugar. "May I ask how you came to possess it?" Sevic's eyebrow arched. "I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it." From the corner of her eye, Sevic saw Riddick's eyes flicker to the Dame and back to her before returning to Lord Vaako. Sevic let a flattered smile play on her lips.
"It was a gift, actually," Sevic answered, running her finger around the rim of her water goblet slowly. Wonder if it's real crystal. "Where I come from," she continued, watching her hand as her finger dipped back into the water, "the groom's mother provides the bride with the dress." She punctuated the statement with another bout of rim-running, this time drawing a sound. Vaako's eyes fell to her hand quickly as the tone vibrated through the room, Sevic's finger continuing even as people turned to watch. "I don't really know where or if you could buy a dress like mine, since the store my mother-in-law bought it was on Seleron." The tone from Sevic's goblet stopped suddenly as Vaako's eyes rose to hers. "Seeing how Seleron now ceases to exist, I'm not really sure where I could direct you," she added with a small, seemingly innocent shrug. I'm not sure you have the chest for it, either, darling, she added mentally, the thought only spurring her small smile on. She glanced at Riddick as another thought came to her, the tiny smirk tugging at the corners of his lips urging her to go with it. "And besides, Dame Vaako," Sevic purred, "I doubt you'd want to be seen in a dress someone else has already been seen in. You're much too glamorous for that, aren't you?" Sevic asked, her eyes willing Vaako to answer the question.
"How silly of me," Vaako answered, her own smirk returning. "It's a beautiful dress, really," she continued. "But you're right. I'd rather not be seen in something you've already debuted." Her eyes narrowed, and Sevic caught the implication. The quiet growl indicated Riddick had gotten the message as well, and he turned his silvery stare on the Dame, his eyes narrowing slightly. Dame Vaako only arched her eyebrow and shrugged, reaching for her water. "It'd be disgraceful of me to try to mimic the Lord Marshall's lady," she added quickly. Thankfully for all involved, the servants had worked their way to the end of the table, always starting at the end opposite the Lord Marshall so he could be sure his dinner guests were taken care of, and the meal silenced most conversations. Sevic looked down into her plate, a hand pressing into her belly to suppress the grumble threatening. With her left hand, she plucked up the inside fork and began eating quietly, watching the Vaakos' eyes flit back and forth between the sparse conversation, their meals, each other, Riddick, and her ring. She almost choked on her steak when Riddick's fingers flicked the knife on her thigh.
"Lady Sevic, may I ask for your company tomorrow afternoon?" Dame Vaako asked suddenly. Sevic's eyes met hers and her eyebrow rose slowly, deliberately. "I've been so bored lately with my husband's seemingly unending chores," she continued, rolling her eyes over to Lord Vaako, whose jaw clenched. "He's always gone and I'm always lonely. I'd love for you to come visit with me. Perhaps we could do some shopping or even take a trip to one of the ships that has a spa?" Riddick's hand on her knee again, squeezing gently.
"I'll have to discuss my schedule with the Lord Marshall later on," Sevic dodged. Riddick's hand tightened almost painfully, but it didn't show on Sevic's face. "I'll be sure to let you know once we get a moment to ourselves." Dame Vaako's head cocked to the side, but she recovered quickly and nodded. Lord Vaako leaned over and whispered something in her ear, and she glanced at him sharply before violently spearing a hunk of steak quickly. Sevic almost laughed, but quickly caught herself. She felt Riddick's eyes questioning her, but didn't glance his way, just pretending to be too preoccupied with her own meal.
After everyone was finished and had resumed conversation, the servants reappeared and cleared the plates, turning up all of the coffee cups in their saucers before carting the dirty dishes away. Must be dessert, too, Sevic thought with a mental smirk. Moments later, she glanced toward the other end of the table, her mouth watering at the sight of the dessert being served. Before the drool could start forming strings from her jaws, she returned her attention to Riddick and Vaako's conversation. Good thing for Dame Vaako Sevic was left alone to enjoy her dessert in peace. Mighta had to have gutted the bitch if she'd interrupted me and my chocolate affair, Sevic thought with a small smile, setting her fork down on her empty dessert plate. Riddick caught her hand under the table and pulled gently on her arm as he leaned toward her.
"You gonna be able to dance after all that chocolate?" he asked, a smile in his voice. "Play along, remember?" She let a smile break on her lips as his lips planted a soft kiss on the side of her neck and winked at him as he pulled away. Dame Vaako had watched the exchange, Sevic knew, but was acting like she'd not even noticed. Servants opened the doors, and the Lords and Ladies stood. Riddick offered Sevic his arm once again, and she took it, letting him escort her out of the dining hall and into the grand entrance, where the musicians had gathered and started to play before the doors to the dining hall opened to the sound. Fucker didn't tell me there was a god damn dance, Sevic thought, groaning inwardly but smiling politely outwardly. I hate dancing.
