"Must you really do this, My Lord?" Selene asked, watching Amelia's Coven come through the front doors.
"We've talked about this child. You know I must." He sighed, looking down at her sympathetically. "It's only two centuries. You'll be fine."
"I do not think so, My Lord." She murmured, looking down at the black gown she had been forced to wear to the occasion. She had grown accustomed to her Death Dealer uniform, and now wearing a dress seemed...awkward, for lack of a better term. "I will be lost, I believe."
"Nonsense. You shall be fine." He took her hand, placing it securely on his arm, and they descended the stairs. "And just think, by the time I've been awakened, you'll be able to tell me such wonderful tales of everything you've done."
"Yes, My Lord." Selene's nervousness increased as the reached the bottom. She had never been to anything so remotely formal, the only thing that came close was her sister's wedding. And that was well, a wedding, not a political gathering of the greatest Vampiric minds alive.
"Viktor..." A tall rather good-looking man that appeared to be in his mid-forties greeted. He was obviously the ringleader of this little charade. He was dressed to the nines, his jet black hair slicked back. Selene doubted it was ever out of place, heaven forbid.
"Claud." Viktor nodded. Claud returned the nod, but his black eyes fell on Selene. She shifted her eyes uncomfortably.
"May I ask who the young lady is?"
"I'm sorry, I never introduced her. Claud, this is my daughter, Selene." It did not surprise her at being introduced as his daughter, for he had more or less adopted her, the entire Coven knew that. "Selene, this is Claud, Amelia's right hand."
"Nice to meet you." She all but whispered. He smiled, taking her hand and kissing it softly.
"The pleasure is all mine." Blood rose in her cheeks. No one, save Viktor and her father, ever treated her like that. And no man had ever looked at her the way he was right now. Viktor smiled as Claud released her hand, which she hurriedly placed on Viktor's arm, along with her other one. "I am terribly sorry, malady. I did not wish to make you uncomfortable. Allow me to make it up to you with a dance. "
Only then did she notice the couples in the ball room were dancing. "D-dance?"
"Yes, malady." He smiled, recapturing her hand and leading her to the dance floor. She half expected Viktor to save her, but it didn't look like that was going to happen. He was watching her with an odd sort of smile on his face.
"Sir, I...I only think it's fair to warn you, I don't...I can't dance." Selene did not like this. She did not like this at all. Not him being so close to her, not him touching her..even if it was kind of nice...No! No, it was...nice, dammit, that wasn't the right word. She didn't enjoy being this flustered.
"Surly you lie, for you seem to be an excellent dancer." He laughed. She liked the way his eyes sparkled when he did that...
"I don't like this My Lord." Kraven growled, watching Claud and Selene. She kept blushing and glancing around nervously. And That idiot was enjoying it.
"You do not like it because she is enjoying herself. Something that she has earned by now." Viktor commented, sounding more amused than angry.
"My Lord, I do not-"
"Think he is good enough for her?" Viktor shook his head. "It is her own choice, Kraven. You'll do well to remember that."
"Yes, My Lord."
After the ceremony and Amelia's departure, Selene took almost immediately to the dojo after having gotten rid of that godforsaken dress.
"Having fun?" Kraven asked.
"Fun? No. Now buggar off, I'm training."
"How long has it been since we've sparred?"
"At least a month. You got rather sore that I kept beating you." Selene shrugged.
"Pft. You can't beat me."
"How much do you want to bet?"
An hour later Kraven was back in his room nursing bruises and a broken collar bone.
Wow.....loooooooong time since I updated....