Chapter 21
My heart had been beating like a drum the hours before we arrived here, and it still did. I felt as if a sign had been written above us showing to the world what we were truly here for. We hadn't arrived for the party, and we were not here for the pretty faces. I searched the crowds with my eyes, trying to find among them the Count. I did not find him anywhere at all. There was nothing but ghostly faces, vaguely reminiscent of porcelain.
As I walked about, I felt as if I were in a sea of strangers. All their eyes casting briefly over me as I made my way to the main ballroom. My cheeks burned with embarrassment seeing them look at me. All I could hear were hushed whispers as I passed, but I tried my best to ignore them. I only concentrated on my slow march to the ballroom.
Looking up to avoid their faces, I finally, yet slowly, noticed the sea of color around me. It was amazing. Gold statues decorated every spare space in the entry hall. Elaborate paintings and murals were on the ceiling, drawn in what seemed to me to be the style of Boticelli. I could only stare in awe. The soft scent of roses I barely detected in the air, such a sweet smell, almost comforting my senses. It slowly grew stronger as I approached. It seemed as if I had been traversing this hall forever, but soon I found myself looking at the exit. The entrance to the ballroom was not far away.
It took a few moments and some small steps to enter it. I pushed my way through the crowds and was simply amazed at the sea of red around me. Every table had been decorated with a bouquet of roses, and every woman in the room wore red to match this. It almost looked like a river of blood, how they moved and swayed to the music as they danced. The scent of roses had grown stronger, as I found the source.
All the women wore red, I thought, they all wore red…and I had chosen the one color that would be noticeable against all the rest. I blushed in embarrassment as I looked down at my own gold gown. Sensing a small ball of panic, I searched with my eyes for anything that would help validate my choice of color. I looked up at the walls, finding hints of it painted on the border, which seemed to me to be elaborately carved cupids, or perhaps small little demon children, I could not tell. I slowly traced my gaze down, looking through the crowds. Should I go? I wondered to myself. In moments I had made my decision.
I took a deep breath, gathering the ragged ends of my courage. I slowly stepped out, entranced by the dancing women. Everything seemed to be planned, down to the movement of their fingers and their arms. The dances seemed to me to have been practiced hours beforehand.
Like dolls they seemed on the dance floor, truly ornaments to the whole scene. Their gowns glowed and shone in the dim lighting of the extravaganza, their light laughs and giggles the only indication that they were even alive. I smiled despite myself, even though as I passed, I caught more than one smile of amusement as they noticed my gown. I still felt embarrassed, yet somehow I slowly began to gain confidence as I walked, that is until I heard his voice.
"Christine!" A surprised voice said loudly behind me. I knew who it was. My heart stopped immediately, not expecting to have been found so soon. I heard the small gasp and laughs of the women, and the amused chuckle of the men, as a small path opened for deathly familiar accent that had called my name. The entire room had grown silent. Even the hauntingly beautiful music that had been softly playing in the background only moments before seemed to stop without a trace. I looked around, my cheeks flushing a deep red. I found him in moments.
I smiled despite myself as I noticed his approach. He wore royal blue, my favorite color. The same royal blue as the gown he had given me, yet the richness of the clothing was beyond comparison. Gold decorated the sleeves. It decorated the hem of his coat. His boots were black and shining. The vest he wore underneath his coat was beautiful, to say the least. Embroidered in black on his vest were intricate vines, seemingly wrapping themselves around his torso. An enormous cape he had chosen as well, with simple cold pins holding it in place. The cape seemed to be made of layer upon layer of gold and blue, so stunning I could barely take it all in. I glared at him in surprise, and all he did was smile as he approached.
It was a few seconds before he was at my side, wrapping his arm around my waist and kissing my neck affectionately. I did nothing to repulse his attentions. I allowed his intimate greeting, looking up briefly and finding the small watching balcony that my Uncle had hidden himself in. I saw his eyes trained intently on me. The Count pulled away momentarily to speak.
"We match…" he whispered quietly in my ear. "The gold, that is." He said. I saw his smile as he looked down at the color of my gown. His hand touched the delicate cloth. "You look beautiful." He murmured. I said nothing.
"Are you not wondering why I am here?" I asked, despite myself. The crowd still surrounded us, though at a safe distance. They dared not come any closer. Strangely enough, I smiled at their reluctance. Slowly, I heard the Count's quiet laugh.
"I should be suspicious, shouldn't I?" he asked, smiling. I began to detect the music slowly starting again. A seductive tone had been chosen. My mind had drifted off for a moment, so intent I had become on the melody. It sounded so familiar somehow. I was brought back to attention as I felt his hand trace a line from the bulge of my gown, following the stitching of my bodice. "I'm merely happy to see you here…" he murmured quietly. I felt him pull me forcefully to him with his hand, his free one running down my arm, and taking mine. I felt complete in his arms, though it reviled me to even think of it. I looked around, my eyes widened and panic-stricken.
Everyone had begun they're slow waltz. A dizzying swirl of movement these men and women were, their smiles barely noticeable as they looked at me in interest. My heartbeat became swift as I quickly began to realize the immense mistake we had made. All three of us had walked into a trap. I had willingly surrounded myself with a sea of enemies, and they already knew we were here. I felt the Count's light chuckle as we began to move.
"You thought I was a fool." He said simply as we began to dance. His hand tightened almost angrily around my own, I winced slightly. "I assure you, I am no fool. It is not that easy to kill me, you should know that." He said quietly. I tried to pull away from him. I tried to run away to warn my cousin, uncle, anyone, but I felt the Count only hold me tighter as he sensed the sudden movement. "I must say, though I hate to admit it, I am strangely pleasured at seeing you here tonight. For some reason or other, I thought they would only send your cousin, and maybe some other relative in your stead."
I could only stare at him for a few moments, so surprised at his sudden confession. He had known the whole time that we were coming. He had set the whole ball up for us as a ruse to get us here. He had taken us for our worth. "How could I be so stupid?" I muttered to myself. I heard the Count's quiet chuckle. How could I have allowed this to happen?
"Don't worry about your dear family." He said. I felt us stop swiftly. He smiled. "It is all up to you how this story will end." The Count said, ending his small speech. It was my turn to speak.
"How did you know?" I asked quietly. He slowly began to lead me into another dance as a new song began to play. He smiled.
"I know all things." He answered simply. "You didn't think I really would mention a ball and disappear knowing your family would not take this as a golden opportunity to kill me. I know you all." He said. "I know your family better than you know yourself." His hand at my waist had traveled up my back, and to my neck. I winced as he squeezed.
"That hurts." I said, closing my eyes. He chuckled and leaned towards me, kissing me. I couldn't stop him. He pulled away after a moment, and looked across the room.
"It seems my brides have found William." He said. I felt him spin me around, my back firmly against his chest. I flinched as he held me against him roughly. I looked through the crowd, finding William surrounded by Marishka and Aleera. He didn't even realize how close they were.
"Please." I said silently. "Leave him alone." I heard the Count laugh as he spun me around once again to face him. His hand left mine and he touched my lips almost affectionately.
"All you need to do is ask." He said simply. "But," he continued. "I ask a favor of you first." He persisted. I glared at him furiously.
"You must promise yourself to me." He answered quietly. I saw him lean his head down to my neck, felt his teeth barely touching my skin. I gasped despite myself. "You must promise to do all that I tell you to do." Our dancing quickened. Flashes of memories came to me. The dance with Velkan, the thought had not been put into my mind by the Count.
"I don't promise myself to demons." I said simply. He pulled away suddenly, enraged.
"Oh, you do!" he said angrily. "You do if you want him to live." I shook my head in denial, fighting his proposition. I felt the music stop, and I pulled away from him violently. He looked at me, surprised.
"How dare you!" I said in a hushed whisper. "How dare you think that you can do this to me!" I heard his quiet laugh. He did not make a move towards me.
"Come here." He said, holding his hand out for me to take. I looked to William, and found him nodding quietly for me to obey. I felt hundreds of other eyes around me, looking, staring. I couldn't anger him. Selfishness was not an option. I had to do as he said.
"And why should I?" I asked angrily. I heard his mocking laugh before he replied.
"Because I ask you to." He said simply. I looked to William again, noticing his eyes widening in worry. I had listen. Reluctantly, I nodded my head and approached Dracula. I was in his arms again in moments.
My mind quickly went over the predicament, trying my hardest to find a solution to the problem as we slowly resumed our dance. We had four men, including my uncle. The Count had no idea that they had come. Perhaps I could use that to my advantage. I began to think some more.
William had known that the brides had to be there as well, and had quickly located all three of them, the moment we had walked in. He had made sure to point them out to his men. Each man we had brought had his own bride to follow and watch…making sure to keep a vigilant eye on his surroundings…I smiled. Should any one of the women make a threatening advance they would know what to do. We had not followed exactly what Uncle Ferdinand had told us to follow, but I felt suddenly better that we hadn't. If it had not been for the change we had made, William would have been in much more danger and I would have been at a loss for help. I had found my upper hand.
"Your brides are not safe." I said quietly. "William is not as helpless as he seems to be." I continued. I heard Dracula's quiet laugh.
"You don't think I know that already? Your cousin is not so stupid as to arrive without some sort of protection on his person. My brides are more than prepared to handle him." he said in response. I smiled. "What is one man to three vampires?" He continued, mocking what I had said only moments before. I looked to William and nodded my head, indicating a threat around him. He smiled.
As we danced, I saw our men making their moves. I looked up and noticed Christopher, his hand on his weapon, ready to draw in moments. I turned my gaze and smirked at Dracula.
"You don't seem to realize what I am saying, do you?" I asked quietly. He smiled.
"I think I understand perfectly." He responded. I laughed despite myself, and noticed his slightly amused expression. He had no idea what I was talking about. I looked up quickly and noticed Christopher again. Suddenly, Dracula's hand traveled to my arm, tightening angrily. I shot my gaze down to meet his. "Your attention drifts so easily. Now what is it that I don't seem to understand?" he asked. Feeling us turn in response to the music, we slowly began to quicken our steps, the beat growing quicker. Someone had begun to sing, her voice as beautiful as an opera singer's alto or soprano. So sad she seemed to sound, despite the scene we were now in.
"Let me enlighten you." I continued, forcing myself to concentrate. It was almost as if her voice had a hold on me. I felt the Count's grip on my arm soften as I said this.
"Right now," I said, smiling mockingly. "We have weapons aimed on your brides, on their small, little black hearts. They make a move towards my cousin, and we kill them. It is as simple as that. You didn't honestly think we'd come alone, did you?" I heard his hiss as I uttered those words. I had struck a chord within him. I smiled. "Would you be willing to lose them for me?" I asked simply. He did not respond, I saw his gaze drift to them. He looked back to me and smiled.
"How many men?" he asked. I smirked.
"Enough." I answered. "You honestly think I would jeopardize them?" He shook his head, finally realizing he had lost this verbal battle. The music began to slow. The song was ending.
"Alright." He said after a moment. I saw him look to his brides and smile. They understood immediately what he meant. I saw them slowly withdraw. He had spoken to them telepathically, it seemed. My men did not make a move, knowing that if they did, the Count would immediately notice. "Your people are smart. I cannot even sense their heartbeats." He said. "How do they do it?" I smiled.
"Practice." I replied simply. We had stopped dancing, and I felt him release me gently. I saw his arrogant smirk as I pulled away. Dracula bowed slightly, out of respect for our dance, I don't know. Perhaps it was because I had finally out smarted him.
"I rather enjoyed this small little chess game." He said simply. "Perhaps we can play again soon." I narrowed my eyes in confusion. I saw his travel across the room, seeing something that pleased him immensely. "I hope you will enjoy the ball. It is going to be an interesting one, to say the least." He continued. What did he seem to mean by interesting? I wondered quietly to myself. I smiled in response.
"Perhaps." I answered. I saw him turn abruptly and head away. In seconds, he was out of my sight. He had left me alone, if only for a moment. I looked to William and noticed his glare in confusion, but I dared not make a step towards him. I merely cast a questioning glance in his direction and walked away, trying in vain to find a place where I could rest and think. I still felt eyes on me as I past, but I no longer cared. We had won this round, if only for a brief time.
A/N: So, What do you think!!! I love this chapter for the ball, so long, and yet it is only the momentous first meeting. I can't wait to write some more to let you know what happens next!!!! Please R/R to let me know what you guys think!