The days until the ball passed alarmingly quickly for Amira. Her life had become almost normal, excluding the fact that she was Dracula's pet and most of her acquaintances were supernatural beings. But it felt normal to her and that was what counted. It slipped into a sort of semi permanent routine, she knew that her lessons with Vasilios would probably discontinue after the ball and she would have nothing to do again except fret over the wedding that was a mere week after the ball. Not that she considered her lessons with Vasilios fascinating or even fun, but she had to admit that it was a hell of a lot better than spending most of her time being seduced by Dracula, who had actually somehow retained very good manners and had barely touched her since she had been hurt in the battle against Ryker. Her wound had already healed, however it left a long but faint scar stretching from her right shoulder blade to the center of her back. Amira had never thought of herself as vain, but when she saw the scar that marred her once perfectly smooth and unmarked back; she had let out a small gasp and had to cover up it up right away. She hadn't looked at her back since.
Her posture, manners, and dancing skills had all improved to the point that Vasilios decreed that they were acceptable. Well, he had said that at least she wouldn't fall on her face the moment she began a waltz, but Amira took the compliment for what it was.
Signs that some sort of festive occasion was soon to come about began springing up everywhere Amira looked. Everything had been dusted and swept and generally cleaned up by silent servants. It put Amira in a good mood to see everything sparkling clean.
But now it was just a few mere hours before the ball and Amira was most nervous. She had woken up at dusk with a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach and she realized that she wasn't exactly thrilled about this ball. Vasilios had spent most of the time until the ball shooting questions at her about things like how she should act when someone asked her to dance until she had eventually snarled at him to get out of the room so she could prepare for the ball. She had immediately regretted doing it but at least it had gotten him to stop pestering her with questions. She was currently getting her hair done and her nails manicured by half a dozen servant girls. She felt like some doll a bunch of children had decided to dress up.
"Oh please stop fidgeting!" Cried one of the girls who were painting her nails a deep shade of red.
"Sorry." Amira apologized absentmindedly. She had tried in vain to keep still, but in anticipation for the ball she would occasionally twitch her hand or begin to jiggle her foot until one of the servant girls begged her to stop.
She looked up for the thousandth time at the clock she had recently had put in her room. It was nine o'clock. Two more hours till the ball. Dracula had told her yesterday that the ball would be held from eleven until four in the morning.
She wasn't exactly sure why she was nervous. What did she care if she embarrassed herself and Dracula in front of some snobbish vampires? She shouldn't care, but for some reason she couldn't bare the thought of making Dracula angry at her once more. And it wasn't just because he would punish her. No, it was something deeper than that. And then she realized with no small shock that some part of her wanted to please Dracula. Though she couldn't imagine why. Her feelings of intense dislike towards him had not lessened in a whit since her recapture so she just couldn't figure out what made her want to make Dracula happy. She frowned slightly and stared at her reflection as she contemplated over these newfound discoveries.
"All finished!" Cried the girl who had been doing her hair. Amira's eyes actually focused on the mirror she had been staring into and she let out a small gasp of shock. Her hair looked quite beautiful. It had been pulled up into a high bun but the girl had artfully let a few locks escape so that they framed her pale face. She examined it from all angles by twisting her head from side to side and looking at it with a hand held mirror.
"Thank you." Amira said softly. "I feel lovely now." All six of the girls smiled in glee and curtsied deeply.
"Now we must help you put on your dress." One of them announced. It took nearly twenty minutes just to get it on, but in the end they managed. Once again Amira examined herself in front of her full bodied mirror and found that she felt like a princess. The dress fit very well, and showed off every delicate curve of her soft body. Though it still reminded Amira of Anna's dress, it did not have the frills that had made her dress large and bulky. This dress reached down to her ankles, though it did not restrict her movements at all for it was a bit loose from the thighs down. It was also sleeveless and it had a modest dip in it, just barely showing the beginning of her cleavage. She slipped on the silk white gloves that reached up to her elbows and put on her shoes and she was done. Even the collar looked like it was supposed to be there, looking more like a very short choker necklace rather than the mark of Amira belonging to Dracula. Amira had to admit, she looked very exotic and even gorgeous.
But then she arched an eyebrow as she examined her gloves. She turned to the girl who had painted her fingernails and asked, "Now what was the point of painting my nails if I was just going to put these gloves on?"
All six of the girls laughed aloud and the girl who the question had been directed too answered, "Well I couldn't have just had your toe nails painted and not your fingernails! You would have looked very silly if you decided to take your gloves off."
Amira's eyebrow climbed higher. "Because everyone will be staring at my nails to be sure that they match?"
The girl nodded, delighted because she thought Amira finally understood. "Exactly! You will be the center of attention tonight. Everyone will be making sure that absolutely nothing is anything less than perfect with you. Not having your fingernails painted could be a fatal mistake."
Amira let out a laugh at the absurdity of it all but even as it died away the sickening feeling in her stomach returned tenfold. It took everything in her power to not run to the bathroom and sick up. The girls were all blissfully unaware in this sudden change in mood with Amira, and they all wished her good luck and left her be.
She spent the rest of the time until the ball pacing back and forth across her room, occasionally stopping to check in the mirror to make sure she still looked alright. After what seemed like a life time, a young servant man knocked on her door and requested for her to follow him to the entrance where she would be escorted into the ballroom by Dracula. Amira swallowed the knot in her throat but couldn't get herself to say anything so she just nodded instead and let him lead the way.
Amira was paying no attention to where exactly they were going, she was so lost in thought about dances and unknown feelings for a certain vampire that when they got their Amira almost ran straight into the servant's back, but was pulled away just in time by Dracula.
"Oh!" Amira exclaimed. "I didn't realize where I was going." She looked into Dracula's lovely blue eyes and whispered, "Thank you." He just smiled slightly and nodded. Amira took this time to look at Dracula's attire. He was wearing an outfit somewhat similar to the clothing in Van Helsing, meaning that it was entirely black. The deep blue embroidery however, was much more intricate, though it wasn't overdone at all for it was very difficult to differentiate between the clothing it was stitched on too. One had to be very close, (as close as Amira was now) to really appreciate the design. His raven black hair was pulled back into a gold clip, but a few rebellious strands fell to either side of his face. It seemed like they were meant to be there though.
"Are you ready?" He asked gently.
Amira's brows snapped together and she stepped back. "Of course I'm ready! I've had this stupid pet stuff drilled into my mind for the past week so I better be ready!" She straightened her back and turned to face the immense doors that would lead her into the ballroom. She turned back to Dracula. "Let's go."
He smirked and began walking towards the door. Amira followed tout suite, but made sure that she was three paces behind him. When they got to the door it required three servants on either side to push them open. This was for dramatic effect, showing off his servants instead of just forcing the doors open with his powers. The doors opened slowly, and though they did so without a sound, every face in the room was turned toward them when they were finally opened all the way. Amira half expected everyone in the room to be wearing masks like in the Van Helsing movie, but she knew that was silly and banished the thought quickly.
Every vampire in the room -which was everyone- bowed and curtsied simultaneously and silently, it unnerved Amira to no end. She just kept her face straight and relaxed and followed Dracula in -what she hoped was- and elegant fashion. Silent whispers followed them as the guests' eyes latched onto her collar. Amira unconsciously drew nearer to Dracula, for some of their stares were venomous and even jealous. When they finally reached the middle of the room Dracula nodded to the phantom musicians and beautiful classical music began. As if on cue, the entire room was filled with the low buzz of hundreds of whispers and people began moving about the room once more.
Almost immediately, several vampires walked straight up to them, well much more to Dracula. All of them were pointedly ignoring Amira. "Dracula, darling!" A woman who wore far too much makeup practically screeched. She stood very close to him, and placed her hand on his arm. "It's been far too long since I've last had the pleasure to see you." She eyed him up in down and smiled. Her smile turned into a sneer as she laid her eyes on Amira, who, though desperately wanted to stare straight back at her, looked down at the floor until she was spoken to. "I see you have acquired a pet since we have last met. She looks far too plain for you though." Amira carefully kept her face neutral, though every muscle in her body urged her to jump forward and kill this horrid woman. The vampiress sensed the fury emanating off Amira and growing annoyance from Dracula and decided that it was time to take her leave. She nodded and smiled and told him that they simply must dance sometime soon before walking off.
They were accosted by another vampire as soon as the last one left. Amira's heart leapt as she heard Vasilios speaking to her. "You did not let your emotions take control of you. I'm impressed, you are normally such an...expressive person."
Amira smiled warmly and replied, "It's all because of your excellent training." Then her face turned expressionless once more as Vasilios turned to talk to Dracula. She quickly lost interest in the conversation and began to let her mind wander as she watched the dancers glide gracefully across the dance floor. I wonder if you just obtain this ability to make everything look incredibly easy when you become a vampire. She tilted her head to one side as they men clasped their female dance partners at the waist and lift them effortlessly into the air. Holy shit. She was abruptly broken out of her reverie when she heard someone call her name.
"Amira. Amira!" Amira started and looked at Dracula. Vasilios had left and had been replaced with yet another snobbish female.
"I'm sorry," she apologized, and, after a moments hesitation, "master. I was watching the dance." He laced an arm around her waist and pulled her towards the dance floor.
"Then let's join in the fun."
Amira jerked and prayed that she wouldn't have to be lifted into the air. The song that had been playing ended just as they reached the dance floor. Dracula clasped her hand and placed the other on her waist. The music commenced and they began to waltz.
Amira felt light as a feather and as graceful as a swan as they danced across the floor, immediately commanding the attention of everyone in the room. Talk had died away as everyone's eyes glued to the master and his pet. Amira had her deep green eyes fixed on Dracula's own brilliantly blue ones. She felt herself become lost in them, ever changing to suit his own personality; they were definitely his most attractive feature. Right now, they were the brightest shade of blue Amira had ever seen them.
Dracula pulled Amira even closer to him before dipping her low. She arched her back and her lovely pale neck was exposed to him, so tempting and delicate that he could barely restrain himself from pulling her up and biting her right now. But she would be his soon enough...
Amira had no idea of the inner battle that was going on in her handsome dance partner. She was so caught up in the moment and the music that she had no idea what was happening at all. His hand traced a line up to the back of her neck as he pulled her back up again. He could not restrain the low growl that escaped his lips and rumbled through his chest from the sensation of having her pressed up against him. Amira felt the growl more than heard it.
"Did I mention how lovely you look tonight?" Dracula whispered in her ear, his Romanian accent thick with lust. Amira shivered at the feel of Dracula's lips brushing across her earlobe.
She whispered back into his chest, knowing that he would hear it, "I'm afraid you didn't. Did I mention how very handsome you look tonight?"
"You did not. I'm glad you find me so attractive. I had no idea you found me appealing at all." Amira knew that he was just teasing her and bit back a retort.
They finished the dance in a comfortable silence. When it was over Dracula let go and bowed to her as she curtsied back. "Come." He commanded. He led her up to a gilded throne that Amira had not noticed before and sat down. Amira stood there looking bemused until he looked pointedly at the pile of cushions beside his throne. Amira bared her teeth and crossed her arms under her breasts in defiance. "Would you rather sit in my lap?" He asked, arching a brow as he did so. Amira jerked and rushed to the cushions posthaste, sitting down with her legs folded under her and her back resting against the throne. All attraction she had felt towards Dracula during the dance had disappeared in an instant, leaving her simmering in a stew of anger at showing such emotion to him in front of so many people.
Dracula, on the other hand, was quite pleased with himself. His beloved Amira had displayed some sort of feelings for him and he had overcome that urge to change Amira right at that moment. He was extremely proud of himself and sat in his throne with the air of a king and a smirk painted across his features.
Many of his guests came up to congratulate him on being such a wonderful dancer and of course there was the multitude of women who wanted to dance with him themselves. He declined them all with a graciousness that Amira hadn't known he was capable of.
Amira begun to survey the vampires sweeping across the room in that elegant fashion that she seemed to be incapable of achieving when an utterly shocking and somewhat frightening thought crossed her mind. One of these vampires could be the one that had sent Ryker to kill me. She groped around and gripped one of the throne's legs and attempted to calm herself. But now she regarded almost every vampire in the room with suspicion and unease.
"What is troubling you, my pet?" Asked Dracula. He had watched her grip on one of his throne's legs tighten with what Dracula knew was fear.
Amira looked surprised that he had noticed, and answered in a polite and respectful tone fit for the role of a pet, "Nothing at all, master. I am just tired and I wish to sleep. But this ball will still be going on for quite some time, correct?"
"It is nearing two in the morning now. I'm afraid you still have quite some time before you will be able to rest." Dracula knew that was not the cause of her troubles, but was in the mood to please her and did not question her further. Amira spent the better part of an hour watching everyone in the room with a slightly fearful eye before finally getting over it. She very highly doubted that her would-be assassin's master would just attempt to kill her in front of Dracula and the rest of the room. She then began to watch the acrobats that had been situated about the room in various places for everyone's enjoyment. Most of them were contortionists, twisting themselves into odd shapes and forms on a pedestal.
Amira had been watching one of the acrobats when Vasilios came walking up the stairs rather quickly. He whispered something into Dracula's ear and he stood up immediately. "Amira. It appears that your wish will be answered sooner than we thought. Come with me." He waited until Amira stood before walking away into the crowd. Amira followed close behind. They were the center of attention again, but Dracula did not seem to take notice. He left the ballroom without saying a word. Amira was about to follow him when Vasilios pulled her to the side.
"Amira. I am going to escort you back to your rooms. You must promise me that you will stay there no matter what." Amira could tell that he was absolutely serious and, though her brain was now overflowing with multitudes of questions, nodded in silent consent. He took her arm and led her to her chambers. "Do not open this door for anyone." He cautioned her before pushing her inside and shutting it behind her. The sound of receding footsteps told Amira that he had walked away.
Amira spent the rest of the night pacing back and forth across her room. She was far too nervous to sleep but she dared not go outside her rooms. She was not in the mood to be thrown into yet another life threatening situation out of sheer disobedience. At some point in time she had strapped on her scimitar incase there was fighting to be done in her room. The wait was agonizingly long; she knew that someone would have come to assure her that everything was alright so apparently not all was well and good at the moment. Her eyes constantly wandered to the clock. It now read half past five. Amira was grateful that all of the vampires had -hopefully- left by now, but she was still terribly worried.
She was in such a state of nervousness that when someone pounded on her door she had shrieked in alarm. Quite suddenly, the doors burst forth to admit Dracula covered in blood, who barely managed to get through the doors before he collapsed on the floor.
xxxx
A/N: OH GOD. That is quite possibly the BEST cliffy I have ever done. I know that all of you are now going to write very long reviews about how incredibly amazing this chapter was and how excited you are for the next one. Mmf. Ignore the pompousness.
A/N: One last thing, I started highschool last week and I've already got a lot of work to do! BLEH. I'm REALLY going to do my absolute best to update weekly...maybe biweekly, but it could be pretty tough. -sad-
LAST A/N: Hehehe...so I actually have something else to say. YO MY GOODNESS, thanks a milliom, no, a TRILLION for all the reviews! I'm so happy and this is just the motivation I need to write the next chapter. Thank you all.