Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction biased in the world created by Anne Bishop in her Black Jewels Trilogy. The characters are however are original and copyright of their maker. Keep in mind that not all of these characters are mine. I use them with permission of the maker. This is a thread from Ebony, a forum I role-play on. The link is my homepage if you wish to check it out. As such not all of this is written by me and again is used with permission.

Raith Malakhim are characters made by J and I use them with his permission. Gaia Mircia is mine.

Characters: Black Jeweled Black Widow Warlord Prince Raith Malakhim

Rose Jeweled Black Widow Healer Gaia Mircia

Writer of this chapter: J

Temper flared, dropping the room temperature noticeable and quieting the crowd. Suddenly there was the sense that the woman dancing with Prince Malakhim had gone to fucking far. Normally Raith was pretty balanced for a Warlord Prince, he smiled, let people he knew tease the life out of him, talked to anyone and generally tried to get along with at least most people he met. He didn't have a Queen to defend and so the territorial temper and violence he possessed was focused solely on Hayll and Little Terielle, that didn't mean though he was always going to react genteelly.

In fact the only thing which saved her life at that point was a podgy, rumpled Aristo of some short lived variety who was far to drunk to notice the depth of the cold anger rolling out from the Abyss lurching towards the Black Widow Healer.

"Oh MY." He grinned. "What a fine filly, haw haw haw." It wasn't even a laugh it was the haw pronounced by someone who had an idea that he was suppose to laugh but hadn't got a clue how to. "What are you doing here?"

He lurched at her leering up while trying to paw one boob, splashing wine all over her as he attempted it. "How about you and me go back to my cabin? Haw Haw, I could really do with riding a fine little missy like you."

The mans head exploded, followed by his body in nice neat chunks, splattering gore across the room in a tight arc and suddenly the freezing cold vanished. Raith looked across at Gaia, pale eyes cold and distant as stars and smiled, before tilting his head slightly.
The blood vanished.
Suddenly the freezing cold wasn't quiet so cold, oh it was still there, the Warlord Prince's quiet contained aura said it was but he'd worked the urge to strike out in violence from his system enough for him to control it. The Black glittered at his walked forward to Gaia and smiled at her.

"Lady." He said and bowed. "Please, come with me."

One cold hand fastened around her arm while he turned, every movement of his body saying that without a doubt that if she fought back he would hurt her.

The next hour Raith spent touring the yacht with Gaia on his arm, any attempt she made to get away caused his temper to flare, and Raith guided them both to little groups, spoke to every dross filled Aristo he could find.
Women who gave Gaia looks of venom and words of pretty poison that she was on his arm and not them, thinly veiled threats of murder, males who were no less drunk than the Warlord, no less lecherous than before and every time it looked like she would say something out of turn Raith forced her to still her tongue and be nice.

For an hour they kept that up, an hour of dealing with sycophants and whores, gold diggers and Blood who no matter what Jewel or caste they had thought that Aristo meant better than everyone.

Finally he led her back to the dance floor, his temper had dissipated but underneath all it had revealed was vicious contempt he forced her to feel.

I trust you understand now, some of my duties. He smiled, so cold, like a ceramic mask across his face. And can forgive a me that over 400 years of doing the same fucking shit has led to the occasional wish to misbehave by dancing with people I find interesting for a couple of minuets.

He bowed and raised an eyebrow. "May I have this dance Lady?" He said publicly.

And while I understand that while it is my responsibility to deal with those being who I am and what I have taken on to my shoulders, it doesn't mean I can't have any fucking fun every now and again. Especially when Rose Jeweled Black Widow Healers are normally more stimulating than the everyday imbeciles I have to interact with. So yes I can't be bothered to talk to aristo's when I have the chance to dance with you.

Raith suddenly grinned, the mask dropping off his face. Plus I would like to point out, you asked. And I quote 'What are you doing mixing it up with a short-lived healer?' If you didn't like the answer that's not my fault, I least I treated you with enough decency to answer it truthfully.
So I would at least ask for the same treatment of my former question in return. What were you doing accepting one of the host's offers to dance?

"Now you want to finish the dance or not?"