Gwen sighed as she looked at herself in the mirror. Tonight there was to be a masquerade ball in honor of the vampire Queen's birthday. Once she had found out about she had begged and begged Leo to let her go and finally he had relented. Then he had left this dress and mask for her with a note saying he would come get her at seven. And she had to admit this dress was gorgeous, Leo had a good sense of fashion for a guy. It was red and made of silk, it was a v neck and back with gold beads decorating it. The mask was red to match the dress and had the gold beads along with some red feathers out the side of it. She had put her raven locks into an lovely bun which had pieces of falling into her face. Sighing again she walked back to the bad and sat on it. It was now 6:55 and from her three weeks here she had discovered that the vampire prince was never late. She had know idea about him she was just so confused. She had feelings for him she knew that but what kind she was utterly oblivious. Just then the man in question popped in literally. He was dressed in a suit ha! She had to remember to tease him about it. His blonde hair was not spiked like it normally was but it seemed he made an effort to at least brush it but it maintained its messy look and his bright blue eyes were looking her up and down. He was absolutely handsome, she stood but his eyes followed her. She could feel the heat of a blush as it creeped up.
"You look…….beautiful" he managed to whispered. Now she was sure she was completely red.
"Here this is for you" he said handing the princess a red fan with gold tassels. She looked curiously up at him
"Its to hide your mouth when you speak so you can actually be sociable" he laughed nervously.
"Come!" he held out his arm which she gladly slipped her own through. Gwen once again experienced the effects of smoking (how ironic does that sound) she absolutely hated it but she was getting used to the feeling. They found themselves in front of the great halls doors which had been thrown wide open and it was practically bursting with finely dressed vampires. The atmosphere was amazing. There was music playing with a small band and there were many couples dancing. Tables lined the edge of the room laden with food and drinks, she knew at once she would go thirsty tonight. They entered and made their way through the chatting vampires. Many of the females gave her glares which she assumed she got because she was with the prince. Suddenly she felt elated they were jealous of her. But it soon turned to nervousness when she found a couple of the men eyeing her. Finally they stopped at a group which she recognized as the Queens three bodyguards and part of the high command. Malik, Miranda and Oliver, Leo gave them a warm greeting while they also gave her one as well.
"Is my mother in the room" Leonardo asked, Malik nodded and Leo turned to her.
"Stay here and out of trouble" he whispered hastily in her ear before disappearing into the crowd. Now she was panicked, she was surrounded by vampires who would kill her if they knew or found out who she really was. Following her Aunt Stella's lesson she flicked open her fan and covered her mouth. She watched closely as Oliver whispered something in Miranda's ear it must have been funny because she was laughing very hard. No one could miss their closeness but the moment was ruined by another female vampire. She was a red haired beauty I must say wearing a deep green dress, she grabbed Oliver's hand and started to pull him away. That bitch! Was all Gwen could think of. Could that whore not see the way Miranda and Oliver were looking at each other. Eventually Oliver left with the red head leaving Miranda there alone. Taking some pity Gwen wandered over to her side keeping the fan up
"how could you just let her do that?" Gwen asked. Miranda barely moved her head to indicate that she heard her. Finally she sighed and looked up.
"Its his choice, it's the vampire way but of course you wouldn't know now would you human" she whispered the last word. Gwen froze and held her breath she had been found out! Her eyes frantically swept the room looking for exits but Miranda spoke again
"don't worry we won't say anything".
"We!" Gwen tried to act there was nothing wrong but she knew was failing badly.
"Malik, Oliver and I" Miranda was acting as if she didn't care
"you're too easy, you don't smell like a vampire and you don't act like one and you never speak in front of people". Gwen was shocked and her face definitely showed it, the death dealer just laughed
"if you're as old as us three are you senses become very strong so don't worry none will notice the smell". Gwen calmed down slightly but the tension remained. The fairy of light was extremely uncomfortable but the vampire seemed unfazed. They stood there for awhile and Miranda was the first to break the ice.
"You're lucky you know" she whispered, Gwen jumped at the sound of her voice.
"How so?" she asked,
"Leos a death dealer who are trained to rarely show their emotions" she explained.
"I've only seen him open up to his sister and his mother but it seems you bring it out in him". Miranda nodded her brown haired head to two people in the crowd. She recognized one of them immediately as Leo but the other was a woman. This was another red head but she looked only a bit older than the other. She wore an elegant blue sparkle dress which had a train that followed behind her. Something about her just entranced her but she swore that she had seen this woman before. But before she could ponder it longer the woman disappeared and Leo was heading straight for her.
"Hey you okay?" he asked concerned, she only nodded and turned back to Miranda and now Malik who had just come to stand beside his friend.
"They know" she whispered, Leo looked at the two with a questioning look. He stepped over to them and they entered into a quiet little conversation of their own. Gwen knew at that moment she was not needed so she turned back to the dance floor and was amazed at how good these vampires were. Her aunt Stella had given her dance lessons where she danced with Jaydon. Stella had said that Gwen was quite talented and she should do competitions but the flower princess had no want for attention she hated it. But she started to panic when one of the male vampires broke away from his friends and headed towards her. She knew that Leo had spotted the movement to and was now heading towards her. But he wasn't fast enough for the handsome man before her was not Leo. This vampire looked to be a bit older than Leo but his hazel eyes seemed to be very wise. His raven hair sat neatly on his head and his teeth were a pearly white.
"May I have this dance?" he asked in a strong British accent, and he bowed low holding his hand out for hers. She was unsure of what to do, she looked for Leo but the crowd had gotten denser around them so she couldn't find her prince. Her prince. That actually sounded good. But the vampire still stood in front of her looking at her expectantly. Saying no and being impolite were not her strong points. Slowly and attentively she placed her hand in his and he lightly pulled her to the dance floor. He silently took the fan from her hand and placed it on a nearby table and continued on.
Leo managed to squeeze through the crowd that had so conveniently had momentarily blocked his view of Gwen and Vrael bowing to her in the fashion of asking her to dance. He groaned when he saw Gwen all ready for the music to start. He started to panic what if Vrael found out he would definitely have a midnight snack. He was such an idiot for letting her come tonight. He spotted Hepaysis, he had had a fling with her last year and she was constantly making moves on him. He groaned, he was going to regret this. He jogged over to the blonde bombshell of a vampire and quickly bowed. He heard her giggle and place her hand in his. With out hesitation he pulled her onto the dance area where everyone was waiting. Suddenly the violins and strings started to play. Slowly they started to dance. He knew he was very good but he hated it he never danced. He saw a couple of surprised faces as they twirled past. This dance was a favorite dance among vampires and he was worried that Gwen would not know it so he glanced at her and he was shocked. She was a beautiful dancer executing all the steps perfectly he even saw her smile and giggle without revealing her teeth good girl. His eyes did not leave her and Hepaysis was getting quite annoyed as she said it many times.
Bloom was extremely bored and depressed. There had been no reports or sightings of Skylar in any of the reconnaissance teams and she was worried. She had been out there searching everyday along with Leo who seemed very distracted of late. She swirled the blood around in her goblet listening absently to others conversations but one statement caught her attention. "Look Prince Leonardo is dancing!". She looked up with a confused look Leo's dancing!. She stood from her throne and soon found Leo dancing with that tramp Hepaysis. But she observed that his focus was not on the blonde but on another couple. It was Vrael and a vampire woman she did not know. She stared at the woman she had dark raven hair that she believed looked like Helia's but she could not see her face because of course she was wearing a mask. She also realized that the girl was glancing at Leo as well and she smiled this was interesting.
Gwen kept nodding or shaking her head to Vraels question since he figured out early she doesn't talk. She kept looking at Leo who's eyes were boring into her. Finally it came to the part where they swapped partners and thankfully Leo was there.
"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly she couldn't believe it she was shaking! She nodded and Leo pulled her closer to him as they danced. She reveled in the feeling of his arms around her as they danced. But soon came the time that she had to twirl back to Vrael. She gave Leo a pleadingly look which he mirrored. And once again she was in the arms of a stranger as he lead he lead her around the dance floor. She did not like the look he gave her. She did not look him in the eyes but stared at Leo who was now staring daggers at Vrael who did not notice. She endured his stares long enough till they swapped partners again. She sighed with relief when she reached Leo. He was still glaring at Vrael
"I don't like the way he looks at you" he whispered. Then it hit her, he was jealous.
"You are so jealous" she said pointedly. He shook his headed but she swore that he was blushing. He looked into her eyes and they didn't leave. Unbeknownst to them they had basically taken the dance floor as they had begun some beautiful dancing. The chemistry between could not be mistaken as they did lifts and twirls. The other couples had stopped to watch as the moved gracefully.
Bloom watched still smiling, they were beautiful dancers and they never took their eyes away from the others. But a thought made a frown appear on her beautiful face. The girl seemed familiar to her even though the Queen had never seen her before. Shaking the thought away she returned her focus to her son and his mysterious partner.
The music was now louder and faster as they did some lifts and amazing moves. The melody started to slow and so did they. Finally it stopped but neither let go but the loud applause woke them from their reverie and their arms whipped to their sides. The whole hall seemed to be looking at them and Gwen blushed and she almost laughed when she saw Leo blushing somewhat as well. The crowd parted to reveal the woman Gwen had seen before. She was clapping as well but she stood on the small platform where the throne lay and that's when Gwen figured it out. The red-haired woman was the Queen and Leo's mother. Leo took her hand and led her towards the Queen and the vampires returned to the festivities. They bowed politely but the Queen walked towards them. She was smiling and almost laughing.
"Leo I didn't know you could dance" she joked, Leo groaned for he knew that he was in for teasing later. So he decided to change the subject
"Mom this is Gwen". Gwen curtseyed and he saw his mother look into the younger girl's eyes and she seemed to be surprised. Gwen looked very uncomfortable under the vampire Queen's gaze. Bloom finally shook her head
"I'm sorry for my rudeness Gwen, it is lovely to meet you". Leo was still curious about the look his mom had given Gwen.
"Well go and enjoy yourselves" she ordered with a smile and shooed them away. Leo lead Gwen through the party and out into a courtyard. It was beautiful and deserted. She followed him as they went deeper into the garden till they came to a small area where a stone bench lay. But there was also a view over the cliff which was amazing she walked closer and looked into the sky she felt Leo come up behind her.
"Beautiful isn't it" he whispered she nodded but she was concentrating on the hand that now sat on her lower back. She had known him for a couple weeks and she had feelings for him, that dance just confirmed it. She was in love with a vampire!.
"Gwen…?" he asked as she turned to face him.
"Gwen we have to find a way to get you out of here that was a close call back then" he was dead serious. He hated to admit it but he was definitely jealous back then and he was oddly protective of her. He loved her eyes, her hair, her voice, he loved her! And he would not watch her be eaten by his comrades. She seemed hurt by this and looked away
"what if I wanted to stay" she said so softly that even his vampire hearing struggled to hear it. He was shocked, she wanted to stay!.
"Be rational Gwen you can't stay here!" he said a little to angrily. She was crying now as she strode away from throwing her mask to the floor.
"Gwen please I only want you to go because….." he couldn't bring himself to say it. Just then it started to rain lightly, she swung back to face him her red eyes bored right through him and their were tears falling and mixing with the rain. "Because what? What Leo?" she shouted her face looked hurt. He opened his mouth then shut it then rain started to get harder
"I …I …" he was stuttering he couldn't believe it. She shook her head and turned around and she was walking away from him. This was it he had to say those words
"I love you!" She stopped in her tracks and slowly turned to face him.
"I love you" he repeatable getting comfortable with them now. He saw a gleam in her eye which he saw up close as she ran and threw herself on him, her lips connecting with his own. The stayed like that for awhile before he broke for air. The rain was pounding down now but still she smiled.
"I love you to" she whispered. He beamed and claimed her lips once again.
The two arrived back in the hall soaking wet and laughing. The hall was quieter now than it had been but none were tired. A servant brought them towel which they wiped their faces with. He took her hand and led her through the crowd. But just then a death dealer smoked in right next to his mother. He knelt and spoke in rushed tones
"Solaria has fallen my lady and the survivors now flee to Erayklion in their ships but they will soon be over run by Baltors fleet". Everyone went silent, Solaria was taken!. What about her family and Jaydon and the sweet little Sonja. Leo realized her distress and brought her close. The queen seemed to be debating in some sort of inner turmoil. Malik went to her side
"what are your orders your majesty?" he asked. His mother closed her eyes and sighed
"prepare 6 regiments of the army, I will lead them myself". The hall burst into action, many smoked out while others chose to walk.
"Gwen this is the perfect way to get you out" Leo whispered taking her hand. As much as she wanted to stay her family and people needed her but she dreaded to leave her new found love
"I know and I must" she had tears in her eyes as Leo embraced her and they smoked out.
Soon they returned both wearing Death Dealer garb but Gwen wore a black mask that hid her nose and mouth. She was armed with bow and arrow while Leo with guns and magic. They joined the two hundred odd vampires who waited for the Queen. It wasn't long before She appeared with her three councilors by her side. Malik spotted them and nodded, "to war!" Bloom shouted before entering the vortex. The others cried out and followed her. Leo grabbed her hand and did not let go as they stepped in.
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Authors note: there u go now we know what Leo's been up to, I don't know how long it will be before I update next but it will be after I update Spark of Life. Sorry!