Chapter Three:
I feel so unsure
As I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor
As the music dies, something in your eyes
Calls to mind a silver screen
And all its sad good-byes
Time can never mend
The careless whispers of a good friend
To the heart and mind
Ignorance is kind
There's no comfort in the truth
Pain is all you'll find
You make me want, you
But you don't know where this ends
Baby I wanna love you
But I can't take the suspense
Tonight the music seems so loud
I wish that we could lose this crowd
Maybe it's better this way
We'd hurt each other with the things we'd want to say
We could have been so good together
We could have lived this dance forever
But now, who's gonna dance with me?
Please stay
-George Michael, Careless Whisper
Walking through the hallways of the castles, she had to dodge her way through a maze of maids, who seemed to spout from nowhere. All celebratory balls were handled with utmost preparation and the royal sorcerer's ball was no different. The castle always boasted a sizable army of servants, but it seemed that even more were ordered, as she passed a sea of unfamiliar faces. Damn this heavy cloak, she thought, heaving it up as she apologised to yet another servant for being in the way.
As the entrance to the ballroom became visible, Sofia's breath caught in her throat. She stood gaping in awe as she noticed a substantial crowd of magical guests, deep in conversation. The entire room was bathed in the glow from twinkling fairy lights. An undertone of quiet pulsating music played beneath the excited chatter of its guests. Sofia blinked, drinking it all in.
It was hard to make out everyone's faces due to a thinly veiled smoke that was enveloping the room. No doubt the result of a smoke serum,they were often used to enhance the atmosphere at these types of events. Her height, however, gave her an advantage. She didn't know most of the people gathered, but from their decadent robes and enchanted hats she could guess these were the royal sorcerers and sorceresses. The guests were divided in groups, mingling amongst themselves, some waving their wands to show off their new spells. All the while, servants in their white aprons carried gold metal trays with towers of stacked champagne flutes. Their expert skill and careful footing allowed drinks to be served as they navigated through the smoke without even a wobble.
Easily distinguishable, further down the ballroom, the sparkle of the princes and princesses' regal suits and exquisite jewels caught Sofia's eye. Her pulse began to calm. She took a deep inhale of breath as spotted guests she could recognise. Searching the princesses, the familiar golden glow of blonde hair and its accompanying vain ball gown told her that Amber was already here.
Squinting, Sofia could see that she was engrossed in conversation with none other than Zandar. She recognised her fluttering lashes and pouting lips as Amber's tell-tale flirting. That would serve nicely for a distraction from the flutter of butterflies which were rising in her belly. Stepping further into the ballroom, she gazed wide-eyed, encompassing the spectacular depth of its atmosphere. Its transformation from a vast empty expanse to a memorising, festive celebration was like bringing a rigid statue to life.
If that wasn't enough, as she swerved away from a few distracted nobles she found her back to a table. She hurriedly found herself stabilising a large bucket of ice, its steamy vapors further adding to the smoky air. Smoothing her damp fingers along her dress she surveyed the long, banquet table. Every inch of it was covered in crystal coupes holding fizzing yellow drinks, frothing in their glasses. She had drunk enough champagne since her birthday to know that her alcohol tolerance was fairly low. Glancing away, she would have to ignore that temptation and focus on her aim.
To get a better view of the party's guest she retreated to hide behind a group of wizards who were rowdily laughing about a magical mishap. Drawing up her pocket mirror, she pretended to check her reflection while peering out from its edge. Looking up and down the ballroom, she frowned bewilderedly. She couldn't see him anywhere. He couldn't be late to his own party, could he?
Turning her head once more, she spotted the comforting presence of the King and Queen to the far right. Her mother was holding onto the King's arm as he engaged halfheartedly in conversation with another royal, likely discussing some grave duty or court approvals due for signing. Everyone had their own positions- the royals took up the front of the ballroom, engaging in quiet, formal discussions while the magic users were dispersed throughout, their large groups taking up most of the floor. It seemed like she was the only one out of place. Sofia was standing awkwardly alone. Her efforts to be inconspicuous were useless as her appearance was anything but. She needed to try to blend in.
Leaning forwards, she lowered her ear, listening to the wizard's conversation. "And then puff… his wife turned into a frog" she heard the most dressed up among them say. He started to puff deeply as he engaged in an almost uncomfortable laugh as the other men began to join in, waffling amongst themselves. "No comparison to what he did afterwards" another of the men croaked, hitting his foot on the ground to deafen his snickers. Sofia cringed, displeased as a red blush heated her cheeks at what they were suggesting. Discomforted, she began to quickly withdraw from the gossiping crowd.
She spied a couple of young duchesses she thought could use company and tottered in their direction. Eyes trailing downwards she sucked in a quick breath of air. Suddenly, she was forced to an abrupt halt. A pair of navy heeled shoes appeared in front of hers; someone was blocking her path.
"Going somewhere?" the man questioned, as she looked up to meet his eye while he placed a heavy palm on her shoulder. He was clearly a sorcerer, his dark green robes bringing out his emerald eyes and a roughly shaved beard covered his face.
His forward, unabashed tone had startled her. The room slowly tilted back to focus while the crowd around them swirled impatiently. Stepping back, his hand reluctantly eased from her shoulder, though his eyes were still eager for a response.
"I'm..umm.. I'm trying to find Cedric the Sensational.." she conjured, her sharp, unwavering voice masking any signs of nerves that lie within.
His thick lips turned into a subtle smile. His hands moved to his hips as he rocked backwards, his head level with hers.
"I haven't seen him." he said rather bluntly, staring at Sofia more intently.
At this she presumed or rather hoped the conversation was over. Sofia blinked away from his gaze, picking her skirts up to leave but he didn't seem to take notice, only stepping closer.
"Who are you?" he entreated, over-curiously. "I've never seen a sight as beautiful as you before" he continued, his fingers moving to play with the ties of his robe.
Breaking eye contact she flushed at his nonchalance. Despite her unease, she retreated to her accustomed formalities, bowing her head slightly. "Sascha the Sorceress" she cooed, calmly.
His intrigued response was almost immediate. "Hmmm…Sascha..I've heard that name before" he hummed, as if to convince himself of her existence.
Unsure how to respond, she pondered reciprocating the question. Sofia was certain she'd never seen such a man in Enchancia before. However, she had the uneasy feeling that the less she knew about him the better.
He continued to study her with an intent gaze as she bit her lip and held her hands edgily behind her back to distract herself from the silence that grew between them.
When he angled his head to look behind him, Sofia hoped he was going to leave and find another woman to bother. Instead he turned to face her once more, his voice coming out more of a snark. "I believe I've found who you were looking for".
Sofia swallowed, sensing the strong scent of alcohol which emanated from his lips. He looked over his shoulder once more and following his gaze, she found he was right. At the opposite corner of the room, a familiar tall figure of navy robes and cravat tie was leaning, absent-mindeldy against a marble pillar.
"Ugh.. yes" she let slip, eager to excuse herself from his presence. "I really must be going", she forced a tense smile as farewell. Lifting her gown eagerly, she turned on her heel, walking purposefully away from him. Upon passing the table of champagne a bold feeling washed over her as she picked up two flutes. She stole one last quick glance at her aim before advancing towards the front corner of the ball.
She was more than halfway across the ballroom when a shrill, high-pitched clink sliced through the air. Abruptly, she halted in her tracks. The sound had come from the front of the room, where the royal family were huddled. Her jaw clenched at the disruption, silently cursing the strict regime of the ball. With all its rigid timings, Sofia began to doubt she'd ever be able to introduce herself. It must be the signal to the start of the royal waltz.
Sure enough, Roland's clear voice hushed the guest's as he introduced the royal dance. On cue, the music changed from a gentle hum to a rhythmic waltz as the guests began to pair up, choosing their partner's for the first dance. She needed to move-fast- before she was caught up in the swirling of silk gowns.
Through the shifting bodies, she spied a marble column to reside to before weaving through the crowd that had gathered for the dance. Ducking below linked arms and sweeping gowns, she desperately clutched onto her champagne glasses, her knuckles turning white, in an attempt to prevent them from toppling. Heart racing, she narrowly escaped the crowd.
As she returned to her full height, her eyes laid on Cedric. He had an amused, mischievous smirk on his lips as Sofia gasped, realising he was gazing at her, obviously gaining enjoyment from her distress. She hadn't been able to catch his eye though, as he retreated into the shadows behind the pillar, avoiding any prying attention from the enthusiastic guests. Sofia's eyes narrowed, her own mouth twitching into a slow grin as a revengeful feeling burned in her stomach. He wasn't going to get away that easily.
Her fists began to clench around the glasses, pondering a method of rebellion. Even though he was laughing at a stranger's discomfort, she still felt he needed a suitable reprimanding. Taking this as an opportunity, a rush of adrenaline spiked through her blood as she downed both glasses of champagne, discarding the empty flutes on a passing servant's tray.
She edged forward, careful not to trip on her gown as she approached Cedric's view. Although angry, the sight of him up close made her heart flutter with longing. His glistening navy robes looked more spectacular on him than she'd imagined. As Sofia, she would have already been by his side the minute he arrived in the ballroom. She stumbled forward, no time to think through her entrance. She just caught Cedric's eyebrow raise, before dipping into low curtsy.
Sofia presented her hand, offering "Would you like this dance?" on a sultry purr. She knew how much he despised being the centre of attention, unless he was being praised or performing some magical feat in front of an amazed, applauding audience. He had always refused Sofia's relentless efforts to dance with him, often pulling his arm when she was younger to physically move him onto the dancefloor. However, his strength had given him an advantage so he'd always won those duels, to Sofia's pursed-lips and baby-like frowns. But this time he couldn't refuse her.
Her heart beat erratically out of her chest. She may have previously overestimated her tolerance for champagne, as her cheeks began to redden, puffing at what she hastily proposed.
His face began to switch from one of amused confusion to candid appreciation as his lips quipped into a smile. "Since you asked so nicely" he murmured, stepping forward to meet her gaze.
Standing upright, she realised she was tall enough to bury her head in his neck if she so wished. She could feel parts of him she could never reach before. Praying her face didn't reveal her emotion inside, she followed him, winding through twisting bodies to the centre of the ballroom where many couples were already entranced in dance.
Her breathing began to quicken, when he rolled one arm around her, resting firmly but gently on the small of her back, causing the skin beneath her corset to tingle. An unintelligent sound escaped her lips as she clasped her hands amid his gloved ones, his face never faltering from its subtle smile. Their bodies began to find a steady rhythm as their long-legged steps glided to the beat of the music.
"It's Sascha, isn't it?" he asked, cocking a brow, turning to face her, as he broke the trance Sofia was under.
It took her a moment to find her voice. Even when she did all that came out was a faint, hoarse sound. "Yes". She nodded slowly, turning to analyse his face as they continued to circle the ballroom.
Sofia never realised what an accomplished dancer Cedric was. His masculine energy and grace took a dominant lead while she followed to the best of her ability.
"Ow" he muttered, pausing to adjust his shoe with a slight grimace. Sofia blushed sharply, raising a hand to her mouth as her stomach plummeted. She had stepped on his toe!
"I'm so sorry" she gasped, mortified as her hands reached out helplessly to do god knows what as he fixed his shoe. A sad sting of embarrassment pricked her, aching at the loss of his tight embrace. Sofia's watery gaze looked nervously up to see a small tug of a smile returning to his face.
"Don't fret it" he drawled, clearly enjoying her flustered state as he held back a laugh. A reluctant wave of relief washed over Sofia as she stumbled out a burst of laughter, hoping to lighten the mood.
He thankfully resumed his strong hold around Sascha, interweaving their fingers once more.
"I'd much rather dance with you than some drunk sorceress," he admitted truthfully, still smiling as Sofia's heart began to expand. One of his brows arched in a playful disbelief. "Although I don't remember inviting you" he quipped, his smile being replaced by a mischievous smirk.
A bold look of challenge gleamed in his eyes and her throat felt dry with a response. She pondered over an excuse how Sofia could have invited her, but for what explanation she could not think of. Instead she decided to maintain a little mystery.
"You didn't" she purred, her thick accent almost like a whisper. Cedric's brown eyes warmed her cheeks as the music slowed as the song came to an end. People around them started to shift, but Sofia didn't want to let go. To her it was as if Cedric was the only other person in the room. Looking up at him for guidance, she felt a nudge to her left side as his hands began to loosen from hers. Alarmed, Sofia's eyes were forced to acknowledge a woman standing beside her, her lips pursed in an expectant line. Her eyes flickered between hers and the sorcerer's as it dawned on her that she was obviously waiting for her turn to dance with Cedric.
An angry blaze erupted in her chest as she tried to mask her jealousy as Cedric's arms eased from hers. Sofia caught his amber gaze for a second more before the music transitioned into a different, more jovial song and she was unknowingly whisked away into the colder embrace of another man.
They had already taken a few steps when a familiar tenseness reformed in her shoulders, as she gazed up at her new partner. His emerald eyes were wide with joy and his face pulled into a smug, crooked grin.
"Hello again" he rasped, his hairy arms moving to her waist. Repulsed, Sofia quickly fought to maintain as much distance as possible with him while an upbeat melody played behind them.
Desperately searching between the couples, her eyes met the blonde woman who had stolen Cedric from her. His arms were draped around one of her shoulders. From where she was standing, it seemed she was being tolerated in a loose hold, his eyes not even gazing in her direction. A comforting smile began to form on Sofia's lips as she saw he mirrored her own discomfort, his eyes cozily making contact with hers.
Suddenly she didn't care that she was in the grips of an older, clearly perverted man. Willingly she began to hold the green-robed sorcerer more closely, eliciting an excited noise from him as she forced their steps backwards, guiding them closer to where Cedric was dancing. A shiver danced within her skin as she whirled her partner around, causing her back to rub against the soft curve of Cedric's, her own body responding with a quiet groan.
As the song changed once more, slowing to a gentle rumba, Sofia took it as her chance to leave. Disentangling her arms from the sorcerer's sweaty grip, she retreated to the marble pillar. Surprised, she swiftly realised she'd lost him. He wasn't in his corner and scanning the ballroom, she noted he wasn't amongst the dancers.
Leaning against the pillar, for a second she wondered if he had left. Knowing Cedric, one dance had probably run down his social battery for the night. She sighed, recalling the delicate placement of his fingers on her back, losing herself again in the subtle way his fingertips skimmed across hers.
She let out an exasperated huff as a pair of silver bangs came into view round the marble. She tried to hurriedly collect herself, as a champagne glass was thrust under her nose. Her nose scrunched up as she caught a waft of the alcohol.
"I saw your face when dancing with that man", his expression laced with pleasure as he stole a brief chuckle. "I thought you might need this," Cedric offered his arm, his glinting eyes urging her to accept.
Their fingers lightly brushed as she took the glass, thanking him, sending a current dissipating through her arm. Two drinks had already led to her acting like a clumsy buffoon so a third one couldn't do much worse. A burst of bubbles swallowed down her throat, leaving a refreshing tang in its memory. He still hadn't explained why he was late so she thought she'd wager a hint out of him.
"I'd say you looked rather lost when you arrived" she prodded, interestedly. The irony wasn't lost on her as she had felt just as overwhelmed when she'd arrived, internally thanking him for not being there to see. She wasn't sure if it was a question or not, but his mood seemed to have faltered from their last conversation and Sofia wondered why.
He sipped his drink, cautiously, furrowing his brow as his fingers drummed on the glass. "I was looking for someone" he grumbled, stopping to gulp down the remainder of the glass. Sofia knew Cedric's mood swings too well but this exact matter seemed to be a sore point for him. One she didn't want to drop.
"Oh" she responded, no more than a despondent whisper. She didn't want Sascha to impede on personal matters but she found herself needing to know more. Cedric was always one to bottle his problems up, Sofia always being the one to ease them out of him.
"Did you find her… or him?" she stuttered, hoping to alleviate the slight pained expression on his face. He gulped, eyes trailing downwards as she crossed her legs, realising he was staring down at her gown.
"It seems she had better things to attend to" he mumbled, his eyes drooping further.
An intense sadness, edging on anger stirred in her stomach. How could someone miss their friend's birthday? she wondered. She had obviously mattered enough to him as the weight of his sorrow was evident from his clouded, lingering gaze as his heart seemed to pull him into a darker daze. Yet she held something a higher priority than his birthday. Sofia impulsively reached out her hand to cradle his own, as if they were a fragile gift. His textured skin felt surprisingly soft and warm beneath her young, silky ones as she coaxed him to wrap his fingers around her own. There was no jealousy as with the blonde woman, only sympathy and a deep care she always had when it came to Cedric. She knew all too well the emptiness of unreciprocated love.
"If there's anything I could do to help" she chimed, her nerves vibrating excitedly as his hand was still between hers. A delicious thrill raced down her belly. "Anything at all" she continued as she pictured all the intimate ways she could erase this woman from his mind.
Her cheeks shivered from her alluring thoughts. "You just have to ask..". The previous energy flowed back to Cedric as his eyes began to light up with a renewed intensity, drowning out the lights of the ballroom. His hand started to come back to life, sweeping his thumb slowly and deliberately over hers. It moved to begin smoothing out the edges of her nails. Startled at his new energy, Sofia bit her bottom lip, digging her teeth in its crevices. She felt an apprehensive twitch run through her body at what he would do with this rejuvenated desire. Glowing in the fact it could lead them anywhere.
Picking up her notion his voice came out more of a vibration, humming silently to himself. "Hmm.. I'm sure you could be of assistance". His words echoed in her groin. She would have previously given an arm and a leg to have Cedric flirt with her. And now here he was, doing it. She needed to pinch herself to remind herself this wasn't a dream. A very common, recurring dream at that.
"Okay…" she offered, an undercurrent of desire building in her voice. She took a deep breath, adjusting herself to this new reality. She could feel her toes curl as a playful, craving longing took over her body, unsure of its origin.
"You'd be surprised just how helpful I can be...". Wetting her lips with the tip of her tongue, she met his eyes, her own fluttering slowly. Pools of hot desire coursed through her veins, molten amongst her blood. His pupils darkened with a new found hunger as they met Sofia's own blue piercing stare. They began to ignite something dangerous inside her. Something she usually kept tightly locked away, bolted to the back of her mind, to prevent any innocent, platonic exchanges from becoming anything but.
Instinctively, she pressed onto her tiptoes, her rouge lips pouting as her neck tilted back, allowing him full access to her throat. His response was immediate, his hands gripping the pillar as he leaned over her face, dipping his mouth lower. Her eyes fluttered closed as she awaited his soft, electric lips melting into hers. When they didn't, her heart stopped. Her eyes shot open in horror to feel his warm breath hovering over hers. "Wha..". It was only a shriek which escaped her throat.
"Shhh" he hissed coaxingly, his hand coming up to trace her jaw, clamping it shut. His champagne mingled breath came to blow softly into her ear. For a moment, Sofia felt the sick sensation he was refusing her because he knew who she really was. She froze in his softening grip, as a jolt of electricity pulsed through her skin, racing towards her head. She suddenly felt very light-headed as her words began to slur into a jumble of incoherent muffles. She felt his firm hand come round to hold her face, preventing her from falling as she almost slipped down the marble. His next words smoothed that worry from her mind, replacing it with a bolder suggestion, which she potentially feared even more.
"Not here" his voice came out husky, thick with need. "My tower..". Sofia thoughts scattered as his fingers curled possessively around her hip. Slipping out of the ballroom, the guests remained immersed in incessant chatter, gulping down alcohol. They continued twirling around the dancefloor, oblivious to the party's loss of the man they were celebrating.