A Queen Among Blood: Chapter Sixty-One
A Queen Among Blood: Chapter Sixty-One
OSHMIN POV
I can’t believe I’ve spent five full hours trying to decide what to wear for dinner at the Kartheca tonight. Yildiz implied this wouldn’t be a casual event, since it’s not every day the Delegation gets to have a God over for dinner. You’d think my being a God would mean I’m not nervous about meeting a large number of beings who are technically inferior to me, but I assure you I’m nervous as hell. That’s ninety-nine judgemental sisters ready to summon the wrath of every wronged woman on planet earth if they deem me unworthy of their sister, and knowing Zarseti she’d just back them up. The stakes have never been higher at a meet-the-family dinner.
I’ve opted for a black button down – leaving a few buttons open – and black slacks along with black dress shoes and an off-white suit jacket. I’m also adding a black handkerchief into my jacket pocket just to pull the whole thing together. I think the look says, I’m comfortable but also taking the occasion seriously. Or at least I hope that’s what they take from it. There’s just one more thing I need and then I’ll be ready to meet Yildiz. After our little heart-to-heart, she returned to the Kartheca, so I’ll be meeting her there for dinner.
With a snap of my fingers, a long-stemmed golden orchid appears in my hand. Every flower and the stem itself looks as though it was dipped in gold and has the sweetest vanilla perfume. No dinner is complete without a floral gesture, and I couldn’t think of any flower on earth that does my firefly justice, so I created one. As pure and gold as the heavenly blood that flows through her veins and smelling of vanilla just like her. She also smells like orchids, hence why I decided it had to be an orchid. Yildiz had mentioned that she can see magic, so I’m hoping she can see this.
With a deep breath, I transport myself to Yildiz’s bedroom at the Kartheca and become frozen stiff. Standing before me is the most indescribable beauty I’ve ever seen. My mouth begins to salivate as I drink in the sight of her. Her sinfully curvaceous frame is clothed in a maroon strapless dress with sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. Two slits in the front of her dress reach up to the top of her delectable thighs and allow me to gawk at her toned and glittering mocha legs. Every sculpted aspect of her is accented and on display, and her killer ass is looking extra taught thanks to the 6-inch open-toe, gold, and glittering chrome platted platform high heels with twisted heels that she’s wearing. She puts every Goddess in the cosmos to shame, but that’s not all.
As I continue to soak up every single detail I’m stunned to see she’s changed her hair again. Gone is her luscious, thick, long, curly black hair. She’s cut her hair bringing it above her shoulders and styling it with bangs. The new hairdo opens up her face so much more, and the missing length exposes her beautiful glittering shoulders and tempting cleavage. She has a touch of makeup, and it all looks effortless and natural. She doesn’t need a stitch of makeup, but it defuses the glitter in her mocha skin and creates this otherworldly glow. So saying she looks utterly breathing taking is a gross understatement.
“You look beyond words,” I whisper reverently. She beams at me, and my heart skips a beat at the sight.
“I wanted to look special for tonight. My sisters helped with the makeup and hair, of course,” she admits.
“Remind me to send them a thank you note,” I say as I walk over and cup her cheek in my hand. Her face fits so perfectly in my palm, just proving it’s wear she belongs; loved and treasured in my grasp at all times. Yeah, definitely owe Zarseti several favours, and no price is too high. “You’re absolutely exquisite,” I tell her as I lean in and capture her lips with mine. She reaches out feeling for me and grips the lapels of my jacket, returning my kiss with a soft eagerness that has my ears tingling and feeling hot. As our lips part I gently brush my nose against hers and savour the contented smile on her face. She truly is perfect beyond imagination.
“You smell better every time you’re near,” she informs me.
“What do I smell like exactly? I know animais always smell uniquely attractive to their other half, I’m curious about what I smell like to you,” I enquire as I slide my arm around her waist.
“It’s indescribable, not something I can put into words that would perfectly do it justice, I suppose that’s because of what you are. When I smell you, it’s like I can taste the galaxy exploding on my tongue. Does that sound stupid?” she asks sheepishly.
I smile and shake my head, “Actually that makes all the sense in the world to me. I’ve always found the Gods to have unique scents that no human could ever perceive. I guess it’s the same for you, only it’s far more intense because of our bond.”
She nods. “Other scents like what?” she asks curiously.
“Well, take Morrtemis for example. To me she smells like stars and sunshine.”
Yildiz begins blinking rapidly, “You can smell the stars and the sun?” she deadpans.
“Of course, can’t you?” I tease. She narrows her eyes at me and goes to take a jab at my chest, but I quickly catch her hand, “No injuring yourself before dinner,” I warn, lifting her hand to my lips and kissing the back of it.
“Good suggestion. Shall we get going?”
“Wait, there’s something I want to give you.” I lift the orchid in front of her face, and I’m thrilled when I see her eyes widen in disbelief. She can see it!
“Oshmin… it’s…” she trails off as she reaches out, taking the orchid from me and breathing it in. She smiles and continues to stare at the flower in awe, examining it carefully.
“Would it be too much if I asked to read your mind?” I gently ask.
Her head snaps up in surprise, “No, but can I ask why?”
“I want to know what it looks like through your eyes.”
She smiles softly, “By all means, take a peek,” she says shifting her gaze back to the orchid. I peer into her mind and am stunned by the drastic change in scenery. The entire room is bathed in a black blanket, like being sucked into a black hole – happened to me once, don’t ask. However, I can see myself through her eyes. This blood-red glowing perfect outline of my figure, though hidden within the red are flecks of silver that move and shift as if coming in and out of focus, but what’s more amazing is the flower in her hands. It’s gorgeous! It looks exactly how it would if it was a flower from our realm. I can see it perfectly, every golden inch, but it’s radiant and pulsating with this azure-blue energy that makes it look ethereal.
I’m frozen in place as I continue to look through her eyes. Zarseti was right again, Yildiz sees more than I could have imagined. In the midst of darkness, she sees colours that aren’t of this world. Her view of the world is the perfect illustration of it. Light hidden within the dark. Just when I thought I couldn’t be in more awe of her, I’m once again proved wrong.
“Are you okay?” she gently asks.
I snap out of it and pull myself from her mind and smile down at this one-of-a-kind being, “Never better,” I reply as I hold my arm out for her.
She wraps her elbow around mine and escort me out of the door. This is a literal case of the blind leading the blind as Yildiz navigates our way through the Kartheca effortlessly, since I don't know my way around, before arriving at two gigantic doors. I can hear the voices inside that have now dropped to a whisper as we began to approach. Yildiz is right, people who can speak telepathically should just do so and save themselves the embarrassment.
Yildiz pushes open one of the doors and guides me into the vastest dining hall I’ve ever seen. Pristine white marbled floors, with square marble pillars lining either side of the lengthy room. The spaces between the pillars are open and blanketed by curtains of white chiffon that dance gently in the breeze from outside. The vaulted ceiling is intricately carved and depicts the origins of every single supernatural being that exists. There are carved statues of women powerfully posed at the top of each pillar and it takes me a moment to realise that each statue is a depiction of one of Zarseti’s daughters. It doesn’t take me long to find the likeness of Yildiz, though I can say confidently, it doesn’t do her justice.