028: WHEN THE MUSIC STARTED

028: WHEN THE MUSIC STARTED
Cassian hates these high-class vampire powers; his disgust is almost evident on his face as he deeply frowns the moment he steps into the grand hall of the so-called party, where vampires are dressed in their best, with a glass of blood and pointy fangs that display when they smile.

He walks alongside Lord Alastor, who claims to hate parties like this but still chose to attend. Cassian wants to be invisible, but that’s impossible when he has his hand hooked around Alastor’s arm, and he’s dressed in the most revealing white suit that has a cut at the sides of his hips, showcasing his flesh as if he’s some kind of art or piece of meat, while the hand falls off his shoulders. For a human hiding among vampires, this is the worst outfit to wear, but Alastor insisted. It’s not his problem if Cassian gets exposed.

Cassian swallows the irritation rising in his throat and forces his spine straight while his eyes dance around the hall, eyeing every single vampire as if they had all offended him personally.

“Relax,” Alastor murmurs beside him, voice smooth and unbothered. “I can smell the disgust off you, petal, and it’s not doing you any favors.”

If looks could kill, Alastor would have dropped dead from Cassian’s cold gaze, but he doesn’t get to say anything because Alastor starts walking deeper in the hall, and every pair of eyes seems to trail him. Alastor gets offered a glass of blood from the servers, but when he looks at Cassian's face, he’s drowning in disgust and nausea that’s impossible to hide. A smile creeps to Alastor’s face as he waves the server off without taking a glass.

“You’re not drinking?” Cassian looks at Alastor, slightly caught off guard that a vampire would reject blood.

Alastor tilts his head lazily, his eyes glinting. “Would you prefer I did?”

Cassian doesn't prefer anything. He wants to say, but he doesn't answer. He looks away with a flushed cheek.

“Lord Alastor, you are finally here. I have been expecting you,” a vampire dressed elegantly approaches them. “Please, a word, Lord Alastor,” the vampire then looks at Cassian. “Excuse us, Master Cassian, I will steal your mate for a while,” he smiles at Cassian, revealing his pointy fangs. Cassian offers a small smile and nods before slowly unhooking his hand from Alastor’s arm.

Alastor looks at him with a smile. “I’ll be right back, petal. Don’t wander. Be good.”

It’s like he’s talking to a child to be obedient. Cassian stares at his handsome face for a moment before he nods. Without another word, Alastor leaves with the vampire, leaving Cassian standing there, suddenly feeling exposed and out of place.

He holds his hands to himself. It almost feels weird that Alastor is not beside him. He somehow misses the vampire’s cold touch. Even though Cassian hates Alastor and every other vampire, the vampire lord makes him feel safe in events like this, even though Cassian was forced to drink blood last time.

“Master Cassian, we meet again."

Cassian whips around at the voice to find Lord Vikar. The vampire has a smile on his face that causes a shiver to run down Cassian’s spine. He subconsciously takes a step back.

Lord Vikar notices. Of course, he does, as his smile stretches wider, slow and satisfied, as if he feeds on fear more than blood. “Now, now… is that how you greet an old acquaintance?”

Cassian straightens immediately, keeping his eyes cold. “I wasn’t aware we were acquainted,” he replies coolly. From the corner of his eyes, he can feel the eyes of people watching.

Vikar chuckles softly. “Still so sharp-tongued. You clean up well,” he says, gaze sliding down the exposed curve of Cassian’s hips. “White suits you. Makes you look…ravishing. Lord Alastor sure does enjoy showing off what belongs to him. Do you mind if I have this dance?” At those words, he holds his hand out, inviting Cassian to a dance.

The words grate against his pride. Where is Lord Alastor when Cassian needs him?

Cassian looks at the extended hand like it’s the path to his downfall. Around them, the murmur of watching vampires seems to grow thicker as they pretend to sip from their glasses and pretend not to stare. Cassian knows they are watching him.

Cassian’s first instinct is to refuse, but Alastor said he shouldn't wander. He should be good.

Vikar’s smile sharpens faintly. “Surely Lord Alastor does not keep you on such a tight leash that you cannot indulge in a single dance?”

Cassian pokes his inner cheek; he doesn’t like the challenge in Vikar’s voice; it’s mocking and heckling. Without another thought, Cassian takes the offered hand, and a smile breaks out across Vikar’s face before he leads Cassian to the dance.

The moment Vikar’s hand slides to his waist to pull him, Cassian regrets his decision instantly, and in that instant, he realizes every vampire has a scent to them. Alastor smells like cold smoke and iron, Oscar smells like the forest, Ollie and Elowen smell warm, but Vikar smells so sour. It hits Cassian’s senses hard, making nausea coil violently in his stomach. His fingers twitch in Vikar’s grasp, but he keeps his face blank and eyes cold.

“You look pale,” Vikar murmurs smoothly as they fall into the rhythm of the music. “Regretting your boldness already?”

Cassian’s lips twitch into a mocking smile. “You flatter yourself. You are trying to scare me; you should try harder.”

Vikar chuckles and spins him with effortless movement before holding him close again, fingers brushing against his skin. “That is amusing. I think you are the warmest thing in this entire hall.”

The words settle heavily, and Cassian’s pulse spikes, not knowing if he means those words literally, because Cassian is a human who is warmer than vampires.

“You can’t possibly be reacting to me, are you, MAster Cassian? I can’t have Lord Alastor on my neck for stealing his beloved mate,” Vikar continues with a cunning smile.

Cassian’s lips twitch faintly into a smile, but there is no warmth in it. “If I were reacting, you would know.”

The cunning smile on Vikar’s face lingers in a way that infuriates Cassian, and he proceeds to say. “Perhaps you are still upset about the incident with my guards mistaking you for a rebel. I’m once again offering my apologies. I made sure their heads were detached from their bodies.”

“That wasn’t necessary.”

Vikar immediately shakes his head. “It’s necessary. I could lose my own head; I’d rather get rid of them.” Suddenly, he pulls Cassian even closer, mashing their bodies together in a tight grasp, but Cassian can’t pull away, and then he moves to his ear, whispering. “There has to be a reason Alastor is still keeping you alive, and whatever it is, I'd love to have a bite of the cake.”

Cassian’s jaw tightens. He and Elyndra are just the same; it’s not shocking that they are related. “Then perhaps you should ask him instead of pawing at me.”

Vikar chuckles softly. “Oh, I intend to.”

At the words, the music in the background suddenly comes to an end, and instantly, Cassian pushes himself out of Vikar’s hands and bows as respectfully as he can. “Thank you for the dance, Lord Vikar."

He doesn’t wait for the vampire’s reply as he immediately turns to leave, but that's when a scream replaces the music.

“REBELS!”