Chapter 17

Chapter 17
Lucien took my hands in his, staring into my eyes with such affection that if I'd not understood the dynamics of our relationship would have made me fall in love with him right then. I couldn't help it much. He was handsome, with his slicked back hair and his tight jawline, the fullness of his lips and his straight nose. I felt like I was going to melt before him, like butter in heat.

"We leave now," he said, and he closed his eyes, but I kept mine open.

Suddenly, we had left the sanctuary of my room, and we're now in a wide hall with tables and chairs and people moving about sporadically. We were on top of a dais that overlooked all the people, and once they noticed we were around, they stopped what they were doing, stared for a while, and erupted in whoops and cheers.

"Master Lucien!" They chanted with gusto. "May your days be prosperous; may your reign be long!"

They did this for a few more minutes, and my legs turned to jelly as I stop near Lucien, overlooking all those nobles, feeling unworthy to be amongst them. But Lucien was holding my hand firmly, as if to ensure that I maintained my stamina. He raised his other hand up and the crowd went deathly silent, so much that I could hear my own heart beating.

"Nobles," he said in a rich, loud voice. "Vampire royals of this land, I appreciate your warm welcome. Today, we feast, we make merry. And today, I'd love to introduce a new member of my consorts, the beautiful Amara!"

He raised my hand up and urged my forward. I stood in front of the nobles, mg eyes running over them, daunted by their sheer number. At first they stared at me, and I'm sure they could smell the humanity off of me. But one of then started to clap and the others followed suit, and in a few seconds, the noise was deafening. But I just stood silent, shy, overwhelmed by everything that was going on. I looked back at Lucien and he had a broad smile on his face, a look of approval. I went back to him.

"Well, this is it," he said to me. He held my hand and we got off the dais with steps that appeared as soon we climbed down and vanished as soon as we had climbed down. The hall was brightly lit and reeked of splendour. Chandeliers hung from the roof and the walls were decorated with drawings — most of them grotesque figures of war and gore that made me uncomfortable.

Lucien led me on. We walked between the tables of the nobles as they ate and drank, and he greeted every single one of them. Some of them looked at me curiously, one of them kissed me on the hand, glee on his face as he did this. But most of them just acted like I wasn't there, like I was insignificant, and even though I had expected something like this, it made me sad.

"He's fucking a human girl," I heard one of them say to another in a loud whisper. "But does he have to shove it in all our faces?"

I'm sure Lucien heard it, too, but he chose to ignore. After we had made the rounds and greeted the nobles, we returned to the dais and got seated. Immediately we did, I saw a maid hurrying over to where with a large tray in her hand. It was Yvette.

"Hi there," I said to her, all smiles. "Let me help you with that."

But as I stood up, Lucien pulled me back down and gave me a sharp look.

"If you do anything stupid, girl, I'll have you thrown out of this fucking court like the dirty slave that you want to remain as," he said, as Yvette dropped the tray of food and drinks on the table, pretending like she couldn't see me, pretending like she wasn't hearing all we were saying.

I looked at Lucien surprised.

"I ... just wanted to help," I said. "I didn't mean any harm."

"You're so fucking naive," he said. "You're amongst the nobles, dressed like one of us, and you think you should be talking to servants. If you want to return to your quarters with the rest of them, I could do that for you immediately. But while you're with me, act like one of my consorts. Okay?"

I nodded, a chill spreading through my chest.

The event went on. There was mostly drinking and more drinking, and some entertainment from a magician who I could sense was a human like me. The scene with Yvette had ruined my mood and appetite and I drank very little and was bored. I yawned, involuntarily.

"Maybe it's time to go to your room now, eh?" Lucien said, and he clapped his hands in the air. Bianca, whom I had not seen all day, came running towards me.

"Take her to her room," he ordered her, and Bianca held her hand out and led me out of the court. We walked into the hall and before long we were back to my room, and I felt like I could breathe again.

"That ... was a lot!" I said as I collapsed on the bed.

"I know," Bianca said. "But it wasn't that bad, I'm sure. Hold on, let me get you some water to drink."

She left the room and I remained stretched out on the bed. It suddenly occured to me that I had not seen Elias all day. He was a noble, too, but I did not see him at the courts. The door opened and I thought Bianca was back with my water.

"Bianca, have you by any chance seen Master Elias?" I asked, my eyes on the ceiling.

"So you miss me?" I heard a voice say, and when I stood up in shock and looked at who it was, it was him — Elias.