Capítulo 7: Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
I make my face flawless as I enter the crowded room. There is no sign of my anger, something I’ve been trained since birth to do. The first thing in my sight is a glass of alcohol. Maybe I can get myself so drunk, they’ll force me to leave. Embarrassing my family is the last of my concerns. If they think they can treat me like a child, then I’ll act like a child.
When I reach the bar across the room, I flash the bartender a smile. “May I have an Allurin please?”
There is a smirk in his face. “For a kiss.”
I hate mating season. An alluring smirk spreads on my lips. “I’ll give you a peck on the cheek.”
The bartender smiles, a small blush under his raven mask as his eyes drop to my breasts. I really can’t blame him. They’re pretty impressive. “Now that’s a bargain.”
He pours the red liquor into a thin glass. I take the flute glass as I lean in, kissing him on the cheek. “I’ll be back.” I promise him in a low, seductive voice. If they want to throw me into a room filled with horny men, then I can play this game. I’m nowhere near the only female here, but I plan to make it feel as if they wish I wasn’t even allowed in this room.
The second I turn around, I see Alier and Ileen walking down the stairs, with a limping Alek and concerned looking Silas. Maybe I stomped on Alek’s foot one too many times. Nah. Alier locks eyes with mine, stopping in the middle of the stairs. He clears his throat, eye contact never breaking. The glare I’m giving him could be lethal.
Alier claps his hands. “Welcome my friends, to the Solstice Masquerade Ball. It warms my heart to see so many of you that I know, and love, gathered into one room. I would also like to announce with great sadness that Prince Morgain will be unable to attend tonight. He is engaged in some other commitments tonight. But we shall arise above and greet another wonderful season that is before us. Many of you that are in attendance tonight are from across Diestra, joining us from all wakes of life. I would like to thank my fellow kings and queens in attendance.”
Everyone starts clapping as my body runs cold. I’m going to kill that man. Why am I so stupid? “Please, join me.” He says, motioning for them to come to the grand staircase. I watch as people begin walking up the stairs.
A couple in matching yellow walk up to join Alier on the right. They’re lovely and are hiding behind wolf masks. The man has his grey hair cut short, while his wife’s fire red hair is wild and untamed in a river of curls. King Lavar and Queen Isabow of Lusole, both lycans and insanely strong.
King Sarian and Queen Ellian are wearing backless dresses, allowing their wings to morph in a moment’s notice. Queen Ellian is in a pink dress that cuts off at midthigh, her ebony hair cut short in a delicate pixie cut designed to frame her face. King Sarian is in a black tux but is wearing a pink tie. His lilac hair is pulled into a tight bun, in attempt to tame his wild curls. They both dawn feathered masks. These two are King and Queen of Valrose. They take the left side of Queen Ileen.
A man and woman step to the right of King Lavar. The man is wearing a loose fitting silver tux and has his matching hair slicked back. His yellow eyes stand out against a simple white mask. This is King Charliean. His wife is wearing a black dress lined in silver with a slit well above her midthigh. Her onyx eyes just as eye catching as her husband. This is Queen Avanja of the Mori.
Last but not least, the King and Queen of Linru. The king that is in a pale blue tux holds his wife’s hand as he leads her up the stairs. His muscles are barely contained behind his jacket. His sandy hair is flowing freely, down to his shoulder with turquoise tips. That is King Murrow. His equally lovely companion is wearing a baby blue silk dress that is loose on her legs but cinches at her waist. Her ebony hair flows down to her waist in beautiful waves, ending in a flourish with turquoise tips. That is Queen Serina. They stand on the left of Queen Ellian.
Alier still has yet to take his eyes off of me. I just know he’s going to point me out personally. Just for my parents. Like my hair doesn’t give it away. “We also have the honor of having a Head Member of the Guardian Committee with us. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing this girl most of her life, and I can tell you her title is well earned. Please join me Senja.”
My cheeks burn as all eyes turn towards me, following Alier’s direction. I plaster the eased smile on my face and walk up to him, well aware I can’t kill him publicly. Maybe I can plead stress under duress in my murder trial. I walk up the stairs with eyes burning my neck. I stop in front of him as I turn around to face the crowd. Never in my life have I been more relieved to be disowned. In this case, he cannot announce my technical title.
“Isn’t she beautiful folks? The very spirit of her breathes life into a room.” Alier continues, slightly tense; afraid I’d hit him. He’s always had good instinct. “This festival is all about making new connections and coming together. To form bonds, create friends, and to make lasting memories. As tradition, I would like to present someone who has made many connections and grown them into everlasting friends. It is my honor to present Senja of the Head Member Team in the Guardian Committee.”
I hear clapping while I feel eyes burning holes in my skin. The strongest I feel are in the back of my head. “Senja is a very accomplished young lady and will keep you on your toes.” Translation: She’s difficult. “She’s strong and confident.” Translation: She’s stubborn and will not listen to reason. “And she’s able to make your insides quake with just a glance.” That one is more directed toward my hostile looks, but he’s guising it. “We’d love for you to introduce yourself to her.” Alier says, putting a hand on my shoulder to still me. “Please enjoy the party.”
I try to step away as the party resumes, but Alier keeps his hand on me. “Senja, we’d like to speak with you.”
“But the party,” I say, refusing to turn around.
“Senja,” Alier says, turning me around. “We need to discuss this.”
“Discuss what?” Ellian asks, giving me a curious look.
“About the murders in Lavar’s lands.” Alier says quickly.
“Did you find the cause?” Isabow asks, she’s automatically talking lower due to lycan’s and werewolves incredible hearing.
“A feral was luring the young girls and brought them to something vampire like.” I say, ignoring the eyes boring into my skin. “I say vampire like because everything screams vampire; except for his ridiculously long fangs that are exceptionally thick.”
“Vampires have fangs.” Ileen says, looking at me like I’m nuts.
“Double the size of Alier’s big?” I ask, making Alier grimace.
“That big?” Ileen asks, earning a sideways glance from Alier.
I nod. “He’s also fast. Faster than anything I’ve dealt with, outside of the water. That includes you Lavar.” I look to him as he slightly stiffens. “Anyway, he wrote me a little note that introduced himself as Greyson. Do any of you know anyone by that name?” I ask.
Every single one of them shake their heads. “Do you remember anything else?” Charliean asks.
“A dark scar on his chin, and jagged scar on his neck, well-muscled, pale, and tall.” I say as I try to picture him. “I did manage to stab him with one of my throwing blades before he got away, so hopefully that’ll slow him down for a bit.”
“Stab him? Did you physically touch him?” Ellian asks.
“Yep. However, the feral helped him get away. After I killed it, I tried to go after him. Eventually his trail vanished, so I sent Kia after him. She came back with a ward on her foot. It was a good one. Too bad he doesn’t know me since it was pointless.”
“Know you?” Serina asks.
“The ward asked that I put my blade in the middle to unlock it, in exchange it’d give the caster my name. Since my blade was forged by blood instead of assigned to my name, the ward turned to dust and died. Most people who know me know this. He didn’t.”
“Why would he want your name?” Ellian asks.
I shrug. “No idea. Maybe because I stabbed him?”
“Either way, he’s made a threat on our dear Senja,” Alier says, cutting off that response. He takes out the note I had given him earlier, handing it right to my mother.
“He said he’d take a bite out of me, not kill me.” I say as I roll my eyes.
“Supple?” Lavar says, reading it next. “It seems like you made an impression.”
“Taking away his midnight snack, then stabbing him, would probably do that.” I look at Lavar as he passes the note to his wife. “The girls I managed to save all had amnesia. I never did follow up with that last one though.”
“Amnesia?” Sarian says. “No bite can cause that.”
“What about a spell?” Avanja voices.
Charliean purses his lips as he thinks. “Most of the old memory spells have been destroyed, but I wouldn’t doubt their prior existence. It is possible someone has that information.”
I think about it. “Maybe I can get some answer from the Aullirian library. It is the oldest standing library. That might be our best bet.”
“If someone has threatened to harm you, it’d be best for someone else to go.” Serina says, trying to remain composed.
I wave her off. “It wasn’t a death threat, so it isn’t necessary. Besides, this is hardly the first time I’ve been threatened. If anything, this is the least threatening thing that’s been said to me.” I look to Alier. “I’ll leave tomorrow morning for the library.”
Alier’s face stiffens. “Senja, we need to speak with you regarding your duties.”
“Alier,” I warn. “My duties no longer apply to me, after my dear sweet family disowned me. So if you’ll excuse me, I have a party to return to, that I’m being forced to attend, before I retire for the night.”
“Senja,” Serina says as she reaches for me.
Sarian puts his hand on my shoulder to stop me. “Senja, please listen to your mother.”
I look over my shoulder, giving him an icy look. “Dad, if you want me to listen to you, then you should have listened to me. Trying to force me into your point of view by cutting me out of your lives, was the worst mistake you could have ever made. Now live with your consequences.” I pull my shoulder away as I walk away from them.
Lavar chuckles. “You screwed that one up, Sar.”
“Oh shut up Lars.” He barks as I walk out of earshot.
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