章 6: Unwanted
The air in the chamber thrummed, heavy with the cloying musk of spent desire and the rasping breaths of pain-turned-pleasure. Amidst the carnal tableau, Queen Eydis, a sculpture of pale flesh and moonlight, stilled. Her smile, usually a captivating weapon, had fractured, leaving a mask of porcelain etched with tension.
Melissa, her lips bruised and swollen, glistening with the Queen's essence, felt the shift. Her sapphire eyes, usually pools of playful seduction, flickered with confusion. "Your Majesty?" she purred, the husky desire in her voice laced with a hint of unease.
Eydis' gaze, cold golden flames in the dimness, remained fixed on some unseen point beyond the chamber walls. "A little songbird," she began, her voice a silken caress laced with venom, "has been singing a tune I'd rather not hear."
Melissa's smile faltered, the air thick with unspoken threats. "Well, Your Majesty," she purred, her voice strained, "allow me to drown it out in the symphony of our pleasure." She leaned in, tongue darting out like a serpent seeking its prey, the taste of her Queen a desperate offering on her lips.
Eydis arched into the touch, fingers digging into Melissa's scalp, a possessive brand that spoke more of ownership than affection. But her mind raced. This wasn't just pleasure she sought tonight, not entirely. The sudden, desperate interest in her pointed towards something more, something dangerous lurking in the shadows.
Yet, oblivion, even in this twisted embrace, was preferable to the endless ennui that gnawed at her. She closed her eyes, hoping this time, they would finish the "job," whatever it may be. For what was the point of eternal life if every moment tasted like ashes on the tongue?
As the first rays of dawn filtered through the stained glass windows, casting an ethereal glow on the bustling hallway, Callista felt the unwanted attention like a swarm of gnats. She was sure she'd masked her scent, yet vampire eyes seemed to pierce through her invisibility.
"Hey, Astra, mind if I—"
"Not interested," Callista snapped, turning sharply and colliding with a slender figure surprisingly strong for its build.
Athena, her golden eyes glinting with amusement, leaned in, her voice a silken thread laced with amusement brushing against Callista's ear. "The infamous new student, Astra, isn't it?"
Callista met her gaze, the vampire's golden eyes holding hers captive. The alluring perfume she wore couldn't mask the metallic tang of blood clinging to her, a stark reminder of why Callista despised vampires – self-indulgent, egoistic creatures at the top of the food chain. "You can let go now," she hissed, her voice low and dangerous.
One perfectly sculpted eyebrow arched in surprise at the hostility. Instead of pulling away, Athena's grip tightened around Callista's waist, her voice a playful challenge. "Your temper is interesting, human, to say the least."
Crimson eyes blazed with rage, a primal urge to materialise her blade warring with the need for control. Control, control, Callista chanted internally. She couldn't afford to dust another lead, no matter how much the vampire's blood stench made her nauseous.
Sensing Callista's distress, Athena pulled back, her hand hovering in the air. A playful smile curved her lips. "Don't worry, you're not my type."
"I'm worried for you," Callista growled, instantly regretting the outburst. What was it about this vampire that rubbed her so raw?
Athena's golden eyes narrowed, her frustration barely concealed. "Why act as if I've wronged you? This behaviour… is attracting unwanted attention."
A curious audience had blossomed around Callista, their amusement feeding the simmering tension. Before she could slink away, Athena dipped closer, her voice a husky murmur against Callista's ear. "This electric charge is intriguing," she breathed. "Perhaps we could continue this... in a more private setting?"
Callista's scowl deepened, heat creeping up her neck despite the icy glare she shot Athena. Spinning on her heel, her raven hair whipped around her like a storm cloud. Athena's smirk lingered, a predator savouring its prey.
Horny egoistic elites, indeed. But maybe that pay rise did need tripling.
Natalia materialised beside her, barely missing a beat. "You didn't!" Natalia practically tackled her, but the agile hunter sidestepped just in time, catching the fiery vampire before she toppled over.
"No clue what you're talking about," Callista replied coolly, heading towards class. Natalia, however, had no interest in taking that as a dismissal. She practically skipped alongside, settling into the seat beside her.
Natalia's eyes, wide as saucers, held a mix of awe and confusion. "You... argued with Her Highness? On your second day?"
Callista slammed a leather-bound book onto the table, the sound echoing in the hushed hallway. "She's... not quite what I expected."
Natalia practically vibrated with excitement. Gossip was her lifeblood. "What did you expect, then?"
"Serene, graceful, maybe not... handsy," Callista grumbled, unsure why she was sharing this with her nosy roommate. But speaking of nosy, Natalia reeked faintly of blood, and yet, it wasn't the usual repugnant scent. Had Athena indulged in fresh blood so early in the morning, instead of frozen ones? An unsettling thought flickered in Callista's mind.
"Wasn't that how she was?" Natalia countered, propping her chin on her hand. "Unreachable, almost... ethereal."
Callista's surprise mirrored Natalia's earlier one. "Aren't you, well, friends?"
Natalia shook her head. "Acquaintances at best. My family has... ties to the court. The Princess seemed kind, quiet, but... distant." Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, a glint in her eye hinting at noble bloodlines. The ostentatious pigeon-blood pendant around her neck confirmed it.
"Interesting," Callista murmured, turning her attention to the approaching botany lecture. But beneath the surface, another thought swirled: 'And not at all concerning to be the target of the aloof Princess's attention.'
A silent game of cat and mouse had begun. Who would crack first?
And who would ultimately meet their end?
**
Princess Athena's idea of a feast wasn't what Callista imagined. But in hindsight, it was exactly as she should have expected.
Crimson drapes cloaked the chamber, obscuring the opulent furnishings from view. The air thrummed with a low, rhythmic pulse - the heartbeat of something monstrous. Instead of a grotesque banquet of raw flesh, a decadent table awaited. Succulent roasts, glistening pastries, and jewel-toned fruits, each dish an artwork of culinary temptation. The only catch? The centerpiece.
Elite humans, scantily clad in laces and fishnets, their eyes wide with a desperate mixture of fear and perverse anticipation, they paraded before a gathering of figures cloaked in shadows.
Vampires.
The stench of blood hung heavy in the air, masking the aroma of the food and turning Callista's stomach. She stood frozen at the entrance, the delicious steak taunting her senses. Was it worth the grotesque spectacle unfolding before her?
What was she doing here? The question gnawed at her. Maybe stalking Athena outside the Academy and exposing her to the Watcher Council would be a more productive use of her time. This whole charade, this tolerance of a species she despised, left a bitter taste in her mouth.
But a traitorous gaze swept the crimson-lit chamber, landing on a figure impossible to ignore. Athena, golden eyes and blonde hair shimmering under the dim red lights, radiated power even sprawled languidly on a velvet couch. Her eyes, locked on a silver-haired werewolf, held an intensity that sent a shiver down Callista's spine. It wasn't just hunger she saw there; it was a predator's boredom, a flicker of something darker lurking beneath.
As the woman whispered something, her gaze flickered toward Callista, locking onto her crimson eyes. The air crackled with unspoken tension. Callista met the princess's stare head-on, refusing to cower. Surprise flickered in Athena's golden eyes, then a genuine smile bloomed on her lips.
Callista ignored the traitorous thump in her chest.
Athena, sensing her hesitation, played with fire. Crimson tongue darted out, licking her lips before pulling the man into a searing kiss. Yet, her eyes, now a shade of amber, never left Callista's face. As the kiss deepened, a raw, unfamiliar rage boiled within Callista. Fists clenched, she spun and fled the scene, leaving the predators and their willing prey to their depraved indulgence.
"Athena," Theo gasped, pulling away breathlessly. "That was…"
Athena ignored him, untangling herself with a knowing smirk. Yet, behind the mask, something flickered. The glacier-like intensity of those crimson eyes, especially when heated with a spark of allure, sent a jolt through her.
"Leaving," she muttered, disappearing before Theo's hurt look could fully register.
Maybe, the thought whispered, she should stop stringing him along. This dance of pleasure, supposedly mutual, was starting to feel like a game with stakes she couldn't afford to lose. Feelings were a weakness, one she couldn't allow herself to embrace.
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