Run, or become one with their blood.
My breath caught and I gagged, throat tightening. My vision swayed, the room spinning and settling. I clutched at my chest, my ribs feeling as though they were being crushed, constricting around my heart that wasn’t beating in any sort of pattern.
The rest of the family followed, and I could see the true extent of the vampire royalty. There were thirty of them, maybe more, all dressed in black or emerald, sash about their shoulders, partners clinging to their arms with downturned eyes. Kaspar followed directly behind his father, Charity clasping his arm.
A wave rolled across the crowd, as all bowed and curtsied. I did so too once the King reached our quarter, bowing my head low, hand still encased in Fabian’s. But my legs began to give way when I went to stand and something sinister, something that was not my own mind erupted inside my head, but booming and thundering.
Throw yourself down, mortal child. You are not worthy. Die before fate catches you. Die, child. Die before it is too late.
My eyelids drooped, my knees gave away, and I was falling to the ground, ready to give in.
Run from his sin!
My eyelids snapped open and I was being pulled up, a comforting hand in mine, a pair of blue eyes staring worriedly down at me.
‘Violet?’
I grabbed at my chest with my free hand, clawing away, desperate to release this darkness clutching me, to be free from its strangling hold. Kaspar passed by and his eyes snapped to meet mine. Unease momentarily crossed his face, before his head faced forwards once more. My head thumped. The family reached the dais, filing out into a line facing their subjects. The King carried on to his throne, veering around to face us all.
A clock deep within the halls of the mansion struck midnight. Twelve reverberating booms, each making my blood run to ice.
Time will not be infinite forever, Violet Lee. It’s running out.
‘Welcome, ladies and gentleman, to Autumnal Equinox.’
Run!
TWENTY-ONE
Violet
The King’s gaze locked onto mine and a flicker of doubt creased his face, before he returned to his pensive glare, staring down at his subjects as though they were pawns to be moved on a chessboard. When satisfied, he sat down upon his throne, lazily waving his hand at the waiters, who disappeared to the sidelines.
‘Violet! Breathe!’
Stricken, I realized there was no oxygen in my lungs. Panic rose and my chest burnt, pleading for oxygen.
‘I can’t,’ I croaked.
‘You can,’ Fabian insisted, gripping my shoulders. ‘Just concentrate.’
I screwed my eyes shut, focusing on the rise and fall of my ribs. After a minute, the vice around my neck lifted and I took a shuddering breath. The darkness disappeared, coherent thought returning. My vision returned, the room taking on normal shades, untainted by my tunnelling vision. I stayed there, gasping for breath for a minute or so, before I recovered.
‘What the hell just happened?’ I gasped.
‘Don’t worry about it. It was nothing,’ he murmured back, avoiding meeting my eyes.
‘Bullshit!’
‘Keep your voice down,’ he hissed.
Bitterly, I lowered my voice. ‘Just tell me, Fabian! I have a right to know! And you quite clearly knew this was going to happen, so why did you invite me?’ I hissed back in an undertone, leaning in closer to him.
He sighed. ‘I invited you because I wanted your company and I wanted you to enjoy yourself. I didn’t tell you about this because I thought it might scare you off.’
‘And “this” is what?’ My tone was not as demanding this time. He wanted me to enjoy myself.
‘The King’s crown.’ He jerked his thumb towards the throne. ‘It contains cursed blood. If a human sees it, they are affected as you were. It was used back in the days when there were human sacrifices. Which is all just symbolic now,’ he added, seeing my face, which must have frozen at the thought of ‘human sacrifices’.
The voices and the dark might have subsided, but their message had not. That crown made me want to die. ‘Will it affect me again tonight?’
‘No. It only works once.’
By now, the crowd had parted to form a large circle, walled with people. The crown was gone, the King was striding towards the centre of the circle and the enchantment of the ball was fast returning as the candles burnt brighter.
The violins struck up once more, and in the time it takes to blink, the Varns, in all their crowning glory, were stood there, poised to dance. They bowed low, before taking hold.
‘Wait until I lead you onto the floor before you move,’ Fabian instructed in a low murmur.
The Varns began dancing; gliding around the floor as though they belonged to the music, their steps flawless, perfected by thousands of years of practice. I watched in awe as Kaspar and Charity became one, her surprisingly elegant dress flowing around his ankles as she swirled around, melting into his form. The only clue in the mauve material to her true nature was the long slit running up the side, stopping mid-thigh.
A smile almost cracked on my lips as Kaspar glided past us, looking bored. He had donned regal wear, the tight black military-style jacket fastened with an ornate silver belt. A few medals hung from his breast pocket, underneath an emerald handkerchief tucked inside it. Around him, he wore an emerald sash, much like Lyla’s; it was emblazoned with the Royal Crest, proving his purity of blood.
The music rose to a crescendo and I gasped; as one, the Varns wheeled around, completely changing direction. The choir sang, the whole room echoing with their hallowing notes. The candles flickered, again, softly lighting the dancing figures. Any fear or terror had long gone now, forgotten as the majestic scene took over.
A huge grin spread across my face. This is what every girl dreamt of, but would never live.
‘It’s time.’ The music lulled and Fabian matched my grin. I placed my hand on his arm and he escorted me out onto the dance floor. We weaved our way about other couples, as hundreds, if not thousands, of vampires assembled themselves, dodging the now still figures of the Varns. We somehow made it to the centre of the floor, and I looked about to see many familiar faces – Cain poised perfectly still with his young partner, Alex and an unfamiliar girl, Eaglen stood by an ageing lady.
‘Curtsey,’ Fabian mouthed at me and the room dipped as one.
We took hold, the music lulled and then rose …
And we were dancing, whirling, spinning, around the room, interlaced with the other couples, ball gowns whipping around, music rising. I closed my eyes, trying to remember every detail, the scene imprinted on my dark eyelids. My smile faltered, remembering something the King had said many weeks before.