Frailty: The Darkshine (18 page)

The bitch sashayed in the room, her white dress making her seem pure when she was anything but. He took a large drink from the whiskey bottle, relishing the sweet burn that followed the smooth liquid. He could see all eyes on her, everyone knowing she was the queen’s favorite. Iena watched him the whole time, a secretive smile across her lips, a devilish gleam in her eyes. None of the four females wore masks, their appearance not to be hidden in a mating selection ball. She stood before him and curtsied.

“My lord.” She said those two words with such an air of certainty. She took her place next to the other females, waiting her turn as they each would show him their skill.

Helina stood in
front of the mirror and stared at her reflection. She had been surprised to find the satin red evening gown in the package Ryce had brought over. Now she stood looking at herself, the transformation seeming significant. Her stomach felt funny, a little bit of nausea, a little bit of butterflies. The strapless gown was a deep red, an empire waist design that made her bust look larger than it really was. The skirt was bunched in places, tiny diamonds dotting the fabric and making it look elegant.

She had piled her hair up, a request from Ryce so that her neck was free of anything. He told her it was the most attractive part on a female for a DarkShine male, and an act of submissiveness which wouldn’t go unnoticed. At the bottom of the box had been a small black satin mask, red feather and diamonds to accent it. Slipping on her heels, she made her way toward the door. She took a deep breath and pulled the front door open. Ryce stood on the other side with a tux on. He stared at her and she couldn’t decipher what emotions were crossing his features.

“I’m sorry. It’s just your hair and eyes look so much like… her.” He cleared his throat and glanced at the ground. “Are you ready?”

She swallowed roughly. “Yes.” She followed him off the porch.

“Don’t forget your mask.”

He said the words without looking back at her and she quickly closed the door and followed him. He already had the door open to a sleek black Porsche. She glanced at the car and then looked at him, her heart pounding in anticipation of what was to come. She slipped inside and he door shut almost silently.

“Ready?”

Putting on her seatbelt, she nodded just as the car purred to life and Ryce drove them toward a ball full of vampires.

Gaijryc watched as
Shoshanna stood in the middle of the ballroom, her gown gone, a black leotard and pink transparent skirt now covering her. Her hair was in a tight bun at the nape of her neck, her body still, her head down. The light music started to play and he watched as she danced around the room, the movements fluid and even.

He watched with disinterest, not caring at how unaffected he might appear. His eyes strayed to Iena, her attention completely on him, her smile one of self satisfaction. He looked away, scanning the room and seeing all the awestruck faces as they watched the ballerina. His gaze landed on the servants, their bodies pressed against the walls, their silver trays still in their hands. Lucie stood amongst them, her body much smaller than the rest. Her strawberry blond hair was pinned back, her appearance so childlike. She looked at him and her face lit up, her smile almost blinding in its intensity. He smiled back and let his eyes stray back to Shoshanna.

Ezabell was next, her attire staying the same as when she entered. She stood in the center of the room, watching him the whole time as she sang along with an old opera piece. Her voice was crystal clear, no mistakes, only perfection.

Pressiya followed Ezabell, her talent the violin, her song of choice a fast classical piece. She played beautifully, but it fell on deaf ears. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, taking another long drink from the now half empty bottle. He heard a small noise and looked at his mother, who was staring daggers at him. She looked squarely at the half empty bottle before looking at him again, one of her perfectly plucked eyebrows rising in disapproval. He looked her squarely in the eye and brought the bottle to his lips, taking another long drink, his eyes never leaving hers. He could see her manicured nails digging into the wood of her throne, her knuckles turning white with anger. He smiled at her before gesturing toward Pressiya with his bottle. His brothers chuckled besides him, but he paid no attention to them, just let the alcohol wash through his veins, numbing the pain he felt.

“And for our last presentation, may I present Iena.”

He watched as the bitch took the floor, her dress gone and a skin-tight white leotard taking its place. The music started and Iena moved with the notes, displaying how flexible she was. Every move showcased her flexible limbs. He finished off the Crown as he watched her show him all she had to offer. He signaled for the servant, a small thin-haired male with beady brown eyes. He gave him the empty bottle and asked for another.

He could already feel the warm burn of the liquor running through his veins and relished the feeling. His body was starting to go numb, his mind feeling hazy. He grabbed the full bottle of liquor from the servant and kept his eyes forward. He opened it and took a healthy drink. He had every intention of becoming fully intoxicated, totally drunk by the time the night was over with. Iena finished her seductive dance, not even her breathing labored as she took her place with the other three females.

“If everyone will please enjoy the rest of the evening, the high ranking prince will take time to narrow his choice.”

He looked at the four women who now moved around the ball, talking and laughing with all the other guests. What was the point of postponing the inevitable, why hold off who he was going to choose when the choice was already decided? He sat there, like the proper prince he was supposed to be, and watched his minions below. He would savor the liquor in his hand, finish it before he would announce that he had chosen his future mate.

The car slowed
to a crawl as it approached a huge iron gate. Helina shifted in her seat as she looked at the ominous metal. A stone wall stood on either side of the thick gate, the stones towering at least twenty feet in height. Ryce punched in a code on the little console, which caused the gates to silently open. Her eyes grew big as the massive mansion was revealed, the whole structure bright with lights. They drove up a cobblestone driveway, immaculate landscaping all around them, hundreds of tiny lights strung up on the branches.

When they finally reached the mansion, they circled a large fountain in the center of the driveway. Helina stared at the fountain, the beautiful stone woman holding what looked like an apple in her hands. Her face was raised to the heavens with an almost sad expression painting her features. Water swirled around her, little jets puffing the water up so that it skimmed her long legs.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

She glanced at Ryce, a little shocked that one such as him, so frighteningly big and powerful, could appreciate a fine piece of art. Nodding, she turned back to the statue.

“The woman is Persephone, daughter of Demeter. She’s holding a pomegranate—her very downfall.” There was an air of wistfulness in his tone that caught her attention. “It’s a fitting statue, though.”

“How do you mean?” Helina looked between him and the statue.

“Well, she is forced to live in hell, with the devil himself. She looks into the heavens, the surface, where everything she knows is.” He looked at her. “It’s just kind of funny that vampires would have a statue in their front yard so dark and tragic. Wouldn’t you say you are kind of in a hell itself, vampires taking over everything you know, everything you loved?”

She watched him, stunned speechless as he spoke of such… disturbing yet truthful things. “I guess you’re right, although I find the story of Hades and Persephone kind of romantic.” He raised an eyebrow at her and she couldn’t help but smile. “What I mean is, when I hear that story I picture Persephone falling madly in love with Hades. I don’t see it as a nightmare as much as I see it as two people from different places finding love with each other. I want to believe that Persephone grew to love Hades, and she stayed with him because of that love. I think it is too sad a story to say she was forced to stay with him for half the year because she ate six pomegranate seeds.”

They were both silent for several heartbeats. “I like your version a lot better.”

She smiled at him and watched as he got out of the car. He struck her as a sad soul that was trying to be strong. Even though he seemed indestructible, Helina knew deep down he must truly be hurting over his loss. Her door opened and she let him help her out of the car. She and Ryce stood at the entrance of the grand mansion, her mouth hanging open in awe at the incredible dwelling.

“Put the mask on, Helina.”

She did as he asked and watched as he did the same. It felt heavy and odd, a weight that she wasn’t used to. She glanced over at Ryce, who held his arm out for her to take.

“Don’t worry, they will think you’re my pet. No one will question a human being at the ball.”

Nodding, she slipped her arm through his, her heart pounding so hard, her mouth dry with nervousness. Ryce reached up and slammed the knocker against the wood, the noise deafening. Time seemed to slow. She stared at the gargoyle head knocker, its fierce face frightening and realistic. The door opened inward, a small woman with a mop of strawberry blond hair standing on the other side. She wore a long white dress and held a silver tray. She smiled at Ryce, her straight white teeth showcasing two small fangs replacing her canines. She looked at Helina, her smile faltering as her head tilted to the side. Her eyes roamed over her body and Helina instantly felt on edge. The pixy woman inhaled before turning toward Ryce again.

“Welcome, Lord Ryce, and welcome, human pet. Please enter.”

“Thank you, Lucie.”

They stepped inside and followed Lucie into the grand foyer. The servant walked away, her small figure disappearing into the sea of bodies in the next room. “Ryce?” Helina said his name softly, not daring for anyone to overhear her.

“Yes?”

“Gaijryc said I smelled like him…because he bit me. If that’s the case, then why would she think I was yours?”

“Gaijryc’s scent is only on you for so long. He hasn’t seen you for a full day so his scent is already weakened, if not completely gone from your body. Unless a DarkShine is really looking, they won’t be able to detect it. You are also wearing a dress that has my scent all over it so it’s only natural for them to assume you are mine.”

“Oh.”

“Relax. If you seem frightened they will sense it. A pet has nothing to fear, so they will know something is wrong.”

Nodding, she willed herself to calm down.

“My lord?”

They both turned toward the small voice behind them. The servant, Lucie, stood with two glasses in her hands. One held what appeared to be champagne, yellowish bubbly, the other holding a reddish tint to it. She gave the red one to Ryce and the other to her. Helina took a sip from her flute and glanced at Ryce’s glass.

“It called
Bluesha
. It is a combination of blood and champagne.”