The Crime in Callahan's Morrow - being rewritten

Chapter 19: Bulletproof

XIX.

"Watch your fucking surroundings, idiots!"

~Jackal Smorotori, former criminal investigator, inventor, and a vampire;

an order

They stood at the platform of sorts; a spiral staircase led down to the ballroom filled with people.

"Giuseppe Viola and his date."

And his what?

Adrian shot a glare in Giuseppe's direction. It was ignored while the bastard beamed at the servant announcing their arrival to the Ball. Short of making a spectacle of himself, Adrian could only fume in silence. Salvation came in form of imagining all the ways to make vampires suffer bodily harm.

Once deemed enough of showing off, Giuseppe led them in. They went down the steps to what Adrian could only describe as a very, very large ballroom, spreading in all directions. Filled with decorations and tables serving food and drinks, the room seemed huge even filled with a great number of people inside. The parquet was shiny and the silverware polished. Oh, gods. It was one of those parties. Well, what had he expected coming to a vampire Lord's Introduction Ball? Mold growing in the corner of the room, maybe? Was he an idiot?

While his scowl obviously deterred a few curious guests from approaching, it apparently wasn't enough because a man – no, a vampire – walked right up to them. It was like watching curtains open, people moved aside so this guy could pass. A bold choice wearing a gold shirt, though it did suit him well with that pale skin tone and dark hair. He looked like a Lord to the t.

"Ah, Kazimir! Long time no see," Giuseppe said, excitement radiating off of him like it wasn't a fucking faux pass to address the fucking Lord of the capital without a proper title. Adrian was sure Giuseppe had lost his mind.

"Giuseppe, it's always lovely to see you." A smooth baritone filled the room.

It wasn't the only thing to make Adrian's hackles rise; pale green eyes set deep on Kazimir's face seemed to catch the smallest details as he took them in. Danger warning tingling over the nape of his neck, Adrian almost took a step back, the only thing preventing him being Giuseppe's vice grip on his suit jacket.

"I see you're settling well enough," Giuseppe said which Kazimir acknowledged with a nod. They seemed to be on friendly terms. Adrian wasn't sure why he didn't like that.

"Yes, it's been going good," Kazimir replied. "Is Tina still giving you a hard time?"

Giuseppe chuckled. "I don't think you can imagine how much."

Adrian was sure the guy somehow managed to signal the servants without him noticing because in the next moment four servers appeared, each carrying a gold decorated silver tray. Glasses containing blood and wine were grouped together. Then another tray held whiskey and what must be cognac as far as Adrian could guess using his nose. Some cocktails, both with and without blood were also present, but what confused him the most was the tray with small deserts. Food.

Vampire Lords didn't always bother to be perfect hosts and most of the time didn't remember to cater food at parties they threw.

"Have some," Kazimir said and waved his hand in the general direction of the servers. It sounded too much like a command in Adrian's ears.

As he stood there, feet rooted to the floor, Giuseppe took a few steps forward. A silver bracelet on Giuseppe's hand reflected light when he picked up a glass of blood. The server with blood was farthest from Adrian's side so he decided to stay there and observe.