His to Serve

Chapter Sixty-Four - a dance

As I twirled around with Bethany in the middle of the room, I finally felt complete. Giggling and enjoying time with my little sister meant more to me than anything, and I was over the moon that I could spend such precious time with her, something I never would have thought was possible.

As I stepped back to take a break handing her to Evelyn, I hobbled over to a chair and grabbed a drink, watching her dance. She was so happy, especially with Hyde, he made her happy, and it made me happy. Everyone was just happy, there was no other word for it, it was something new, and something I had never seen before, nor did I think I would see again.

The witches had joined us in our celebration, and they danced around with Bethany. They were scattered around the room, and I smiled. This was the first time in history witches had been inside the vampire castle, something that would have never happened without my work, something I was proud of. This changed things.

As I caught my breath I sipped my drink and Hyde sat down next to me, finishing his glass as he folded his arms, watching Bethany dance. I turned and smiled as him as I saw the love all over his face,

"Thank you for being there for her" I said as he looked at me and rubbed my arm gently, "I should be thanking you for protecting her for so long. I couldn't imagine life without her. She is everything to me, and you are everything to her, so for that I am eternally in your debt. I know it wasn't easy, and you were only a child too. But I am so proud of you and her, and I am glad you are strong enough to have survived it all" he said as I turned to him curious,

"Hyde, can I do something for a second?" I said as he looked at me concerned and slowly nodded, I looked around the room as I checked that everyone was distracted dancing before I let out a deep breath.

"Hold my wrist for me" I said as he quickly did what I asked, a confused expression on his face. However before he even touched it I could tell that I could trust him, I didn't even need to use power, a cool feeling rushed through my body, and I felt it in my gut.

I pulled back before the magic escaped as he looked at me, clearly wanting answers, "Hyde, you are like my big brother in here, and this just confirms I can trust you. There are things I haven't told you, things you don't know and you cannot know right now but I have information that threatens my own existence and that of everyone around us. The problem is, I do not know who I can trust with this knowledge." I said quietly as he nodded slowly his eyes darting around the room as I spoke,

"However, I swear to you I will protect Bethany until my dying breath. As will Brand and Damien, I have made them swear on their lives for it. She will not be on that battlefield whenever it happens, she will be safe, I promise" I said as he nodded and I grabbed his arm smiling at him as I noticed Brand looking over at us,

"I know she will, but I am worried for you Lillian too. All this worry and this burden, I don't think you understand how I have come to care for you as well, even though you annoy the hell out of me" he said trying to ruffle my hair, "Oh piss off" I said ducking out the way as we laughed and sat quietly watching Bethany laugh and dance in the middle of the room.

He stood up as he held my hand, "I trust you Lillian, whatever happens I am here for you. Since that first day we met and you shot me with an arrow, to right here and now, we are family. And you are my Queen, I will protect you and follow you, because I know you are good, fuck these prophecies, I know who you are, and I can't wait to see what you become" he said as he kissed my hand and walked away.

I smiled as he went, completely relieved I could trust him, that would have been an awkward conversation to have with Bethany. There would have been nothing worse than him being the traitor, I couldn't do that to Bethany. I looked around as I tried to find Brand, but as I searched I realised he wasn't in here, moved from where he was a moment before. I shrugged as I grabbed another drink and took a sip, another person stepping up next to me as I sighed, my body telling me exactly who it was.

"Another glass gorgeous? Seems you are on it tonight, better not throw up on that lovely dress, I was hoping you would wear it again" Damien said as I flicked my hair over my shoulder and poked my tongue out at him, the effects of the alcohol already taking effect, as I took another sip,

"You're not my dad, don't tell me what to do" I said as he shuddered, "That I am definitely not" he said disgusted as I giggled, the alcohol going straight to my head,

"Yep that would be weird" I said as we laughed lightly, "Come on, let's get some more drinks" he said holding out his hand as I smiled following him. Soon I was very drunk, and we were giggling like idiots sat next to each other at the table,

"Remember when I threw you off the roof, now that was funny" I said, as I laughed uncontrollably and Damien scowled at me,

"No, what's funnier than that is your face whenever I'm not wearing a shirt, you go as red as your magic" Damien said as he chuckled and I weakly shoved him, well he wasn't completely wrong.

"Now that's not my fault you all don't seem to own enough clothes, and I'm a woman with natural needs. And it doesn't help it's not a bad body to look at" I said sipping my drink as the room began to spin slightly and put the glass back on the table,

Damien puffed his chest smirking as I laughed out loud letting out a little snort, "Oh gods now I've given you an ego boost you didn't need. I take it back, never mind pretend I didn't say anything" I said as we laughed again,

Damien slid off the stool as he stumbled and made me laugh more as he narrowed his gaze at me and I pushed my hair behind my ear, grinning like a fool.

He composed himself as he stood up and held his hand out to me, "a dance m'lady" he mocked as I slid off the stool as well and curtsied deeply, "Oh how generous" I said as he linked his arm with mine, slightly holding me up as we walked, however he walked me away from the dance floor,

"Damien the dancing is that way" I said as he turned to me smiling, "not for us" he said as he pushed the back doors open and closed them behind us, leading me onto the balcony as I smiled and looked up at the sky, the stars twinkling above us,

It was beautiful, the view was clear, and the moon and stars were shining brightly against the dark sky. He turned me as he bowed again and I curtsied, we could faintly hear the music as we began to dance. Damien pulled me close to him as we twirled under the stars, neither one of us uttering a single word. As we danced I felt a tingling unravel throughout my body and I softly leant my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat which to my surprise was going unusually quick. We slowed down rocking softly to the music as he sighed and I looked up at him,

As I did I felt as if cold water had been dumped on me and I took a step backwards, however he didn't let go of my hands,

"Damien, we should stop," I said quietly as the reality of the situation dawned on me. He looked down at me as he smiled, however the smile didn't reach his eyes as he stared at me. "We should" he said as he didn't let me go his hand gently rubbing my lower back, and we continued to dance around,

I said nothing as I rested my head on his chest again and we continued. After a while I stepped back and looked at him, "Damien, I need to know something, and I have to tell you something" I said as he looked at me and nodded, however before I could respond the door swung open and Evelyn ran out outside,

"Fucking gods above Lillian, get your ass in here now. Are you trying to get Damien killed" she said as I turned to Damien grimacing before pulling my dress up and running after Evelyn, leaving him and the stars behind me.

As I ran in I saw Brand looking for me and I ran my hand through my hair and smiled, he saw me and smiled back walking over to me, "Where were you? Last I saw you were at the table with Damien, how much did you drink" he said checking me over as I groaned,

"Too much, I'm sorry I was just getting some air alone outside, that's where I've been. Evelyn just found me, definitely too much to drink for me" I said as she nodded quickly picking up on my lie, "I was with Damien looking for her, she kind of sneaked out when we weren't looking" she said as she signalled at Damien walking into the room and I let out a small sigh of relief that she quickly backed me up,

He nodded as I smiled and turned to Brand, "I'm okay now, just a little too much I think" I smiled as he kissed me on the lips, "at least your safe, just don't go off alone again" he said as he pulled me close,

Evelyn walked into the middle of the room tapping her glass as we all gathered to listen to her, "Hello everyone, I would like to just say something. Thank you first for coming to celebrate Bethany with us, even though you all live here anyway" she said as everyone chuckled, and I smiled. My face fell however as I saw Damien out of the corner of my eye throwing back another drink, standing alone.

"And thank you for such a wonderful evening. I would also like to say thank you to the witches for joining us for the up-and-coming war, none of us know what will happen, but thank you for siding with us, with you we have a chance of succeeding and I want to thank you for your cooperation and help as well as your newfound loyalty to our Queen" she said motioning to me as I bit my lip and smiled nodding my head,

"And so I would like to raise a toast, to old friends and new, and that we may all succeed in doing what is right for everyone" she said as she lifted her glass and all we lifted ours as we toasted, however my eyes didn't leave Damien as he slowly met my gaze,

I bit my lip as we stared at each other across the room, and I sighed deeply, seeing his eyes dart to Brand's arm around my waist. Evelyn finished the toast and I turned away from Damien to face her.

As I did I watched her mouth open in surprise and the glass fall from her grasp, her eyes unfocused and turned black. I watched as the glass hit the floor in slow motion, the crash echoing throughout the room. I gasped as I rushed forward, pushing through the people as I ran up to her, Brand and Damien right behind me,

"Evelyn, speak to me, what are you seeing?" I said as I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close, everyone else in the room gasping as I tried to cover her from their prying eyes.

She closed her eyes, reopening them they I saw they had returned to grey, and a small tear fell from one eye,

"What is it, what did you see, Evelyn talk to me" I said as she gripped my hand and readjusted herself, "they're coming. they've made their move, it starts tomorrow, we are out of time" she said as I felt my body go cold and I stepped backwards away from her with my hand over my mouth, unable to comprehend her words.

Tomorrow. My time was up.

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its the beginning of the end......