The Moon & its Shadows

Chapter 11 - The Dinner

We entered the hall to find that everyone had settled down around the vast table in the middle of the hall, all waiting to be served. Nick holds my hand and we walk down the table looking for spare seats.

"Found one!" I say excitedly.

He turns to look at me and smiles.

"What?" I say as he stares into my eyes. He chuckles.

"Do you know how cute you look like that?"

"Like what?" I say feeling my cheeks heating up.

"When you get excited." He says as bends down so close that our noses touch.

"Oh 'please' Nick, don't exaggerate!" I whisper and he backs away and pulls the chair out for me to sit.

Many waiters dressed in white with similar 'chef' hats as that man who had served me lemonade. One comes around us and serves us food in each plate. I find Melody arriving, walking near her side is Paul and they are holding hands. She notices me and drags Paul... they sit beside us.

"Hey Mel!" I say.

"What's up Everlie... you look happy... told you you'll enjoy it!"

"Yeh... yeh, whatever" I say.

We start to eat, music is played louder and half of the time we need to bend our heads to hear each other. We laugh and I refuse beer when it's proposed to me. I don't want to get drunk at this time of day. I gobble chicken caramel with rice and forget to chew on some spoons. Nick pats me on my back when I choke and this is when I realise that his plate... is empty!

"What?!" I say shocked.

"What's what?" he asks wiggling his eyes.

"Umm... maybe that empty white thing in front of you?"

"Oh...  soz but I don't eat."

"You don't eat?"

"Nope. I don't eat... why? You look startled for some reason. Oh... I guess you don't know right?"

"Don't know what! Nick?" I say narrowing my eyes.

"Never mind" he says with a yawn and he places both his legs on top of the table.

"Nick!!" shout many people around us irritated by his action. Nick doesn't seem bothered but instead places his arms around the back of his neck.

"Nick! Eat!" I say.

"I told you. I. Don't. Eat. I could. But I don't want to. Got it?"

"Just like I told you, I couldn't dance, you forced me to do it, so now I'm forcing you to eat 'this'". I say pointing to the large pot a few inches from us.

He looks at me like he hasn't understood anything I've just said, he smiles and before I can push away he pulls me into him, for a kiss. I push him straight away horrified.

"Nick!" I say me eyes wide open.

"That's what I needed. Not food" he says.

"That was gross! Eww!" I say wiping my lips.

"Oh come on... admit it... it was lovely, right?"

"Nick!" I shout find that most of the crowd has deserted, the tables are empty and the music has stopped playing. Melody and Paul have gone to join the others who have gathered around something.

"What's going on?" Nick asks lifting himself up.

"No idea" I say.

"Come on..." he drags me with him and we walk up to the crowd of people. "Wait here and DON'T MOVE!" orders Nick as he gets swallowed up in the crowd. His expression scared me and all I can do is... nod.

He doesn't have to say much for people to back away. All he does is shows his face and people are moving away. Why? What is so special about him? I wonder...

I decide to be of some use and crawl under several stretched out legs. My dress is a nuisance but I still make it to the other end where Nick is standing. Apart from a few kicks here and there, I'm fine.

"Hey! I told you not to move!" he says.

I stick my tongue out at him and grin. We both look to where all the commotion has been going on.

 I stare, my eyes locked onto what I was looking at. Laid down before us is a young warrior, his eyes open. His body seems rigid and in his chest is a blade that has been forced into his heart. Dead.

Everyone starts to scream, and many backout. Nick just stands there as frozen as I am. But his eyes are not fixed on the man, they are fixed on the pool of blood a few feet away from his shoes.

"Nick?"

He doesn't respond, doesn't blink, doesn't move an inch. I go to stand in front of him and he finally shakes out of it. He stumbles back a bit and holds his head as he kneels down. I bend down next to him.

"What's wrong? Are you alright?" I question, shaking his shoulders slightly

"Don't shake me!" He shouts and I move back as I stare into the face that had kissed me merely five minutes ago. His face is pale, like he's no longer there, his body and his eyes are.. Bloodshot.. Red.. I turn and look at the open window, the air whooshes in and I notice that it's already midnight. The nurses arrive along with the guards to take the dead warrior away. The cleaner arrives with a mop and is about to start cleaning the blood when Nick screams.

"No don't you dare! That's a waste of blood!" He spits out every word

I back away from him, scared of his outburst.

"What do you mean a waste of blood..? He's dead!" I say

"No!" He screams triggering the guards to come and take us away from the scene.

"No... Don't hurt him, he's fine... He's probably just shocked that's all." I say holding onto his shoulders while Nick stares into the distance.

"Mrs Danton, I don't think it will be very appropriate for you to see this. Please, the party's over, head back to your dormitory."

"But-" I start

"No buts. Be civilised and reasonable and just go."

I turn and walk out the hall doors, heading towards a set of stairs.

"What happened?" I ask myself as horrifying images of the young warrior floods my mind. He must have been enjoying the night, dancing with his girlfriend, as I remembered a girl collapsed on the floor, brokenly sobbing.

Who had caused all this commotion?

Why has Nick been acting so bizarre after seeing the blood?

What was wrong with him?

But the most pressing question was... Who was the murderer?