The Sacred Seven

Chapter 12 - The Sacred Seven

.Trigger Warning.

Lillith stepped into the room, inhaling a sharp breath. She squeezed Tom's arm as if her life depended on it, holding onto him for support.

She felt naked.

Unprotected.

Until this moment, her face was hidden under the mask during every public occasion, shielding her identity from the curious sight of the royals. It was meant for her protection, but ironically, it caused her more harm than imaginable in the past few weeks.

The witch shuddered at the sight of the ball room. It was filled with dozens of royals, almost three hundred people dressed in magnificent robes, fitted into a single chamber. Although it was a spacious one, incredibly decorated in gold and white, Lillith found it hard to breathe.

She unconsciously dug her nails into Tom's flesh and he did not even battle an eyelid at the fact, letting her hurt him as much as she desired.

After all, he felt like he owed it to her.

Also, he did not mind the pain at all.

"Remember," he whispered, leaning to her whilst keeping his eyes trained straight ahead. "They are here to serve you. To please you. Not the other way around."

Lillith looked up at him, absorbing his words. Strangely, they encouraged her, comforted her in a way and she inhaled a deep breath, composing her nerves. It was the first and last time for her to be introduced to the coven and Lillith was ready to put up a show.

A memorable one.

It was the least she could do.

Show them the Queen they wished to see.

They strode deeper into the crowd, observing the guests and the longer Lillith examined the area, the sooner she realized, that she wasn't recognized at all. Nobody noticed when she walked in. People continued to chat amongst each other, completely oblivious to the pair of wizards. Tom Riddle was recognized by several, yet it was obvious, that he did not have such influence as his uncle or cousins.

Baltazar was surrounded by many, zoning out into space between the formal chatter and once his icy blue eyes landed on the witch, they flashed with a spark of interest or maybe...maybe it was excitement?

He subtly raised his champagne at the sight of the pair with a very slight bow of his head, fighting the sly smile spreading on his lips. Lillith didn't bother to spare him more than a glance before redirecting her attention elsewhere.

In general, she was completely ignored except for a few brief glances of the fellow students and a particular wizard who watched her like a hawk, who she did not notice.

Jan glared at her with every step she took, sipping the sparkling liquor. His ego was severely bruised, and he did not like any second of it. He was planning a revenge. One, that could destroy him, or her.

Tom took notice of the way his green eyes followed her steps, and he didn't like it at all.

No.

He hated it.

He made a mental note to take care of it later as the doors closed shut and everyone fell silent, anticipation rising in the room like the temperature on the south coast during summer days.

Lady Turner appeared on the platform, accompanied by her husband and son, closing the door with a simple sway of her hands. Heads turned and all the hell doors were about to break loose.

Or close shut.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is our pleasure to host this year's celebration of our future Queen," she spoke in a pleasant voice, smooth as the velvet itself, one that Anthony inherited by birth. "As the tradition beholds, the princess is now present here, somewhere among us as the reminder of unity and equality of our unholy coven. You had a few chances to face her as an equal before her identity is revealed to the royalty."