𝕱𝖎𝖗𝖊 𝕸𝖊𝖊𝖙𝖘 𝕲𝖆𝖘𝖔𝖑𝖎𝖓𝖊

Chapter Thirty Seven{Davinia} 🌹

The melodious, classical waltz music welcomes us into the large spherical shaped hall aligned with rows of crystal chandeliers shimmering on the marble flooring. I look up to gaze at Ronan who grins back at me. He leads me forward into the hall occupied with people dressed in fancy dresses and tuxes with different beautiful masks.

Long tables with chairs situated at each opposite sides of the hall with different blue silver candle bars displayed on it. There is enough space in the middle for people to mingle and showcase their dresses. Chatters and clinging of wine glasses fill the air as ladies and gentlemen talk in groups while some are seated on the sofas beside the drapes, clinging wine glasses with each other.

"I would like you to meet my parents." Ronan mentions and I nod slowly. We walk in sync with one another over to a couple with matching silver masks. The man, dressed in navy blue tux and black pants whispers something to the ear of the woman, dressed in silver no back gown. She chuckles heartily at whatever the man whispered to her but their lovely moment gets interrupted by us. Ronan, specifically. He clears his throat to make them notice our presence. They turn over to our direction.

A loud gasp is the first thing I hear before I get pull in for a hug with the woman. It is a surprise cause I didn't expect it but I return the warmth either way. She pats my back softly as she takes in a huge sniff of me. "I've been dying to meet you Davi. Ronan spoke so little of you but the little he said made us very curious to meet you" She gushes after she pulls away from me. I glance at Ronan who looks aloof as usual. He doesn't seem to be surprise at his mother's antics. I remind myself to smile back at the woman, Mrs Dimitri. Surprisingly, she does kind of look like Ronan and in the same sense, she doesn't.

"It's a pleasure meeting you, Mr and Mrs Dimitri."  I say automatically like a robot placed on loop. Mr Dimitri takes two glasses of wine or alcohol, I'm not sure which from the passing waiter. He hands one over to me and gives the other to his wife. I bow my head in appreciation then I give the wine to Ronan who gulps it all in one go before returning to the same passing waiter. The Dimitri couple in front of me look at me with confusion in their eyes. I smile again.

"Very lightweight." I mention and they both let out series of "Ouuus" and "aahhs". Mrs Dimitri has a weird look in her eyes as she stares at me. It isn't pity but it is one of the looks I don't like to get from people. The "I know you're going through a lot" look. Like they can already see through my false bravado that I'm truly broken inside. She holds my right hand in her warm hands. "Your hands are cold, you are cold" She states, her eyes glare icily at Ronan beside me and immediately afterwards his suit is wrapped around my shoulders. I mutter a thank you.

Finally, they release us and go to greet other people. We continue our walk over to the arranged chairs and tables. The lighting of the hall is low but the candle bulbs and festoon lights glowed brighter, illuminating across the navy and gold walls and wine drapes. We didn't get to reach our seats when a man with a white half face mask blocks our path with a beaming smile. Ronan recognizes him and shakes hands with him. Me on the other nods subtlety at him.

"Mrs luchesse, pleasure to meet your acquaintance." he slurs as he bows to me. I stifle a smile.

"Pleasures mine." I return passively. He lips breaks into a wide grin, his eyes dart from me to Ronan.

"I hope he's treating you right?"

"He says the right words"

"As smooth as a board, right?"

"Right."

He chuckles loudly and slaps Ronan by the shoulder before leaving our sight. "Pay him no mind. He works as an Intel receiver but he is mostly high on whatever increases the dopamine in his brain"

" Understood"

I spot Federico with another man. He looks sicker and paler and angry? The man beside him seems younger than him, it's hard to tell who he is because his face is fully covered with a white mask. Federico continues to argue with the man but occasionally he has to cover his mouth so he can cough into it. Its pretty serious, the coughing continues for a while, his body is haunched in a bent position as he continues to cough dramatically to his handkerchief. The man in front of him makes no move to help or assist, while everyone is throwing worried and curious glances at Rico. This is interesting.

"Here," Ronan hands me a glass of water. He smiles at me but his eyes hold a mischievous glint. I raise my left brow at him. "Go help the poor man. I'm sure you'd like to know who the young gentleman beside him is" he nudges the tip of the glass at me and I receive it with a mischievous smile of my own.

"It's the least I can do." I mutter before I leave his side and strut over to the Rico who is still heavily coughing into his handkerchief. "My, my, Rico. You sure don't know how to take a break, do you?" the man nods at me in greeting and I do the same. My right hand squeezes Rico's shoulder gently. "Take this" I bring the cup down to him and he collects it with his shaky hands. It takes effort for him to pause his coughing and drink the water but he manages to finish it all in a go. He returns the glass and I place it on the tray of a passing waiter.

"Thanks, Davinia." He croaks as he stands back up and cleans the edges of his mouth with his handkerchief. "I see you are here with Mr Dimitri."

I look up at the stranger man then back at Rico. "Yes. Someone I know?" I ask him directly, watching his expression for any reaction that can give an helpful and Fortunately for me he smiles nervously as he waves his right hand dismissively.

"No no no. He's just a friend of a friend. Not of any importance," He croaked. The masked man tilts his wine at my direction before he leaves and mingles with the rest of the crowd. Now back to Federico.

"How deep?" I ask. My eyes wander across the room in search of Ronan while I wait for Rico to finally process and answer my question.

"How deep is what?" He returns. I fight the urge to roll my eyes.

"How deep is the hole you've dug for yourself?" my eyes lazily drop down to him. His eyes dart around in their saggy wrinkled sockets. He is avoiding my gaze. How amusing.
"Rico," I drawl with fake amusement. His collar is soaked with sweat, his hand holding his cane shake uncontrollably. The more I stare at his miserable self, the more I realize that the fool won't talk unless I push further so I push.

"What did the doctors say, Rico?" I watch his shoulders sag in relief.

"They say it comes from unknown source. They have no cure for it." He croaks before falling into another cough fit.

"Is that so?" I muse.

He looks back up at me and I watch how his eyes slowly widen in realization, his shaky hand drops his handkerchief. He points his index finger at me, "Y-you." I smile sweetly at him.

"Me."

"What did you do to me?"

"What did you do to my business?"I throw back.

He pales drastically with a step back as if to disappear from my presence. The smile on my face remains." You've dug a hole for yourself Rico. Tell me what you did to my business and I will give you the antidote to your illness."I don't give him the opportunity to argue or deny as I swiftly leave his presence. If he wants to live past the next three nights, he will come clean to me.

The smile on my face widens as I make my way towards Ronan. He sees me and smirks with a questioning look in his eyes. A white bird blocks my path and practically runs over to meet Ronan. My head recoils to the back, clearly taken back by the sudden intrusion. Turns out the bird is actually a female dressed in white satin camisole with ruffled faux feathers. She grabs onto  Ronan's left arm and squeals in his ear like a spoil brat. Ronan's face is blank and expressionless and it makes me smile in triumph.

"Where's your date?" She screeches.

"Right behind you"