Mermaids are Menacing (Book 2) Complete

84.) Tensions and Intentions

I waited the rest of the day for Kavern to come bursting in. Maybe he would take my tounge since i didnt use it to speak right to the other elites. Or maybe my legs for trying to run away. I believed he truly would.

But thats not what happened. Instead a letter came. Not a summon. Not a wreched son to break my things or hassle me but a letter. It didnt say much.

The banquet begins tomorrow.

That was all he wrote. Tomorrow? Not weeks, not days but tomorrow? I wasnt ready. I looked at my girls with a panicked expression. Was this my punishment for acting out? Or was it the banquet was moved up because everyone was already here and impatient. Was he trying to move up the festivities only so i could be punished after as not to put a damper on the party and what about after the party? I would have to leave the kids with Cerastes and move in with Dante. I felt the urge to throw up. 
.......................

I didnt sleep that night, so i watched the sun rise. I felt like a spring being held down. Filled with tension and ready to explode at the slightest provocation.

A parade of feet was heading towards the wing. Even when they were trying to be quiet I could still distinguish their footsteps. They came for me anf the girls and Vee. Only Jen was left out of the ordeal. We were washed and brushed and groomed.

The clothes were brightly colored oranges and reds. Full body gowns without a back and high beaded collars. The fabric was embroidered with gold thread depicting stars on the torso. The outfit i was given was less ornate than the twins. It lacked beading or gold thread but the shape was the same pattern.Unlike last time, i didnt have to be covered from head to toe and i didnt have to wear tall shoes. For that at least I was grateful.

The entire morning was spent getting ready. Barely snacking.

"Can i go to?" Jen asked.

"No. You must absolutely stay away from that place." I ordered her.

"But your going." The argued.

"I dont want to go either but i have to. That place is really dangerous especially for you." I told her seriously. I could see her eyes begin to water but i didnt know how to make her understand. No matter what there will always be a feeling of bitterness from being left behind. Even if it spared her tears I could not bring her in to the bears mouth.

"Ill be back as soon as i can and the girls will go back very quickly after the ceremony is over. Can you watch them for me?" I asked her.

She still continued to pout with her lip quivering but she gave me a little nod.

"Thank you for being such a good girl." I said stoking her head. "Remember no matter what happeneds, you do not leave the wing tonight. Not for anyreason." I drilled it into her.

"Ok." She said glumly.

"I love you." I told her.

"I love you to." She said but a tear still fell.

I heard a scratch at the door and saw Cerastes there. I wondered how he even got up here but he interupted that thought.

"The ban was lifted for the special occasion." He said.

I didnt recognize the clothes he wore. It seemed like he must have received an increase in his budget. The color was vibrant matching the girls and I but it was also not especially decorated. Either this was the norm, or the time table being moved up cut into the clothes making time.

Vee greated his father exstatically while the girls were mostly oblivious to his arrival.

"Hello my younglings." He said to them lovingly. "Its your banquet day." His joy was eveident as he scooped them off the floor. Vee hovered close to his side. Cerastes tried to move closer to me with the girls occupying each arm.

"Rowan." He acknowledged me.

"Cerastes." I replied.

"This isnt what i expected our next meeting to be like but its still at your place." He told me.

I clicked my tounge in annoyance.

"Stay out of my personal space." I told him. "Be good I'll be back soon." I told Jen giving her a final hug.

He sighed. "Lets head to the waiting area." He said.

It was a quiet and uncomfortable walk. Or i should say i was quiet and uncomfortable on our walk. I felt like i was walking toward my impending doom. The ceremony was simple enough but the banquet immediatly after would be a complete nightmare for me. Standing in a room with hundreds of creatures that would be happy to take a bite out of me.

When we reached the final door the moment came to soon. My heart hammered in my chest. I felt Vee grab my hand and stroke it with a little finger. I forced myself to take a big breath, hold it before taking in another smaller breath. Then letting it all out.

The doors opened wide to reveal a room full of guests. We walked down the stairs in full view of the crowd. I heard murmers throughout the room. None of them mentioned the girls coloring only that they looked healthy. It was a tension i didnt realise i was holding in. Wondering if they would treat my daughters with the same callousness as their father but it seemed the same rules didn't apply for females.

The crowd gathered in closely. More than what i was comfortable with. I felt lears graze over me as well. Turning my head to look wasnt an option. Eyes forward. We made our way to the plateform where Kavern and Dante were already waiting. When we reached it Cerastes handed over the girls to his father.

This was different.

Instead of a goblet their was a single large gold tub of filled with blood and next to it a hollow curled rams horn. The hell is this for? I looked out of the corner of my eye at Cerastes but he gave no clues. Idelia and Aelia were placed in the tub and the liquid came up to their hips.  There was some space for them to move but not to crawl. Cerastes moved me behind the tub by putting an arm around my shoulder.

A line of the elites formed. The heads of each clan.

One by one they came to the front and picked up the horn, they dunked it in the bath and then carefully poured it on top of each child.

The first in line was the old mendhi.
"The blood of my clan and my own are freely given. May you take it in its strength and be our vitality." Mendhi gave his blessing.

Next was Kanyon.
"The blood of my clan and my own are freely given. May your descendents be more than the stars in the sky." She said as she poured the blood over both girls. She didnt even mind when the girls splashed blood on her. She even held the expression that it was cute. This was the pattern of the evening. Fairly diferent when compared to the ceremony of a boy.  

I expected Tambora to cause a furry in retaliation for yesterday but he didnt. He gave a blessing and returned to the crowd. When the ceremony was over maids came for the girls and took them away while they were still in the tub. Vee walked behind them. The banquet was no place for children, which was odd since i thought this.was ment to celebrate them? The crowd moved to the next room for the banquet portion of the festivities.

Cerastes still by my side started to give me an arm but he was stopped by  his eldest brother. Dante.