Dance of the Damned

Seven

Zeddicus approached the stage, his beautiful expressionless face shrouded in darkness. His gaze shifted to Mira and Neo, his words directed solely at them, "Savor this momentary freedom of the party. Tomorrow, you will once again be enslaved."

Acknowledging his command, they hastened off the stage, their destination being the enticing spread of food and wine. However, Zeddicus's attention remained fixated on me, making it clear that I couldn't simply walk away with my new friends.

Unable to endure the silence any longer, I mustered the courage to inquire, "May I also participate in the party?" I felt a sense of relief knowing that Greta, who would not hesitate to reprimand me for speaking out of turn, was nowhere to be found. She must have been accompanying Kalyani, wherever she may be.

"Do you desire to participate in the party?" He asked, a fleeting trace of amusement glimmering in his eyes.

"That depends. Are you planning to kill us?" I boldly questioned, realizing that it was best to be direct. I had no way of knowing if today would be my last, and I preferred to be forewarned. Surprises were not my forte.

"Not tonight," he replied nonchalantly, his boredom evident in his tone. "Your performance was undeniably... imaginative."

"Well, our lives were at stake," I retorted, immediately regretting my words. However, to my surprise, he did not unleash his wrath upon me. I needed to exercise caution and keep my impulsive remarks to myself.

"What is your name?" He inquired, his voice filled with an air of authority. "And do not bother providing a false identity. I would know it immediately." For some inexplicable reason, I believed his claim.

"Venya," I glared at him. The last thing I desired was for him to possess knowledge of my identity but I didn't really have a choice.

He simply nodded in acknowledgment. "Indulge in the food and wine, before you are returned to your cell." Before I could respond, he disappeared into thin air, leaving behind a dense, smoky void of darkness.

I hurriedly joined Mira and Neo, filling my glass with wine and piling my plate with food, uncertain of when we would have another opportunity to eat, or even what our next meal would consist of. The other creatures and humans around us paid no attention, which was to be expected considering our status as slaves in this place.

"What did he want?" Mira whispered to me as I savored a sip of the sweet red wine.

"He wanted to know my name," I replied, taking another sip. "And he claimed he would be able to tell if I was lying."

"That's strange. Are you afraid that he's singling you out?" She inquired, her mouth full of a delectable chocolate pastry.

"Without a doubt," I confessed, acknowledging the rationality of my apprehension. It would be foolish not to be fearful. But why me?

Throughout the remainder of the evening, we made a conscious effort to stay inconspicuous and indulged in an abundance of food and wine, all while evading the attention of others. Surprisingly, the atmosphere seemed to lighten as we reveled, despite the fact that Smelly Green Man eventually escorted us back to our confinement. Although the cell door closed, once again imprisoning us, I found relief in the fact that I was no longer alone. Following our performance, I had anticipated that Mira and Neo would be relocated to their individual cells, but to my relief, they remained by my side. The solitude had nearly driven me to madness, as I yearned for someone to converse with. I sensed that Mira shared the same sentiment, although it was difficult to discern Neo's thoughts, as he seldom spoke.

By the time we returned to our cramped prison cell, the three of us were quite intoxicated. Neo skillfully played a lively tune on his flute, while Mira and I harmonized in song and dance. We no longer cared about the neighboring prisoners overhearing us; I was certain that they, too, longed for a respite from the overbearing silence. It was at that moment that I made a firm decision: if Arter and Nayte managed to devise a plan for my escape, I would not leave this place without Mira and Neo. Finally, after seven long years, I had genuine friendship, even if they remained oblivious to who I really was. Would their perception of me change if they discovered the monstrous truth that lay within? Even now, the beast within me remained restrained and ominously silent, as if it had surrendered itself to our fate.

As we leaned against the wall, catching our breath after a night of lively revelry and acrobatics, Mira pondered aloud, "I can't help but wonder why Zeddicus let us enjoy the festivities tonight. Kalyani has never done that."

Neo, positioned across the room, responded with a hint of skepticism, "There must be ulterior motives at play. The Dark Kingdoms are never driven by goodwill."

Mira, her speech slightly slurred, mused, "I wonder what those motives could be."

Neo swiftly cautioned her, "Don't entertain curiosity in this place. You know better."

Mira chose not to challenge his warning. I, on the other hand, couldn't shake the thought of how recklessly I had confronted Zeddicus at the party. Why had there been no consequences? Perhaps he was biding his time, plotting his retaliation, or my death. Determined to push these unsettling thoughts aside, I allowed sleep to wash over me.

After a period of time, Kalyani returned and our musical sessions in the ballroom resumed every few days. However, I couldn't help but notice the absence of Zeddicus and wondered if I had somehow offended him greatly. My sense of time was not the best, but Mira informed me that it had been approximately a month since our performance for the King of Death. How she knew, I couldn't say, and I didn't bother to inquire.

During this time, Mira and I grew closer, engaging in conversations about our families and lives beyond Benevol. I made an effort to share as much of the truth as possible, despising the need to fabricate lies and pretend that Arter and I had never left Endsby. The mere thought of that place filled me with an intense hatred, as every memory associated with it would forever haunt me.

Neo, although not particularly talkative, revealed some details about himself, allowing us to become acquainted to some extent. He disclosed that he hailed from Emotis, just like Mira, but was a Hellion who had been raised in the upper-class villages near the castle. Neo's people, the Woodsprites, were a rare breed among Hellions, possessing lesser magical abilities unless it concerned matters related to nature. At one point, he even confided in me that Kalyani kept him around as a sexual servant, a fate shared by many of the men in this place. The revelation sent a shudder coursing through me.

One day, the three of us were asleep in our cell when suddenly, the door swung open and Smelly Green Man forcefully yanked Mira and me to our feet. With one hand gripping her bicep and the other clutching mine, he practically dragged us out of that cell, leaving us half-asleep and bewildered.

Within a short span of time, we found ourselves in the grandeur of the throne room, forcefully thrown onto the cold, unforgiving floor. The impact was jarring, causing me to taste the metallic tang of blood in my mouth as my face collided with the unyielding marble. Despite the pain, I mustered the strength to sit up, as did Mira, both of us determined not to show weakness. Before us sat Kalyani, regally positioned upon her throne, her expression devoid of emotion. Beside her stood Zeddicus, his countenance equally impassive.

"Well, Zeddicus, the moment of decision has arrived," Kalyani declared, a faint smile playing upon her lips. "Choose now, which one shall live and which one shall die?"