The Vampire's Court

Chapter 36- Tale as Old as Time

*(A/N: this chapter is broken into two chapters because it was quite long, sorry guys! Also, you guys already know what song you should listen to for this chapter, but I recommend Tale as Old as Time by London Music Work, specifically. Enjoy!)

The soft light of the afternoon filtered through the tall windows of Dimitri's study, casting long shadows across the room. Dimitri was seated at his desk, engrossed in a letter when he heard a light knock on the door. He looked up to see Seraphine standing in the doorway, her presence immediately brightening the room.

"Dimitri," she said with a playful smile, "I just wanted to remind you about the gala at Somerset Estate tomorrow. I'm sure you haven't forgotten, but I thought it might be nice to have a little refresher." There was a teasing glint in her eyes. "It should be intriguing, don't you think? After all, that's where we first met."

Dimitri managed a casual smile, hiding the fact that the mention of the gala had struck him like a bolt of lightning. He had, in fact, completely forgotten about it. "Of course," he replied smoothly, hoping his voice didn't betray the sudden spike in his heart rate. "I'll be ready."

Seraphine nodded, seemingly satisfied, and with a warm smile, she left the room. The moment the door clicked shut behind her, Dimitri's composed facade crumbled.

"Shit," he muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair in frustration. How could he have forgotten about the gala? And with it happening tomorrow, he didn't have much time to prepare.

He was still mentally berating himself when the door swung open again, this time revealing Gabriel and Andrei. The brothers had clearly been eavesdropping and were now grinning like a pair of mischievous foxes.

"Looks like someone's in a bit of a bind," Gabriel teased, his tone light and mocking. "Forgot about the big gala, did you?"

Dimitri shot him a withering look. "You think?" he snapped, though there was no real venom behind the words. He sighed, leaning back in his chair. "This is a disaster. The gala is tomorrow, and I have no idea what to do."

Andrei stepped forward, his expression more serious but still tinged with amusement. "Actually, I think this gala could be the perfect opportunity," he said thoughtfully.

Dimitri raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Perfect opportunity for what? Making a complete fool of myself?"

Gabriel shook his head, the grin never leaving his face. "No, you idiot," he said affectionately. "For telling Seraphine how you feel. You've been working so hard to win her over, and this gala—it's where you two met. It's symbolic. It's romantic. It's the perfect setting."

Dimitri frowned, clearly conflicted. "You really think now is the right time? We're leaving for France right after."

Gabriel clapped a hand on Dimitri's shoulder, giving him a reassuring squeeze. "Look, I know you're worried, but you've made so much progress with her. She likes you, Dimitri. Hell, I'd say she's halfway to falling in love with you if she hasn't already."

Andrei nodded in agreement. "Gabriel's right. You've shown her bits and pieces of who you really are, but this gala—this could be the moment you show her everything. You don't need to lay all your cards on the table, but let her see the man behind the title, the man who genuinely cares for her."

Dimitri was silent for a moment, mulling over their words. The thought of opening up to Seraphine, of telling her how he truly felt, both thrilled and terrified him. But as he considered it, he couldn't help but feel a spark of hope and excitement begin to take root. This was, after all, the place where they had first met—where their story had begun. Maybe it could also be the place where everything changed.