Blood Ties (NaNoWriMo 2015)

Twenty-Six

It looked just like an average high-end dinner party. A live band played on a stage at the front of the room playing some swing music. People were sitting or standing around the table-cloth covered round tables. A single vase and candle rested on each, flowers of various colors and species rested in each. No table had the same flower, a purposeful move on our part, it was how we-Damon and I, had decided to do the seating. He'd proposed doing numbers and I'd replied that while it would work, it was not very different or interesting, hence the various flowers as centerpieces. He'd liked the idea, both for it's "quirkiness" as he'd called it, and for the fact that it would add visual interest, as the linen table cloths we'd opted to use were white.

I was glad to see that had turned out well, as had the grey napkins linen napkins with gold bands tied around them to hold the bundles of silverware together. I hadn't wanted to go for insanely bold colors, neutrals seemed better to me, more elegant and that would lead to people being more drawn to the other guests than the objects around them. Or that had been my hope at least. Looking around the room at our talking guests, it seemed to be working.

I'm in a room filled entirely with vampires, I thought to myself and I felt a shiver run down my spine. "Please stop crushing my arm," Damon muttered to me and I relaxed instantly, a blush seeping up my neck and into my face.

"Sorry!"

Damon looked at me a little strangely. I wasn't sure what exactly his expression meant, it wasn't an obvious emotion like anger or happiness. Something more subtle than a basic emotion. He must have noticed that I noticed however and quickly smiled at me. "Please, try and relax, you'll be fine."

Said the guy who drank human blood to the only human in the room. The irony of it made me laugh, the very last thing a human should be at a party full of vampires was "fine". My laughter seemed to appease Damon and he titled his head towards the cluster of tables at the front of the room. "Come on," he said leading me gently in that direction. "I'll introduce you to some old friends of mine."

"Alright," I said and I was thrilled that my voice didn't shake. Damon approached the small cluster of people that consisted of his parents, Johnathan in well-tailored brown suit and Caiyun at his side, dressed in a cheongsam. The pattern of the cherry-blossom colored fabric was in traditional styles of Chinese culture, but I noticed the style of the dress was far more modern. The only reason I had knowledge of that was due to a middle-school friend named Jen Walstrom, she'd been half Chinese and worn one to our first school dance. I'd asked her what it was called and wound up getting the complete lecture about it.

The man and woman they were speaking with, however were unfamiliar faces. The man was tall and thin, his almond shaped eyes surrounded by smile lines. His ink black hair had some sections of grey and a gold ring bearing a crest was visible on his left hand. I studied the bit of jewelry for a moment and then I knew exactly who he was. The leader of the Crutallos coven, Richard Érable.

"A-hem," Damon faked a cough and the chatter stopped as they looked at their newcomer. "Sorry to interrupt," he began but Richard cut him off and smiled widely at him.

"Damon Lockwood!" he gripped Damon by the shoulders and kissed both his cheeks. His lack of an response taught me this was normal. I detected a slight French accent as Richard looked Damon over. "Long time no see old friend! I heard about your promotion, next in line to lead Robur huh? Such a responsibility for one so young!" His tone was cheerful but I heard the change, subtle but the coolness was unmistakable. Richard clearly did not approve of Damon taking on this role and I felt anger eat through my nerves like acid. I'd seen how important doing well as this job was to Damon, he might have lacked some experience, but I had no doubt he'd perform brilliantly. Anyone who wanted to doubt that fact was already marked as someone I didn't like. "But such a great calling too yes?" Richard finished and then his head titled like a basset hound when it heard a new sound and his small, sharp eyes fell on me. "Why your human!" He exclaimed. "I thought I heard a heartbeat but I thought certainly this cannot be true!"

"Yes," I said pasting a smile onto my face. I made a note to myself to grill Damon later for not telling me vampires had super hearing. "I am, and you're Richard Érable of the Crustallos coven are you not?" I extend my hand, watching as his eyes grew wide at my calm manner.

He ignored my hand and instead kissed my cheeks just as he had Damon's. His lips were dry and cold. The cold I'd been expecting, the dryness not so much. Could vampires use Chapstick? "Yes I am, and it seems you are well versed in the covens."

"I know a little," I admitted, lowering my gaze as though I was embarrassed. If I acted like I knew more than I did he'd call me out on it in front of others, I was sure of it and find some way to throw it back on Damon. "I haven't had much time to learn, see, my circumstances have been quiet...unusual to say the least."

"Well of course," chimed a new voice and I then noticed a woman by Richard. Her long hair was mahogany and straight, held out of her face by hairpins. Her eyes were brown, same as Richard's but they were more oval shaped, doe-like even. Her lips were thinner than mine and a lovely shade of pink. "Attacked by stray vampires, how horrible!" She stepped past Richard and extended her hand to me. "I'm Adeline Chay, Crustallos coven as well, it's wonderful to meet you."

"Attacked by stray vampires?" Richard echoed. "Well certainly I must hear this story, care to share miss...?" he waved his hand at me, clearly expecting me to speak.

"Hawthorne," Damon interjected for me as I scrambled to compose a lie. These vampires had not been strays, but Richard didn't need to know that. I finally had my first suspect and I didn't want to tip him off. "Forgive me, Richard, Adeline, this is Ember Hawthorn, she's under the protection of my coven until we can find the criminals responsible for the attempts on her life."

Richard's thin eyebrows rose up his face. "Attempts? In the plural sense?"

"Yes," I said before Damon could. "The first when I was stranded on the side of the road due to a flat tire. My attacker pulled over as well under the guise of a Good Samaritan. I don't know what would have happened to me if Damon hadn't come by when he did."

Richard smiled. "Oh yes, quite," his eyes flickered to Damon. "Funny, you just happened to be in the right place at the right time. You're from Sunview yes?" he asked me and instantly I saw where this was going. "They showed your picture on the news, mentioned your hometown. Quiet a distance from here, how amazing Damon just happened to be in the area." He wanted Damon to admit what he did, the connection we had before the attacks. Though it didn't break any laws of their world I was certain it wouldn't be something they'd encourage.

Damon's mouth twitched, the statement, his blue eyes flashed. I knew he was thinking along the same lines I was. Quickly, I answered Richard with an excuse. "Yes, I am from Sunview, not a large place, but we do have a very high quality linen shop. Aunty Jane's it's where these tablecloths came from, Damon was placing an order there and returning back to the manor when he saw what was happening to me." I looked over at Damon and gave him a big, grateful smile. "He saved my life."

Richard looked like he was choking on something and my smile grew wider. Maybe tonight wasn't going to be so horrible after all.

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We got our first look at Cruor Luna! And we got to meet Richard Erable, what do you think about this guy? Think he might know more than he's letting on? And seems Ember is starting to work at figuring out who's after her and Damon! This can't go south right...? Please don't forget to VOTE and COMMENT if you enjoyed the chapter! Oh and Happy Thanksgiving to my American readers!

Write on! =D