Blood Ties (NaNoWriMo 2015)

Twenty-Nine

Keith lead us to the middle of the dance floor, placed his hand on my waist and the other in my hand. "You're hand goes on my shoulder," he prompted and I complied, shivering as I felt the frigidness of his skin through his suit. I was starting to think Keith was the coldest vampire I'd encountered, except for maybe Richard. I wondered why that was, some vampires having warmer temperatures than others. Perhaps it was just like how humans were, there was an average of ninety-eight point six, but some fell a little above or below. Whatever the average for vampires was, it seemed Keith fell below that.

"I'm going to apologize in advance for stepping on your toes," I said, lowering my head, unable to meet Keith's eyes.

"Don't worry your pretty little mind," he told me. "If you have a good dance partner, and I am a good dancer, by the way. You will be fine."

Keith lifted me up and suddenly I was standing on his toes. "See? You'll be perfectly fine!"

I laughed. "That's cheating," I accused and gave him a mock-scolding glare.

"No," replied Keith with a wiggle of his eyebrows. "That's using your resources!" And without further ado, Keith began spinning us around the dance floor, whirling in time to the music.

I clung to Keith, hoping not to fall as we spun but despite my fear of making a fool of myself, I laughed. My heart raced with the exertion and adrenaline of the whole affair. I'd never done anything like this before. Dancing on someone else's feet, it was the sort of thing a child did with her dad or grandpa. I'd never had either of them so this experience was funny to me. Here I was, a legal adult, five foot five and one hundred and fifteen pounds and Keith was teaching me how to dance the polka the way five year old girls who were about four feet tall and sixty pounds learned to dance the waltz with their dads.

Soon the music ended and Keith stopped moving and I kept a hand on him as I tried to steady myself. I was still laughing rather hard and was slightly dizzy. The audience clapped politely for the band and Keith was grinning at me. "See?" he said. "You had nothing to worry about."

"You were right," I giggled as I let go of his shoulder, finally feeling my feet were firmly on the ground. "Thank you Keith, that was fun."

"More fun than sitting all by yourself in a chair?" Keith prompted and I nodded.

"Yes, more fun than that."

"Knew it," he said a little smugly and I rolled my eyes. "Are you hungry or thirsty? I can go get you something off the desert table?" I didn't get much a chance to answer though, faster than I could say 'no, thank you' he was already zipping through the crowd. I was about to make my way off the dance floor as well when I felt a frigid hand lightly grab my upper arm. I spun around fast, knees shaking, heart thundering as the night I was first attacked replayed in my mind. My attacker had tried to forestall me like this then too-! I relaxed when I saw it was Richard Erable but only for a moment. What did he want?

"Sorry," he said in an oily voice that grated on my hearing. "Goodness, you're hearts racing, I must've frightened you something terrible. I did not mean to."

I belatedly remembered vampire super hearing and then recalled my earlier note to grill Damon. "It's alright," I said with a forced brightness. "You're just cold," colder than Keith. "The feeling gave me a bit of a jolt is all. Can I help you?"

"I'd like a dance actually, if you're feeling up to it," a slow waltz was playing now and I realized he might have put in a request. Though I had no idea how to waltz, is was slow enough that I could figure it out and would give him a chance to interrogate me.

I couldn't refuse without being rude either and he knew it. He knew no one was waiting on me. "Of course," I said. "Anything for a distinguished guest," I empathized the distinguished part and though my voice was bright, the narrowness of my eyes certainly wasn't. My mom once told me my brown eyes always seemed to have fire inside them when I was faced with something or someone I didn't like, I hoped she was right and I hoped Richard saw it now.

"How accommodating," he said smoothly, not at all rude but I thought I saw him scowl briefly at me. His hand slid around my waist and he took my free hand, I placed my free hand on his shoulder and he began moving about the dance floor. I glanced at his feet briefly, trying to match his steps. "So Miss Hawthorn," he asked after barely five minutes of my studying. "Are you enjoying your stay at Robur Manor? Have you been treated well?"

"It's not my home," I said trying to keep my voice neutral. Talking about home was still hard sometimes. "But it is nice here, I've met some wonderful people and I'm treated very well. Why do you ask?"

"Well inexperience can make for a neglectful host," another barb at Damon's lack of long-time leadership. I pasted another smile onto my face.

"Damon has been wonderful," I said and I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was true. Though he had left me alone for the start of my time there, I preferred that at the time. I would have bitten his head off for coming near me. After I'd gotten over my anger and resentment and spent one on one time with him I'd discovered he was a hard-worker, funny and certainly considerate. I recalled strangely, then waking up in the car the night he'd saved my life. He'd covered me up and put something behind my head whether it was to prevent shock or to keep me warm I had no idea, but the gesture remained. There was also the matter of this dress and his instance that I come and enjoy the celebration with everyone else.

"He has? Are you sure?" Richard inquired with a tilt of his head and I smiled even wider hoping to spite him.

"Of course I am, he's a very good man and I think he will do very well leading this coven. He has a few things to learn," I allowed, knowing that it would be a white-faced lie if I said he didn't. "But I have no doubt he'll catch on soon enough and do his family and his coven proud."

Richard laughed. "You are so optimist, I thought you of all people would find him far too irresponsible."

I blinked, taken by surprise at his choice of words. This party was going off without a hitch, coming together flawlessly thanks to Damon's hard work and planning. "Excuse me? Are you finding fault in this party? I'm afraid I can't find it, I believe Zalam would be pleased."

Richard only laughed again and lifted my hand from his shoulder. "Oh Miss Hawthorn," he said and his thumb pressed against the scar on my wrist. He leaned in close to me and whispered, "I know what he did and I know your attack was not random. Only an irresponsible man would bite a human without the intent to change them later. It leaves them as targets." He smirked, pulling away as the song ended. He bowed lowly, the gesture mocking. "Thank you Miss Hawthorn, you've told me everything I need to know."

And Richard walked off the dance floor, leaving me with my heart in my stomach. He knew the truth and I did not want to see what he would do with that knowledge.

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Well this is not a good development either is it? Who else thinks Richard is not going to use that knowledge for good, show of hands? I suppose we'll find out though won't we?

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Write on lovelies! =D