The Harem- The Burning Beauty

Chapter Twenty Three- The Midnight Ball

A/N: For the appropriate scene, press play on video to your right. You'll know it when you see it. :)

Camellia stood at the edge of a curtain with only the dim light of candles around her. The other women stood behind her waiting for the introduction of Habashi to commence the ball to be over with. His voice resounded through the room and only further built the excitement of the crowd. They were all awaiting her; waiting to finally get a glimpse of the woman that had Julius’ head in the clouds. They ached to see the woman that his brother was willing to steal from him. It was already confirmed, the rumor, that they shared her just from the way the brothers sat close together, though the true nature of their relation was still well kept in the dark. Everyone was aware that their bond had only grown since the introduction of Julius’ new flower. It was just their curiosity that needed to be rid of now. Who was she? How did she look? Was she the one that had caused all the guests to start ripping away their clothing? No more questions; the answers will be present when the curtain was pulled aside.

“Do well Cassandra…” Sonya murmured from beside her and she heard her sister hiss at her for it. Camellia looked into Sonya’s eyes and smiled. Sonya frowned slightly and inclined her head. Camellia’s eyes must have looked the way they did when Amelia was closer to Cassandra’s surface, but there was no more time left for Sonya to question her. The drums had begun and the women of the harem began to slip through the part. Elizabeth and Yara gave her one last mischievous look that made her want to question it but she ignored it.

“We will be amazing tonight…” Camellia said to herself as she listened for her cue.

Somewhere in that room, Julius and Marcus sat awaiting her with their worrisome expression cloaked, but she would give them a reason to relax. She stood more to the center of the opening, stepped forward on her right leg and bent it till she was on her toes; the left shifted backward and flat against the floor. She tossed her hair back and lifted her right arm as her back arched and pushed her chest forward. Her index and thumb touched as she bent her wrist at an angle. The other arm was just under her breasts with her fingers fixed just the same but her palms pointed downward. There was only time for a deep breath and Amelia’s aura took over while Cassandra stepped back. She was still there but Ameilia was going to control everything from this point on in the dance.

     Just as the switch was made, light sliced over her body with the parting of the curtain. The collective gasps and applauds were resounding. It had truly begun. The other women lay on the floor reaching toward her as fixed statues. The music had come to a halt as they waited for complete silence. Once the room had quiet down, one single drummer started and with his every smack of the drums, Amelia moved her hips in the most sensual sway that would make Elizabeth jealous. With snake like motions she rolled her waist and kept her balance in her first stance even with her head still thrown back. Very suddenly she swung her head downward as she fell to her knees and another drum joined in. It was then that her song began. The words lifted out of her like a siren’s call and had every eye fixed on only her. The other women came to life and began to move closer to her with light gasps and very provocative gestures of their hips.  Her shoulders cave forward as she fell on her hands and knees and with back arched she crawled forward by sliding  each knee forward. Never did her voice waver even with her sudden movements. Amelia could feel their anticipations, because even though they had seen her, they had yet to see her face. It was pure pleasure knowing that it was what they wanted the most. She was nearing the end of the stage and the verse. Reaching the chorus she rolled herself forward then backwards till she was back in her kneeling position with legs spread wide. Just as her head came up the gasps that echoed through the room nearly drowned out her song along with their applauds. She looked around the room as she continued her performance and saw that many were on their feet trying to get a better look at her. There were men whose eyes were already drenched in lust; their jaws slack with need. Amelia gave them all a wicked grin and it made the desire spike. When her eyes fell on Julius and Marcus, she focused on only them as she swung her legs to the side, pushed up from the floor with her hands and suddenly stood on her feet. Amelia slid forward, spun twice on the toes of her left leg and leapt into the air with hands wide. It was time to show them what she could do. Just as she landed into a crouch with her left leg extended, the grand doors of the ballroom were pushed so hard open that it slammed against the walls. Every heart, dead or alive, jolted in their cavities at the sudden sound. Marcus and Julius were suddenly up and before her with their backs facing her. They probably hadn’t meant to move but they had; shielding her from whatever came through the door.