Black Ice ✓ | Deathsworn #1

Chapter 31 ∞ Dragon's Flight

It was a Saturday, which also meant that tonight was service night. During these days, my mistresses were very busy working on their own crafts, practicing their routines. As courtesans, they excelled with entertaining with the arts, each specializing in their own areas. Of course, usually, it would be my Mistress Neilly, my mother Hellenia, and my Mistress Marian who were practicing due to their specialization in music and performance. My other mistresses? Not so much.

Mistress Neilly's beautiful dances were captivating, so I never missed their dress rehearsals. It was why I sat in the dance room, sitting in my spot in the corner like I always did. As an ungraceful duck, I could only watch the swans fly.

I also happened to have two other ducks with me.

Erenol was a jaw-dropped, drooling mess while Maun had the widest sparkling eyes. I was very annoyed with having my privacy and alone-time so compromised by these two that I had the most displeased face. In fact, I would think I literally looked like the '-_-' emoji. Not even Mistress Neilly's dance could put a smile on my face.

When the dance began, I noticed a lot of things. The routine today was quite different. Mistress Marian and my mother Hellenia were playing in chorus, like they always did, but the beat was a little more edgy and aggressive than it usually was. They usually would go for a calming rhythm, one that would induce the audience into a state of 'oblivion.' However, this one was a particularly heart-pumping performance. It had its viewers sitting in place unwittingly choking from forgetting to breathe. This dance was like a snare—the rope one would willingly tie around one's neck.

To top it all off, she used her signature move at the end. The Dragon's Flight. One foot came raising in a straight line as both her hands spread wide. Her spine bent back into a perfect arch, the muslin scarves billowing about her figure like a coiling dragon. Her hair fanned out beautifully, the curls delicately bouncing as they stretched and sprung back.

Every drop of beat, the rising rhythm. It was as though it was made to match the beat of the heart, manipulate it to an extent, and make it stop in one sweep.

I didn't realize how lethal this could be. My mistresses were usually such sweet creatures. Who knew they could actually extend some claws?

I wasn't the only one affected. Maun and Erenol seemed to have had the same reactions. Nevertheless, the moment it ended, they immediately broke into applause, looking at me with such excitement that I could only roll my eyes. I clapped as well, but my appreciation also carried a bit of incertitude.

"Evy," my mother spoke. "What's with the face?"

"I don't know. Something's different..." I said.

"Well..." Mistress Neilly put down her muslin scarves, letting the breezy fabric fall about her resplendent figure. "We decided we should change it a little. You know what they say about changes? A boat that rides the waves fares better than the one anchored to the floor."

"It's still great," I commented. "I just don't think my heart can keep up with it."

The mistresses laughed.

"Great? That was amaaaazzziinnnnggg!" Erenol roared to the heavens.

The comment was so ass-kissing that I had the urge to vomit. Oh well. I had the same reaction when I saw it for the first time.

"Can you teach me?" she asked sweetly, eyes like glittering jewels glowing with enthusiasm. "I want to learn how to dance like Mistress Neilly!"

"Oh yes, do teach the girl for a bit..." Mistress Marian stood. "I forgot to do something. Better go and do it before I forget once more!" she chirped, leaving her harp behind as she made a dash for the door.