Chapter 16 - Cautious (edited)
The banquet was held on the top floor of the castle.
Instead of being confined to tables and chairs, the vampires and a dozen special guests, most of them men, reclined on the plush nests of tasseled pillows and satin-covered shades made of emerald, sapphire, and rubies.
Low benches were filled with food that had been arranged beside each nest leaving more space for dancing girls to use the open area in the middle of the rectangle as an impromptu stage.
Broad windows flanked each wall of the spacious chamber.
Their wooden shutters had been thrown open to welcome in a balmy breeze along with the scent of night-blooming jasmine.
It mingled with the enticing aromas wafting from the platters and bowls delivered by a steady pair of servants.
The benches were crowded with bunches of plump grapes and platters of fresh figs and fruits.
As Luna waited for this entire celebration to end, without so much as of a single problem by staying silent and eating heartily throughout the banquet, she took a carefully measured sip of the spiced wine that almost made her cough.
But it was better than blood, wasn't it?
Luna had no intention of letting the liquor dull her senses.
If she had to avoid being taken advantage of by one of these vampires,or one of the guests, who might mistake her as a High Consort or Escort, she would have to keep all of her wits about her.
The Werewolf Alpha that had invaded the Amazon's territory and chased Luna all the way here, however, appeared to have surrendered his wits without too much effort.
"Come on, Wench," he sang out, already looking flushed and glassy-eyed as he caught one of the Escorts and tugged her into his lap.
The Escort giggled as he poured wine on her cleavage on purpose, then peered through the veil that covered her nose and lips.
As the female ducked her head and nuzzled the alpha's neck, Luna stole a look at the jealous Astarte seated near him and caught the furious Amazon's eyes.
Luna raised an eyebrow and smirked at Astarte as if saying, "You betrayed the Amazons for this one pathetic werewolf?"
That earned a scowl from her.
Was Astarte blind?
It's obvious that the Alpha was despicable and he wasn't even worth the trouble.
But if the sex was good then who was she to judge?
Luna could not resist lifting her goblet in a mocking toast which turned Astarte's scowl into an outraged glower.
Luna turned her face away from her to confer with Lady Clarence, who was seated next to her, but unfortunately, she met the Vampire King's eyes--who seemed to be blood-drunk.
A broad smile split his handsome face as he clapped in time to the music of drum, flute, and lyre while he sat on his throne.
He had this sort of manic expression on his face as his eyes lingered on her body, making her nervous with anticipation which scared her.
"I see the Vampire Council has already provided me with the Concubines I need," the vampire king chuckled and the sound was like melted caramel poured over her skin.
He was a precarious blood-drunk soul stealer.
"You with the silver hair. Come forward and dance for me."
Luna flinched, snapping out of her shock.
"M-me?" She jerked and pointed the finger at herself, wondering how the hell she had ended up in this situation.
"Do you see any other silver-haired females in this room?" the vampire king asked as he stared at her hungrily. She saw Adam's apple bob up and down. "Come forward, Concubine."
Oh, goddess, the Vampire King mistook her for one of his Concubines, given that she was seated next to them.
Fei stood up. "Your highness, this female is the n—"
"I did not ask for your opinion, Warlock. Let the wench come forward to sit on my lap."
Luna studied the Vampire King's eyes behind the mask, which momentarily paralyzed her.
Those irises were a work of art.
Come to think of it.
Those were not cobalt eyes.
'The are mismatched, ' she thought as she came forward, walking in his direction.
Dark blue branched through one pupil and blended with the lighter blue of the same and the other pupil--
She sucked in a breath.
The other eye was the color of honey- gold or bright amber, borderline yellowish.
Like those of a dragon.
Or a snake.
'Remember not to look into the eyes of the Vampire King. Tilt your head a little bit to the left.' Cederic's child-like voice rang in her head. 'Talk softly, but clearly, bow when you say "Please" "Sorry". "Thank you" and "Excuse me." Finish your sentences with "Your Highness" and always curtsy whenever you see him or leave.'
Holy goddess.
Her first meeting with the Vampire King and she had already broken the first rule.
Luna dropped her gaze to the floor and curtsied.
"Your Highness, it is an honor to be graced by your presence," Luna said mechanically, copying what Cederic had suggested to her.
She almost forgot her greeting.
She was pathetic at being respectful and submissive.
Nonetheless, she internalized Cederic's advice, or else she could kiss her life goodbye.
+++
Edited by: RedPandaChick
Instead of being confined to tables and chairs, the vampires and a dozen special guests, most of them men, reclined on the plush nests of tasseled pillows and satin-covered shades made of emerald, sapphire, and rubies.
Low benches were filled with food that had been arranged beside each nest leaving more space for dancing girls to use the open area in the middle of the rectangle as an impromptu stage.
Broad windows flanked each wall of the spacious chamber.
Their wooden shutters had been thrown open to welcome in a balmy breeze along with the scent of night-blooming jasmine.
It mingled with the enticing aromas wafting from the platters and bowls delivered by a steady pair of servants.
The benches were crowded with bunches of plump grapes and platters of fresh figs and fruits.
As Luna waited for this entire celebration to end, without so much as of a single problem by staying silent and eating heartily throughout the banquet, she took a carefully measured sip of the spiced wine that almost made her cough.
But it was better than blood, wasn't it?
Luna had no intention of letting the liquor dull her senses.
If she had to avoid being taken advantage of by one of these vampires,or one of the guests, who might mistake her as a High Consort or Escort, she would have to keep all of her wits about her.
The Werewolf Alpha that had invaded the Amazon's territory and chased Luna all the way here, however, appeared to have surrendered his wits without too much effort.
"Come on, Wench," he sang out, already looking flushed and glassy-eyed as he caught one of the Escorts and tugged her into his lap.
The Escort giggled as he poured wine on her cleavage on purpose, then peered through the veil that covered her nose and lips.
As the female ducked her head and nuzzled the alpha's neck, Luna stole a look at the jealous Astarte seated near him and caught the furious Amazon's eyes.
Luna raised an eyebrow and smirked at Astarte as if saying, "You betrayed the Amazons for this one pathetic werewolf?"
That earned a scowl from her.
Was Astarte blind?
It's obvious that the Alpha was despicable and he wasn't even worth the trouble.
But if the sex was good then who was she to judge?
Luna could not resist lifting her goblet in a mocking toast which turned Astarte's scowl into an outraged glower.
Luna turned her face away from her to confer with Lady Clarence, who was seated next to her, but unfortunately, she met the Vampire King's eyes--who seemed to be blood-drunk.
A broad smile split his handsome face as he clapped in time to the music of drum, flute, and lyre while he sat on his throne.
He had this sort of manic expression on his face as his eyes lingered on her body, making her nervous with anticipation which scared her.
"I see the Vampire Council has already provided me with the Concubines I need," the vampire king chuckled and the sound was like melted caramel poured over her skin.
He was a precarious blood-drunk soul stealer.
"You with the silver hair. Come forward and dance for me."
Luna flinched, snapping out of her shock.
"M-me?" She jerked and pointed the finger at herself, wondering how the hell she had ended up in this situation.
"Do you see any other silver-haired females in this room?" the vampire king asked as he stared at her hungrily. She saw Adam's apple bob up and down. "Come forward, Concubine."
Oh, goddess, the Vampire King mistook her for one of his Concubines, given that she was seated next to them.
Fei stood up. "Your highness, this female is the n—"
"I did not ask for your opinion, Warlock. Let the wench come forward to sit on my lap."
Luna studied the Vampire King's eyes behind the mask, which momentarily paralyzed her.
Those irises were a work of art.
Come to think of it.
Those were not cobalt eyes.
'The are mismatched, ' she thought as she came forward, walking in his direction.
Dark blue branched through one pupil and blended with the lighter blue of the same and the other pupil--
She sucked in a breath.
The other eye was the color of honey- gold or bright amber, borderline yellowish.
Like those of a dragon.
Or a snake.
'Remember not to look into the eyes of the Vampire King. Tilt your head a little bit to the left.' Cederic's child-like voice rang in her head. 'Talk softly, but clearly, bow when you say "Please" "Sorry". "Thank you" and "Excuse me." Finish your sentences with "Your Highness" and always curtsy whenever you see him or leave.'
Holy goddess.
Her first meeting with the Vampire King and she had already broken the first rule.
Luna dropped her gaze to the floor and curtsied.
"Your Highness, it is an honor to be graced by your presence," Luna said mechanically, copying what Cederic had suggested to her.
She almost forgot her greeting.
She was pathetic at being respectful and submissive.
Nonetheless, she internalized Cederic's advice, or else she could kiss her life goodbye.
+++
Edited by: RedPandaChick
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