Bound By Blood (49 page)

             
“Pride
,
of course.
Samanthŕa
has always been so headstrong and prideful. That’s why she cannot
see
Dǒntáe and
the way he acts around her.
"

             
Daŕ
ēus remembered
Dǒntáe as
the fool who attempted to put a sword to his neck. He knew his thoughts then and was no more pleased than he was
with Dezarãe’s
blindness now.
             
“You think your sister would almost kill herself over pride? Are you
-
-” He almost accused her of being insane when
Chymeŕah
appeared in the hall.

             
Her face
revealed that she
wasn’t pleased with
Dezarãe
,
nor with what the servants said had happened earlier in
Samanthŕa’s
room,
due to
her sisters.
Her thoughts were not blocked allowing Daŕ
ēus to read them
completely
.

             
"Mother--"

             
“
Dezarãe
, go have a vision or something
,
”
s
he said coldly
;
Dezarãe
pouted
and then
slowly
walked away.

             
Chymeŕah
then looked at Darius. “You have to overlook them.
"

             
"They are making it difficult."

             
"
I feel
Dĩas’
magic over them is strong
--
which is why they have these ridiculous ideas.
He put them there, you see.
Why
did you bait her on like that? You know their silly thoughts. You know they are all under an illusion. It is unlike you
,
Daŕ
ēus
,
to be bothered by such nonsense.
”

             
Daŕ
ēus
simply growled and
left
. It was best
if
he stayed to himself for
a while
. His only thoughts were voiced in his groans.

             
No wonder she is cursed and in the state that she is in
,
w
ith all these half witted twits influencing her.

             
His
judgments
were cruel
,
which was
n’t his customary disposition.
Chymeŕah was right.
He was usually more understanding
. But in this new
era,
he was discovering that every time he took a breath someone was uttering words of nonsense. The bloodlines now were nothing compared to what they once were. He was
near detonation
. He needed solitude before he placed them all in stases himself.
He
needed
to feed.

***

             
S
he admitted
to herself
that she was nervous
. She didn’t even know how she managed to dress even though the gown Daŕ
ēus sent her was beyond anything her imagination could have fashioned
on its own
. It was
a deep
crimson, a color he seemed to favor
,
and maybe possibly, she though
t, was because of the b
loodlines and its importance to him.
The upper bodice
was tight fitting
and stiff
like a girdle, laced
up the back
with black ribbons
, with
an open neckline revealing just enough cleavage as it left her shoulders and upper
region bare. It
ended
just a few inc
hes below her breasts
. Her biceps w
ere
adorned with thin
golden
charmed
snake
bands
.
Her stomach lay naked while the many
long
transparent layers of
skirt
gathered
just a few inches underneath
her belly line. Up the sides were slits, revealing her long gracious legs
when she walked
and then the foot jewelry formed elegant slipper
s
, matching the color of the gown.

             
Her hair was piled high, falling in long
locks
down her
exposed
back. Golden jewels were woven into her bl
ack tresses, flatter
ed by
the glittery
dust powered over her face and body.
Her earrings were long and
dainty
, sparkling with
small-encrusted
diamonds
,
just
like the small
ring that
dangled
from her belly button.

             
She was fashionably late, but she couldn’t help it at all.
Daŕ
ēus’s spell made her sleep longer than expected
,
not that she was complaining
.
She would have come with him
,
or even
with
her mother
,
but her nerves were much to
o
frazzle
d
for that. She had fear inside her, not knowing
what
to expect
,
and surprise
because she wasn’t
curious
for once in her li
fe, just numb
.

             
And to be absolutely honest, a ball, now with so much chaos going on, was the wildest most
ridiculous
thing she'd ever heard of. And she was shocked that Dĩas would allow Evil--even if they renounced their own
--to do such a thing. But she knew the ones who were making their announcements tonight, spilling secrets they otherwise guarded, and they were known to be a bit over the top and choking on their dramatics.

             
Still, out of duty she came
because
he
asked it of her
,
otherwise she would have told Dĩas and the entire lot of them to stick the entire thing up their---

             
Breathe
. She shook her nerves and aggravation away or at least she tried. 

             
The Priestess
took a
final
deep calming breath once she reached the top of the stairs that led into Dĩas’
s
Ballroom.

             
Black,
white,
and red candles dressed the walls and ceilings, reflecting off of a
shiny, seamless coal colored
floor. Those of the bloodline
s
were
dressed
in styles
almost as riveting as she was
; they
lined the inner and
outer edges
of the huge space. The dome ceiling opened up to the stars, a tranquil lavender sky and three offset moons.
And in the distance played an orchestra of elemental
bliss, which left one feeling haunted,
and
like
being carried away.

             
If only she could be carried away…

             
“
Samanthŕa
, you’re absolutely enchanting!”
s
he heard her mother say
,
as she rushed from the crowd to greet her. She was one to talk, Samanthŕa thoug
ht, feeling nothing in comparison to her. Her mother’s gown was thin and tapered to
fit
her body, black and alluringly sexy. She would have expected nothing else
.

             
Smile my darkest
darling
.
Remember all that we spoke o earlier. We are here appearing to play the game. We will find out what our enemies are truly up to.
Chymeŕah whispered inside Samanthŕa's mind and kissed both her cheeks
, “
Watch your back for daggers
,
my dear
.” She took her hand and led her through the crowd
until
Dĩas cut them off.

             
“Daughter
.
” He bowed, kissing her hand.
He was dressed in royal blue silks. His long sleeved shirt was tailored closely to reveal his sturdy frame. His pants were slick material above shiny, polished boots.
His eyes reflected sudden tears but they vanished as quickly as they appeared. “I wish for your forgiveness. I may have been in error concerning my decisions but I hope
only
to make up for them tonight.
Everything I did, I did for love of you.
”

             
Samanthŕa simply nodded and hoped her suspicion wasn't bluntly sl
apped across her face. Deep down she wished he were serious or meant wha
t he said, but she knew better than to completely hope. 

             
“Come
daughter
, we are about to begin
,
but we were waiting for you.”

             
Good,
she thought. The sooner it began, the sooner she could
leave. While Dĩas escorted her, she
searched the crowd for her sisters and she might have
foun
d them if it were not for Daŕ
ēus entering from across the room from a side door.

             
He was more than familiar, her heart picked up its beat, and he may have been more than an anchor within this sea of disturbance for not one other here, except for her mother, made her feel as if they were in her corner.

             
Should she boldly tear from her father's hand and go to the Father of Blood? Should she risk pushing Dĩas's buttons
even
if she could simply play the Priestess card
and claim greeting Daŕ
ēus because of who he was, was nothing more than a duty and a must
?

             
Being beside Daŕ
ēus would certainly calm her just enough to stare down those she was about to face.

             
Ironically, though
, Monéaklá was not far behi
nd him overly dressed as usual
, in
poor taste, vainly done,
folds and lace
s
of pink
d
arts.

             
Samanthŕa
's
thought
s
to inquire
, to reach out for
Daŕ
ēus
was already set into motion despite
the sight of
Monéaklá
's
soiling it,
but
fate forced another choice, as Dǒntáe surfaced from behind
.
Samanthŕa caught his presence from the corner of her eye just before he touched her arm
with but a finger
.
He looked
refreshed, healed, though the confusion,
and sorrow of the night before
understandably still lingered
in his gilded eyes.

             
"Dǒntáe,
" she said as Dĩas paused, speaking to whomever. "
I didn't think you would be here.
I--
"

             
“You
look
amazing.” He flattered her, bowing in clothes that matched Dĩas’ only they were a
g
old
en
tan.
She could tell they bothered him as he kept tugging at the collar. No doubt, his beast wished to spring free. She was starting to understand t
hat sort of torture
.

             
“Thank you.” She felt a bit dizzy
,
for everything was happening so fast.
“I am surprised to see you
.” She offered a smile because of what he had been through. She was still unclear of the details but what little she knew was enough to imagine.
She wanted to ask of the other Theŕéans but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Not now, not dur
ing something like this.
"Because of everything that has happened, I haven't had a chance to thank you for the night of the festival either . . . when you tried to protect me fr
om the Nosophoros.
"
She expected him to come back with something witty or flirtatious. Something like,
you may replay me later
--wink--
while we explore the other ways a warrior such as I may serve you
. She expected something,
anything
, phrases, and jest that were light-hearted. She had to admit she usually ignored or didn't realize him saying them until
after
he'd said it and left. But his mood was grim and his words nothing short of serious. "Dǒntáe, I--"