The Pentagram Child: Part 1 (Afterlife Saga Book 5) (47 page)

“So what was exactly?”

“Well for one you’re breathing again.” I rolled my eyes and couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of his smile.

“And the other?” I braved asking as we came to the end of the red carpet. I expected him to put me down before answering but he didn’t. No, instead he mounted the steps up to the higher platform. One that was covered in what looked like black wired petals sewn together in a pattern of the same symbol we both wore. The he let my legs go till I was standing.

“To make a long overdue statement to my world.” He said and before I had chance to fully process what he meant to do next, he lifted my arm up, faced me to the crowd and boomed out the words that floored me…

“I give you all your Queen!”

Chapter 32

It’s All about the Masks

I didn’t really have much time to react to this grand gesture before I was spun round, bent over his arm and kissed in front of Draven’s kingdom. Deafening cheers erupted from the vast crowd and Draven let me go only to smile down at me.

“You are in so much trouble for this.” I warned unconvincingly. I knew this thanks to the wink and bad boy grin he gave me before lifting me so I was once again upright and facing Draven’s people.

“Che la festa cominci!” Draven shouted which I gathered meant to get the party started in Italian because the crowd went crazy. I watched Vincent walk up the steps and smirk at me before taking a seat next to his brother’s centre chair. Next was Sophia who rolled her eyes at Draven’s brazen behaviour but her smile was easy to read. She walked over to the other side of Draven’s thrown and bowed her head gracefully to the crowd before sitting in her own grand chair.

“Should I just…” I nodded my head to the side where there were more chairs which were being filled up with the rest of his Council.

“Oh don’t worry sweetheart, I have just the place for you.” He said walking me backwards until I had no other option than for my legs to fold into his seat. Then he came down leaning into me with his hands on the arms of the chair until coming to my face level.

“Now be a good girl and stay right here, I will be back in a moment.” He finished this by kissing my forehead and then pushing off the arms. I watched him walked over to the side to speak to a man wearing an elaborate violin mask and a tux. I decided not to look like I was being nosy so I turned my head away and tried not to focus on the massive supernatural crowd. Of course I was also trying not to be the most obvious human in St Mark’s Square but sat up here it wasn’t exactly as if I could blend in.

Maybe if I was wearing more of a hidden costume like the sea of colour in front of me. It was an incredible sight and there was so much to take in, it was hard not to openly stare. The masks were like sculptured pieces of art that were being worn and with the costumes added they each told a story. There were horned gods and mythological creatures like the Centaurs. One woman’s mask was combined with a wig and even had snakes all entwined in the shape of a 16th century wig that looked like Medusa on a night out.

There was everything from the usual jesters and harlequin clowns to double sided masks that showed both happy and sad faces. Or even bright gold suns, blue moons and tear shaped landscape painted masks that really should be hanging in some gallery somewhere. There was one woman who walked past dressed like some forest pixie and had a beautiful mask made from gold leaves all layered on top of each other. 

However these were definitely the tame ones, as there were those that made me want to gag they were so disturbing to look at. One couple that walked past were obviously lovers as the woman walking in front of the guy had a hand covering one breast possessively. This would have been fine as I had seen far worse since my time entering Draven’s world. But the disgusting part was the fact that her mask was her actual face that had been sliced all the way round so blood dripped down her neck. Then huge fish hooks had been put through her chin, cheeks and forehead and attached to thin chains that her partner’s other hand held wrapped around his fist almost like a sadistic puppet master.

There were others, like the woman’s mask that looked like she was looking in one of those crazy house fairground mirrors that made your features look tiny and pulled your eyes, nose and mouth into the centre of your face. I lost count of the number of monsters and decided to look away when one of them looked like it was eating itself, puss filled boils and all.

“A lot to take in isn’t it?” Vincent said leaning over the arm of his chair.

“You can say that again.”

“Would you believe me if I told you that one day this is will all seem normal to you.” I couldn’t help but laugh at this.

“Not really no, but I wouldn’t take offense, I have been seeing Demons since I was seven years old and I’m still not used to it.” At this he gave me a gentle smile before saying,

“Well you have a lot of years ahead of you, so give it time and you can become immune to most things.”

“Like loving someone?” I asked and I wanted to bite my tongue off for saying it. His eyes widened for a second before I watched him slip on a new mask, only this time it was of the emotional sense, not like the crackled cream and gold one he was wearing. It was the same design as his brother’s along with the waistcoat they both wore only his was like his mask, in cream and gold. And this, unlike Draven, he wore under a fitted black suit.

“Unfortunately if it is real love then time heals nothing, or so I have seen for myself.” He said nodding towards Draven who was walking back this way.

“Vincent, I didn’t mean…” I tried to explain but he held up his hand to stop me.

“I know what you meant, Beautiful.” He said giving me a small smile and then he lowered his head in a respectful bow. I wanted to say more but I felt Draven come to stand over me.

“Catherine
Keira
Williams…” Draven said my full name and smirked when he changed my middle name from one less boyish. Then he asked a question that I had been dreading,   

“Will you do me the great honour of dancing with me?” Then he bent at the waist and held out his hand. 

“Uh…”

“I will take that as a yes.” He said taking my hand and pulling me into his arms causing me to land on his chest.

“I don’t know…” I started to say looking down at the crowd to see not a single couple was dancing.

“Hey, do you trust me?” Draven asked gently as he placed a hand at my cheek.

“Yes.” My quick answer made him smile and my happiness came at seeing his own lighting up his eyes. 

“Then let me take care of you.” He said leaning down to kiss my forehead. Then before I knew what was happening he turned and clapped twice making a booming sound resonate throughout the crowd. He obviously didn’t need to say the words as this was no doubt the way it was done every time they held this Ball. Because now like some practiced dance group the crowd parted perfectly and created a circular dance floor.

Draven looked to the side and nodded at someone. Within seconds the sound of a piano being played was being pumped through hidden speakers, filling the entire square with the most beautiful music. Draven led me down the steps and into the centre surrounded by a wall of people.

“Trust me.” He said in response as my panicked eyes scanned the crowd.

“Give me your eyes Keira, no one else…
just me.”
As soon as my eyes looked up at his he pulled me in with a hand at my waist and the other clasped tightly in mine. Then the most perfect words started to sing around us in a heavenly voice.

“I chose this song for you.” He told me and as soon as I started to listen to the lyrics I had to hold back the tears. It was as though the first verse was from Draven’s point of view and the second was definitely from mine. 

‘You are the avalanche, one world away

My make believing, while I’m wide awake

Just a trick of light, to bring me back around again

Those wild eyes, a psychedelic silhouette

I never meant to fall for you but I

Was buried underneath and

And all I could see was white

My salvation’

‘You are the snowstorm,

I’m purified

The darkest fairytale

In the dead of night

Let the band play out

As I’m making my way home again

Glorious we transcend

Into a psychedelic silhouette.

I never meant to fall for you but I

Was buried underneath and

And all I could see was white

My salvation’

“You’re
my
salvation, Keira.” Draven said fiercely after spinning me around the open space. I clung on tighter upon hearing his declaration of love and let the rest of the world simply fade away. I didn’t need to look around to know they weren’t there anymore. It was just me and Draven dancing in an empty square, somewhere on this earth where only we existed. Where only we existed to be together. I knew that now. I knew that ever since either of us took our first breaths in this world that we were destined for each other. Gods or no Gods, Fates or no Fates!

“You are
my
salvation, Dominic.” I said looking up and with that he stopped us moving. His eyes flashed purple and this time there was no Hell in sight. Then without another word between us he took my face in his hands and kissed me with enough passion I felt his essence start to flow back into me for the first time since that day at the lake.

It was like lighting up my heart.

The kiss and the song came to an end at the same time making everything about it one of the most perfect moments of my life. It was beautiful in every way and even though the rest of Draven’s world started to come back into view I no longer cared. Because I was here, right here in their King’s arms and this time I trusted that I wasn’t going anywhere without him ever again.

It was only the sound of the echoing applause that brought us back to reality from our secret moment. Draven gave me a gentle smile and with my hand still in his he walked me back up to his awaiting throne. I looked behind me to see the space was quickly being filled with new dancing couples and the music started to play something more upbeat.

I turned back just as I felt Draven lean down to once again pick me up into his arms and before I could protest he had already sat down with me positioned in his lap.

“Uh…don’t you think this is a little…?”

“A little?” He said smugly pulling me tighter to him and it was impossible to miss the massive erection pressing into me from behind.

“…inappropriate for royalty?” I managed to force out even though my voice felt thick with lust.

“Well that’s the best part about being King, sweetheart, I get to make my own rules.” I turned my head to the side and rolled my eyes at him making him laugh. Then he put his nose to my cheek and whispered,

“I can’t wait to get you alone.”
Making me shiver with anticipation and fail to hold back the moan that escaped.

“Ah the happy couple! I must say Dom, it’s finally nice to see you dancing at one of these things with someone other than your sister.”

“Lucius!” I shouted as I heard the voice I would know anywhere. I was about to get up, forgetting myself, when I felt bands of steel hold me still. So instead I was left to watch as his powerful frame mounted the steps wearing a double breasted military jacket made in a steampunk fashion. His mask was a cream porcelain skull that fit over his entire face. It was creepy but also had an amusing side as it was wearing steampunk googles. He flipped it up to rest on the top of his head before nodding to me. 

“Keira girl.” Lucius said with his handsome yet sadistic grin firmly in place.

“Back so soon?” Draven said in a serious tone that sounded like it had a hidden meaning.

“Well as you know I usually try and miss these things but alas, this year it was not meant to be.” Lucius said and then winked at me.

“You have what I need?” Draven asked making me frown back at him, one he ignored being too focused on Lucius.

“I am here for that sole purpose.”

“Keira, you will have to excuse us a moment.” Draven said shifting me gently off him and to my feet.

“Something I should know?” I asked
knowing
it was definitely something I should know but all I needed was the
what, why, how and who is trying to kill us this time?

“Nothing you need to worry about, love.” He said gripping my chin and giving it an affectionate shake. It was nice but a little chin shake is never gonna stop this girl from worrying, not considering what we had been through.

“Yeah right, when have I
not
heard that one before!?” I said with a hand on my hip.

“Nice to know that when you do finally pick em, you at least ended up with one feisty.” Lucius said slapping Draven on the back making him turn his head to growl, which only made Lucius laugh harder.

“Well I am as ever here to bail you out before she drags your king ass to counselling, as I brought reinforcements.” Lucius finished his little ‘I am so the dude’ speech and nodded to the stairs.

“Percy!” I shouted and this time flung myself at my little friend who was just lifting up his mask. I put both my hands on his scarred cheeks and pulled him into me for a joyous hug.

“My…fffri…end.” He stammered and I pulled back to first kiss his skin puckered cheeks and then look into his beautiful sea green eyes.

“How are you?” I asked as I took in his appearance. He was wearing tight leather trousers and red and white striped braces over a leather suit jacket, one cut short at the front and complete with tails at the back. His mask had been of two demon hands held over his eyes as if playing the kid’s game peek’a boo.