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I wanted to drive, but without my knowledge the decision was taken out of my hands. Now Ben is driving us to The Mill in a black tanned leather interior Bentley, as I fasten the cream lace mask over Elizabeth’s eyes in the backseat.
“Done,” I say and she turns, looking for my approval.
What can I say to her that she would believe?
She looks exquisite clad in the short sleeved cream lace, ankle length, high neck, backless dress. She presses her hand lightly on the side of her mask, smiling.
“Why did it have to be a masquerade?”
I tap the side of my black suede mask. “A vampire thing.” I reach over, take her hand, and kiss her fingers. “It doesn’t matter what I say to you. You will never be able to understand just how gorgeous you are. It’s one of your flaws.”
“Oh please.” She laughs, blushing, whipping her hand away from mine.
A reluctance instantly takes hold of her, as Ben pulls up to stop outside The Mill. I don’t really suffer from anxiety in any form. But since being with Elizabeth, I sometimes recall the unwanted feelings from that distant life. The breathless pressure and fear, just before going into battle. The worry over whether I had made the right choices. The need for just a little more time to think. The look on Elizabeth’s face indicates that time has ran out. There is no backing out of this now.
“Ben, give us a minute.” I watch Elizabeth as Ben leaves the car.
“I don’t feel like this is for us.” She bites on her cheek.
“That’s because it isn’t. But after tonight, the future is for us.” I cradle her face in the palm of my hand.
“Is she here... Selene?”
“You won’t see her. Forget about her.”
“I’m just worried. I feel like this is some kind of goodbye to my family... my friends. I’ve literally agreed to this, not thinking that I’d be putting them in the same room as vampires. Half the time I forget.”
I slide my hand from her face in frustration. “You know I’d never put your family in danger. Just what the hell do you think is going to happen in there?”
“I’m sorry,” she snaps, and I hear that upset in her voice that kills me.
“You are right though Elizabeth. This will be the last night to celebrate us with your family. This is why it’s good to enjoy this night. It is just a party, nothing more.” Again I rest my hand on her cheek, lean, and set my lips against hers. “Let’s go and get a drink.”
As soon as we enter The Mill an explosion of cheers and applauds sound from around two hundred, mostly human, well-wishers. Vincent raises his arms to greet Elizabeth and I. Elizabeth digs her fingers into my forearm. I take note of her nervousness about our new executive. I never took her concerns about Laurie seriously until it was too late. Now I know her judge of character is spot on.
“Not now Vincent.” I hold out my hand as I guide Elizabeth to her family.
The event has been successful in regards to music, food, and deco. The band are what I’d describe as a soft folk type group, playing background music. The catering is a help yourself hot buffet of Mediterranean dishes. And hors d'oeuvres and champagne are being offered to the guests. This is clearly all Sara’s work. I peer around the room, to find her standing with Dom, and offer her a nod of approval.
“Here we go,” Elizabeth says as we approach Ruby, Geoff, and Cate.
“This is wonderful Adrien,” Ruby smiles with glee, rising up on her tiptoes to greet me with a peck on the cheek.
“It was a team effort,” I say, noticing that her red dress is more subtle than what I was expecting to see her in.
“You two look,” Cate says, with an okay gesture.
“You do look beautiful Lizzy,” Ruby adds. “And you also have a surprise visitor.”
I look behind Elizabeth to see Nathan. He places his hands over Elizabeth’s eyes and she flinches. I stare across the room at Sara. She never told me he’d be here. She smiles at my annoyed expression, pleased, like this is her payback for organising all this.
Elizabeth tugs down Nathan’s hands, spins around, and flings her arms around him.
I never thought I’d feel like a fucking spare part tonight.
Nathan has been, what can I say, a goddamn kiss-ass in the vampire community. Don’t get me wrong, he’s accepted what he’s become, and has a good solid business mind in that thick skull of his. But he’s done it, worked his way up the ranks, to rub my face in it. He might as well swing his dick around and say, I’m a fucking better executive than you.
“Oh my God Nathan. You never told me you were coming,” Elizabeth shrieks.
Women and their excitement. Hell, even Ruby and Cate are swooning around him. What exactly is it about him that’s so appealing?
“How could I miss my best friend’s engagement party?” He winks through his grey eye mask at me. Dick.
“Nathan, good to see you.” I offer him my hand and he shakes it. A handshake that’s brisk and firm, which also calls me an asshole.
I smile. I know all his secrets. I’ve made it my business to keep up to date with his awakening, his work, and his antics. Like when he was human, he’s still ruled by his dick. I’ve heard the tales about the parties, the drugs, and the over consumption of blood. Leanna allows it because he’s basically running Paris for her.
“You too Adrien,” he replies. “I was shocked she said yes.” There’s an awkward silence, and trust that idiot to have caused it. “Anyway.” He grabs a tray full of drinks from a passing waiter. “Get one all of you.” He waits until we all have a flute of champagne. “A toast, to beauty and the...” He pauses, smirking at me. “Yank.” Well I guess it’s better than prick.
“To Lizzy and Adrien,” Ruby thankfully adds some class to the toast.
We all clink glasses and I tip all of the champagne down my throat, frustrated. Elizabeth peers up at me. I’ve just shown my dislike in front of her friends and family. I’m doing exactly what Nathan did. I’m fucking jealous. I’m never jealous. I won her heart in the end. I was partially responsible for how things ended with Nathan. I have to admit, I’m pissed-off with myself.
“Thirsty?” Nathan smirks.
I bite down and tug Elizabeth aside. I arch to her ear. “I’m sorry, but I need to have a quick word with Ben. I won’t be long.”
“You better not be.” I see a frown beneath her mask.
I straighten up and grin at Nathan. “Nathan, can I leave Elizabeth in your safe hands.” I’m being smug. I’ve shook off the childish thoughts, and I’m showing him that I couldn’t give a shit, even if he kissed her. She’ll always choose me.
“Yep, Liz let’s catch up.” Nathan takes Elizabeth’s hand.
I make my way across the room. But it’s proving difficult to get to my coven as I’m being stopped by every second person I pass by. I’ve always been very secretive. I have to be. But now I’m out in the open with the humans, who want to know everything about me.
I squeeze by Elizabeth’s old boss Harry and his wife, sitting down, just about to eat. I’m only meters away from Dom, Ben, and Sara, but I feel like I have to stop.
I rest my hand on Harry’s shoulder. “I’ve been told the minted kebabs are excellent.”
“Adrien,” Harry exclaims. “Where’s the bride to be?”
“She’s right over there.” I point at Elizabeth and Nathan. “How’s retirement treating you?”
“Hating every single second.” He laughs, as his wife scowls beneath her sequined mask.
“I’ll let you eat. Enjoy the rest of the evening.” I pat his shoulder before walking away.
I don’t know what it is about Harry. I guess I could envision myself as such a man at that old human age. When we have talked in the past, it was almost like talking to a Brother. Even when I called him at 4a.m., he was nothing but pleasant and concerned about Elizabeth.
“Selene?” I ask Dom, but as I look up I see her. She’s on the fourth floor, watching the guests over the balcony. “It doesn’t matter.” Dom, Ben, and Sara, peer up at Selene as I push open the door.
Before I see Selene, I take a second. I need the time to appear calm, so I can finally get rid of her in a manner in which she won’t disrupt this party.
With my head held high I enter the top floor. Selene sits on a stool overlooking the guests. She’s wearing a red silk gown and her black hair is pinned up on the top of her head. She’s not wearing a mask, but holds one in her hand, like she’s ready to go back on her word of meeting Elizabeth. I remove my mask and she holds out her hand so I can kiss her ruby ring.
“Dashing like always,” she says as I straighten up, after having kissed her icy hand. “But your red truly outshines everyone here. Including you. She’s wonderful.” If I’m not mistaken, she’s lusting after Elizabeth.
“We agreed you’d keep your distance.” I look over her dress.
“Yes we did.”
She turns to the ledge before the balcony and picks up a very odd looking bottle. It’s a green wine bottle sealed with red wax. It looks like it came from an old shipwreck somewhere deep beneath the sea. She breaks the seal and pours what appears to be a vintage red into two glasses.
She holds a glass out to me. “A toast.”
I take the full glass of wine and inhale the aroma. It’s no vintage. It has a strange scent like damp wood, and there’s also something else. Blood. It’s tainted and smells like it’s rotten.
“I can’t drink this Selene. Where did you get this?” I go to hand it back, but my hand stops, noticing the fury on her face.
“When I offer you a gift, you take it,” she says, her voice deep and unforgiving. “Now drink it, Adrien.”
Fuck it. There have been times in my existence in which I’ve consumed some weird and awful things. The flesh of a rat. The blood of a junkie. Diseased blood. If this gets Selene out of here, then I have no choice.
“Cheers then.” I lift and tip the nasty wine down my throat.
“To your beautiful Elizabeth. May she flower for you.”
Selene drinks the foul wine. I grit my teeth and shake my head, trying not to let the lingering taste bother me, or show my disgust by spitting at Selene’s bare feet.
“It’s delicious.” Selene sets her empty glass down on the ledge. “Now, one more thing before I go.”
“What now Selene.” Hell, I sound whiny.
“I just want to see you dance with your lady. I’m not invited to the wedding, so I think it is only fair I watch your first dance together right here.”
I hum through my nostrils. No one here will see Elizabeth and I dance at our wedding. No one knows our plan. Perhaps it is only right for the guests to see the future bride and groom dance. Not for Selene’s benefit, but for Elizabeth’s family.
“Goodbye Selene.” I lean across to her, and even though it pains me, I kiss her cheek. “Thank you for suggesting this masquerade. Now, I will go and find my fiancé, and parade her around for you to see one last time.”
“I wish you all the best.” She calls out behind me as I walk to the doors, shaking my head.
I open the door to the bottom floor and see Ben and Dom standing on guard.
“She’s staying up there right. Don’t fancy trying to stop a bloodbath,” Dom asks, his eyes looking up at Selene.
Dom has never met Selene face-to-face. But he’s heard the exaggerated tales of how dangerous she can be. How everything she does, is to fulfil her own needs. If Selene wanted, she could just leap from the balcony and devour every guest here. But she won’t. It wouldn’t do any good for her mysterious appearance. She loves having an enigmatic aura. It keeps those she sired always wondering what her next move will be, and on their toes.
“Yes Dom.” I look up to see Selene still on the fourth floor, grinning down at us.
“It looks like Nathan is going to blow his cover,” Ben says, nodding his head across the room.
I quickly glance at Elizabeth’s family and friends. Nathan does look a little tense. But he’ll manage. He has to behave for Elizabeth’s sake, and I know he’s still in love with her.
“Ben, a quiet word.” I stroll several feet away from Dom and he follows.
I position myself in a way I can see Elizabeth. My eyes stay on her. My eyes always want to stay on her. This city, this impossible situation of being in love with her, has completely changed me. She is everything, and I need to show her. I want to prove my love without a fucking audience, and without needing approval.
“What is it?” Ben asks.
“I need you to charter a flight to Killiecrankie, tonight.”
“It’s a bit short notice.”
“It’s an order.” Still I watch Elizabeth, showing her care for Nathan.
“What about Vincent?”
“We’ll be gone a few days. And I want you and Sara to be at my house in Killiecrankie, no later than tomorrow evening.”
“What’s going on?” He’s needlessly panicking. He used to have the same worry in his voice when I gave him military orders.
“You’re going to be marrying Elizabeth and I. That’s all you need to know,” I state clearly, patting his shoulder before making my way across to the live band.