12 + High Priestess +

Cederic summoned the chamber's attendants to prepare Luna for the Blood Moon Banquet. He briefly excused himself to handle more pressing matters; his lieutenant had called him to personally greet guests and preemptively deal with potential threats, particularly rogue vampires, hunters, and other unwelcome supernatural beings.

When he left, the attendants unfurled a vast array of vials, pots, and bottles. They dusted her cheeks with genuine gold, accentuated her prominent Cupid's bow, and lined her large eyes with kohl. Luna hoped the cosmetics would mask the fresh bruises she'd received in her altercation with the were-leopard. A mix of lavender and jasmine fragrances enveloped her, a reminder that their main aim was to make her irresistible to the vampires.

Her patience was thinning, and she was on edge. Just as she felt she might snap from another indifferent touch, there was a knock at the door.

Cederic, possibly just back from dealing with potential adversaries, entered. "I'll take over," he told the attendants, making a shooing gesture. The attendants quickly wrapped up their work and retreated, leaving Luna and Cederic alone.

He motioned for her to sit. "Allow me to comb your hair, Lady Luna."

Before she could protest, he said, "It would be my pleasure." He leaned in slightly, seemingly taking in the scent of her hair. In the mirror's reflection, their eyes locked.

Reluctantly, she leaned back, hoping he'd treat her hair with care. Cederic's gentle strokes were methodical, his attention on her silver strands evident. Luna found herself relaxing, focusing only on the sensation of the brush gliding through her hair. It was unusual for someone of Cederic's status to be so engrossed in such a task, but his fascination was evident. This was certainly a more favorable situation than the reprimand he'd mentioned to Vali.

Gathering courage, Luna ventured, "I wish to become a High Priestess, Cederic."

He halted, looking at her incredulously. "Do you have a death wish?" His voice carried a mixture of concern and sarcasm. "Becoming a High Priestess is like playing with fate. If you can't break the Vampire King's curse within a year, you die. A High Priestess delves into dark magics, and if she can't fulfil the ritual's requirements..." He trailed off, taking a deep breath. "Dark Priestesses can easily be ensnared by malevolent forces. If they fail their purpose, they're executed."

Luna met his gaze. "I never anticipated being abducted into a harem for vampires with voracious appetites," she responded defiantly. "I've always embraced challenges. If my path leads to death, so be it."

Cederic's hands stilled, his eyes narrowing. "You believe it's that straightforward? Are you mad?" He carefully applied a fragrant myrrh oil behind her ears and on her neck. "No High Priestess has existed here for ages because the task is deemed insurmountable."

Luna clenched the armchair's arms, her nails biting into the fabric. "All I want is to leave this accursed place. My only desire is for the King to grant me that freedom. Being a plaything in this kingdom isn't my destiny. Not now, not ever, Cederic."

A hint of amusement touched Cederic's lips. "Yet here you are, considering breaking the Vampire King's curse for your freedom. But you've not even undergone the tests. To even begin, you'd need the Staff of Delphi's blessing, unlock the Ancient Witchcraft Ritual Book of Hecate with your own blood, and then help the Vampire King control his dark impulses."

"You'd train under a High Priest—an ancient and quite temperamental warlock. And trust me, the moment you meet him, you'll wish you were anywhere else."

He smirked. "The advanced lessons? Those you'll navigate on your own. The Book of Hecate remains a mystery, unopened since Lilith vanished. I'm eager to see what you might uncover. What sacrifices will the rituals demand? A noble vampire's pulsing heart? The tainted soul of a dark faerie? A human child? I anticipate it, provided you become the High Priestess, of course."

Luna squared her shoulders. "You might try to dissuade me, but my resolve remains. At the Blood Moon Ceremony, I'll make my stand."

His face hardened. "Do you not value your existence? How many years have you seen?"

She hesitated, then said, "I come from a place where time is an illusion."

Cederic frowned. "Immortal? But you bleed."

"Yet I heal at a rate unlike any human," Luna retorted.

His gaze traveled her form, lingering at the fresh bruises. "You are formidable, skilled in combat," he said, fingers brushing against her neck in a fleeting touch. Suddenly conscious of his actions, he withdrew. "Are you a demi-god?"

She shook her head.

"You're taller than our female vampires, stronger. You bested a wereleopard with sheer strength. But you seem... human," Cederic mused. A realization dawned in his eyes. "You're an Amazon, aren't you?"

Luna's lips curled into a smile, her eyes shimmering with mischief.

Captivated, he whispered, "I believed Amazons were myths. No one has ever claimed to meet one."

Luna responded coolly, "Just because people think we're legends doesn't mean we don't exist. Anyone who ventures into our territory never returns to tell the tale."

Cederic's face contorted with anger. "Why are you here, in our realm? A spy? An assassin? What drives you?"

With an air of regal defiance, Luna rose, the opulent skirts of emerald green and peacock blue billowing around her. The delicate fabric, likely crafted from the finest silks, shielded her modesty and gave an illusion of modest dress.

They stood in a silent standoff, the distant hum of the banquet below filling the pause.

Finally, Cederic asked, "Do you truly wish to be the High Priestess, knowing the dangers?"

Caught off guard, she murmured, "Yes."

"Then I'll support you, every step of the way," he said with a grin that reminded Luna of the sly Cheshire cat. "I swear it upon my deceased mother's resting place."

Suspicion clouded Luna's eyes. "What's the catch?"

"You'll owe me. When the time is right, I'll collect."

The foreboding in his voice sent a shiver down her spine.

A shadow fell across the doorway—Vali, the Head Eunuch, stood there, signaling that the Blood Moon Banquet awaited her presence.