7 The Blood Celebration

THE DAYS FLEW by much faster than Elixane anticipated. In no time at all, it was the evening of Elixane's sixteenth birthday.

As it was her coming-of-age celebration as well, many ― if not all ― of Loumotiem's nobility were invited to attend the party that was thrown in the princess's honor. By the time the sun had begun to set, the palace was already packed full of chatter.

The people were dressed extravagantly, wrapped in beautiful outfits and decorated with luxurious jewels. They had drinks in their hands, their faces brightly lit with smiles as they conversed about both politics and mindless gossip.

From behind the curtains, Elixane watched the crowd. She felt her hands grow clammy as perspiration began to gather in a thin layer on her skin.

"Nervous?" a voice asked from behind her, causing Elixane to jump a little in her skin. When she turned around and noticed the familiar face, her shoulders drooped in relief.

"Bertrand!" she exclaimed. "You gave me a scare! Don't ever do that again."

The handsome man simply smiled down at Elixane. Casually, he combed a hand through her hair, stroking her smooth silver tresses.

"Apologies, Your Highness. That hadn't been my intention."

"Oh, there's no need for that," Elixane replied. Waving the apology off, she continued saying with a smile, "What's a young man like you doing behind the curtains? Aren't you going to go out and mingle? It can help you gain some powerful connections, you know."

"Nowhere sounds better than by the side of the princess," Bertrand confessed.

His words sent a faint blush to Elixane's cheeks. She hurriedly turned her head away, afraid that he would see even in the dim lighting.

"Such a smooth-talker," she commented. "Is that how you have Loumotiem's women charmed?"

"I only wish to charm just one, Your Highness," Bertrand softly admitted.

In Elixane's mind, Bertrand's words from a few days ago flashed into her mind. She remembered how back in the study, he had indirectly asked for her hand. Truly, it seemed like her feelings for Bertrand were, thankfully, mutual. He was as interested in her as she was in him. The knowledge of that sent Elixane's heart aflutter.

In the distance, the sound of trumpets and drums blared through the air. The ballroom hushed down into silence as they waited with bated breaths, turning their attention to the curtains at the top of the stairs where Elixane hid behind.

"It's time, my princess," said Bertrand.

"Are you to be my escort?" Elixane asked.

Without replying, Bertrand simply held out his elbow for Elixane to take. He waited with a wordless smile, gently beaming down upon Elixane like an angel cloaked in white. Bertrand was as dashing as ever, a vision to behold.

Charmed silly by his good looks, Elixane slipped her hand through his, finding a place to rest in the crook of his elbow.

"Presenting, Her Royal Highness, Princess Elixane Tatiane!" the herald announced.

Just as he finished speaking, the curtains were pulled open, revealing Elixane and Bertrand who were standing behind it. A flash of light was directed onto Elixane as she tried not to squint. Instead, she flashed a practiced smile, displaying her pearly white teeth as she waved to the crowd.

Below, the guests had exploded into thundering applause. They clapped their hands, waiting and watching as the princess was escorted down the long stairs elegantly. All the while, the spotlight followed, shining brilliantly on her and causing the sparkles on her dress to reflect the light and shimmer.

When she finally reached the dance floor, the musicians picked up their instruments again, and soon, a slow waltz began to fill the air.

As Elixane's escort, Bertrand had the luxury of being her first dance. The two gracefully waltzed, twirling and spinning in beat with the music. Whenever she spun, the hems of Elixane's dress would fly a little as well. In the eyes of the onlookers, the princess and that man seemed like a perfect match. They were both beautiful, a paragon.

When the first dance ended, a piece of different music played. This time, Elixane and Bertrand wouldn't be the only ones on the dance floor. The guests were also invited to join in and they quickly formed pairs, finding a spot in the ballroom as they began to glide in tune with the music.

"May I cut in?"

Elixane and Bertrand stopped at the sound of a familiar voice. When Elixane looked up, she met the sight of her father, the king, as he gently beamed at his beloved daughter.

"If you could grant an old man the luxury of dancing with his daughter," the king joked.

"Your Majesty!" Bertrand immediately dipped low, bowing down in respect. "Of course."

Stepping aside, Bertrand made way for the king to take his place. He offered Elixane one last parting smile and a nod before retreating into the crowd, his body disappearing past the throngs of people.

"Father," Elixane greeted with a smile of her own. "Thank you for throwing this party. It's wonderful."

The king chuckled. "I think you'll have to thank your mother for that. She was the one running around making sure everything was in order."

Elixane glanced upwards to where the thrones were. Her mother was indeed nowhere to be found. Instead, when she turned to scan the ballroom, she eventually found the queen in a small corner, talking animatedly with some of the maids. She gestured to the decorations and then the food, her lips moving quickly. Even though Elixane couldn't hear the words exchanged, she still understood her mother's intentions.

The princess sighed, lovingly watching her mother. "When will she ever learn to enjoy a party as is?" she wondered out loud.

"Only when she doesn't have a clue that it's being thrown," the king answered, a sparkle dancing in his eye.

Together, both father and daughter had a good laugh. Their voices were lost in the music, unheard by anyone but themselves. Yet, the joy in both their eyes was apparent. There was no denying that the king dearly loved his daughter and the princess admired her father above all. Even gods had hearts, after all, and that was what made them closer to humans than monsters.

However, the party didn't have the fortune of carrying on harmlessly through the night.

Out of nowhere, Elixane felt a tingling sensation ricocheting through her veins. She recognized the feeling too late. In a flash, something small and silver shot through the air, darting right past her face. It skimmed across her skin, cutting off some strands of her hair and nicking a line onto her cheek before it eventually found its target.

A splatter of blood splashed on Elixane's face as a gasp shot through the ballroom.

Elixane watched with wide eyes, shock rooting her to the ground as her father suddenly went limp in her arms. The king made a strangled noise as his hands flew to clasp his neck. A gaping hole had left its mark in his flesh, blood pouring from the open wound. He cast one last look at Elixane before he staggered back and collapsed.

Just like that, the body of the king thudded on the marble floor, the sound echoing through the ballroom. Elixane's lips were parted, her ears ringing as her vision shook. She didn't have the time to process this information, however.

As quickly as the king had collapsed, a different noise blared through the air. A large booming sound shook the walls and floors as dust and debris erupted from all corners. The people were screaming, hunching, and huddling in fright as the building collapsed from an explosion.

Elixane looked up just in time to see a chunk of stone, quickly descending upon her.