Victory ball (II)

Jasper's stare stood on me throughout the song. Ending the dance I helped Juno to go back to the food table. We said our farewells and I turned to leave.

Someone tapped my shoulders and it was second princess Cardea Ravial. My younger sister. 

"It's been a while since I have seen you at a ball, Duke." That was the first thing she said.

"Greeting to the little star of the Ravial kingdom. Oh I have been awfully busy with a matter in the Irrilan Forest, the monsters have been acting up again." 

She nodded in understanding even though she probably knows about the matter already through the king. 

"Cardea! come here I want you." The king called her and she bid her farewell. 

After that I tried to re-blend with the crowd but a very firm arm grabbed my wrist and pulled me into one of the countless balconies connected to the ballroom.

I literally fell as I was thrown in, I heard the door close behind me as Jas stood with a frown.

"Now what?" I raised my right eyebrow. 

"Stop"

"stop what I don't understand what you are talking about?"

"You know what I am talking about...."

"No I don't." I crossed my arms.

"Why were you dancing with Juno?"

I smirk inwardly 'jealousy huh..'  "You brought me to a ball and I can't even have a dance. Don't you think it is unfair if I can't even do that?" 

He tilted his head a little left, an old habit of frustration. He sighed and finally gave an answer "Just stand in a corner and don't do anything."

"So sorry I can't, I am the representative of all the nobles, even though I don't show up to the ball and events so much I still have to maintain the image of a Duke."

He growled and said "Eat and drink, don't argue with me."

"Why are you acting like this?" I uncrossed my arms and acted as angry as I could.

"Because you planned something stupid and were planning to do it. But now we are fine."

"Are you kidding me? We're not 'fine'!"

"Just please don't talk to anyone." 

'let's start the act now.' I closed the distance with Jas as we got more near to the door. I leaned in and said "You are not the boss of me, quite literally," I pushed the door open and gave Jas a push as he stumbled out. I hold the door and say "Give me sometime to myself." and shut the door in his face.

I hear banging on the door "open up."

"NO!!" I shouted. Seconds later I hear a loud bang and the noise of footsteps going away. 

I leaned against the railing and looked at the peaceful full moon. "You can't go out now, the werewolf is roaming." I whisper an old saying about the full moons. I wondered how my allies are doing now that I am dead. The first person I have to contact who will be on my side is now Reed Pax, the leader of the wolf pack.

I sigh as I push the floor with my legs and backflip down. 

***

I talk to a couple of nobles and my eyes keep going back to the balcony that Kaan is at. Cardea came to me and demanded a dance. And as always I had to oblige because of my character. 

"Now Mr.Hero, what is your next goal?" She asked in the middle of dancing.

'ruin you all.'  I think and smile and say "To keep protecting the kingdom and maybe travel." 

"I never knew you were so close to Duke Mabuz." Here is the real reason why she is here. King's personal gossip person.

"Well he is the reason I became a knight and the late Duke helped me a lot when my family died." 

"He sure is successful, attractive and charming but people of that age always had secrets." Her remark about Kaan made me angry but I held it in and smiled. 

"Well, don't we all. No one is as innocent as they seem." 

We stared at each other's eyes for answers to each other's schemes but she spoke first.

"You are right." she raised her eyebrows because of my protective response. Her short golden hair and ocean blue eyes- darker than Kaan's- ticks me every time. I have hated the royal family as much as Kaan. They had not only abandoned Kaan but also at some point lost faith in saving now, the Mabuz territory. If the previous lord had not stepped up we all would have not survived. 

'How can Kaan be related to them? But she sure is one clever lady. She had no intention of choosing sides until she was sure who was going to win. So different from the first prince Remus Ravial, the idiot and irascible person of the royal family.' 

We continue to dance as we near the end of the song. She neared my face and whispered "take care of Duke Kaan." She kissed my check and we moved away from the dance floor.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"nothing." she shrugged.

"that was not nothing." I frowned.

"Is being drunk an excuse?" she said playfully.

"ya." I admit defeat because she will not say stuff if she does not want to.

As we separated I went to the balcony where Kaan is. I knocked but no answer, knocking again I  waited but nothing. I rushed to the balcony next to it and came outside. I looked over and it was empty. 

'dame it Kaan. I told you to hold still.'

Using my powers to sense him but it failed. He was gone. I removed a potable contact ball and contacted Skyler.

"what?" her scowling face came up.

"Kaan is gone and I can't sense him. Connect the bracelet." I announced.

"what!... on it." It took her some time to scramble around and find the location of the device. 

"It's still near. Just down the garden."

I followed her instructions and when I reached the destination I found the bracelet and a note.

"Can't catch me  -Kaan."

"He got away. Start a search party." I frowned and smirked as I crumbled and burned the note in my hand. "Don't let me catch you again Kaan."