Chapter 26: The Ball Part II

The orchestra began to play heavily classical music as the ballroom began to fill with many lustful vampires. It was quite intimidating to Katerina to see so many in one room that could kill her with one quick movement. It was enough to raise her heart beat, but Ezra instinctively placed his palm in the middle of her back to let her know that she was safe with him. Even though she knew that she shouldn't trust the prince, she knew that he would protect her from others.

As her heart lowered in pace, he removed his hand and led Astrid to a gathered crowd. All glowing eyes landed on Katerina instead of Astrid and that bothered her so.

"Look who decided to join the fun." A goofy smile gathered on the face of Ezra's dear cousin, Demitri. He was holding a chalice in his hand which was assumed to be blood.

Two women stood on either side of Demitri as if he were a ladies man. As Katerina gazed at them, they were humans. Their pinkish skin tone and dull eye colors made her realize that they were pets too. Truth be told, Demitri hadn't purchased any pets lately but he did compel two lovely ladies from a human village to join him at a royal event. How could they say no?

Ezra kept a blank expression, smelling the blood from each cup in the ballroom. "Already drunk on blood eh Demitri?" He smirked. Ezra noticed the hypnotized women and he sighed. "Such a sloppy cousin. Bringing in humans like that."

Demitri shrugged and took a sip from his chalice that left a thin blood mustache on his upper lip. With a quick lick, he removed it and gazed at Astrid.

"Lovely to see you again Astrid. Your breasts look rather enticing this evening." The vampire cousin shamelessly picked on the woman which made her fumed with embarrassment.

Ezra let out a chuckle that made Astrid snap her head up to him but he only shrugged. "You did have to choose such a revealing dress, milady."

Astrid removed her arm from his and stepped away from the group to find Elisabeta.

Demitri bellowed out a laugh as he stepped over to Ezra and placed his arm lazily around his shoulders. "Drink with me cousin." Demitri picked up another chalice off the platter of a maid walking by. He thanked her with a sinful grin and handed it to Ezra.

For a moment, Katerina stared at Ezra, waiting for him to take the cup but something felt off. Thin pulsing veins, blueish in color, began to rise from under his skin and direct themselves to his crimson eyes.

With a grim look, Ezra pushed the cup away from his face to calm the thirstful nerves he started to feel. Not now, he thought. Fearful of the way he would act if he stood near the bloody cup any longer.

"I had my share of blood earlier this afternoon, thank you." His face had returned to normal and smiled at Demitri who hadn't even noticed the struggle he was facing. Katerina did, though.

"Suit yourself.." After slushing down the blood from both chalices, Demitri rolled his eyes over Katerina's appearance. "You cleaned her up nicely." He praised the prince.

Ezra narrowed his eyes at Katerina, making her feel uncomfortable in the spotlight. "She is rather dashing isn't she." His eyes quickly flashed a brighter red color then went back to their usual deepened color.

Katerina stood with her head hanging low, unaware of the stares and whispers that were going on around her, but Ezra heard every one of them. It quite frankly excited him to know how much of a looker his pet was. He did wonderful with making sure she made her first public appearance in style.

As the violins and trombones picked up in intensity, Ezra seemed to leave Demitri's side and stroll through the crowd. With Katerina close by, he scanned the area for Alessandro, the man he most certainly wanted to speak with.

"Oh mother, there is our dear Ezra!" Lilith squealed and ran to Ezra. She twirled around in her newly made gown. It was quite flashy with bright colors and many ribbon tied bows.

"You look splendid, Lilly." Ezra leaned down to kiss the supple lips of his little sister then he patted her head filled curls.

Lilith was dancing with the pure blood twins as Victoria and Elisabeta conversed in front of the royal thrones. Of course, Astrid was chattering away with them as well.

Clicking his teeth, Ezra looked for his father. The King was never on time for anything, especially Ezra's father. He never was too fond of gatherings and Ezra could agree. Most of Ezra's demeanor came from Cassius and less came from Elisabeta.

Ezra turned his head slightly to see Katerina still following close to him so he turned around to speak to her.

"You cannot be near me all the time." He said. "There is a place for pets to be." He briefly led her to an area on the side of the ballroom where many humans were standing.

Katerina eyed them curiously. They weren't vampires at all, but.. She squinted her eyes to see that they all possessed a collar and leash around their throats. They were pets. She glanced over to Ezra who tilted his chin up as if giving her permission to stand with them.

"You won't have to be here long, I promise." He locked eyes with her for a moment then put his hand in his pocket to walk away from her.

She was left standing there with nonverbal humans. They looked beautiful just as she did but they looked saddened. As if they knew their lives were over. Was she in the same boat?

Ezra returned to his family and Astrid welcomed him into the talkative group with a smile and hand gesture.

"Where is the loving Alessandro?" Ezra questioned, narrowing his eyes as if he had something in store for him.

Elisabeta straightened her torso fabric and sipped her blood chalice. "Speaking of the lovely man." Her eyes glowed as the man appeared to add himself into the small circle.

He was wearing a more fancier suit that Ezra as if trying to one up the prince. However, Ezra thought he looked ridiculous in the gold suit. He was always seeking attention and to think he weaseled his way into spending time with his pet..

"It is a pleasure to see you all." Alessandro took the hands of each woman in the group to kiss. His lips lingered longer on the Queens and she immediately became flustered as their eyes met flirtatiously.

He then turned his gaze to Ezra, almost as if completely not seeing him there. He smiled, "I am even more pleased to see you Prince Ezra."

Ezra let out a soft chuckle and stared at the extended hand from Alessandro.

"I'm surprised you came Alessandro." He stated calmly, refusing to shake his hand.

Alessandro embarrassingly retracted his hand and contained his annoyance. "Whatever do you mean? This is a party for our peace is it not?" Another polite smile appeared on his face.

With a hand running through his royalty icon hair, he returned the smile more devilishly. "I didn't think you would want to see me after you touched my pet."