VII: Dance of the Lilies

Standing around in the giant ballroom of the royal blood quickly intimidates me. Their manor is more of a castle, set near the edge of a cliff. I could hear the wind howling so loudly while we were waiting to be ushered inside, almost as if a wolf were singing along and mimicking the cry.

Eli is quite the socialite, striking up a conversation with many women, their ages varying. It very well might be the night he finds interest in another, choosing his beloved. I know mother and father would like that very much, especially since Eli knows our society's rules...laws...

...don't weaken the bloodline.

"Master Eli," one of the women flirts, and I notice she's very much one step on the aristocratic scale. We all have our proper titles on display here, sewn to the tip of our tongues as we show leniency within our home of such formalities. If we had more coven members, we would.

It's subconscious, the way I adjust the fabric clinging around my upper body. The dress that mother selected, it's tighter than it looked on the screen when ordering it, though it does flow out at my hips and away from my legs. I get to breathe a little, not much but I focus more on glancing around and admiring the craftsmanship of the ballroom.

Mother and father are chatting with others, while I solemnly keep to myself next to a wall. My hair is up and away from my face, revealing my neck as is custom for those who are unmated. It reflects many things in our society, including the allure of the most vulnerable part of our bodies on display, along with proving we have yet to be claimed.

I prefer my hair down, shielding me from such views and judgment, unwanted and unsolicited. Though, like everything else in my life, there is no choice I have in this matter.

Oh, here we go...

The soft and regal melody playing ends, the grand double doors opening at the top of the staircase leading down to this basin of a ballroom. The announcement comes clear, swallowing hard as I keep myself hidden for the most part, "King Seskel and Queen Arabella Hárauður."

A sweeping of the crowd is next, showing signs of respect among the different bloodlines. After the King and Queen make their way down the staircase, moving to the end of the ballroom and sitting at their thrones, a throat clears.

The next announcement draws the entire room's focus even more so, "Prince Rune Hárauður."

Respect is once again given, though I observe many of the women who have yet to be claimed, they are flirtatious in their regard. They proudly show their necks a little more, wanting to enter and capture the Prince's attention. A prize among any. Well, he's not all that I expected, honestly. Prince Rune is hardly the looker I'd have been led to believe, though...

...I guess these women see power as beauty.

While Prince Rune begins mingling with women, we are slowly brought to the center of the ballroom floor. We make an arc, and it's then that I can see Liliana Myrkur.

Stunning is a complete symbol of sexualizing how mortals have come to view vampires. The golden dress she is wrapped up in, clings to every last one of her curves, Prince Rune halting in front of her for a moment.

He continues on though, my heart jumping into my throat the second Prince Rune walks before me. A weight lifts from my chest when he hardly stops for a second, moving on and admiring others. It's only when a new tune, one I've never heard before... strikes the air suddenly, Prince Rune states, "Dance."

It's...

...compelling.

Confusion races through me as my body begins to move nearly of its own accord. I'm not the only one, observing the other women moving to the sound of this tune. I've all but forgotten why Odette views the Royal Hárauður Bloodline as those above the laws. Vampires aren't strong enough to compel one another, though any Hárauður member can easily influence another vampire.

Why would anyone want to willingly be Prince Rune's beloved, knowing this deception? Influence comes with power and using it wisely. Abuse of power is something that can easily escalate, especially when it seems to be the easy route. I guess everyone knows this, willing to overlook the possible consequences of being claimed by a Hárauður.

This dance ends slowly, and as it does, everyone applauds. The evening is broken up from that point into small gatherings, Prince Rune taking time away with women he has a possible interest in. Thankfully, I get to spend most of the evening in the shadow of my parents, just waiting for this night to end.

Never have I wanted to indirectly watch a sunrise, none more so than right now to know it's over and the Prince has chosen a beloved.

My hopes come crashing down around me when Prince Rune turns up near my parents. He speaks to mother and father, asking, "Your daughter?"

"Lady Wren Blóð," father announces my presence and my heart skips a beat. My title, I feel hardly of Lady status.

Prince Rune eyes me briefly before he confirms with father, "Do I have your permission?"

Permission?

Permission for...what?!

"Yes," father replies and my gaze tries to find mother's. It never meets, as if she's avoiding my stare on purpose!

Prince Rune is before me, offering me his hand as his eyes capture mine. He asks this time, "Will you dance with me?"

Now...now is when mother decides to cast me a single gaze that speaks for itself...speaks louder than my silent words. That is until I must respond and reply, "Y-Yes."

My hand falls in Prince Rune's a shiver traveling down my spine at the sudden contact. His eyes continue to hold mine, taking me with him across the ballroom before he draws me close to his chest. My hand on his shoulder feels foreign, his hand around my back gives me claustrophobic entrapment. It takes focus to breathe evenly, my gaze casting downward and out, stealing glimpses of others watching...

...envious.

I am envious of them by themselves and them of me in the Prince's arms.

He does not speak once, and just as the music shifts to a new melody, Prince Rune brings our dance to a close. Just as I had seen him take others on a walk, one of his hands continues to hold mine, walking me away from the gathering. Down beneath the staircase, does a door open to a vast hallway, showing more of the glorious manor.

While I'm glancing around, he asks me, "Can you see yourself living here, Lady Wren?"

"Oh, no, I-I was just admiring how beautiful your home is," I shake my head as I glance away.

I'm brought back to meet his gaze when Prince Rune questions, "You don't care to live here?"

"That's not what I meant, I..." my voice trails off as I feel embarrassed, offending him without realizing it or trying to.

Perhaps, I shouldn't meet new people anymore!

My track record speaks for itself.

"...I just never imagined I'd be here right now," I try and play into his ego, the royal one I don't want to hurt and cast a bad shadow on my family bloodline.

He chuckles and nods, arching a brow as he states, "You still haven't answered my question."

"Yes, I can see myself living here," I cannot believe how...oh, I don't know how to put it exactly, though I guess he just needs a direct answer for everything.

"Good," Prince Rune adjusts his tone slightly as we reach a door down the hallway. He slowly opens the door after releasing my hand, holding the door open for me. I glance at him before taking a few steps into the room, my nerves shaking.

Prince Rune closes the door behind him, the soft glow of the chandelier above us casts shadows across the room. A bed is among the select pieces of furniture in this room, though I don't suppose this is the Prince's room, more like one of the many spares that must litter these halls.

He stands behind me, the hair raising on the back of my neck as I feel a light breath touch my skin. Prince Rune walks around me, eyeing me, arching a brow as he mentions, "Your skin is quite flawless, the beauty of the unmarked."

Wow...being claimed doesn't mean you're ruined...

The air catches in my lungs when he takes a step forward and closes the distance between us. His fangs scrap the outer shell of my ear, goosebumps breaking out across my skin as his voice comes out nearly as a whisper, "Now, for a sample..."

Is he going to taste my bloo—

I sharp cry leaves my lips at how quickly he moves, faster than the vampires of my coven. On my back at the end of that bed, my dress is hiked up on one side as one of Prince Rune's finger presses into my walls without warning. It takes a bit, to register what happened and what happens next, staring up in utter shock and horror as he stares down into my eyes with nearly no emotion in his.

Prince Rune presses his finger in harder and my cry turns into a pained moan.

This isn't happening...why?

Father and mother...they knew this would happen?

This...this...

"St-Stop, please," I manage to vocalize the inner fear and turmoil I feel welling within and surfacing. Prince Rune must have not heard me because he moves his finger in harder and out quicker before I feel it fill me once again.

I exhale sharply and shake my head, "Stop!"

I manage to move, taking control of how frozen fear had left me so quickly. Shoving him off me, Prince Rune staggers a few steps back. My breathing is uneven, my chest rising and falling as I sit up.

"It didn't have to be this way; you do realize how pitiful your actions are? I didn't need to take everything, just a sample," Prince Rune muses and chuckles, "now, I'm just going to take it all out of spite for your insolence."

Getting off the bed, I reach out and clutch for the bedpost, gaining and steadying myself, remembering that I can walk, that I have control. His voice haunts me, each word cutting deeper.

That is...until...

Prince Rune commands, his voice shifting as I feel the compelling feeling strike into my soul, "Turnaround, get on the bed with your ass in the air, now."

I feel it, just like with the dance...

My hands turn into fists as my knuckles turn white, shaking in terror. Turning around...

As my eyes land on the bed, it's Ulric's words that slip through my mind, activating a memory made, "Never turn your back on the ocean, it's dangerous."

My eyes narrow, anger surging through me.

"What are you doing?" Prince Rune's voice is a little surprising.

I grit my teeth together, pulling away as I realize now what Ulric was honestly saying...

...never turn your back on anything that is dangerous.

"H-How...?" Prince Rune continues to show shock as I slowly turn around, fighting away that feeling that wants to consume me, forcing me to yield...I won't yield!

Not ever again...

...I will be strong.

Prince Rune rushes forward, yet I sense it this time, pulling sharply and away and to my side before sprinting to the door. I open it quickly, rushing down the hallway and heading back to the ballroom, to find safety with my parents.

There's no way they would have allowed what had happened and what was about to happen if they knew what they were agreeing to...could they?

No, it can't be. I refuse to believe...

The music all but stops as I am breathing hard as I rush through to them, many quieting their conversations. Many turn, staring, watching me as I make a scene. I must though, so they know the truth!

"Please, help," I halt before them both, shaking my head as I turn to see Prince Rune just now coming through the door from under the stairs.

Liliana arches a brow while other women also whisper quiet. She shrugs her shoulders and shakes her head, giving me a look of disgust.

I turn to mother and father, crying out, "He sexually assaulted me and would have raped me too!"

With my declaration nearly leaving the room in utter silence, I'm left frozen in time when father looks directly at me and states, "You should have let him."

My eyes widen in complete shock and horror.