Seeds of Doubt

Elaina could barely focus as his fingers on her skin distracted her. Destined by fate? It sounded like a load of nonsense but somewhere she felt it was true. Seeing as how she didn't mind his touch.

"We will have all the time together so don't worry your pretty little head," he said. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he stared at her. A soft and gentle smile that wasn't visible to her. Her scent filled his nose and he revelled in it. Staying away from her was proving more difficult especially now that she was a grown woman.

The tempo of the song started to change, signaling the time for the shuffle but Elaina didn't want to leave him. Not when she was enjoying his company.

"Don't be sad," Mael said and when the time to switch came, he twirled her around. The lights on the dance floor shone as the various colors twirled and shuffled around the dance floor but only Mael didn't move.

He took Elaina back in his arms, this time closer than before. All the other lights on the dance floor except for theirs turned off putting them in the spotlight and Elaina noticed that they were in the middle of the dance floor. The other couples danced but they weren't.

"You didn't switch," she stated.

"Are you glad?" he asked and she nodded in response.

"So am I," he smiled.

"We aren't dancing," Elaina stated.

"You must be tired. Are you not?" he tilted his head slightly in question.

"I am," she replied. The fact that he did it out of consideration for her touched her heart and she couldn't stop the shy smile curving up her lips as she stared into his eyes. The music, the people surrounding them, and the rest of the world blurred out leaving the two of them in their little world.

"I've said this before but, let us meet again, Elaina," Mael said and all she did was nod in response.

Remembering how she had come to him in his cave not once but twice, he added, "Stay away from danger," and she nodded again like an obedient child.

"Good girl," he whispered into her ear.

After that, the other lights came on and so did the time to switch. Mael twirled her around and this time, he stepped away from her, allowing the shuffle and she landed in the arms of her brother.

At the same time, the moon-like chandelier hung above the dance floor reached its full moon phase. But compared to the dull and gentle shine of the moon, it reflected, the shine in her eyes was as bright as the sun.

***

Alois Trancy stood at a secluded part of the hall away from the lights and people. His back was rested on the drapes and he held a glass of wine in his hand. He took a sip out of the special drink shared only to those knowledgeable and of high rank and savored the taste of the strong but sweet alcoholic wine which had a metallic aftertaste.

Footsteps approached him and his eyes moved to the side, "What are your thoughts?" he inquired.

"You really are amazing, Alois, how could you tell that the two colors were different?" the man praised.

"Do not waste my time with useless comments, Darius," Alois snapped.

Darius took the glass of wine from Alois and drank the contents in one gulp. "Her eye colors were different, if you hadn't informed me, I wouldn't have noticed. They were odd but I don't think she is what you're searching for," he responded.

"How worthless," Alois tched in irritation. Sending Darius had been nothing but a waste of time.

"Come now, don't say such things. My specialty is fetching remember," Darius stated before raising the empty glass to his lips, catching the little drops with his tongue.

"You sure drink quality stuff, Alois. Where can I get a glass?" he asked while staring at the glass. The elite sure enjoyed more benefits than the commoners, who would have thought such quality wine was served here.

"Ah, that reminds me, I felt something while I was on the dance floor. A strong chill struck me to my bones, a clear dominance of power, you must have felt it too. Don't tell me the master woke up earlier than planned?" he asked with all seriousness. The master was the one who made them all and was the only one who could exert dominance over them, it was a feeling similar to what he had felt.

"The master won't awaken until the night of the full moon," Alois stated calmly.

"Then what was that?"

"I am unsure," he replied. He had visited the balcony right after he was done with the guests but had only met the head of the council and upper echelon, Integra Fairbook. It had been a painfully awkward situation until it was broken with questions about work.

"Wow, the great Alois Trancy, unsure about something? That's a first," Darius' voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Tch," he pushed his back off the drapes and stood straight. "You have a new task. Go play detective," he ordered.

"Yes, my lord," Darius bowed in response.

"Do not disappoint me, Darius," Alois stated.

"When have I ever?" he replied with a smirk. "Ah, that's right! What do you think of the name Miller?" he asked

"It sounds like a fool's name," Alois stated before walking away from there leaving him behind.

"He didn't tell me where he got the drink," Darius muttered. Well, -his eyes moved to a woman in a deep blue dress standing all by herself-, it was better to get it from the source.

He walked up to her and greeted her, "Good day, Milady. I go by the name Darius Rucker, what's yours?"