I call to the elements, and air floats up, but it brings with it the darkness, and when I dip into it, I get both elements in equal measure.
Each element I try to access also brings with it the darkness, and I know there's no way around it, I have to let that power out, at least a little.
I open my eyes and watch as the man grabs a glass of something red to drink. I focus and flick my finger. The man's eyes widen as he stumbles, spilling the drink all over his suit. With another flick, I send him into a caged aquarium of piranhas. Or at least, sharp-tooth fish that look like piranhas. He breaks the tank as he falls, and fish latch on to him, drawing blood instantly as he screams for help.
Silence falls on the room as the rest of the guests just stand and stare. No one goes to his aid until the butler hurries in and helps escort the man out of the ballroom while other staff come in to contain the remaining fish and clean up the mess. Conversation resumes, the guests acting as if nothing has happened, and Cole gives me a sly wink and a subtle clap of admiration for my revenge. I must admit I feel pretty good about it, too.
As the musicians resume playing, Cole holds a hand out and offers me a charming grin. "Would the lady do me the honor of a dance?"
I'm tempted to say no, but I can't bring myself to do it. I want it too badly. So, I take his hand and let him guide me to the center of the dance floor.
The music changes tempo as if on cue, and Cole leads me in a passionate routine of complex steps that I've never done before. I'm convinced I'll fall flat on my face, but as he spins me and dips me and synchronizes his steps with mine, I find myself matching him step for step, as if we had practiced this hundreds of times. Our bodies move in time to each other, like planets orbiting one another. His body's pulse drives me, guides me, and it is as if no one exists but us. I can't feel anyone else in the room as he holds my lower back, pulling me against him, his lips brushing against my cheek.
Black tendrils of smoke seem to rise from him, and I feel his magick, his power, wrapping around me, touching and guiding me.
When the song ends, he pulls me into an embrace and dips me deeply.
That's when I realize the dance floor cleared for us, and then the crowd breaks into applause at our performance. I flush scarlet as Cole leads me away, his arm wrapped around my waist.
"How did you do that?" I ask, as we pause at a food table that tempts me with succulent roasted chicken, pasta salad, fruit platters, and pastries.
"We all have our talents," Cole says, in an answer that really isn't an answer at all.
We both fill a plate and get drinks, then move to the balcony to catch some fresh air. Unlike his brothers, the dark Druid is no vampire. He tastes like I taste. Feels like I feel.
"I’m glad you’re here," I say, taking a bite of a chocolate covered strawberry.
We eat in silence for a few minutes, watching the Dragon's Breath float in the sky. Finally, I reluctantly pull away from him. "I have to go back in. I won't learn anything out here with you," I remind him.
He takes a step forward, his head dipping closer to mine, our lips inches apart. "Oh, you would learn plenty, mon coeur. I can promise you that."
"No doubt," I whisper, my voice thick. "But nothing about the egg." I'm desperately trying to hold onto my purpose for attending this event. Liam. I have to save Liam. But damn, Cole makes it hard to think sometimes.
"Then by all means, go collect clues. I'll be here when you're ready."
His words are layered with too many meanings for me to effectively unpack right now, so I turn and step back into the ballroom, and I walk right into someone I wasn't expecting to see, though it makes perfect sense that she would be here.
Lilith smiles at me, her teeth so white, her pale skin luminescent, her silky black hair falling down her back like a waterfall. She's wearing a pure white gown with a long trail, and a white feathered mask that flares up on the ends like cat eyes. Her lips are as red as mine and she looks enchanted. Beautiful. Dangerous.
"Can it be possible that you are here alone? Unaccompanied by the Night brothers?" she teases, handing me a glass of a foamy white drink with red sparkles in it.
I sip the drink and enjoy the frothy sweetness, but I know to be careful with supernatural alcohol. The magick packs a punch, so I drink slowly and cautiously. "They don't have me on a leash," I say, a little snippy.
"You must give those boys quite a run for their money," she says, grinning. "How marvelous." She links arms with me, and we move through the room. "What brings you here, then? You didn't strike me as the type to attend balls. Particularly alone."
I debate about how much to tell her. Our relationship—if one can call it that—is complicated. "Liam is being accused of conspiring to steal the dragon egg by starting the explosion at the Midwinter Festival. I'm here hoping to find anyone who might know something about what really happened," I say.
She raises an eyebrow. "I take it you do not believe he's responsible?"
"No, I don't," I say firmly.
She stares at me a moment, then nods. "I agree with you. This isn't Liam's style. But it is quite damning at the moment. I do hope you find what you're looking for. Wherever that might lead."
"Do you know anything?" I ask her point blank, not that I expect an honest answer. It's been my experience that the older and more powerful a supernatural being is, the more they enjoy speaking in goddamn riddles.
"I know you won't give up until you find the truth," she says. "And I know that tenacity puts you in the line of fire, no pun intended." She pulls away as someone across the room calls to her. "Be cautious," she says. "No one is who you think they are in this world. And nothing is as it seems."
Like I said. Riddles. She walks away with a final wink at me, and I realize I'm wasting precious time that I need in order to figure out how to get an invite into the secret auction later tonight.
I head to the bar in hopes of getting another drink and maybe some helpful information from the bar tender, but as I approach, a hand lands on my back. "Allow me," the tall man at my side says.
He's decked out in the richest velvet and finery, from his ring studded fingers to his tailored clothing, wealth oozing from him like pus from an infection. He looks to be in his 50s or 60s, with flecks of silver along his temples, and he has aristocratic features that give him—at first glance—a debonair style. But it's his eyes that tell me who he is before he does.
His eyes are dead. Soulless. All the charm in the world can't take the place of a soul.
He orders two drinks, both blood red, and hands me one. I eye it suspiciously and wait for him to drink first. When he does, I take a sip, relieved it's not blood or something equally awful.
It's bitter and strong, with a sweet aftertaste.
"Miss Eve Oliver," he says, with a drawl to his voice that belies his ruthlessness. "I am delighted you accepted my invitation. Allow me to introduce myself, I am—"
"Lord Nicholas Vanderbilt," I say, smiling my most charming smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for the invitation. This ball is extraordinary." At least I can be honest about that last part. It truly is exceptional.
I was never a very good actor. I tried out for a play in high school once. I got understudy but never had to actually perform, which is probably a good thing. But now I wish I'd studied it a little more seriously, because tonight will take all the acting skills I don't have to pull off feigning interest in this man who makes my skin crawl. As he cups my elbow and guides me through the crowd, a wave of nausea crashes through me and I set my drink down on a nearby table.
"Was it not to your liking?" he asks, eyeing the nearly full glass that's left.
"It was lovely," I say, smiling. "I'm just pacing myself."
He nods, a glint in his eyes. "A woman of temperance. I appreciate that. It's lacking in most who prefer wild extremes."
"And you?" I ask. "Are you a temperate man or one of extremes?"
I study him, and for all intents he looks human. I wond
er at his supernatural race. He must have one, to be here.
"I am a man of cultivated tastes and specific desires," he says enigmatically.
The door to the ballroom opens, distracting us both as we glance over at the newcomer. A tall man with fire red hair that flows down his back walks in. He wears a red cloak that looks to be made of a strange material, and his eyes…his eyes…
The Collector smiles and escorts me to the man, who, as we get closer, I realize isn't a man at all.
"Miss Oliver, you have met Dath'Racul before, yes? I believe in his true form."
The fire dragon looks at me, eyes narrowing, and I smile nervously and hold out a hand, unsure what the proper protocol. "Yes. You were the judge at Dracula's trial," I say.
He studies my hand but does not shake it, and I awkwardly let it drop to my side.
"Indeed. You had quite the last-minute turnabout," he says, his voice as deep as it was in dragon form.
As a man, he is beautiful. His golden dragon eyes study everything around us with keen intelligence, and what I thought was a cape is actually his wings, draped around him. His skin is a deep burnt red and his body is massive for a man. Though I imagine he feels small in this form, compared to being a dragon.
"I am surprised to see you here," Dath'Racul says to me, then glances curiously at the Collector.
"It was a pleasant surprise for us all," Nicholas says. "What a rare jewel to grace our presence."
I stifle a shudder at his strange praise, knowing from rumor how he likes to collect 'rare jewels.'
"I would think Miss Oliver would have better things to do, with the trial against her employer so imminent,” the dragon says with cold arrogance. “Certainly, Mr. Night is hoping for more commitment to the preparation,"
Oh boy, this guy is really trying to get my goat.
But I won't let him.
"Rest assured, The Night Firm is doing everything in its power to prove that Liam is innocent. We have many other leads that are much more damning than Liam being in the same location as everyone else in town at the time of the explosion. That seems a pretty weak foundation to prove guilt, don't you think?" I ask the judge.
He frowns. "Not many can conjure that kind of fire."
"I don't know about this world, but in my world, us talking specifics about the case like this would be justification for change of venue. Or at least a new judge," I say with another disarming smile. Honestly, after tonight, I may never smile again. My teeth hurt from exposing them to so much slime.
Dath'Racul nods. "Of course. You are correct. But you must not have heard; I am not the judge on this case."
Finally, good news, but his cruel smile doesn't encourage me.
"I will be prosecuting the case against Mr. Night," Dath'Racul says.
Shit. Shit, shit and double effing shit. How can this even be allowed? I have to keep my cool. "I think you mean you'll be prosecuting the case against the person ultimately found responsible? Surely you are committed to justice? To exploring all leads? There have been rumors of conflict with the people of the Otherworld and the dragon leadership. It's a promising lead that might exonerate Liam by pointing the finger at the true guilty party."
I study his face as he responds to my veiled threat.
"I am sure you will find the answer is not nearly so simple. It is natural that a society would want to challenge its leaders. They do not have all the information and thus question decisions they do not understand," he says.
"Perhaps it's time they had all the information then," I say.
His face hardens, but before he can say more, Nicholas chuckles. "It's good to see you, Dath'Racul. Get a drink and enjoy the party. I'd like to show Eve off to a few more people before the night escapes us."
Dath'Racul nods curtly and walks away, grabbing a flaming fire drink from a tray carried by a beautiful woman with cat ears and a tail. She is wearing almost nothing save a see-through white body suit studded with diamonds. The same as all the young, female servers. Her eyes are large and cat-like, and her pale white hair falls down her back in waves. She locks eyes with me, and though she smiles, I see the pain in them and wonder about her story. About why she's here.
Nicholas escorts me around, introducing me to the rich and powerfully corrupt of the Otherworld. I try to be charming and smile and engage in harmless conversation. The effort is exhausting, and I find myself looking around to catch a glimpse of Cole, but he seems to have disappeared. I wish he were closer. I may not need backup, but I could use the moral support in this den of vipers.
The band begins to play a new song and Nicholas holds out his hand and bows gallantly. "May I have this dance, Miss Oliver?"
"Of course," I say, through the most insincere smile I've ever worn. How can he not see how uncomfortable I am? Or does he only see what he wants to? Maybe he's the kind of man who can't conceive of anyone finding him repulsive, so it never enters his mind that someone might not enjoy his company. I've known a few of those types in my life and most of them weren't even paranormal.
It's a slow dance, of course, and his hand slides too low down my back, making me very uncomfortable. But I'm here for answers, so I don't pull away.
As he spins me and guides me over the dance floor, his gaze locks on mine. "You are a very beautiful woman," he says.
"Thank you."
My hands are sweating, but there' nothing I can do about the one he's holding. My other hand is on his waist.
"Word has it you are human. At least, that was the story when you first got here."
There's no question so I keep silent, waiting for him to continue.
"It is clear to me you are not human at all. But then, what are you? Pray do tell. I have been dying to find out for some time."
"I don't actually know," I say truthfully. "I always thought I was human as well."
He laughs. "Playing hard to get, I see. Very well, I enjoy games more than most. What would you like in exchange for this knowledge about you?"
His question surprises me. "What do you mean?" I ask.
He plunges me into a dip, our legs pressing against each other as he does, then pulls me back up to face him, our bodies entirely too close. I finally see Cole in the background, watching us. He winks when he sees me staring.
"I mean," says Nicholas, spinning me so I no longer see the Night brother, "that I am willing to play this game and offer you all manner of treasure in exchange for your secret."
"I really can't tell you," I say.
He studies me quietly for a moment. "With anyone else, I would offer wealth. Jewels. The power of my influence. But with you…" he ponders as we continue moving in synch. "With you, I feel you value more significant trades. Perhaps you would part with your secret for information about the dragon egg you are seeking."
I glance up in surprise. "Do you know where the egg is?" I ask.
"I could find information about its location, if we have an agreement."
I frown. "You're really not listening," I say. "I don't know what I am. I swear. But if you have information about the egg, maybe we could discuss another trade?"
"You're an intriguing woman, Miss Oliver. You effectively punished a man who was causing problems for the women at my party, for which I thank you. And I apologize that you were made to suffer such indignities."
"I don't know what you mean," I say, but he knows I'm lying, I can tell.
"Indeed." He pushes his hips closer to mine and I can feel his attraction to me, and it makes me sick. "I also saw you talking with Lilith, Mother of all Vampires. You keep interesting company."
"I could say the same of you," I say, looking around.
"Touché," he says with a chuckle. "What will it take for you to trust me?"
I shrug. "I don't trust easily. Don't take offense. It's the foster kid in me."
A smile curls at his lip as the orchestra completes its song. "Thank you for the dance. I have another—more private—event to introduce in the basement. Would you care to joi
n me? You will find a great deal that might interest you."
This is it. This is what the whole night has been about. But I can't let myself look too excited. Play it cool, Eve. You got this.
"Sounds intriguing, but I don't typically follow strange men into basements. Another foster kid thing. You understand."
I make to walk away from him, but he grabs my hand to stop me. "You will be in no danger, and there will be other select guests in attendance. I give you my word you will be safe."
I turn back to him and smile. "Very well. I'd be honored to be your guest."
The Bidding
I am darkness A moonless night Grasping for stars Any trace of light The thunder resounding The lightning will transform I am the whirlwind I am the storm ~Jennifer Borak
As Nicholas escorts me out of the ballroom, I see Cole watching us, his gaze burning a hole in my back until we disappear from his sight. And even still, I can feel him close to me, his presence lingering.
We walk down a long corridor that ends at a door, behind which is a circular stairway that winds its way down quite a distance. We take the stairs quickly, and my shoes clack on the stone as we walk in silence, with just magically lit torches on the gray walls to light our way.
When we reach the bottom, he opens another door, and a bouncer dressed in black greets us with a nod. He’s shaped like a boulder, round and solid, and looks ready to rumble with anyone who breaks the rules.
When we reach the end of the hall, the Collector pulls away from me. "This is where I must leave you for now, to attend to my duties. Please, enjoy yourself and explore. The activities will begin shortly."
Once alone, I look around the large room with hand-painted tile flooring and white walls with murals depicting enchanting magical scenes of mermaids and dryads and dragons. An incredible chandelier hangs from the ceiling and white velvet chairs are lined up in rows.
A woman with wild curly blue hair and scales covering her skin hands me a crystal. "This projects your bid number for the auction. Hold out your hand, please."
I Am the Storm (The Night Firm Book 2) Page 11