“You will be fine, Darkling. Just remember to stay close,” he reminded her as the attendant opened the door for him. Getting out of the car, Felix walked around to the passenger side so he might accompany Erika. Taking a deep breath, she pulled up her energy shields, lifted her chin, and allowed him to escort her inside. The couple was led to the receiving line to wait for the Queen as she made her grand entrance to the Ball.
In a room full of black leather, gothic lace, and heavy velvets, Erika alone wore white. She could feel the eyes of the vampires on her and hear their whispering. More than one vampiric tendril of energy tried to suction on to her psychic shield and was met with an electric shock warning. The first time she did it, Felix looked at her, surprised but proud. She lifted her chin. She did not want to let on that she had no idea how she did it. At this point, she was just trusting that her higher self was apparently running on autopilot when it came to protections.
“Erika,” she heard her name as Velvet and Buck made their way through the crowd to stand with her and Felix. Velvet was wearing an antique gold and black brocade corset with a matching skirt. Her alabaster skin looked like white marble while her waist was impossibly small in the corset, especially with the unmoving, perfectly straight mass of dark brown hair giving it emphasis. Sultry, dark, and passionate, she was a twisted vision of a renaissance Madonna. On her head she wore a tiara with a series of antique gold spikes offset by crystal spheres. Tiny and petite, she eluded wanton lust and desire - her magic one of sex, passion, and death. Buck escorted her and like the Brood, he was dressed in an expensive black suit, but his black oxford’s neck was unbuttoned, giving him a more casual, sexy look to match Velvet’s Dark Wanton Goddess.
As her friends approached, Erika greeted them with an appreciative gaze, “Wow - you guys look incredible.” They both kissed her on the cheek, marveling at the transformation Erika had made.
Taking her arm to twirl around, Buck told her sweetly, “Little Bird, you have never looked more beautiful. If it wasn’t for Velvet….” Velvet gave him a hot look of faux jealousy, and the three laughed, knowing exactly how committed he was to his wife.
“If it weren’t for you, I would go after her myself,” Velvet added. ‘You do look incredible, Erika. It is like something in you has changed, deepened. Maybe it is Felix’s influence.” She suggested slyly, then quickly added, “Or it could be the apocalypse. You were always planning for it.”
“Yeah, I just thought there would be more zombies, fewer face masks,” Erika joked. “Which brings up the question - has Covid-19 impacted the vampire community any?”
“Good question, and yes, it has. The thickening of the blood makes those with that specific symptom impossible to feed on. Some vampires have died from feeding on the infected. And some humans who were being turned became ghouls. The entourage from the New Orleans coven includes hematologists and pathologists,” Velvet told her in a low voice as though she did not want to bring attention to her sharing the confidence with Erika. “They are going to have access to state-of-the-art lab equipment and hopefully get some answers.” Dropping her voice even lower, she added, “Be careful tonight, Erika. Last night your dance with Count Andreas gained you quite a fandom. I heard the King of the New Orleans Nosferatu tribe had asked Queen Mary for an introduction.”
Felix, who had been surveying the room, moved closer to hear this in more detail. “Gyula the Undefeated?” he asked Velvet, “I thought the Germans killed him during Operation Barbarossa back in 1941.”
“Tried. He just went underground,” Velvet explained. “A number of the ancients came to the Americas after that war. Over the years, they have found the growing worship of technology and lack of superstition made the un-life much more to their liking here.”
Catching Erika’s eye, Felix explained, “Also called Gyula the Old - he is the oldest known Vampire on this plain. Legend has it that he is the last of the Draugar, the reanimated corpses of great chieftains who remained when the worlds stepped sideways from the realm of Man and the rest of his kin crossed to Náströnd, the shore of Corpses in the land of the Dead.”
“Why would he want to meet me?” she asked, feeling a chill rise in her spine. Velvet and Buck exchanged a look but said nothing, but Felix said it for them, “He is most likely looking for a new bride.”
“Well, that is not going to happen,” Erika said, looking flabbergasted. She caught Buck and Velvet exchanging a look again, “Well, it isn’t.”
Felix shot the couple an angry look, “Rest easy. It won’t.” Erika could tell he was unhappy they had said anything.
Buck offered, “At least not willingly.” Erika looked at him, horrified while Velvet swatted him. Looking at his wife, he said, “Vel- the kid needs to know if it is a possibility.”
Erika looked at Felix, who was glowering at the two. “Erika, you will stay close to me as discussed. Queen Mary is your host. She will not suffer such disrespect in her court. Not to mention the old ones know that no vampire can drink or eat of the Shining Court without paying the ultimate consequence. And if Gyula has forgotten, I will remind him.”
That had all three of their attention as Buck, Velvet, and Erika all said, “Consequence,” simultaneously.
Felix looked at them and, in a hushed tone, explained, “It was written long ago when the first Vampire was created that should a child of the forever night consume one of the Light Bearers, the light will eat the darkness. Thus, trapping the children of the night in a world where they will waste away - forever lonely and fading as the Shining One devours them with its radiance.”
“Light bearers?” Erika asked wide-eyed.
“Elves,” Velvet sighed, her blue eyes darkening to almost pure black, “It’s always the fucking elves.”
“What does that mean,” Erika asked, a little offended by the comment regarding her newfound heritage.
“Nothing hon. Just wish I had a more romantic origin story,” she sighed wistfully.
“Velvet, elf or vampire, you are still the sexiest, most incredibly beautiful creature I have ever seen,” Erika told her friend, “And sparkle - damn, bitch, you out sparkle the stars.”
Velvet smiled, the tips of her canines showing just a bit under the blood-red lips, “Oh Erika, I love you girl, but let’s just say, I now know why the Wicked Queen poisoned Snow White and leave it at that.”
Erika was about to say something when the sound of trumpets echoed the hall announcing the arrival of the Queen. Velvet excused herself and Buck as they made their way to join the Queen’s entourage.
From where Erika and Felix stood, they saw Velvet and Buck join seven other couples as they lined up before the Queen. There were three traditional couples besides Velvet and Buck, two female couples, and two male couples. Each Vampire was dressed in gold and black with a headdress like Velvet’s, their human companion dressed in a simple black suit with black button-down oxford open at the neck. Erika guessed these were the Queen’s handmaids and their consorts.
Bloody Mary appeared, wearing a black dress after they passed, her red hair arranged elaborately on the top of her head and then trailing down into two braids resting on her shoulders. The contrast between the ginger of her hair, her ivory skin, and the flat black of her velvet dress was a sight to behold. On her head, she wore a crown of pigeons’ blood rubies and raw black tourmaline. But it was her necklace that caught Erika’s attention. It was a simple black velvet ribbon but from the ribbon were two floating pigeons’ blood rubies that looked like drops of blood on her neck. At her side was an elegant man dressed in black. He was only a few inches taller than the Queen but on his head was a black crown. The crown’s prongs had vampire bats with open mouths and the mouths were set with large rubies with chains leading from the prongs to a veil and chainmail mask over his face. The veil was a sheer black with black lace spiders. Its chains met to secure the black chain mail over his mouth was studded with rubies.
Underneath the veil, Erika could see his skin was a greyish whit
e - the true pallor of death without any of the illusion used by the other Vampires she had met. “Nosferatu,” whispered through her mind. She was caught in a bow when she heard her name being introduced to “Gyula the Undefeated.”
As the Queen and King made their way across the throne room, Queen Mary stopped in front of Erika to nod at her and Felix. She mentally checked her shields, vampire elder or not, nothing was getting past them - they were strong, and she knew Felix was giving her extra protection. The sweetly sick smell of a rotting corpse assaulted her senses, and she knew instinctively it was King Gyula. The King’s strange eyes were obscured by the veil he wore, but Erika could feel his eyes predating on her. It felt as though he were trying to drink in her fear and terror. A chill took hold in her stomach, and it was all she could do to not gag. Beside her, she could feel Felix throw up another layer to the psychic wall between her and the Vampire King. So, she thought, it was not just in her head and suddenly recognized it for the test. Unflinchingly she stood there, head held high, her gaze steadily taking the King’s measure. She hoped it came across as she meant it - as though she measured the King and not the other way around. Gyula finally nodded, seemingly as pleasantly surprised as the Queen. The dark couple made their way to the Thrones and took their place.
Erika noticed the Queen’s throne from yesterday had been exchanged for matching black leather, ebony, and onyx thrones with golden skulls carved on the hand rests. They were rich and ornate and the carving such that it was easy to see they were from Ancient Egypt. As the undead monarchs took their seats a man appeared between them. He was carrying a gold and onyx tome in his hands.
As he came out of the shadows, Erika could see his pale skin had been painted gold, and he wore a long black linen skirt that was trimmed in gold. Except for an Egyptian collar made of gold with rubies, he was bare-chested, but on each arm was an armband from right below the elbow to right above the wrist. He looked like a golden statue with dark liner shaping his pale grey eyes in the manner of an eye of Horus. On top of his long black hair coiled into tight braids with golden beads was Anubis’s head, designating him a Priest of the jackal-headed god of death.
Holding the tome, the Priest surveyed the darkened room as he called out, ”May the Court of High Queen Mary Mefdet of the Undead Tribe of the Misi-ziibi, Lady of the House of Unlife, Known as Bloody Mary, Daughter of Anubis, Queen of Blood and Bone, be called into session this night 8th of Elul, 5780. All Hail Mary Mefdet, Queen.”
The crowd chanted, “Hail Mary Mefdet, Queen.”
“All Welcome High King Gyula the Undefeated of the Undead Tribe of Nosferatu, known as Gyula the Undying, Revenant, First of his Tribe, King of Ruin and Dread.”
The crowd chanted, “Welcome, Gyula, King.”
“Tonight, as a show of goodwill, The Queen of Blood and Bones grants all in attendance asylum in the Misi-ziibi for those willing to abide by her word of law. You have the protection of our Tribe. Now Drink and Feed. All Hail Mary, Ancient One, Queen of Blood and Bone.”
The crowd was frenzied now as they howled, “All Hail Mary, Ancient One, Queen of Blood and Bone.”
The court herald disappeared behind the thrones as ethereal, dark, and haunting music echoed the halls.
Looking around the crowd, Erika could not help but ask Felix, “Do you think Count Elcmar will be here?”
“Oh, he is here,” Felix yawned. “The Count would be remiss if he did not pay homage to the Blood Queen on this momentous occasion.”
Curious, Erika asked, “What makes it such a momentous occasion? I don’t get it.”
"There had been a long-standing feud between the Misi-ziibi and the Nosferatu. The Queen has opened her borders to Gyula and his court as an act of mercy because of the blood plague,” he explained. “She was on the fence about whether she would allow them safe harbor until our discussion last evening. She sees now that war is coming, and we will need all the allies we can get.”
Erika stared at him blankly for a moment, “You did all that last night? I thought I was supposed to be there when you spoke to her?”
Now it was Felix’s turn to look surprised. “Honestly, Erika, as pissed as I was about the dance with the Count, it said far more about your pedigree than anything you could have said to Queen Mary. The Count was as elf struck by you as you were by him. And that, Darkling, is not something any of the vampires have ever seen. The Vampires are all calling you the Darkfire now. It is one of the reasons King Gyula wanted to see you. Only a true Unseelie would be able to stomach his presence. The Shining Court would have refused an audience finding him abhorrent. And you stood there under the weight of one of the great Fathers of all Vampires and did not blink.”
“What about him wanting me for a bride?” she whispered with a shiver thinking about that cold dead stare, the feeling of him sucking the life from her, the sweet smell of death as he stood there rotting underneath the mask just inches from her.
“To take one of the elf kin for a bride would have been a perversion he would have enjoyed. But after meeting you, he knows even though you have not come into your full power, you are already far too powerful ever to be made a vampire.”
“What do you mean, have not come into my full power?” she asked.
“Not here, Erika. I will talk with you about this but not here,” Felix told her.
She looked around at the room of vampires and nodded, “But soon, Felix. I deserve answers.” He nodded with an uncharacteristic smile, “But first, we dance.” Taking her by the hand, he escorted her to the dance floor.
There was a mummer as all eyes fell on Erika as the music started. Unlike the night before, when she was dancing with the Count, Erika was more relaxed and less guarded in Felix’s arms. He might not have the Seelie Count’s grace, but he had retained some of his elven grace, and Erika brought that crashing to the surface. As they moved to the music, there was electricity between them fed by the unrequited flames of desire. The others dancing, be it human or vampire, looked like marionettes in comparison. The energy they were creating had stopped the room, and their elegance hypnotized every vampire in the ballroom.
Felix pulled her close, and skin pressed together tightly as they moved. It was as though the music was being written for their movements. Her skin was hot to his touch, but it was his eyes staring into the core of her soul that was her undoing. It was as though Felix did not just see her but that he investigated her and saw every part of her and instead of him loving her despite these things, he loved her because of it all. The shadow and the light - he embraced all of it. She felt frozen and burning all at once.
The musicians seemed unable to stop playing, caught up in the two dancers and the energy growing in the room. As they danced, she felt as though she was only now waking up. This strange and mysterious man was awakening her from the trappings of a half-life. His touch, breathing life into her. There was singing in her soul, and for just a moment, she could feel the entire room. Not only their feelings but their hunger, desires, powers, weaknesses. Her soul was humming, and she felt euphoric, drunk on it all. As her feeling of euphoria grew, the doors blew open as a storm brewed on the river. The wind blew out all the candelabras leaving the room in darkness, but no one noticed. Erika was glowing - as luminous as the moon.
An elegant hand tapped Felix on the shoulder, shattering the moment. “May I cut in, good fellow? I am afraid the fact that your partner has enthralled our host’s entire court might be considered bad form.” As though she had been woken out of deep slumber, Erika was surprised to see Count Elcmar. Immediately, the sound of talking resumed as the music stopped, and the band took a break.
Standing in the middle of the ballroom, Felix looked equally stunned. It was as though he had been caught up in the moment as deeply as she had been - maybe more. “Of course, Count. Thank you. I will speak with the Queen immediately.” He gracefully allowed the Count to take the lead and turned to see how much damage had been done. As he left, his haunted eyes searched hers looking
as though he was lost.
Erika met the Count’s gaze, and unaware her eyes were glowing with her inner fire, the indigo ring darker while the grey-green’s golden flecks now amber-gold starbursts around her pupil. “A pleasure to see you again, Count,” she said huskily, her body still caught up in the dance.
“Darkfire, you must call me Andreas,” his laughter sounded like deep bells to her ears. “I must know everything about you, so I properly make love to you with songs and poems that honor your beauty and power justly.”
“Why would you do that,” she threw her head back, laughing at him.
“Erika Lily, you just enchanted the two oldest vampires in the realm of man and their entire courts, simply by having a connection with your kind. Imagine what wonders you could accomplish in a court of your kin,” Andreas told her, “or an Army.”
His words echoed in her head, a court of her own. An Army. Touching Count Andreas' arm lightly, she laughed, “And Count, which would you prefer? A court or an Army.”
“As long as I was beside you, Darkfire,” he breathed in her ear, “It would not matter. For the first time in ages, I am intrigued by the possibilities of what the future might bring.” He spun her around before pulling her close to him, her back pressed to his chest. “Erika Lily, I could teach you the ways of the courts if you would let me,” the feel of his breath on her neck and in her ear made her dizzy.
“I wonder, Count,” Erika replied in a low purr, “If you would feel the same way if the only place, I wanted to go was to crawl back to the swamps?”
“Darkfire, wherever you go. It matters not,” he responded, escorting her off the dance floor and out onto the patio. “I feel the changes, Erika. I know the song of a dying world. I heed the flows, and I know the ever dark is upon us. I also know that none I have met in the Seelie or Unseelie court have the abilities that are needed to lead.”
“Wait for a second, Count Andreas, I am no leader,” Erika rushed, “I am just a girl. Whatever else I may be is debatable, I was raised a human girl, I have no training other than getting together with a group of my friends to study an old dear man’s history.”
Tapestry of Worlds : Part One - The White Raven Awakens Page 23