Dinner and a reunion.
1134 Words
Ivy/Akal POV
I paused, keeping my face clear of emotions; this proved a challenge, as I looked over each of the guest.
I knew for sure not a single present being: was human.
I nodded in acceptance of their greetings, then strode ahead of a smiling Aiser to the seat at the head of the table, furtherest from the entrance; I recalled that it had long ago become mine after my mothers passing.
No one spoke as I walked the length of the table, Aiser taking up residence at the head of the table at the opposite end, only sounds were that of my cape and skirt fabric moving as I strode.
Reaching my seat, the man seated to my right stood, pulling my seat back for me. I nodded taking his offer, I sat allowing for him to push in my seat.
I waited for him to resume his own seat before meeting my fathers gaze to wait for him to begin, with a nod and lifted eyebrow, I squash nerves that bubbled up under the surface, Ivy's nerves not Akal's, I felt I was both and neither.
"Sooo.." Aiser began. "Welcome all, I'm so glad you decided to attend on short notice, it seems you were as eager as I was to reinstate your Queen." He finished with a feral grin of approval, a smug smirk spread on my own face.
"Akal my darling, let me re-introduce you to our guests, and your subjects.." Aiser offered, I creased my brows, subjects? such a foreign word after all this time.
I nodded in appreciation, then watched as the male that had pulled out my chair stood, straightening his jacket as he did, a distant flare of recognition ignited in my chest, as I looked at him properly for the first time.
He bowed lowly, not taking his eyes from mine once.
"I am you loyal servant and first warrior, Nikolai, The last honoured Pureblood Vampire King, after the retirement of Francis." My heart skipped, Nikolai, my first admirer and first kiss, long before Broc, he was more handsome then I remembered, his eyes a deep black as Broc's but flecked with flickering specks of orange and red, like cooling coals.
"Nikolai.." I tested the name. I remember the feeling of his lips on mine when we'd been younger. Pureblood was an understatement.
He was one of the first. His age was only a few hundred years short of my own, I was sure he'd died before I'd been cast a millennia ago.
"Your presence is welcomed and loyalty appreciated, we have a lot to talk about.." I finished quietly, a flame of familiarity and excitement at the knowledge of his survival. He didn't look a day over 30, telling me one thing: he'd sacrifice his vegetarian diet to preserve his youth.
I repressed my feeling of relief and the urge to hug him right here. Before my first love, he'd been my best friend.
I looked to my left as a woman stood. She looked older, at least early 70's. I sniffed, half breed, not a created vampire or pureblood, but a bred one, very rarely successful.
"I'm Jean the Vampire Priestess, I protect the young turned or birthed of our species." She explains, I raise an eyebrow and she continues. "I have a school, accommodation and grounds owned by the vampire King.." She nods in acknowledgement. "and care for those entrusted until they feel confident to leave on their own, or remain as staff." I frowned, that was new to me.
I nodded, one by one we went through each guest, 2 Witch Matrons: a light and dark, a wizard, a troll, elven prince, a wood elf king, a fairy, a pixie, a demon, a ghost, finally we came to the two guests, I was most curious about, the Dragon King and the feral eyed shifter princess.
The dragon king sat quietly and for a long moment; as we merely weighed each other, it seemed that the former king had retired and I wasn't sure I liked the expression of his successor.
He finally stood with a sigh.
Earning a growl of warning from both my father and Nikolai.
"I am Nargon, the Current Dragon King, since you've been gone a while.." he paused, looking at the two who warned him. "I'll explain that I succeeded, Rath, who succeeded Marthian, who succeeded Drak, whom you'd been acquainted with." He explained, 2 immortal rulers since I'd been gone? I nodded, deciding to question it later.
"I am at your service, within Reason.." He finished. I couldn't disguise the spark of annoyance, without thought, I found myself standing behind the Dragon King, an extended claw slicing into the skin of his collar bone.
I listened as a collected intake of breath sounded throughout the room, relishing at the stiffening of the king under my claw.
"Within Reason? I believe its, I am at your disposal...completely.." I corrected, listening to the king swallow. I wondered how old he truly was, a few hundred years?
I leaned close to him.
"Akal." cut through the silence, as I blinked, as the scent of blood filled my nostrils, I cast a gaze at the addressor, Nikolai, his eyes were wary but disapproving.
I frowned but shrugged it off, teleporting back to my seat. My performance had the effect I'd needed, for Nargon raised his chin but remained shaken.
I looked at the last guest, the shifter Princess, who also seemed shaken and a little misplaced by what had happened.
"I-I Princess Jaz come in place of my father, the shifter king, as his health wouldn't accommodate travel at such short notice, my apologies. I am at your disposal." She added to my surprise and approval.
Satisfied, I nodded, Aiser smiled, then motioned for dinner to be served.
I looked at Nikolai, biting my lip as his eyes met mine, suggestion swirled within their depths, promises of reunion, and for a second I near forgot Broc's face.
Seemed I needed to get this dinner over quickly so I could return. Suddenly I felt the sea was widening around me and I didn't know if I could find my way back to him as I promised, with Nikolai at arms reach and our history surfacing with my returned memories.
Conrad POV
I knew who would have the answers, but wasn't sure I had the guts to face him, let alone ask him.
But here I was, searching the dreamscape for him.
After asking many souls, I found one who could lead me to him.
"We are here." The wolf grunted, motioning into the clearing where two white wolves sat facing each other, talking silently.
Both looked at me but only one held the black eyes I sought to meet.
Broc.
- Writer
