Blood and Ice

Chapter Two

Lila's POV

The shimmers of all things glittery and shiny made the platinum blond smile in satisfaction. "We're going to need more white roses on these centerpieces," she said to one of the decorators who quickly nodded their head and ran off. The human's were useful servants, but they surely feared pissing off the vampires. Lila's high heels clicked on the marble floors of the ballroom while she inspected every detail of the setup. White, silver, and baby blue decorations flooded the room making it appear bright and welcoming. Everything had to be perfect for the Winter Ball, her first mandated occasion in a decade. She knew the get-together wasn't just for a good time, no. She could sense in the air that the elders were up to something. Whatever it was had to be incredibly serious if all the coven alliances and even non alliance coven's were attending.

"Arabella will be coming too," a deep voice said from behind Lila. She turned to see her brother, Draven, standing there with his fingertips twirling a white rose.

"Well I did tell her it was mandated in the letter," she said as she continued her inspection trying not to give him a reaction.

"And I sent Naomi to her cabin to ensure she wouldn't have an excuse this time. Oddly enough she had a wolf there."

Lila's head shot up and she glared at her brother.

"A wolf? Has she gone f*****g mad?!" she hissed, her hands curling into fists.

Draven simply shrugged his shoulders.

"She must not know anything that's been going on." Lila defended but her brother gave her a look that shut down whatever else she was about to attest.

"Whatever the case, she knows better. She's doing it out of spite, Lila."

The truth hurt, but Lila fell silent. Everyone knew the ongoing rivalry between the wolves, witches, and vampires. The vampires had all the power for the last 300 years, but the witches and wolves had certainly grown much stronger since those days.

"I can't believe she would do that." Lila said, her voice sounding pained by the news.

"Hopefully her coming back will wake her up from the little dreamland she's stuck in." Draven said.

Lila sighed and leaned against one of the tables. "Or hopefully she stays gone." She responded coldly.

Draven placed the white rose back inside the centerpiece and let out a small chuckle. "I don't want that and I know you don't either. You weren't the only to love her, sweet sister. Please try to remember that."

He trailed out of the room silently, leaving Lila alone to deal with his words.

Hours later.

Lila sat on her bed, her mind dissociated from all the ruckus that was coming from the guests that had quickly begun to arrive. The comforting sounds of the quartet beginning to play their set brought her back to the present. She exhaled softly to herself, and stood up deciding it was time to make her appearance. She put on a happy face and headed out of her bedroom leaving behind all her worries for the night.

Lila had made her way down the set of stairs, most of the guests stared at her in awe. She was as elegant as ever in her white gown with the sequences shimmering in the chandeliers lighting. Her dress was tight against her petite frame, showing off every curve. Her pale back was exposed, and the slit in her dress showed off her right leg with every step she took. She could hear a few men gasp, and a few women sigh with hints of jealousy. Her brother waited at the bottom of the staircase in his black suit, a grin on his face. "Always one for an entrance little sister," he whispered to her making her smirk in amusement as he handed her a glass of champagne.

Lila welcomed a few of the elders from other covens and giggled along with the men who tried their best to flirt with her. "Oh Delilah, you look as exquisite as ever. And the decorations look wonderful," one of the coven's biggest alliances mused. Bram Van Claire was one of the oldest vampires known to this day. He was wise and had a coven built strictly on strength. They were certainly one of the most practical alliances the Copperton Coven had.

Draven's eyes lowered at his sister, making her eyebrow raise in an amused look. Lila smiled and turned her attention to Bram, letting her fingertips gently take ahold of his forearm. "That means so much coming from you, Bram." She said admiringly as she squeezed him gently. She could feel Draven's eyes burning a hole into her back, but she didn't care. She would flirt with every single powerful man and woman in here. "It amazes me nobody has captured your heart just yet," Bram said, now leaning closer.

"As it amazes me you have yet to find a new mate." Lila replied, making the male chuckle.

"It is impeccably difficult to catch someone as old as I am, my dear."

Lila smiled and swirled a strand of her hair around one of her fingertips.

"But some women are just too hard to resist,"

He added as he finished his glass of champagne and set it gently on the table.

The smell of an all too familiar scent made Lila's head turn to see Arabella enter the ballroom. She shockingly dressed up, which was something completely out of her comfort zone. A black dress with lacey sleeves and her dark brown hair french braided neatly down her back. She was breathtaking and a few of the onlookers took notice of the fresh faced beauty. Draven had already made his way over to her, taking her hand in his and kissing it. Smoothe bastard. Lila quickly finished the rest of her drink and set it down with a soft thud.

Lila met eyes with Arabella, but quickly turned her attention back to the black haired man in front of her. One of his friends walked over and whispered in Bram's ear. "I have something to take care of sweet dove, but I would love to continue this conversation over a dance when I return." He offered. Lila nodded her head, "I'll be waiting." She said, making the male smirk. He winked at her as he and his fellow coven member walked off into the crowd. Lila noted a few of the original vampires from each coven sneak out one by one.

"Lila," Draven's voice said, sending a frenzy through her body. "Look who made it."

Lila turned to see Arabella standing awkwardly by Draven's side. She once belonged here, fit in actually. Yet right now she looked so out of place. Her face told how much she didn't want to be there but here she was.

"Bella," Lila said with a weak smile.

"Lila," she replied back awkwardly.

"Well I'll let you two get reacquainted," Draven said as he escaped the awkward situation.

"I got your letter." Arabella said as she reached for a glass of champagne from one of the drink servers. She handed one to Lila as well.

"I hoped you would," Lila said coldly as she took the drink in her hands. "Since I've been sending them the last 30 years." She added, sending Arabella a glare.

"I'm sorry." The brunette said with a soft sigh. "I wanted to visit but I just... I couldn't. I wasn't ready."

Lila was fuming now, "As if you didn't hurt me enough by leaving. Or us, I should say. Draven was broken about it too. But we thought you'd at least f*****g visit. Maybe you'd make up your mind? But nothing. You just...left." The words flew out of her mouth sharply and a bit harsher than she truly anticipated.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so rude but I just...I missed you. You were all I had for a century and then you were gone."

Arabella nodded, taking ahold of Lila's hands. "I am sorry. I just had to get away for myself." Her eyes were sincere, and it took everything in Lila not to hug her.

"I understand." Lila said finally giving her a real smile. "No more about it. Let's enjoy the night and talk once this is all over with." She raised her glass, "To reuniting," she said. Arabella laughed and clinked her glass against Lila's "To reuniting," she repeated. They both knew there was a long journey ahead, but for now, they both deserved the calm before the storm.

The two began gossiping about others, laughing together, and making small talk. It felt like she had never left, despite the ache in Lila's chest. She wanted to ask about the wolf that was at the cabin, but knew it would only cause tension. It was then, that Bram and the rest of the original elders reentered the ballroom, trying not to make it obvious they had just had a secret meeting. Bram made his way over towards the giggling women, giving Arabella a welcoming nod. "Hello," he said politely to the brunette before turning his attention to Lila. "How about that dance now, Delilah?" he asked her with a handsome smile.

She glanced over at Arabella who gave her an encouraging nod. "Absolutely," she said as she took ahold of his hand and led him towards the dancefloor.

The two began swaying to the soft music. Bram's hand squeezed just above Lila's plump bottom, making her small frame lean in closer to him. "What was the meeting about?" Lila asked with an eyebrow raised. Bram chuckled, "That obvious?" he asked as he swirled her around gracefully.

"It appears the Wolf Packs are uniting and quite possibly planning an attack, along with a few of the Witch covens by their side." Lila's eyes widened at the words that were about to come out of his mouth. "I suppose we are going to war. If they keep it up, of course we'll have to shut it down." The vampires outnumbered the wolves and witches, but if the enemies banded together the numbers might just be in their favor. "So I suppose we will be staying around for a little while," he said as his hands rested on her hips. "Well at least there's a positive side." she said sweetly, her arms tightening around his neck. She couldn't help but glance over at Arabella, seeing her giggling along with Draven who had already swooped in with a few of their Coven members.

Her eyes stared up at the handsome man in front of her, watching as his eyes roamed down over her body. She gently moved her body so he could get a better glimpse of her breast cleavage and smiled at how lustful his eyes had turned.

Lila knew she was a beautiful creature, but having a man with this much power and strength attached to him find her desirable made her slightly nervous. She wasn't exactly sure what could come from a hookup with such an ancient and powerful vampire, but right now she didn't really care either. She wanted to feel something other than the pit in her chest from Arabella's presence.

Once his eyes met hers again, she nibbled on her lower lip and gave him a seductive smile. "Would you like to go on a walk?" he asked in a whisper. His hands now resting on her bottom. "Fresh air sounds perfect." She said with a smile. The male nodded and took ahold of her hand, leading her through the crowd. The two of them slipped out of the doors and into the moonlight where a few others were chit chatting and drinking.

Lila led him towards the garden, her favorite place in the whole Manor. "Beautiful," Bram said simply. Lila sat down on one of the benches, holding her hand out for him to sit down next to her. He pulled the petite female into his lap and pressed his forehead against hers. "I have not found anyone this captivating in forever," he admitted, pushing her blond hair behind her shoulders.

The female grinned and turned her body to face him, resting her legs on either side of him. "Bram," she whispered before gently pressing her plumped lips against his, her fingers tangled in his black hair. She began slowly rocking her hips against him, while he tilted his head and deepened the kiss. The males hands roamed over her curves, and gently rested his hands on her hips.

Lila began pulling her dress down, but Bram took ahold of her wrist gently. "I very much want this. So bad. But I am old school. I want to know you before I know your body." Bram's words were shocking and left Lila completely puzzled. "Believe me, Delilah, it's taking everything out of me not to f**k you right here, right now..." The words made her excited, "I want that," she whispered seductively and pressed her lips back against his. Bram chuckled. "Me too, but I won't. Because you are far too precious to let your body be used."

Lila sighed softly and looked down, but Bram's fingertip rested under her chin and forced her to look at him. "We have plenty of time for that." He said as he gently stood up with her in his arms. He placed her on her feet and took ahold of her hand. "Now walk with me, and talk with me. And maybe, we can pick that back up sooner rather than later." Lila giggled, but in her head she knew it was going to be sooner.