This year's manor has towering spires, arched windows adorned with intricate stained glass, and gargoyles perched like silent sentinels. It was shrouded in twilight shining on the old black stone as guests made their way through the iron gate. Our carriage is stopped amongst others and Ryker steps out. He offers a hand and I take it begrudgingly, squeezing his fingers as hard as I can so he understands the hint of my annoyance. It was child's play to him given the raised, unamused brow he returns to me. He gestures for me to hook my arm with his and I do. It was the least I could do based on his threats to me to act as a proper wife.
Laughs and buoyant conversations echo in the night, many happy to see each other and speak of several missed decades which seem like only one or two years to them. I plaster on my best fake smile as we follow the crowd, wishing I could be powerful enough to show displeasure so they'd know how much I despised them. I see humans marvel at the haunting manor as if this a rollercoaster ride and the monsters aren't real. I feel like screaming at them to run and to stick to one of the corner pubs in the city squares instead. They only carry on, waltzing towards a vicious night to come.
A few vampire women giggle when they see Ryker and he entertains them with a wink. One of them purses their lips at me with distaste and jealousy. I roll my eyes.
"Feel free to ditch me for the one in the ugly tartrazine dress." I mumble in Ryker's direction.
"So you can run and hide from me? I don't think so." He scoffs in response.
As we draw closer to the entrance, I notice the building is encased in thick ivy plaiting around balconies and walls. The front garden is shrouded in old fountains, vines, untrimmed hedges, and random poisonous flowers spliced all over the place. It's all so messy and yet it fits together as a magical ensemble. I wish Ryker would plant something in our bleak castle. It silently amuses me to think about Ryker gardening.
"Mr Blackwood," a butler greets us at the door.
He hands Ryker a slip of paper who immediately pockets it. My interest is peaked at the secret exchange but I don't bother asking any questions. It's probably just vampire stuff as usual.
The interior is astounding. The floor alternates between black marble veined with silver and forest-green rugs embroidered with gold thread. Chandeliers hang over us with sparkling crystals and the occasional bone fragment hangs from high ceilings. My scientific knowledge tells me they once belonged to a human. The place reeks of candle waxed and aged wood and motifs of bats, roses, and serpents are a common theme in the cold space. The hallway we trudge through is tight until the room opens up into a dimly-lit ballroom with colossal paintings of vampire lords and even more guests. They sip delightfully on blood, careful not to splash the dense liquid on their face. Afterall, they were elegant vampires. It makes me sick either way.
Ryker pulls me along and waves at a few people. I hardly recognise any, except for one or two who may have attended our wedding a couple years ago. They try to engage him in conversation but he signs empty promises that he will catch up with them later.
"Ryker." A demanding voice sounds near us. A silver fox struts our way, his olive skin is aged and the corners of his mouth are tight.
"Sir Barclay." Ryker responds casually.
"I see you completely disregarded my offer." He whispers maliciously up at Ryker and cuts me with a snarl. It catches me off guard and I almost step forward to give the man a piece of my mind. I hold my tongue and tip my nose up instead.
"Not here, Barclay." Ryker insists.
The old man leans into Ryker's face with a pointed finger. "You are impotent, boy. You don't know a good offer until it's gone."
A few patrons glance curiously our way. Ryker notices it too.
"I don't want your fucking offer. You're going to die in a ditch soon, anyway." He seethes and I swallow nervously between the two.
The man huffs and gives a predatory smile. "You don't even know…"
The stout man stalks off with glowing eyes, he barges a few guests who hoot in confusion before completely disappearing elsewhere.
Ryker's face has changed to be visibly annoyed.
"Stay right here." He demands and heads left, leaving me instantly alone.
In a room full of vampires, I'm helpless.
I shakily inhale and nudge through the crowd whilst keeping my head down and I thankfully see some meat and vegetables on offer.
Another woman around my age also stands near the table and she seems absolutely thrilled to see me. Her hair is onyx and sleek, draping across her shoulders. She wears a dainty pearl headband and her cheeks are dusted with a vibrant blush powder. She's way taller than me when I walk up to grab some normal sustenance.
"Isn't this amazing? Vampires have such an acquired taste." She announces sweetly.
"They sure do." I say with sarcasm.
"I'm Deidre Elyndra." She grins at me.
"Azaleigh Sinclair."
I poke a potato and stab it into my mouth.
Deidre gushes and she takes my hand in her clammy ones.
"You're the girl." She exclaimed excitedly. "The one married to Ryker Blackwood!"
Oh, here we go…"
A provide her a small smile and have to andandoned my food fest to entice her.
"Yes, that's me." I force my voice to match her high pitch. Her azure eyes are wide and princess-like as she awaits for more details.
"It'll be our third anniversary this year." I obviously don't point out the fact that I was gone for one year of that.
"What's it like?" She wiggles her brows at me.
Embarrassment heats my face. "O-oh. Well, it's just…fine?"
Her expression falters a bit. "Just fine?"
"Well, no. I mean, yes! I get to finish, at least…" I say awkwardly. I can't believe I'm talking about this. Ryker and I kissed briefly on our wedding day and I nipped his mouth before it could go any further.
She audibly gasps. "That's so rare! I want to try it so badly." She pouts and her hooded eyes tell me she's a virgin.
Luckily the repeated clinks of a glass save me from having to go any further in this discussion. Everyone hushes and I scan around for a second to see if Ryker is anyway to be found. He's not and at my short height, even with these heels, I can't see over anyone.
A lean man floats higher than the crowd. He's young. Possible early thirties if he was human. He exudes effortless confidence in velvet lapels and a kind face. His dirty blonde hair is smooth and his eyes are icy gray. A faint smile plays on his lips, teasing the peaks of his fangs. Not the type of host I was expecting.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the eternal night. And other companies…" He adds on as playfully.
Few of the patrons around Deidre and I snicker. She doesn't pay attention to their jab and watches in awe at the man.
"I heard his family is going broke. He's still hot though." She whispers to me.
I gawk at her. She's clearly read up on vampire society. Something I should do if this is going to be my life forever.
"It is our seventy third Blood Ball; a most holy event for us to splurge and gossip with old and new friends."
I sneak around Deidre and attempt to steal a piece of duck meat but someone knocks softly into me and it slaps onto the ground. I shoot upwards and the person groggily apologies. He reeks of blood.
A cast a weird eye in his direction. I manage to get another piece and I chew on the dryness.
"I thank you all dearly for coming to my humble abode and allowing me to offer our finest delicacies to you."
I get another shove and I turn around angry, noticing it's another drunk vampire. She murmurs something barely audible and I move closer to Deidre uncomfortably.
"As you know, my family—"
The sound of something hard smacks against the floor. A shriek fills the air and the crowd sways.
"Uh, excuse me?" The host attempts to say politely.
Something else falls and the lady who bumped into me also takes a tumble. Her husband, I assume, manages to catch her before her knees hit the floor. Her face is ghostly than what vampires usually are and green veins strain against her neck.
"D-darling!" He shouts.
The crowd grows concerned and yells sound through the hall.
The host has backed away and his expression is petrified.
"P-please calm down, everyone." He tries to soothe but something wrong has happened and we all frantically move to an exit as more people drop and drape all over the place. Someone even vomits onto the floor, turning the room more into a frenzy.
I try to tag Deidre, though she's no longer where she was. Probably already running for her life. I pick up my skirts and run in a general direction.
"Gina!" A young woman holds up a girl in her arms and is waving a fan in her face.
"Wake up, you old fool!" Another shouts.
"F-father I feel sick—"
"Bleughhh." Another one barfs.
I need to find Ryker.