Cambria stood just on the outside of the grand ballroom doors, watching the hundreds of vampires within dance and celebrate. Having this event was in poor taste, she was sure, but still she had to make an appearance for the sake of House Voccorix. She could not believe all this hustle and bustle was to honor the Queen. Pah. It was hardly anything she would have wanted. Then again, Cambria mused to herself, the Queen could have changed since the early centuries of their youth. A quiet little thing, Queen Nora had been, a vampire that wanted peace. She'd been quite the revolutionary back in the day.
Cambria crossed her arms, her long elegant dress whispering against the ground as she moved. She would be announced shortly along with the other nobles gathered near by. Such a farce, to capture that assassin in front of everyone. What is the King thinking? He should not be so reckless with his life. Yet, a broken male would do anything to be reunited with his mate. She knew that pain first hand, watching her brother cast himself into a flaming bonfire after the end of the second war.
She shook herself out of the memory. Not was not the time to be thinking such things.
Cambria refocused her gaze on the vampires within the ballroom. Now which one of you will meet my blade?
Blood Wars (The Revival) Mature Themes // Vampire RP! // Mystery // Romance// Closed!!
Edith strode towards the ballroom doors, skirts glissading against to stone floors. She wore a burgundy ballgown with off-shoulder sleeves and intricate swirls of silver embroidery threaded along the skirts. Her hair hung loose, curly ends tickling the skin of her bare shoulders. Her gaze skimmed along each and every noble that waited to be announced.
She hands rested against her navel as she halted beside Cambria. She followed her gaze to the crowds who danced with joyful steps, but their giddiness was forced and fraying. Tension grew all around them and it reflected in their eyes. Edith smirked. This is bound to be a very exciting night.
"So, you have already ruled each of us out?" She inquired of female aside her.
Cambria remained still as Edith spoke beside her. She cut a glance to the lady, smiling ever so slightly. "Oh I still have my conjectures when it comes to each of you, but to answer your true question baldly…" She turned to face the other woman full on so she could see how serious Cambria was, "No. I do not think it was any of the nobles that committed this treason. Least of all you Edith. I know of some of your history with our late Queen. Seems we had a common ally at one point."
Edith's smile was feline and mischievous. She was proud to know that she hadn't the need to worry of Cambria. If Edith was honest, she had been her main concern.
"My dear Lady, you much more intelligent than I perceived, honestly." She checked her nails with a sigh before glancing back up to the female. "The mere thought of challenging the king, and then sitting in front of his face and lying to him is utter stupidity and to think he'd assume that of us is quite offensive. But, I do have my doubts." She stated. "It had to be someone who would not fully grasp the severity of their decision….not yet, of course. I'm having a hard time hand picking which one of them would be idiotic enough." Her eyes trailed to where the other nobles entered.
Etzli held up a finger and zoomed off. When she came back, she was holding a very well crafted tux. "Ask no questions. Get changed then come back so I can make adjustments, okay?"
Victor came back in the suit, grinning self consciously. "Now what?"
(Sorry for lateness.)
Klaus sunk into the main ball room, his robes flicking out from behind him as his dull eyes crossed everyone there. Two women were already in and talking. He slouched up nearby but not too close to make them think he was listening in. His orders from his Prince rung quietly in his ears as his gaze flitted around the room. It was certainly going to be an interesting night.
group
Dominik and Ames strolled into the ballroom; the lord with a proud, cold expression on his face, the young butler with a nervous glint in his eyes. Faces turned to inspect the two of them, a couple snickered between themselves. Ames had never been to a royal ball before, and seeing so many members of nobility present in one room made him feel rather inferior.
"Don't look so nervous, kid, they won't hurt you." Dominik whispered, throwing the room a glare that told them he would slaughter whoever looked at the boy. They made their way past watching eyes, gliding gracefully across the floor. "Although," Dominik continued, a mischievous shine in his eyes. "You do look ravishing in that outfit, why did you choose a woman's fit?"
"It's comfier, my lord." Ames bit his lip, flushed. "Please don't make a spectacle of me in the company of nobility."
"I wouldn't dream of it." Dom winked, then turned his attention to where Klaus was eavesdropping. "I don't like the look of him, Ames, there's something about him, and his skulking, that just seems off. I'd like you to keep your eyes on him, just to be on the safe side."
"What if he tries to hurt me? Or what if the murderer comes for you while I'm not around?"
"We both know that we can handle ourselves, I have faith in your talent. You still have the stake I gave you when you became my butler, I trust?"
Ames nodded and moved his sleeve an inch, just so you could see the hilt of a stake peeping out. "I kept it in its sheath so the silver wouldn't touch my skin, I'd like to refrain from scarring myself for as long as possible."
"Good boy, and remember, use only when necessary." Dominik didn't exactly want Ames, or himself, to be the top suspect of the Queen's murder.
Victor came back in the suit, grinning self consciously. "Now what?"
(Sorry for lateness.)
('Tis fine!)
Etzli was in a pretty flowing black and silver dress with long draping sleeves. She smiled at the sight of Victor. She slipped over to him and started messing with his tie. "You look wonderful. Does it feel okay? Is it too loose or tight anywhere?"
Verrian slipped into the room, dressed in a smart suit and white gloves. He looked around, surveying which nobles were talking to each other and which ones were left alone. It seemed most of them were watching each other, smart, but they were also super obvious, which was not smart. He made his way over to his father, not talking, just standing around and sipping some blood from a champagne glass that had been handed to him a few minutes before.
"It fits…" he moved his arms about and twisted, "rather well. Not as if it was tailored for me of course, but far better than I would have thought. Now pray tell, where did you get it?"
Etzli smiled wanly. "I said no questions! Now." She finished fixing his tie. "Let's get going. I'm hoping that I don't embarrass myself on the dance floor. Maybe I'll just stand in a corner."
Klaus' eyes flitted to the loud talking pair of vampires behind them. They might think they're talking quietly, but naturally, he heard them. He turned to approach Ames and Dominik, his eyes flitted down into slits. He paused near them, but not too close.
"Keep an eye on me?" He suddenly asked in a low, growling voice. "Why would a lone vampire like myself want to kill our Queen?"
Victor held out his arm for her to take. "My lady." There was no flirtatiousness in his eyes, merely a spark of humor, or was it excitement?
Etzli grinned and curtsied in a quick, elegant, fluid movement. "My Lord." She straightened and slipped her arm through his, her now deep blue eyes gleaming with amusement. "Well. I'm going shock my Aunt with my atrocious dancing skills. This aught to be fun."
He sighed, though there was laughter in the sigh. "I have not danced in a long time." A bit of sadness crept into his eyes. "If it were a less grave time I might…" he drifted off.
Etzli looked up at him sadly. "Aw…. I was hoping that you might… dance with me…" She looked down at her feet as they walked down the hall in disappointment.
Cambria couldn't help the small, playful smirk that danced across her lips as Edith spoke. They had a similar way of thinking. "Then again," She began, pitching her voice so that just Edith could hear. "We are vampires. Born and bred for war and mayhem. Idiotic, our would be tyrannicidal assassin is, but perhaps smarter than we given them credit for. Killing Nora would be the best way to launch us back into war…" Cambria paused, casting a side eye at the other Lady to see if she was picking up her train of thought. "…Our dear friend could swoop up the throne when the rest of us are distracted. Vying for power once more during the chaos."
She sighed, taking a glass of blood from a passing servant and bringing her voice up to normal volume. "Who knows? Maybe it's just for excitement. Gods know the past centuries have been positively boring."
Victor looked at her, shaken from his reverie. A soft look came to his face. "Well of course my friend." He grinned. "You did bring the suit after all."
Etzli looked up excitedly. "Really?!" she squeaked, eyes turning a bright cobalt. "I might step on your toes though." she warned. But she looked happy again, and less anxious than she had been.
"No matter," he laughed, "I haven't practiced in decades."
Etzli spotted the doors to the ballroom and paused. "Is there possibly a back door we could take that you know of…?" She really did not want to have tons of eyes on her.
Victor followed her gaze to the door, "You're right." He lead her away from the door and started to go around to the right. "Have you been here before?" he whispered.
group
Dominik dismissed Klaus' words with the wave of his hand. "Everyone has a reason."
Ames' fingers gently touched Dominik's and, keeping his gaze nonchalant, he spoke through a telepathic connection. My lord, perhaps it would be better to become an ally with this man. I do not think he has any true gain from the queen's murder.
If you think he is trustworthy then you shall be the one to form a bond with him, I am staying out of it. Dominik moved his hand away from Ames with an annoyed sigh, while the butler stood to attention.
"Pay no attention to my master's words, Lord Amerdamn, he is merely suspicious of everyone. While I think he has every right to be, I do not. Would you, perhaps, consider becoming an ally with me, if not the master?" The expression on Ames' face was genuine, innocent, however inside he knew that by saying those words he was going to receive punishment from Dominik sooner or later - he could practically feel the jealousy radiating from Dominik's body.
Victor followed her gaze to the door, "You're right." He lead her away from the door and started to go around to the right. "Have you been here before?" he whispered.
Etzli shook her head and whispered back, "Never. I haven't been out of the mansion since I moved there when I was 167."
He frowned in concentration. "Pity. Let's circle around until we find another door. There's bound to be another. It's a big room." They progressed in silence for a while until they cam to another ornate double door.
Etzli groaned. "Probably still will bring plenty of attention…." She sighed and looked at her feet, not wanting to go in.
Klaus' cold gaze watched the pair stand in silence. A smile twitched at his lips at their question, and he rose his chin as if in thought.
"Hm… well, it would certainly be beneficial for me, wouldn't it? I would get a lot of gain from it," He cooed to himself quietly, making sure only the other two vampires could hear. "Yes, I suppose we can." He had no intentions in telling them his Prince's orders, however. He was more than prepared to stay quiet and watchful in the back of the masses. He was mostly forgotten, anyway.
group
A dazzling grin formed on Ames' lips. "Very good, my lord. Whenever you require my services you need only ask."
"Hold on, I never agreed-" Dominik began, but pleading eyes from the butler made him stand down. "I know, I said I'll stay out of it." Dominik sighed then glared at Klaus. "If you hurt him, don't think I won't kill you." he noticed a couple of unfamiliar women staring at him from a distance, smiling, glancing away in embarrassment as they caught his eye. "If you'll excuse me." Dominik bowed mockingly to Klaus and Ames, and wandered over to the ladies with a charming smile. May as well make the most of the ball, and what point is there of not dancing at a ball?
Etzli groaned. "Probably still will bring plenty of attention…." She sighed and looked at her feet, not wanting to go in.
He frowned. "Too bad. Servant's door perhaps?" They kept walking until they heard the music getting louder again. They stopped. Blending into the wall so that it could barely be seen was a small wooden door. "Perfect!" Victor hissed.
Etzli's eyes lit up and she gave Victor a quick hug. "You're the best!" Then she released him and tapped the door lightly, causing it to spring open. "I can't believe I didn't think of this!"