Page 43 of Vampires of Eden: Oliver
“Here ye! Attention, everyone!” Hudson’s voice booms like a cannon over the crowd as he stands atop the lifted stage toward the front of the ballroom. “Lord Blakeley will give his closing address for tonight’s festivities.”
Lord Blakeley raises a hand, gesturing for me and Alexander to meet him and the viscount on the stage. As Lord Blakeley talks, I stand behind him twisting my hands and feeling short of breath, waiting for him to condemn me in front of all these vampires.
But he doesn’t. His speech is straightforward and packed full of the expected aristocracy fluff. He thanks everyone for attending and he’sthrilledfor our clan to be formally united with the vampires of Central Eden. Of course he is—not to mention the elevated social status and huge financial dowry that come along with it.
After everyone has received champagne, he asks them to lift their glasses in a toast to our union. When his speech is finished, the guests lazily sip their drinks and mill around. Party’s over. I’m still standing on the stage beside the viscount and Alexander when Lord Blakeley suddenly turns.
“You’re certainly full of energy tonight, aren’t you?” He takes a sip from his champagne glass, regarding me. I don’t know how to respond to his comment, so I lower my head.
“If it’s alright, I’d like to escort Oliver back to his room?” Alexander addresses Lord Blakeley and the viscount, then looks at me. “Is that alright? Are you ready?”
“Y-yes…” This is it. The very thing that Aries spoke of earlier. My perpetual compliance. How I make it easy for them to push me around.
Truthfully, I’d like to stay longer—to find Sasha and talk with her a bit more. Maybe… I could tell her about my conversation with Aries tonight and how I feel. I wonder if she would support me, or if she’d tell me that I was being an immature and selfish brat.
My throat is tight, so the words come out strained. “Well—no, actually, I… I’d like to find Sasha and talk to her if—”
“Talk to Sasha another time,” Lord Blakeley commands, turning away. “Go with Alexander. You should be spending time with yourfiancé, not causing a scene on the dance floor like some cheap and tactless entertainer.”
“Charles, please…” The viscount’s pale eyes shift nervously between me and Alexander. Lord Blakeley walks away, incontestably finished with this conversation. “Have a lovely night, you two,” the viscount goes on, then follows his mate down the marble steps and into the crowd.
“Why do you need to talk to Sasha?” Alexander asks quietly. “Is it important sibling stuff?”
I sigh, defeated. “No. It’s okay.”
Did I deserve that? Is dancing with someone and actually having fun so detestable?
I walk toward the same steps that the viscount and Lord Blakeley just descended. Alexander follows. We leave the busy hall and head toward my wing of the estate.
The entire way, Alexander is silent. He doesn’t try to hold my hand or link our arms. No touching at all. I’m glad about this, but admittedly, it’s strange. In the way that I’ve grown accustomed to walking with a pebble in my shoe, but suddenly it’s not there anymore.
Since it’s quiet, I replay the evening in my mind. Primarily, the moments that involved Aries. Our conversation in the old study, my unexpected tears and then our lively dance.
It’s incredible to experience a vast range of emotions and in such a short period of time. And to express them with someone who simply accepts them all. Whether I’m ashamed or insecure, blatantly horny and frisky with my eyes alighting, or having an emotional breakdown, Aries is stable like a rock. Patient and accepting me through all of my mess.
Once we’ve climbed the stone steps and are standing outside of my room, I turn to Alexander and offer a polite bow. “Thank you for escorting me here.”
“You’re welcome,” he says. I’m waiting for him to make a plea to enter my room or say something rude. But he places his hands in his pockets and shifts his gaze toward the slim window set in the stone wall beside us. “Can I be clear about something?”
Here it comes. “What is it?”
His golden-brown eyes glint in the narrow stream of moonlight and meet mine. “About what you said earlier, after our last dance. I’m sorry that I’ve been unkind to you. Thank you for being honest with me.”
We stare at each other in the warm darkness. I honestly don’t know what to say.
“Good night.” He turns and stalks toward the steps, but then pauses. “Next time we dance, will you lead, please?”
I nod. “Sure.”
“I’ll look forward to it. And your father was wrong, by the way. You didn’t look like cheap entertainment. Not at all.” He disappears around the corner. His footfalls echo softly as he descends the stairs.
Well… alright. That was different.
With Alexander gone, I enter the calming space of my room. Camille has been here, because my comforter is turned town and the oil lantern sitting atop my nightstand burns and flickers. This, in combination with the natural moonlight glowing through the square windows, creates a soothing ambience.
I take a long hot shower, luxuriating in the heat and solitude. When I’m finished, I’m emotionally tired but not physically. I need a mental distraction, so I get on all fours and peek underneath my bed.
Carefully, I pull out the boxes that Sasha gave me. Once I have the instant camera and film set beside me on the floor, I sit with my legs folded and open everything up.
