Malevolence - Legacy Series Book Two (The Legacy Series) (9 page)

           
“Oh, sorry.
 
Was I thinking in pack?”
 
I said.

           
“No, I see that look of admiration on your face,” he said. I smiled, blushing a little thinking of a man other than my father thinking about my mother that way.
 
A memory of my father telling my mother that no butterfly was as graceful or beautiful popped in my head.
 
Gus took my hand turning it over and kissed the inside of my wrist “it is endearing to see you with a soft spot for your mom.”
 

           
“Don’t ruin my reputation,” I said with a grin.

           
The most gorgeous reporter approached me to ask about my dress.
 
His smile was so genuine I couldn’t help myself but answer his questions.
 
Gus stood beside me keeping an eye out for our host.
 
I felt a pair of hands on my shoulder and heard my mom whisper in my ear “that’s Mario Lopez.
 
He’s a long way from home, interesting.”
 
She said as she smiled up at him, he grinned from ear to ear.

           
 
He leaned in to say something private, holding the microphone behind him, “Phelan pack right?
 
How did you end up coming to this?”
 
Mario asked.

           
“
He’s pack?”
I thought to mom.

           
“
No, he’s actually a sorcerer.
 
He comes from a long line of them but he isn’t an active one.
 
He knows almost every supernatural being around.”
 

           
“Who did you say you’re wearing?”
 
He asked and winked at me.

           
I felt my insides go a little mushy. Gus slid his arm behind me in a more protective stance.
 
“Christian Dior with
Badgley
Mischka
shoes.”
 
I returned the wink and followed my mom through the lobby.
 
I tried to minimize the
tink
,
tink
,
tink
of my stiletto heels on the black and white marble floors.
 
The crowd was chattering as we all came to a halt and bottlenecked the entrance to the ballroom.

           
Each group that arrived together was announced as they entered into the ballroom. “Matriarch Dolina Phelan with daughter Prudence Phelan and two escorts.”
 
I plastered the fakest smile I could as I held Gus’ arm and walked into the ballroom.
  

           
As we entered the room, we were guided to a table with women dressed in matching, form fitted, black gowns that accentuated their assets.
 
They gifted every woman with a bracelet of a black velvet ribbon with a diamond teardrop and every man was gifted with a platinum pinky ring.
 

           
“Stay close Pru, I don’t want any surprises tonight,” mom said.

           
I checked out the room and noticed the dessert table had everything chocolate; chocolate fountains for fondue, to chocolate sculptures of wolves.
 
Touché
I thought to myself.
 
The room was gilded in twenty four carat gold as was the china on the tables.
 
The room smelled of roses and melted chocolate.
 
Every table had a centerpiece of blood red roses and crisp white baby’s-breath bound into a tall crystal vase.
 
“It sure doesn’t look like something that was thrown together” I whispered to my mom.

           
“No it doesn’t, and that is what worries me a little bit.
 
You need to be aware of your surroundings at all times dear,” mom said.

           
“Yes mom, I know.
 
Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.
 
I want
you
to be careful, don’t go off alone,” I said.

           
“I want both of you to be careful,” Gus chimes in.
 
We all shared a nervous laugh.

           
The Chamber Orchestra was playing a haunting but modern piece as the sounds became lighter and lighter until the music stopped.
  
The announcer told everyone to gather in two lines flanking the entrance so the host could walk through and receive them.
 
I stood with my mother to my left and Gus to my right. We were at least twenty people down from the entrance.
 
I couldn’t see past Gus so I stood silently waiting for our host, Pascale
Norwid
, the vampire to greet us.

           
I could only see the top of the man’s head as he was bending over and kissing each woman’s hand.
 
His escort on the other side of him was getting quite a few
oo’s
and
ah’s
. I still didn’t have a good view of either one of them.
 
Moving faster than any mortal could move, the man was directly in front of me with his head bent as he took my hand, kissing the top of it.
 
He still had a hold of my hand as he raised his head and we came face to face, me at least six feet in my stilettos.
 
His eyes, I swore I’d never forget them and I didn’t.
 
Those honey colored eyes had haunted me for twelve years.
 
I dreamt about them so many times that I had at least three dream journals about him.
 
His skin as smooth and graceful looking as I remember with my seven year old eyes.
 
He was older than I remembered him to be but not by much; he probably was closer to twenty five when he was turned.
 
Our eyes locked in the moment with me knowing he knew who I was and that I’d be here.
 
The smile on his face hid the fact he had glistening white fangs.

           
“Pru, we finally formally meet again.
 
You have grown into a beautiful woman,” he said, bowing to kiss my hand again.
 

           
My head was swimming; I’d never expected the vampire we sought was him.
 
I remembered the words of Josie, telling me to remember everything about him and how he was my mortal enemy.
 
His eyes did not make me think mortal enemy, I wanted to stare into them forever.
 
My heart was beating erratic and I couldn’t gather my thoughts.
 
Gus tugged at me, bringing me back to the moment.

           
My mother thought to me, “
when did you meet him?
”
 

           
“
Not right now, I’ll explain later”
  
I replied.

           
“That you will,”
mom said sternly.

           
“It’s you; I never knew your name,” I said to him.
 
In the corner of my eye, I saw his date was entertaining the guests with her twirls, showing off her dress.
 
I couldn’t help but admire the lace bodice and the gorgeous ruffles of black and purple tulle that made the dress unforgettable.

           
“Yes my love, it is me Pascale and I’m delighted you could make it,” he said.
 
The vampire I met when I was a child on a visit to Ireland.
 
My mentor Quinney had hosted a party that Pascale was at.
 
I had never known about vampires until that party.
 
Gus tugs on my arm, bringing my thoughts back to the moment.

           
Pascale’s
date made it to his side; she turned around to face me in a dramatic show just for me.

           
“Allie!”
 
I said, not believing my eyes.
 
Of course she would be with him, he was powerful and rich.
 
Abel’s big sister had been seduced by vampire Arien last year.
 
After reading her journal, I felt sorry for her.
 
Abel and I are convinced that he had used her, and she ran to his uncle, Pascale.
 
We vowed to find the antidote to the vampire virus to save her, but it seems to be the Holy Grail.
 
I turn my attention back to the moment and look at her beautiful face.
 
She stood there with her hair long and straight, her eyes were as smoky as she could make them.
 
The black corset and ruffled long skirt were beyond words. Her nails, polished red, where emphasized by the black leather and lace up gauntlets.

           
Allie tilted her head to the side before busting out laughing, “You should see yourself in a mirror when you make that face.
 
I swear to ….
you-know-who
that it’s priceless.
 
Where in the hell did you think I went?
 
Slumming with Arien, please.”
 
She held her hand out for Gus, expecting him to kiss her gauntleted hand.
 
“No, I’m kidding.
 
I adore Arien, he gave me freedom and he will be rewarded.
 
How are you and my brother doing?
 
Have you done the nasty with him yet?”
 
Pascale swatted her butt.

           
“Keep your foul attitude out of my party or you will not be so excited to be here,” Pascale scolded.

           
Allie rolled her eyes so far back in her head I thought she was doing a zombie impression.
 
“
Whatev’s
,” she said and curtsied to Gus.

           
“Pru, I’d adore to continue this conversation on the dance floor.
 
I’ll have them play a waltz for us in a bit sunshine,” Pascale said.

           
“Don’t hold your breath,” I whispered, knowing he could hear me.

           
“I don’t need to.”
 
He was kissing some woman’s hand and looked over and licked his lips at me.
 
Are all vampires so insufferable?
 
I had to get in touch with Abel and let him know that Allie was here.
 
He would be so mad that he wasn’t with me.
 
I sent him a quick text telling him I’d sneak out to the limo to Skype with him just as soon as I could get a minute.

Chapter 11. Waltz

“There was once upon a time a king who had a wife with golden hair, and she was so beautiful that her equal was not to be found on earth.”
Allerleirauh
~ Grimm’s Household Tales

           
The orchestra began playing the Alicia Keys song ‘
Fallin
’ and the crowd made a perfect square around the dance floor as Pascale and Allie started dancing.

           
“They’re doing the Viennese Waltz
.”
 
My mom thought to me.

           
“
I didn’t realize she knew how to do ballroom dance.
 
I on the other hand, had to take lessons for some unknown reason,”
I said.
 
I watched them glide across the floor with perfect rise and fall.

           
Mom put her hand on my shoulder, our way of direct communication without the other pack members hearing us.
 
“I’m not sure how it works but I’ve heard that the fledgling vampires will absorb knowledge from the elders, if the elder so chooses to share.
 
Pascale is her puppeteer and has obviously given her the ability to dance.
 
It makes her look like she is an aristocrat and people will respect her automatically, regardless of her youth.”
 
Mom and I took a look around the room trying to figure out who is a supernatural and who wasn’t.