The Vampire's Harvest

33

"I...no, I just got here."

"Would you like a mask?" They lifts their lean arm with a flourish, their lips twisting with a smirk as they snap their fingers and calls a drone to their side. Their servant glides over with a delicate mask of ivory and gold sitting atop of a velvet pillow. "It's yours should you join me."

"I..." You pause, your eyes wide as you drink in the future that had always been promised you. A future that many did not receive on their first trip to the ball. A future that was presented to you so willingly. A future that wasn't going to happen because of Ferris.

"Why?" you finally ask.

"Never in my many, many years have I had a feeder question my interest in them." Their brow furrows and their eyes grow dark as they scrutinize you. Your throat goes tight as if it can already feel their fangs digging into it. Then, the shadow dashes away and their smile brightens their elegant face. "I was simply curious before, but now I am downright intrigued. You are a spunky human and there are not nearly enough of those."

"You find me curious?" you ask, your words breathless as the sudden dance with death ends in your favor.

"Yes," they say with a toothy grin, their fangs gleaming in the golden light. "And I'm even more curious if you'll except this mask."

All your hopes and dreams, the stories of life immortal, of extravagance and glamor, of undying love, they all start to flow through you and you lick your lips at the taste of such a future.

"Of course I will," you say, smiling at the bewitching vampire. If they prove to be truly captivated by you then accepting their mask secures that future you've dreamed of since childhood. If they prove to be the ruthless monster Ferris portrays vampires as, then they can die within the coven's spell. Accepting their mask will have little meaning. You see nothing to lose.

"Excellent," they say, taking the mask and placing it gently upon your face, making sure their fingers caress your cheek as they do. "Now I must take you out to the dance floor to show off my exquisite new companion, but first I'd like to give you a proper gift." Again they snap their fingers and this time another drone approaches, bearing a small box. "Every new feeder receives a mask, but I do not walk into such relationships lightly. With me, I look for companionship, for a partner. And as such, you deserve to be showered with affection. Starting now." You blush from a mixture of excitement and guilt. Were you really going to send them to their death?

They watch you with an enigmatic bend to their brow. Their golden eyes dark and curious. They hold you in their gaze, their scent floral with a tinge of iron that confuses your senses. You look away and glance towards the floor, only to find the box open and poised before you with a golden horse figurine inside.

"My house provides the finest steeds in the world. This figurine is more a mark of your connection with me than any mask is."

"Th-thank you," you answer, unable to stop your guilt from affecting your tongue. You swallow hard as your fingers explore the finely crafted figure.

"Come," they reply with a bright bounce to their words, "let's dance!"

You barely have time to pocket your new treasure before the vamp takes your hand and ushers you to the floor. You follow them with a stumbling step, your eyes glittering beneath the light of the many chandeliers dangling from the ceiling.

"What is your name?" they ask, their breath brushing against your ear as they pull you close.

"Micah," you respond with a breathy whisper. "What is yours, great vamp?"

"I am the Marquis Francis Degaré Ellimond, but you can call me Ell." They swing you around, the room spinning as the many swirling bodies encircling you become mere dashes of color and fleeting fits of laughter. "May I ask you something my dear one?"

They pull you out of the spin and straight into their toned chest. There they sway, resting their cold cheek against yours as they continue. "How much time do I have?"

"P-pardon?" you sputter, drawing away to look them in the eye. You find a mischievous smile awaiting you and a knowing glint in their honey eyes.

"I saw the runes stitched into your robe the moment you walked through the door," they say with a bit of a laugh in their voice. "Keep dancing, you don't want to alert anyone else, do you?"

You do as they say, keeping your head low as you try to plan your escape.

"See, most here are too lost in their lust or too stupid to have noticed, but I know a mage when I see one. Yet, here you are. Mages don't tend to run around without a coven."

"I..."

"Hold on my dear Micah, before you bolt from me, hear me out. I would very much like to see a good majority of the vamps here dead. Now if you can tell me what's going to happen, then maybe I can save some friends and perhaps we can go find a happily ever after outside of this dreary hall. Or you can simply keep your secret. I honestly don't care and I don't intend to rat you out. I'll be leaving this party one way or another at the end of this dance. If it's with you and my allies, all the better. If not...well, at least my enemies will be dead as well."

You listen to the music rise in a dramatic crescendo. It won't be long until it finishes and you're certain that Ferris must have gotten into the hall by now. You don't know how long his spell will take, but time must be running out.

You continue to sway with Ell, the rhythmic movements somehow soothing as your thoughts boil over. Ell hasn't done anything to prove themselves a threat. Their hold on you remains gentle, their manner calm. They seem like a decent vamp, one that may prove to be a loving companion, or at least an interesting and fair one. You could tell them. Infighting amongst vamps is well known and you don't doubt that they'd be happy to leave many of the vamps behind to burn, but can you really risk the success of Ferris's spell by telling Ell? Vampires are a tricky lot and you can't know for certain they'll keep their end of the bargain. And what if Ell is lying through their teeth? They may already have drones looking for the coven. Perhaps what you really should be doing is making a scene and ensuring Ferris has enough time to finish the spell.

- Tell them the truth: ch 38

- Withhold the truth: ch 39

- Cause a scene: ch 40