The Vampire Vigilante
Chapter 14

Maya and I walked down the hall slowly hand-in-hand. My heart was in my throat as I squeezed her hand tighter. She looked at me and smiled. "I'm right here. You have nothing to worry about." I felt myself stop before we got to the balcony. Maya looked at me with a puzzled look.

"Can we get a drink first?" I asked. Maya looked at one of the guards at the top of the stairs and waved him over. He came up to me and bowed. "What can I do for you, your Majesty?"

"Please don't call me that," I groaned, "But can we get a couple of glasses of wine each before we join the ball?"

"Of course," he replied, standing up, "I will be back in a moment." I backed up and leaned against the wall in the hallway. Maya walked over to me slowly. "Talk to me, what's going on?"

"I don't know," I replied, putting my right hand on my left arm, "I was feeling good and then I just couldn't walk anymore. My stomach is in knots."

"I can understand," Maya said, standing in front of me. She took my hands in hers. "You have no idea what is about to happen down there, but I can promise you it's gonna be fine. You are about to light up the room, Erik is going to flip when he sees you, and Malachi is not going to be a problem." She looked at me with those big doll eyes and I couldn't help but smile back.

"Just hold on to that feeling with Erik," she continued, "I'm sure he won't leave your side tonight." I remembered what he had written in the note and sighed, trying to let my anxiety go with my breath. "You're right. You are absolutely right. I just don't want to become the center of attention. All of those people think I'm dead, Maya. It's going to be a shock when they see I'm alive and well."

"Not just well," Maya replied as she took the 4 glasses of wine from the guard, "But thriving. You could take the whole room apart with your thoughts." She took a big drink before handing me my two glasses. "Just remember that and you have nothing to worry about."

I took a drink of my first glass and looked at her. She was such an amazing friend; I was so lucky to have her on my side.

Saddle up. It's time for the show.

I downed my first glass and took a breath before downing the next. I looked at the clock sitting on the little nook in the hallway.

8:15. Fashionably late.

"I guess it's now or never," I whispered, looking at Maya. She smiled as we set the empty wine glasses on the ground before heading toward the balcony.

Maya grabbed my hand and held it tight as we began our walk across the balcony. I kept my eyes to the ground, focusing on not falling on my face. When we reached the stairs, a soft melody of Moonlight Sonata by Beethovan was playing in the background of chatter. I took a huge breath as we began our descent.

20 steps; you've got this.

I kept my eyes on my feet as we took each step slowly. I began to notice as the room became more quiet by the second.

"Melody," Maya whispered, "I would look up if I were you." I grit my teeth as I focused on each step. "I can't."

"Yes you can," she replied, "Just do it."

I looked up slowly to see that all eyes were on me. I wanted to turn around and run for the hills. I swallowed hard, scanning the crowd for two faces. I became frantic in my search until I found a pair of glowing, golden eyes looking at me.

The whole world stopped for a moment and it was only the two of us in the large room. I made sure to keep my feet moving as a soft smile formed on my lips. Erik smiled back, giving me the confidence I needed to finish the last 3 stairs.

When we got to the bottom of the stairs, I held tightly onto Maya's hand as I pulled her toward the bar. "Let's get a drink, please." She followed me to the bar while everyone went back to their conversations.

"What can I get you lovely ladies?" the bartender asked. Maya held up 2 fingers. "Two of your strongest mixed cocktails, please." I watched as he fixed two blood-infused vodka drinks with precision and handed them to us. "Enjoy!" I took a sip and my taste buds lit up. It was absolutely delicious. And strong.

"These are great," I said, chuckling as we backed up against the wall next to the bar, "What do you think?"

"Tasty," Maya answered, drinking just a little too fast. I laughed as I sipped my drink and scanned the crowd again.

He's not here. Yet.

"Do you see him yet?" Maya asked. It was crazy how she could know what I was thinking most of the time.

"No," I answered, shaking my head, "I've looked several times. He isn't here yet, I don't think."

A man then walked up to me. He was dressed in a silver tuxedo with a dark purple tie. He appeared to be in his mid-forties, jet black hair, and a silver streak of hair in the front. He smiled before bowing to me. "And may I ask your name, your Majesty? There are several people who are curious as to who you may be. We have never seen someone so elegant."

I smiled and held out my hand to shake his. "Mel. It's very nice to meet you...?"

"Richard," he replied, taking my hand and gently kissing, "Sir Richard of Nowell." Nowell was a sector in the east African region.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," I said, "Sir Richard."

"May I ask where you reign?" he asked, raising his eyebrows before lowering his hand from mine.

"I..." I trailed off.

Shit.

"She's not from around here," Maya interrupted, "Just passing through as a friend to King Donovan."

"Mysterious," Sir Richard replied, "I like it." He bowed again. "It was nice to meet you, Mel." He walked away as I let out the breath I was holding. I looked at Maya and smiled. "Thank you for that." She beamed with pride as she got another drink from the bar. "Anytime, bestie!" I laughed and shook my head.

I looked up at the crowd to see Erik walking slowly toward me. My breath stopped as I took in the image of him. He was wearing a black tuxedo with a black tie, his hair was neatly fixed against his head and brushed back, and he had 4 small medals on his breast pocket. His crown was simple but elegant; it was golden with 2 gems in the front. His smile was soft and as he got closer it grew more prideful. He stood in front of me and looked down, reaching out his hand. "Would you care to give me a dance, Mel?"

Chills shot down my spine when he said my name. I bit my lip and looked up. "I'm afraid I don't know how to dance." I looked over at Maya, who was gawking. I gave her a nervous glance and she decided to run off and mingle. I looked back at Erik, who had a playful smile against his lips.

"Just follow my lead," he replied, taking my hand in his and walking to the middle of the floor, "I won't let you fall."

We went to the center of the room as a soft guitar melody began playing. Erik wrapped his left arm around my waist and pulled me close before he took my right hand in his. We began to step to the rhythm of the music as he leaned down to my ear. "You look beautiful." I felt my cheeks burning as a blush spread across my face.

Glad I wore some underwear.

"Thank you," I whispered, "You don't look so bad yourself." He chuckled. "Oh that's all I get? Thanks."

"Fine," I laughed, "You look very handsome." He smiled down at me as our feet flowed across the floor effortlessly. I felt the electricity between our touch as we danced around, twirling and dipping through the crowd. It was like the two of us were the only ones in the world, lost in the most perfect moment.

As the song ended we bowed to each other. I looked up through my eyelashes to see that Erik was looking behind me.

That can only mean one thing.

His eyes flashed gold as they darted back to me. He stood up quickly and I did the same. I kept my back to the doors as I walked to the bar area again. I grabbed a drink and stood in the corner staring at the ground. I could feel the anger growing inside of me and I had not even seen him yet. I decided to finally face my fears and look up.

Malachi was strutting in dressed in a dark red suit. He had a long coattail, a black tie, and his blonde hair was slicked back. Several guards in grey suits followed him around like puppies. My lip snarled up at the thought of all of them, remembering each one.

I watched as he took Erik's hand and shook it, talking about who knows what. I took a long drink of my glass before setting it down and grabbing another. I looked over to the right to see Maya talking some guy's head off, as he stared at her in awe. She definitely had a way with mesmerizing people, and I knew her plans tonight were to find 'an eligible bachelor' so I decided not to bother her with my crippling anxiety.

I looked back over at Erik and Malachi to see they were still talking before another king walked over and joined their conversation. Malachi took a glass from one of the waiters walking around.

Mess with his head.

I smiled as the alcohol began to give me some confidence. I looked at the glass in his hand and decided to toy with him like he used to with me.

Shatter.

The glass in his hand instantly broke into hundreds of tiny pieces and he jumped backward in shock. Erik snapped his eyes to me as I took a drink from my glass and smiled. I saw his eyes widen in shock as he realized what just happened. I could feel my eyes burning so I turned them back to normal before anyone else could see. I then set my empty glass on the bar before I walked to the bathroom.

Checkmate.

I washed my hands and looked in the mirror. I had no idea what the rest of the night was going to hold, but I knew I was no longer backing down from Malachi. My tattoo began to burn as I dried my hands on the hand towel. I fixed a few strands of stay hair before I went back outside to see Erik waiting on me.

"Goodness," I said, putting my hand on my chest, "I only went to the bathroom for a second. Did you need something?" He grabbed my wrist and pulled me close. "What the hell was that?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I answered, looking up at him.

"I think you do," he replied in a whisper, "How did you do that?"

"Erik," I said, "I really have no idea what you're talking about." He took a hand and stroked his fingers along my chin, sending electric waves between my thighs. I closed my eyes as I felt his face getting closer to mine.

"Whatever it is you're trying to do to me," he said with a growl, "It's working." I smiled as I opened my eyes, looking deep into his golden orbs. "Good."

A smile crept across his face as I pulled away. "I'm going to get another drink, would you like one?"

"Sure," he replied as he adjusted himself.

Oh, boy.

I walked up to the bar with Erik behind me. The bartender handed me a glass of wine and Erik a whiskey drink.

"And who do we have here, Erik?"

I nearly choked. I looked straight ahead at the bartender as Erik wrapped his arm around my waist. He could feel my panic levels rising.

Well, here goes nothing.

I turned around and faced Malachi, my chin held high. I made sure my eyes were ice blue and glowing as our gazes locked onto each other. Malachi's eyes grew wide and he nearly dropped the glass he was holding. We stood there staring at each other for what seemed like an eternity before he decided to speak.

"Well, well, well. Looks like this night just got a little more interesting."

Oh, you have no idea.

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