Vampires Realm Prophecy 01 - Child of Light

fall. She had danced before, but never at this kind of frantic pace.
    A pair of black eyes greeted her when she was handed to the next man. She looked around, desperately searching for an avenue of escape as the tempo of the music increased, galloping along as though it was never going to stop. She could hear laughter and could see the smiling faces of all the vampires that lined the dance floor. They were cheering the dancers on but she felt as though her plight was the main reason for their laughter.
    Her eyes widened in alarm when she was spun on the spot and found herself suddenly in the grip of a Venia, his icy blue eyes luring her in and calling to her. She pushed against him and he laughed, his raven-like mask shifting as he did so.
    “Let me go.” She ducked out of his arms and went to escape but another man caught hold of her, pulling her back into the fray.
    Valentine moved around the room, listening to the jovial talking of the vampires and the rich folk music. He adjusted his black horned mask and smoothed down his black and green coat. Having spoken to Mia, the only thing he had left to do was find Prophecy. He frowned when he spotted someone familiar and walked over to them. Standing next to them, he stared at the dancers.
    “You stand out like a sore thumb,” he said.
    The man looked at him with a frown and then grabbed hold of his arm in a desperate way. Valentine looked down at it and the man let go, a look of apology entering his hazel eyes where they were barely visible through his black and red jester style mask.
    “What the Devil are you doing here?” he said to Cornelius.
    His aide fumbled with his mask and almost dropped his glass. It was no wonder that Kalinor had often asked him why he’d chosen Cornelius as his aide rather than one of the members of his house more suited to the task. He seemed to find it impossible to keep calm under pressure or even do something as simple as stringing a sentence together when nervous.
    “I’m... I’m here with... Kalinor and the... ”
    “Guards?” Valentine offered. As much as he liked Cornelius, he didn’t have time for his stumbling. His eyes scanned the room for a sign of his lord. Instead of finding him, he found someone else. A strong signature caught his senses. He stared at the black haired regal looking man stood at the other end of the room talking to Mia, his face not hidden beneath a mask. “What is Lord Hyperion doing in society? He has not been seen in a century.”
    Cornelius moved closer to him. “It is said that Ineru has fled her place of exile. The... Law Keepers are looking for her. They believed she might be here.”
    “Here? Why?”
    “She is rumoured to be with a vampire hunter.”
    Valentine looked down at him, his brow raised. “He?”
    “No.” Cornelius shook his head at the reference to Caden, his sandy blond hair shifting with it and falling down over one half of his mask. He pushed it back again. “One with similar foresight and skill, but younger.”
    Valentine just nodded distractedly when something else caught his attention. He realised that everyone was staring at the dancers and he wondered what they were looking at. He could feel power, immense power, and he was as drawn to it as they were.
    He stepped forwards, pushing a man out of his way so he could get a better look at the dancers.
    One stood out in amongst them.
    She was beautiful, just as he’d thought she would be.
    Her slim body was encased in a deep plum strapless bodice, the bell-shaped skirt of it ruffled at the back and parted at the front to reveal an even darker purple smooth material. Her slender arms were covered in matching plum satin gloves, and her shoulders were hidden beneath a veil of black that matched the slim sweeping black mask she wore. When she was swept past him, he caught sight of her lips. They were alluring, smeared in red as though she’d just fed. He smiled at the sight of his marks displayed prominently on her throat. Even though they weren’t her sire’s, it was a good thing that she had them so she wouldn’t raise suspicion. Everyone in the room but him seemed to be showing off their marks tonight.
    He’d known he’d be able to recognise her no matter what she wore. There was something about her, something that drew everyone to her, including himself. If only they knew who they were looking at.
    He frowned when he saw a flash of panic in her eyes and she was handed to another male.
    “Valentine?”