In the swirling mist that gathered around the ship, Rachel’s ears lifted high, focused on the swarm of information that opened up to her the moment she set foot on the vessel; the dampening magic was lifted, giving her the position of every scurrying rat or muscle twitch.
There was a thunder inside her heart with the sudden tension that overtook the air; the pressure only continued to mount as her team appraised the few other guests on the sun deck, waiting for an attack. Yet, [Beastial Instincts] told her none of them were on their level; they were likely the bodyguards of the bosses that had already descended to the lower deck.
Rachel didn’t blink as Cássia broke the ensuing silence, the brunette teenage vampire smoothly directing them in the direction of the stairs without a hint of nervousness.
“Please, do not be shy, guests. We will be at our destination in approximately 40 minutes. Everyone has agreed to maintain neutrality toward those under the Countess’ invitation until she makes her address. Enjoy yourselves, mingle, and plot to your heart’s content.”
Taking the lead, Maria huffed and threw back her hair, pulled over her shoulder by the strong ocean winds. “Yo, Rach, we expectin’ a jump—Fi, you coming?”
Rachel shook her head. “Let’s play nice and make friends.”
The Fairy floated near Rachel, her unsure expression shifting between the Unicorn and Lady Aurora Bain. “Yeah, friends! Umm. I’ll… be down in a bit, Maria. I wanted to investigate a few things; there’s a lot of magic and Fae stuff around here. Save me some sugar?”
“Cool.” The Unicorn tapped Scarlet’s shoulder, the Vespertine Reaper looking unsure where she should go with her fangirling ginger latched onto her arm. “You hanging with us, Scarlet? Barb wanted me to ask some shit to Ms. Pumpkin next to you.”
“M-Me?!” Illa cried, shrinking a little and hiding behind Scarlet. “I’m a nobody.”
Rachel’s ears tilted to the left with her head, watching Aurora casually set up a board of chess on the table folded down from a seat. “Have fun, Maria and Scarlet. We’ll talk later, Anthony, so scope out the competition, and Nia, keep an ear on everyone with Coral.”
“Fifififi!” her spooky ghost bun laughed, phasing through the floor to surprise the people below. “Fi!”
Nia sighed and followed the rest of her team, while the Noble Vampire guards cautiously scattered below deck, leaving Fiona, her, and Aurora on top. The yacht broke away from the docks, propellers spinning and Selvaria circling them like a massive shark. Soon, they’d be joining a vampiric masquerade; of course, not in the classical sense, but a deadly party of mysterious guests with the intent to murder one another.
This party is my kind of vibe… Wow, has my adrenaline fixation really escalated this much?
She dropped into the seat beside the Scottish Mythickin, catching Anthony’s shiver before he descended, shooting one last glance at her while rubbing an unusually intricate tattoo of a black dove on the back of his hand. There were so many mysteries to solve.
Fiona dropped down on her shoulder, looking up at the light-blue dust that started blanketing the vehicle; the Fairies were now circling their ship. “Oooh. Are your Fairies enchanting the boat? I can sense their magic infusing into the engine and steel. It’s so weird being around other fae…”
“Paradise… in your veins,” the mature, Scottish tone of the Faekin held a distracted note while leaning over to sniff the air, making the hair on the back of Rachel’s neck stand up. “Divine. You smell just right… like pure virgin honey. How cruel to tempt us,” she longingly whispered, her pleasant tone tickling her ears.
Rachel tilted her neck closer, exposing it with a tempting smirk. “A flavor so sweet, it’s like swimming in the warmth of sunlight for eternity… Will you live in a dream and partake?”
Oh, you want to jump on me and rip into my throat. Hahaha. How much control do you have?
“Cruel, indeed,” Aurora giggled, making Fiona gulp as the fae vampire longingly licked her glossy pink lips and retreated to return to her game of chess against herself. “I think I am going to enjoy this week. As for your question, little one, technically, these Fairies are not mine but belong to the king I serve. On another note, wouldn’t you fancy a game on our journey, Rachel?”
Rachel turned her gaze away from the waiting woman, showing a shocking amount of restraint after having literal divinity dangled before her lips. Adding a testing smile and not seeing much beyond the gray veil once away from the pier, she decided to play the actual game the Scottish woman was inviting her to.
“Shhh. I’m listening to more important things right now.”
“Ouch!” Fiona winced. “Don’t take it personally; Rachel’s just like that. In that case, I just wanted to ask if you knew anything about what was happening in Ireland, Lady Aurora. Is… the Scarlet Hand involved with it?”
The woman’s green eyes glowed brighter while smoothing back her silver bangs, vision narrowing as the wind picked up, and a barrier of some sort covered the open deck. An emerald aura shone ever so slightly, her focus drifting to Fiona with a charming smile.
“Hmm. I completely understand, Fiona White. It is a power play, designed to make me feel less important in order to frustrate and distract me while dangling the map to her buried treasure in front of my fangs.”
Maintaining her abruptly uninterested cadence, Rachel pulled her soaked ponytail over the back of the seat to let it hang, exposing her slick neck to tempt the woman further; the inviting naked skin, glistening in the dense mist got a look from the glamorous Faekin, her unusually active heartbeat skipping a little faster. This week was going to be fun.
She balanced her mind between multiple interactions, hearing the skittering of rats throughout the ship. Aurora recovered quickly from the temptation of Ichor-infused blood while returning to her game, and the heart-quickening strum of a few string instruments came from the 1st level of the yacht as Elizabeth’s serving girls provided music.
With the rapid movement of the three teenage girls’ bows against their violins and cello strings below, Fiona took to the air, suspicion in her voice. “How… do you know my last name?”
“How else?” Aurora’s chest shook with laughter before pivoting, lime-green eyes flicking to the girl while lifting a thoughtful finger to her bottom lip. “You should be concerned for your little sister, Nora was her name, correct? Didn’t she turn seventeen not that long ago?”
Rachel rested her arms against the railing as Fiona’s green colors deepened into crimson. “Careful, Aurora.”
“Why should I be?” the Scottish woman mused, moving another piece on her board. “It is not I that am threatening her. Perhaps you should be asking the girl you call Illa about those particular details since she is wearing Leprechaun Gold earrings… Couldn’t you tell as a fae?” she asked, making Fiona’s red color wash away. “Where could she have gotten those, hmm?”
Fiona hovered in the air for a few seconds, processing the slap in the face. “We’re… not done with this conversation! Maria! Maria, I need your help…”
Rachel didn’t give the white-haired Scottish woman the enjoyment of her attention, causing her to release a melancholy sigh before returning to her game. Not soon after, a melodious hum came from the mysterious vampiric fae.
However, Rachel wanted to catch every twitch and whisper that came from the guests before engaging with Aurora; first impressions were important for gauging competition, after all, and they had time to hash things out.
Immediately, one girl projecting an innocent aura snatched her attention.
“Who would like to play with me?” Red asked with a far sweeter voice than she’d used earlier. “You can bring your whole party if you like. Is anyone thirsty for some live blood? Nosferatu doesn’t want to… maybe he’s scared. Surely, someone here isn’t scared of a little girl in a red cap—Sava Savanović?”
A gentle and supportive female voice answered from a corner booth, away from all the other guests. “You are more than welcome to join my invitation, Scarlet Huntress.”
“No, thank you, Saint Catherine… I’m not really one to play by the rules. Sava?”
A saintess? Rachel noted, remembering the name on Jeanne’s historical page. As in Catherine of Alexandria, who supposedly came to Joanne d’Arc in a vision? I guess she’s one of the hunters that were invited… probably by The Church.
“Sorry to hear that,” the woman responded; her disappointment still didn’t mar her radiant voice. “Perhaps we will get better acquainted later.”
A raspy man with a Serbian accent chuckled, several others rising with him. “I have been itching for a snack… and your virgin blood smells delicious.”
“C’mon!” Maria shouted, making it to the first level after passing everyone on the second. “What the hell is up with people and virgin blood? Shit. Can you act like less of a predator?”
“I quite agree,” the saintess voiced. “I thought I sensed a few other Holy beings above. Care to join me—oh, and what is that noise?”
“Nice!” Red’s cheery tone held the malicious intent. “So, you’ll play with me in the woods?”
“Haha. I do not see any woods nearby, but sure.”
Silence fell over the vessel as the haunting cry of a wolf swept through the area, and the laughter from Nosferatu brought Rachel’s gaze to the small rat that jumped onto the top deck, shadows collecting to reveal a slim, cowled rat woman: Black.
“The Fairytale Mists… Such a fool to fight Red in her home territory. At least things will become more interesting with Fable invited.”
Most of her group met with Catherine, the saintess welcoming them to sit with her and moving her wheel-like shield and sword for them to join her. A stir swept the throng, but it wasn’t fear; most of the guests had heard of the Crimson Hunter. That number did not include Sava, and from general consensus, he and his guard wouldn’t be coming back from their trip into the Fairytale Woodlands, a pocket dimension Red could pull her victims into.
Aurora gave Black a single disinterested glance while folding her legs the opposite way. “If it isn’t the Rat Pied Piper that turned her back on the Scarlet Hand. I heard some of your colleges didn’t make it out of Iran. Such a tragedy.”
Rachel shifted her gaze to the pair, who were obviously acquainted but only through a cross in organizations. This kind of conversation was like honey on her tongue, giving her further insight into mysterious groups that tried to keep a low profile. Omen was meant to be the exact opposite, sparking apprehension wherever they went.
Black pulled off a thick leather book from a fitted case on her belt, smoothly flipping it open to take a few notes, her tone unenthusiastic and words diminishing the white-haired vampire’s entertained expression.
“Lady Aurora Bain—the Myth of the Baobhan Sith—as I’ve heard… A living Succubus Vampire of sorts, who hides her goat legs out of shame of their ugliness. If only they were lovely feet like… these,” she said with a small smile, flexing her open-toe boots.
“How crass.” The sparkling lights dancing around the Baobhan Sith’s frame twinkled a purple hue, frown directed at the rat girl, scribbling in her notebook. “Humph. Fable doesn’t have long, which is why White has been desperately scrambling to find sponsors without the Scarlet Hand’s support.”
Black’s mouth twitched, intelligent, green eyes peeking out from within her hood, rodent-like ears fluttering the inside a bit. “Really now? Because my rats have been whispering about the Scarlet Hand suddenly finding itself hardpressed to pay certain pledges it had made… Is it true that there are a few new organizations poaching talent and causing you trouble? I’m shocked your king hasn’t abandoned them, as well.”
Aurora’s charming cadence returned. “Hahaha. You are such a bitch, Black; I love it. I understand you are here for Selene. You can have her for all I care. I’m here on different orders from the delusional virgin bride. In general, I’m just here to have fun. Dracula has Fable on the ropes, though. Did Purple make it out of Siberia? Rumor is he’s a double agent. I know he needs a new partner. Hmm. Thoughts?”
Black snapped her book closed. “I have none for you… How is the Scarlet Hand recovering? Fable could negotiate a deal if you wish to flip to the winning side. The world balance is shifting, Aurora, and I’m sure your king sees it.”
The Faekin’s smiling eyes returned to her chess board, making a few more moves and humming a tune while she thought, and Rachel crossed her legs and sat back.
She was a hare listening in the corner; it probably wouldn’t last much longer before they pulled her in. She had her own inquiries to make when they’d finished looking for weaknesses in one another.
It seemed Fable and the Scarlet Hand weren’t doing as well as she’d thought: Twilight infecting and using Relica for some mysterious purpose, her initial misfortune manipulations that saved Scarlet from falling into despair, and now discovering that Scarlet’s father had thrown a wrench into his own organization by draining substantial funds while creating Twilight, which all made for major blows to eat.
What happened to Fable, though? Clearly, they’d worked with the Scarlet Hand before The Oscillation, yet something drastic had changed since then, marking them as enemies.
Both of these organizations were still dangerous, though, and she had no illusions that the Scarlet Hand would recover and remain a threat. What about Fable, though?
White approaching General Dallas made a lot more sense. Sure, her subordinates had skipped out on a mission, but there were deeper issues being discussed behind closed doors.
It made sense. The Montana Crystal was taking a lot of the US government’s attention, and the vampire attack on Miami was probably meant to spark another huge mess. They were trying to keep the Oval Office busy while twisting events and organizations inside the UK; the Scarlet Hand was in recovery mode, cutting weak links and consolidating power.
Stolen novel; please report.
Aurora picked up a knight and placed it on a dark square. “…Checkmate. Hmm-hmm-hmm. Sweetie,” she cooed, tilting her head to stare at the rat, “Fable lives in a dreamland. You were reborn as lowly Beastkin and Faekin… Lesser Seeds, and it is only due to the Scarlet Hand’s foreknowledge that your pathetic organization was able to rise out of the mud to evolve into Fablekin by killing Mythickin and Legendkin we gave you. Ungrateful brats.”
“Fablekin?” Rachel mumbled, straightening at the new classification. “You’re saying that Lesser Seeds can evolve into Greater Seeds?”
“Oops.” Aurora giggled at Black’s cold glare, the rat’s hairless tail wrapping around her leg. “Did I say too much? Fable cannot last because it cannot refill its ranks without the information we have. It should be you begging us for forgiveness and following orders like the animals you were meant to be.”
Black placed her book inside its strap and stood. “I delivered Green’s message. Make sure your king gets it… Do not underestimate White.”
With a flick of her tail, the girl transformed into a rat and disappeared into the lower levels, leaving Rachel to sigh and study the Baobhan as she reset her chess board. Out of the corner of her broad field of vision, she noticed Selvaria swimming alongside them, the boat picking up speed now that they were out on the open sea; she wanted to come on board, but they needed someone watching the sea.
I’ll probably need to get her a present or something to reward her after this mission; she’s that kind of woman. I guess it’s about time to dive into the meat of the discussion.
“Aurora…”
“Going to offer me a vial of blood?” she asked, looking up from her bent-over position and pulling back her bangs with a teasing crease in her emerald eyes. “Is it really so much to ask? I’ll even open the veil so you can have a taste of the moon.”
“Pfft. Such a lopsided deal,” Rachel chuckled, scratching her left ear and staring right at the dubious Faekin, salivating over her blood. “You’re not here for Dracula or Selene… You’re here for Adele, and not for her husband’s corpse.”
“Guilty,” she sang, moving the board for them to start playing a game. Her fake rage from before had totally melted away; the woman wasn’t as invested in the Scarlet Hand as she outwardly let on. Aurora was the type of vampire that could also feed off emotion. “I’m here to enjoy the amazing vibe that Countess Elizabeth Báthory brings.”
Rachel locked eyes with the woman, moving her pieces without glancing down. “A sliver of joy in this uncomfortable mission you’ve been given… to convince Scarlet to go back to her mother. Is Illa a part of that plot? Are you this mysterious Mother she’s telling Maria about? Apparently, she never saw her face, yet she wore a green dress. Coincidence?”
“I wonder. Mmm-hmm-hmm-hmm. A Queen’s Gambit… accepted,” she chimed, taking the piece off the board. “There are eleven notable colors on the wheel, Honey Blood, so that would put the odds at one in eleven that her Mother wore a green dress.”
“Fair,” Rachel conceded, activating her knights and feeling her heartbeat rising again with the mental stimulation. “From what I’ve heard, The Countess has refused to join the Scarlet Hand but has dealt with them in the past… Do you want her dead or alive?”
“Such a hard choice to make,” Aurora lamented, fingers hovering between a pawn and her knight, “so I’ll have to leave it for later and castle. You’re playing catch-up, Rachel, despite your powers guiding you in the right direction… It might land you in deep, pleasurable waters if you stop by my room,” she giggled, green eyes rising to meet hers. “There’s no time to sleep when living in a dream.”
“You’re starting to sound desperate to lay your lips against my neck,” Rachel chuckled. “I’m a lover of persistence, but I don’t like being used for other’s entertainment. I prefer to do the biting.”
“Oooh! How wonderfully deviant of you,” the Succubus whispered, biting lowly on her bottom lip, creased jade eyes lifting with an inviting stare as she smoothed her silver bangs behind her left ear and moved a pawn into an attacking position to kick her knight off a square. “I’ll admit that would be a first for me. You’re giving me goosebumps!”
The tension escalated as she purposefully scooted closer, radiating an unnatural heat that warmed Rachel’s insides, making her heart flutter, and all noise died. “Maybe we could compromise and trade nibbles? You can be a little rough if you can’t help yourself.”
Her influence wasn’t like daggers or needles, but a honeyed finger dipped in sin, tempting her tongue to invite ecstasy inside; the Succubus Vampire’s bright eyes said she only thought about her and what would bring her pleasure.
[Limit Break: Curse: Karma - Retribution: Activated]
Aurora’s eyes flew open, rosy cheeks deepening crimson and vision glazing over as she leaned in, lips centimeters from hers. “What is this electricity and heat… This fantasy of running away with you… No, don’t pull away—I’ll…mmmgm. Hehehe-hmm.”
Rachel drew away slightly, a small smile lifting her eyes as the tables turned, and suddenly Aurora was breathing heavily—the spell popped, with Aurora’s dislodging her fingers from inside the cushion and looking mildly upset in a rather playful way.
“What a dirty little trick that was, flipping it back on me… Hmm-hmm. I almost said things I shouldn’t. I have not enjoyed this kind of tension for some time… It looks like we’ve lost track of time staring into each other’s eyes.”
Aurora rose to her feet, her pleasantly bemused gaze directing her to Cássia, the thirteen-year-old serving girl standing nearby, trying to restrain a half-smile.
“Lady Park, Lady Bain, I sincerely apologize for this, uh, battle of wills, but we have arrived at the Icon of the Sea. The Countess will be inviting you to her realm shortly.”
[Limit Break: Curse: Karma - Retribution: Deactivated]
Laughing and getting to her feet, she looked up at the absolute monster of a boat that met them. They wouldn’t even be spending that much time here, it seemed. Selvaria would have the place to roam and cause trouble.
She leaned over the side railing to wave at the Leviathan, in her human form and probably wondering if she should come up to help. “Circle around and keep a lookout, Selv; besides, you might break the stairs if you try to climb them!”
“I’m not fat,” she mumbled in her monotone voice, clearly upset she didn’t get to enjoy the pre-villain exchange. “I could eat a whale, I’m so hungry… Just swim along the stupid enhanced boat, Selvaria; it’s not like it’s breaking freaking speed records. Humph.”
She dipped back into the water, and the sounds of her team talking smack to some of the other vampires filtered through the sound of the swaying sea. Yet, the noise was quelled again as Rachel flipped around to lean against the rail, nowhere to escape unless she retreated over the edge, and she wasn’t about to do that.
“Hmm? Round two?” she asked, preparing Retribution as Nia growled, seemingly running interference with the others to hold them back from intervening over the last thirty minutes.
Aurora stepped closer, the click of hooves against wood making Rachel’s ear twitch. The seductive woman held her hands behind her back while leaning closer, a mischievous glint in her shimmering emerald eyes.
“Mmm. I’ll let you stew for now,” the fae whispered, hot breath tickling her collarbone since she was a bit shorter. “For the record, you’re very straight because if you were a male or found me even slightly attractive in a sensual way, then we would not be talking right now.”
Dress swirled around her hidden legs as she danced away, the Succubus smirked and gave her a parting wink. “Catch you in your dreams, Bunny; I think I’ve developed a cavity,” she giggled, hips swaying as she went below deck.
Dammit… And she called me bunny… She’s more dangerous than I thought if she could affect me on that level, Rachel absently mumbled to Nia, sensing her outfit shiver.
“Gross, Captain… Just… gross. To blatantly manipulate you like that… I had to suffer through that, too, you know, so I hope you’re grateful I didn’t pull the plug because I knew you’d take it as a loss.”
[Lunar Pride], Rachel sighed, a quake running down her spine to her stiff tail. Yeah, I get why you keep harping for us to get Control Resistance. I had to use my Limit Break, which was not a good thing… and could have been a disaster, but I’m pretty sure she had to use some big Feats herself to affect me like that… She pushed the limit on what ‘attack’ means to another invited party for a reason, though.
Nia met her on the 2nd deck, the others behind her; none of them looked happy.
“What was up with that deadlock between you and the fae?! I swear you were about to kiss!” Illa breathlessly asked, practically bouncing up and down. “I took a picture! It was so… mmm!”
“Aye, I already told ya it was some insane levels of manipulation, Pumpkin,” Maria muttered. “Rach, what the hell happened there? Nia said you were fighting it, but shit, am I the only one that thought you’d become her damn slave if she got you to kiss her? Shit makes me sick just feeling that… energy she was damn near showering you with.”
“Yeah!” Scarlet hissed, looking scared again. “She walked down like she’d beat you, and… and she called you bunny—I just… Can we kill her first? You can’t just play with people’s feelings like that… a-and then she… she…”
It clicked in Rachel’s head as the black-haired girl’s face matched her name, steam practically blowing out of her ears. “Oh! You can feel emotions from others… Uh. No, no, she doesn’t love me; I just did my, uh, special move—you know…”
“Special…” Scarlet breathed out a long stream of air. “That’s what it was… For a second, I… I… She was totally into you, and you were vibing, and… Yeah, I was just sooo confused. I’m glad that’s over.”
Illa looked off to the side with a pout. “I thought it was amazing. I’d ship it. Anyway! Let’s see what’s up with the Legend Quest! Everyone’s downplaying it, which is so disappointing. They’ve all done a Legend Quest already, so they’re joking and saying The Countess of Blood is lagging behind.”
Rachel breathed out the tension in her breast, a new thought drilling into her mind, and she didn’t know if it was intentionally placed there by the green-eyed fae with a mischievous smirk.
What if her true purpose isn’t to turn Scarlet toward her mother… but to snare me? Am I the real target? And now she has a baseline for my resistance. Shit. Well played, Aurora.
As for this Legend Quest being easy… I bet this is going to be a Tier 2 or even a Tier 3, Legend Quest, and Connor had to fight a damn lava dragon for his Tier 2 challenge… These guys have probably only done a Tier 1 and thought it wasn’t a problem… they probably don’t even know there is a Tier system for them. This is getting fun.
“Where’s Anthony?” she asked, not seeing him with their group.
Fiona seemed distracted as she pointed to the stairs down, obviously worrying about whatever she’d heard from Illa. “He went to scope things out before us…”
All eyes turned to Cássia as the ruby-eyed teen descended to meet them. “I’ve prepared cloaks and masks for everyone. Some guests who arrived beforehand chose to remain anonymous until their identity was discovered.”
She unfastened her coat again to let it drape around her shoulders, blood pulling out another piece of royal paper to read from it. “For the schedule:
“First, should the guests wish to keep their identity hidden, then garments will be provided.
“Second, everyone will meet within the grand hall of the ship, where The Countess will welcome her guests to her castle… A week will pass inside and two days on the outside.
“And that is all.” She looked up with barely contained excitement. “If you wish to leave, then now would be the time because once inside, there is no leaving until the 7 days have concluded… and should The Countess die, then there will be no way back.”
Illa froze. “Huh? Heh-hehe. You’re joking?”
“I am not,” Cássia chimed.
Rachel had figured as much. “We’ll take the cloaks and discard them if we want to. It sounds a bit cool. Right, Scarlet?”
“Mhm!”
“Then I will guide you to the appropriate area on the cruise ship to change.” The teen’s ruby eyes illuminated. “Right his way…”
Illa cried a little as they were taken to the sun deck instead of below. “Are we really not going to talk about this? I mean, what if we lose the Legend Quest? Huh? No one? Mmmgm. I’m scared, Scarlet!”
“Eh-hehehe. It’s okay, Illa,” she comforted, holding the ginger’s hand. “We’re going to win!”
“Yeah!” the girl piped up, abruptly full of vigor. “We’ve got the invincible Scarlet on our team. Look out, Vampires and Hunters; we’re coming for you! Woah… Cássia, you’re so awesome! It’s like Scarlet… Why didn’t I get cool blood powers? Humph.”
Cássia tried to maintain her composure, but it was obvious that she was excited to see her mistress as her blood spread out below them, becoming a disk to lift them onto the misty ship; it did look like it took some effort on the teenager’s part, but she managed it.
“Whew. Sorry… just give me a moment to collect myself,” she sighed, throat thick as two older teenage vampires walked around a nearby hallway. “Haaa. I just need… Lady Dorotya, Lady Ilona…”
They gave them a curtsy, and Ilona spoke while holding her blonde locks from blowing into her face, “Lady Cássia, honored guests. If you require us to take over, then we would be happy to allow you to rest.”
“No!” Cássia’s body stiffened. “Ahem. No, I am perfectly capable of performing my duties assigned to me, Lady Ilona, Lady Dorotya. Now, if you’ll excuse us, I am going to take our guests to change…”
Dorotya gave Ilona a look before saying, “As I recall The Countess saying, the fitting and tailoring portion of the evening would take place in the castle. The fabric and seamstress is not on the ship.”
Rachel felt a little bad for the brown-haired junior maid as her fingers tightened around her front, trying to remain controlled and dignified. “I… was not talking about the new set of garments, Lady Dorotya, but the provided cloaks and masks in the rooms down the hall you just exited. Now, if you excuse me, I will take our honored guests to the appropriate rooms.”
The two gave each other another look that didn’t give anything away as to their thoughts before stepping aside. “Of course, you have authority in your duties, Lady Cássia… so long as you perform them adequately.”
“Indeed, I do. Right this way, honored guests.”
They left the unnecessarily tense atmosphere, Illa sticking her tongue out at the two composed girls as they passed and making Scarlet suppress a giggle. It didn’t take them long after that to file into the many empty rooms down the colossal luxury cruise ship and change into the black cloaks, each of them getting their own unique monster-styled mask. Coral took her own, which made her look like a floating formless ghost in a robe with bunny ears.
Rachel maintained her surveillance with Nia, yet few people spoke, or they had other ways of communicating, and Anthony had to be prompted to return to dress for the occult-like gathering that made Scarlet scowl at the joke. Not fifteen minutes after boarding, they were standing in the middle of a giant dancing hall, where parties were held on the massive vessel.
Cloaked figures lined the balconies and various deck levels, gazing down on the welcoming event; not a person had opted to go without their veil, leaving only The Countess’ servants uncovered. Yet, surprisingly, in the ensuing silence, one small girl strode into the middle of the spotlight, drawing all eyes.
Now trying not to allow her legs to shake, Cássia took center stage, her throat somewhat dry. “Honored guests, I have been blessed—I have the duty and pleasure of welcoming all of you to The Countess’ Legend Quest…”
She held up her arm, yet nothing happened, and her lips slowly pulled with the awkward silence, the judging eyes of her peers on the poor brunette, and her eyes shot up to the big clock on the wall. “In… five seconds…”
Illa leaned over to Scarlet, whispering, “This is brutal; someone save her.”
A swirl of wind made everyone straighten as a ruby blood portal split space, much larger than the one Rachel had entered, stretching out behind Cássia. “And it is my pleasure to welcome you to The Countess’ Legend Quest! I… hope you enjoy your stay and enjoy our services.”
Everyone present tensed as a woman in her early thirties appeared inside the widening gateway. The imperial figure stood within a blood-themed grand hall that was larger than a football field, liquid crimson leaking down the pillars to meld into the crystal blood ground. Chains hung around the gore and gothic-themed space, a colossal staircase sweeping up to reach the second level, where one could continue up several more floors.
Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed maintained her imposing grandeur, her intense ruby eyes drifting to each individual while giving them a full view of her intricate dress, shoulder-length black hair, and many decorative ornaments.
Her voice was low and extended like cold chains to wrap around their minds, a powerful energy emanating from the infamous historical figure. “Well done, Lady Cássia. I will properly address my guests once you have been shown to your rooms… should you choose to remain in the castle. My servants will inform you of the House Rules… Dinner will be served shortly.”
Her pale skin rippled like water before Elizabeth collapsed into a wave of blood that melded into the floor, leaving them speechless. Cássia looked like a child who had made her mother proud, joy in her voice.
“As The Countess instructed, we will guide you to your rooms. Right this way, honored guests.”