People were slowly beginning to move to the party from the drawing room in order of importance or standing within the clan.

“Why?!” Sasha whined at Emily and her bodyguards from atop the giant canine.

“Because you shouldn’t make a scene. Now get down here.” Emily scolded as no Sentire in the clan would be able to.

Sasha reluctantly slid down the side of Fenris, giggling as his coat tickled her face on the way down.

Emily and the Custodes fussed over Sasha’s now very wrinkled dress before moving towards the large doors leading to the ballroom on the other side.

Fenris lumbered over and stuffed his head between Natasha and Sophia with a pitiful whine.

“Aww, you’ll be seeing her again in a couple of minutes,” Natasha comforted, hugging the massive wolf’s head the size of her torso while rubbing his muzzle.

Sophia stroked his side, but never took her eyes off the doors ahead.

“You worried?” I asked, brushing the back of my hand over her bare shoulder.

“A little... every time those doors open, the room gets flooded with curiosity. There’s a lot of people out there who only came to confirm the rumors...” Sophia said with a troubled expression.

“Well, ignore them. If that’s not possible, then simply don’t approach.” I said nonchalantly.

“And what if they approach? Am I supposed to run away?” She asked a mock laugh.

“They won’t approach.” Natasha assured from beside her.

“And why is that?” Sophia turned to her and asked.

“Because if his murderous thoughts don’t warn them off... Mine will.” Natasha said, keeping a perfectly gentle expression, which only emphasized the statement.

“It’s time.” Katya said, calling us over to her.

Natasha and Sophia looped arms and walked ahead of us.

“After I’ve gone in, you should wait a little while before coming out.” Katya said, straightening her dress even though it was immaculate.

“We’ll be walking in together, Katya. This is more important than politics. We’re equals. It’s best not to create any question of that from the beginning.” I said, resting my hand on the head of my axe. The weight of it and my knife at my back calming me.

The doors opened, and we walked towards battle, as prepared as we’d ever be.

***

Sophia hadn’t made it more than a couple of steps onto the ballroom floor before people began rudely probing her mind’s defenses for any weaknesses, their attempts rebuffed by Natasha’s and her own combined efforts, their minds linked.

Yet the barrage of attempts only increased in intensity... That is, until a ferocious wave of psychic energy eroded everything around them, yet leaving Natasha and Sophia’s link unharmed.

What followed was a sinister pervading touch surrounding them and strangling any further attempts at prying. Sophia looked to the origin of the vicious assault and saw her grandmother standing with a protective expression, her second, Ivar unflinchingly bearing the weight of any retaliations.

More than a few foolish Sentires ignorant of his lineage fell to the floor, foaming at the mouth after challenging him.

“Dearest granddaughter, are you not going to introduce me to your precious partner?” Agda proclaimed loudly. Sophia immediately picking up on her grandmother’s rehearsed intonation, but choosing to forgive the shrewd woman, grateful for the reprieve she had provided.

“Grandmother, this is the light of my life and greatest love, Natasha Romanov Nikoleve.” Sophia introduced with a curtsy, Natasha standing her ground and using a masculine greeting.

“A pleasure, and thank you for your help. And that of your second.” Natasha greeted.

“It was the least we could do, Daughter-in-law.” Agda replied easily.

Their group’s attention was drawn away before any further small talk could take place as the attention of those around them turned towards the clan entrance up on the second-floor balcony accessed by the set of stairs to the ballroom floor.

There, the door which previously led to the drawing room was instead replaced with a void of darkness and distant shadows.

Out of the black void, a familiar armored knight stepped out, his armor more ornate than previously.

Following closely behind Arkos came a robed figure, it’s hooded visage the same empty void from which it came, except for two slit glowing embers.

They each stood at attention on either side of the door, Arkos left, and the hooded figure right.

Next came the lumbering form of Fenris, his fur bristling as he glared at all those present who were not of his pack, silently warning them of their fate should they stray.

Beside the great wolf flew two ravens, their size greater than their mundane brethren and their crimson crests casting a haze in the air as they lazily flapped their wings with far less frequency than should be possible to keep them aloft.

Fenris walked to the right and joined the hooded man, while Arkos drew a jagged obsidian sword from his cloak and embedded the blade in the marble floor, the blade simply sinking into the stone, but no damage seemed to occur, the two ravens gently gliding over to perch themselves on its hilt.

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Finally, the darkness fell like a sheet, revealing Katya and Aleks standing side by side. Aleks turned to her and offered his hand and she seemed surprised for a moment before accepting and being led forward.

As they passed, Arkos fell in behind Katya, as Huginn and Muninn turned to mist before settling on his shoulders, while Fenris and the hooded figure followed behind Aleks.

As the group reached the stairs Sentires around the ballroom along with several visiting witches fell to their knees, either breaking out in cold sweats or gasping for air, the two birds glaring menacingly at the fools who had tried to reach the Matriarch of the Eve under their watch.

As Sophia looked around, she found several Sentires who simply stood in a daze, as if their consciousness was lost elsewhere. She quickly understood as Natasha shared her memories of trying to peek at Aleks mind in its current state.

By the time they reached the ballroom floor, almost a quarter of the guests were pale and stricken, rebuffed from their rude attempts.

“I greet you all, guests of The Eve, and hope that tonight’s gathering will be one remembered by us all for the centuries to come!” Katya declared

***

“That went better than expected.” Katya said quietly to Natasha and Sophia.

“I don’t think everyone would agree with you.” Sophia said, looking around at some of the guests who were still seated, trying to regain their composure.

“Bah, those fools should have known better. Anyone who didn’t expect us to make a show of strength tonight deserves the treatment they got.” Katya answered dismissively.

“He did better than I’d expected. I was a little worried he’d go on a rampage with that axe at the first mental probe he felt.” Natasha said, taking a sip of her drink while keeping an eye on Aleks.

Their Titan was currently swarmed by people, all of whom he completely ignored as he argued about something metal related with a Sentire old enough to have made an actual suit of armor.

“I’d rather melt it down that decorate it with something as horrible as a golden inlay.” Aleks stated loudly as he placed a comforting hand on the older Sentire’s shoulder.

“Such were the times, gold this, gold that, gilded and gaudy...” The Sentire recalled with a sad shake of his head.

“Fucking Aristocrats, you might be able to inherit power, but apparently not taste or good sense.” Aleks agreed before downing his drink.

“That’s Francis de Valen if I’m not mistaken.” Agda said as she approached.

“They seem to have befriended each other after noting their respective worn crafts.” Ivar observed.

Seeing the two of them approach others gathered their nerve and made to swarm Sophia as well, but the closest made it only about twenty feet from her when a suit of pitch black armor rose menacingly from the floor in front of them blocking their path, its ember like eyes glaring down threateningly at the would-be interloper.

Others quickly got the message and retreated.

That is, until an older woman with dark skin and robed in white stepped forward with a familiar and similarly looking younger woman.

The armor observed the two on their approach and stepped aside, although its gaze never once left them.

“He be eatin’ them alright, but he be pukin’ them back up as well.” The old witch said in a thick Haitian accent as she looked around at the surrounding shadows.

“Grandma!” Raeni chastised.

“It be true, he be thinking of nah’but war this one.” The old witch defended.

“You can see his shadows?” Katya questioned, intrigued.

“See them?! How I not be seein’ them, Duppy be all around us, every corner be filled with them.” She replied with a shiver.

“How many?” Agda asked, joining in, and the old witch looked at her suspiciously.

“I nah’know they numbers, but for every one’ah us, there be ten’ah them.” The old witch said.

“I be tired girly, we find a seat to rest.” The woman commanded and walked away, Raeni giving out quick greetings before running after her.

***

I had expected some to try their luck, the weakest pushed to do something stupid, so the strong could gauge my response and responded in kind.

I made the shadows aware of the rules. That though they may not take those whom they hunger for, whether blood of innocent on their hands or evil harbored in their hearts, tonight they were off limits.

But should someone act out of turn, they were allowed to make a show of force and put them in their place. Should someone threaten violence, then violence should be enacted upon them... And should someone seek to hurt one of ours, then we would slay ten of theirs in retribution.

I had expected bloodshed... But now I truly wished for it.

Had it not been for my temper and Sentires innate perceptions when it came to emotions, I might actually have chopped my way out of here.

Offers of daughters, wealth, land and more didn’t sit well with me.

It reminded me of when we rode into a City which already knew of the Huntsmen, people lining up offering everything, if you refused they’d lay it at your feet, and should you still walk away, they would spit nothing but venom in your direction.

It brought back bad memories.

I’d finally gained a bit of a buffer zone between myself and everyone else, a no-man’s-land that none dared cross, but across the gap, something caught my attention, an ornate trinket made of a metal I had not seen before, at least not since becoming an adept in matters related to metal.

The man who wore it did not do so with the vain pride of a fool who’d bought it or taken it by force, but instead with a craftsman’s dignity, he didn’t wave it about or draw attention to it, he simply wore it because it meant something to him.

I respected that, and although my thoughts were hidden in endlessness, my emotions still leaked out, a certain sense of respect for a fellow craftsman.

I purposefully sent out a wave of interest as Katya had taught me was polite in their circles and the man approached, his clothes not any lessor in quality than those around him, but far more subdued.

“Greetings to the Titan of The Eve. My name is Francis of Clan Valen.” Francis greeted politely.

“Greetings Mr. Valen, please Call me Aleks’Andros.” I replied, turning the edge of my axe to face behind me.

I felt the gaze of several servers, and a few Custodes take note of the gesture.

“Please, feel free to call me Francis.” Francis beamed, sneaking a quick victorious look behind him to several seething Sentires.

“That’s an interesting pin you have there.” I said, gesturing to the embossed emblem pinned subtly to his jacket.

“Ah, yes, a reminder of my youth as a jewel smith. I had much to learn then... Still do.” Francis explained reminiscently with a smile as he recalled those memories.

“As all craftsmen do,” I added wryly. “Its material is unknown to me, which is a rarity.” I continued.

“Rhenium, as it is called today. My clan mined Copper and nickel and discovered it as a result a while before my awakening. I made this the day before I died.” Francis said, rubbing the pin between his forefinger and thumb with a nostalgic expression.

“It’s precious then, beyond its material value.” I stated.

“Very.” Francis agreed.

I pulled the knife from the sheath at my lower back, its matted, dark surface glinting in the lights, revealing its silver origins.

The crimson runes softly glowing along the length of the uncommon style of blade.

I spun the knife around and handed it to Francis by the blade.

“Silver in the style of a Seax, if I’m not mistaken, although the hilt resembles that of a Carolingian sword.” Francis said, studying the knife, careful as not to touch the blade in fear of being burned by the silver.

“Correct on all points, except one... It’s not silver. Try to touch the blade.” I suggested, Francis hesitating before putting a single finger on the blank surface. Soon he became braver and even tested the chime of hardness with a glass flute of champagne.

“Incredible...” He muttered before looking up at me in astonishment “What is this? I’ve never seen anything like it. If I had a witch with me today, I could test my hypothesis, but this seems to almost channel energy with next to no impurities straining the material.”

“It’s Truesilver, I’m afraid I can’t tell you how to make it, as I only truly know my own method, and that would not work for you, but suffice it to say that it’s a concentrated form of silver rid of influence while retaining the collected energy.” I said, cringing at my own explanation.

“Truly marvelous!” Francis proclaimed, “Are the rings made of the same material?” He asked excitedly.

“I’m afraid that’s a trade secret.” Katya interceded before I could answer, her approach anything but benign. “Aleks, a moment, please?” Katya asked with the innocence of a saint... which worried me.