Chapter 96

Chapter 96: Chapter 96

It didn’t take long for the guests at the party to grow brazen and blatantly approach them, with the intent of stealing away the Archduke’s attention. Kath’tan kept a neutral expression in the face of this, impatient for them to drift away from his somewhat peaceful corner.

"Then perhaps he could join us for breakfast tomorrow," Tarraz kept speaking to him, ignoring the trio of guests lingering behind him.

Kath’tan’s gaze grew dim, the Archduke was cold, clinical, his interest in Dulce was unsettling. "He prefers to have his breakfast alone."

Tarraz’s lips lifted at the corners, "You even know his eating preferences. How familiar. Then I’ll have to personally seek him out myself, enjoy the banquet, Kath’tan." He tossed over his shoulder, walking away with a swish of his cloak.

Kath’tan ground his teeth, there seemed to be no way to completely avoid Tarraz. The Fiend hoped to get information out of Dulce, and he couldn’t help but be a little worried. Not just for Dulce’s safety, but because the Vampire was a little ditzy.

-+-

Dulce sprang up with a start, looking around in frantic confusion. He right away remembered that there was a banquet they both had to attend but Kath’tan was nowhere in sight.

He got off his bed, further disheveled from sleep, his hair completely undone. The curtains were still open so he could easily see that night had come - he was late for the banquet!

As a Vampire, he had somehow managed to oversleep.

He got ready in a flurry, catching sight of the clothes on the armchair. It seemed to have been put out for him, so he took a look at it. The clothes were roughly his size, and thinking that Kath’tan was the one who went through the trouble of preparing them for him, he put them on after sluicing down in cold water. The freezing water made the color in his skin more prominent, his healthy flush making him look more human.

The clothes provided for him were unlikely, a strange embroidered waistcoat, pants, and a cape. He barely had time to run a brush through his voluminous hair before hurrying out, grateful to run into a maidservant right away.

"Could I trouble you to guide me to the banquet?" He asked kindly.

The maidservant stared at him shell-shocked, having never seen a human before. She nodded stiffly and then turned away.

Dulce quietly followed her lead, he was by no means short for a human but Demons all towered over him. Even this frail maidservant was far taller than he was, her dark brown hair neatly braided.

He had no knowledge of the etiquette of Demons and it didn’t quite seem right to ask the maidservant, or anyone at all. It was better he remained quiet, there was no telling who could be listening.

"The ballroom is down this hallway," The maidservant said to him after they had been walking in silence for a while.

"Thank you," He appreciated, hurrying down the hallway in a flurry of pale hair and red cloak.

The doors to the ballroom were thrown open so he cautiously approached it, not quite sure what to expect on the inside. He couldn’t hear anything from the hallway, which was strange for a banquet.

As soon as he stepped into the open doors, he was presented with a lavish view. A large ballroom made in polished gold and shimmering red, and a large crowd of guests gathered on the dance floor, staring right at him.

He froze at the entrance, struck with the sinking feeling that he had done something wrong. It didn’t help that he couldn’t find Kath’tan, the tense silence stretching out.

Tarraz was the one to break the silence, stepping forward. "Our new guest is still unfamiliar with ballroom etiquette," He said in his cold unaffected voice, "I’m glad you could make it." He said politely, guiding Dulce into the room.

Unaware of the sensation he had caused by arriving just before the Grand Duke could take his seat on the throne, he warily stepped in, muttering his thanks.

Zazrel ignored the mage, going ahead to sit. A polite applause rose after he did and with a wave of his hand, the festivities resumed, the music playing once again.

Kath’tan couldn’t make his way to the ballroom doors quickly enough, all the way at the back of the large hall, he hadn’t bothered to come forward at the arrival of the Grand Duke. So he got to Dulce just as the music resumed, inserting himself in front of the Vampire.

"I apologize," Dulce whispered from behind him, "I overslept."

Tarraz stared down his half-brother, "We didn’t even get around to introductions." He stated, honoring his father by leading the mage to the side and then respectfully waiting for the Grand Duke to take his seat on the throne.

Kath’tan forced himself to step to the side, knowing that if he prevented Tarraz from questioning Dulce at the banquet, it would only give the Archduke more of an incentive to keep seeking out the Vampire.

"I am Archduke Tarraz," He introduced, "We met once."

Dulce was calmer now that he had seen Kath’tan. The gold embroidered waistcoat he wore had a plunging neckline, three gold clasps keeping the outfit closed, he was grateful for the cloak, unfamiliar with wearing so little clothing.

"Dulce Montesserat," He replied. Locks of his hair fell across his face and it had him wishing he had the time to tie it back.

Tarraz paused, the name Montesserat was vaguely familiar but he didn’t dwell on it. "I thought you wouldn’t make it to the banquet." The Archduke went on, calmly making small talk while Kath’tan grew more and more tense, next to him.

"A fault of mine," Dulce said politely, matching his tone.

"I heard mages had long died out after the Age of Magic." Tarraz subtly pried for information.

"We merely grew fewer in numbers." Dulce easily held up his end of the conversation, "There is no lack of mages on Earth-"

"But there is a lack of summonings," Tarraz cut in, a cold glint in his red eyes.