Chapter Twenty-Six
Valora
By the time I arrived back at the cavern, the other Maidens were already awake and getting ready for the day. All had eaten breakfast and were dressed in their outfits for the ceremony, their dress colors matching the scale color of their Lords.
“Valora, where have you been?” Alonsa asked. “You know you aren’t supposed to be out so early in the morning.”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Vimery sneered. “She thinks that just because she’s going to become Lord Dracul’s Maiden today, she’s allowed to do whatever she wants and get away with it.”
I chose to ignore Vimery’s comment, walking over to grab my bowl of eggs and sausage. “I woke up early and couldn’t go back to sleep,” I said. “I went to make sure that everything was in place for today. Besides, Lord Dracul was with me.”
Alonsa tsked in disapproval. “You really need to stay here until breakfast is served, Valora,” she said. “Just because you’re becoming an official Maiden today doesn’t mean that they become less lenient on you when it comes to following the rules.”
“I know,” I said, beginning to eat my breakfast. “I just thought—”
“You thought what ?” Vimery snapped, her face turning red in anger. “You thought that since you’re Lord Dracul’s favorite that you can do anything you want? It’s amazing how narcissistic you are.”
“What is your problem?” I stood, facing Vimery head-on. “Why do you hate me so much? I have done nothing to deserve your anger.”
Vimery glared at me, slowly growing redder by the moment. “You just get away with everything !” she hissed. “And I’m absolutely sick of it! The others are, too, but they’re just too nice to say anything.” She stalked out of the room, not even waiting for a response.
I turned to the others, my mouth agape. “I don’t even—”
“She’s right, Valora. You can’t keep acting as if you can get away with everything,” Alonsa interrupted. “You have been acting as though the rules don’t apply to you. And that reflects poorly on us because it seems as though we didn’t train you properly. It also reflects poorly on Lord Dracul. He chose you. That is a great honor. And your actions can undermine him as a leader.”
I was taken aback by Alonsa’s lecture and by the nods of agreement from the other Maidens. Shame filled me as I realized they were right—to an extent, I had relied on Dracul’s influence to bend the rules.
“I’m sorry,” I apologized. “But that still doesn’t answer the question of why Vimery hates me so much.”
Alonsa sighed, and it was clear she did not want to answer. Instead, Gwen spoke up.
“Originally, she was to be Lord Dracul’s Maiden,” she said, repeating what I already knew. “But after a few weeks, it was obvious he was displeased with her. Instead, Lord Firenze took her and she’s never been able to get over how Lord Dracul rejected her. I imagine she feels resentment that you were picked over her when you’re a stranger to our ways and have the tendency to break the rules, whereas she followed all of them. It stings.”
“Oh.” Suddenly, everything clicked into place. Never had I imagined that to be the reason behind Vimery’s anger.
“Well, come on, we have to get you ready,” Alonsa said, motioning for the others to help dress me.
The midnight-blue dress they had worked on was magnificent, the flowing silver embroidery perfectly matching Dracul’s eyes as it slowly spun its way up from the hem. There were a few small, clear gemstones sewn in, creating a sparkle depending on the angle of the lighting. Truly, it was the most elegant thing I had ever worn. The sleeves were long enough to cover my scars and the skirt fell in folds to the floor. Dracul had fireproofed it a few days ago for the ceremony so it would not burn.
“It’s beautiful. You all did a wonderful job,” I breathed as I spotted my reflection in the mirror.
Alonsa moved behind me to fasten my necklace, the one Dracul had bought for me at the market those many months ago.
The four Maidens nodded at the compliment, moving to work on my raven hair, pulling it into an intricate up-do. I clenched my hands, my nerves beginning to act up. Each woman took a strand of hair, plaiting them within each other to create an elaborate weave.
When Alonsa’s eyes met mine in the mirror, I asked, “Does it hurt?”
“Each Maiden has her own experience, depending on her relationship with her Lord,” she answered as she brushed out a few tangles. “Some feel nothing, while others feel excruciating pain.” Her words did nothing to comfort me.
“Mine tickled,” Bethany spoke up.
“It felt like pins and needles all over my body,” Gwen added.
“Vimery’s hurt quite a bit,” Hyacinth said quietly as she tweaked one of the braids. “She had to fight back tears.”
“There,” Alonsa said, fitting the final pin into position. “You’re ready.”
“Is it time yet?” I asked. Butterflies took over my stomach and I could feel my palms becoming clammy.
“Someone will fetch us when it’s time,” Alonsa said.
I let out a shaky breath. It was so close now.
“It will be fine. Just a short ceremony and you’re officially a Dragon Maiden.”
“Were any of you nervous?” I asked.
“No.” Vimery’s sneering voice came from the entrance of the cave. I whipped around to see the scowling Maiden. “I was assured that it wouldn’t hurt. By Lord Dracul, no less. Well, he lied, because it was the most excruciating pain I’ve ever felt.” With each word, she stalked closer and closer to me. “But I was instructed by Lord Firenze that if I cried out, he would kill me. It’s what awaits anyone who lets on how much it actually hurts. If anyone tells you otherwise, they’re lying.” Her voice had dropped to a menacing whisper, her piercing green eyes trained on mine.
A servant girl raced into the cavern, stopping suddenly when she noticed the standoff. “They are ready for you now,” she directed to the room in general.
“Come on,” Alonsa said to us when no one started to move. “They’re waiting for us.”
In the procession, I was last, following Alonsa’s lead. Once we reached the cave I had been in not long ago, the other Maidens entered first, walking down the aisle to stand next to their respective Lords, who lined the aisles in their dragon forms. From my vantage point, I could see that the room was absolutely filled with dragons, all their eyes trained on me.
Lord Dracul stood at the end of the room at the dais, waiting for me. As our eyes made contact, I felt an invisible string fall into place, tying us together. I could feel the heat of eyes on me as I began to walk towards him, praying that I would not trip. The distance between us felt impossibly long, but with each step, I could feel the string tying us together shortening. At last, I was before him, craning my neck to see his face as he stood at his tallest height.
“Valora Marchton.” His voice boomed throughout the room, and I flinched slightly at his volume. Now that I was before him, staring into his eyes, the nerves that had been threatening to overwhelm me began to fade. “You are here today to pledge to become my Dragon Maiden. You will do any task I ask of you, and in return, you will be under my protection from any danger, be it man or beast. I will have your loyalty and obedience, and in return, you have my trust and confidence. Knowing this, do you pledge yourself to become my Maiden?”
Without hesitation, I said, “I solemnly promise to be your Dragon Maiden until the end of my days.”
“Then the final act to consecrate this pact is to bathe you in fire,” Lord Dracul said. He opened his mouth, and I braced myself for the part of the ceremony I had been dreading most, forcing my eyes to stay open.
As a stream of flame erupted from Dracul’s mouth and enveloped me, I jumped slightly at the impact, not sure what to expect. What surprised me the most after I got over the initial shock was the pleasant warmth of the fire. It was not painful or uncomfortable, and within the flames, I felt at peace. They reminded me of when I fell asleep against Dracul’s warm belly. Because of his earlier fireproofing, the dress did not burn and my hair remained unburnt as well. After a few seconds, the flames turned to a deep blue. A gasp sounded throughout the room, as if they had never seen such a thing before. Based on the look on Dracul’s face I could guess he had not expected that either. After a full minute of bathing me in fire, Dracul stopped, and I beamed out at the room.
“I present to you Valora Marchton, the High Dragon Maiden of the High Dragon Lord,” he formally announced, using my new title.
The Lords dipped their heads in respect to Lord Dracul’s decision, while the Maidens curtsied to me, their new leader in terms of rank now that I was High Dragon Maiden. Together, Dracul and I walked down the aisle, past the other Lords and their Maidens. I made sure to make eye contact with each Maiden and smiled, receiving a smile in return. When I got to Vimery, the other Maiden smiled back, but it was a chilling smile that sent a shiver down my back. I knew she was not yet done making me suffer.
“See? I told you there was nothing to worry about,” Dracul whispered as we walked to the banquet hall.
I smiled, but did not say anything as the other Lords trailed after us, knowing that they strained to hear what I had to say. Now that I was officially a Maiden, I would be even more harshly judged than before.
We entered the chamber where the feast was to be held. Though I had initially felt relief that the ceremony was over, my stomach churned. Everyone’s attention would be focused on me and I was unsure if I would be able to eat. The servants had done an excellent job preparing the food and setting it out, the tables absolutely stuffed with all sorts of meats, pastries, potatoes, and roasted vegetables. Each table even had an entire platter of dragori, easily identifiable by the bright red coloring.
Lord Dracul led me to one of the tables at the end of the hall, the head table, with the other Lords and Maidens following us. All the dragons who’d attended the ceremony filed in, as well, filling the remainder of the tables. Everyone stared at the head table and I realized that they were waiting for Lord Dracul to take the first bite.
He transformed into his human form, and to my surprise, rather than the usual robes and pants he wore, he wore tailored gray trousers, a fitted long-sleeve white shirt, and a navy waistcoat. Glancing at me for a moment, he took the leg of the turkey in front of us and lifted it to his lips, taking a bite and swallowing. A cheer rang out as he gave a nod of approval and everyone else began to eat as well, piling their plates high with food. I grabbed a small amount of turkey, potatoes, and roasted green beans, though my plate was nowhere near half as full as what the other Lords consumed.
To my surprise, many who feasted transformed into their human form, while others remained as dragons as they ate, the dragon ones hungrily gobbling down their fare. The other Lords at the head table transformed to their human forms, following Lord Dracul’s example.
“What happened in there, Lord Dracul?” asked Lord Noxus, a midnight-black dragon who oversaw finances. In his human form, his deep-umber skin glowed under the lights, and his ebony locks fell past his shoulders. Sunset-orange eyes stared out at the room, assessing everything. Through my interactions with the Dragon Lords, he was the one I had met with the least. “I’ve never seen the fire turn colors before during the ceremony.”
“I’m not sure,” Dracul admitted, taking another bite of food. “I have to say, I was completely unprepared for it myself.” He turned to his left, speaking to the dragon right next to him. “Lord Hiram, have you heard of anything like this happening before?”
A look passed through Lord Hiram’s eyes, but it was gone so quickly that I thought I had imagined it. “I’ll have to do a bit of research,” he said. “But I will let you know when I find something.”
The rest of the meal passed smoothly, chatters of conversation filling the hall. I was able to eat a few bites of food, enjoying the delicious flavors the chefs had created. After the meal, a number of musicians filed in and set up in a corner of the room. Tables were moved, making way for a dancing area in the center of the room. By this time, all the dragons had transformed into their human forms and stood around the dancing area, waiting for something.
Lord Dracul stood and held out his hand to me. “Are you ready to dance?” he asked.
My mind went blank. “We have to dance?” I asked, hesitantly taking his hand. I’d known that dancing was involved after the ceremony, but I was not aware that I would be required to dance. The small amount of food I ate settled like a stone in my stomach.
“It is customary for the Lord and his newly inducted Maiden to kick off the dancing,” he said with a gentle smile. “I didn’t tell you because I figured you would panic even more than you already were.”
The Dragon Lord led me to the center of the dance floor. I could feel all eyes on us, burning my skin. He guided my hand to his shoulder, settling his on my waist, and kept our hands clasped together. Everywhere he touched, I felt fire spread through my body.
“It’s going to be fine,” he whispered. “Just follow my lead.”
The music started up in a jaunty tune and Dracul began to move. I stumbled, tripping over my feet, trying to follow his nonverbal cues. A couple steps went by without issue before I tripped again, and I could feel my face heating in embarrassment.
“You’re doing fine,” Dracul murmured. “Left, back, right, forward. There you go, just like that.”
I finally was able to follow him and relaxed slightly as the music went on. At one point, Dracul gripped my hand and spun me around. I was able to continue following him after that, and I beamed, proud of myself. He smiled encouragingly at me.
Finally, the song came to an end and I curtsied while Dracul bowed. He led me from the dance floor while others flooded in, eager to frolic as the music started up again. The other Lords led their Maidens for a customary dance while I watched on the sidelines with Dracul.
“You did very well,” he leaned over and whispered to me.
“I was like an animal learning to walk for the first time,” I said. “I stumbled all over my feet.”
He let out a low chuckle. “Regardless, you did well with no training,” he said. “We can practice more later, if you like.”
At the end of the second song, the other Maidens swarmed me. They had all completed their obligatory dance and were now free to do what they wanted. Lord Dracul had mentioned that sometimes other dragons would ask the Dragon Maidens to dance, but he stayed nearby so no one would ask me, sensing that I did not want to embarrass myself.
“You did magnificently,” Alonsa said, coming forward to give me a hug.
I beamed at the compliment while the others echoed similar sentiments.
“Though your dancing needs work,” Vimery snorted.
My face flushed, but I had no rebuttal. She was correct.
“She did fine,” Dracul said quietly, his tone a warning for Vimery to behave.
She paled, not having noticed him before, and bowed her head. “Yes, my Lord,” she said. “I apologize for my comment.”
He huffed and looked out towards the dance floor, but I could tell his attention was still focused on me. Every once in a while, his eyes darted towards me, checking to see how I was doing. The music rose in tempo, and I could see the dancers speeding up to match the music, their colorful outfits swirling around the floor.
“I’ll have to take lessons from you sometime,” I said to Vimery. “You looked wonderful dancing.” She and Lord Firenze had glided around, easily dodging the other dancers.
“Thank you,” she muttered, her cheeks reddening slightly before walking away.
“What did the fire feel like?” Bethany asked, leaning in close for my answer. “The changing color was so unexpected! Did it hurt?”
At this point, I could tell Lord Dracul’s full attention was on me, standing unnaturally still at Bethany’s question.
“It felt warm and welcoming,” I said. “A pleasant heat, no pain or anything.”
At my words, his shoulders immediately relaxed. I was surprised that he had been worried about how I would feel in the fire. He had seemed so confident earlier today.
“That’s amazing!” Gwen exclaimed. “That means you two have a close bond! You’ll be an amazing Dragon Maiden, Valora!”
“I hope so,” I said, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. The music, the crowd of people, and this new responsibility became too much for me to process. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to step out for a moment.”
The other Maidens shifted out of the way, moving to the side of the dance floor to watch the dancers. Immediately, Bethany and Gwen were asked to dance by two younger dragons, and smiled as they eagerly accepted. My feet took me to outside the cavern, where I was able to breathe in the cool, fresh air. I had not realized how stuffy it had gotten inside.
“Is everything okay?” Dracul’s voice came from behind me, and I spun to face him, not expecting him to have followed me.
“I needed some air,” I said. “I was just getting a little overwhelmed.”
“You did wonderfully today,” he said, putting his hands on my shoulders. Once more, I could feel heat spreading from his hands throughout my body. “I’m sure you must be feeling relieved that it’s all over now.”
“I am,” I said. “I’m looking forward to what happens next.” I heard a cheer coming from inside, and a smile crossed my face. “I’m sorry for my dancing earlier. I’ve never had much need for it before.”
“You were perfectly fine,” he said. “But if you want to practice any time, I will gladly dance with you.”
We could hear the next song start, its melody floating out to us in the hallway.
“If you want, I can teach you a little now.” He held out a hand to me.
Without hesitation, I took it, my face flushing from the warmth rushing through me. Dracul was firmer in his movements this time, his nonverbal directions easier to follow as we danced in the hallway. It also helped that this song was slower than our first dance together. At one point, he pulled me close so our bodies were flush against each other, and without thinking about it, my head moved to lean against his chest. I could hear the thumping of his heart and closed my eyes, comforted by the sound. We danced in silence, each of us enjoying the presence of the other.
The song came to an end, and I pulled away, suddenly conscious of my actions, my cheeks reddening. The two of us stared at each other for several moments, neither one wanting to break the silence, the magic of the moment that had just been between us.
Dracul cleared his throat, his cheeks redder as well. “That was much better than before,” he said, his voice low and husky. “We should head back inside now.” He held out his hand to lead me back in.
The rest of the evening, I remained on the sidelines, watching the dancers swirl around the dance floor. Towards the end of the night, when most participants had left to go to bed, Dracul escorted me back to the floor to dance one final time. This time was a very slow dance—a waltz, he told me—and he kept me close the whole time as we moved to the music. The other Lords brought their Maidens out for a final dance, as well, and with that, the festivities were complete.
When the Maidens returned to the cave, we all collapsed into bed, exhausted from the day’s activities. I curled up within my blankets, a smile on my face. The ceremony had been a success and I was now officially a Dragon Maiden.