Chapter 27. Last Dance.
Francis had left my room, when the sun had set, as he’d done every evening in the last week. We’d spent every given moment in each other’s embrace, enjoying the final tranquil nights before the storm.
Tranquilness.
Something I’d used to treasure with my dear life, now felt like a threat.
A whole week had passed since the meeting at the Barren’s: a whole week of peace and silence.
The Wurdulacs were quiet: no attacks on human villages, no assaults on the vampire ones either. Yet this unsettling feeling of dread filled the halls of the castle, filled the streets of Faris—something big was coming, something that required the Wurdulacs' proper preparation.
We needed to act now, before the inevitable came—
“Are you ready?” Florence stood at the threshold of my room, leaning against the doorframe. “The ball has already started.”
She wore the rich-crimson gown, with golden appliques that twirled up the hem of her skirt. Her hair, usually kept in braids, fell down her shoulders in beautiful coils. Her golden necklace shimmered under the candlelight, complimenting her dark skin.
“You look beautiful,” I beamed. “This dress becomes you.”
“Thank you, Cordelia!” Her sunshine smile brightened the room. “You look gorgeous as well!” She moved through the room, her features suddenly turning serious. “I have a favor to ask.”
“Anything.” My brows furrowed at her sudden change as I attached the brooch Florence had gifted me a while ago.
“Please promise me, Cordelia,” she started, her hands falling onto my shoulders. “No matter what foolish thing Francis does—or says—you are not going to run away like last time.”
My brows flew up at her odd favor. “Is there something I should know?”
“Not that I know of!” she blurted, her eyes growing bigger. “But you know...” She shrugged. “With Francis, anything is possible.” A small smile appeared on her lips as she sighed. “Promise me you will come to me if anything happens, all right?”
“You are scaring me, Florence.” I chuckled at her worried expression.
“Sorry. I don’t mean to.” Her face turned sour. “I am sure nothing is going to happen.” Her voice dropped to a whisper before she added, “He’s not worth your tears, Cordelia. No one is.”
Florence pulled me through the ballroom filled with dancing bodies. Laughter and joy occupied every inch of the room, accompanied by the beautiful tunes of musicians, despite the hardship that surrounded our minds.
Having a ball in such dark times felt wrong, yet right all the same. If for one night we could forget about the impending danger, it would have been worth it.
And despite my disgust towards the reason for the event, I was delighted to attend. Delighted, for it might have been my last chance to say what I needed to before the end.
“You owe me a dance!” Florence offered me a goblet of wine from the table, taking a sip of her own.
“All right,” I laughed; the first drop of wine slipped onto my tongue, the sour filling my mouth. “I will gladly dance with you.”
Florence stretched her hand towards me, setting her goblet back onto the table, as the music turned into a faster tune.
“Now?” My brows furrowed, taking another sip of my wine. “I haven’t had enough alcohol to dance in front of an audience.” I laughed, glancing at the overflowing center of the ballroom.
“Come now, Cordelia, you have nothing to worry about. Your dancing skills are splendid!” Florence beamed, setting my goblet onto the table before dragging me to the center of the room.
“You are too generous,” I argued, yet took her hand in mine all the same, the other falling onto her shoulder.
“I am not!” Florence spun us into a dance. “And you still must tutor me, remember?”
“Once the war is over.” I nodded, my feet rushing to match her skilled steps.
“Once the war is over.” Florence’s lips stretched into a small smile.
The music slowed, willing our movement to follow suit; the chords of piano quieted, revealing the delicate notes of violin that complemented the suspenseful cello.
“No matter what happens tomorrow,” I started, my voice lowering to reach only Florence. “I wanted to thank you for the kindness you’ve showed me—”
“No.” Florence shook her head, halting our dance. “Don’t you dare finish that sentence.” Her grip hardened around my hands.
“I want you to know how grateful I am, in case—” I persisted.
“You can tell me when it’s over.” Florence’s gaze darkened into a glare. “Cease allowing such thoughts.”
“Florence...” I swallowed the growing lump in my throat as her hands enveloped me in an embrace, my own squeezing her tight.
“Everything will be well,” she whispered.
I closed my eyes, pulling her closer, willing my mind to remember this in my last moments. I wished Sandra and I had such an opportunity before the end—
“You do know this part of the room is for dancing, right?” My eyes flew open as Francis’ raspy voice reached my ears. “Is it my turn yet?” He met my gaze offering me a hand.
Florence and I broke apart before she nodded, “I should find Roxy.” She gave me one last squeeze on my shoulders. “Thank you for the dance!”
Francis and I watched her slip away between the dancing pairs, her crimson dress flowing behind her in beautiful waves.
“Is everything all right?” Francis leaned to whisper into my ear.
“Yes!” I put a smile on my face, taking his hand into mine.
“Don’t worry, I will try to not outshine you during our dance.” Francis winked as his hand landed on my waist, pulling me closer.
“You couldn’t if you tried,” I teased, increasing the tempo of our dance. The new piece played, the piano stealing the attention of the ballroom.
Francis’ eyes softened under my gaze, his features relaxed. A lazy smile tugged on his lips as his body pressed against mine.
“This is not our last dance,” I stated, my nails digging into his blazer.
Francis’ brows furrowed as he leaned to whisper into my ear, “Of course it isn’t, love.” He planted a kiss on my cheek. “I finally got a dancing partner that can sometimes match my skill, I will be stealing dances for centuries to go.”
I rolled my eyes, ready to respond with my own remark as his lips landed on mine.
A rush of adrenaline spread through my body in reply.
My hands wrapped around his neck—our dance long forgotten—when I answered his kiss with my own.
The music stopped as everything around us ceased to exist. The back of my eyes prickled as my starving lips found the Moon’s paradise.
“The humans are to arrive soon,” Francis parted slightly, his lips inches from mine. “Do you wish to go for a walk?”
I nodded, recovering from his kiss.
His fingers wrapped around mine as he lead me through the ballroom—past the musicians that were enchanted by their own creation, past the dancers that were spellbound by their partners—to the back door that led to the depths of the forest: to the door Francis had walked me out through during my very first ball at the Bloodlake Castle.
“I promised Florence I would not go outside today.” I laughed, walking through the melting snow. “She was very worried you would upset me and I’d run away again.”
Francis put his hand on his heart. “I promise not to upset you on our walk,” he chuckled.
The winter’s cold spells had loosened their grip over the last couple of days.
The snow had started to melt under the sun’s gaze during the day. The creatures of the forest slowly awoke from their rest.
The Moon wandered alongside us as Francis walked me through the night forest’s labyrinth.
“I am not going anywhere, you know,” Francis whispered into my ear, glancing at my fingers clutching onto his hand in a strong grasp.
“Sorry.” I relaxed my hold, despite my every wish. “I am merely wary of tomorrow.”
“As I already told you, you needn't go back to the palace.” Francis effortlessly picked me up, carrying me through the narrow stream of water that dared to show so early in spring. “Stay with Florence and Ash back in Faris.”
“I am going,” I whispered against his neck, refusing to let go of our embrace.
Francis sighed, stopping in place: his eyes planted behind me. I followed his gaze until my eyes landed on the Blood lake ahead of us.
“It’s glorious.” I rushed to my feet, taking a few steps towards it. The Moon reflected in the body of water, the corners of the lake still hidden underneath layers of ice.
I filled my lungs, devouring the view that offered the courage I desperately needed.
“There is something I must tell you,” I started, my heart clanging against my rib cage.
“What is it?” Francis pulled me into his embrace, his eyes boring into mine.
My hands fell onto his neck: our skin touched, bringing me safety.
“I think—” My voice broke; the claws pierced my lungs.
“I’m in love with you, Francis.” I nodded at my own words when a hurricane took over my racing mind, leaving nothing but chaos within.
“Yes.” I filled my lungs, searching Francis’ eyes.
“I am in love with you, but...” I swallowed as my heart stopped at once.
“I don’t know what to make of my feelings, and what they entail.
..” My hands trembled against his neck as I forced more air into my damaged lungs.
“My mind is broken in many ways that I am scared to unravel, and you deserve better than to spend your time on someone who cannot promise you—”
“I will wait for as long as you need.” Francis palmed my cheeks. “And if one day you want me to leave forever, I will: whatever you need.” Francis planted a kiss on my forehead.
“That’s not fair,” I whispered as tears clouded my vision.
“I am to decide what’s fair for me.” His hands wrapped around me, shielding me from the world.
“Your mere presence is more than I could ever have asked for.” He met my gaze, his lips stretching into a lazy smile.
“But I am honored by your admission of affection towards me, and apologies for how irresistible I am,” he jested and I couldn’t even find the annoyance at his unseriousness on the subject.
“I needed you to know before we go.” I swallowed the growing anxiety.
“Nothing is going to happen to us, Cordelia.” Francis brought me closer, scaring away the worry and dread.
We stood in our embrace with the Moon as our guardian for a long while before Francis pulled away, taking my hand into his, “We must go back before Florence and Rox send out the search party.”
“All right.” I nodded, following his lead.
The silhouettes of the dancing couples filled the windows of the castle, the music reached us from inside as we made our way towards our home.
Candlelight shone behind the stained windows, life ruled the room.
“Perhaps we should take the main door,” Francis pulled me along the perimeter of the castle. “The humans are still there. Unless you wish for another dance...”
“I would rather spend our last hours in private.” I gathered all my strength to meet Francis’ gaze. “My body is starving for attention,” I teased, my cheeks warmed despite the cool weather.
“What a delight to my ears,” Francis murmured, leaning me against the stables. “If I could only choose one memory to relive in my last moments, it would be this one.” His lips brushed over mine, his teeth teasing my skin—
“And here I thought you wouldn’t show.” The low timbre swept through the forest as Caleb appeared from the shadows.