In the land of the Oshary, the two most powerful warriors are patience and time. Centuries pass without a single change, whether it is with people, ranks or rules. In the heart of the city lies the mighty and hefty castle of the Empress Ambrosia called Etrana. She sits down on her throne looking down at everything that isn't working under her rules and seeks immediate riddance of it.
As she lived thousands of years, she came to believe that the passage of time is frozen. The smallest creatures in the world moved in samsara, turning and living in the same circle all over again without realizing it. She sees the world engulfed in complete permanence over the same events occurring again and wishes for her realm to stay as unchanging as the passage of time. She looks down upon impermanence and governs her land with the rules and the power of blood under her reach.
Mundane affairs and transient feelings vanish like a mist in front of her path. She slays them with an unperturbed and unfettered bloody sword.
"In this stillness I seek, power resurges unperturbed and eternal. The world is but shadow to the unchanging times. No one escapes the samsara."
A large and tall wall surrounded the Etrana making the boundaries for humans to not reach. The heavy gates swung open as there was a party for the Empress to enjoy, her meals were ready to be served and all the ranks above the fifth prepared a sacrifice for the occasion. A large group of nobles and naïve girls ignoring what was awaiting them were gathered in a grand and spacious hall.
Music and voices of the young lasses resounded as talking, laughing, chatting and walking. The sacrifices had crafted dressed showing them like dolls; they were allowed to wear colors for the Empress' eyes to be rejoiced. Vampires saw humans in colors like lions eying their preys in the vicinity.
The noble vampires present in the party didn't touch anything from the buffet; it was there for a reason everyone knew, humans enjoyed delicacies. To make the place tolerable for the dark creatures, only the fire light was allowed in place. The red eyes watched the preys in keep interest waiting for the Empress to signal the begging of the feast.
Someone stood on top of red stairs with a long black carpet. He scanned the area, stopping at each face with a glass of blood playing with between his fingers, and smiled upon seeing the excitement in the eyes of the fresh blood bags. He was one of the eight exclusive protectors of the unranked. The Ambrosia didn't have a rank in her land; she stood on top of all chains and was the supreme ruler in the eyes of her subjects.
"Greetings, young nobles," everyone turned their eyes on the vampire with the shining blond hair as he walked down the stairs. The noise slowly faded away as his smile sent shivers down everyone's spine. Everyone was captivated by the golden hair but they also feared his aura. He didn't bow his head; instead he raised it proudly, looking down upon humans.
"I am the Duke Baldassare Ingrum, the host of today's celebration. I express my sincere delightment upon your presence today," he stretched his arms widely as if he was asking for a hug. "Tonight, we gathered in hopes her Majesty would grace you with her undying fidelity. Enjoy whatever pleasure you find reachable. I will be here to accompany you till the end of the night." He had a smile that went from ear to ear, anticipating the presence of the mighty ruler.
Murmurs of surprise resounded in the hall and the tension that was caused by his arrival dissipated as quickly as it appeared. Baldassare mind raced with horrible thoughts he found to his liking. He imagined how the hall would turn into a pool of the moment her Majesty would appear. He wasn't anticipating that much the pool of blood; he was waiting for her Majesty the Empress to appear in her stunning demeanour and her killing eyes.
He was the first of the eight to arrive and there was no need for the others to appear. He strolled down and talked with the lower ranked vampires as the maids swirled around like roses with their platter full of food. No human could resist the delicacy of vampire cooking; everything was made for this moment to be memorable.
And then the moment Baldassare waited for finally was upon his reach. Darkness engulfed the whole hall asking for more. The guests turned frigid and scared. The girls stuck to the nearest male figure they found and the latter couldn't move from their places. Some of the girls mistakenly touched cold skins and they shuddered; they thought it was just a cold object lying there until it whispered sweet words.
"Shall I serve you, my reckless guest?"
Butterflies roamed shining brightly as the Empress appeared in a red dress and a shining black hair, sending chills with her unyielding stares. She landed in the usual spot she always used to appear, surrounded with mist and mystery. As she walked down the stairs, her skirt hugged her thighs curving to the side showing her long legs, dawdling behind her giving the carpet a hint of red. The eyes were locked on her appearance as if someone divine has ascended yet it was a demon that sought their blood.
Her hands waved in the air making the torches lit up once again and this time the light embraced her silhouette showing more the dazzling side of her red silky dress. The red garment sat upon her skin as petals of roses.
Baldassare darted to the stairs and offered his hand to be the first one the Empress touches. As she placed her hand on his, he kissed it tenderly.
"Your Majesty, I wish you would step on me with your great elegant skin but I doubt you would accord an importance to my wish."
"Your insolence knows no bound, Baldassare."
As she moved to dance, Baldassare stuck his tongue to the other noble vampires. He was the one who won her first dance for the night. He would serve her with his whole soul. It didn't matter who was there for the night; he had the Empress all for himself for the night.
"You should control your emotions, Baldassare. A Duke mustn't show his ugly side to the world. We have guests to entertain for the night, not to scare them away. You know how much I loathe disturbance."
"Anything for you your Majesty," he bowed his head slightly.
Her Majesty the Empress raised her hand signaling the beginning of the undying night. As she kept dancing, the vampires pulled each a prey and started dancing with their fangs deeply buried in the necks. It was a sight Duncan never liked. It was the reason why he was never present in those gatherings. Ambrosia swept the hall with a glare and she didn't find the boy who was insolent enough to defy her. She wanted to see his objectivity and refusal in such acts but it was disappointing. He wasn't there.
"Where is the Darkcrow child?"
"Why are you interested in him your Majesty? He isn't worth your attention."
Baldassare wasn't jealous. In fact, he had to act that way to keep his relationship with Duncan hidden. He was one of the first ones to hate him and loathe his existence. He wanted to kill him but as he walked to his castle and attempted to kill him, he couldn't. Duncan was staring at him with such a murderous intent that he couldn't approach him.
"Why are you hiding your power when you could be one of the nine?" Baldassare asked severely injured and incapable of moving.
"I am not into the throne and your positions. At least for now," his eyes showed such ominosity that changed the direction of his craziness. Baldassare adored power above anything else; he went crazy over powerful ones and he desired for the Empress and Duncan to fight to see who is the strongest. However, Duncan put a slave crest on his life.
He didn't want him to divulge is secret.
"Your head is in the clouds," the Empress sighed as her skirt turned redder with blood.
"I was thinking how beautiful you are, your Majesty. I can't get my eyes of you. You are the dark night of my life."
"How sweet of you to lie to my face! I don't intend to know more about you or your insolent thoughts."
"May I ask you why you spared the boy?"
"His mother was a close subject of mine. She exchanged her life for the life of her son. We had a pact I couldn't break. He might be useful. She was useful as well."
"Shall I send after him?"
"No. There is no need."
She glanced one last time around before pulling a male human to her chamber for the night. Baldassare watched as she appeared dignified and meticulous. However, Duncan was much more elegant when he wanted to be. He rolled his eyes and disappeared into the darkness.