Some hours have passed since Elaina, Kalyn and Silviu had gathered to meet the Duke. They all returned back to the manor not long ago after gathering the things they needed for that night. There were only a few short moments before they would join the guests gathering downstairs. She just needed to finish getting dressed and then join Kalyn. The servant who helped her tighten the corset of her dress tightly pulled at the strings. It caused Elaina to take a sharp breath in. How she hated having to dress up like this, but she also needed to blend in for the night. Once everything was on properly the servant left Elaina alone. She pulled out her leather satchel of vampire slaying items and grabbed a few of the silver-tipped stakes to place within her black leather garter. Elaina quickly checked to make sure that her flintlock pistol was loaded with silver bullets, which it was. She placed the gun strapped to her leg by the other garter, just in case. Six rounds, That was all she was able to carry and that was those that were already loaded into the gun. She didn't have the means to carry anything else, but she hoped she wouldn't need anything else. All that remained was to grab her black lace mask embedded with zinnia cut red rubies.
Silviu was already downstairs somewhere keeping an eye on things. Elaina looked out the bedroom window to see that the sun was setting on the horizon. She didn't expect there to be any attacks just yet, seeing as the sun was still too high in the sky. A knock at her door was the only cue she needed to know that Kalyn was ready, and so was she. She tied the mask to her face and tied it in place with a black silk ribbon.
"Come on already, Elaina! Let's get going!" Kalyn's voice could be heard nearly singing from the other end of the door. She was clearly excited, maybe even too excited.
"Can you be any more patient?" Elaina exited her guest bedroom to join her.
"Can you take any longer?" Kalyn retorted with a giggle. "Now let's get to the party!"
"Kalyn, This isn't a vacation. We're here on slayer duty."
"You're no fun. We could at least have fun while keeping an eye out." Kalyn pouted like a child who had just been scolded. She crossed her arms across her chest.
The two of them descended stairs into the grand foyer before walking down a hallway short ways to reach the ballroom. Music could be heard from the other side of the door which only got louder when they pushed open the doors to enter. Inside there were already a whole bunch of guests dressed in various colored ball gowns and masks.
"Remember what I said…" Elaina turned to face Kalyn, watching her closely.
"Yeah yeah.. Not a vacation. Work." She huffed. Even though they were technically adults, it seemed as though Kalyn never grew up.
Elaina eyed her closely before moving to another end of the room. She walked up some stairs leading to an indoor balcony that overlooked the entire ballroom floor. The guests below were either in a deep conversation, dancing or sipping on a glass of some liquid which was likely alcoholic. Occasional laughter could be heard periodically throughout the violin and piano music playing. Elaina scanned the area over many times in search of anything that was off. She couldn't see anything that raised any alarms. At least, she hasn't yet.
A man walked past dressed in a dark cavalier vest, black satin dress shirt along with a silver venetian phantom mask. Even though it covered half of his face, Elaina could tell from the portion she could see he seemed almost like an angel. She couldn't look away, something about him just drew her in. She wanted to know more about him. No. Now wasn't the time to get distracted from her duty. She reluctantly tore her attention away from him.
Angelus however had already noticed Elaina staring at him. The side of his lips lifted into a devilish smirk. The off the shoulder dress in a dark red wine satin and black lace detailed bodice seemed to be designed specifically to fit every one of Elaina's curves. Angelus disappeared from Elaina's sight, out of her field of view. It wasn't long before he had walked up the stairs to join her and lean against the railing of the mezzanine.
"What is someone as beautiful as you doing here alone?" Angelus asked.
"Picking roses and drinking wine." Elaina didn't bother to look in his direction, rolling her eyes. Whoever he was just had to come bother her, didn't he.
"Dance with me." His words were just above a whisper and were more of a demand then they were a question.
"Not Interested.." Elaina's beating heart increased, she was in fact interested but she knew this man would be a distraction. The last thing she needed tonight was getting distracted.
Angelus adjusted himself and got closer to Elaina. He leaned in closely so he could whisper into her ear. "You're lying. Dance with me." He repeated, this time even more demanding.
Elaina let out an exasperated sigh, "If I say yes, Will you leave me alone after?"
"Maybe, but I make no promises."
"Fine, I will dance with you."
Angelus held out his hand, palm side out. Elaina knew it was an invitation to grab his hand. She placed her hand in his as he guided her towards the ground floor of the ballroom. Angelus was in front of her, helping Elaina down the steps of the mezzanine even though she didn't require the help.
Once finding an open spot, the previous song that was playing had come to an end. Angelus and Elaina faced one another and took a bow before one another. Once the next song was beginning, Angelus grabbed Elaina by the hand and placed his free hand on her waist. Elaina's other hand found its place on his shoulder as their eyes connected. The two of them glided through the room weightlessly like a feather in rhythm to the music.
"I never seen you here before, I would've remembered someone like you." Angelus said.
"First time." She confirmed what Angelus had already known.
"I see. How do you know the Duke?"
"I don't really, my father does. He asked me to come." Her words weren't exactly a lie, Gavril was the one who was there for her through the hardest time of life. He raised her as his own and Elaina loved and cared about him. If it wasn't for the order, Elaina believed she would have been dead many years ago. She was thankful for it even if she may not always show it.
"Guess we are in similar positions then." Angelus didn't dare to break his eye contact with Elaina. He found her gray eyes to be captivating. He couldn't look away even if he wanted to.
Angelus spun Elaina away before he pulled her back in close to her. She was stopped by his hard chest. Even though he wasn't the most muscular person, he definitely was no weakling either. He had some strength to him, but he made sure to keep his inhuman strength under wraps while dancing with Elaina.
"I will admit, You are good at dancing." Elaina said.
"It's not the only thing I am good at." Angelus smirked as he winked at her.
Once again Elaina rolled her eyes at him. A typical man with an ego the size of a mountain. She didn't bother to respond to his comment, she didn't care to find out what else he could supposedly be good at.
Kalyn caught a glimpse of Elaina dancing with Angelus. Of course, he wasn't a man she could recognize, it was the first time she had ever seen him. The last thing she expected to see was Elaina dancing with a stranger or really dancing at all. She giggled to herself at the sight. Elaina almost seemed to be enjoying herself if it wasn't for much of an expression on her face. Kalyn knew however that was just who Elaina was. She didn't dare to openly show her emotions to others and for the first few years of knowing Elaina she believed her to be heartless. The stoic and dutiful Elaina being distracted with dancing with the male was certainly a sight to see to Kalyn. She definitely had to tease her friend about it later.
Elaina caught a glimpse of a creature hidden in the shadows, its eyes glued to someone who had just exited the ballroom. It exposed its sharp fangs and followed after the individual. They were here.
"I'm sorry.." She whispered, pulling away from Angelus.
"For what?" Angelus was taken aback by the sudden apology. He kept her hand in his.
"I have to go."
Angelus brought her hand up to his lips and placed a kiss on her knuckles. "Can I at least get your name?"
Elaina pulled her hand away and began to walk away as he spoke. She didn't respond, more occupied on trying to find the feral vampire that was here moments before. Once she exited the ballroom, she looked both ways to try and determine which way it had gone. Wherever it was, it couldn't have gone too far but she doubted she would have much time to find it before it attacked the person it was following. Elaina concentrated on the sounds around her, trying to drown out the sound of the music and people talking or laughing and focus on other sounds. More specifically she was looking for sounds that could let her know which way the creature could have gone.
Skittering in the distance caught her attention, especially since the sound seemed to be coming from the ceiling. If Elaina was a gambler she would bet silver that it was coming from the vampire she noticed before. She turned on her heels and began walking as fast as she could without running. The vampire seemed to be too interested in the person it was already following to notice Elaina following it. She let it lead her to a secluded area just outside of Duke's manor.
The vampire swung itself and dropped in front of its prey. With elongated fangs it leapt for the throat of the woman. She screeched in horror, unable to move her body or run away.
Elaina grabbed one of the stakes from her garter, running to the woman and driving the stake through the vampire's heart from behind. She managed to stop it in time before it was able to get a bite of the woman. Its fangs were a mere fraction of an inch away from piercing a vein. Elaina sighed in relief, relaxing ever so slightly. The vampire crumbled to dust and fell like sand in an hourglass. It fell to the ground and shattered into a pile of ash and bone.
"You shouldn't be outside alone at night.." Elaina stated.
"S-Sorry.. Thank you! Thank You! Thank you!" She was shivering, not from the cold but from nerves from nearly being the snack of a vampire.
Elaina jerked her head to motion for her to get back inside where it was much safer for her. The woman listened and quickly walked back inside, likely to rejoin everyone in the ballroom. She wasn't sure how the vampire could have gotten inside without her or one of the other slayers noticing. Unless Kalyn or Silviu had gotten too distracted to notice it. Elaina scanned the area, watching and listening to her surroundings.
Movement in the treelines caught her attention but it was too fast for Elaina to see what it was. A twig snapping broke the calmness of the night but Elaina tried to brush it off as some animal. Unfortunately she didn't quite believe that herself. Not after the woman being attacked at least. Her legs began to move on their own, leading her in the direction of the movement in the treeline and the sound of a twig snapping. Again she noticed movement in the trees but this time it stopped long enough for her to get a decent view. Just as quickly as it showed itself, it disappeared. Elaina stopped, frozen in place at the sight.