He stands to Lucian Hellkade's left, just like the others did before him.
A candidate for the throne, ey? The perfect alpha…
I cannot put a pin on the reason for it, but as the acclamations ascend to deafening clamors, the memory of a peculiar statement uttered by a particular individual bubbles back to the surface…
"For three hundred years ambling this god forsaken earth, never have I lived with the hopes to see any change befall our society. I know I am not supposed to, but I feel I should hope to hear good news about you very soon"
Locky's words echo in the foreground and overshadow every thought I have, for a moment before returning from whence they came.
Nathanael looks so different. For one I can tell that he's wearing a brooch, I can't exactly see the shape of the item but I'm willing to bet it's identical to Erolina's.
Secondly, his features appear a lot harsher than what I've known of him before. For instance, his smile isn't as unsettling as Lucian's, but it sure as hell isn't the kind beam he usually offers me. Although, I expected something like this, we're among his family, his people. He does tend to shut off like this in their presence.
Other than that, the impeccable white silk of his button up shirt emphasizes the lavish and intricate golden embroidery on his black blazer jacket. His wear is not tight on him but is simply befitting. It does outline his figure and complement his form superbly.
His eyes absorb the warm lights around him enhancing the glow of their obsidian color.
He looks like a king; he stands like one. Dress the part they say…
"These younglings represent the future of our kind," I am reminded that Grady still exists when he speaks up, "Which of these five, standing before us tonight will prove worthy? I believe we will have the answer to that question by the end of April this year," he leans forward and pauses, but then he resumes his initial stance to announce something else, "But for now, shall we dance? Please make room for our candidates as well as their mates on the dance floor,"
The violins fire out the first notes and rip my eyes away from Nathanael. I am slightly jostled when Richard bumps his shoulder into mine as people start shifting and shambling around. It's not until the man that's directly in front of me moves to my side that I am able to see the five candidates, standing at the center of a vast circle delimited by… Us onlookers.
I blink upwards to catch sight of the four shadows retreating away from the balcony, leaving Grady to gaze upon the ballroom below him.
I bring my sight back to the candidates who are next to each other in a straight line. They're all about the same height, except for Devana; she must be at least six foot six.
Facing them are five other people. Their mates, I assume based on what Grady had said. Even Nathanael seems to have one… A gorgeous brunette, about as tall as him, donning a magnificent Prussian blue panel gown that embraces her forms.
The rest of the instruments join the violins and as if on cue; I see Nathanael extend his hand to the woman in front of him, and they're bodies are brought closer to each other as soon as she takes it.
Meer inches of distance separating them, they swirl on their feet in a set of synchronized movements. The hem of her dress flaunts and floats higher and faster as the tempo of the music guides their waltz.
The rest of the couples act similarly, but it's like they are not there for my eyes to see.
By the time the music stops I realize I am staring downwards, where my feet should be, but they're tucked under my full skirt and therefore invisible to me.
The first face I see upon lifting my gaze is Erolina's. She has this dubious look on her that I can't decode. She's not gloating by any means, but I can't tell the meaning behind this new smile quite yet. It's definitely not a look I've seen on her before this instant.
"I'll go look for my friend. I haven't seen her at all since we arrived," I say.
"I thought you wanted to talk to Nathanael," she half questions, half states.
"Well, he does look pretty busy at the moment, doesn't he?" I fling my eyes his way for a split second to see he is in the middle of an apparently spellbinding conversation with his… Mate, before looking at Erolina again.
I see that Erolina is about to say something, but I don't linger long enough to hear it. I hasten and allow myself to be engulfed by the flock of people around.
I must admit, I am a tad confused. Why wasn't I able to look at him for more than a second? What's so different about him now?
Well, for starters, he was standing with her… Whoever she is…
Is this jealousy? I've felt jealous before and this isn't exactly it. Granted the circumstances were different but still… It wouldn't make sense for me to feel jealous, would it? I only met him a few days ago. Even if I liked his company, we did not really share that much. We are not that close…
So, what is this itch I can't scratch? What is this tingle in my core that I can't shake?
I'll have to think about this another time. For the time being I have to find Izzy. I also need to find Avery.
Come to think of it, Avery wasn't on the balcony behind Nathanael. There were only four shadows that came out behind the candidates and all of them seemed to be adults. I don't see any other children around, so that must be the reason.
Izzy is nowhere to be found in the ballroom. I might want to head for one of the doors in this place.
I open the first one to be greeted by a long hallway ahead. I choose to walk it and stray further and further from the gathering. The more I go the less the music reaches my ears. I can hear people talk in the distance, but I don't pay much attention to them.
I try every doorknob on my way, but only one door seems to be already open. When I peek inside, I recognize Izzy's figure. She's facing away from me, looking through a gigantic window. I lay my hand on the door to push it out of my way but…
"You must be Rosemary. The Rosemary!" says an unfamiliar voice behind me.
I turn around to find none other than Lucian Hellkade. I was right, I don't want to see that smile of his from this close of a distance. It doesn't reach his eyes at all. It's like he practiced what a smile should look like in the mirror and thinks he's got it. He doesn't…
He moves nearer and towers over me. He's practically the same size as Nathanael except… I've never felt threatened by Nathael's figure before…
"The Rosemary?" I utter, a bit uncomfortable.
"Well, I have been discussing your case with my father, before the attack of course… Shameful accident that was,"
Accident my ass! I stand by what I said before, it was no coincidence. But I am more intrigued by what the fuck he's blabbering about right now, "What was there to discuss about me? I had no connection to your people before the attack," I try to remain as calm and courteous as I can. I don't want to make an enemy out of this guy, not if I can do something about it.
"I understand, this may sound odd. But it's in fact not. See, I first heard about you from Dr. Dale. A few years ago, to be completely honest," my eyebrows keep on arching while I do my best to keep forming a smile with my lips, "A few months after you came to the hospital for an internship. You made quite the name for yourself,"
"I am sorry, it's been a very long... Heavy and full week for me. I am still a bit confused. Why would Dr. Dale speak to you about… me?"
We're interrupted by another young man who walks closer to Lucian, sets a hand on his shoulder and whispers something in his ear, something I can't catch. Once done, the young man turns to me to apologize before excusing himself.
I stand rooted to my spot as my gaze follows after him.
He had a scar across his right eyeball. A dark brown stripe that stretched horizontally from one side of his eye to the other…
My mind flashes back to the night of the attack. The wolf that had charcoal colored fur. The one that bit into my purse… It was him…