As Sidro finished his speech he held his hands out to the side and two doors beneath him flew open revealing a line of servants behind each one. But instead of food and refreshments I knew they offered something else.
The servants ranged in age from the elderly to children that couldn't have been more than thirteen years old. Instead of uniforms they wore sheer red garments that did nothing to conceal their forms instead obscenely displaying thin waists, muscle toned bodies and bountiful curves.
But when I looked into their eyes I nearly recoiled at what I saw. Everything from sheer terror to lifeless and emotional indifference hid just below the surface.
Then an unbridled wave of bloodlust washed over the room and I felt the hair on my neck stand up as I almost summoned my dagger on pure reflex.
All around me every vampire's eyes glowed with a faint red light as they stared at the buffet like starving wolves.
"Please remember that this is a formal event. So please, don't play with your food." Sidro's voice echoed in the background as the servers flowed into the room. Their steps were careful with perfect posture and heads held high, it was evident to me that they had been trained, like prize animals ready to be sold to the highest bidder.
I watched removed from the crowd as one by one the servants were snatched out of precession as they walked by. Grabbed by pale clawed talons that drew them into the crowd like a predator dragging freshly killed to their den in order to feast.
Before long the scent of blood drifted through the air as the occasional moan or grunt of pain rang out as the feasting began in earnest.
Just as I was about to avert my eyes from the macabre scene I caught a flash of dark skin through the sea of red and white.
Before my mind could catch up with my body I had already started moving. I stopped suppressing my aura and almost instantly felt several pairs of eyes land on me. But I hardly noticed as I brushed past a group feasting on some poor girl and confirmed what I had caught a glimpse of.
With a singular stride I stepped out from the crowd, my hand practically shaking as my fingers slid across her skin to clamp down on her arm. The girl flinched and whipped around to face me, her free flowing curls briefly forming a halo around her face.
Then I looked into her eyes, two bright brown orbs that stared back at me with fear, resentment, and deep seeded anger.
For a moment I froze not knowing what to say but then the words flowed from my lips like water, "In the end we shall all walk over the dunes as one."
The girl's eyes widened for a moment before they shimmered and I saw the unshed tears she held back. Taking her a bit more firmly by the arm I was about to pull her away when a snow white hand struck out and wrapped around wrist like a vice.
"Forgive me, but I've always wanted to try Elysian. I was wondering if you would give this one to me?" An arrogant and cruel voice hammered into my ears and my eyes snapped over to glare at the speaker.
He was several inches taller than me and twenty pounds heavier, with short blond hair slicked back revealing his blackish face that while handsome by human standards was only painfully mundane after my exposure to Fae perfection.
"No," I replied simply as I stepped forward putting myself between the girl and the boy, "Now release her."
An ugly violent smile marred his face as his lips pulled back revealing his fangs, "I was being polite by asking and not simply taking her for my own."
"Release her before I take your hand as collateral," Despite our voices hardly rising in volume I feel the collective attention of the room being drawn towards us.
Realizing what was happening I cursed my impulsiveness, but knew there was no backing out of it now.
"You're threatening me?" His already disturbing smile turned absolutely crazed as it stretched to inhuman proportions and his eyes started to glow blood red. Then his aura crashed into mine filled with bloodlust and a near predatory hunger. If the chance to de-escalate the conversation had been possible before, it had just been thrown out the window.
Responding in kind I let my aura billow out like a cloud, a subtle promise to his blatant declaration of war, "What is your name?"
"Troy Tyvarius of House Carnos and I demand blood for my lost honor," Troy responded, his voice nearly euphoric as he let go of the girl's arm and took a step back.
I watched as between one instant and the next an elegant and brutal longsword appeared in his hand. Taking in the make of the blade I realized it was made out of quicksilver, a metal known for its malleability and lightweight.
Stepping in front of the girl I held out my hand and felt my nerves settle as the familiar weight of my plain iron dagger settled into my palm, 'I should really invest in a better weapon, or make one.'
"A parrying dagger? How did House Umbra ever allow a bastard like you out of their dungeons?" Troy taunted me as he flourished his long sword before settling into a high guard with the sword in front of him with both hands.
In one quick slash I sliced open my own palm letting the free flowing blood coat the edge of my blade as I bent my knees and the rest of the world started to fall away, "My name is Ramos Masura heir apparent to the lost House of Vitamori, and I accept your duel."
A look of equal parts confusion and surprise flashed across Troy's face as his brain processed my words and realized how ridiculous they were.
I filled my lungs with air as I readied myself mentally, this would be my first fight. Even if my training had been no hold sparing this felt different.
As I stared into Troy's eyes I could see the arrogance, rage, confidence, and barely constrained violence waiting to be unleashed. For a moment my confidence wavered, then my body took over pushing my mind to the back seat and turning my nerves to steel.