"Yes, yes, but remember the play." Caroline chimed in following Lester's words that left an extremely awkward atmosphere.
"Yes, the play," Jeremiah added
"The king, cousin brother, is rumoured to have written it." Stephen added as well
All eyes at the table shifted to look at the king yet again, Gavriel's eyes meanwhile were looking at the the mother and son duo that was very quiet unlike in the past where there voices boomed commanding attention.
"Such a pitiful sight!!" He uttered directly, throwing everyone off balance, but the ones that were the victims of his words knew what he meant but kept a deaf ear.
" Yes, I did write the play," Gavriel answered nonchalantly
"The king, Gavriel Thornhart, wrote a play." Caroline commented yet again
" What is it, sis? Is the alcohol clouding your ears?" Gavriel raised a brow
"Hahaha," Caroline laughed
"Of course I heard you, cousin brother, what I find hard to believe is that you have the compassion to actually write a play." She added boldly
A silent Gavriel smiled prompting his laid back stature to sit upright looking directly at Caroline, he said, "It seems you know nothing about me sis, I can be very compassionate when it comes to art." He answered
Their way of speaking was making almost everyone at the table nervous, "Hmmm, art you say." Caroline hummed while she sipped more wine.
"Brother, in your perspective, what's 'art'?" The brown haired vampiress inquired
Bringing his crystal glass up to his lips he sipped the liquid inside and said, "I can describe art in many different ways but the most obvious one would be that I find art as a form of expression" Gavriel said articulately
"I have seen what you call art and wow! is it destructive? " Lester intervened
Gavriel smiled at that and said, "That is me expressing emotion."
Lester slightly chuckled and asked, "So by reaping out hearts, what form of art expression is that?"
" Well, that, it is sometimes because of punishment, or sometimes for the joy of watching someone's eyes dim as they accept their fate that death always wins." Gavriel answered slowly with focus like he was remembering a certain event
Everyone at the table went silent for a minute before Lester voiced, "And there is your compassion." He said, looking at Caroline
The two raised their glasses, and the others followed, "To art!" Caroline declared, and they toasted.
A certain hand at the table clutched another hand under the table with such strength, trying to suppress the anger and the injustice they felt at the loss of their family.
Gavriel sat in his chair nonchalantly, knowing fully well that in just a matter of time, someone would act suicidal.
A certain well-dressed lady sitted on the left side of the ball carried herself delicately with grace and a charm that seemed to garner her attention here and there.
Samantha was currently cutting into her meat while she indulged a certain vampire whose attention she had captured.
"Lady Samantha, do you mind a dance with me after the dinner." Declan Eldervine whispered to Samantha
She slightly blushed and smiled, nodding a yes.
Everything was unfolding like she had planned. Now, the only thing remaining was getting her truly desired attention from the king.
" Tick tock tick....." Jeremiah eyes followed the long moving hand of the wooden clock opposite to where he sat.
'Please do not draw anymore attention to yourself in the next hour, Lorah.' he silently prayed internally.
'Just act this stupid thing peacefully so we can leave here,' he thought
He placed more food on Karrina's plate, who was barely eating. The action made her look at him, and he nudged her to try it.
Following him, she directed the food to her mouth and slowly chewed it.
The two ate silently, placing food on each other's plate from time to time. The two seemed to be in their own world, ignoring the draining atmosphere around them at the table.
"I can feel its presence here, but it is very subtle, almost like I am imagining it." The lady in black whispered to her partner.
"Where do you feel it?" The green eyed man asked
Tipping her chin to the tall mahogany doors that led to the kitchen, the lady then sipped her drink.
The man's green eyes briefly turned into sharp slits when he scrutinised the door.
"I can't feel anything, " he said after a few seconds
"Well, neither can I, I told you it was very subtle, didn't I?" She expressed
"Well, we have to move quickly and get to that painting if we ought to be successful. Most of the guests are down here." The man ignored the lady and said
" No, right now is still too risky. They are not distracted enough." The lady whispered back
"We will wait for that play thing to start, then we can sneak away unnoticed." The lady said
The man nodded and said, "I can't wait to get my hands on it." His eyes glowed with greed
Standing up abruptly, Gavriel strutted his way to the dining room doors.
The doors opened, and he walked in, startling the actors and actresses on the other side.
Recovering immediately, they all bowed to greet the king. Gavriel paid no heed to them but rather scanned the room looking for a particular red head.
"Where is the lead actress?" He asked
James, the director, raised his head immediately to look around the room.
Seeing that his lead actress was not there, "She must have gone to the ladies powder room, let me go check on her." He said
"In the ladies' powder room." Gavriel said, raising an eyebrow.
Before anyone could react, he exited the room to go check on her.
Jeremiah, who was alert and keen on the King's movements, heard this and politely excused himself from the table.
Looking at the direction Gavriel took, he decided to check somewhere else he felt her energy.
Gavriel reached the powder room in no time, opening the door ajar, Florah was startled.
"Yo..your Majesty...!" Florah shakily said, putting a hand across her chest.
Gavriel looked at her in scrutiny, "You ladies sure do take a long time in here." He gestured to the powder room.
"I needed to ease myself, your highness," Florah said
Gavriel looked at her and asked, "So, no thoughts of running this time?"
Florah looked at him in silence,"It is all I can think about." She said honestly
"Hahaha," he chuckled
"Then I don't see what is stopping you from doing so." He said sarcasm laced in his voice
Florah went silent again and said, "For whatever reason, I am sure you will find me, and I don't have many places to go."
"Now that is a smart girl." The king praised