Chapter Six: Aralyn

Aralyn watched his deadpan face, but it was unreadable. It wasn't some poker face that could be put on, it was complete and utter indifference. She felt a moment of pity, a pang of guilt that her ancestors had done this to him, before she realized who, or rather what, it was that she was facing.

A vampire.

At another time, perhaps if he still had his emotions, they would be locked in combat, a fight to the death, instead of drinking wine in his dusty kitchen.

"I'm listening," Caldric said.

Damn . She was hoping he would jump at the thought of being cured and agree to help her. She had to keep in mind that she was currently dealing with a creature of pure logic. His lack of emotions might not be pleasant, but she was sure they helped with decision-making.

"I don't have much more to say," Aralyn innocently took a sip of wine. "You agree to help me and be my fake…date." She grimaced at the word. "And I'll lift your curse."

"Really?" Caldric swirled his wine glass. "Just like that, you'll have lifted this thing that has haunted me for more than a lifetime?"

She was hoping that he wasn't going to start asking for specifics, which she didn't have, and simply nodded.

"And just how do you plan on doing that?" he asked.

Damn .

"I'm quite experienced with curses. Comes with my line of work, I suppose," she offered.

Caldric shook his head and placed his wine on the table. "You don't expect me to buy that? Just because I don't feel annoyed at being lied to, do not believe that I am an easy mark. Simply be thankful that I'm not liable to fly into a fit of bloodlust. Now, would you kindly leave me to my solitude?"

"Wait. All right. I'll tell you the truth." Aralyn took a step back to create some distance, letting her hand fall to her side, closer to her hand crossbow. "It was one of my ancestors who cursed you. That's why I'll be able to lift it."

She tensed as she finished talking, waiting for an attack that never came.

Caldric's gaunt features almost turned into a humorous expression. Almost .

"What?" Caldric asked as his gaze fell on the weapons at her hips. "You're expecting me to leap across this table and try to tear your throat out for something your great-great-great grandmother did to me?"

"My great-great-great grandmother, huh?" Aralyn asked. Caldric seemed familiar with her, but then he would, if she had been the one to curse him. She wondered if he'd ever divulge what happened. "And that wouldn't be an uncommon reaction for a blood-sucking monster when they find out they have a chance to take revenge."

"You don't have to worry about that. I simply don't care. I don't care about anything if you recall?" Caldric tapped his long nails on the table. "But I'll admit that is curious…"

"Do you want your emotions back or not?" Aralyn demanded. "Otherwise, I'm just wasting my time here."

Caldric's gaze drifted past her and over her shoulder. She turned to look down into the grand round hall beyond the kitchen, but in the dim light she couldn't make out what exactly it was he was looking at.

"All right."

"That's a yes?" Aralyn asked.

Caldric nodded. "I agree to assist you…however." Caldric held up a finger.

"I'm listening." Aralyn relaxed, just a little.

"The first thing is that there is to be no harming of vampires, or anyone else, for that matter."

"I wasn't necessarily considering hurting anyone for this mission."

"Well, consider it now." Caldric fixed her with a stern glare. "Under no circumstances."

"What about self-defense?" Aralyn asked.

"We can assume that if it comes to that, something has gone incredibly wrong, and the deal is off anyway," Caldric said.

"Do you even care about other vampires?" Aralyn asked.

"I know I used to. Besides, if they realize that I've brought a vampire hunter into their midst, and said vampire hunter causes havoc, the repercussions would make my life rather difficult."

Aralyn nodded. She could understand that. "Anything else?"

"You will do as I say." There was an authority to his cold tone that hadn't been there earlier.

Something squirmed inside Aralyn. Being this close to a vampire was a necessary evil, but following commands from one? That was something else entirely.

"Fine," she said through gritted teeth. "What would you ask of me?"

"It's not long until the ball, but there will be preparations we have to make."

"Let me guess, there's a dress code and a gift code?" Aralyn hadn't been to many ‘soirees.' It wasn't really her scene. But she hadn't been completely living under a rock this whole time.

"Yes, those. But there's also certain etiquette, and they're very particular about the dance…"

"Dance?" Aralyn exclaimed. This whole plan seemed to be becoming worse of an idea with every moment.

"And not to mention how we're going to get through the blood ritual. I'm sure that's not something you'll even consider partaking in."

Aralyn held up her hand. "Okay, woah, hold on. Is all of this really necessary?"

"Incredibly." Caldric nodded. "Anyone who fails to adhere to their practices of tradition will be expelled from the event, and likely suspended from future balls pending an appeal. And I'm sure you don't want to wait another ten years for a chance at the next ball if we fluff it during this one."

Aralyn sighed. "No."

"Then, let's toast." Caldric raised his glass.

"To what?"

"To us ." Caldric leaned forward and touched his glass to hers. "That is what you wanted, isn't it?"

"To us." Aralyn groaned and drained her glass. "So, where do we start?"

"I suppose I should outline what you should expect from the event itself." Caldric picked up the wine bottle and refilled both glasses. "Guests will filter into the greeting hall at the Tolioni residence over the course of the first hour after sunset. Everyone must be sure that they don't crowd in, but don't enter too sparsely, either."

"Do we get a number or something?" Aralyn asked, eyeing her next glass of wine.

"No, it is simply intuition at the time. After that, there will be a brief mingling period with the other guests before the Tolioni family will make their appearance. There will be a speech before the entourage moves into the dining hall."

"You've been to these before, then?" Aralyn asked, her head already beginning to spin from the amount of information being thrown at her.

"I used to go every decade," Caldric said.

"But not anymore?"

He shook his head. "No. I've still got an open invitation there, but I haven't been since…"

"Since you were cursed."

There was a moment of silence while they both stared down into their wine.

"I'd have thought not feeling any emotions would make a dull function like that more bearable." Aralyn chuckled. "I even struggle to sit through birthday parties on the best of days."

"No. I think I remember…enjoying them. There was an important role I used to have there, but the curse meant that I just wasn't as good as I had to be," Caldric said wistfully.

What could Caldric have done that required emotions to be good at it?

"Were you a host there or something?" Aralyn asked. "An actor? I can see them having stage plays there by the sound of it."

"Not those. Besides, it doesn't matter." Caldric began to walk out of the kitchen.

"So what now?" Aralyn followed him out.

"It's time to start training," Caldric said over his shoulder.

"Training." Aralyn put up her fists, made a little awkward as one still held half a glass of wine. "For you or me? I'm proficient in seven forms of unarmed combat."

Caldric made an odd sound that almost sounded like a chuckle before he replied. "For you, as I'm proficient in eight forms of ballroom dance."

Aralyn rolled her eyes. "We're really going to have to dance?"

"Indeed." Caldric continued down the stairs to the large, flat floor at the bottom of the hall, the center of which was taken up by a large piano. Even in the dim light of the manor, she could see the gilded edges and fine craftsmanship.

"But surely that would be the best time for me to slip away and grab what I need?" Aralyn asked hopefully. "Everyone's going to be distracted dancing, so no one will know I'm gone."

"I'm afraid that's not how this is going to work." Caldric looked around the pile of dust and cobweb-covered books and boxes and paraphernalia before he found a flat surface to place his wineglass down on. "See, the dance is more of a communal activity."

"What?"

"It's not that unusual for dances to involve multiple partners at an event such as this."

"Multiple?" Aralyn groaned again. "You're telling me that I'm not just going to be dancing with one vampire, but multiple?"

"There'll be a few of your kind there as well. Non-vampires, that is. Not vampire hunters." Caldric coughed and then held up his hands. "Luckily for you, the first half is masked, so you'll be able to get a warmup."

Aralyn smirked. "What are you doing?"

"Teaching you to dance," Caldric said.

"Now? Just like that?" Aralyn looked toward the stairs leading up to the kitchen. Maybe she should have brought that bottle with her.

"Why not?" Caldric asked. "The sooner we start, the more time you have for practice, after all."

"What about music? We can't dance without music."

Caldric scratched his forehead. "Ah, yes. I suppose you're right."

Aralyn sighed in relief for the few extra moments of respite as Caldric began swiping away cobwebs and rummaging through the various items that littered the floor before placing an antique-looking gramophone atop a stack of boxes that jingled as they moved. He placed a large vinyl disk in it, placed the needle down, and wound up the handle sticking out of the side.

The disk spun, and for a few moments, nothing but popping and crackling static filled the air, but then came the sound of an instrument.

It was quiet at first, and for a moment Aralyn thought they were voices calling in a whisper, but as the music continued, the lone violin made itself known. And it made known the feeling of melancholy, of longing, of nostalgia.

Sad wasn't the word to describe the melody the frail string instrument played. It was something much more profound than that.

Aralyn blinked, not allowing herself to become lost in the music as Caldric once again took a dancing stance, holding his hands out.

"Perhaps you could play the music?" She shrugged and nodded toward the piano. The thought of being close to him sent the hairs on the back of her neck on end.

"It will be easier to teach the steps like this," he replied.

"I thought that you'd say that." She took a deep breath. "Okay, let's do this."

"I'd put the wineglass down. You'll need both hands."

"Oh, yeah." Aralyn took her time finding a clear spot out of the way to place down the glass.

The only times she had been this close to a vampire was trying to drive a stake into their un beating heart, and the familiar pounding of her own heart and feeling of adrenaline in her veins reminded her of that fact.

She wondered whether she should ask Caldric if she should disarm herself before this. Maybe he would be uncomfortable with having her belt full of stakes so close to him. Who was she kidding? He truly didn't, or couldn't, care, and at this point, she was just stalling.

Aralyn nodded and muttered to herself. " Come on. You can do this ."

"What was that?" Caldric asked.

"Nothing."

Aralyn shuffled backward before taking what was almost a running step, forcing herself to move forward, putting her arms up as if to defend herself, and before she knew it, she found herself in the arms of a vampire.