"Good evening," he says, his voice deep and rich. "Might I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"

"Micah Dupree," you reply, offering your hand out of habit as your brain struggles to realize that all you've been hoping for your whole life may be standing directly before you.

"Dupree," he says with a coy smile as he bends down to kiss your hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

His lips are cold, but it isn't unexpected. All the vamps wear an ashen skin lacking a saturation of blood. He, however, had not lost the brightness of life in his eyes. A golden green looks up at you, which compliments the dark sweep of hair that sits on top his head and frames his statuesque, pallid face.

"Likewise," you manage to say between bated breaths. "And may I ask, sir, who it is that has bestowed a kiss upon my hand?"

"The Marquis Francis Degaré Ellimond, but please call me Ell." He gives a quick bow and a toothy smile that reveals his sharp canines.

"Then, please call me Micah."

"It is a great honor that I be granted such a privilege."

At that you wonder and cock your head slightly as you consider his words. "Is it? You are a Marquis, while I'm a human from the farm."

"The best farm in the world as far as I'm concerned. There has always been fine stock that comes from this town."

You blush at the compliment. "You do us a great honor."

"You'd do me a great honor if you would join me for a dance." With that he offers you his hand and before you can question your luck, you take it and follow him on to the floor just as a new song begins to float over the heads of the giddy crowd.

You start the waltz in a proper stance. Though the two of you are close together, you keep several inches between you as you step your way around the floor.

"See what I mean," he says as you both grow used to each other's movements. "I've been to other balls, but, never have I danced with a partner who had not stepped on my foot within a minute of dancing."

"Have you never come to one of our balls before Ell?" It feels weird to say such an informal name, but you weren't about to anger him by refusing a direct request. He seems friendly and polite, but you know well enough that a vampire is often short in temperament.

"I've only recently come into power, which has allowed me access to this fine ball. I must say it is quite grand."

"If I may ask, why then were you quick to ask me onto the dance floor when there are so many to peruse on your first visit here?" You bite your lip the second the question escapes you. Did you come off ungrateful? Perhaps too humble? Did he resent you for even questioning his decision?

However, as you contemplate your hasty words, Ell draws you in so that his chin hovers just above your shoulder and your torsos brush against each other in the brisk steps of the dance.

"Because I saw myself in your eyes. So many here are looking to make their way, to seal a deal and score a victory. Your friend is a clever and cunning one, I can tell. She had eyes on glory, you though, seemed captivated by these silly little pumpkins on the table. You weren't looking at the best vamp to snare, but at the wonderment of the spectacle. I too found myself lost in the pageantry and I wished to share that wonder with a quiet spirit like my own."

As your dance continues, your bodies close the gap between them. Ell's hand slides over to your lower back, his long fingers exploring your body as he pulls you into his firm chest. With your torsos so tightly entwined, you are left to press your cheek against his, his cold flesh a welcome touch against your own burning skin.

The orchestra completes their song and slips into a new piece. You are eager to continue the hypnotic sway that has captured you, but Ell stops your swinging as the next song floats above your heads. You try to pull away to look up at him, but he holds you close and whispers in your ear.

"Would you care to join me in the lounge so that we can talk more readily?"

You can't verbally answer since your breath is lodged like a rock in your throat, but you manage a nod. With that the vamp pulls away and takes your arm in his, guiding you across the ballroom and out into a quiet hall. From there you turn into a luxurious lounge. Dark wood walls line the space and are adorned with several plump bookshelves and a rather majestic fireplace which is surrounded by a couple blood red sofas. Ell guides you to one of these couches and sees that you are seated comfortably. He's about to take a seat with you, but then his face goes still and stops short of joining you.

"Is something the matter?" you ask, worried that in this light he may have found you differently than how he saw you within the romantic whimsy of the ballroom.

"Not with you my sweet Micah," he says with an effortless smile. "I just realized I need to chat with someone about a business matter. I wish to deal with it now so that it doesn't interrupt my time with you later. Would it be all right if I left you here for a brief moment?"

He sounds sincere and the smile he shares with you appears genuine. Though, you realize that your chance of success plummets with every moment he's out of your sight, you tell him it is not a problem and wish for his quick return. You know to deny him now would be a greater blow to your chances than to let him go.

With your approval, he gives a quick bow before leaving the room and shutting the door behind him. Uncertain what to do, you rise up and look around, hopeful to find something to entertain you.

You browse the bookshelves, finding various tomes on vampire history, the art of harvesting humans, and the complicated politics of immortal society. You also find a few trinkets, one of which catches your eye. It's a statue with two human forms that are so entwined together, it's difficult to tell where one person begins and the other ends. You pick up the small sculpture for closer inspection and find that one of the faces appears human, while the other's mouth showcases delicately carved fangs.

You hear something scraping behind you. You jump at the sudden raspy noise and you instinctively shove your pilfered item into your pocket, worried that Ell has returned and will be displeased with your nosy behavior. Of course, if he found you had a stolen item...

"Micah!" It came as a whisper, yet the excitement in the voice was not lost in its low volume.

"Ferris?" Your heart beats hard against your chest as your head catches up with the reality of this sudden turn of events.

You glance over at the door to find it still shut within its frame. You then scan the room, only to find yourself utterly alone. Your breathing calms once you affirm that no angry vamp was waiting for you, but your head still reels with confusion.

"Micah, over here by the fireplace."

You look to the hearth and there beneath the grate you see some fingers poking out as well as a rather ashy face that resembles Ferris's.

"Ferris, what are you doing?" you ask in a hush as you run over to the fireplace.

"I'm with the coven. Our ritual is dependent upon proximity so we dug a tunnel from the tavern cellar to this ash pit so we could sneak in."

"There's a vamp with me, he could be back any moment..."

"Yes, I heard him, but that doesn't mean we still can't pull this off. We can do this if you help us."

You give Ferris a hard look as he cranes his neck at an uncomfortable angle in order to show you how serious he is from beneath the dusty iron grate.

"What..." you begin, but he doesn't allow you more than that word. As far as he can tell, you've given him an opening to continue and that opportunity sparks a light in his eager eyes.

"We just need you to coax the vamp away. When he returns, do whatever you need to, just get him out. We can handle ourselves from there."

"But..." You want to help Ferris, in the sense that he's your friend, but to help him would potentially result in the massacre of the vamps. Including Ell. "But, then you'll kill him."

"Look," says Ferris, his voice getting more frantic with each passing second, "even though you decided to come tonight, you haven't ratted us out, which you could have done. You haven't judged me for my opinions and I won't judge yours. The ritual takes time. Convince your vamp to leave as soon as possible and he'll be safe."

You look at Ferris for awhile, your brain turning over the possibilities. You could help Ferris and lead Ell out of the room once he returns, but you're also concerned that Ferris doesn't appreciate how poor his chances are. You could tell him to leave with the promise you'll go with him or you could enforce the matter by alerting the vamps, making Ferris run whether he wants to or not.

- Lead Ell away: ch 64

- Leave with Ferris: ch 65

- Scare Ferris Off: ch 66