Frailty: The Darkshine(45)
“If everyone will please enjoy the rest of the evening, the high ranking prince will take time to narrow his choice.”
He looked at the four women who now moved around the ball, talking and laughing with all the other guests. What was the point of postponing the inevitable, why hold off who he was going to choose when the choice was already decided? He sat there, like the proper prince he was supposed to be, and watched his minions below. He would savor the liquor in his hand, finish it before he would announce that he had chosen his future mate.
The car slowed to a crawl as it approached a huge iron gate. Helina shifted in her seat as she looked at the ominous metal. A stone wall stood on either side of the thick gate, the stones towering at least twenty feet in height. Ryce punched in a code on the little console, which caused the gates to silently open. Her eyes grew big as the massive mansion was revealed, the whole structure bright with lights. They drove up a cobblestone driveway, immaculate landscaping all around them, hundreds of tiny lights strung up on the branches.
When they finally reached the mansion, they circled a large fountain in the center of the driveway. Helina stared at the fountain, the beautiful stone woman holding what looked like an apple in her hands. Her face was raised to the heavens with an almost sad expression painting her features. Water swirled around her, little jets puffing the water up so that it skimmed her long legs.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
She glanced at Ryce, a little shocked that one such as him, so frighteningly big and powerful, could appreciate a fine piece of art. Nodding, she turned back to the statue.
“The woman is Persephone, daughter of Demeter. She’s holding a pomegranate—her very downfall.” There was an air of wistfulness in his tone that caught her attention. “It’s a fitting statue, though.”
“How do you mean?” Helina looked between him and the statue.
“Well, she is forced to live in hell, with the devil himself. She looks into the heavens, the surface, where everything she knows is.” He looked at her. “It’s just kind of funny that vampires would have a statue in their front yard so dark and tragic. Wouldn’t you say you are kind of in a hell itself, vampires taking over everything you know, everything you loved?”
She watched him, stunned speechless as he spoke of such… disturbing yet truthful things. “I guess you’re right, although I find the story of Hades and Persephone kind of romantic.” He raised an eyebrow at her and she couldn’t help but smile. “What I mean is, when I hear that story I picture Persephone falling madly in love with Hades. I don’t see it as a nightmare as much as I see it as two people from different places finding love with each other. I want to believe that Persephone grew to love Hades, and she stayed with him because of that love. I think it is too sad a story to say she was forced to stay with him for half the year because she ate six pomegranate seeds.”
They were both silent for several heartbeats. “I like your version a lot better.”
She smiled at him and watched as he got out of the car. He struck her as a sad soul that was trying to be strong. Even though he seemed indestructible, Helina knew deep down he must truly be hurting over his loss. Her door opened and she let him help her out of the car. She and Ryce stood at the entrance of the grand mansion, her mouth hanging open in awe at the incredible dwelling.
“Put the mask on, Helina.”
She did as he asked and watched as he did the same. It felt heavy and odd, a weight that she wasn’t used to. She glanced over at Ryce, who held his arm out for her to take.
“Don’t worry, they will think you’re my pet. No one will question a human being at the ball.”
Nodding, she slipped her arm through his, her heart pounding so hard, her mouth dry with nervousness. Ryce reached up and slammed the knocker against the wood, the noise deafening. Time seemed to slow. She stared at the gargoyle head knocker, its fierce face frightening and realistic. The door opened inward, a small woman with a mop of strawberry blond hair standing on the other side. She wore a long white dress and held a silver tray. She smiled at Ryce, her straight white teeth showcasing two small fangs replacing her canines. She looked at Helina, her smile faltering as her head tilted to the side. Her eyes roamed over her body and Helina instantly felt on edge. The pixy woman inhaled before turning toward Ryce again.
“Welcome, Lord Ryce, and welcome, human pet. Please enter.”
“Thank you, Lucie.”
They stepped inside and followed Lucie into the grand foyer. The servant walked away, her small figure disappearing into the sea of bodies in the next room. “Ryce?” Helina said his name softly, not daring for anyone to overhear her.