Chapter 7: The "A Tower"

"The A Tower" towered significantly over some of Ghazin's tallest structures. It had 88 floors, and the top floor was lined with a wall of thick black glass, where the round, revolving ballroom was located. It was decorated with expensive artificial flowers and garden ornaments. And the tables were all at the sides. And the dance floor was wide enough to accommodate eighty pairs of dancers.
Beautiful usherettes in black gowns greeted the visitors with a charming grin and would guide each couple or group to their allotted tables. Each table had a name that was symbolized by a different flower.
There's a rose table, cyclamen, carnations, tulips, narcissus, and more.
A lovely blonde usherette took Rakiza's group to the white lotus table mentioned in the scarlet invitation card Rakiza received. The centerpiece of the table was an artificial white lotus flower that appeared to be real in our eyes.
"I haven't seen any unattractive males or girls around," Susan chuckled as they sat on their chairs.
Muriel frowned, adding, "Look at all the guests. They were modestly dressed and moved like elite people. "
"Aside from us, they appear to be all rich," Chin observed.
Muriel noticed Rakiza’s restlessness. "What's the matter, Raki?"
Rakiza scowled, "Look at those individuals; they were all rich, and look at these flowers; they resembled perfectly the real ones."
Chin added. "You can't tell it's fake unless you touch it."
As their gazes wandered, they noticed that the room had transformed into a garden ballroom. Then the room was filled with the sounds of harp music played by a beautiful woman dressed in a black gown.
"Why are they dressed in black?" Rakiza wondered.
"Don’t ask because you're one of them." Chin laughed at her.
After a few minutes, the entrance was disrupted by a group of younger people who immediately attracted everyone's attention. They are all dressed in the ancient medieval black gothic style, complete with capes. They resembled the ancient vampire count from the books and movies. And they took a short step up to the ramp on the other side of the room, where a complete set of musical instruments for a band was located.
Chin reacted, "So, the vamps’ group is the band for the night."
Each member of the group took to their designated instruments and began to change the atmosphere with their revival song.
"How I despised the vampirism costume," Chin grumbled once again.
"Quite Chin, the guitarist is looking at us," Rakiza said, tapping Chin on the shoulder.
"Let's not talk about them; we're here to enjoy ourselves," Muriel replied.
Rakiza agreed with Muriel, "I agree with Muriel. We are here to enjoy, not gossip. " She groaned and then questioned Muriel, "Have you noticed the half-baked model on the ground floor, Muriel?"
"What half-baked model are you talking about, Raki?" Chin inquired.
Rakiza told them about Theo.
"Before Muriel dragged me from behind on our way here, Theo grabbed my hand first." Rakiza added, "He warned me not to come up here."
"What?" Chin asked.
"Why?" Susan frowned.
"I'm not sure why," Rakiza admitted, "he just appeared out of nowhere and grabbed my hand, and his eyes were so intense and demanding, and I could sense the terror through his gaze; his concern was so strong."
"How I wish I could see that half-baked model of yours, Rakiza," Muriel wished.
The music transitioned from a contemporary beat to an antique instrumental melody.
The dishes were served by the ushers on each table a split second later. They are all dressed in a black vest over red shirt and black trousers, and they all have the same hairstyle.
They featured seven-course dinner meals that included hors d'oeuvres, soup, appetizer, salad, main dish, dessert, and apple tartlet. Following that, red wine was served.
Muriel showed Rakiza the bottle of wine. "Rakiza, I guess you really did capture a giant fish with billions of dollars in his bank accounts. And I started to envy you, "Muriel chuckled.

After dinner, the band began to change their music to hard rock. And some of the younger visitors began to jump on the center-wide dance floor with their companions.
Susan laughed as she drew Chin from her chair to join her in the dance, and they blended into the crowd.
Rakiza and Muriel remained at their table.
"Where is he?" Muriel asked, scanning the crowd.
Rakiza inquired, "And who are you looking for, Muriel?"
"I'm looking for your prince, Nikolas," she said with a smile.
Rakiza speculated, "Perhaps he was just inviting us to see how they celebrate."
Muriel wanted to dance with Rakiza with their friends.
But Rakiza complained, "I can't move an inch with these shoes I was wearing, you know. Go on, Muriel. You can join Chin and Susan. "
"I can’t leave you alone here," Muriel smiled.
Rakiza continued remarking on the table's centerpiece. "You know what, this table was linked to the white lotus flower on my bed."
"So, you do believe Nikolas gave you the flower on your bed?" Muriel inquired loudly.
Rakiza said, "I couldn't explain how it happened, but I could feel it."
"Well, that's the importance of seeing Nikolas tonight. You have to ask him if he sent the white lotus flower for you."
A few moments later, the band's music changed to a fanfare and welcoming tone, which caused the dancing individuals to return to their seats and empty the dance floor.
"Perhaps they have another program to present," Chin speculated.
The roaring sound of fanfare continued as the tall and wide ornate wall moved sideways to disclose a hidden entrance from the left side of the dance floor. And two ladies in black marched out, followed by a man dressed in his antique gothic vampire costume, Nikolas Augustus.
And everyone in the room moaned about her grand appearance. His old good looks towered over all the other males in the room as he marched across the dance floor towards the white lotus flower table, Rakiza's table. Rakiza and all the rest were shocked. In his black stand collar blinked a gold cufflink with the initials "A" in gothic letters.
Rakiza's heart skipped a beat as Nikolas Augustus approached her, smiling. And then he offered his hand to her and asked, "Can I have the honor of dancing with you on the floor, Rakiza?"
Every woman in the room was envious of Rakiza. But the room was deafeningly silent and everyone was waiting for Rakiza's reaction.
Rakiza accepted Nikolas' hand and let him lead her to the center of the dance floor. And the soothing, not-well-known music with a lovely ancient melody filled the room as Nikolas expertly swayed Rakiza into the middle.

Muriel said quietly, "Look at them. Everybody froze as they watched Niko and Rakiza dancing. "
"It's weird," Susan whispered.
"This isn't an average party," Muriel replied to Susan and Chin. Chin sat motionless in her seat, as if she were hypnotized by her surroundings.

The music had stopped, and Nikolas halted dancing with Rakiza, but instead of returning her to her seat, he led her to the opposite side of the room, where the wall was covered with a long, hanging curtain, similar to a stage curtain. And, on a small garden stage ramp with two chairs that resembled thrones, Nikolas let Rakiza sit on the right-side throne.
Rakiza appeared like a princess in the chair, dressed in a long black gown and scarlet heels.
Then Nikolas pulled one of the microphones and began his speech.
"For so many years, my ancestors dreamed of something impossible; they dreamed of creating a paradise for their people. And that dream was on its way. And to reveal to you what my ancestors' dream is all about, here it is: " Nikolas turned to the covered wall as the fanfare music accelerated into a defiant tone. Slowly, the red curtain rolled to its side, revealing an LCD wall screen showing a beautiful city garden in the beautiful sunshine.
"This is our future!" Nikolas exclaimed, promising, "And this will happen very soon."
The crowd began to clap gently, and then the band rolled the drums in a quick beat and cracked a metallic song, and everyone turned to gaze at Rakiza, who was sitting on the throne. Then Nikolas returned to her side, raised her hand, and the crowd clapped enthusiastically to the rhythm of the music.
"What's going on, Sir Nikolas?" Rakiza whispered.
Nikolas just smiled at Rakiza.

The clapping continued, and Muriel felt something was about to happen. Chin was also restless. And Susan was not feeling well. And all three girls fell to the floor, unconscious. There's something in their drinks.

Nikolas was looking at them with those worrisome eyes, but he didn't make a move to help.
Rakiza saw two men in black suit walking towards Chin, Susan and Muriel when they heard a screaming crowd at the guest's entrance.
A man's mutilated body slammed onto the floor. And then the crowd began to scream and ran towards the door fearfully.
Rakiza ran towards her unconscious friends, screaming, "Susan! Chin! Muriel! What’s happening? Wake up! "
But a loud wolf howl startled all of them. Rakiza turned her gaze toward the entrance and saw two werewolves slamming and slashing the men in black suits. One of the werewolves was approaching her as she fainted on the floor with her unconscious friends.