Blood Ritual
The ball was abruptly stopped not long after my dance with the King when the yelling guy interrupted the festivities again, “The Royal Family will now receive fealty from Lady Jesslynne Jorna Kellen by Blood Ritual. Please step forward Lady Kellen!” Jess was standing next to me; I had just told her about Burnett/Blake and asked her not to tell anyone. She was still in shock from the news when the crowd parted to allow her to present herself, but she was standing still staring at me with her mouth slightly ajar. I nudged her arm with my elbow and whispered, “That’s your queue to go swear fealty, lady.” She straightened up and clear her throat before she strode forward and followed the Royal Family, Pretre Jean and another elderly gentleman into the back room. The music resumed and I made my way over to my parents who were talking to various nobles.
I would silently join their group when I arrived, but I was stopped by a young man with light brown hair and yellow eyes. His eyes reminded me of that of a wolf or a cat, I couldn’t make up my mind what it was. He was really tall and muscular, he had to be taller than the King who stood at about six foot four inches by my estimation. This guy had to be close to seven feet tall and he worked out, a lot. He didn’t kneel to me upon meeting me which meant he was either a Duke or a child of one. I pulled my hand out to offer it to him, “I am The Batiste, Alexandra Rose Batiste. Pleased to make your acquaintance.” He took my hand and place a kiss on it and looked at me, “I am The Chalshin, Derek Vaughn Chalshin. The pleasure is mine.” He winked at me, “I was given orders to protect you so I thought it would be best to present myself to you. I would be best if we got to know each other since I will be escorting you pretty much everywhere.” I nodded, “I had been informed that you would be protecting me. You’re a Citadel candidate?” He smiled, “Yes, I will be a second year this upcoming year which is when we start to get orders. I lucked out with my first assignment.” I shook my head, “I have to warn you Derek, that many people are probably not comfortable with my presence in Vellum. Then there are the people who work for the Duke of Mesha.” He winked again, “I wouldn’t worry, I’m probably about the biggest dude in Vellum. I’m not cocky but I have the highest marks in my class. I’m second all-time to Talon Esperanza, I hear you are his niece.” I nodded, “Yes, my mother was his twin sister.”
Just then the yelling guy started his bullshit again, “The Royal Family has received fealty from Lady Jesslynne Jorna Kellen.” The crowd erupted in applaud and cheers for Jess. I whispered to Derek, “That guy is frickin’ obnoxious.” He laughed and whispered back, “Heads up though, you’re next.” My smile quickly disappeared; this was the very source of my nerves for tonight. Everything else was a cake walk in comparison. Again, with the yelling, “The Royal Family will now receive fealty The Batiste Alexandra Rose Batiste of Blackwood Deep by Blood Ritual. Please step forward Your Grace!” I stepped forward to Malinus who was waiting to escort me to the room in the back. I must’ve looked tense because as soon as I put my hand in Malinus’ arm, he whispered, “Don’t be nervous. I know this is all new to you, but the King will take care of you. He would never do anything that would harm you. Please believe in him.” I nodded at the guard at the door opened the room.
The room was dark, save a gold candle in the middle of the room on a table which illuminated the face of Pretre Jean. I thought to myself that this man was present for all my nerve-wracking moments since I learned of Vellum. He pulled a white envelope with a silver seal out of his sleeve. It was the official seal of the Grand Pretre, “I will now read what this ritual will consist of for The Batiste, Her Grace Alexandra Rose Batiste.” He proceeded to open the instructions, “Please step forward The Batiste, I stepped into the light. I had my hands clasped in my front to keep myself from bunching the fabric of my dress from the nervous energy that I was experiencing. He continued, “Please step forward King Lucien Grey Doré.” At that instruction, Lucien stepped into the light and the illumination from the candle made the gold fleck in his eyes more pronounced somehow. Pretre Jean turned and picked up a gold chalice and placed it on the table then presented a small dagger. He instructed, “The Batiste will present her left hand to the King, palm up.” I pulled my left hand and presented it. He placed his own hand underneath mine to hold it. Pretre Jean instructed that the King pick up the dagger and slice my palm. I winced under the instruction, the King took his thumb and stroked my palm to try and calm me down. I looked into his eyes, and they stood there until I felt the sting of the blade piercing my hand. Just then the King’s fangs came out. Pretre spoke again, “Place the blood in the chalice.” The King pulled the chalice up to my hand to collect the blood. He then took the bandage that Pretre had presented him and gently wrapped my hand. It was the King’s turn to present his left hand to me so I could slice his palm. When his blood came out, I felt a small sting in my mouth, and I realized my fangs came out as well. I collected his blood in the chalice as instructed. Pretre Jean then instructed the King to drink once, and he did so. I was instructed to do the same. This sounded like my own mother’s Blood Ritual, if that was the case, I was glad it was over.
My relief would be short lived when Pretre Jean spoke more instructions, “The King will now take another sip of blood in his mouth and exchange it with The Batiste.” I hear someone step forward behind the King and someone restraining that person. It was likely Blake, not liking the turn this ritual took. I would essentially have to give my first kiss to the King through a weird ass Blood Ritual. The King took the sip and stepped towards me and placed his hands on my hips. I leaned forward then closed my eyes and our lips met but it wasn’t all, his tongue beckoned me to part my lips so I could receive the blood he had just taken. I parted them and his tongue pulled into my mouth along with the blood. His lips lingered on me for a little longer after I swallowed the blood. I opened my eyes and saw him staring straight into them very closely. We heard the Pretre speak again, “The Batiste will do the same.” The King still had his hands on my hips as I turned to put the chalice to my lips, and I took a sip of the blood and held it in my mouth. I closed my eyes again and pressed my lips to the King’s but this time I beckoned his lips to part with my tongue. Like he had done with me I exchanged the blood with him.” I opened my eyes again to find the King still staring at me. I pulled my face down and felt a blush creep into my cheeks. It was a first for me, I had never felt a man’s lips on mine, and this was with the King. I don’t imagine the other girls in the kingdom would have been pleased to see this site. He pulled away and took his place at the other side of the table. Pretre Jean spoke again, “The Batiste has proven her loyalty to the Royal Family through Blood Ritual. Kneel Alexandra Rose Batiste.” I did as instructed and felt the Kings hand gently stroke my head, “Blessings to House Batiste. May your house continue to bless our home for many generations. You may go.”
I curtsied, and the door opened for me and again with the friggin’ yelling guy, “The Royal Family has received fealty from The Batiste Alexandra Rose Batiste.” I would be so glad to get away from all this yelling for now. I knew that because I was nobility that I would be constantly annoyed with this ritual of some random dude yelling out shit. The crowd cheered and chanted for me as well as I made my way to Jess who was talking to Derek by the refreshment table. I stood next to her but reached behind her for a cup of punch. She smiled at me, “How was it?” I took a sip of it but oddly I didn’t want the flavor of blood to leave my mouth. I found myself enjoying it, that must’ve been that instinct my father told me about. I spoke, “It was something. I think the Grand Pretre really wanted to mess with me. I will say that.” I looked at her, “How was yours?” She giggled, “Oh mine was to prick my finger and press fingers with the King.” It was very tame compared to mine. She asked, “So what was yours?” The image of kissing the King popped in my head and that stupid blush came back. I looked down, “Oh you know, different from yours.” She excused ourselves from Derek and pulled me outside, “Spill.” I inhaled sharply through my nose and exhaled through my mouth, “I had to exchange blood with the King.” She laughed, “Is that all? That’s not bad.” I shook my head, “Orally. Twice.” Her face took on that shocked look, “You kissed the King?” I nodded, “I didn’t hate it either. He didn’t seem to hate it either.” Just then Derek came outside, “Alexandra, the Prince is looking for you.” I looked at Jess to indicate not a peep to anyone and she nodded. I turned to walk back into the room.
Just then Blake strode up to me, he had a small frown on his face which turned to a smile when he grabbed my hand. He pulled it to reveal the wound from the ritual and he kissed it, “My love, I hated that for you. To have his lips on you was agony. Will you help me forget it by honoring me with a dance?” I nodded to him; I had been curious to know about his disguise when he first appeared to me. He pulled me in the embrace of a waltz, “I am so happy you are finally in Vellum.” I looked up into his face, “Why did you disguise yourself as a servant when you came to me in Terre?” He smiled at me, “Smart woman. As you probably are aware, I was grounded from Terre. One of my servants is a magical item maker so she made me a ring of disguise and a ring of invisibility. I used the invisibility ring to take my locket from my brother’s safe. I am sorry I had to deceive you.” I shook my head, “I think I understand but why do you love me? You hardly know me.” He looked taken aback, “I know you Xan, I have felt what you felt over the years. I felt your torment at the hands of those filthy humans. I felt the sting of betrayal you felt when your father revealed your true self to you. I felt the sadness and empathy that you had for your mother when she revealed the sad story of her brother’s death. I have been with you since the very moment I first laid eyes on you. You have been the center of my world since.” My heart fluttered when he said all of this, I should be scared of his stalker vibe, but I couldn’t help my attraction to him. He was the first man I ever had a crush on, “Why have I never felt your emotions then?” He smiled at me, “You can’t feel what you don’t know existed.” I thought about that and instantly understood, "Will I feel you from now on?” He leaned to kiss my cheek, “I sure hope so. I want you to fall in love with me as I have with you.” With that the dance ended and he kissed me on my lips, “Something to think of me. You will make the loveliest Queen.”
