One last dance
-Short story-
Copyright 2016 Eva Fairwald
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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The room was quiet and the flickering flames on the windowsill made Kara’s eyes gleam like a demon’s. She looked outside, wondering about her choices, knowing that every mistake was going to come back and haunt her, sooner or later. Torn between the official laws she constantly broke and the ones set by blood and trust, she was dragging him deep into her life of deceit and he didn’t even know. Did she have to write Axel von Steinfeld on her list of missteps? How could his presence be so wrong, when everything they did together was simply too fabulous too give up?
“Can’t we just stay here?” he asked, kissing her neck and wrapping his arms around her.
“You’re the son of the duke, Axel, and he’s hosting this ball for his friends and associates out of Faerie… without actually showing up. This leaves you in charge,” Kara answered.
Axel was still shirtless and his heart and fay lines throbbed against Kara’s back, left naked by the long dress. Skin to skin, the tingle of magic made her shiver and sweat at the same time. He was always there when she needed him and she wasn’t going to bail on him. However, her secrets were like a trashcan full of lies, ready to be dumped and crush their already confusing relationship.
“So? You are my ally,” he whispered to her ear, “I don’t need the others.”
“I’ll always support you, but I cannot be the only one. The war for the throne will begin one day, the help of a dealer might not be enough and…”
“I’ll rise with a crown on my head, love,” he answered making her turn around, “and I’d have you by my side, if only I could.”
“I know, you’ve said that before and I already believed you at the time.”
“And you’ll hear it again because it’s true.”
“Yes. True, inconvenient and impossible.”
“It doesn’t mean I won’t be yours forever.”
Kara stared into his electric blue eyes and the clarity pushed through her armor of false detachment. A romantic involvement with her wasn’t really the ideal exposure for a royal fay such as Axel and, yet, staying away from each other had been more challenging than planned. They knew they could never officially be together, but interrupting the communication wasn’t an option. It didn’t matter how hard they tried, how many times they had promised they weren’t a couple: their hearts always crawled back together, tangling their paths and revealing their weaknesses.
“I thought we’d agreed on never saying again things which are not compatible with our lives,” she answered.
“Like you, ignoring that you love me just as always, if not more?”
“Maybe. Or like you, disregarding the fact you have to be more careful.”
“I’ll be fine, I have guards and magic.”
“My sources tell me that you’re being watched.”
“By you when I sleep?”
He grinned and Kara rolled her eyes. Axel’s number one skill was being a jerk, he had already fooled her once with that attitude, masking how smart he really was.
“I’m not a creep, sweetie, I’m serious.”
“So am I. I think you observe me while I’m asleep, so I can feel your greedy stare, wake up and…”
“Axel!”
“Just say it ain’t so.”
Kara ran her fingers on a fay line, a thick purple vein that carried magic instead of blood. It stretched out from his neck to the right hip, crossing the torso and curling around his navel. The vessel pulsated and glowed under her touch. She felt the waves of desire expanding from his aura and reaching out to her… remaining away from Axel was difficult, especially when he stood half undressed in front of her.
“They’re everywhere, that’s how they can enforce their laws,” she whispered, distracted by his bare chest going up and down.
“Well, they’re not in this room.”
Kara quivered, but not because his hands were wandering down her spine. Part of his future was inevitably attached to her ability to dissimulate and keep her mouth shut. Things weren’t going to change and loyalty wasn’t prone to gray areas. Was she going to pick Axel or what was left of her past?
“They’re out there, waiting for you to make a mistake.”
“The Tidssons can stalk me as much as they want: what happens in Faerie is none of their business,” he answered pressing Kara’s hand on the fay line.
“But the consequences will influence the human dimension and they have their own agenda.”
“And I have mine, love.”
The fay line glimmered and grew livelier under Kara’s fingertips; his magic always reacted to her presence and he wasn’t able to stop it. Axel leaned in and kissed her, hungry and afraid she was going to slip away one day. Kara worried too much and he just wanted her to forget, for a second, who they were and how their lives had become so complicated. He wished to go back to that night, when they had first met and he had no idea of what was going to happen. Back then, Kara was only a girl with exaggerated ambitions and he didn’t know that reaching for the stars and trapping them into her schemes was going to be her specialty. Was he more than just another project to her? Was his personal war going to get her killed?
“Death follows our steps,” she murmured, parting his lips with hers, “but we lead the way. You can count on me to keep my Tidsson cousins off your back.”
“Thank you.”
He kissed her again. Her lips were moist and he had to savor them as much as he could, because the rest of the evening was going to be stressful. He hated to be burdened with his father’s responsibilities and Kara knew how to be a good medicine. His fingers traveled along her thighs and felt something coarse under the silk.
“Are you wearing a dagger at my ball, love?” he asked, locking her gray eyes.
“As I said: death follows our steps. If I turn around to face it, I want to be prepared.”
Axel forced a smile, but she wasn’t wrong. He knew that his father’s idea of having such a gathering was rash and changing his mind had been impossible.
“Tonight is just a harmless social event.”
“Yeah, as harmless as a bunch of conspirers.”
“I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I can take care of myself, I’ve been doing it for a while now.”
“Oh, I know. But saying this stuff makes me sound so manly.”
“Right… now you can go fix your hair again.”
“You, implying that my hair needs fixing is outrageous!” he said glancing at the mirror on his left. “I still look amazing, love, even after last night.”
“You must have a talent for that,” she said walking to the bed and handing him his clothes. “Get dressed, go downstairs and show everybody who’s gonna be the next ruler of the German Realm of Faerie.”
Axel nodded taking her advice. Kara wore a black mask and left him alone. She walked down the stairs covered with blue velvet, letting the jeweled stilettos sink into the fabric like a silver comet in the dead of night. The white dress made her rosy cheeks stand out and her blonde hair was disciplined in a braided updo: she wasn’t going to deceive anybody, Kara Schwert was too well-known to pass unnoticed. The masquerade was just another silly farce to conceal the real purpose of the evening. Nobody was going to be completely disguised, since the point was actually exhibiting how many friends supported the von Steinfelds. Kara shook her head, it was too late to disappear and abandoning Axel wasn’t an option anyway. Her right hand caressed the polished wood of the railing and soon ditched it to stride through the hall.
Many of the guests had already arrived and diligent waiters were offering glasses of blue champagne. Everything had been decorated with blue and white accessories, the official colors of Axel’s family; blue for magic and white for the pureness of their lineage as direct descendants of Freyja. Some of the centerpieces placed between the long buffet tables even mimicked a field filled with stone circles and compositions representing their symbol: the passageways connecting Faerie and the human dimension. The von Steinfelds had been wardens of the gates since the beginning of time and nobody was allowed to forget it. It seemed only fair that the doormen wanted now to guard the entire territory.
Kara took mentally note of every face, walking from one point to another, checking and avoiding every chance to mingle. She already knew most of the people there, but they surely didn’t want to be publicly associated with her. Her dealing services guaranteed the maximum level of discretion and she only worked with the highest standards. However, knowing that the von Steinfelds could rely on her was still reassuring; it meant they were rich enough to afford the best available supplier to fit every mystical demand. Axel was putting her on display to acquire indirectly more prestige in that dimension and she thought she was succeeding in her mission. Somebody winked at her, others cautiously ignored her when she passed by, just to greet her in some shady corner a few minutes later. She tasted the food and tried to keep her drinks alcohol free… a real struggle for her. Kara didn’t trust that crowd of mixed supernatural beings and felt it was like a powder keg ready to explode. A pack of werewolves was represented by his alpha male and three clueless betas, the Crimson Fang Society had sent some envoys as well and the witches had just arrived. Mediums, fays, shape shifters and even bounty hunters chatted quietly in the same room, as if they weren’t going for each other’s throats more often than not. Kara was fairly surprised by the number and the variety of the alleged allies and hoped they were impressed too. She was about to load her plate again, the salmon sushi rolls were addictive, when four deafening trumpets cut any conversation and absorbed everybody’s attention. A crier with a white and blue livery stood on the balcony and announced Axel’s entrance.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your host, Axel von Steinfeld, son of Ragnar von Steinfeld, Duke of the Northern and the Western Jurisdiction, Supervisor of the Southern and the Eastern Jurisdiction, Warden of the Gates, Keeper of the Borders and High Counselor of the King of the German Realm of Faerie.”
Axel appeared at the top of the stairs, enveloped by a cone of blinding light and blue sparkles. He walked gracefully, with long steps of calculated slowness, giving his guests the possibility to bask into his magical radiance, as the theatrical lighting disappeared. He stopped halfway through the stairs, where he knew the crystal chandelier would make his white shirt shine against the navy blue jacket anyway.
“I am grateful for your presence here tonight,” he said, scanning the multitude in search of the only face he truly cared about. “I’m thanking you also on behalf of my father, who appreciates your efforts and signs of friendship.”
Axel paused and they all stared at him holding their breath. His aura radiated waves of reassurance that reached everybody like a sort of subtle warmth. A series of thin golden chains clinked on his jacket as he proceeded on the marble floor, ready to give his attention to every single guest. The assembly closed around him, eager to confirm its appreciation and to get a private talk with him. Only Kara maintained some distance, leaving Axel to his job. Meeting each supporter personally was crucial and she had no doubts he could charm his way through their hearts and resources. Every race had something different to offer, no matter how big or important, diversifying the allegiances was a good tactic. The witches were flattered, since fays usually despised them; the hunters saw new opportunities on the horizon; werewolves yearned for more solutions to keep their transformations in check; vampires craved to see if commercializing fay blood could become a real thing and so on. Nobody had attended the party without expectations and Axel had to mediate every position, granting enough to bind them to his cause and keeping enough power to stay superior.
Axel talked and delighted every creature he could intercept for more than one hour, before deciding he needed a break. Only then, he allowed himself to lurk around the corners and join Kara. She seldom wore white, her nights tended to get bloody while taking care of her business, the SWORGE Club & Lounge. However, he believed that color suited her, it least tried to give back some of the innocence she had lost too soon. Axel approached her and brushed her wrist, the cold pat of the golden bracelet he had given her reminded him of when she had been defenseless and alone. Things had changed and she had ascended… higher than he had imagined.
“At least half of the guests is or has been a client of mine,” she said turning around.
“So much for wearing masks…”
“Your father’s suggestions suck, Axel.”
“Oh, trust me, I know.”
“You’ll repair everything. I have faith in you.”
“Will you dance with me?” he asked her.
“Of course, my Lord,” she answered with a wicked smile.
“You really are a bitch, love.”
“Me? Why?” she asked, as wide eyed as a doll.
“I recall the first time you called me that.”
“And?”
“You still don’t mean it. You never have and never will,” he said with some bitterness.
“Well, I figured that tonight requires some extreme measures. You’ve been a wonderful host and deserve a little more…”
“Respect?”
“I was gonna say encouragement, but let’s stick with respect, if it makes you feel better.”
“Getting the hell out of here would do the trick,” he whispered, dragging her to the dance floor, as the waltz guided their steps.
“Is it so bad?”
“Their demands grow by the minute and I fear my father will disappoint them and turn them all into enemies.”
Kara let her fingers caress his shoulders, they were tense under the jacket and his voice was full of rage. She felt the fay waves crashing against her stomach, now that he wasn’t trying to contain himself anymore.
“It’s too soon to complain. At least let them believe you’re taking their proposals under evaluation. Keep them on the hook,” she said.
“The vampires want to sell our blood. How does that sound?”
“Delusional… they’d better stay out of my market, before I bring some sunshine into their lives.”
“Shit, Kara!” he said tightening his hands on her hips.
“That’s why you have me by your side. Send them to me and I’ll find a middle ground. It’s my job, Axel, just let me do it for you.”
“There’s no way I’ll allow you to sell fay blood.”
“But they don’t have to know. I can have it synthetized in my labs, we can modify it as we please and say that once the blood is out of the body it loses its magical appeal. There are thousands of excuses. We’ll pick one together when the moment comes.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“I’m the only ally you don’t need to impress, you’ve done enough for me when I couldn’t stand on my feet.”
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“You don’t owe me anything, love.”
“It doesn’t matter. We’re partners in crime,” she whispered.
Kara noticed how his grip became lighter and how his fay waves gradually changed intensity. They were both impatient and with a bad temper and, for that reason, one knew exactly how to soothe the other.
“It’s gonna be tough…”
Axel was about to say more, when suddenly all the windows exploded in a high-pitched shriek. The shards of glass hit flesh and stone like infernal arrows, scattering blood and splinters on every surface.
“Stay down!” Axel screamed pushing Kara on the floor.
“Someone is crashing your harmless social event!” she shouted pointing the finger to the right.
Groups of slender shadows flew through the openings landing among the crowd. Their faces were hidden under layers of black cloth that left out only the eyes: luminous and with unearthly colors, nestled in faces painted with black. They hit the guests with red lightning bolts to make them go faster, rather than to kill them.
“Fays,” he muttered like a curse standing up. “Don’t move, act dead.”
Kara nodded, but she longed to do something. All those who weren’t lying or severely wounded tried to run away, without even thinking about helping their host; great allies, she thought. She watched him walk toward the nearest attackers, as his personal guards closed around him with large magic absorbing shields. He was going to play the hero and there was nothing she could do to assist him; she had suggested mixing some of her men between the guests, but he had said no or they might have felt threatened. Now they were clearly outnumbered, a bad position to pick up a fight. His eight soldiers were going to have a hard time defeating the at least twenty intruders storming all over the place.
“Freeze where you are!” he ordered.
The figures turned and a tall one left the side of the hall barking commands with a dry, deep voice.
“Group One and Two, pick up the bodies, they’ll be our perfect messengers. All the others secure the entrance.”
“Who are you? What do you want?” Axel yelled, stepping forward from behind the oval shield; its layer of liquid magic buzzed, ready to capture and store any aggression.
“I am no one and everybody, von Steinfeld,” the enemy answered, standing still a few meters from Axel. “Your family won’t be sitting on the throne anytime soon.”
“Our people need a fresh start.”
“We agree on that. The future calls for a Republic!”
Axel saw the yellow eyes of the opponent turn spirited and veiled: something was out of place and he had to know what.
“Who is spreading this nonsense?”
“Swear that you’ll stay out of this war and no harm will come to you,” the enemy answered ignoring the question.
Axel burst into laughter and gathered his inner energy, he had to be vigilant, he needed