Chapter Three :: An Unexpected Dance.

Chapter Three : An Unexpected Dance

The ball room was a sight to behold. Maroon and gold tapestries danced down the wall, swaying in some invisible breeze. The room was warm and smelled of wine and laughter. I stepped forward and was immediately pulled into a throng of bodies. Marguerite's hand reached back and gripped mine.

“It's alright, I've got you, you'll learn to love this, but it does take some getting used to!” We spun off into the room, Marguerite laughing with glee. I was overwhelmed by the swishing of fine fabrics and the wafting scents of exotic oils. I gazed in awe at the fine lords and ladies before me. So many skin tones, so many shades of fabric.

My eyes were caught up by a tall beautiful, dark skinned woman wearing crimson robes tied with a wide silver sash. Her eyelashes were tinged with silver and diamond droplets shown in her hair. She wore silver sandals on her feet and silver, diamond studded anklets. She turned and caught my glance, laughing lightly before dancing off with an equally tall pale-skinned partner.

“That's Lady Anu, she's one of Serene's most prized friends and is charged with many elemental duties. Ah, but you haven't reached that point of your training yet, so I'll try not to confuse you. She is by far one of the sweetest ladies that you'll meet in your time here. That over there is the man we affectionately call 'Lord Mayhem' the name has stuck, and I doubt that many but Serene recall what his real name is. He's always the life of the party, but more often than not he's also a cause of upset. Still, I think he amuses Serene, and thus is still allowed on the grounds” I looked over at a short, plump man. His hair was dark and slicked back, at least what I could see of it beneath a ridiculously large purple top hat perched jauntily atop his head. He was wearing a purple tunic over a pair of black breeches and he had bangles of all varieties around his wrists, his eyes were darkly smudged and he had large dots of rouge on his cheeks.

“Why, he's just like a court jester!” I laughed softly.

“Perhaps in another life, indeed!” Marguerite grabbed my arms and spun me away. We stopped in front of a large dais and looking up I saw Serene in all of her finery. She was wearing a deep purple gown, run through with silver and diamonds. The bodice was tight, accenting her slender form and the skirt blossomed about her like a flower greeting the morning. Her hair was piled atop her head in what I could only assume was the latest fashion and festooned with purple morning glories, kept open by some magical means. At her neck was a simple silver band with odd runes inscribed upon it. She held out her hand to me.

“I do hope you're enjoying yourself Aerveta, I know this is ever so much to take in so quickly. I wanted you to see that we are not cold-blooded killers, we are good hearted people. In time you will learn our true purpose, and how we help the humans, and then perhaps you will not only accept, but embrace this new shape. Now, this is far too much serious talk, go out and mingle, enjoy, drink the wine.” She lifted her own glass to her lips and winked at me as Marguerite ushered me away. She led me to a table filled with glasses of dark red wine and some sort of gold liquid that I was nervous to try. I had not forgotten my water and bread experience from a few days past.

“I'll be right back!” Marguerite giggled and was swept away, into the arms of a tall silver haired man who clasped his hands about her waist and twirled her through the air. I parked myself next to the table and grabbed a glass, musing over the swirling liquid. Surely, if I looked entranced in my drink no one would bother me...

“Well hello there, little girl,” The voice was low and warm against my ear as my hair shifted, “you look lost.” I spun around, narrowly avoiding spilling the burgundy wine down my dress. I didn't care for the wine, but I held it close and drank it frantically, hoping for a retreat from reality. I didn't know if alcohol worked on our minds like it did on normal people, but I hoped. I eyed the man standing behind me warily.

He was a half a foot taller than me, light of complexion with dark hair the curled and few inches below his ears. He smiled at me, knowingly and I felt the first pangs of light headed laughter that come with alcohol.

“Yes, it does work on us as well, a rather unfortunate downfall for many of our kind. You can't live being a drunk, Aerveta, and living is where all of the excitement is!” He laughed and as my body swayed he swept me up in his arms. We swirled across the room and his eyes fixed on mine. I could feel him prodding about in my brain, what answers was he looking for? Soon, the colors in the room began to sway and melt together, I fell into the dance and it took over my soul.

Then, I suddenly was aware that I was hovering 15 feet above the dance floor, still clasped in the arms of this dark haired stranger. Gravity pulled on my body but he held me closer and kept me suspended in mid air, my heart thudding with panic.

“Shhh, little one, you're fine, just let yourself get lost in the music. Oh, I don't believe I've mentioned my name, I'm Cerunnos,” He let go of me for a moment and as my mind spun he did an elaborate bow in mid air, “And the pleasure is all mine.” He lifted me up again and we were twirling and spinning to music that I could only hear in my head.
Hours later, or perhaps it was mere minutes, as I allowed Cerunnos to carry my weight through the gilded hall and occasionally out to the gardens and amongst the stars, I noticed a change happening. The light in the hall was steadily becoming more purple, I felt as though I were descending into a cave of pure amethyst as the candles lost their golden-orange color.
“

Now, Aerveta, this is where the fun begins.” The instrumentalists below packed up their things and a deep throbbing tone vibrated throughout the room. I looked around for the source.

“Ah now, no questions, just feel.” His hands slid down my back to my waist and he proceeded to lift me slowly. I noticed that other couples were beginning odd dances, some animal and ritualistic, some smooth and touching. The music continued, slow and rhythmic, many deep notes, with a river of higher, bird like notes flowing around them. I let my body go as Cerunnos ran his hands over it, manipulating me into each move of the dance. The candles changed to blue and green then back to purple. Sashes were falling through the air and I registered a brief surprise to see that some couples were disrobing. The lady named Anu was wrapped in her partner's arms, chocolaty skin catching the light. I felt my sash give way.
I looked to my right and saw Marguerite dancing through the air like a forest sprite, naked as the day she was born and giggling as her partner chased her. A fear registered in my heart, I didn't want all of these people to see me in my entirety, to see my flaws. I tried to pull away from Cerunnos' intoxicating dance.

“Don't worry, little girl, moon clad is not on our agenda for this evening. However, all of these layers of fabric are going to disrupt your natural energy flow. So down to your under things it is. With a final twist of his wrist my dress fell away. I looked over at him and only then did I realize that the whole evening he'd been wearing deer-skin breeches and a simple white tunic. He was the only man at the ball who wasn't adorned in jewels and make up. No bright colors, no baubles of any kind. He smiled at me.

“I have my own way of doing things.” He gripped my hand and slowly we began floating down to where a circle was forming 5 feet off the floor. He positioned us next to Marguerite and she gripped my free hand in hers. Leaning over me she whispered to Cerunnos.

“Ah, so you have found her suiting. The great master takes an apprentice. It's about time, we could use more of your type around here.” Cerunnos smiled and put a finger to his lips.

“Not now, Marguerite, don't overwhelm her. But yes, I think that she is the one.” With that he grasped the hand of the young woman on his other side and a deep silence fell about the room. Looking across the circle I saw that Serene was standing directly across from Cerunnos. Lady Anu was across from a pale skinned man whose hair was so blond it was nearly white. Most of the people in the circle were dressed in nothing but their jewels, but there were a few like Cerunnos and I that had remained in simple clothing, underthings, tunics, breeches. I assumed that these were things that wouldn't 'interrupt the flow of energy.'

Serene opened her mouth and started chanting in a language that was unknown to me. After a few moments, Cerunnos joined her, harmoniously melding his own chant with hers. Then, lady Anu began and finally the pale man. These four continued for many minutes and I noticed a pulsating light rising from the middle of the circle. Marguerite squeezed my hand and soon everyone in the circle was chanting along. I didn't know the words, but I hummed the tune. I felt that I had to be part of whatever was happening. The aura in the center of the circle began to take on form. First it was a swan, swimming in circles, keening for its love. Then it changed to a great cat, pouncing on an unknown target. It circled around through many animals, and I noticed that each animal would face a specific person and that person would bow their head as though in appreciation. Each animal sent out a tendril of color to their chosen person, leaving that person glowing. At Marguerite, the light turned into a small humming bird, buzzing about sipping nectar out of flowers we couldn't see. It sent pink light to her and she laughed lovingly before bowing her head. Then, it chose Cerunnos and a great black bear rose from the light. It pulled itself up on its hind legs and let out a great roar before sending a dark thread of light to Cerunnos. He bowed his head. After a time everyone had received a light from their animal except for me. I could feel all eyes upon me, waiting, expecting. Finally, the boiling light in the center of the circle turned toward me, melding and bubbling. Many times it began to take a form but then fell back into a pool of mixed colors. Finally, it gathered itself up and came speeding toward me. I felt Marguerite tense in shock as she dropped my hand, just before the full force of the light hit me. Then, all was dark.

(c) Clair Smith.

I have no idea when the next part is coming...