Of Thorns and Glamour

Follow my Lead

I felt my head clear up but I could tell the potion was still inside me, as I really wanted to do it again with him. But if we kept fucking each other we would miss the ball all together. Caleb looks at me across the way as he pulls back his hair and touches his lips to find lipstick there. "Even though you're glamoured, your beauty cannot be held back by mere majick tricks." Then he does a reverse spell on both of our faces clothes and we are put back together again. "I don't know who your lover is, but he is a skilled apotheker. I felt the effects of the love spell just by the taste of your lips."

I smiled slightly, "Yes, he is very skilled. I hope it did not make us too late for the beginning of the ball." I say apologetically, and he smiles back while shaking his head.

"No, if anything it will be a statement with us coming in late." He lifts one corner of his mouth, almost a smirk but his eyes are kind. "This ball can help solidify stances in the mage's circles so I might have a few boring conversations, but if you are there by my side I think we can gain valuable knowledge. Or not, I'm not all that interested in the political atmosphere, but I know that you wanted to become stronger, which influence over others can be a core strength. I am willing to do whatever it takes." He opens the door and gets out first to allow me to step out with his hand holding mine. Although he did work his majick to make our appearance better, we both smelled of sex. We walked inside with the last remaining attendees and were announced at the doors of our arrival.

The others who attended the ball were already dancing and then there were tables for those eating and drinking. As we walked inside, many of those attending also stared at us with awe. The gleam of their eyes were both jealousy and desire, and I might have made it worst with my own pheromones after taking that love potion. I didn't realize Inchiki had meant everyone would lust over me as well. I calmed my beating heart that wanted to jump out of my chest, and took a deep breath as we went deeper and deeper into the crowd.

We watched those dancing until the song ended, and then Caleb took my hand into the dance floor. "I'm sorry if I'm not very good at your dances, but I should be able to get the hang of it," I explain to him.

"Just follow my lead and," he has my hands hold him with one open at my left, his right, and the other around his neck while his is on my back, "flow with the music." We do, and thankfully my time practicing back when I lived with Nuir came to me naturally. "See, you're a natural." I giggle a little and I see him smile down at me.

We enjoy a few more dances, until a couple of brave souls request to dance with me. Caleb also dances with others, and we occasionally pass by each other as some songs change partners back and forth. Then I am suddenly staring at a dancer with black hair and black eyes with a very familiar face. It was almost annoying as he grinned down a toothy grin in his completely black attire that was well tailored. "Kiev."

"Don't look at me like that princess." He twirls me, "I'm only here on guard duty." I raise an eyebrow, "Well you looked so ravishing I couldn't help myself." He leans in almost too close and sniffs me, "You smell like you've been ravished already." I turn my face away but then he pulls me a bit too hard to not look back at him with a glare. "Don't get too close to mortals, they are quite fragile." Then he transfers me to another dancer and disappears into the crowd. Finally the song ends and I give a curtsy to the gentleman who I danced with. I don't find Caleb immediately and I move to get something to drink. Finding a busser with a plate of tall champagne glasses that sparkle in the light to the point they almost glow. Kiev's words echo in my head, but I try to shake off the anxiety and stare at my glass.

I smelt it at first, "We call it faerie wine." Caleb says next to me, with a glass of his own, "Its stronger than normal wine, and makes one want to dance longer. Balls held by mages always have a special brew of it as its very difficult to make just right without making someone dance until they are dead." I raise an eyebrow, "You would had noticed symptoms already, most here will drink that as if its ambrosia." I decided to take a sip, and it plays on my tongue like a symphony of flavors. It was quite good, and warms my stomach as it sends my nerves down to my feet as if they were on fire. "Don't drink too much unless you want a stomach ache, its not made for over indulgence so they limit the glasses. Regular wine will be continued to be served for the rest of the night." I nod my head in understanding and we talk to some other mages while we stood there drinking.