Page 23 of Rite of Blood and Secrets
"Personal experience?" My curiosity is piqued and even if I know I shouldn't ask when he's drunk enough to tell me things he probably shouldn't, I still do.
"No." The word sounds like there's more to the story, but I don't push him on it.
Which is probably for the best. I don't know who he is and if this conversation gets back to Lord Fallmartin, I don't know what he'll do. I look over my shoulder at the front doors of the castle, wondering what's going on inside even if I don't really want to know.
"It's likely safe to venture back in," the man says. "The feasts never last long. Those who can't stomach it often briefly escape, whereas those who embrace it let themselves be bathed in blood in mere moments."
"There are others who don't like it?"
"Of course."
"But you don't talk to them?" I ask.
"Maybe I do."
"You came out here expecting to be alone and were frustrated when you weren't, I'd guess that you're not used to talking to anyone else who doesn't like what's going on in the castle."
"Mmm. Well no, I don't."
"Why not?"
"Because you should be careful who you trust around here," he says simply.
"Even you?"
"Especially me. I am bound by my position just like you are bound to yours. We are pawns for our fathers to do with what they wish, never forget that."
"I don't want to be a pawn."
"You don't have a choice in the matter," he responds. "None of us do." He gets up and starts heading back to the castle before I can respond.
I stare after him, only realising now he's leaving that I never actually learned his name. Nor he mine, which is something I can be grateful for. If he doesn't know who I am, then word of our conversation can't make its way back to Lord Fallmartin, and I can't get in any trouble for it.
I curse my own recklessness. I should have kept my mouth shut and left when I had the chance. Next time, I'm going to be better at doing just that, and try to avoid putting myself in any more danger than I already am.
Chapter 12
The elegant ballroom full of people dressed in finery and lavish tables laden with food is all but gone by the time I step back inside. Everything is still there, but it looks different, dim compared to before, and not at all like a place out of a fantasy.
The tables of food are half depleted, which is to be expected when hundreds of people have been feeding off them for the past few hours. Empty goblets, either wine or blood, are strewn amongst the half-finished plates of food. The musicians no longer play the same kind of music they were when I was dancing with Marcus, their tunes feel more sinister now, more threatening. Though there's every chance that's just because of what I've seen. The songs might be the same, it's just the atmosphere that's changed.
And the people. A woman in a pale pink gown licks her fingers, blood smeared down her chin and staining her gown in several places. The same can be said of several other vampires, whereas others seem to have fared much better. Without having been here, my only guess for the difference is that the messier set are younger, perhaps newly turned dhampirs like me.
The servants are congregated in one area of the hall, and it takes me a moment to realise that's where the townspeople are.
Were.
From the lack of activity from them, I have to assume that they're dead. Their lives snatched away from them without a second's hesitation.
I almost step in a pool of blood, pulling back at the last minute and saving my dress from ruin. Or maybe not. I'm sure the residents at the castle have figured out a good way to get blood out of fabric. I just need to find out what it is, just in case.
"Ah, Beatrice, there you are," Bastian says.
I look up to find my brother striding towards me. There's a red streak on his white shirt, only reminding me of what I've seen.
"Bastian." My voice cracks as I say his name. I don't know how to act around him right now. All thought and reason feels as if it's flown from my mind to be replaced by repulsion.
"Lord Fallmartin, no, Father, says that we're to return to our apartments now."