ch. 101
Crimson tapestries, woven with scenes of past glories and whispered hunts, draped the vast hall of Castle Evermore. Crystal chandeliers, each a cascading waterfall of firelight, cast an opulent glow on the gathered Vampire nobility. Whispers, curled through the air, thick with anticipation. Tonight, Queen Verona held a grand ceremony, and rumors – juicier than any juicy morsel – swirled around the purpose. A prince. The queen, veiled in an enigma of crimson silk, was said to have an heir.
Vampire lords and ladies mingled in a decadent dance. Velvet gowns, as dark as midnight, shimmered with unseen embroidery. Gaunt figures, their eyes glowing with an ancient hunger, moved with surprising grace. Ambitious parents, both those with sons and daughters, cast pointed glances at their offspring. Conversations, laced with veiled ambition, circled the elusive prince.