Kane: Bloodline

The ballroom was grand, crystal chandeliers illuminated the room like very expensive stars. The vast high ceiling curved into a gentle dome painted the darkest shade of black Kane had ever seen. The walls were stained a deep and rich color that hung precariously between gold and amber. But the opulence did little to hide the garish nature of the sycophants and serpents that had overrun this Eden and Morgana was among the biggest and most venomous, followed closely only by her sisters, Elvira and Griselda.

Kane had watched as they, accompanied only by a small group of hare brained women, sauntered across the floor moving from group to group with all the ease expected of well practiced socialites or upon closer inspection very skilled tacticians armed only with glasses of red wine and deceptively charming smiles. They were in their element and now unfortunately so was he. Morgana’s arm looped through his own as she dragged him around the room.

Deceptively polite conversations masked cruel taunts where these women were involved, it was a delicate dance but he would be lying if he said it wasn’t immensely entertaining to watch. Like now for instance, Morgana had somehow managed to provoke a child of Selene to such an extent that they were on the verge of shifting in between what Kane had assumed was only cordial conversation.

“Temper, temper Bertram,” her eyes glittered cruelly as she watched his skin ripple and strain to take on a new form, children of Selene were dangerous and very short tempered, if it weren’t for his aunt anchoring him to the floor he may have felt inclined to take a step back or ten. “There’s no need for all of that,” she waved a hand at him as though he were merely a toddler throwing a tantrum, The ripples turned to tremors.

“Now Morgana, be kind, it’s a full moon you know. They can’t help it really. ” Elvira’s words sounded kind but the smile adorning her face was anything but, she was goading him.

“Even so sister, don’t you agree it’s rather juvenile to come so close to shifting in public.” Griselda stage whispered the hand over her mouth doing nothing to conceal her words even in the crowded room.

If Morgana was the match that lit the flame Elvira was fuel that kept it burning Griselda the roaring wind that led it to places it had no right being and Kane, well he supposed he was the ill equipped firefighter whose job it was to quell the blazing inferno but he’d abandoned that post long ago, it was a lot more fun to let the chips fall where they may rather than fruitlessly try to catch them all. Poor Bertram’s eyes had begun to glow an eerie yellow color before a woman, Kane guessed it was his wife appeared attempting to usher him from the room. Morgana remained unconcerned, actually turning her back on him to converse with the rest of the group her sisters followed suit, the group tried to mimic their nonchalance but Kane couldn’t help but notice the way their eyes darted behind them every few seconds.

“Morgana, what a pretty pendant you’re wearing,” one of his aunts many admirers spoke after a moment had passed.

She clasped the thing tenderly, “Oh this, Kane made it for me.” That was a lie. “He’s such a kind boy he even enchanted it with a protection spell.” she gazed up at him crocodile tears brimming and Kane had to fight the impulse to laugh. Of course it wouldn’t do for Morgana to admit she’d stolen the thing from a very old and very stupid Mage.

They all looked at him expectantly “I don’t think I’ve ever seen that pendent before.” she pinched him hard on the arm and again Kane had to hide a smile. “But then again I’m always gifting you things aren’t I.”

“Yes you are, why don’t you go and play with your friends and let the adults talk.” she released his arm and made a shooing motion, she’d obviously grown tired of using her nephew as a prop not that Kane was complaining. His ransom had been paid and he was finally a free man again, he rushed though his goodbyes and then left hoping to find an empty seat or at the very least Ridley who’d disappeared shortly after they’d arrived. Lilah had other ideas.

“Come dance with me.” she said, grabbing his arm and attempting to pull him impatiently to the dance floor when he didn’t respond immediately. Her lips were painted a tempting cherry red and her hair hung in ringlets that delicately framed her face.

Kane surveyed the room, before answering only half jokingly. “Where’s your bodyguard?” she scoffed, rolling her eyes a smile playing on her lips as she yanked at his arm with more force than before.

“Aiden is not my bodyguard-” Kane raised a brow incredulous “He’s just a very good friend” she said finally giving up trying to forcibly move him, she was practically pouting. Kane felt it then the familiar feeling of someone’s eyes trying to burn holes into him, that was no exaggeration either.

He scratched his neck making sure it was still intact before speaking. “A friend who... you’re marrying.” Lilah cringed and Aiden’s gaze seemed to increase in intensity, Kane resisted the urge to once again make sure that no bodily harm was actually being caused. He had discovered very early on that being on the young fire warlock’s bad side meant nothing but trouble but it seemed the more he tried to behave himself the more trouble he eventually found himself in.

Lilah jutted her chin out defiantly “what does that matter anyway, I’m not asking you to elope, I just want to dance.” she said crossing her arms. Kane turned finally to meet Aiden’s gaze when he smelled singed hair. He stood with a group of people Kane didn’t recognize, he was glaring fiercely the drink in his goblet bubbling slightly. Then he turned back to Lilah and her big brown doe eyes that alluded to an innocence Kane was sure she didn’t possess. He was making the wrong decision, Kane knew that before he took her hand but he was already damned so there was no harm in taking a bite.

The music was slow but heavy, led by the oppressive thump of a drum; it was the kind of the music that was designed to be danced to in the dark and if Kane had been anywhere else he would have embraced the slow restless song but as reckless as Kane was he knew he was already pushing his luck, so they danced, leaving enough room for Jesus and whoever else might want to intervene until someone actually did. It was Aiden of course he wasn’t even slightly subtle about it. He just shoved Kane into a couple dancing nearby twirling Lilah deeper into the crowd before he could react.

He didn’t bother looking for them, he had promised his aunts that he’d be on his best behavior, all five covens had gathered under one roof tonight to celebrate the winter solstice, Creyta and Morgana had spent the entire year organizing the event planning decorating and threatening the younger members of the coven. The winter solstice was the longest night of the year and a time when magic was at its loosest, most malleable and unpredictable form, but only when the moon reached the highest point in the sky.

It made it so that even those who weren’t children of Delilah could shift and change into various beasts, those who weren’t of Illinski could grow wings and fly, or shrink to the size of a thimble, those who weren’t of Selene could cast magics beyond their imaginations, those who weren’t of Delilah could swim to the deepest depths of the ocean with ease and those who weren’t of Faust could if they so wished traverse the bowels of hell without the slightest discomfort. But just because all these things were possible did not mean they should be done or attempted. The magic might have changed but the vessel in which it dwelled was still very much the same, that’s to say it was very dangerous, high risk and very little reward. In addition to being able to use the powers of the other covens on this night alone could visions and premonitions be granted.

Or so he’d been told, Kane had been attending these since he was thirteen and they usually entailed casting a grounding spell and then spending the whole night in the freezing cold woods. Sleeping wasn’t an option; the adults kept watch, waking anyone they caught trying to doze off. In all honesty Kane had never had a vision, or a premonition of any kind but one year he’d managed to sleep for a full two hours without getting caught and that was a basically a record, this year he’d try to double it.

Every year Aiden wandered out of the forest looking more bedraggled than everyone else leaves in his hair mud on his face the works claiming Lilith had granted him visions. Kane had never believed a word of it, it was a power play a way to boost the status of his family, they’d been vying for the position his grandfather occupied in the coven for decades. There were no such things as seers or prophets seeing into the future was tricky business even for the most powerful of mages even a glimpse of it cost a very high price usually, but not tonight.