Chapter Two

     Cassandra had expected a bright, festive occasion, and hesitated for a moment as she crossed the threshold. The room was dark and cavernous, featuring a dimly lit stage and skeletal rafters ending in shadow somewhere far above. The audience, who appeared to be mostly middle-aged businessmen, spoke quietly amongst themselves, seated in chairs at small round tables bearing tiny candles.
     Fenris politely presented his arm. She took it, and they found a vacant table towards the back, away from the stage.
    “Something is strange here,” Cassandra whispered. “What is all this about? I don’t even see any Chinese merchants here who could be this Lau fellow.”
    “He isn’t here yet, mistress,” Fenris assured her. “although, I’m sure he will be soon. This is the sort of thing he wouldn’t want to miss. Besides, he probably owns this establishment anyway.”
    “How can you know that?” She asked. “Have the two of you met before?”
     Fenris smiled slightly,“In a manner of speaking, yes, we have. Although, he wouldn’t recognize me now...”
     Before Cassandra had a chance to ask any further questions, a man walked onstage and commanded the attention of the room. He was thin and rather young. He wore a snow white suit and had blonde hair and wide, lavender eyes.
    “Oh what a bother,” Fenris growled. “what is he doing here…”
    “You mean to tell me you know him as well!?” Cassandra hissed.
    “Yes, mistress. He-”
    “I, Lord Aleister Chamber, the Viscount of Druitt, am at your service this evening, ladies and gentlemen,” the man in white said with a graceful flourish. “Your every wish is my command, I endeavor only to serve all of you on this most beautiful of nights! Please remember that twenty-five percent of all tonight’s gracious proceeds will go to St. Mary’s Orphanage.”
     Cassandra and Fenris exchanged curious glances.
    “Now,” continued the Viscount a bow, “without any further ado, let us get on with show!”
     Five women walked onstage wearing little more than sparkling diamonds… They were obviously very expensive...
    The first stepped forward. “Be still my heart! Ooh!!” The Viscount exclaimed. “Our first exquisite jewel has come to us all the way from exotic India! Her dark, warm skin is reminiscent of the tempting spices and rich fragrances of that mysterious land. Look into her glittering eyes, and you can almost see the beautiful Bengali tigress staring back at you from beneath the shade of a palm tree under the light of a full moon! Her breathtaking enchantment leads me to far away desert lands! I beg you, my dusky goddess, please lead me to your alabaster temple!!!”
     Cassandra raised an eyebrow. “An escort ring disguised as a charity auction…” she mused. “I think I’m beginning to understand why I’m here.”
    “And I think I see your target approaching.” Fenris replied quietly, standing. “I shall go and bring us some drinks, mistress.” He said, and made himself scarce.
     A Chinese man whom Cassandra assumed to be Lau approached with a woman dressed as a geisha, only in a considerably shorter skirt.
    “Greetings Lady Rowan,” He said. “I am Lau and this is my escort Ran-Mau. I believe I can tell you what you need to know about the Opium gangs… your serpent seduction won’t be necessary. However, Ran-Mau and myself have no plans for the evening, if you seek entertainment..."

Why?

Why did I have to love him for ten years?

The pain shattered her.

Every bone in her frail body cried out for some remedy to which she would never have access.

Why could she not embody that beautiful, irresistible, accursed darkness… that strange, mystical quality that seemed to compel men’s very souls… why couldn’t it be hers?

Why was everyone so enthralled by it?

It wasn’t just that gothic witch who had ensnared the crowd…

 

...The only man I’ve ever truly loved…

What had happened that night? She had nearly finished the barricade separating her heart from the painful memories…

My heart…

I gave my heart to him.

We were happy for so long.

Then one day, I walked into the room, calling his name…

...and there he was, in our bed…

…her hair was black as night, her eyes were blue and cold as ice…

They called her the Serpent…

A fierce anger flooded through her, and for a brief moment, an image of the man from the shadows flickered through her mind.

Samael...

It was a name.

A name whispered on a breeze, spoken across time and space…

 You too, eh?

 And suddenly, she understood.

Yes, me too.

I am not victim to this darkness.

I am immune.

“Yaldaboath Saklas...” Her voice wavered, the shadows gathering around her. “I’m calling you, Samael…”she whispered “ you’re not alone in your darkness…” the wind rushed in through the open window… “you’re not alone, dear…”

Suddenly, a tear fell from her eye, extinguishing the candle resting before her, plunging the room into total darkness...

 “… you’re not alone…"

    “I don’t understand…” Cassandra said later to Fenris when they returned home. She collapsed wearily into a comfortable chair before the fire. He began unlacing her tall boots. “Who in their right mind would call that a ball? Is this supposed to be some kind of joke?” He pulled them off and rubbed her delicate feet for a moment before removing her stockings as well.

    “I’m not entirely certain, mistress.” He said, “I suppose there is a possibility of a mix-up. Perhaps you were not given the correct address. And yet, Lau was precisely where he needed to be…”

    “Yes,” she said, rubbing her forehead, “convenient…”

     Fenris poured a cup of tea and placed it beside her. “Shall I call Clara to help you out of your gown?” he asked.

    “There is something else I wish to ask you.” She replied, standing. “You do it.” She turned her back to him and moved her long black hair over her shoulder, presenting the laces and fastenings of her corset.

    “Yes, mistress.” He said as he began to untie the ribbons. “What else did you wish to ask me?”

     Cassandra took a deep breath, moaning slightly as the restrictive corset was loosened. “That’s better.” She sighed. “I was wondering… how do you know Lau and Lord Truitt? It seems you have something of a history with them…” she shivered. His cold hands brushed her skin as he pulled off her gown.

    “I used to work for the Queen as well.” He said simply.  “I am well familiar with their underworld exploits. They play both sides of the fence, in league with whomever best suits their current agenda, with no true loyalty for anyone.” He pulled the rumpled white linen shift over her head gently and turned to bring a kimono from the ebony armoire.

     Goosebumps spread over her bare flesh and she folded her arms across her breasts as she leaned closer to the fire.

    “I suppose the story must be longer than I have the energy for tonight…” she mused, yawning. He returned and covered her body with the sheer silk. “Come mistress,” he said, placing a hand on her back, “I shall brush your hair."

     Lilith smiled…

     The Queen’s Serpent…

     This was a girl after her own heart.

     She was so dark, so beautiful…

 

     She was sure the girl hadn’t noticed her, all the way across the room, hidden in shadow. It wasn’t like the other night, a far more decadent affair…

     At this event, she didn’t need to feed. It was a smaller, more intimate occasion. She stayed out of the light, hiding behind a black veil, watching the girl’s expressions and actions… They were sly and serene, like her own would have been. It was not a social occasion, which would have required laughter and energy. It was a dark, almost sordid display.

     The shamelessly clad women disgraced their gender, selling their bodies along with the shimmering stones they wore. They did not realize that they could have been noble creatures, regardless of their station, bewitching the hearts and minds of everyone swept into their midst…

    

     Poor souls… they were once-born… simple and unaware.

     Lady Rowan, however, had evolved beyond such an ignorant state of being. How many thousands of years ago had she been in their position? Surely it was but a mere fortnight after Lilith’s own fall from grace… this creature was simply so sublime… she had probably never been like them at all. Their sad, pathetic souls, lined up as livestock at auction, could never arouse such passion, awaken such hunger...

     But this girl's consciousness and perception, her wise and calculating soul, would certainly be nothing short of... delectable.