Chapter 12(The Solaris Club)

Soft lips. Yes, she remembered them so well now. Soft, gentle lips brushed against hers. She looked up to find his golden ears staring at her. They held a look she couldn’t make out. She reached out with her hot breath on his. He kissed her and dug his hands into her hair.

‘Eloise....’ She heard him mutter in a throaty voice, leaning down and kissing her neck. She felt his sharp fangs dig into her neck. She didn’t flinch or scream. She just held onto him tightly......

“Eloise... Eloise?” Eloise turned to find both Corianne and Leonard staring at her with worried looks. She looked around and her eyes fell on Wrath. He was gathered at the far end of the hall with the heads of the royal families. As if sensing her gaze, he looked in her direction and their eyes met. He smiled at her and she found herself smiling back.

“I’m sorry, I’m fine. What was it you were saying again?” Eloise asked, turning back to the siblings, with her emerald eyes glinting brightly. She looked unusually pale yet her face held that beautiful smile she always had on.

They were seated at a round table at the Solaris, an elite countryside club where the royals and other elites spent some afternoons. The women usually had lunch, chatted, gossiped, and bragged about their finest jewelry. The men ate, smoked cigars, drank the most expensive wine, and engaged in club games.

Like the other elite families, The Valerian family came here every Thursday to socialize.

“You have not touched your lunch, Eloise. Do you not like it?’ Leonard asked her.

“No. It’s good, thank you Leo” She replied softly. Leonard noticed her rub her neck absentmindedly. She had a blue scarf wrapped around her slender neck. He didn’t need to have an empathic mind to know, what had happened. He could sense it off her. Call it one of the quirks of being a vampire. One could expressly tell when one was claimed.

Wrath had marked Eloise, fed from her. That would explain why she looked pale with that scarf on her neck. To disguise the several fang bites Wrath had given her. Several, because he knew what a voracious feeder his brother was.

He felt a pang of jealousy as he watched her nibble at the piece of cake on her plate. She was indeed the most beautiful person, he’d ever laid eyes on. Wrath didn’t deserve her. She was too good for him. Too good for any of them.

“Eloise” A voice called her. Eloise veered around to find Thorne, next to him were two beautiful ladies dressed in gorgeous gowns. The chestnut-haired woman was in peach and the black haired in green.

“Meet Lady Ming So and Lady Freya Harden” Thorne introduced them.

The two ladies curtsied. Eloise recognized their surnames, So and Harden. They belong to the founding vampire families. Harden remained her of Corentine.

“It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Lady Valerian” Ming told her.

“The pleasure is all mine” Eloise responded politely.

“Greetings, Lord Leonard, Lady Anne” Freya greeted them.

“Ladies,” Leonard said with a nod and Corianne waved.

“Leo” Thorne called Leonard over. “Excuse us, Ladies,” Leonard told them. He walked to Thorne's side and they headed toward a group of men gathered at the far end of the hall.

“Would you like to join us?” Eloise asked the two.

“With pleasure,” Freya said as she took the closest seat to Eloise.

“Lady Anne, you look radiate as always” Ming complimented her as she took a seat next to her.

“Thank you, Ming. I do not see Annalise with you. Where is she?” Corianne asked.

“Who is Annalise?” Eloise asked as she sipped from her glass of wine.

“We are more of a trio, Lise is the third of our little league” Freya explained. She slowly pulled a silver hip flask from her pouch and took a quick sip. Eloise raised her brows in surprise. Was she drinking in broad daylight?

“Freya!” Ming hissed with a glare.

Freya glanced at her flask and then at Eloise. She had on a sheepish as if realizing she was in high company.

“My sincerest apologies, my Lady. I swear I had left this at home” Freya said with a sigh.

“I thought you said you quit drinking, Freya” Corianne teased.

“I did, I did but I decided I will stop tomorrow. Believe it or not, this is the most underrated trick to….” Freya was interrupted by Eloise.

“To clear the mind” Eloise finished with a chuckle. Corentine used to say that all the time, she thought to herself.

She turned to find the three looking at her with surprised expressions.

“A friend of mine used to say that all the time,” She said with a peal of laughter.

“Your friend is a very wise one,” Freya told her with a smile.

“You only say that to justify your habits, Freya” Ming muttered to receive a scowl from her.

“We were talking about Annalise” Freya quickly changed the subject right after she placed her flask in her pouch.

“She has gone down with a fever so she can not make it,” she told them.

“That is troubling. I hope it is not too serious” Corianne said with a worried look.

“It is nothing to worry about. You know, Lise, nothing can get her down” Ming said.

"She was looking forward to meeting you, my Lady. She is a huge admirer of yours” Freya told Eloise.

“Is that so? I am to meet her soon” Eloise said in turn.

“Look it is Arielle” Corianne pointed out directing their attention towards the light-skinned woman, taking her seat next to the grand piano in the middle of the room. Her long curly brown hair rested on her back. She wore a beautiful purple gown, with her light brown eyes scanning the room. She had that beautiful smile playing on her lips as she always did.

Arielle Belle Hall, only daughter of Klaud Hall, the owner of the Solaris countryside club. Head of the only human family that knew about the existence of the supernatural. The Halls for centuries have kept the secret of their existence. They still did, thus receiving special treatment and favors from the Lord and the Imperium.

Arielle Hall was a pianist and a singer professionally. On days when she wasn’t playing at theatres, balls, or special gatherings, she played at the club.

All sounds ceased and all eyes turned toward her when she played the first note. She could sway a crowd that way. She began singing along as she played, spreading smiles around the room.

Arielle ended the song and it was followed by a loud round of applause from her audience. She gave a wave with a beautiful smile.

Eloise watched a group of men approach her afterward, indulging her and pining for her attention.

“She is an entirely different person when she is playing,” Ming said with a sigh.

“She is. Did you know she wrote that song herself?” Freya told them.

“She did. That is beautiful. She is very talented” Eloise asserted, looking in Arielle's direction.

“She is. You can play with her some time since you love playing the piano too” Corianne suggested.

“You play the piano too, my Lady?” Freya asked with a look of interest.

“Yes, a little,” Eloise said.

“My Lady Valerian, Lady Corianne, Ladies, how lovely to see you here” They turned to find Arielle with a bright smile.

“It is a pleasure to finally met you, my Lady Valerian. I am…” Eloise cut her off.

“Lady Arielle Hall, a pleasure to meet you as well. You play very well” She told her.

“Thank you, Lady Valerian” Arielle retorted.

“Just the person we were hoping to see. Did you know Lady Valerian played too? You two should practice together sometime” Freya suggested.

“Is that so? I will be honored to practice with you, my Lady” Arielle told her with an earnest look.

“I…I will love that too, Lady Arielle. Please have a seat” Eloise gestured towards the chair on her closest right.

Arielle's eyes searched the hall as she took her seat.

“Looking for someone?” Ming asked in a teasing tone.

“Hmmm, no…no one” Arielle stuttered nervously, with her eyes still scanning the room for a familiar tawny blonde head with glasses.

“Well you seem very curious to find this person,” Eloise said.

Arielle suddenly blushed to Eloise's surprise and the others including Corianne laughed.

“There he is,” Freya said nodding in Leonard's direction.

“Leo?” Eloise turned back to Arielle with a surprised look.

Leonard and Thorne stood amidst a group of gentlemen across the room. As if feeling her gaze, he turned back and their eyes met. Arielle gave him a smile but Leonard looked away, ignoring her.

The ladies noticed Leonard's reaction. How could Leonard be this rude to her? Eloise thought. He could’ve at least returned the smile. But I was nothing new, he wasn’t the most sociable type.

“Believe it or not he did not want to miss the chance to see you,” Corianne told Arielle.

“I find that hard to believe” Arielle replied.

Eloise wondered what was going on between the two. Leonard didn’t seem to be one who was interested in any woman who didn’t share his ideals. But he was very eager to get here this morning, back then she mistook his eagerness for punctuality. It was something different then, she thought.

“Ladies, you do not mind me stealing the Lady for a second do you” Wrath's voice disrupted her thoughts. She turned to find him standing next to her.

“Lord Valerian” Freya, Ming, and Arielle all bowed their heads quickly.

“Ladies, I hope you are doing well,” he asked with a charming smile.

“Very well, my Lord” The three responded in chorus.

“My Lady” Wrath called her extending a hand to Eloise. Eloise took his hand and rose up from her seat.

“We are leaving?” Eloise asked with a look of disappointment.

“No, not yet. Come with me. You three ladies, do well to keep my Annie company” Wrath said to the three.

“She is in good hands” Freya assured him.

As Wrath and Eloise walked down the hall hand in hand, all eyes turned toward them. People smiled and nodded when they walked by. Wrath ignored them and Eloise returned the smiles.

A grey haired man dressed in a fancy blue suit with a golden monocle on his right eye approached them, once they'd stepped out of the hall. With him was a brown-haired man dressed in a dark suit.

“My Lord Valerian, Lady Valerian, what an honor it is to finally grace this occasion with your presence,” Lord Edington said with a bow.

“Lord Edington, it is a pleasure as well” Wrath responded.

“Lady Valerian, allow me to introduce Lord George Edington, Governor of Tussle town. He is a huge admirer of yours” Wrath introduced.

“Is that so” Eloise turned to the man with a smile, offering him her knuckle. He kissed it eagerly.

“It is an absolute honor, my Lady. I have been trying to get you to attend one of my auctions for some time now. My invitations always hit a dead end, so you can imagine my delight right now” Lord Edington said.

“I am glad I could finally come then” Eloise replied.

“Yes, Yes. I am glad as well. Please allow me to introduce my son, Egan Edington” Lord Edington introduced the young man next to him.

“A pleasure to meet you, Lady Valerian,” Egan said with a bow before he kissed Eloise's knuckles.

“Lord Valerian” Egan bowed in greeting. Wrath nodded passively.

“A pleasure to meet you too, Sir Edington” Eloise responded.

“But I must say.... your beauty does precede you, my lady” Wrath cleared his throat abruptly interrupting him.

“What we came here for, Lord Edington?” He said in a bored tone.

“Ah yes, my apologies my Lord” Lord Edington said quickly.

“Please follow me,” Lord Edington told them. They followed him down the hallway towards a small doorway guarded by two guards. The guards bowed in greetings, opening the door to a lit stairway that led underground.

They walked down to the end of the stairway, where the music from the ballroom couldn’t be heard anymore. There was another guard stationed at the door at the end of the stair wheel.

“My Lord and Lady” He bowed opening the doors for the four.

Eloise stepped in from behind Wrath to an enclosed chamber with ample light. Arranged in a circular pattern were chairs surrounding a small stage at the center of the room. Around stood a few number of elites, having quiet conversations in small groups.

Wrath gently took Eloise’s hand in his.

“What is this?” She whispered to him. A few heads turned towards them instantly.

“Follow my lead” He whispered in her ear. All heads bowed as they walked to the first row seats, slowly taking the first two seats in the middle, closest to the stage.

All the others settled in once the Lord and his Lady were settled.

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Welcome once again to the annual Velvet auction. A special welcome to the Lord and the Lady, it is an honor to have you here” Lord Edington addressed the two, standing at the stage now as he spoke.

“Let us begin with our first item of the evening. The Dark Chamaleté” a veiled portrait was carried to the stage. The black velvet was removed to reveal a black and red abstract painting.

A series of whispers burst through the room. So this was an elite art auction, Eloise thought.

“Bidding starts with 500 gold coins” Lord Edington began.

“500” a man from the back row called out.

“I get a 500, can someone give me a 550”

“550” another responded.

“600”

“I get a 600. 600 going once, going twice….and sold to Lord Burrow. Moving on to the next item”

“So what did you come to get” Eloise whispered to Wrath, who turned to her with a smile.

“You will see be patient” he whispered back.

Four more rare exquisite art pieces were auctioned off in a matter of minutes. Eloise was an art enthusiast herself but these people were no joke.

“Moving on to the last and the most sorted-after piece of the evening. One of the first paintings of The Falto, himself. Five hundred years old and believed lost. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Dark Phoenix” the room went dead still as the red veil was removed to reveal a black canvas with a flamed bird. A Phoenix.

Eloise gasped softly staring at the moving flame bird. It was an animated painting enchanted with magic. The bird flapped its flamed wings, flying back and forth across the canvas. Slowly settling in the middle and bursting to ashes.

In a matter of seconds, it generated a more beautiful and brighter version of its old self.

This was her life narrated on a canvas, Eloise thought.

Come to think of it, she'd never woken up in ash since she found herself in this era. It was probably one of the changes in her powers. But this piece of art right here was beautiful. The Falto was a genius.

“Beautiful, is it not? Ladies and Gentlemen, The Dark Phoenix, bidding starts at 2000 gold coins” Lord Edington started.

“3000 gold coins,” Wrath said with his voice booming through the room loud and clear. The room went still, no one dared to make a counter bid.

“3000 going once, going….”

“4000 gold coins” All heads turned in the direction of the feminine voice. It was a beautiful brunette with red lips in a matching dress with a sly look.

“4000 for the….”

“20,000” Wrath continued and the crowd gasped. Eloise turned to Wrath, who had on a blank expression.

He was willing to waste that much on a piece of art, it must mean a lot to him.

“20,000 going once. Going twice….sold! To Lord Valerian” The small crowd applauded.

“Ladies and gentlemen this brings us to the end of the Velvet auction” Lord Edington announced.

The crowd broke into groups again, conversing, with drinks being served in between.

“Let me introduce you to the royal family,” Wrath told her. With her hand around his arm, they walked towards a group of men dressed in elegant suits.

“My Lords” Wrath greeted.

“Lord Imperio, Lady Valerian congratulations,” The grey-haired man to Wrath's immediate right said.

“Thank you, Lord Lenoire. My Lady, meet Lord Lenoire, Lord Vladimir, Lord So, Lord Harden” Wrath introduced.

“My Lords” Eloise greeted with a smile. She recognized their names. Lord So and Harden, the Chamberlains, and the Valerians made up the founding vampire families. Lord Lenoire was the alpha of the Luna pack and the Alpha wolf pack, the Shadow pack. Lord Vladimir was his second in command, the alpha of the Dawn pack. Under them were four other alphas all belonging to four different parks. The Poldern pack, the Darkwater park, the Claw Pack, and the Rain Pack.

“A pleasure to finally meet you, Lady Valerian,” Lord So said.

“The pleasure is all mine, my Lord” She responded.

“My Lord, can we have a moment…if you do not mind my lady?” Lord Vladimir said. He had on a hostile look as he spoke. He didn’t seem to like her much, she thought.

“Not at all” Eloise replied.

“Do not go anywhere” Wrath said to her with a small smile. She gave him a smile and nudged his arm slightly.

Once he was gone, Eloise noticed the looks people around gave her. She stood alone in the middle of the room by herself. A witch in the midst of different creatures. She stuck out like a sore thumb, maybe Wrath leaving wasn’t the best idea, she thought to herself. She spotted Wrath across the room with the Lords. He had on a severe look and seemed engrossed in the conversation. As if feeling her gaze, he turned in her direction and his expression suddenly changed to a warm one. His brows furrowed into a frown when he noticed she was alone.

“A drink, my Lady?” a black-haired man with brown eyes dressed in a black suit took her attention. She almost sighed too loudly. For a second there, she thought she'd die from sticking out.

“No, thank you” Eloise replied.

“They don’t seem to like me much” She muttered noticing people staring and whispering.

“Not at all. They are just scared of the Lord” another man dressed in a similar suit with similar features as the man on her right said.

Eloise looked from one face to another. They were twins, she thought.

“Pardon our insolence, Lady Valerian. I am Henry Lenoire and this is my twin brother, Harry Lenoire” Eloise offered them her knuckles and they kissed them.

“A pleasure. Lenoire, you are Lord Lenoire's…” Eloise paused.

“The sons of Lord Lenoire, yes that we are” Harry replied with a shrug.

“I see. So you're basically wolf royalty” she said with a smile.

The twins chuckled. “You can say that. Your first time being at such an occasion?” Henry asked.

“Obvious that much?” she asked with a sigh. The twins nodded.

“Harry and I on the other hand have been coming here since we were…..”

Wrath glanced in Eloise's direction. She was with the Lenoire twins. She laughed heartily at something Henry Lenoire said. He felt a pang of jealousy as he watched them.

“Another week and the reforms will be ready….” Lord So said.

“Let us leave that for another day, yes, Lord So?’ Wrath interrupted him, with his eyes on Eloise. He noticed her excuse herself from the twins.

“If you will excuse me then,” He told the Lords. He parted from them and headed towards the twins.

Eloise headed out of the underground chamber and up the stairs to the hallway. She found Lucy in the hallway, chatting with two women.

“Lucy?” Eloise called her from afar.

“Excuse me,” Lucy told the two women before she paced towards Eloise.

“What are you doing here?” Eloise asked her once she was close.

“The Lord told me to ride after you. Where are you going?” Lucy asked with a raised brow.

“To find the Ladies. Do you know where that is?” she asked her.

“Over here, my Lady” Lucy waved her over towards a door labeled ‘Ladies' minutes later.

Three minutes later Eloise stepped out of the washroom with a sigh.

“Lucy, aren’t you done already?” Eloise asked from outside.

“Do not move an inch, my Lady. It is not my fault lunch did not sit well with me” she said from inside.

Eloise chuckled “Take your sweet time then…” she trailed off slowly.

The door across to the Ladies creaked open with a tall blond stepping out. His glittering light blue eyes met with Eloise's emerald ones.

“What are the odds, Lady Valerian,” Cole said as he slowly closed the door to the gents behind him.

He was dressed in an elegant grey three-piece suit, with a dark grey coat. He had on a calm expression and a soft smile. The devil in sheep's clothing, she thought.

Eloise glanced around the hallway to find it empty and quiet. She quickly turned away from him forgetting about Lucy. Her heart thudded so wild in her chest. She had to be anywhere but here.

“Eloise” she walked to a stop at the mention of her name. His gentle calm tone remembered her of a time when it was the only thing she longed for. She missed those days. She cursed herself internally, for thinking about it.

“Not even a hello, Eloise” He stepped in behind her, whispering in her ear.

Eloise clutched her hand to her chest. What was this she felt? Fear, definitely. That and a tickling feeling down her spine as his lips grazed her earlobe.

“There’s nothing to say, excuse me” Eloise quickened her pace towards the door. Her eyes were glued towards the knob at the end of the hallway. She grabbed the sides of her gown wishing more than ever she could disappear from here. Either that or stop feeling his boring gaze at her back. She suddenly felt strong arms grab her waist turning her around.

“Cole….” She gasped as he grabbed her close to him, their lips inches away from each other. Eloise's stood bewildered with her eyes wide.

“El, you do not have to run away from me” he whispered, his lips inches away from hers. His hand caressed her face with his thumb grazing her lips.

Eloise froze, He knew, she thought.

This wasn’t supposed to be happening, she was supposed to be at the end of the hall and far away from him right now. She had to get away now, she thought.

But her body was frigid refusing to move, refusing to do the right thing. Instead, she stood there staring into his eyes, and into his tempting lips.

Cole slowly caressed her neck, drawing her closer with their lips lingering on each other. She wasn’t fighting him off, that was a good sign, he thought.

Their lips slowly collided, and Eloise's tense body eased up in his arms. His lips were the same. Felt the same. This was so wrong, Eloise's mind screamed at her.

“My Lady Eloise….” Eloise abruptly pushed away from him, her eyes wide gasping for air. She turned to find Lucy gazing at them stunned.

Cole reached out to touch her but she stepped away.

“Don't…. Stay away from me!” Eloise snapped while she stepped away from him and headed for the doors.

Lucy strode quickly after her Lady, scowling at Cole when she passed by him.

Cole sighed heavily as he ran his hands through his silky. She was indeed a changed person, he thought to himself. But she remembered him and she still had feelings for him. He could tell from their kiss.

Cole glanced over his shoulder to the black cat that stood quietly in the corner watching him intently. It had been there for some time now watching everything that went on.

He never let anything pass him, did he? He thought to himself right before he walked to the door. Once he was out, he headed for the underground auction chamber once again.