I conjured a mirror to glance at my formal attire. The black tuxedo clung to my slender steel colored coat. I combed my dark gray mane, displacing matted hair. Erika provided me with feedback by using her beak to puck elongated hairs that refused the combs needles. A few minutes passed and I concluded my departure ready.
"Well Erika," I smiled, "how do I look?" Erika cawed and flapped her wings with delight. I laughed at Erika's compliments, "Oh Erika, you never cease to amaze me with your flattery." I stroked her feathered back, "Be a good girl and watch over the room, I will be back in the early morning." Erika crowed as I dispelled the mirror and headed for the door.
The Magehold halls were barren as Vamponies arrived at the Bloodnight Ball early, to witness their Queens entrance. Necromancers, liches, undead and living slaves refrained from attendance. Many barricaded themselves within the dormitories or library. They are shunned from attendance after the Society of Bones departed Magehold when Rosa's political interest held opposing views.
The faint sound of music and banter approached my ears. The grand doors leading to the Ball were shut and Blood Knights dressed in blood red armor guarded the perimeter. They refused to take notice when I reached the door. Blood Knights are known to be well disciplined. Legend says they can smell friend from foe within a miles reach, and hear four times better than a normal Vampony.
I knocked on the door and was greeted by the doorman who swiftly shut it. "Your Majesty, Queen of the Blood, Queen of Magehold and Queen of Dread! Your esteemed pet has come to your graces!" I held my tongue as the doorman called me 'pet' behind those doors. Noble Vampony filth could be heard snickering. "Pet to her Queen! Enters! Tortured Soul!"
The Blood Knights closest to the doors pushed them open and the gloomy atmosphere became apparent. Light crystals are set into the walls at regular intervals, bathing the room in a soft blue glow. Round tables covered with red cloth and bottles of blood wine atop. Red eyes glared at me, dressed in tuxedo's to dresses, in either red or black. At the farthest side of the room, rested the Queen, Rosa, sitting on her throne.
Rosa, the Queen of Blood, dressed in a black one-piece. Her obsidian tiara cursed with black jewels, adorned upon her head. Her crimson hair, groomed and tied in a bonnet. Her fangs, shined off the blue light.
"Welcome my Pupil!" She shouted with a grin, "Enter and make your homage to me!"
I made my way, towards her throne as all eyes glared at me. Vamponies whispered to one another as I took each step. "Why is this mortal here?" "Pupil? Pupil as a pet?" "I bet the Queen enjoys his blood, perhaps I'll request such tastes." "He must be a useful slave to our Queen."
I ignored each whisper from one vampony to the next, fixating my eyes on my Queen, my mentor. I stopped to kneel and give homage. "My Queen of Blood, Rosa, I Tortured Soul have come to do you homage and wish you a glorious night, here with your subjects present."
"Such praise, tell me Torch," she calls me by the nickname she gave me as a colt, "what gifts have you brought for your mentor?"
At the Bloodnight Ball they paid homage to the Queen of Blood and later presented gifts as a show of loyalty. Vampony gifts were gold, magical artifacts, enchanted relics, bloodwine aged for centuries and occasionally slaves. The mentor has known my gifts for the past two years. I as her pupil, will one day present her with the best gift in due time.
"I bring no gifts to the Ball, my Queen." I raised my head to face her gaze, "I myself will be your gift, body and soul."
Rosa grinned with her fangs shown, "Come, kiss my chalice and prove your loyalty." She levitated her chalice in a red aura and brought it close to my snout. Ever so careful to not disturb its golden sparkle, I provided a soft kiss. The cold metal and magic touch my lips. The chalice murmured in tongues not known to any creature. The chalice was known to be held by many Kings and Queens of the dark arts.
The chalice was pulled from my lips, "Such loyalty, to barely smudge the chalice. This show of homage is adjourned!" Rosa shouted to the crowd. Vamponies returned to normal chatter among themselves. I remained silent and lowered my head to Rosa.
I kept my posture for a minute until she spoke, "I sense you have something on your mind my pupil, tell you mentor your desire."
I raised my head, "My Queen, Rosa, please bestow me the honor of standing beside the throne. I am no Vampony; to mingle with nobles is... unsettling."
Rosa waved a dismissive hoof, "Do as you please."
I approached with care and stood off to the left beside her. I watched Vamponies converse with one another throughout the night. Political intrigue was the main dish this night. Vamponies along with their noble descent were finding options on how to better improve their status within the Blood Coven. Backstabbing and Alliances were common and could be formed or broken right here in front of the Queen. Rosa, however, relished such idea's. She enjoyed seeing others stabbed in the back. I to liked it too. The feeling of a broken noble always brought me pleasure.
"Your Majesty!" the doorman shouted throughout the room, all eyes faced the doorman, "Queen of Blood, Queen of Magehold, Queen of Dread! The noble family known as Moonlit-blood has come to pay homage!" The room went quiet, "Now entering, Darkbreaker Moonlit Blood and his adopted daughter Silvertongue Moonlit Blood."
The doors opened and with it came the two Vamponies. Darkbreaker Moonlit Blood, a fearsome Vampony Unicorn who deems himself a co-founder of the Coven of Blood. His daughter, Silvertongue Moonlit Blood, is an adopted bat of all things! A bat from one of the forgotten tribes of Equestria. She surrendered her life to the dark arts after Nightmare Moon's rehabilitation or so they say.
Both of them wore no formal attire, Darkbreaker's coat was a fine maroon and his short mane and tail a jet black. His slit yellow eyes stared down any Vampony who dared challenge his co-founding heritage. As for his daughter, her coat was a rugged silver and long mane and tail a lighter tint. Silvertongue's eyes had a rarity, they were blue. Her eyes glistened and is adored by many Vamponies at the ball.
The two approached the Queen and knelt. "Queen of Blood, I and my daughter have come to pay homage." Darkbreaker raised his head, "I am sure you are in good health?"
Rosa nodded, "I presume you have a reason for being so... formal," a few in the crowd muffled a giggle.
"That I do my Queen of Blood," he turned towards his daughter then to me, with a devilish grin. "I request my daughter to replace that pet of yours." He gave a hearty laugh that echoed throughout the room.
I withheld my tongue as I wanted to deny such a request. A Thestral's magic is null and a Vampony of unicorn status knows better. My Queen would never accept a Thestral as one of her own Pupils. A unicorn is what she prefers.
"What do you have in mind, Moonlit Blood?" She questioned. I turned in shock to Rosa as she was considering this request!? She cannot have gone made. I have been her Pupil for moons, an adult Thestral with no training from the Queen herself is of no match for me.
Darkbreaker rose and approached closer. "A duel! A duel to the death! Vamponies can drink the blood from your pet or my daughter's. Oh Queen of Dread, let me show you the experience that my daughter possesses, you will not be disappointed." He turned towards the audience of Vamponies in the room, "I am sure all of you are bored, a Bloodnight Ball needs one duel to provide exquisite entertainment!" Vamponies nodded or shouted with agreement. A feast of fresh blood had crossed their minds.
At the stomp of Queen Rosa's hoof the crowd died down. She poured blood in her chalice and took a sip before speaking, "A duel, between two mortal ponies? Winner stays or becomes my Pupil? Loser dies and the blood becomes a feast?" She took another sip as I watch the crowd of Vamponies drown in euphoria for her say in the matter.
She raised her chalice high, "I, Queen Rosa declare a duel between Tortured Soul, my Pupil and Silvertongue Moonlit Blood to duel to the death! Winner remains or takes my side! Loser shall die and I get the first drink of fresh blood!" The Vamponies roared in applause. Excitement filled the air as Vamponies cleared the central foyer. The stage had been set.
Silvertongue and I made our way towards the center. I refused to make eye contact with some puffed up noble thinking they can take my position as Pupil! I soon will show her, how skilled I am in the dark arts. I grinned at the thought of using some painful spells that this bat has never felt before.
"My Dread Queen," Darkbreaker spoke-up, "I request that my daughter and your pet have a traditional Coven duel."
A traditional Coven duel! I gritted my teeth, he must have planned this from the start. A traditional Coven duel allows limited magical usage, such as levitation of objects. The main point of the duel is physical contact. I glared at Darkbreaker who faced only Rosa, my mentor.
"Agreed." Rosa replied.
"My Queen you cannot be serious!" I shouted, "I as your pupil have learned magic not-" Rosa's blood filled eyes coerced me to end my complaint. She took a sip from her chalice and her horn began to sparkle. A long sword emerged behind her throne. It hovered closer to me and without hesitation I took it.
"Satisfied? Perhaps magic will not be the only encounter you will have in the near future." She took another sip, "If you do survive, know that a punishment awaits for speaking out of turn. That is..." She grinned, "if you survive my dear pupil."
I faced Silvertongue who opened her leathery wings. To everyone's surprise, she had hidden wing-blades. The cold steel glistened in the blue light. She flashed her fangs and went into a fighting stance. "This will not last long, I assure you father." Silvertongue said confidently.
I gave the long sword a few swings, "I am afraid those will be your last words." I said, readying myself for the duel.
The room had gone silent, the room dimmed, I felt my heart pound and my eyes were fixated on Silvertongue and her alone. This will determine myself as a pupil. No more will I be called a pet from other Vamponies. They will learn that I am worthy of the Queen of Blood and that those who have denied will come the the realization. I am her pupil!
"Let the room shower with Blood!" Rosa shouted, "Begin!"