The night of crimson had finally arrived.
Within the royal castle, the servants were swiftly ordered to get everything ready for the grant celebration.
The large ballroom was filled with neatly arranged tables and seats all across.
An assorted array of meat and glass cups were placed over silk tablecloths.
Within the glassware, bioluminescent blood swayed, the Darkhavens sipping generously as they conversed with one another.
Every royal was present, patiently awaiting the appearance of the emperor.
In the midst of their discussions, the large doors were swung open, drawing all their attention.
Kael waltzed into the large space with confident steps, crimson eyes gazing through the darkness.
His garment was dark and chic; a red shirt and black trousers covering his body. The shirt had a series of dark patterns snaking all across, an emerald necklace hanging around his neck.
A gold ring clung tightly to one of his fingers, similar bracelets on both wrists.
His hair, which only once reached his upper back, now went all the way down to his waist. His luscious mane was raven black and curly. Along with his sharp features, he exuded a primal radiance that made others shudder within his presence.
His lips curled into a wide grin as he made his way to the stage, turning to face his extended family as he cleared his throat:
"I welcome you all to the annual Night Of Crimson," he started off, his raspy voice carrying a heavy weight. "As you all already know, we celebrate the night when our ancestor, Kaiser Darkhaven, unified the majority of the waring factions, becoming the first emperor of our glorious kingdom."
His eyes fell upon the glass cup placed atop the podium, a delighted glint sparkling in his eyes.
He reached out and grabbed the cup, raising it above his head.
"A toast, to the man who pioneered the life we have today," he concluded, bringing the cup to his lips.
The others did the same, repeating his actions.
Within the crowd, a woman sat on a table with her children, observing as they conversed amongst themselves.
"There he goes again taking all the attention. Man, why does dad have to be so cool?" One of them asked, heaving out a defeated sigh. He wore a dark embroidered shirt with golden buttons and a fitted pair of trousers.
His hair was neatly kept and parted to the side, highlighting his pristine facial features.
"What do you mean 'Why does he have to be so cool?' He's our dad, but more importantly, he's the emperor. Obviously, he'll be cool," his sister replied, shaking her head. "Oh, let me guess, you're jealous because none of your female classmates are paying attention to you because of dad?"
She wore a similar attire to her brother, her long dark hair swaying with her sudden movements.
"Of course! Whenever I try to talk to them, they either ignore my existence or just ask about my father! Ugh! Those bitches are just a bunch of golddiggers. They don't even care about true love! Imagine, all the know about him is that he's the emperor, yet they all swoon over him like he's some deity!"
"Can you not shut up? I mean seriously, this is an important occasion, yet you still choose to run your mouth like a kid," a deep voice interrupted him from his venture of complaints, gaining his attention.
"Mars, this matter does not concern you, so I advice you just mind your own business," the former retorted, waving his hand.
Mar's brows furrowed as he said:
"Loki, I'd mind my tongue if I were you," his voice took a darker tone, eyes narrowing as he stared back at his brother.
Meanwhile, their sister groaned as he addressed them:
"Do you people actually want to do this now?! Dad won't go easy on either of you if you cause a scene today!"
Her words seemed to have gotten to them, their guards dropping the next moment.
"Glad to see you both still have that level of respect for your father, at least," their mother mussed, sipping from her cup. "If the both of you chose to fight, I, for one, would have enjoyed the show."
Mars and Loki both turned to her, grimaced, and returned to their food.
"You said it, mum," her daughter replied, chuckling to herself.
Loki's eyes shifted, stared intently at her for a brief moment, then returned once more to his meal.
"What can I say? I'm glad I still have a child that's not as battle hungry as these two baffons. Isn't that right, Raven?" their mother asked.
"It sure is," Raven replied. "Who knows, maybe one day, when these two idiots kill each other, I'll be the one ruling this kingdom."
Mars and Loki simultaneously choked on their food, glaring furiously at their sister.
"What's that supposed to mean?" They asked in unison.
"My, these children," their mother said, turning back to face her husband.
Kael was long done with his speech as was on his way down the stage.
Everything was going smoothly; the royals were eating heartily and interacting with themselves.
But then, a sudden gust of purple shadows invaded the tenebrous space, urging them all to remain on high alert.
Loud gasps escaped their lips, wary eyes staring through the darkness and shadows.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Kael's voice tore through their worry, his relatives looking back at him with confused expressions. "I asked a question. What is going on here?!"
No one could provide an answer.
The purple shadows twisted and twirled, producing sharp air currents that blew away multiple tables, sending a multitude of glass and silverware shattering all across.
The royals were quick to use their blood magic to protect themselves from the sudden onslaught of dinning furniture and dishes.
Eventually, the raging winds subsided, replaced by the escalating noises of the Darkhavens complaining amongst themselves.
"What is the meaning of this? Is this some sort of trick by the Supreme Sovereign?"
"How dare you mention the Sovereign in such a matter? What makes you think he would do such a thing on such an auspicious day?"
"Who knows? You know that we celebrate Kaiser as though he were a deity himself. Perhaps the Supreme Sovereign has grown jealous of our reverence towards him."
"Although that makes some sense. I still don't believe our Sovereign to be so shallow."
Kael's frustration grew as the seconds past by, his jaws clenched as crimson sparks began to form around his hand.
"Show yourself, else your death shall be a dreadful one," he warned, the familiar crimson blade materializing within his grasp. "I am not known for being merciful to my opponents."
The very structure of the cattle shook right after, stirring a plethora of confused and concerned reactions from the others.
Just what was causing all this disturbance?
Then, everything went back to normal.
The shaking had stopped, however, there was now a lone figure standing in the centre of the ballroom.
His mid-length curly hair was a brilliant shade of purple, swaying slightly as the air around him moved slightly faster.
He wore a heavy set of clothes, a long flowing cloat covering it all.
Raising his head, his eyelids opened, revealing a striking pair of purple eyes and dark red pupils.
His lips parted, revealing a set of human-like teeth, devoid of any form of vampiric dentition.
"Oh, I must apologize for the sudden intrusion," the man said, his voice sounding as sweat as perfectly seasoned meat. "But this is a matter of utmost importance."
He raised his hand in the air, his index finger pointed at the man on stage.
"Kael Darkhaven, I have come to capture you for your crimes," he spoke, his alluring tone accommodating a considerable sense of urgency. "There are two options; either you come willingly, or I bring you in with force."
A hoarse fit of laughter permeated the eerie silence, Kael's grin flashing through the flow of his weapon.
"Fool," Kael sneered. "You came into my kingdom, thrashed my ballroom, and now you say you wish to detain me."
A sudden wave of crimson aura exploded from him, destroying the platform he stood on.
His mane fluttered as his feet lightly landed on the floor, fangs bared as he continued:
"I'd be putting my family to shame if I complied with your idiotic request," he shifted his hand, pointing his sword at the intruder. "Tell me scoundrel, what is your name?"
The man chuckled lightly before replying:
"Slade. Slade Of The Shadows."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Shadows. I've never heard of that faction before," he said.
"You never were. Not until today, at least," Slade responded. "So, what is your answer?"
Kael laughed once more, gripping his blade tighter.
"What do you think?"
A smile crept onto Slade's face.
"Very well, then."