Bride To His Darkness
Chapter 193: A Cult

Chapter 193: A Cult

While Samantha and Ivan left the Inn using the carriage, Cassian used his steed to ride to the main entrance of Fernwood where the Palace guards awaited his presence. When he approached them on his steed, they immediately recognized him as their Majesty’s companion. With no need for introduction, they acknowledged his presence with a slight bow, and Cassian made his steed come to a stop.

"We received His Majesty’s message." The commander in charge of the guards stepped forward to speak, "where is His Majesty?"

"I may not be your real leader, but you’re going to have to take me as one tonight." Cassian said to the guards, "we have to keep the Courtesan house surrounded, both the front and the back of the building till I give you my signal.... His Majesty is on his way to attend the meeting, so we must stay at full alert, and ensure no harm comes to him. Do you understand or am I speaking in parables?"

"We understand."

"Glad we all understand ourselves, follow me." Turning his powerful steed around, he led the group of guards to their stationed location.

—-

At the Courtesan house, Samantha and Ivan stepped down from their fancy carriage, successfully arriving at the designated location written on the invitation card. Exchanging meaningful glances, Samantha linked her arm around Ivan’s, and together, they stepped into the suspiciously quiet building.

At the entrance stood a burly-looking man whose scrutinizing gaze sized them up from head to toe. When they approached him, Ivan took in his silent request and handed him the invitation card, clearing his doubt. The burly-looking man accessed the card thoroughly before granting them access into the main building.

"Are they so secretive that they do not recognize the real Lord Ethan?" Samantha whispered her inquiries the moment they were away from the bodyguard.

"They don’t meet in person, that’s why they have agents, little lamb." Ivan quietly murmured, "Lord Ethan made his first physical appearance last night, and the ones who know him publicly are.... either dead or tongueless to speak up." He smirked dangerously, a smile Samantha knew he exhibited whenever he has done something he probably shouldn’t have.

When they stepped into the grand reception hall, the place was opulently decorated, adorned with glistening chandeliers and lavish draperies. The air was thick with the scent of perfume, whilst the sight had stunned Samantha as she hadn’t expected anything this extravagant.

Exquisite Courtesans, seductively draped in colorful silks, wander amongst the guest’s present, and one of them, who had been secretly informed by the burly man of their identity, approached Ivan with a mask, her alluring eyes meeting the striking blue ones of Ivan.

"You will need this to step into the blue room, handsome sir." The Courtesan’s sultry voice had Samantha squinting her eyes lightly. Ivan received the mask without questioning, but it was Samantha who helped him put it on. Since she had used a veil, a mask wasn’t necessarily needed for her.

"Please, allow me to escort you to your desired destination." The Courtesan insisted, overlooking the fact that the gentleman already had a woman beside him.

"Not a problem, we appreciate your courtesy," Ivan’s velvety voice had the young woman blushing beneath her veil, and she happily led them both away from the throngs of mingling guests.

They reached a discreet corridor where the sounds of laughter and soft music permeated the air. The subdued lighting created an intimate ambience that had Samantha feeling a little light-headed, and Ivan’s blue eyes moved to study the woman who sucked in a deep breath, trying her very best to hold on to her bold resolve.

He subconsciously smiled at her effort.

The Courtesan finally brought them to a grand double door, guarded by two muscular build men. She whispered something to one of them, and with a nod, he opened the door as if granting them access to a Forbidden world, but in reality, those inside were completely unaware of the treachery that awaited them, same as Samantha who wasn’t ready for what the night had in store for her.

Stepping inside the room with the sound of the doors closing behind them, the couple moved forward till they came across a group of masked men, all sitting on a plush cushion with their lovely Courtesan’s attending to them. The walls were bathed in hues of deep sapphire, whilst adorned with elegant tapestries.

Delicate crystal chandeliers gleam overhead, casting an ethereal glow over the place, and Samantha could feel her heart thump in consternation.

Silence ensued the minute their presence was noticed, but Ivan’s expression remained indifferent as he moved forward to take his seat on one of the cushions, Samantha taking the space beside him as his companion for tonight. Eight men were modestly dressed as they faced one another, and at the head of the cushion was an unnaturally pale man who had a red masquerade mask on. Ivan could feel his fangs briefly lengthen, and his eyes flashed with an intensity only Samantha could discern.

It was obvious the man sitting at the head cushion was no one else but Sir Callum.

"For a moment I thought you wouldn’t be able to be a part of our little...get-together, Lord..." Callum subtly began as his Courtesan poured him a cup of wine. "Ethan? Am I correct?"

"Precisely, "Ivan responded with the same manner of sophisticated arrogance, his lips curving to the side, but it wasn’t a smile. "My apologies, it appears I have stolen your attention by arriving late."

"Please... you are quite a catch Lord Ethan, we’re here to form alliances and share our desires over a cup of wine. It is my sincere pleasure to have you with us tonight."

Callum’s gaze moved to the young woman who sat beside Ivan, and he tilted his head in fascination when her mesmerizing green eyes stole his attention. "Not only does your appearance come with a catch, you have good eyes for good things. Even with a veil, I can tell your Courtesan is exceptionally gorgeous, mind telling me where I can get her kind?"

"I could tell you..." Ivan simply let his little lamb pour him some of the wines served on a small jug, "..but that will be on Saint Tibb’s Eve."

"....."

It took a while for Callum and the rest council members of Fernwood to comprehend the meaning behind his idiomacy, and some of the Courtesan’s were grateful that their veils could conceal the laughter that was threatening to spill from their lips. Callum’s eyes narrowed behind his mask, obviously displeased, but he let out a low chuckle himself.

"A nice way to put it, Lord Ethan, but since we’re all here, I say let’s begin on the subject at hand." Callum’s voice turned serious as he looked over everyone present, "our trading business has been doing sufficiently well over the past months, our incomes have doubled exponentially, and by the coming Months, I shall open a larger warehouse in the outskirts of Fernwood. They say nothing gets past the vampire King of GreenHollow, but it seems I have rubbed a little dust on that motion."

They were light giggling amongst the men, and Samantha tried her very best to keep her disgust hidden as she watched the masked men openly touch their Courtesan’s, and it took a lot of restraint not to roll her eyes in repulsion.

"I have to admit that I was highly impressed to know about this." Ivan spoke up, his fingers reaching to grab the cup as he took a small sip from the rich tasty alcoholic wine. "How did you manage to pull this off? It is fine if you do not wish to answer directly, however, I acknowledge your guile."

"I think we all do," another masked council who had stubbles on his chin smirked menacingly, "doing business with you hasn’t felt better than it already did. You purchased half of the goods the other night, and we received the gold coins that were kind-heartedly bestowed to us. With you on our side, I see a bright future for our trading business."

"Why do you flatter me? Unfortunately I’m only accustomed to taking solid interest in the flatters from the woman beside me. Shall we continue with the question I have generously asked?"

"Your cavalier is a personality I find difficult to get accustomed with," Callum, who was starting to feel slightly irritated, forced a smile. "You are useful to the business and I would hate for us to cut our relationship here. By that I mean, you’ll have to die as this is a secret trade, so I would mind that pretty tongue if I were you and let us happily carry on with the celebration."

Samantha glanced at Ivan who seemed to be enjoying this, and when she poured him another cup of wine, she whispered. "What do you think they’re planning?"

"A cult." Ivan murmured, already eyeing the golden goblet that had been placed in the middle of the room. He wasn’t wrong to have suspected that their secrecy wasn’t clean, they were all into diabolical practice that kept the people of Fernwood restrained to them.... And each time he looked at Callum, there was a dark aura surrounding his being..... as if he had bargained with his soul to the devil.

"Before we start," Callum sat up properly, "I’ve decided to bring in a new trade to the business, express your disapproval and die." He warned with a smile, and of course, everyone remained quiet.

Clapping his hands twice, the door opened to reveal two men who dragged a very young lady into the room.

Her hands and legs were tied, and she was forced to go down on her knees in the center of the room. Samantha’s pupils dilated as she recognized the girl.

"Amanda?!" She blurted out her name in shock.