Chalice

Eli pulled Lowena from the two girls. "What are you doing?"

  Lowena looked back, and the two girls stood there with their arms folded, their faces expressions of annoyance.

  "I was just dancing," Lowena defended.

  "Just dancing?" Eli chuckled, "Lowena, they're vampires."

  Lowena looked back at the girls. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. The two girls rolled their eyes and began seductively dancing with one another once more.

  "They have an allure about them; we all do; it's intoxicating even to us," Eli explained.

  "You expect me to believe this?" she questioned.

  Eli gently guided her to the next group of people dancing more effortlessly, fair-like, and beautiful. One girl had emerald green scaly skin with yellow cat-like eyes, and another looked like the waves of the water, different shades of blue and white from her dress to her hair.  

  "Nymphs," Eli explained, "They all have different strengths. Like Bashira, she's a snake type; Allura, she controls water elements; Lewellyn, a nature type."

  "And I'll just click my heels three times and sing There's no place like home," Lowena sarcastically retorted.

  Eli ran his finger through his thick locks of hair, realizing Lowena still didn't believe him after nearly transforming the night before. It would be a painful surprise when she finally did; he didn't want her to be scared.

  "Hi, Eli."

  A stunning, beautiful young woman sauntered over to the both of them with a seductive smile for Eli. Her long, wavy blond hair fell to her perfectly plump breasts, which were nearly overflowing and busting the seams out of her top. Her voluptuous hips were snug in her skirt, and her plump ass was peaking at the bottom.

  "Arana," Eli greeted.

  Arana poured liquid from a different brass chalice, the fluid trickling from the corners of her mouth, before locking lips with Eli. Lowena saw the thick purple-like fluid transfer to Eli's mouth and could have sworn she saw Eli's eye color change. Ironically, she wasn't jealous when he kissed her; it made her wish she could be in the middle of them.

  "Hello, there."

  Another stunning woman in a fiery red costume that seemed to glow when she was closest to fire approached Lowena. She blinked in confusion; her eyes looked like flames. It must have been the drink, she thought to herself.

  "I'm Ethica," she introduced, gesturing a Phoenix chalice to Lowena in good spirits.

  "I'm-"

  "I know who you are," Ethica continued. Her eyes locked onto Lowena's, and she could not look away from her enticing beauty. Her cheeks blushed red.

  "How?" Lowena questioned.

  "This is your party, and you are wearing the initiation garbs," Ethica explained, stepping closer to Lowena and slowly raising the chalice to her lips so she could drink.

  Lowena took a sip of the spicy fluid from the cup.

  "Lowena! You don't know what that is!" Eli intervened.

  "Why? It's not the first one I've drunk tonight," Lowena reasoned. "It's different from the last."

  Eli's eyes widened in stress. "You can't simply go around drinking from every chalice presented to you."

  "Why not?" she scoffed.

  "It's possible to accept joining them once you turn!" Eli hissed.

  "Whatever." Lowena rolled her eyes, the drink making her feel hot and soothed inside. "I thought I was turning into a werewolf."

  "You can and will," Eli says. But in exceptional cases, you can be a hybrid, especially since you're a Luna."

  "Hybrid?" Lowena cackled.

  Her eyes met Ethica's, and a tender smile formed on her lips. Ethica stepped forward, gently pecking Lowena on the lips before walking away. Lowena frowned and began walking over to another group of curious-looking people.

  They all looked to have different feather ensembles, antique shades of browns, oranges, hints of yellows, and golds, almost like toned-down Vegas showgirls. The music was different here; the chimes and beats were more poetic and effortless. She couldn't tell if they were hawks, eagles, birds, or other creatures from the sky. The air felt fresh in her lungs as she walked closer, hoping to observe them. Upon approach, one woman looked as if the feather wreaths on her ankles made her hover over the dirt, another twirling like ballet dancers, so stunning.

  Another young woman approached, but she was dressed a little differently than usual. The feathers accentuated her slim waist, her copper skin glowing from the roaring flames of the fire, and the kind smile on her lips as she presented Lowena with yet another chalice designed like a large griffin. Ignoring what Eli had warned her, she took it in kind and sipped from what felt like fresh water; only Lowena had never tasted something so fresh.

   Lowena looked back, but Eli was no longer by her side. Another woman was locking lips with him at another bonfire. Lowena figured this was her moment to escape his prying eyes so she could enjoy the party. The longer the liquid sat in her system, the more beautiful and euphoric everything became.

  "You're beautiful," a handsome young man stated while kissing the back of Lowena's hand.

  His sharp cheekbones, narrow eyebrows, pale skin, and touseled white hair were strange enough; dark red paint was smeared across his lean, bare chest and black leather pants. He had an aura about him that was enthralling and desirable. Unintentionally, Lowena stepped closer, gazing into his entrancing yellow eyes.

  "You 're handsome," she admitted.

  "Thank you," he cunningly smiled.

  Lowena's cheeks flushed red as she backed away, dropping her head. "Sorry."

  "Don't apologize," he reassured.

  Lowena couldn't help but smile. Her eyes dropped to see what he was holding within his grasp. This chalice was black—no design, just black.

  "You're not going to offer me some?" I teased him while pointing to the chalice.

  The young man looked down at his cup and took a sip before slowly walking over to her.

  "You'd take a drink from someone you don't know?" he asked while walking around her.

  "Everyone else is because of this gathering for me," she sighed.

  "So, Ms. Morningstar, do you want to drink from my Chalice?" he asked. "You don't even know my name."

  "Tell me your name then," she demanded.

  The young man stopped before her, looking deep into her eyes. "You can call me Kage."

  "DKage," she repeated.

  He nodded before pouring the last of the liquid into his mouth.

  "Hey, I thought you-"

  Before she could finish her thought, Kage seized the back of her head and pressed his lips to hers, spilling the thick liquid inside. It felt like electricity was pumping through her veins, and her heart quickened in excitement. Lowena's eyes widened in shock, uncertain how to respond to such an intrusion. She didn't know what was happening inside her, but she wasn't afraid.

  "Get your hands off of her," Cade growled.