The Black Ball, Part II
Season 3, Episode 4
Velhall Palace
Oitylon [capital city], Ravelous [planet], Despæ [star system]
22 December; 19:33:28 Hours
There was a sharp ringing that reverberated in Dax’s ears as everyone around her appeared to be moving at half speed. She could feel her heart pounding, her palms becoming sweaty and her footing was ever so slightly slipping before she felt herself steady from Gadreeha’s hand upon her hip. Then Dax slowly looked at her as she could see that Gadreeha’s lips were moving but she couldn’t hear a single word over the ringing before it slowly subsided.
“<…okay? Princess? Hey, Princess, are you okay?>”
Dax nodded slightly before looking back across the ballroom to Theo and Throx. “<Y- yeah, I, I’m fine.>”
“<You’re fine?>” Gadreeha said with a subtle giggle.
“<Y-yea-yes, I am perfect.>”
“<Princess, come now, I am certainly not one for the subtleties of individual interaction BUT even I can see that there’s something wrong.>”
Dax’s eyes were locked on Theo, continuing to watch him and Throx as they talked and were surrounded by numerous Stormers of Throx’s Black Guard. Though a smile came over her face as she took stock of Theo; his blackened mail and crimson cowl hanging from his right shoulder, but then she focused on the scar over his right eye that healed far better than every other he had. Gadreeha’s left eye squinted as she noticed Dax’s smile and she quickly looked in the direction Dax was before she too cracked a smile, though hers was different - eager.
“<Ohhhhh, it would appear the rumors were true.>”
“<Ru-rumors?>” Dax stuttered as she was still caught up with Theo from a distance.
“<Princess! Did you not listen to what I told you?>” Gadreeha laughed before she placed her hand upon the small of Dax’s back and began to escort her through the crowd toward the two. “<There were rumors that Throx would have a guest of honor here at the Black Ball, one who would change the status quo to his favor.>”
Several Dons of crime families stepped aside for Gadreeha and Dax before the two forced a smile and nodded to the Head of the sex slave trade of the entire universe. Gadreeha let out a growl under her breath, causing Dax to look at her and see a flicker of crimson momentarily take over her big emerald eyes. Though they then both quickly returned their sights to Throx and Theo, who were nearly ten yards in front of the two when Dax froze. Gadreeha turned to her with a smile and wide eyes, saying, “<Come on… Princess? Wha-what is it, Princess?>”
“<I, uh, I, I just remembered that I have to get back to Wendale…” she stammered, trying to pull away from Gadreeha who kept her hand upon Dax’s lower back, “…I, my, um, I’m needed there. N-not, uh, not here.>”
“<Wha-what? No, no, forget about your royal duties for the night! Enjoy yourself! And, and tonight will definitely be one we will all remember!>”
“<Gadreeha, p-please…>” Dax whispered as she glanced from her to Theo.
Gadreeha’s eyes narrowed, she now looked directly at Theo who was nodding to Throx before back at Dax who still couldn’t manage to keep her eyes off of him for anything longer than a minute. It was at that moment Gadreeha was certain that she was missing something before Theo now happened to quickly glance around, as he locked eyes with Dax for less than a second but then whipped his head back at her.
“Sparky?” he exclaimed.
Dax immediately closed her eyes tightly and bowed her head. Gadreeha, on the other hand, her left eye squinted while her right eye opened wide and she glanced back and forth between the two as she heard Throx’s deep voice.
“<Sparky? Who? Who is this Sparky?>”
Theo let out a quick chuckle before he pushed his way past the Stormers, walking straight toward Dax and Gadreeha. “Sparky! Hey! Hey, Sparky? What are you doing here?”
“<Ohhh, Princess, I like you even more now than I already did,>” Gadreeha whispered into Dax’s ear just seconds before she looked up to Theo and smiled.
“Th-Theo… Um, wha-what are you doing here?”
“I asked ya’ first, Sparky.”
She sighed as she glanced around the ballroom, but then took a step toward him while Gadreeha waited back. “I’m… I… I’m here because of a treaty between the Depth and Wendale - But, but what are YOU doing here—”
“<I was not aware the Princess liked to be called Sparky,>” Throx bellowed as he stopped beside Theo, and without hesitation, Dax snapped at him.
“<Don’t you ever call me that!>”
“<Okay, forgive me… Princess,>” he raised his massive hands in front of himself and slightly bowed his head before looking back to Theo who he asked, “<How do you two know each other, Beelezika?>”
Dax’s eyes lit up bright blue and went nearly pinpoint as her nostrils flared after she heard what Throx called Theo, but Theo let out a quick chuckle before saying, “Long story short? Sparky here, she cleaned up my eye.”
“Cleaned up?” she scoffed and gave Theo a playful shove before looking him directly in the eyes as she smiled. “I made sure you weren’t disfigured.”
“Tomato tomahto!”
Dax’s eyes now narrowed and her head clocked back. “Wha-what does that mean?”
“<Yes, Beelezika, what does that mean?>” Throx echoed her confusion with a chuckle.
Theo rubbed the back of his neck. “Uh, pfffff, it, um, it means that we’re saying the same thing but, uh, but just a little different.”
“Tomato tomahto,” Throx laughed and patted Theo on the shoulder, “<You Humans have a very unique way of conveying information!>”
Though Theo ignored him and instead stepped toward Dax as he smiled. “You look beautiful, Sparky.”
Dax bowed her head just slightly, blushing as she looked up to Theo out of the corner of her eyes, softly saying, “Thank you.”
“Excuse me,” he then said as he glanced at Throx before extending his hand out to Dax, “May I have a dance?”
“<Beelezika…” Throx grabbed the bicep of Theo’s right arm, saying in a firm tone, “…our deal?>”
“You have my word.”
“<Your word better be good,>” Throx growled but then quickly smiled before motioning his hand to the dance floor. “<Please Princess, don’t mind me - Enjoy yourself.>”
Dax was squinting at the two, having heard what was just said but now found herself looking at Theo’s left hand, seeing his fingers were blackened. She then glanced over her shoulder to Gadreeha who smiled and nodded. Slowly she returned her attention to Theo who was still holding his hand out to her, and he reiterated, “May I have a dance, Sparky?”
She tried her hardest to hold back a smile but it broke free as she now nodded to him. “Yes.”
He took her hand, guiding her to the dance floor several feet to his right where he placed his left hand on her waist and gently took her left hand in his right. Dax couldn’t break eye contact with him as they began to glide across the floor, moving in concert with the soft sound of the strings that engulfed the ballroom. They danced without saying a word to one another for nearly ten minutes, only gazing into the other’s eyes before the music slowed and so did they.
Theo then placed his right hand upon her other hip as Dax interlocked her hands behind his head. He smiled and whispered, “You are the last person I thought I’d ever see here.”
“Oh, am I not good enough for a ball?” she quipped and curled her bottom lip in as she looked up at him.
“No, no, no, that’s not what I meant.”
“What did you mean then?”
“I know the history of your home and the Depth… I, I just didn’t expect this.”
Dax then forced a smile. “Then you’re not alone.”
“Oh,” he growled, “I see… Your father is up to his old tricks again.”
“My father, Theo, never stops.”
“I’m, I’m sorry Sparky.”
“Why?”
“Because, I… I should’ve never let you go.”
“Theo,” she whispered as she leaned in toward his ear, “I had to go. It’s not your fault.”
“Then run away with me,” he whispered into her ear before he leaned back and watched her eyes grow large.
Dax didn’t hesitate as she told him with teary eyes, “Maybe I will.”
A big smile came over Theo’s face but Dax’s stiffened as she squinted at him, asking, “You, you never answered my question… Why are you here?”
“Please, Sparky,” he said as they continued to slowly dance around the marble floor, “can we hold off on why I’m here?”
“But—”
“Hell, what if the reason I’m here is because I knew you’d be here? Huh?”
Dax’s lip curled down again as she looked at him with narrowing eyes. “You didn’t know I’d be here, Theo.”
“Okay, alright, you’re right BUT it sounded nice, didn’t it?”
Dax smiled, and gently ran her hand down the right side of his face as she softly said, “Do all you Humans say such things to make the ones you love feel warm inside?”
“Love?” Theo’s head tilted slightly to the side, saying, “Who, who used that word?”
“Is, isn’t that, um, isn’t that what it’s called when someone looks into the eyes of another like you look into my eyes?”
Theo’s eyes had slowly grown large as he listened to her, but then quickly he looked down at Dax as he felt her head rest upon his chest while her arms tightened around his waist. The two had stopped dancing around the entire dance floor as they now remained in a single spot, swaying side to side. The doors cracked and opened, Theo’s attention curiously drifted to them without intention but as he looked, his eyes tripled.
“What’s wrong?” Dax whispered.
“N-nothing, Sparky.”
“I can feel it, Theo, your pressure changed… The Shade, it’s intense.”
“Don’t worry. Everything is gonna be fine.”
Completely unbeknownst to Dax, Theo was now staring down his oldest friend. Gabe, who stood just inside the ballroom with Mya by his side, had locked eyes with him. They glowed intense emerald while his brow was furrowed and nostrils flared as he watched them; Theo and Dax, still swaying on the dance floor.