Kolin Glison - Victoria Gardella: Vampire Slayer

London, 1819

My lady, your mother is wearin a hole in the floor, Verbena said as she twisted a final curl into place at the top of her mistresss coiffure. She claims yll be late for the masquerade ball if y dont hurry. And something about the Marquess o Rockley attendin and wantin to see ye?

Miss Victoria Gardella Grantworth looked in the mirror, eyeing her maids creation in the form of a tallvery tallcoiffure. Her dark hair had been piled to an impossible height, and then powdered so that her black curls looked more gray than white. A small bluebird perched at the side of her column of hair, and a bejeweled comb rested at the top. Pink and yellow flowers and a variety of jewels further decorated the powdered curls.

I dont know that Marie Antoinettes hair was ever this particular hue, Victoria said, but I think it looks lovely. And perhaps Id best go down before Mother comes up to drag me off.

She stood, and the skirts of her gown rose with her as if they had a life of their own. Victoria was used to wearing the high-waisted, clinging skirts of contemporary styles, but these wide panniers and heavy brocaded layers of fabric at least left her legs free to move beneath without getting too caught up in the skirts. The only other benefit of the yards of material dripping from her body was that there were plenty of places to slip a wooden stake into or between ruffles, lace, or gathers. She felt for the one that rested just to the right side of her torso, cunningly hidden behind a pouf of lace.

I do hope there arent any vampires at Lady Petronillas ball tonight, Victoria said, drawing on her gloves. It will be impossible to fight them in this costume.

But mlady, if there are, youll be very prepared, Verbena told her, a sparkle in her blue eyes. Ive slipped one o your littler stakes here in the back of your hair. She poked at the heavy mass near the back of Victorias crown. Just in case.

If I pull it out, likely it will all come falling down, Victoria replied, gingerly feeling for the stake. But in a pinch, I suppose it shall do. I only hope Ill not have need of it. I have been looking forward to one night where I dont have to make some excuse to sneak out and stake a vampire.

Verbena handed her mistress a small reticule. Holy water, an a cross in here, my lady, she told her. An you look lovely.

Victoria might look like any normal young woman, just debuting into Society, but beneath her gownwhether it be a fashionable high-waisted one, or the retrospective costume she currently woreshe harbored a secret that made her very different from any other girl.

She wore the vis bulla, a tiny silver cross amulet that gave her superhuman strength, speed, and healing capability. Victoria Gardella Grantworth was a Venator, a vampire hunter descended from a long line of slayers in the Gardella family. Her duty, beyond that of her unsuspecting mothers expectation that she marry well, was to hunt the undead who lurked in the shadows of London Society. And everywhere else in the world.

Victoria wasnt the only Venator in the world. Her great-aunt Eustacia had been a powerful Venator before she became too old to hunt, and then there was Max Pesaro, another Venator who spent more time disparaging Victorias hunting skills than anything else. He, too, was a vampire hunter, though not descended from the Gardella line.

Victoria was rather glad that she would be attending the masquerade ball at Lady Petronillas tonight, for Max disdained social functions and would not be there to glower at her and make snide comments about how many men had signed her dance card.

And then of course, there was Phillip.

Thinking of the Marquess of Rockley put a great smile on her face, so that when Victoria reached the bottom of the stairs and her mother saw her, she looked particularly radiant.

Well, now, Lady Melly twittered. She was a handsome woman herself, and had chosen to dress in Greek fashion as Circe. Having been widowed more than two years earlier from a man shed cared for, but never truly loved, she had just recently re-entered Society with a vengeance. You do look lovely, Victoria, dear, and it is certain that Rockley will be enchanted. That tiny little black patch on your cheek is just the most delightful touchalthough I do rather think you could do without that little wooden thing sticking out of the back of your coiffure. I vow, sometimes I wonder whatever your maid is thinking when she dresses your hair.

Victoria smoothly moved out of the way when her mother reached to touch the stake secreted in her curls. I like it, Mother. And should we not be leaving? Im not certain how long it will take me to find Rockley, as well all be masked.

Oh, I have no fear on that, Lady Melly said, ushering her daughter quite unnecessarily out the front door. The carriage was waiting, a footman standing with the door open and the groom holding the horses. He shall be dressed as that infamous Robin Hood, and Ive made certain that hell know who the mysterious Marie Antoinette is.

Victoria didnt bother to ask how her mother found out how Phillipas hed asked her to call himwould be costumed, nor how she would inform him of her daughters guise. It didnt matter one whit. She merely allowed her mother to muse delightfully over her machinations to have her only daughter marry a wealthy marquess.

Not that Victoria minded, for Phillip was handsome, charming, and seemed to be as besotted with her as Victoria felt toward him. Hed been seeking her out at every social event theyd both attended since her debutand had even kissed her once while driving her through the park. That was when he insisted that she call him by his given name, despite the fact that they werent married, or even betrothed.

When they arrived at Lady Petronillas home, Victoria had to succumb to her mothers last-minute fussing before she could emerge awkwardly from the carriage. Really, those skirts were more than a bit much, and she nearly lost her balance due to their weight and the fact that her heel caught in a hem.

She reallyhoped there would be no vampires here tonight.

Inside the ball, Victoria and her mother made their way from the grand foyer into the ballroom. The butler introduced them only as Her Majesty Marie Antoinette, and Circe, since they were masked and would remain that way until midnight.

In spite of wishing to appear aloof, Victoria found herself looking for Robin Hood. From the way her mother had wrapped her talon-like fingers around her arm, she knew Lady Melly wouldnt let her slip into the crowds until they found him.

But then a generously-sized Aphrodite bore down upon them, her gown flowing behind her like a great pink sail. Lady Melly released Victorias arm and greeted one of her two bosom friends, the Duchess of Farnham.

I daresay, Victoria, you look absolutely lovely, crowed the duchess, who wore a heavy necklace of garnets and a light dusting of crumbs. Or shall I say, Your Majesty? Perhaps you ought to adjust your mask a bit, she added.

Yes indeed, Lady Melly said, pulling urgently on the covering, unaware that a sharp edge was scraping across her daughters nose. It would be a shame if Bretlington or Werthington-Lyce recognized you before Rockley, for I dont know how you should get out of dancing with them.

In that, Victoria could not help but agree, for the former had exceedingly putrid breath that accompanied non-stop raptures over his bloodhounds, and the latter spoke nary a word at all but spent his time leering down the bodice of her gown and treading upon her toes.

But at that moment, her mothers manipulations came to fruition. Victoria felt the presence of Phillip behind her before he even spokeperhaps it was the smell of the lemon-rosemary pomade he favored, or perhaps it was merely that prickle of awareness, of attraction, that hummed between them. At any rate, she turned slowlyso as not to appear too eager, yet delighted to see himand immediately found his gaze behind the black mask.