Page 42 of Death’s Kiss (The Order of the Tide Raiders #1)
M y swallow is tight while admiring myself in the floor-length mirror.
The dress design turned out even better than I’d hoped. The tips of my fingers, which Kleio insisted on painting black, trail over the multilayered fabrics at my sides as I twist to see my reflection from every angle.
Each way I turn it looks even better than the last, and I’m once again blown away by Kleio and Herse’s invention.
The base fabric is a crushing black that hugs my every curve. It perfectly outlines the swell of my ample breasts down my waist before gliding over feminine hips to finally pool at my feet. It looks as though I’m bathed head to toe in midnight.
As if that wasn’t incredible enough, the second layer is nearly invisible, save for the embedded crystals that begin in tightly knit clusters at the bust and expand wider near the hem.
It also serves as the thin sleeves that are snug over my arms all the way down to my wrists, giving the illusion of being dusted with gemstones .
I turn around to admire my back once more, where the dress scoops just low enough to glimpse the dimples located at the base of my spine and show off the entirety of my affinity mark.
Damning white coloring and all. I suppose it might look to be a bit of a statement on my part, exposing myself so intentionally.
But more than that I want to see the cape again, made entirely from that second fabric. It falls from the peaks of my shoulders down to just past the black silken trim at my feet.
My hair cascades to the base of my ribcage in its simple, natural state of loose waves.
Kleio insisted on a few touches of makeup, so there’s a soft blush on my cheeks and a sharp black line of kohl jutting upward at the edges of my eyes that magnifies the cold sapphire shade of my iris.
My lips only have balm applied as I have trouble keeping anything more colorful than that out of my teeth, so they’re left to their natural pale pink hue.
I smile in admiration at mine and my crew's handiwork before stepping down for the twins, impatiently waiting to appraise themselves next. As promised, they’re both dripping in color.
Prisca is swathed in a sparkling periwinkle, while Nephthys chose a cool-toned peach.
The dresses almost glow, illuminating the beauty of their coppery skin.
I grin while they spin before the mirror with hoots of identical laughter.
Nimra emerges next, dressed in a soft pink gown.
Like mine, her second layer is a thin fabric with embellished designs.
However, unlike mine, hers is crafted from an intricate lace that holds the illusion of falling petals.
Davina did end up going with a green in the shade of seafoam.
It brings out the gold in her hair and the colors in her hazel eyes.
Greer also went with green, but her chosen shade is a deep forest hue, and layers of shimmering tulle make up her dress.
Herse appears after some time looking like she’s been dipped in liquid silver. The cut of her dress is impeccable; from the body hugging silk falling off her shoulders to the flowing sleeves and narrow hem, she could be mistaken for a queen. A pair of pearl drop earrings makes the effect complete .
Per usual, Kleio takes the longest to get ready, although it’s mostly due to her helping the rest of us along the way.
True to her word, she ended up selecting dual fabrics of purple.
The first layer is composed of a rich violet that plunges between her breasts artfully and flows slightly outward from her hips.
The second is a light lavender tulle studded with gemstones that serves as her sleeves, which billow out from her shoulders before tightening around her wrists.
Her hair is styled atop her head in an intricate way only Kleio could manage. A long necklace of real diamonds wraps around her neck, and matching baguettes adorn her ears. Likely from the large stash of oblation items from her father. I grin at the excitement in her eyes meeting mine.
Tonight, Kleio looks every bit the Oyster Court highborn that she is.
I’m sure to strap a blade around my thigh before we leave and the slit running up my right leg gives me the perfect access.
The others shove their own weapons down their sleeves, around their waists, and into hidden folds. I even catch Nimra shoving what looks to be a dagger between her breasts. I'm deeply impressed as I watch it simply disappear from sight.
The outdoor lyceums are to be the grounds for tonight's Luminalia revel so we head for the open-air bridge normally crossed in warmer months to Ersatz class.
Due to my affinity, I’m the only one who isn’t bundled inside a cloak matching the color of my dress. The winter chill does nothing more than ruffle my hair as we reach the bridge .
An archway of lights has been crafted to encompass the open-air trestle so we enter inside what appears to be a tunnel of brilliant, blazing stars. Kleio slings her arm affectionately through mine while we trail behind our crew, with Herse and Greer just a few steps ahead.
The sound of wild, pulsating music greets us at the halfway point while inside the dazzling overpass. Reeds and bone flutes combine with the strumming of a lyre and the beating of rawhide drums to concoct a tempting melody that urges us to come join the chaos unfolding.
Stepping out of the shimmering exit, I stop dead in my tracks.
“Skelm has lost his godsdamned mind." My voice is little more than a whisper while my eyes widen at the grandiose scene before us.
In the past, we’ve been treated to some string lights here and there, a bit of warm food and some traditional music. Wine and other such drinks are of course also a major part of the revelry but this— this is another thing entirely.
The outdoor lyceums, surrounded by a tall forest of newly decorated pine trees, are absolutely unrecognizable.
A massive enclosure constructed from lavish garlands and fine white tenting spreads out wide along the training grounds.
Towers of candles glow from within, swaying to the wild beat of the music drifting towards us from inside.
"Well, his loss of sanity is our gain in debauchery,” Keio whispers back excitedly with a wink before tugging me along. I follow her and the others, walking through the entrance as if in a dream. My mouth is parted the entire time, I’m sure of it.
The inside is more unbelievable than the outside.
Level-twos stand on either side of the entrance and hand out the traditional Luminalia halos.
I swipe one from their outstretched baskets without really seeing the lower-level raider before me.
I’m too enraptured in our current ostentatious setting to pay much attention to the twisted winter wreath adorned with tiny glowing orb lights before placing the crown atop my head.
While the outside looked to be tented in white, the inside reveals the ceiling is actually made up of a clear translucent film.
It opens up wide to the night sky above, undoubtedly in order to watch tonight's main event.
Likely also to provide shelter against any freezing rain or snow should it cloud over.
The floor is made from glass and lights are beaded alongside the edges so we appear to walk atop radiant ice.
Long tables are strewn about, each overflowing with candles, food, and drink.
Raiders of various levels laze upon plush lounges and expensive-looking chairs.
Under the open sky lies a massive dance floor, with plenty of room for the musicians and their instruments.
This is only the main area.
Swiveling my head, I discover there’s various openings leading from the main space out into hallways and other smaller rooms beyond. I catch glimpses of darkened corners with scattered chaises and fertility-potent mistle bundles hung tauntingly near.
Kleio turns to me after handing her cloak over to the waiting level-two and the others begin shrugging theirs off in succession. “Drinks?” she asks hopefully.
I‘m only able to nod in response, my eyes wide from gawking. I make an effort to close them while following her to a buffet crowded with cups of liquor. On the way there, we pass by a grand table crafted of sterling perched atop a glass platform on the other side of the dance floor.
I bite my cheek to control my own surge of excitement.
TideLords Bombay and Kufko sit chatting and drinking with Lord Tiamat.
The two males wear impossibly rich suits in their traditional colors.
Tiamat dons a silken gown of dark russet.
Pearls flow from her neck and arms in an astonishing show of casual wealth .
I glance around but don’t spot any of the others though I’m certain they’re here somewhere.
We’ve been forewarned not to speak to any of the TideLords unless spoken to or contacted directly.
The likelihood of which is low but I still find myself buzzing with newfound nerves at the opportunity of them being so close.
“Bottoms up, ‘Cap!”
Tearing my gaze away from the trio of TideLords, I blink at the unexpected sight of an odd blue liquid before me. It glows faintly from inside what appears to be a shot glass. I take the offering from Kleio’s extended hand and find that the rest of my crew have matching ones already.
Kleio grins fiendishly before raising her tiny glass, “To Captain Boreas and her incredibly ravishing crew!” The twins whistle loudly in agreement and I chuckle at my second’s shamelessness before tossing back the luminous liquor.
“I’ll drink to that,” Vash announces, joining our group and throwing a suggestive grin Kleio’s way.
His own crew is currently selecting drinks from the opposite side of the table.
Larceon has found himself a dark green suit that looks almost black in the dim lights and a matching Luminalia halo sits perfectly straight atop his bronze curls.