[h2][center][b][color=red]Let the Dance Begin.[/color][/b][/center][/h2]
[right][sub]Interacting with: [@trainerblue192][@Obscene Symphony][/sub][/right]

Silence pressed down on the room’s occupants after Salem finished speaking. Ryner and Varis made eye contact while the Queen glanced once at Lady Sinnenodel’s mage and back to the recklessly forward boy. The mage brought a melon slice and chewed on it for a moment as she regarded Salem. Varis picked up his glass and leaned back, fiddingling with the stem. Isadora, with a look from Ryner, shifted discreetly towards the servant’s door. Only the woman chewing disturbed the silence..

Inwardy, Varis sighed. It was obvious his Lady and himself were goading him into a mistake. If no one at the table acknowledged what just occurred, he should take the hint and maintain the charade. Instead, the plant mage handed himself and quite possibly what few rights he had over to the Sinnenodels. He would have to tread carefully or the arrogance he’d shown thus far would come back tenfold. The woman tapped her fingers gently against her napkin.

[color=MistyRose]“We find your demand both amusing and insulting. As a mage, you should be thankful for anything your betters do for or to you.”[/color] Her voice rang sickly sweet. [color=MistyRose]“But since your naivety amused us this evening, we will allow you an opportunity to redeem yourself.”[/color] The mage reached behind her head and drew off the blindfold. Her eyes were partially sunken in, a deep red covering what remained of her sclera and the last of the pupil colored like puss. Faint scars reached a few inches past her eyelids. [color=MistyRose]“What [i]disrespect[/i]” the mage chuckled on the word, “have we offered?”[/color]

Salem watched as the mage removed her blindfold, revealing a grotesque scene that more interested him, than repulsed him. [i]Severe acid damage[/i] He’d seen these before, never once as a form of accident. No, these monsters clearly disfigured their mage in order to make her more complacent. It was clear the type of people he was dealing with, Salem would need to watch his next moves more carefully. 

[Color=82ca9d]“I refer to the intrusion of my mind. Lady Sinnenodel, I acknowledge that you view things as mere objects, and if that's the case, my mind is no possession of yours. If anything, aside from my own it would, by your logic, be the possession of Mr. Bordeleux who is not present at the moment to have given you his blessing to use his item.”[/color] Salems eyes wandered back towards the mage and a slight frown began to form. [i]Poor dear...such a cruel fate to have to live[/i]

[i]‘Game, set, match.’[/i] Varis shook his head as the Queen narrowed her eyes at the mage and Isadora slipped out of the room. Ryner sat forward, prepared to object to anything that occured on her school grounds if it endangered the foolish mage’s life. 

[color=FA8072]“That is quite. An accusation. Mr. Spellman.”[/color] The Queen raised her voice. [color=FA8072]“I expect you. Have some proof. Of this intrusion.”[/color]

Salem clenched his fist under the table as the queen spoke. [Color=82ca9d]“I don't quite know how one would prove such a thing. I can only describe to you what it is I felt and know, Your Majesty.”[/color]

[color=FA8072]“Your feelings. Mean little. When bringing. Accusations. Against my council.”[/color] The Queen responded. [color=FA8072]“Mortals easily. Misconstrue their own. Experiences since. They have so. Little to gauge. Them against.”[/color] The mage woman hummed thoughtfully.

[color=MistyRose]“Perhaps there is more to this than we see.”[/color] The mage turned to the Queen. [color=MistyRose]“The boy blatantly disregards our superiority, pushes for massive reform, and fabricates claims against a Council Member. All the night after the Eve’s little debacle. We find this an interesting coincidence.”[/color]

[color=FA8072]“Describe your. Experience, boy.”[/color]The Queen demanded. 

Salem cleared his throat as he looked sincerely at the Queen. [Color=82ca9d]“Of course your Majesty. It began as I went to catch a glance at Mr. Starag, only finding myself unable to do so. I felt cold, lifeless hands, like that of a spectre, gripping against my face, forcing me to look onto images of my past. Starting from the most recent, going all the way onto my childhood. Most were memories that caused pain, or negative emotions. Very few slipped in that offered some form of comfort. Anytime I wished to look away from the barrage,  those cold spectre hands would grip me once more and force me to look on. I was suddenly jolted back out of its grips when Varis mentioned the potential of enthrallment of the mage council members.”[/color]

Salem sat forward, both hands clasped together on the table. [Color=82ca9d]“Your Majesty, that is the experience I just had as I sat at your table. Now, I do not personally state that Lady Sinnenodel ordered her mage to do so, but as magical law stands, any magic made by a mage is the vampires responsibility. Is it not?”[/color]

The Queen’s eyes turned black almost immediately and her frown deepened into a scowl. [color=FA8072]“Do not presume to lecture me on laws written by my hand.”[/color] The Queen boomed. The previous lethargy faded as her irritation became apparent. [color=FA8072]“Since your arrival you have spouted radical views and blatantly disrespected my Council and her authority. While I encourage progressive thoughts, I will not have you attempting to cause turmoil within my ranks with false accusations. In light of recent events within the Eve household and here on my daughter’s campus,”[/color] Ryner moved to speak but the Queen held her hand up. [color=FA8072]“You will be placed under observation and your family's assets will be seized until our investigation into your intentions has concluded.”[/color] 

[color=bc8dbf]“Mother, Salem is speaking from inexperience and an obvious trauma. There is no need to launch a full investigation into him.”[/color] Ryner protested. [color=bc8dbf]“The boy offers free medical services to those in need. You can't shut down his operations with practically nothing against him. And if it turns out to be true, it would be a gross violation of the treaty and its laws.”[/color]

[color=f7976a]“While the description of his ordeal matches several mental interrogation techniques, the boy already admitted to having no other evidence of the event. It is entirely circumstantial that the attack originated with my Lady or her mage. It is also possible, and more likely, that the attack came from another source considering the increase in the Red Hand’s activity as of late.”[/color] Varis countered Ryner. [color=f7976a]“In consideration that an agent of the Red Hand has managed to infiltrate the Academy as Countess Marivaldi’s partner, it is likely they have resorted to other techniques to fracture our unity. Mental magic is not an uncommon branch and an agent of the Hand could have inflicted something upon Mr. Spellman without his knowledge.”[/color] 

[Color=82ca9d]“I meant no disrespect Your Majesty, I, a mere mortal, simply wished to gain clarification on if I recalled your laws correctly. That way I could know if my allegations towards the pair would be correct or if I must offer an apology to Lady Sinnenodel for misunderstanding your laws and thus wrongfully placing blame towards her.”[/color] Salem turned to room. [Color=82ca9d]“I know nothing of this Red Hand you speak, so I doubt I'd be aware of any of the hands involvement with my mind. With more information to consider, aside from the only mage I could have seen responsible, I ask humbly for an apology that I may have spoke too soon in my accusation towards Council Woman Sinnenodel. As you said, Your Majesty, mortals can rarely process their emotions so well and having my mind infiltrated is a very disturbing thought to bear.”[/color] Salem bowed as he could in his chair towards the Queen then Lady Sinnenodel. [Color=82ca9d]“My sincerest apologies.”[/color]

[color=MistyRose]“As such, we support the Queen’s decision to investigate the Spellman family. The Marivaldi’s should prioritize them in fact.”[/color] Lady Sinnenodel’s mage demanded as the conversation continued without acknowledging Salem. [color=MistyRose]“We find the very possibility of more unwitting victims both disturbing and dangerous. If the Red Hand exploits such staging grounds, we suggest closing all of them.”[/color] 

[color=bc8dbf]“I apologize you Excellency but closing charity funded organizations would damage our standing with the vastly majority of the community. We should be careful not to take extreme measures with such little information. If anything, the boy mentioned he found acting as a guest stressful earlier and it could be as simple as a case of overactive nerves.”[/color] Ryner interjected. [color=bc8dbf]“Stressful situations often trigger mortal’s overly colorful imaginations. Run your investigation mother but ease his restrictions. I will add etiquette lessons to his schedule so we can prevent this behavior in the future.”[/color] 

[color=f7976a]“If my theory proves correct, he is still a danger to himself and others.”[/color] Varis reminded the table. [color=f7976a]“He must stay under someone’s eyes. On campus, there are plenty of guards but when he returns home, he becomes a flight risk at best. It is imperative we assign an escort or temporary watch for his breaks.”[/color] The Queen seemed to consider this, her eyes clearing as the assembly spoke.

[color=FA8072]“Very well. The Marivaldi’s will investigate the Spellman assets but the boy will have his freedom still.”[/color] The Queen decided, her voice returning to its slower pace. [color=FA8072]“On his breaks, he will accompany Aaron home until the investigation is complete. The boy will have no contact with his family or assets until the Marivaldi’s deem it safe. That is final.”[/color]

Salem looked towards Aaron, eyes shaking slightly as he looked down and nodded in agreement to what had been decided for his fate.

Silence descended once more. Isadora slipped back out into the room. Ryner shot a sympathetic look at Salem and Varis sipped at his blood, disappointed in the Spellman child but satisfied he learned his place. The mage went back to eating alongside the Queen. Lady Sinnenodel herself now wore a small smile.