Romantic, intimate, and warm are just a few ways to describe Darkmir's elaborate ballroom.

Coffered ceilings, alabaster chandeliers accented in gold, a built-in granite and mahogany bar, and architectural columns that define the dancing area make the Ballroom a perfect setting for seventy-five or more guests. It was entering a house of a billionaire with a space allotted for such lavish parties.

As Aislin walked in it felt like a palace straight from Disney movies. God, this was so wrong, this place belonged to personified darkness, how come the chandelier above them was shining so brightly.

Darkmir felt an unfamiliar tug as he saw her walk in. Guests here were not some normal humans, they were the high class, most influential and darkened ones. She stood out among them. She was wearing a floor-length ice blue dress, the cloth clung to her curves perfectly emphasizing the right areas. Her hair was tied in a side french braid giving her a look of a princess. Her eyes searched for a familiar face while she repeatedly kept licking her lips in anticipation.

In every word, she was looking extremely beautiful. Darkmir had been known for being the driven by lust, the darkest of desires but for now seeing the naive girl here, he felt a dull sense of lust but mostly his breath was taken away. It was a novel experience for him after having sex with millions of women.

"Aislin, it is a pleasure having you here." He said finally putting a rest to her frantic eyes.

"Why am I here, there is no one from the school?" She said venting out her discomfort and then bit her tongue lightly.

She was not supposed to be angry, she had to be charming. She had put a lot of effort into getting dressed up today but it didn't faze the mighty darkness even a bit.

"I never said there will be people from school. You are here as my date." Darkmir stated with ease.

Aislin sighed, she was hating this and after all this Darkmir actually looked gorgeous. She realized that only looks weren't needed for falling in love because no matter how devastatingly handsome Darkmir she couldn't bring up the feeling she felt for Ayduin who she hasn't even seen once.

He suddenly took her hand in his sending a jolt through her and before she could pull away he interlinked their arms. Giving her a smile, he started pulling her along.

"I have a present for you." He said as they moved past the crowd.

I don't need any present from you, you filthy piece of shit. She thought.

"What is it?" She had to reform her words into this.

Finally, they reached a room, small and dark. Fear constricted her throat as he pulled her along. Then he stopped before a large box.

"This is your Christmas gift, open it." He said with a crooked smile really beautiful.

She was relieved to actually find a gift and genuinely curious she immediately lifted the cover of the large wooden box.

She gasped out loud in awe. A brilliant piece of sword lay inside the box. It was gleaming in the darkness of the room. The hilt was a deep shade of crimson with intricate gold work. Her Aislin was etched on the blade. She grasped the hilt and lifted the sword gently as if it was not a weapon but something fragile.

It was well balanced in her hand and she had the urge to use it in a battle.

"I know that you attended sword fighting classes, so.." He smiled at her appreciatively.

"It is unwise on your part to hand me a weapon. I could strike you now." She said quite sure it will be useful.

And also it has been only a week since she has started her training and all for Ayduin, now he couldn't even see.

Darkmir laughed at her threat.

He closed in on her, only a few inches away. Her hand gripped the sword tighter.

"Lovely it will be of no use. I am darkness, you can't banish darkness from the world. I will just be reborn." He said in a low tone.

He then bent down closer to her ear and whispered, "And you don't want to kill me with the gift I just gave you."

The heat rushed through her, his breath touching her skin. She closed her eyes feeling nauseous all of a sudden.

He stepped away and grinned as he looked at her with eyes squeezed shut, her lower lip squeezed between her teeth. He wanted to kiss her, badly and being who he was he would have done it without any qualms but his desire not to hurt her feelings shocked him.

He took her hand in his and her eyes shot open. Touching her was weird, like the sun in winter. Scorching if you directly look at it but pleasant nevertheless. It was aching as well as soothing to feel her.

"Let's dance Aislin, music has started playing now." He said pulling her out of the room.

She set aside the sword and followed him in no mood to dance but she couldn't disagree. Within few minutes they were in the center of the huge ballroom. People around them waited for them to begin.

Darkmir pulled her closer and placed his hand around her waist pulling her even closer. Her breathing stopped and it took a moment for her to restart her heart. She cast down her eyes not sure she would want to look at Darkmir up this close right now. They started swaying to the tune and few moments later others followed.

"You are really beautiful Aislin." Darmir suddenly said more like a thought to himself.

Mulitple emotions were jumbling inside her, discomfort, misery and disgust. She was too close to the enemy.

"Thank you." She managed a reply.

"Look at me Aislin. What are you thinking?" He asked a slight irritation in his tone.

"Umm..well, I do not like parties that much unless I have a group of friends with me." She said the partial truth.

"Oh, so I suppose you want to leave. But let me ask since I am really skeptic, why did you come here tonight?" He asked as if to find the plan, the reason behind her behavior.

He was not far off the mark. He knew she hated him, he knew she was not the one to easily crumble in front of him. It was natural for him to ask why she was here.

She tried to play honest on a hunch, it was risky but she can't find a reason sane enough to come to this party.

"I decided to be the martyr. I have broken my ties with Ayduin and I really respect the Prince for all he does, he had to do just because he is burdened with responsibility so I don't want you to hurt him. I simply made a choice, I decided to comply with your condition to keep him safe." She said simply but nervous inside of the reaction Darkmir should have the truth.

He smiled and relief flooded through her.

"I can't say that I am not jealous but I appreciate your choice. You have feelings for him as I can see and I am sure you haven't told him yet. This might be nice for me. But let me tell you Aislin, nothing anyone would say can change my mind. If Ayduin is against me, he will surely die by my hands." He said clearly stating that her choice was close to useless.

Ayduin was in as much danger as he was before. Aislin sighed in disappointment.

"Can I leave now? I have my classes tomorrow, sword fighting training and I have a new sword to show off." She said trying to play calm.

"Sure you can Aislin. I will not force you to stay and live through the boredom of the party." He said.

Aislin waited for him to let her go but instead, he bent closer and even before she could comprehend what was happening, his lips touched his. She went all stiff on contact, a shock ran through her body. She wanted to yell, cry and punch him, kick him but she stood there, her hands limp at her side.

But his lips were working some magic, some evil enchanting magic. Her eyes went all half mast and she felt herself giving in. He deepened his kiss, sucking gently on to her lower lip and nipping it lightly in between. As much as she wanted to pull away something was amiss. Her hands clutched to sides of her dress as she refused to kiss him back.

He broke the kiss, his hands now moving away from her waist and the back of her neck. She went all limp, energy-less and sighed in relief and something more. She was deeply flushing but deep inside she was choking back tears. There was a havoc of emotion inside her.

"You are stubborn Ailsin, very stubborn. It is quite unnerving for someone to be so uncomplying to me and my charms. One day you will kiss me back." He said in a deep husky tone.

She couldn't respond. She was supposed to make him fall in love but she was doing the opposite. But was all this worth it?

"I will leave now." And before Darkmir could pull another trick she hurried away from him.

Her whole body was shaking as she left the mansion. She was disgusted by all of this, not by the fact he kissed her, she expected that much but not that soon. She was appalled at herself for the thought she had of almost kissing him back.

***

Where is this going? xD

Curse my mood for this :D I have written first chapter of DNA and might upload it if I re-read and like it still xD

Hope this was nice.

And for commenting and supporting me, I love all of you still here for me! I promise as soon I get grip of my life after 28th Nov I will do a Q/A and you can ask me all weird questions :D