[ alicent meets her gaze, steady and sure. in this, she can be strong. she must be, if she wishes to return to her children, whole and hale.

they slip back into the house, the horrors of the feast echoing behind them. ]

I cannot know for certain what was intended — but if we are divided, especially from the strong among us, we are made weaker.

[ the humans outnumber vampires enough to cause trouble for them. that must play a part in this strange display. discord benefits those in power. ]

The party tempted them by design.

[ inviting them to be monstrous and frightening, words she has never applied to daniel or louis. a trap, ensnaring human and vampire alike. ]