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"It seems that the party, due to the recent spectacle, has somewhat become a tad bit less crowded." Xol chuckled, looking around at the mostly empty room. Aside from some diehards with strong stomachs or the regular BC crowd who wouldn't call this 'out of the norm', the place was as dead as KB. He had really hoped to have a quiet, peaceful evening of pleasantries. Pity.

"So my love, do you wish to stay and mingle?" A smartass grin was creeping across his lips. Xol couldn't help but be amused by the situation. For whatever reason Than had done what he had did... to everyone in the room it had just seemed like cold blooded murder.

"I really doubt if we should both'r anymore..." She said sourly, glaring at Than. Really? Honestly? Did he have to go and ruin a perfectly decent evening? She looked to her lover and sighed a bit. She wasn't sure whether she wanted to stay of just give up and relocate to home that was now known as the Keep.

Phia rolled her eyes at him.

"Xol....do ye 'onesty think I wanna leave becuase I feel unsafe?" She scoffed at her lover, maybe he underestimated her with her power in check. She turned her narrowed violet gaze to him and gave him a warning glare. "Be good Xol Solaris...." She growled.

"No dear, I was simply saying that if you feel in danger to use the power which you've already shown to be quite adequate... hidden in that little body of yours." Xol squeezed her hand a little tighter and raised a brow at his loves defensiveness. He didn't blame her, not very many have had the pleasure of seeing Phia in a true rage he imagined. "Hmph. Normally I'd be running head first into peril... and yet, here I am still by your side love. Take that as a testament of how much you mean to me." His eyes were still fixated on Kaiori and Than, the former glaring with obvious malice towards the latter.

After a few moments, the smile on Than's face began to fade, and his attention turned to the pitiful silence that was over the room, with the exception of Phia and Xol's chitter chatter and Apollo's mumbling. Reacting or not, Kaiori would no doubt feel the steady build in Than's heart rate over the moments that passed after he discarded his costume. "IS EVERYONE HERE ASLEEP!!?" cried Than so loud it echoed in the ballroom for several seconds. "Now, I get the fact that everyone here had a different opinion about KB, assuming you knew him, but I'd think at least someone could pay him a little respect in death. I mean I'm not asking much here; a simple prayer would be nice; it's not a eulogy. Or do I have to be murderer AND eulogizer?" Than asked rhetorically. Than brought his mechanical hand up to his face and brushed it up over his forehead, pushing his hair mostly back. With his hair out of his face he was showing quite openly the blind eye and the spider web-like scar where his left eye used to be.

"You know what, forget it. Just call me insane or something. Moving on.... Oh!" The next order of business dawned quickly in Than's mind. "Princess." Than called out to Bell directly and with utmost calm in his voice. The call should have been strong enough to pierce her terrified trembling, or at the very least trigger part of the Eve complex that afflicted her. Whatever Bell's response, Than would turn to face the thrones, Bell's in particularly, before slowly getting down on one knee. The careful observer would note that Than's knee wasn't all the way down and most of his weight was on the other foot to keep his pants from getting bloodstained. Than kept his head looking straight on, still ignoring Kai's proximity completely, and he brought his left arm up horizontal across his chest, and his right arm rested behind the small of his back. "One of my reasons for being here tonight is as a messenger for my mother. She wished for me to relay her regards and gratitude to you; the company you gave my mother at the Count's ball was immensely delightful to her." To punctuate his message, Than bowed his head in her direction. "I apologize if the suddenness of my actions has startled you. Please know this man died willingly, and this execution was in accordance with his will."

Than was a little perplexed himself as to why he was trying to explain this murder to Bell. He probably just didn't lile to see the girl frightened without any explanation for what had happened. With any luck, Bell would calm down rather quickly, and after the night was over her mother and brother could resume poisoning her with the idea that Than was simply a murderous misfit who killed without reason.

Sipping her drink quietly, she remained alone. She didnt feel the urge or need to mingle and found out about her past, this place was full o flies and betrayal. Who knows she prolly has some under her belt. With a sigh she finishes her second drink and asks for another. Might as well get drunk and savor the free drinks. Her figure remained unaffected by the chaotic scenery going on in the ballroom. She didnt pick a fight nor answers, she would have to find others that apparently arent here to speak with including a Truinthil.

Than listened to every word without raising his head. Truthfully, he was sold on her wisdom just from her first words: 'you had a choice.' That was so much the truth Than almost stirred from his position when he heard the choking voice speak such forthright words. The only flaw he could find with them was that it was in the past tense. He still very much had choice and nothing he did would be anything than what he willed to do; that much he'd accepted the moment he resolved to come here.

He made no motions to stop Bell from leaving. If she was anything like Kai's past self then she would be inconsolable except by the ones she really trusted, and at the moment Griffin seemed to be the only candidate. Despite his disapprobation for the Prince, he would have no choice but to trust that he could take care of Bell. It didn't occur to him that this event would set in motion for Bell a similar path to the one Kaiori had taken. Still, it was Than's hope from the beginning that Kaiori could keep Bell from making the same errors she had, and those errors didn't include having a heart and being an optimist.

The depression and tension that had befallen the room, however, would be snapped at once when Apollo turned to leave. In an instant, Than was on his feet, his hand charged, and had already fired a shot in Apollo's direction which impacted the wall he'd turned toward instead of hitting Apollo himself. The loud bang accompanying the shot was only amplified by its echo. Than let the air linger for a moment before explaining himself. "Is this how stupid you really are!?" shouted Than first. "You recognized it, or didn't you? That was just a severe form of the same technique I killed you with all those years ago." In truth, the number of years was quite small, but it lingered with Than none the less. "You think I came here just to have a stupid little chat about your desert town? Or just to kill KB? It was you I came here ready to kill! I honestly don't give much of a damn about your people or your people's culture. All of that was just beating around the bush so I could perceive you for myself. I'm not dumb enough to believe I can ever change the 'hearts of your people' overnight, and there's no way you could either. All of this chaos is purely and solidly about you and you alone. And if you just turn around now I'll hunt you down in your own home." Than couldn't simply let his intentions turn mute now. Apollo still had the option to leave, but Than wouldn't let him be deluded into thinking that was all there was to it. "You need to understand, Apollo; I still don't want to kill you. I'm really still as much about second chances and redemption as I was when we first met. However, you're a much greater obstacle as a person than I think you understand. So go ahead, escape for now. Someday you'll find my shadow in your palace again." His hand was still outstretched as he stood from firing his first shot.