Her Dark King

The Ball of the Century

***

Castle Waelmore was filled to the brim with laughter and conversation, the sea of voices carrying up to a nervous Allegra who stood at the precipice of the main staircase that would lead down to the party. The planning for the event had been harrowing to say the least. Evanora had declared the next Full Moon as the night of the auspicious event which had given them only two days to carry out all the planning.

Any normal being would have found the idea insane but Evanora Gremory was no normal being.

Her ability to multitask and enact strategies was famed in all realms. Her calculating mind had found a way to make it work, but at the expense of her husband and daughter's sanity as their involvement had been demanded by the excited monarch.

"All that crazy running around was actually worth it considering how good this all turned out."

Allegra muttered over to Wendy, her ever present attendant who chuckled at the young princess' words.

She and the rest of the wait staff had contributed their own assistance in the planning of the event but it was the grand display of magic from their Queen, King and Princess that had been the integral in turning the tide and had reduced the requisite planning period of four months into two days.

The Royal family's colors- Navy Blue and Silver- drapes hang around the entirety of the Grevia Kingdom and Waelmore Castle with golden accents to balance it all out. The sky above the Castle was bathed in floating lantern light and fairy lights illuminated the towering trees that surrounded the great castle.

A black carpet was laid out for all the guests to arrive in style and each was received with formally dressed guards who were positioned at each and every corner of Grevia for their reception as well as protection.

The inside of the castle was just as grand with diamond chandeliers lit in every room, the glitter of the jewels bathing the impeccably dressed guests in wondrous light. The massive ball room had been chosen for the night's festivities, the ruby and sapphire cushioned chandeliers bathing the room in perfect light.

The black marble floors had been cleaned and glossed enough to reflect the kaleidoscope of colors shining down on the guests.

The Mural on the high ceilings harmoniously melded into the architecture as painted cherubs danced across the painted clouds. Unlike the rest of the art that decorated the Castle walls, the murals on the high ceilings of the ballroom were famous to all, most especially due to the depiction of Celestial Olympus whose gods and goddesses danced across the sky in celebration. The Underworld portrayed dark skies that rumbled with crimson lightning which shimmered across the ghoulish river of souls, Styx.

Three figures stood at the edge of the river, their identities covered behind veils of darkness. It was said that the figure to the far left was Hekate, Mother goddess of magic and progenitor of all Witches and Wizards whilst the figure to the far right was the god of death himself, Thanatos.

The figure in the middle was, however, the individual who seemed to pique a young Allegra's interest. On many nights, the young Princess would sneak out after her bedtime, lie on the ballroom floor and stare up at the man who had become a sort of fascination for her.

He was said to be the King of the Underworld, the Dark Celestial who ruled the Realm of Eternal Night, Hades.

Not much was known about him but his hulking form and the Crown of bleeding skulls that was illuminated by the crimson lightning was enough to intimidate all who looked upon him.

He was a god not to be crossed.

The incredible murals were embedded with magic that was said to originate from the very first Queen of witches. It was fabled that she was a seer, a Mage blessed with the power of visions of which Queen Evanora had inherited after centuries of the ability being lost in generation after generation of Gremory's.

The Murals were said to be a depiction of one of her visions in which she had visited the upper realm of Celestial Olympus as well as the Underworld, the realm of the Celestial Dark Ones in which the goddess Hekate resided.

Even now, as the wait staff passed around drinks and appetizers to the formally dressed guests, many of them couldn't help but look up at the incredible murals.

Allegra peaked stealthily from her position, the sight of her mother and father seated on their grand thrones overlooking the rest of the room bringing her a sense of comfort.

She was reminded that she was not alone.

She knew that her friends had also arrived and were somewhere within the crowd, performing their own obligations as Nobility and Royalty.

Well, I should probably do my best too...It was my decision after all....

For all her anxiety, Allegra couldn't help the slight excitement that engulfed her at the prospect of finding her other half among the sea of guests. It would finally bring relief to her parents and allow them to retire into the Mohen sleep...

**

A burst of white energy appeared right outside the Palace courtyard just as the guests within were called to attention.

The Palace guards gaped at the dark figure who had emerged from the blinding light, his brooding form and incredible presence sending chills throughout their bodies. He seemed to be the only guest who had arrived without escorts and yet his imposing form alerted them to the fact that he didn't need anyone.

Aaric stared up at Waelmore Castle whose grand and gothic architecture had not changed. Despite having seen it fifty years before, he couldn't help but be in awe at its size and the strong essence of pure magic that came from it. The place was no different from the memories he had of it, the only difference being the grand decorations for the Ball being held a few ft. away.

"That freaking cunning and devious goddess. Of course she sent me here of all f*****g places."

He muttered to himself, chuckling darkly at the sight of his changed clothes.

His sleeping pants were long gone, replaced by formal attire that consisted of a three piece suit.

From the midnight black dress shirt that fit his muscular form perfectly to a matching half coat, well fitting, silver-lace embroidered black dress pants that matched his suit jacket and, to finish the look, black boots.

His fade-cut platinum blonde hair was slicked back with only one loose, long curl out of place, no doubt due to the journey through realms.

Releasing a long winded sigh to calm his raging body, he tucked the errant curl into its place before replacing the golden crown on his head once more, the emeralds reflecting magnificently off the lantern lit in the sky.

Turning to the gaping guards, he offered them a simple nod before proceeding into the party.

The feel of a pack of cigarettes in one of his pockets made him chuckle in bemusement, knowing well enough it was the goddess' way of apologizing for the mess she had thrust him into.

"Oh, this won't be enough to appease me, you insane celestial."

He muttered, ignoring the stares he received from each gender of the different supernatural factions.

Not many knew who he was.

He had ensured to keep out of the public eye as much as possible, going as far as to ignore all the gatherings arranged by the various Kings and Queens of each of the realms.

Avernus remained neutral to all the happenings around them, their stance echoing clearly with his absence from each of those gatherings.

He was sure that only a handful of the guests present would be able to recognize him from meeting him before whereas those who were powerful enough would be able to sense the dark energy he had sealed within him. The oblivious ones would approach him, like lambs led to s*******r , but he knew that was the most improbable outcome.

Many found his towering 6"5 form and the permanent scowl etched on his features to be intimidating, a fact that had already deterred a number of aloof, love-stricken females from approaching him.

"I, once again, wish to thank you all for attending this auspicious event to celebrate my daughter's induction into Royal society. I am quite certain that she is more than excited to meet you all so without further ado, I present to you all, Allegra Isabelle Gremory, Heiress apparent to the throne and my little girl."

Evanora's voice brought Aaric back to the present, his sunset orange eyes focusing on her as she stood at the front of the room.

She had barely changed since he saw her last.

Her beauty and radiance was just as he remembered it, leaving him in awe as it did many who'd had the chance to meet and interact with her. Her personality shone just as bright with memory upon memory flooding Aaric's mind, leaving a small, nostalgic smile upon his lips.

Even now, she looked stunning in her red, silk ball gown, the fitted bodice adorned with black rhinestones that stretched down to the lace appliques of the gown. Her hands, which were intertwined with a smiling Atalante, were donned in matching red, silk gloves. Her hair was in an elegant bun, the golden crown shimmering beautifully on her head as the cushioned diamonds reflected off of the room's lighting.

The sight of the King of Mages elicited even more memories within Aaric's mind which was transported to a time long past. The man had been a closer companion to him than Evanora who he had met through the first born son of the renowned house of Salvatori.

Despite their friendship beginning on the wrong foot, the two men had met in the middle and found their interests aligning with each conversation they'd had. Atalante was a legend in his own right, his feats as the Captain of the Mage Assassin Core impressing Aaric to no end.

"Long may she reign."

The guests chorused, each of them bowing low before the figure descending the grand staircase. Shocked whispers erupted from all around him from the bowing guests, each of them appalled by his blatant disregard for formality.

The Demon Lord could care less, though.

In the sea of bowing heads, he was the only one still upright, his otherworldly eyes mesmerized by the ethereal beauty before him of whom he could now see clearly.

He couldn't help but take in everything about her.

From the way her black, lace gloved hand tightened against the railing of the stairs which signified her nervousness- to the small, formal smile she granted the bowing guests before her which outlined her discomfort.

She hated being the center of attention.

Unlike many royals who slowed their steps and allowed the crowd to take in their beauty, grace and well dressed forms, her steps were swift as they carried her to her parent's side.

Aaric couldn't help but be in absolute awe as memories he thought he lost to the sands of time began to creep back on him. He could see it clearly, almost as if it was happening before him once more...

***