Me and the Devil

Dance.

“Can you dance?” Corvus asked, looking over to me.

“Not perfectly, but I can follow a tune,” I nodded and looked up at him. I don’t know why but it felt like he was smiling behind that mask. I blushed and looked down. I was embarrassed, just who was this man?

“What a lovely color,” he slipped his fingers under my chin and lifted my face to look at him. His thumb brushed against my skin to my lips and I let him, it felt so good when this man touched me. It was like he turned off all of my senses of danger. His presence was so peaceful, it was like breathing. “We should practice before going,” he flicked his free hand and a soft melody began to play.

His hand released my chin and crawled down my side finding its place on my hip. The other hand softly brushed my arm until taking my hand. We began to move together, he was a remarkable leader in this dance. I had never done it, but with his guidance it was as if I had done it my entire life. He hummed along with the music; it was such a sad song. My heart ached as he twirled me out before pulling me back in my back resting on his chest. Just who was this man, and what was he thinking.

The air between us was getting heavier, I couldn’t hear the music much anymore as I stared in awe at this man before me. We swayed together softly following the music until he released my hand and grabbed my hips lifting me at the crescendo of the music. I gasped softly, I hadn’t been touched in my spot in ages and it was on fire as his finger dug into my skin just enough to tighten my core. I placed my hands on his shoulders; biting on my inner lip to try and calm myself and looked down and saw a gleam of blue from his eyes behind the mask. I touched his cheek. The cool marble of the mask felt calming beneath my hands.

He began to slowly let me down, his hands holding me tightly against his body as I slid down. His fingers crawled up my back until they held my neck and my feet were just barely touching the floor. Corvus tilted my head over to the side and his face came close to my neck so I could feel his warm sweet breath on brush my skin. I closed my eyes and lost myself to the moment as my own hands felt the waistband of his pants.

You’re disgusting. A w***e. No one actually wants you. John’s words crashed into my head.

I gasped and pushed him away. “We should get going,” I coughed and tried to steady myself.

I wish I could see the expression on his face, but there was only stone. I was pathetic, who would actually want me? “Of course my star,” Corvus reached over and tucked a loose piece of hair back in place. I flinched as his fingers brushed my ear. “You can go back to the penthouse if you want.”

“And waste such a splendid outfit,” I tried to fix the atmosphere.

“You do not have to force yourself,” Corvus reassured me, my heart ached a bit as the man before me has been such a kind and tender soul.

“Can we leave after a dance?” I asked softly.

“You have my word,” he held out his hand to lead me back to the ball. I took it and we walked back into the building. “I must tell you, things may get a bit hectic once we enter.”

I nodded, I didn’t have the right to protest, he has already given me so much grace with how I am acting.

We didn’t speak on the way back through the hall, except when getting to a different set of double doors. “Just stay by my side please.”

“Announcing the moon of our empire, emperor Corvus Viotto, and his guest the lady Astoria Lux,” a voice announced. I tensed up and looked over to Corvus realizing I had been insulting him back in the garden. I swear I heard him chuckle before the doors opened.

We walked in together and the silence in the room was palpable. Most people were looking at him in awe, some in bewilderment, others with hate, and a few glances found their way to me.

I plastered a smile on my face, and focused on not tripping down the stairs into the middle of the ballroom. We stood in front of each other, and then bowed. Thank god for reading all those fantasy novels so I have a semi grasp on etiquette.

We began the dance we did in the garden. “Were you ever going to tell me that you ruled this place?” I asked in a hush tone.

“Why, so you would treat me differently?” He shot back smugly.

“I…” I was going to argue, but he was right.

“No, I wanted to see you for you,” he spun me out and back in letting me rest against his chest. “I know you have many layers, my star. Many walls I will need to climb to get to the real you.”

“How can you say that?” I blushed as we shifted around and began to sway together.

“Should one not say how they feel?” He asked me softly.

“Yes, but time and place are important. You do not know me, you cannot possibly feel anything towards me,” I looked up at him, but just the mask looked down at me. I couldn’t gauge if anything he was saying was a lie. He had no tell, I just had to take his word.

“Do not tell me what I get to feel,” he stated before the ending of the music grew near. I was nervous about the lift, but he went for a conservative dip instead.

He hates me. No, he isn’t trying to be mean. I tried to reason with myself, but I could feel my emotions shutting down. He guided us to a balcony to get fresh air as people clapped for us. He is going to get rid of you now.

The cool wind brushed against my skin. Maybe I will end up back in a cell, or worse. And then all of the emotions just stopped. Nothing mattered any more. “I would like to go to my room now,” I said coldly. I just wanted to sleep.

“Of course my star,” he held onto my hand gently.

“Your majesty!” A woman burst onto the balcony and walked up to us in a gorgeous pink dress. She looked like an angel, but something about her felt heavy and negative. “I simply must dance with you,” her voice was like knives in my ears. I could tell she was trying to flirt with him.

I clenched Corvus’s hand wanting to get away. I just wanted to go away and sleep.

“I am terribly sorry, but Lady Lux is the only person I will be dancing with from now on,” he rubbed his thumb against the top of my hand to try and comfort me. He carefully guided me past her.

“Why? She is just a stupid human,” She scoffed.

He paused and snapped around to look at the young woman.