Me and the Devil

There You Are.

Entering those doors felt like entering into a pit of snakes. Alex carefully took my arms in his and led me into the grand ballroom. “Just breathe slowly, and act like you have the most confidence in the world.” He patted my hand softly and gave me the first genuine smile I had seen on him. “You’re going to be okay, we have you.”

“Thank you,” I nodded and felt a tad bit better walking into that den of vipers.

I could feel the eyes following me, my face kept set as a stone as creatures of all kinds looked at me, some looked more human than not other I can only describe and fantastical.

Alex led me over to a wall and let my arm go. “I will be right back, I am going to grab us drinks. Be polite but curt if people try to speak with you.”

I gave a small nod and he left me. Keep your head up, smile politely, breath evenly, breath, breath, breath. Please breathe. I finally felt myself take in the air and let the panic wash away. Okay I got this, Alex will be back in just a bit. Leo cooed, looking around at everything and everyone.

I tried not to feel the hostility from some of the people in attendance, but their spiritual pressure that they gave off was anything but a joke. My neck was tense and I could feel a migraine coming on from all of the different kinds of energy.

“It can be hard the first time,” a crisp voice chimed into my ear.

“I’m sorry,” I turned and saw a creature that reminded me of a lunar moth. She had a pink fluff on her chest and wings that folded into a dress. It was remarkable just how adorable she was.

“When I first came to this realm I had trouble as well during my first ball,” she smiled, at least I think she smiled.

“I’m doing okay,” I smiled politely back at her before chuckling. “How long ago did you come?”

“Ah, I’ve been here a few hundred years,” she nodded as if that were normal to me. “Sorry my parents are calling for me. I’ll see you around,” her antennas wiggled and she waved before trotting off.

I guess not everyone is hostile. A small smile crossed my face. I might be okay.

I migrated slowly as people pushed around to get to different spots for different dances. I tried to find Alex, but he was nowhere to be found. "Leo can you go find Alex?" I asked him. He nodded and flew off. Okay good I'll be okay. Damn it, no I'm not. I needed to breathe for a few moments, I found myself out of the ballroom in the original hallway.

I stretched my neck looking down at the floor as I walked slowly through the hall.I thought Alex was warming up to me, but it seems like he didn’t care at all and left me to fend for myself. A deep sigh escaped my lips as I thought about the twins.

I bumped softly into someone and took a step back, finding a man-like creature towering over me “Looks like this little bunny is lost,” the man chuckled.

“I am sorry,” I bowed my head, I felt the fear I always did when John was drunk and wanted things from me.

“Shall we help you find your way?” Another man appeared. He had the same giant build the other guy had. Both wore suits, but the material looked on the lower luxury scale of things.

“Uh, no thank you, I am expected back at the ball,” I lied, no one would miss me there. In fact I’m sure people would relish the fact that I was gone.

“You look thirsty, how about we take you for a drink since your date stood you up,” the first man mocked. “No thank you, I have someone expecting me,” I protested and tried to turn around, but one of them grabbed my shoulder. “See I knew the little human would be scared, everyone was so worried when he let her out of the cell,but look at her as another pet for our lord and nothing special.” one laughed. “So I doubt he would mind if we played with her.”

“She looks better frightened,” the other laughed as he grabbed the thin material on my thigh to try and move it.

“There you are my star,” the voice from last night rang softly, his hand softly placing on my shoulder, swiftly moving me out of the grasp of those men. “I have been looking for you everywhere.”

“Your…” the man's mouth shut before he could finish what he was saying.

Corvus flicked his hand and both men quickly left the hallway.

“T…Thank you,” I stuttered, relief flooding through my body. I just wanted to breathe him in, the scent of sandalwood filling my nose. My body leaned into him before I could stop myself; again the feeling of pure relief that I couldn’t get enough of was engulfing me. His cool hands slipped around me, touching the bare skin on my back. I wrapped my arms around his waist, my hands slipping under his loose shirt to feel his skin. It was like I was in a trance, as my fingers traced his back finding scars of his own. His body tensed up as I did, and that brought me back to reality and I pulled away looking at the floor trying to grasp what I was doing.

“Are you afraid?” Corvus asked softly, taking my arm into his and guiding me down the hall. I couldn’t bare to even try and look at his face at this point. So this man was still a mystery.

“A bit,” I admitted without fear of his reply. What if touching him was against the rules? Why did I even do that? Is he even talking about that moment or the ball? “I don’t belong here, and everyone knows it. Yet it seems like someone very powerful wants me here.” I steered the conversation away from what just happened.

“What do you think of the person who made you do this?” He asked.

I could hear doors opening but instead of the ballroom we were outside. I looked up and saw the brilliant night sky dazzling with endless stars and streaks our universe. As scary as the people of the place were, I could it was like any other, both friendly and unfriendly. The scenery though was unmatched for anything earth has to offer.

“I think they have issues,” I laughed softly and looked around, seeing a massive garden. It was filled with earth flora, roses of every color, lilies of every kind.

“Why do you think that?” he continued to question.

“Because anyone who demands a person they had locked up for however long I was while making them relive their death suddenly go to a ball has issues,” I chuckled as I bent down and smelled one of the peonies. “But, I would like to thank them, because I got to meet you, Ally, and Leo!”

Corvus chuckled before he continued guiding me through the garden. “And did you have a nightmare last night?”

“No, actually it was a happy dream,” I stopped walking and found a small bunch of bluebonnets, I kneeled down and touched the soft petals. My stomach growled loudly, and I blushed embarrassed. I still hadn’t had a full meal since getting out of the cell.

“Come let’s get you something to eat my star,” he held his hand out for me to take.

I don’t know if I can truly trust him, but Oliver’s words rang out in my ears to trust those who take care of me. My hand slipped into him and he helped me up. I finally looked up and saw the masked man I had in my first non nightmare dream here. Except it was slightly different it had a crack in the mask over where his mouth should be.

“Um, not to rag on your outfit… But it is a ball,” I looked at him.

“Not to worry,” he smiled and snapped his fingers. His clothes suddenly transformed into a beautiful suit that matched the color scheme of my dress. His hair was neatly done and his mask looked polished.

“Must be nice,” I rolled my eyes thinking of the hour it took Ally just to do my hair.