Demus Oneshots

Diamonds

The room was a glitter of diamonds, so bright Remus could barely see. There must have been hundreds if not thousands of candles lit. Candles in the crystal chandelier, candles on the dining table, candles by the window in their dozens and on every possibly table. It made everything shine like a star. Or a precious jewel.

And by the far the most precious was currently whirling around with his sister in the middle of the ballroom. Always the life of the party, Janus was all smiles and laughter. He was completely made of polite handshakes and money.

He was also made of suggestive glances and meaningful tugs on the sleeve. Though that was just for Remus. Their own secret language...

Remus couldn't take his eyes off the Dagger twins. Venus looked a vision, not quite as tall as her brother but stunning in a pale pink ballgown. Her hair was plaited behind her head, almost in a bun at the base of her head. Simple but effective. Remus could see every other man glancing at her.

Janus was really the one he was watching, though. He'd come to the ball fashionably late (as always) with Venus and he'd barely been able to look at Remus before the orchestra started up. He asked Venus for a dance - she was the only one he ever danced with - and they were off.

Speaking of the orchestra, they finished the song and the dancers parted with a bow or a curtsey. A man in a dark blue waistcoat and a black tailcoat came towards the Dagger twins, his hand already half outstretched towards Venus. Janus stopped him with a glare and a hand on his chest.

Words that Remus couldn't hear were passed between the two men. The orchestra started up again and Janus looked at Venus, asking her a question. She shot him a refined glare and curtseyed to the opportunistic man. He looked like he couldn't believe his luck and bowed to her. Then, he took her hand and led her away in the dance.

Janus melted from the dance floor with an efficiency of someone who was used to making themself invisible. But he could never be invisible. Not to Remus.

He was walking to Remus now. He picked a glass of champagne off a near-by table and stood next to him.

"Slow party." Were his first words.

"You were late," Remus retorted.

"Still..." Janus glanced at Remus, his eyes travelling up Remus' body in a much more intimate way than should be allowed for a public space, "no fun."

"I'm not sure anything could be fun for you anymore," Remus said, forcing his eyes back to the dancers. "What with your elaborate lifestyle."

"You love my lifestyle," Janus said with a smirk that was lost in his champagne glass. He finished the drink and ran his fingers along the glass' delicate stem. "I don't trust him."

"Who?"

Janus gestured to the man dancing with Venus. "He's too old for her," he decided. "I won't allow her to be carried away by some bright-eyed wastrel who thinks he can do something by investing his money in ships to the new world."

"I believe it's Venus' choice," Remus said slowly.

"It is," Janus said with a slight nod of his head. "But it's my choice who gets to be her choice. She deserves someone who's going to treat her like a queen."

"How do you know he won't?"

"His hand's far too high on his waist," Janus explained, gesturing with his glass. "And he can't keep his eyes where he's supposed to. He isn't wearing gloves either."

"So he made a fashion choice you don't approve of," Remus said. He held up his hands. "I'm not wearing gloves either. You haven't commented on that."

"Yes but that's different," Janus dismissed. He glared at the man in the dark waistcoat. "You're not dancing with my sister."