Star Beings: Dawn

Glass

The party began at eight, and for the first hour it went swimmingly. Then I saw a familiar face in the crowd. Flashes of teal hair, and of pale limbs reaching through the crowd. Leigh and Hade are both here, which means everyone else can't be too far off. Eventually, someone grabs me and pulls me away from view. It's DJ, her hair slicked back and a necklace dawning her collarbones. It's almost plain, yet still beautiful, with a thin golden chain and a shining teardrop shaped emerald for a charm. I realize its the first time I've ever seen her in a dress.
"Damn, you really wanted to be unrecognizable, huh?"
"Oh shut the fuck up Anai. I just wanted to warn you that shit's about to hit the fan. Go hang around Corinna so she knows where you are and you don't blow your cover."
"Ok then. Have fun fucking shit up."
DJ laughs, her mouth splitting into a lopsided grin.
"Oh trust me... I'm gonna."

I quickly find Cori, taking her hand with a smile.
"Everything seems to be going swimmingly, dearest. Even Cassius bothered to wear a suit." I say, pointing towards the youngest of the shadow lords. Corinna nods, a grimace on her face. "Couldn't be bothered to actually take off that damned hoodie, though." she mutters. I laugh. It is a strange sight, the young man wearing a bright red unzipped hoodie over his black vest, slacks, and dress shirt.
"But yes, it does seem to be going well. Everyone is in good spirits, there's been no interruptions, and you're here with me. How could it be any better?" Corinna asks, smiling at me. I smile back, kissing her on the forehead.
Just gotta keep up appearances.
"You know, the stars look lovely tonight." Cori says, taking my hand, "Why don't we get a better look?" she pulls me away from the party, through the glass doors, and onto the veranda. She sighs contentedly as she leans on the marble railing, a small smile on her face. For a moment, everything is peaceful. For a moment, I can almost forget about the party, and the star beings, and Corinna, and stare up at the twinkling stars.
But then that moment ends, and the doors and windows behind us shatter. Instinctively, a shield Corinna from the rain of dagger like shards. I feel each piece as it pierces my back, white hot pain roaring through me.
"Anai!" Corinna catches me as I stumble forward, glass still sticking out of my skin. Damned low backed dress..
"I'm ok. I'm.. I'm ok." I tell her, drawing my daggers from the shadows of the night.
"Let's go take care of these Star Being's, shall we?" I say with a forced smile, limping back into the ballroom. Each breath hurts, my glass wings shifting with every slight movement. I catch sight of gabriel right as the ballroom dissolves into a foggy nightmare of battle. I hear the clash of swords and daggers, the firing of guns, the swooshing of arrows slicing through the mist. I stumble around in a daze, searching for either Hade, Leigh, or Cassius. Someone grabs my shoulder and, instinctively, I stab them.
Turns out that someone just happened to be Hade, who now looks very annoyed.
They quickly heal their wound before grabbing me again and dragging me away from the heart of the battle.
"Did you have to stab me, mate?"
"Did you have to sneak up on me in the middle of a fight?"
"Fair point."
Hade and I stare at each other for a moment. Their suit is disheveled, covered in dust and blood, their gray-orange eyes studying my features, their hair a frizzy mess of orange, crimson, and black.
I reach up and, without thinking, wipe some blood off their cheek.
"Must you be so violent with your kills?"
"You look nice," they say abruptly. I am taken aback for a moment, unsure what to do or how to react. Thankfully, Leigh appears in a lovely pink dress that happens to be covered in blood.
"Some dude pissed me off so I made blood gush from all of his facial orifices."
Gods, I'm in love.
I rush towards Leigh, wrapping her in an embrace. My joy quickly fades when she returns the gesture, her arms stabbing the glass ever deeper into my back as she hugs me.
Leigh recoils, thin cuts on her wrists.
"Ani-"
"I'm fine, don't heal me. It'll look suspicious."
Leigh frowns, her brow furrowing. Hade looks equally upset with me.
"I'm glad to see you," I say, "Both of you." I glance at Hade, who smiles. Their gaze, possibly for the first time ever, softens.
"Now, go. If Corinna sees me with you we're all fucked."
Hade and Leigh both nod, my girlfriend (?) vanishing into the fog. Hade lingers for only a moment, flashing one last smile at me before disappearing, platforms and all, leaving only the faintest smell of smoke.
I stand there for a moment, wishing that Leigh and Hade would return, wishing that I wasn't in the middle of a battle but back at the base, in Leigh and I'd apartment, curled up on the couch with Leigh's head in my lap and Hade at my side. But I'm not.
I shake my head, ridding myself of the thought, and tighten my grip on my daggers. There's no time for that now. I need to focus on the b