Miracle

Pt. 37

"So, we'll pretend to be guarding the door. When they leave, that's when we'll go in and save Lily," Alex murmured, his gaze fixed on the ornate double doors behind which the female demons had stepped inside, joining Lily.
"Why don't we just kill them and completely get this done?" Max countered, already taking his place on one side of the elaborate doorway, his hand resting casually on his hip.

Killing was completely out of the question for Alex. As an angel, it went against every fiber of his being, every tenet he believed in. Sure, they were demons, but they were still individual creatures that didn't deserve to die. "No, Max. Killing them is not going to happen," Alex stated, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument.

Max crossed his arms, leaning back against the cold, polished wall, a hint of exasperation on his face. Alex took his place on the other side of the door. For now, all they could do was wait.

*****

"Oh, you look just fabulous! Doesn't she look fab, Ivy?" Nora, the yellow-skinned demon, cooed, as she tightened the back of the corset even more, squishing Lily's cleavage high into place. Lily honestly felt like she was being squeezed like a stress toy, every breath a conscious effort, but when she looked at herself in the tall, ornate mirror, she had to admit, she did look pretty good.

Her usually wild black hair was now sculpted into a high, intricate bun, little shiny diamond bobby pins sparkling like captured starlight, holding every strand perfectly in place. The dress, a sleek, floor-length black gown with the dark blue corset top, cinched her waist impossibly narrow, highlighting her generous chest and making her appear much thinner than she really was. Her makeup was kept remarkably natural, ethereal even, save for the vibrant ruby lipstick – almost the exact same striking red as the crescent-shaped mark on her neck. That mark, her family's symbol, was on full display. She guessed that was one of the reasons her father had picked this dress, to proudly showcase his lineage.

Ivy, the red demon, nodded at Nora's comment. "She'll look even better when the crown is placed on her head at the beginning of the ball." She watched as Nora deftly tied the back of the corset into a beautiful, elaborate bow.
Ivy then held up a pair of glittering, impossibly tall seven-inch heels. "The final touch." sighing, Lily sank down onto the corner of the plush bed. "Do I really have to wear heels? I'm not the best at walking in them," she pleaded, looking between the pair of demons.

Ivy shook her head, a smug satisfaction on her face. "The boss wouldn't like that at all. You must wear the heels." She knelt down, sliding one impossibly high heel onto Lily's foot, then the other.
"Come on, Ivy," Nora interjected hesitantly, a flicker of sympathy in her eyes. "It's her big day... doesn't she get a choice?" Ivy paused for a moment before putting on the second heel, then stated simply, "No." Lily's shoulders slumped in disappointment.

Nora watched her closely, a soft frown on her lips. She couldn't help but feel a pang of pity for the woman. Ever since Lily had arrived, people had been dictating her every move, telling her what to do, what to wear, how to be.
"Okay, we're all done here. I'll take her to the ballroom. You go let the boss know," Ivy said, standing up and dusting off her dress "Why can't I stay and take her, and you go tell the boss?" Nora questioned, her voice still hesitant, a clear challenge in her tone.

Ivy looked at her, smugness written plainly on her face. "You're too lenient with her. It's better if I watch over her. Plus, I'm sure the boss will reward me handsomely for getting her to the ballroom safely. Now get going, you're wasting time... as usual." Lily watched as Nora's lips pressed into a tight line of annoyance before she turned and walked out the door, closing it softly behind her.

Ivy offered Lily a fake, saccharine smile and helped her stand up, guiding her towards the door. "She forgets sometimes I'm her boss. I'll have to let Alistair know about that," Ivy whispered, a note of disappointed malice in her voice, before opening the door. They started making their way towards the grand ballroom. The hallway was now dressed lavishly for the event, draped in dark silks and glowing with eerie, flickering lights. Lily could hear music playing and the low hum of excited chatter growing louder as they approached.

Suddenly, a pair of strong arms grabbed Ivy and Lily from behind. A hand quickly clamped over Ivy's mouth as she tried to scream, thrashing violently as a small, wiry body jumped onto her back, clinging on tightly and muffling her cries. Lily, in a desperate burst of adrenaline, elbowing the person holding her, making them let go with a groan.
"Lily, calm down! It's just me," a familiar voice whispered urgently.

Lily spun around, looking at the tall figure, then, with trembling hands, pulled off his hood. "Alex!" she cried, her voice thick with pure happiness and relief, tears instantly rolling down her cheeks. She threw herself into his arms. He cradled her face in his hands, pulling her in for a hard, deep kiss on the lips.

For a second, everything else faded away – the sounds of Hell, the urgency, the danger. It was just them. She slowly pulled her lips away, a radiant grin spreading across her face.
A high-pitched scream, sharp and piercing, pulled their attention away from each other. "Help! Help! Someone is trying to take the princess!" Ivy shrieked, now free, stumbling down the hallway, pointing a frantic finger at them.

Max's hood had fallen off his head as he was thrown off Ivy's back onto the ground. He was clutching a bleeding hand. "Son of a bitch bit me!" he complained, slowly standing up.
Guards, summoned by Ivy's cries, immediately started rushing towards them from both ends of the hallway, their heavy armor clanking.

"Run!" Alex yelled, grabbing Lily's hand. They all raced down the lavish hallway, pushing astonished demons out of their way, their daring escape now a desperate sprint.