The Deamon Angel

Chapter 8: Tears

The night of the masquerade has arrived. Myra informed me that everyone who had been invited, had RSVP'd. That means Ash is going to be there. I had a new ball gown made for this occasion. Black silk and raven feathers, make up the dress. I wound gold tinsel into many of the feathers on my wings. My mask, porcelain and perfect, lay on my vanity stand. The Venetian black mask, adorned with black and white glitter, and painted golden swirls, was created exactly like the one I wore the night that I was arrested. I look the same as I did on that night.

"My queen, the masque is about to begin," Marick says through the door.

I walk away from the mirror towards the door. Before I am a foot away from the door, it swings open, just as every other door in the castle does. Marick waits just outside.

"Have all the guests arrived?" I ask.

"Yes, my queen," Marick answers, following just behind me as I walk to the ballroom.

"It's been years since I've danced," I say, dreamily, and not thinking.

The ballroom is a large black-walled room with a black and white checkered floor. The walls are covered in old paintings. Some from the war, some of me, and quite a few of Normane-I had all paintings, statues, and photographs of Daeya removed from my palace. Each painting is in a golden frame, and adorned with gold lace. Large crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling, lighting the room. An orchestra is set in the far right corner, playing soft music until we begin. The bar along the east wall is full of angels trying to grab a drink before the first dance.The whole ballroom looks old and vintage; I had it built in the 1720's. It took an additional five years to finish. Twin staircases curve inward to the floor form either side of the room.

Upon my arrival, the masquerade begins. Nobles dressed in beautiful costumes, fill the large ballroom. Music begins and people begin dancing. I make my way down the stairs to the dance floor. I dance with random people. Men dressed as birds, wolves, and more, flock towards me; all ask for a dance.

When I finally need a break from dancing, I retreat to the bar. Many others begin to retire from the dance floor- most, like me, had been dancing for hours now. Everyone congregates in a clique of their own kind. I stand near a wall with my soda (I have taken a particular fondness to the Earth drink), and stand there quietly, trying not to draw attention to myself. I've not seen Ash, Jackson, Damon or William yet, and I'm not thrilled with the idea.

My drink is nearly empty when another dance begins. I don't join the swarms of angels heading to the dance floor this time, rather, I head back to the bar for another soda. While the barista is readying my drink, the inevitable happens. Damon slides up beside me.

"Hello Jane," Damon begins.

"Hello, Damon," I say through gritted teeth," Don't you have anything better to do than talk to me? Like, I don't know, conspire to kill someone?"

Damon takes immediate offense," Who would've thought the queen was this mean?"

"I always knew," I say rudely, answering his rhetorical question.

"Moving on," Damon says," Ash wants to talk to you. He didn't know if you'd want to, so he sent me to ask. So, will you go talk to him. It's really important," Damon says, seemingly serious.

"Fine," I submit," but only for a minute. I'm a queen, dammit, I have a reputation to keep."

Another soda in hand, I follow Damon as he weaves his way through swarms of people. We finally stop in a near- empty part of the ballroom. The few that remain there are older. They smoke and drink while listening to the sweet music. Jackson, William, and another man, lean against the wall. Jackson and William both wear the same masks and outfits from the night we met. Half masks and black suits fit their persona well. The other man must be Ash. Upon closer inspection, I realize that he is wearing my necklace, except, the family rings are gone. His mask nearly matches mine with the exception of glitter, and my mask covers only the top half of my face, where his fully covers his face. He wears a dark black-blue suit, that matches the night sky when there are no stars. He gives the other three a look from under his full-face mask, and the nod and leave.